Innamoramento (Future Luke x Reader)

Risveglio (I)

(Reminder: This story contains massive spoilers from 'Professor Layton and the Lost Future')

***

You are cold, all of a sudden.

Your whole body is frozen and somewhere, deep inside your chest, you feel something shattering into a million pieces.

It hurts. It hurts.

A false London... No time travel ten years into the future... A subterranean cavern?

The more Professor Layton explains, the worse it gets - the colder you get.

"Someone has been using you as a pawn. Are you aware of this?", he asks Dimitri, though you assumed for a second he was talking to you.

This resonates within you too.

"What are you talking about?", the scientist replies with another question.

You are scared.

"Someone here masterminded a scheme even more awful than yours, Dimitri."

Who is he?

Who is that man sitting right next to you?

"And that person is there!"

Oh, God, why. Why.

Why.

Why.

Why, why, why, why, why, why, why.

'Big' Luke immediately stands up as the Professor points his finger at him. Your porcelain teacups shake when, panicking, his body swiflty pushes the chair back and comes into contact with the table.

"I think you're mistaken, Professor.", he denies defensively.

"No, there's no mistake here, and there's no hiding any more, Luke. Or should I call you... Clive?"

Clive? Clive? Who the heck is Clive?

This man is supposed to be Luke, the little adventurous boy you know well. But his adult self.

Or so you have believed, up until now.

You cannot even look at him.

You do not dare to.

Instead, you keep staring down at your empty cup - noticing your hands are shaking from, what, probably anger? Disgust? Fear? Sadness? You wonder.

And the professor goes on with Clive's story, though the words seem far away from your reach - how his parents perished in the lab explosion... the shock... the obsession of exacting revenge... Constance Dove... the hunt for the men responsible for his misery... a weapon designed to cause destruction on an unimaginable scale.

For the first time since the beginning of those revelations, you glance at him with sheer disbelief, but regret straight away as he starts laughing maniacally.

"And I thought scientists were supposed to be observant! While you focus on your machines, I have a different goal. Though some may call it revenge, I prefer to think of it as justice over single-minded scientists and corrupt politicians. But enough explanations. Let me show you!"

Everything begins moving too fast.

"Wait!", you shout, but it is too late - he is already running towards Flora's table, grabbing her arm and taking off in haste with her.

Without even a look back at you.

Your vision becomes blurry.

From afar, you catch a glimpse of Luke dashing after them in vain. The noise of a loud object falling. Professor Layton running as well.