1.2 | The Prince of Thieves

Interlude: CHOCOLAT DE JEUNESSE

An Interlude to Sweeten Your Wait OR Leon and Hana Eat the Chocolate of Youth

~

Leon opened the fridge, shivering a little at the blast of cold air against his skin while his eyes scanned the shelves. He was in search of a snack, something sweet to boost his energy after three hours straight of staring at his laptop. Then his gaze stopped at a silver cardboard box. He picked up the box and gave it a shake, remembering that Mickey and some other boys were handing them out a few days ago as part of their 'Welfare Initiative'. Welfare my foot, he had thought at that time, because Mickey had told him that the chocolates had been purchased from a magic shop. Leon hadn't understood – who bought chocolates from a magic shop? – but he did know that it contained chocolate. Chocolat de jeunesse, read the grey, cursive script across the front of the box. He took a while to figure out how to open it. The top of the box was fashioned into a rose; he had to twist it, causing the cardboard petals to unfurl, before two pieces of chocolate revealed themselves. He picked one out and popped it straight into his mouth, chewing slowly. The burst of liqueur against the roof of his mouth made him smile. He loved liqueur chocolates, and this truffle was delicious. Rich, decadent, sweet, with just enough bitter to balance it out. He replaced the box back into the fridge and shut the door.

Then the change happened.

~

Hana had stepped out of their room with the intention to make herself a drink when she stopped short. In the living room was a young boy. A stranger. She blinked. Then she gave the door to their apartment a glance. It was shut.

The boy was on one knee with his head bowed, his hands busy with rolling up his pant leg. His shirt sleeves were so long that they extended below his elbows, and the hem of his shirt was at his knees. Then he looked up.

And she screamed.

'W-who are you?' she stuttered. One hand reached behind for, for something, anything, but she knew there was no knife at hand. He's just a child! Relax!

He blinked. For a wild moment, she thought she was hallucinating, for he looked about him as if suddenly realising where he was.

'Who are you?' he retorted. If he was afraid, then he was hiding it well for he rose steadily to his feet, his arms stiff by his side as if ready to fight.

'I'm...I live here. I own this house. Who are you?'

'I'm Leonidas Federov,' was his cool, simple reply.

'Eh?!' she exclaimed. Were her eyeballs bulging? She was sure they were.

It was possible, that despite being the 'adult' in the room, she was the more scared of the two of them.

His eyes were a large, grey blue, fixed on her with something akin to a curious stare. His pant legs rolled up, he started working on his sleeves, ignoring the way she was eyeing him. Leonidas Federov?! Really?! No way! This is a joke isn't it?!

'Lyonya!' she called out, making desperately for the study.

'It's Leon,' the boy called out from behind her. 'The other name is for family.'

Ignoring the boy, she wrenched open the door to the study, her feet stalling when she saw that it was empty. She checked under his desk just in case. Empty.

'How did you get in here?' she asked, giving the boy another glance. His dark brown hair fell over his eyebrows and his ears, and he swiped at the thick strands with one hand. The fact that Leon actually did that was making her uneasy. The kitchen was empty too, and so was the laundry room, and the spare bedroom, and the library, and the guest toilet.