The Master [MxMxM+]

45

Tadashi opened his door to let in a frowning Alexander.

He acknowledged Tadashi and walked past him, then made himself comfortable on his couch.

"So are you still going to avoid me? Or will you finally explain to me what happened?" Alexander asked.

Tadashi poured themselves drinks and settled on his couch, handing the Master his. Then he pulled out a bunch of paperwork to look at.

Alexander took the papers from him and looked at them himself. "Explain to me why I had to bail you out of jail. I don't care much for what the police said."

Tadashi frowned and downed his drink. "Can I get away with I swear I'm innocent?"

The Master's face was grim as he fixed the look on Tadashi. He knew that look all too well, he wasn't getting away with anything.

Tadashi chuckled softly then got serious. He thought about the big guy he probably nearly killed. He remembered the way the little girl stood fearlessly against her abuser. His hands tightened together. He saw the lady who'd rushed in, no regard whatsoever for her children.

Before Tadashi was done telling him everything, Alexander was up in an instant. He got up too.

He knew what he was thinking, but Tadashi thought differently. "Leave this to me, let me handle it."

Alexander stopped, the irritation on his face fading as he looked at his assistant. Tadashi didn't know if it was the look in his face or something else but the Master seemed to understand.

They both settled back down.

"I can't stop seeing it you know," said Tadashi. "The blood dripping down his face, the confusion in his eyes in that moment in his daze."

"Is he okay?" Alexander asked. They wouldn't be having this conversation if Tadashi hadn't interfered. They'd be trying to save Linder, and they'd be going about it the wrong way.

"It's been a week since the whole incident...I believe so. He's avoiding any contact with me deliberately so..."

Alexander regarded him carefully. "You don't have to hide it, I know it's driving you crazy."

"She was just a kid," Tadashi said. "But unlike any other, she was so fucking brave."

Alexander was uncomfortable. It was a wonder he was trying to keep still after hearing everything he did. "He has a sibling... How did we miss that detail?"

"I don't know," Tadashi shook his head. "When we did background checks on all of them, his info could have been a little off, maybe intentionally misleading."

Alexander tapped his thigh over and over. "He's out of the protection of the game. There's no loophole where we can interfere, the rules don't apply to him anymore." He laced his fingers together. "Anything we do from here on out becomes personal."

Tadashi knew that. But he'd make him understand if he had to.

"I'm not stopping you," said Alexander.

"Why?" He asked. "I'm your assistant. If this turns out badly, it won't reflect well on you."

Tadashi envisioned it. There could be backlash if he went too far. The media was harsh, and if Linder's dad was rotten to the core like he displayed, together with his wife, they could have him labeled as a stalker, a sex offender with his eye on their son or much worse; their underaged daughter. It would be any fancy word of their choosing.

The police hadn't exactly found him in the best position, it would be painfully easy. The best he could do now was be gradual.

If he rushed, he'd mess up. All of it would trace back to Alexander.