Around The World For A Kiss

Chapter 6

Luke sat on a plush couch, staring down into his reflection in a cup of his favourite tea Layton had brewed for him. He'd even stirred in an extra spoonful of sugar to make it even nicer.

"So." Layton sat down next to the child, trying to put him at ease with his presence. "How did you get back to London?"

"I stowed away on a boat." Luke replied easily, before taking a long thoughtful sip of the rather sugary tea, enjoying each drop and feeling at home once again.

"I see..." Layton said in a mumble. "I have no intention of making you go back to your parents, but..."

"What if they try to take me away?!" Luke had a sudden realisation, pressing himself to Layton.

"They most likely will determine your location and demand you home." Layton said solemnly. "Why did you come here, anyway?"

"I..." Luke remembered the constant, ceaseless daily grinding on his life since he had moved. "I wasn't h-happy... Nothing could replace you..." He gently pressed himself to Layton's side.

"Even though your parents will try to get you back..." Layton assured him, "I'll fight for you. I promise."

"Really?"

"I was your legal guardian, it shouldn't be too difficult." Layton comforted Luke, giving him a quick reassuring peck on the cheek.

"I just h-hope they won't find me..." Luke said a bit nervously, eyes glazing over for a second before reaching up with a hand to touch his hair which had the texture of straw due to not being washed in a while. "I think I'll go have a shower and wash my hair..." Luke rose to his feet, trotting to the bathroom as Layton quietly basked in the child's voice echoing around in his head.

There was a loud knock at the door. Layton got up after quickly shaking his mind out of his thoughts. He opened the front door and found two cops standing at the door.

"Excuse me. Are you Professor Layton?" One said in a gruff voice. Layton started feeling a tad nervous but managed to keep his composure.

"Yes. is there anything you need, sirs?" Layton put on a welcoming smile.

"We have heard a report of a missing child who supposedly ran away from the United States. It's a stretch, but some child named Luke Triton ran away and his parents are demanding to search London just in case he somehow got here. Do you know anything of his location?"

Layton could hear the shower running inside from behind a closed door. The sound was quiet but it was throbbing in his head.

"But why ask me?"

"His parents seem to say he was very fond of you and borderline obsessed with returning to London."

Layton wasn't sure whether he should so openly declare that Luke had run into his arms and had the light flow back into his eyes from doing so, but he couldn't lie. It would be ungentlemanly.

"He may have arrived at my house last night, exhausted and beaten by the elements. I have taken care of him for the time being."

The cops immediately walked inside, pushing Layton aside easily. They looked around the house without saying a word, searching the room with their eyes.

"He's just busy for the time being." Layton explained. The cops probably heard the shower running... "In the meantime, may I interest you in a cup of tea?"

By the time Luke had changed into some clothing he'd left behind at Layton's place, consisting of a white (un-ironed and crinkled) shirt, denim shorts, and some suspenders he threw on as well. He left his signature hat on the dresser, however. He had blow dried his hair and combed it a bit to impress the professor to top it all off.

Luke trotted into the living room with a spring in his step, a rosy glow in his cheeks and glittering sparkling eyes.

"Professah~! I was-" Luke's joyful bouncy voice was interrupted by his eyes scanning over the two cops. He suddenly shrunk slightly, shrivelling up inside in worry.

"And that's him." Layton said and tried to reassure Luke using merely his voice. Luke promptly ran over to the professor, grabbing him and pressing his cheek against his.

"I'm not going back to my parents!" Luke said in a flustered whine, wrapping his arms tighter around Layton as if to emphasize it. Layton was a bit concerned over Luke's display for a second but felt soft strands of the child's nicely washed hair brush up against his cheek.

"Are you Luke Triton?" One of the cops asked the child softly, trying to seem friendly.

"Luke Layton!" Luke said, getting more and more flustered by the second.

"Luke..." Layton mumbled as if to say 'please don't let them know about our relationship's extent'.

"Luke Layton, ey?" One of the cops said before giving a chuckle.

"Yeah!" Luke's eyes glittered and shimmered. "I'm gonna marry the professah when I grow up!"

Layton shut his eyes momentarily, taking a deep breath slowly, inhaling and exhaling. Luke could be troublesome sometimes, despite how cute it was.

"Are you now? Maybe one day you'll find a nice girl instead." The cop smiled, not taking Luke's words seriously. Layton was quietly relieved, and Luke looked as if he really wanted to sit on the professor's lap but didn't want to get in trouble.

"Well. We found him." One cop said to the other, before getting up. "Thank you for your time. Layman, is it?"

"Hershel Layton."

"And Luke Layton!" Luke added with a bounce in his voice. The cops gave him a smile and they both left.

"Luke. I will make sure you don't have to go home." Layton assured Luke, gently ruffling his hair which was now astoundingly and almost mesmerizing soft. Luke shut his eyes, making a little purring and cuddling up to Layton's side.