«on hold»
» You are a notorious writer and proud owner of a library, one day your first customer, Chrollo, tells you to meet him on September 1st, leaving the location blank, challenging you to a game of catch.
"No, sir, I have no idea what or who attacked me. I was simply scouting some abandoned churches for this new book idea I had." Officer Cawthorn's incredibly jovial slanted green eyes narrowed, it was no wonder that he wasn't believing my story, who would when I was blatantly lying through my teeth. His round nose wrinkled, and his gaze finally dropped back to his dark notebook as he scribbled some faint words on it.
"How did you get to the hospital if you fainted for several hours perhaps a whole day or two after being attacked?" His tight voice gave a smidge of his annoyance away, was I being dumb by covering up for that disgustingly dangerous gremlin? Perhaps. But what could a policeman do about him? If I truly said that someone belonging to the Phantom Troupe had attacked me, how would they act? Would they even fill a form for me? Could they possibly try to catch them? No. What was the point of telling the truth then?
"Like I said before, I woke up in a lot of pain, I felt like retching, I crawled to and grabbed one of those tall candle holders that they have in the churches, I still haven't remembered the name for them... The church was empty, I walked outside with the aid of the candle holder, the way to the main road was a downward slope so it was easy to reach. I hailed a taxi and got here."
"And the taxi driver helped you with the leg, yeah. Have you remembered any new detail?" I shook my head, and the ginger man closed his eyes while running his bony slim fingers through his curls that reached his shoulders. His freckled face sullen, he took a deep breath and opened his eyes once more, pulled a chair and sat next to my hospital bed. It was the third time he was here, and the answers remained the same. Surely it was bothering him.
"Y/N... Are you in a relationship with someone?" My head tilted, that was a new and unexpected question. Had he quit? Was he just throwing casual conversation to distract me?
"No, are you interested, Officer Cawthorn? I'd have to say you're a bit old for my taste." His pale lips thinned when he chuckled, he was an attractive man, even as the creases of time appeared below his eyes and by the corners of his mouth.
"Not at all, Y/N, I'm happily divorced and focusing on my kids. I am however wondering if you're hiding the person who did this to you to protect them." I rolled my eyes. Yeah, I'd protect that gremlin, suuuure.
"Look, I'm sorry I'm not being helpful. I don't remember what happened and I'm glad you're fighting so hard to bring justice, but at some point, I'll just drop this. It'll be water under the bridge." My lips stretched, this man was trying to get to the bottom of the case and it was reassuring that at least some cops knew what they were doing. Sadly, this was not it for him. "Thank you. Truly. Even if they are never caught- or we never figure out what actually happened... It means a lot that you were here trying."
He sighed and pocketed his notebook, "You can't be quitting like that, Y/N." Yeah, if I could shove a chair up the midget's ass I would but I can't... So...
"I can, life is hard and I'd rather deal problems I can to fix than worry for those that I can't." Maybe if I learn that nen thing, would it inconvenience Chrollo if that one troupe member was incapacitated for a while? I deserved a chance for retribution.
"That's a good motto. Just don't get in trouble and don't go alone to that part of town." He got up, straightening his uniform trousers.
"Cawthorn your dad is showing." He rolled his eyes and patted the bottom corner of my bed. "Thank you though, I'll be sure to get some self-defence classes as well, not even the gods know what's lurking in the shadows."
"I sincerely hope you don't have to ever need them but it's a good idea. You're not filing a complaint, are you?" I shook my head, and he tipped his hat. "May we never cross in dire situations then, my best wishes for your recovery."
"Thank you~." Now I felt bad that I had decided to meet with Chrollo again. I grabbed my new phone and booked a hotel for the next month. Only halfway to go. The recovery was going better than expected and hopefully by the time we met I was ready to at least learn some self-defence moves from him.
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My cane was quite annoying but it was better than the crutches, the cast was off and I met the leader of the Phantom Troupe once more. Two months and a week after he left me sitting alone in that hospital. I was on my way to get F/B, walking slowly down the street with my cane when I saw his fluffy jacket with the inverted cross and the greasy black hair. A true extravagant criminal walking a few meters in front of me.
"Chrolloooo-" He turned around and his lip twitched into a smirk as he stopped waiting for me to reach him.
"What are you? An old lady? I'm afraid I don't know any of those." His smooth voice was low enough that I struggled to hear it while slowly approaching.
"What an assho-" My E/C eyes landed on Officer Cawthorn, walking our way with his partner, must've been his patrolling time, Chrollo however offered his left arm and I linked arms with him, happy for the extra support. "Been a while, what have you been plotting, oh great leader?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" My eyes narrowed and I hit his chin with my cane. "Is that the kind of behaviour you should display for the policemen, Y/N?"
I rolled my eyes and waved, "Officer Cawthorn! How's that patrol going?"
"Fairly well, Y/N, who's this? Didn't you say you didn't have a boyfriend?" Officer Mills gave me a shy smile as Cawthorn patted my shoulder. I often met both of them as I had made my goal to walk the most I could everyday by the main streets.
"Oh, I don't, I'm still available for you, dear~." A cheeky wink later I patted Chrollo's chest. "This man here is my abandoned church companion, can't go there alone, can I?"
"I'm devastated, I thought we were old friends, you're only using me for the abandoned churches?" His dark eyes met mine, as if finding something they hadn't carefully inspected before.
"Do you want to be used for something else?"
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> Art by namusw twitter.com/namusw00 namusw.tumblr.com www.pixiv.net/member.php?id=13289148
> Author's Note: Hello, hello? Guess who's back with a new chapter? Today I really felt like writing! Beware this chapter wasn't re-read so there may be typos and weird as fuck sentences. Hope you enjoy it and if you find any error point it out, I'll be sure to fix it!
