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Naib had passed the blond man seated at his desk about seven times, and by the eighth, he knew something needed to be said.
“If you keep scrunching your face like that, it'll get stuck that way.” Naib huffed.
“You're starting to sound like Truth.” Luca retorted back.
“What can I say? We spend every single day on cases, it's only natural that perhaps her quips would slip into my vernacular.”
Naib stopped behind the man and peered over his shoulder at what he had been staring at for so long. Across the desk were various photos spread out from a folder. A few photos were of the blonde woman from the Crystal Palace investigation, Ms.Lockheart, and the rest were of a similar looking woman but in all black, blurred slightly from her movements through shady areas in town. His gaze shifted back to the blond haired man and his intense stare at one of the photos he gripped tightly.
“... Why are you so preoccupied with this case? It's quite clear cut in my opin-”
“She wouldn't do that.” Luca cut him off, a scowl twisting his face, “... She wouldn't do this.”
“Lockheart? From what I recall you two assisted in investigating the supposed phantom as well as the Koh-i-noor. It had been Duke White Raven, had it not?” Naib eyed the photos, “But this is different. It does not seem like something she would do and yet there is no mistaking what witnesses and these photos show us.”
“Something is wrong.” Luca stood from the table and made his way to the office door, making sure to grab his coat off the rack.
“Where are you going? We have other cases that take precedent over your infatuation-” Naib began.
“See you later.”
The blond man put his coat on as he opened the door and rushed out. As he hurried down the stairwell, he paused seeing that the bureau's mailbox door was slightly ajar. Luca raised an eyebrow, hurrying his pace to slowly pull it open. Once open he spotted a black letter with a silver seal on it. There was a great sense of worry seeing the letter he could easily recognize despite not having seen on in quite a while. Ulliel. A pit twisted Luca’s stomach as he yanked the letter out and quickly pulled it open. He gave a small jump when a small gold key fell from the ripped envelope and clattered onto the floor, causing it to echo along the stairwell. Luca leaned down to pick the key up and once he noted he had seen this design before, a gasp caught in his throat. He hurried to pull the paper open.
I know you have questions and want answers. Go to where it all started, seek where it all ended, find the right door.
The words rang in his ear, the key he held felt like it was burning his palm as he folded the letter and shoved it into his coat pocket. The man placed his sunglasses on and hurried out the door.
-
The beautiful and glittering glass building had been the same as it had always been. Seeing the astounding architecture and bustling air brought Luca right back to the day he had first entered the Crystal Palace in search of phantoms. That day had not only been the first time he had gone through the building, but had also met Lockheart… She was kind, inquisitive, teasing, beautiful-... Luca shook his head with a heavy, reluctant sigh. He took in a deep breath, puffed out his chest, and made his way inside the building. The inside was bustling with patrons going in and out of all the shops. Despite the fiasco that had unfolded at the Crystal Palace the last time he was here, everything was all but quiet comparatively to the excited chatter of an exhibition. He couldn’t help but miss it dearly… Luca had barely made his way fully into the main entrance before someone behind him exclaimed and called for him.
“Mr.Investigator! You are back!”
The blond jumped and turned to see the messy brown haired man with a beard running up to him. Luca blinked at the Warden before nodding.
“I am just passing by. How have things been here at the Crystal Palace?” The blond tried to look around nonchalantly.
The Warden gave a pat to his chest before releasing a hum.
“Some days are busier than others but things have been quiet since Miss Lockheart has departed.”
Luca went stiff, feeling his breath catch in his throat.
“She’s gone? Do you perhaps know where she’s gone off to?” He tried to hide the urgency in his voice.
Murro placed his hand on his chin as he thought. The longer he thought, the more Luca wanted to push again for an answer. Just as he had been about to ask again the man snapped his fingers.
“It was shortly after that well dressed man came by and spoke with her. I have seen his face in the papers… Mister Melodis! He was quite well spoken and asked me to deliver a letter to her.”
“What did the letter look like?”
“Hm… It was black with a silver seal, if I recall correctly.”
The blond man couldn’t help clench his fist and swallow the lump in his throat.
“I see…”
“Is something wrong? Are you looking for her? I’m sorry Mr.Investigator that you missed her,” Murro seemed somber for only a moment before he perked up, “Oh, if you could see where she is and ask her to come back, that would be fantastic! You are a detective, correct?”
Suddenly the letter in his pocket felt all too heavy.
“I am searching for her, I am following a lead.”
Murro clasped the man on the shoulders with a wide smile.
“I’m sure you’ll find her soon!”
A knot twisted the man’s stomach but he knew he would do all he could to find her. Luca had questions he needed answers to and it seems the woman knew well of his predicament. The key that had been included in the letter left for him burned a hole in his pocket and a long afternoon awaited him. He lowered his eyes before he collected himself and spoke, even if he could feel the lack of confidence in his declaration.
“I’ll find her and I will do what I must to bring her back.”
-
Luca had gone through each floor, awkwardly gone through each shop, and eyed any and all doors he could find. Shop owners were surely growing wary of the man pacing around the halls in near desperation. It hadn’t been until Luca had nearly walked past the closed shop that had belonged to Amethyst Duchess that he paused. The man peered around to see if anyone was watching him or even would spy him as he silently made his way to the store, fiddled with the chained lock on the door, and slid inside.
Once inside Luca paused to see all the covers on the jewelry cases shrouding everything. It all seemed untouched… Walking through the store he could easily recall the memories of the blond woman making her way through the shop, her eyes nearly glittered as brightly as the beautiful and exquisite gems that filled the shop. Luca silently followed along the path in his memory- following the phantom of Lockheart as she glided through the shop. His path led him to be standing in front of the glass display case the replica Koh-i-Noir would be displayed in, now covered in a sheet as the rest of the cases were. Looking at the case he paused, reaching a hand down the base glass case until his finger caught the lip of a concealed lever. Luca pulled it down and watched as a part of the shop’s wall behind it shook and creaked open slightly. The man froze, reaching forward to pull the wooden fixture open and stared as he was met with the sight of a small door. Seek where it all ended. He rushed to pull the key from his pocket and eye it before slowly pushing it into the keyhole and turning it. The soft ‘click’ electrified his nerves, rushing to pull the door open and crawl into the small space. Inside he found the small hidden compartment the real Koh-i-Noir had been hidden away in. Luca slid his hand in and felt around until his fingers hit something within. He took hold of the item and pulled it out, pausing at what he now held. A golden heart shaped pocket watch sat nestled safely in the blond man’s palm. Luca could feel his heart drum up desperately in his chest as he rushed to hurry out of the secret compartment and out of the shop.
Now out in the open main area of the building, he noted that the world had already gone dark outside and most people were gone. He looked down at the watch he still held tightly in his hands, eyeing the hands ticking within. Luca looked around, almost expecting the blond woman to be standing nearby with her pleased smile gracing her lips. Of course the woman was nowhere to be seen and yet the urgency within Luca to find her grew until he ran down the steps and out of Crystal Palace. One step out and he was immediately swarmed by a chattering crowd that easily dragged him in. Luca felt swallowed up in the crowd- excited chatter filling his ears until the noise melted into one big, chaotic mess. He had been trying to push his way through the crowd to escape it but a sudden feather-light trace of his waist stopped him in his tracks. It was a touch he had experienced only a few times but could recognize without hesitation. She was here. The blond man hurried to snap around, fully expecting the woman to be standing behind him, but she was not. Luca could feel his eyes widening with every twist and turn to look through the crowd. Again, a small tug on his gear he wore on his back made him turn only to be met with random individuals within the crowd.
“L-Lockheart?” He called, hating how strained his voice came out.
A tap on his shoulder caused him to whip around and as he opened his mouth, a booming sound echoed above him. Luca’s eyes turned skyward, staring as dazzling fireworks began to fill the sky and the already rowdy crowd became electrified in excitement. The crowd cheered and clapped, but as Luca watched the fireworks all he could really feel was his heart drop straight to his stomach. He dropped his head, shutting his eyes tightly as he tried to calm his breath. His hand instinctively went to the watch he had still been gripping tightly in his gloved hand. Was all this for nothing? It couldn’t be…! The detective flinched while his stomach tightened at the thought of being sent on a wild goose chase for nothing but some sick amusement of whoever orchestrated this. Despite the frustration that ebbed in him, it all but pathetically fizzled out once he thought about the potential it truly was Lockheart’s guidance to test his dedication and resolve. Luca had begun to wonder if she had been watching him all along, that the touches he felt a moment earlier were not from the random bustle of the crowd and absent patrons, but the woman keeping him in check.
“If I could just prove myself to you once more…” He shook his head.
Fireworks and cheering continued to echo all around him until applause rang out and the deafening booms above ceased. The crowd began to disperse and the blond man was left standing alone staring down at his scuffed white shoes.
Luca was exhausted, tired, and felt like a fool. He had gone back to the Crystal Palace to find Lockheart, a quiet hope that he would see her looking exactly how she had when they first met. Her fluffy black skirt and the way the keys she wore on her waist and hips jingled as she walked. Winding clues, a simple tease to try and find the woman- all led Luca to awkwardly stand outside all alone while everyone else watched up at the dazzling fireworks show. The walk back to his flat had been miserable and the usual enjoyable walk back felt like he was a kicked dog running off with his tail between his legs. Luca carried himself through the winding streets to his flat building, up the stairs, and into his humble abode. Once inside he nearly threw his keys down on the small entryway table and yanked his coat off. Luca could feel the object in his pocket, the very faint ticking coming from it. The man reached in and pulled out the small heart pocket watch. Staring at the item he could feel the dull ache in his chest and the way his eyes nearly watered. He roughly rubbed his face and had been about to throw himself onto the old worn coach but the noise of soft tinkering coming from his room made him freeze.
He furrowed his brows and made his way to the room, seeing if perhaps someone had broken in. He quickly looked at all the windows he could see and noted none were broken or even cracked open. Luca couldn’t decipher if something was wrong or the stress of the day was finally catching up to him. Standing in the doorway to his room he held his breath as he pushed in to see what caused the noise. His eyes flickered around the room until he found what caused the noise- a single gold key Lockheart had given him had fallen off the nightstand.
“The universe loves ironies now, doesn’t it…?”
Luca huffed in annoyance as he went to lean down to pick it up. Once the key was in his hand he froze stiff hearing his bedroom door creak close. He could feel his heart slow, a cold sweat beginning at his temple. As someone in a dangerous profession, a nearly silent intruder trapping themselves in the same room was the fastest way to be the one losing.
“Who are you? What do you want?”
Luca stood up straight but kept his back towards his uninvited guest. He waited for a reply but they seemed eager to stay silent.
“If you’re here to kill me or kidnap me, do it now. I will not be giving you the satisfaction of seeing my face as you do!” He bit out.
“... I don’t particularly want to do either of those things, if that’s alright with you.” A playful voice spoke.
That wasn’t possible.
“L… Locheart…?”
He almost didn’t want to turn, almost…
“I prefer Lockcore now, but I think we know one another enough now to use our real names, Luca…” The voice seemed closer.
Luca collected himself enough with a deep, quiet breath before he carefully turned around. He was met with the sight of the blond woman in a black almost leather appearing outfit. The man froze stiff as his eyes went up and down her form.
“You look…”
“Watch your words.” Tracy crossed her arms tight across her chest, puffing out her cheeks.
“Different…” He cleared his throat.
Tracy narrowed her eyes before releasing a huff. She began to move into the man’s bedroom, going over to his writing desk and running a clawed finger tip across the papers. She paused once her motion caused the various case files to be put on display and the various photos of the agency’s informant taking of her sneaking about were in plain view. She blinked at them, taking them each in her hands and leafing through the various sepia tone photos. There were about eight in total.
“If you had wanted a photo of me to remember me by, you could have just asked.” Tracy snickered.
“... So it truly is you in those photos, then… Sneaking about the shadows like a criminal. Why…?" Luca tried to hide the bite in his tone.
Despite his attempt to keep himself in check, Tracy’s eyes widening for a moment made it clear he had failed at that. Her gaze shifted back to the photos as she flipped through them, a soft ‘humph’ escaping her.
“Calling me a criminal when you know nothing about the things I’ve done is quite harsh, don’t you think?”
“I didn’t-... That’s not what I…” Luca sputtered lamely.
Luca stared as Tracy’s shoulders dropped, her hands stopping over a photo the man had face down on his desk. He silently watched as the woman lifted it to look, a small gasp escaping her when she saw it was the photo taken of the pair inside Crystal Palace.
“... You sent the letter to the agency, I assume?” He spoke.
“I did… Did you find what you were looking for?”
The blond man made his way to be standing in front of the woman and carefully held out the watch to her.
“Now I have…” He couldn’t help the small smile that grew on his face.
A soft blush heated up Tracy’s face as she reached a hand out so Luca could hand her the watch. Luca eyed the watch he held before he placed it down on the desk and took the woman’s hand, pulling it to cup his face. The woman’s eyes widened as she stiffly watched how Luca turned his face to press his lips to her palm.
“I never truly was able to tell you how I felt, Tracy… I hesitated. I thought… I thought I would be able to see you again and tell you how much I’ve thought about you,” Luca lowered his eyes, “Then you were gone, and I realized perhaps I would never get the chance too…”
Tracy blinked before she carefully moved her hand from the man’s cheek to brush her fingers through his hair.
“Perhaps luck is on your side for a second chance then,” She tightened her fingers in his hair and pulled his head down so they would lock eyes, “So perhaps don’t screw it up.”
Luca’s eyes widened, a dusting of blush dashing across his face and the woman’s words ringing in his ear. For a second the blond man could also feel the jolt of her words go straight down his crotch. Oh.
“Do you truly feel that way? Is this… Something you’d like as well?” Luca spoke almost meekly.
“I am offering you that second chance you dream of. Not out of pity but because I think it can be our second chance…”
He felt the string within him that had been pulled so painfully tight snap, and without a moment more of hesitation he dove forward to smash his lips against Tracy’s. She released a pleased hum and a muffled giggle as she matched the man’s desperate pace. His tongue pushed seamlessly past her lips and into her mouth while his hand moved to grip the beltloop of her shorts. Luca leaned back to push his face into her neck, his eyes going down to her clothing.
“So impractical… Could you not have worn something a little more… Easily removed?” He panted.
“I’m making you work for it.”
Luca released a huff, opening his mouth wide and biting down against the woman’s shoulder. Tracy released a gasp, her hand in the man’s hair releasing slightly to run through it. She moved her free hand down to the man’s chest, sliding down the buttons of his waistcoat to pop them all seamlessly open. With his waistcoat open she made quick work of removing his tie and tugging open his shirt. Tracy bit her lip as she dragged a clawed digit down the man’s chest all the way to his abdomen. The blond man gave a sharp gasp, quickly taking the woman’s hand and pulling it to eye her glove.
“If you’re going to scratch me up, I prefer it be with your nails and not these.”
Luca didn’t allow the woman to even reply before he pulled them off of her alongside her elbow length gloves. He raised her hand to his face and pressed his lips to her knuckles.
“That’s better…”
Tracy frowned and released a ‘humph’. Her hands made their way to the man’s belt and undid it before tugging his pants open.
“You’re so eager, detective…”
“I’ve needed you for so long and now that I have you…” Luca raised his hand to work the laces of her shirt open, “I need my fill.”
The pair locked eyes and Tracy could feel her face heat up seeing the burning desire in Luca’s eyes. Once the laces were all done Luca guided the woman to pull the shirt over her head. He easily took hold of one her breasts to grope, pinching her nipple and tugging it. Tracy released a moan, arching her back into the man’s hold. There was a rush for the man to undo all the belts the other wore and as he began to struggle, Tracy smirked.
“Have you met your match?” She teased.
“No, not quite.”
In a quick motion Luca had scooped the woman up and practically tossed her back onto his bed. As Tracy gave a bounce landing onto the mattress Luca had already crawled over top of her and tugged her shorts down. He eyed the thin black underwear the woman wore and tugged them down her legs, quickly pushing forward to press his mouth against her opening.
“A-Ah-...!” Tracy gasped, her hands balling to fists in the other’s hair.
Luca licked at her slit desperately, moaning as her taste filled his mouth and his tongue pushed into her. Tracy arched her back while shivers racked her body.
“D-Didn’t even take my boots off to fully take everything off- oh!”
The blond man pulled off of her to suck at her clit until she was shaking underneath him.
“Stop teasing- that’s not fair…!”
Luca made his way back up to the woman to press his mouth to hers. Tasting herself on the man’s lips caused her to whimper. He moved his hand down to trace his fingers along her slit before pushing two into her. Feeling how she dripped on his digits was enough for him to wrestle his cock from his underwear and press himself against her.
“Shit… I thought about this moment so much and now-” He caught himself before he continued his thought.
Tracy blinked up at the man. He thought about this? She nudged the man back, seeing how his brows furrowed and he bit his lip. The woman studied Luca’s face, eyes scanning it as it only served to cause the man to fidget nervously.
“Did I say too much-...?” He spoke carefully.
“No no, it’s just… At least take all my clothes off…”
Luca blushed, watching the woman carefully sit up in his bed and watch him expectantly. He nervously moved forward to undress the woman completely and paused for Tracy to stand on her knees to do the same. Her hands seemed unsure at first as she worked loose and pulled off the man’s clothing until he was naked. Luca’s eyes drank in the sight of the blond woman’s bare skin. He used his hand to trace his fingers along the woman’s shoulders, chest, sides, stomach, and hips. Luca’s hands wandered, tracing and memorizing each dip and curve of Tracy’s body. Oh how much he wanted to engrave this into his mind.
“Are you going to keep staring or are you going to do something? I know detectives are all about gathering their evidence but I’d hope you’d be more interested than analytical here.”
“You’re right, sorry…” He laughed softly.
Luca carefully guided the woman to lay back in the bed, crawling over top of her easily. He moved forward to press his lips against her neck, peppering soft kisses along it until he opened his mouth and bit down. Tracy shivered and focused on the man’s soft, teasing bites until he was biting down hard enough she could feel the quick dashes of pain that were quickly alleviated by him licking the bites. She focused on the way his lips traced along her neck and how he surely could feel her weak swallows against his lips. He leaned away from her neck to kiss the woman and moved his hand down to spread her legs. Luca squeezed at her thighs, smiling between their eager kisses. Tracy reached forward to take his length, giving it a few strokes before lining him up. She nearly held her breath as she hooked her leg around his thigh to pull him forward. Once he had pushed in she released a pleased sigh. Luca focused himself to begin thrusting into Tracy and felt how she constricted around his aching length.
“Shit… You feel so good.”
The blond man moaned against the other’s mouth as she dug her nails into his shoulder. She watched him through half lidded eyes- his furrowed brows and the way he gritted his teeth with each thrust made her grin. Luca was focused on the moment, his movements meticulous and despite his clearly growing desperation, he was being the utmost careful with her.
“You’re cute…”
Tracy couldn’t hide her soft smile, raising her hand to comb her fingers through the other’s hair. She made sure to give soft tugs from the base to make sure he was watching her face closely. A hush washed over the pair as they kissed feverishly as Luca rocked his hips. He again craned his neck to press his mouth to the woman’s neck and shoulder. Luca easily began biting and sucking at her neck until rounded bruises littered her pale skin and his teeth had left marks all along her lower neck and shoulders. Tracy couldn’t help giggling at the exhilaration his actions caused as he was falling apart against her.
“Your love and passion comes with teeth marks, I see…” She teased.
“I want you to remember this…” Luca groaned against her sweat-slicked skin.
The pair were panting as they tried desperately to intertwine into one another as close as they possibly could. Luca buried his face in her neck, breathing the remnants of her perfume on her skin, a distinct floral scent he knew but could not place. Tracy held the man in her arms tightly, running her fingers through his hair and holding him as if she feared letting go would cause him to vanish. A soft hush washed over them as the only sound was their breathy moans and pants ringing out across Luca’s bedroom.
“... Why did you leave?” Luca eventually spoke.
“What?” Tracy looked up at the man.
“You left Crystal Palace and started working for D.M… Why?”
Tracy lowered her eyes, biting her lip as she tried to measure her words.
“I… I needed to accomplish my goals for my doll. I didn’t have all the tools, I couldn’t even dream of having everything I needed to achieve my wants and D.M. gave me that… I had to help him with some things but he leaves me to do whatever I want most of the time.” She admitted.
Luca grew quiet yet held the woman tighter.
“You can leave… You know. It’s dangerous, he’s dangerous.”
“I can’t leave now, I can’t. I’m closer than ever and I won’t give up now.” The woman scowled, “If you’re trying to telling me what to do-”
Luca kissed the woman passionately and leaned back.
“I’m not going to tell you what to do… I just… I worked for him too, I thought I was doing the right thing, but I wasn’t… ” Luca spoke low.
For a moment Tracy froze, eyes widening.
“You worked for him?”
Luca nodded slowly, a clear look of shame engulfing his face. Tracy pressed her lips into a thin line and raised a hand to stroke the man’s hair. She pressed against his chest to guide him to pull back and adjusted him to be laying back against the pillows. Tracy then slowly climbed over top of him and lined his length back up to push in, shivering as she settled to be sitting flush against his hips. She released a quiet moan and began raising and dropping her hips to ride him. Their adjusted position had been enough for the man to moan out again and a sudden shiver to roll across his body in a comfortable wave. His hand instinctively shot forward to grip her hip, his nails digging into her soft skin.
“I hear you and I appreciate you telling me… I just… I want you to trust me that I know what I’m doing… Can you trust me, Luca…?” She raised her hands out to the man and waited.
Luca paused, swallowing weakly and raised his hands to take hers and intertwine their fingers. He placed them against her thighs and began to thrust up to meet her drops. The pair gasped and moaned, feeling as they both were at the cusp of their edge. The closer she got, the harder she went.
“Do you trust me?” Tracy panted.
The man stayed quiet, holding onto Tracy’s hand tighter.
“I said,” Tracy dropped down harshly onto the man’s cock eliciting a cry from Luca, “Do you trust me, Luca?”
The man arched his back, biting his lip harshly.
“Yes, I trust you- God, I trust you…!” He gasped.
Tracy smiled softly, leaning down to kiss the man.
“Good.”
She focused on rolling her hips and holding the man’s hand tightly as she could feel her stomach tighten as she came against the man’s cock. Luca could feel his eyes roll back as he bit down on the woman’s lip. Tracy gasped against the man’s mouth while she harshly rolled her hips to ride out her orgasm.
“Hah… Fuck…”
Tracy released a quiet whimper feeling the man fill her. They were left panting, Luca’s hands gripping Tracy’s as if for dear life. The woman fell forward with her head against the man’s chest. Luca reluctantly released Tracy’s hand so that he could run his hands along her back and sides. He carefully guided her to his side and pulled the blanket over top of them.
“Stay… Please stay.”
The pain in Luca’s voice had been enough for Tracy to look up at him before silently pressing her head to his chest.
“I can’t stay, you know that… It’s not safe.” Tracy carefully spoke.
“I know it’s not safe, I know you can’t stay… Please can’t you just stay a little longer?”
Tracy bit her lip, stroking the man’s hair softly. Her silence had spanned so long that just as the blond man had been about to silently accept she would leave, she spoke softly.
“I’ll stay…”
Luca wrapped the woman tightly in his arms and buried his face in her hair. Finally…
-
The lights filtering in through the man’s bedroom window had been enough for Luca to stir underneath his blankets. He gave a stretch and yawned, rolling over. It had only been a second before the detective jolted upright in bed and stared at the strikingly empty spot next to him. His eyes widened. No… Just as he had been about to throw his legs over the side to scurry out of the bed, he froze seeing on the bedside table was the heart shaped pocket watch with a small note underneath it. He hurried to take the note and read it.
You trust me right? Then come catch me again
Once he read the note he couldn’t help smiling and chuckling. Luca took the watch and fell back into his bed with a soft sigh. He eyed the spinning hands and allowed the soft ticking to lull him.
“When I catch you I’ll make sure I make you stay for a little while longer…”