Love is a Three Letter Word [You]

XV

"Be careful," Vincent warned, "that book stack isn't steady. I'm still-" Adrian turned to face Vincent but his warning fell on deaf ears. The stack of books on that table started falling. He turned back to look at it, but he noticed too late. Vincent rushed forward and pushed him to the ground as books fell onto his back. 

"Are you okay?" he smiled, even though everything hurt. Adrian stared up at him, blinking, trying very hard to figure out what happened. 

"Yes?" 

"Goo-" Vincent winced, standing up. He held his wrist and assessed the damage. He totally landed on it wrong, likely a sprain, damnit. 

"I'll go get the first aid kit!" Adrian scrambled to his feet and ran around searching for the nearest one. 

"You..." Vincent turned to face the voice. "I need to talk to you," the stranger that was driving the truck yesterday grabbed his hand and dragged him outside. What was his name again? Lau? He clung tightly to Vincent's now-injured wrist and never let go, even when they reached their destination. He pushed Vincent up against the wall and stared down at him with his eyes only slightly open. 

"Where is Sky?" 

"Sky?" Vincent tilted his head innocently. "I'm sorry, I'm new in town. Could you describe them for me?" 

"Blavat Sky," Lau clutched Vincent's wrist tighter. "You were the last person to see him. I know it. I glanced at the last IDs he made. What was it again? Vi-" Vincent pulled Lau forward with the arm Lau was clinging to so preciously. It caught him off guard and Vincent used that to spin the two around. He grabbed the pocket knife hiding in Lau's shirt and opened to press the blade against his throat, after slamming him into the wall. 

"I don't know who you are or what your relationship to him is but if you want to remain in the world of the living you should leave me alone," he warned, pressing the blade against him enough to cause Lau to bleed. 

"We aren't close but he is a valued customer and I would prefer to have him back alive," Lau frowned. "You won't kill me," he smirked. "You're here to avoid drawing attention to yourself. I have many people that would start searching for the reason I disappeared." 

"I don't have to kill you," Vincent pressed his knee against Lau's crotch. "I just have to damage you in enough places so you get the memo to leave me alone." 

"Do it. Go ahead." Lau glanced to the door. "I know you have good hearing. You've noticed his footsteps, haven't you? Adrian is looking for you. It won't be long until he does. If you're going to torture me, do it quickly." Vincent didn't take the bait, he just let the knife go further into Lau's neck. "I don't want to die, really," Lau insisted. "I don't even care who you are. I promise. I just want my customer alive and traveling to where he is supposed to go- ahck!" Vincent put more pressure on Lau's crotch. 

"He has someone waiting for him out of the country!" Lau blurted out. "I just want them to be happy, please, no one would believe a word he says. He says crazy things all of the time. You have nothing to worry about! Nothing to worry about from me either- ahahaha. Please stop, do anything else and I just might get turned on!" Lau pleaded, his face turning a light shade of pink. "I'm a terrible drug addict, okay? No one listens to anything I say either because I'm high 99% of the time!" He wasn't lying. Vincent smelled numerous scents on his clothing. 

Vincent sighed, returning the knife and taking a step back. "I'll think about it." 

"Thank you very much," Lau brought his hands together in a praying motion and bowed slightly. "My dreams of being a father are not doomed." 

"What are you two doing out here?" Adrian asked, holding the first aid kit. "You're bleeding," he pointed to Lau's neck. 

"Oh, this?" Lau laughed, holding his neck. "I've gotten into knife-play recently. It's nothing to worry about." 

"Knives?" Adrian looked at Vincent and then to Lau. "What does that have to do with Vee?" 

"You didn't know?" Lau gasped, slinging his arm around Vincent. "This guy has a knife fetish," he pointed. "So many knives but he doesn't actually cook with any of them! Joker told me that the only food in his apartment right now was watermelons. What else would he use knives for? I saw him get a new one just the other day so I thought 'oh, yes, teach me your knife ways and turn me on with that cold gaze!'"

"Did Joker really tell you that?" Adrian didn't look very convinced. 

"Okay, you've caught me," Lau sighed, "I heard about the new guy in town and I went to his place myself to check it out." Oh. So that's the reason there were fingerprints on the window's glass. Vincent thought it was the triplets spying on him initially but realized there would be more than the two hand prints. 

"Do you really have a knife fetish?" Adrian looked to Vincent. 

"Of course he does! I confronted him on it and he immediately complied! We were just about to get to the good part and you ruined it!" Lau puffed out his cheeks. "Now I'm hard for no reason," he sighed, shaking his head and removing his arm from Vincent. "I expect us to pick this up again later!" Lau pointed, running off. "I know where you live! I want my full experience!" he shouted. 

"Uhm..." Adrian opened the first aid kit and held out the ace bandage. "Do you want me to wrap it for you? Your wrist..." 

"Oh, sure," Vincent rolled up his sleeve and held out his wrist. 

"Sorry about Lau," Adrian apologized. "He is rather strange." 

"I'm sure he means well," Vincent smiled. The only thing on his mind now was whether or not this counted as holding hands. Adrian's hands were touching his, even if it was only slightly, but did this count? Hm...just because Adrian was wrapping his wrist didn't mean he was doing this because he liked him. Did Vincent know his sexuality? Damn. He should've been paying more attention to his body language. His face was just too distracting. So nice to look at-

"Did you hear me?" 

Vincent blinked. "No, I'm sorry, what did you say?" 

"Do you really have a knife fetish?" he laughed, feeling awkward for repeating the question. 

"It's true that I have a lot of knives but..." Vincent paused, unsure of what to say. "I've never used them like that. I'm not very into sadism. I prefer to treasure the person I love," he smiled.  

"Oh," Adrian closed the first aid kit and returned the smile. Was Vincent imagining things or did that smile look forced? Was he disappointed with that answer? 

"Hm, maybe that's not the best way to put it," Vincent closed his eyes and crossed his arms. He moved his finger to his temple and tried to find a better explanation. "I don't know what I like or don't like. I've never looked into any fetishes for myself." 

"You've never thought about it?" 

Vincent opened his eyes and melted at that innocent curiosity. Outside of Alois, no one had ever been this interested in him before. YouKnowWho pretended to be at times, but Vincent was so focused on trying to keep their relationship going he couldn't remember the specifics of those conversations. 

"I can't say that I have." 

"Are you two going to stand out here flirting all day or are you going to get back to work?" Alan huffed, crossing his arms. 

"Sorry," Vincent apologized. 

"We weren't flirting!" Adrian insisted. 

"Uh huh, sure," Alan rolled his eyes.