The Remainders

Chapter 7

                     Emoji Word Chart
🐜= A  🐝=B 🐱=C 🐶=D 🦅=E 🦋=F 🦟=G
🦀=H 🌴=I 🥀=J🍃=K 🐞=L 🌾-M 🐉=N
🌑=O 🍑=P ✨=Q💐=R ❄️=S🌵=T🐽=U
🐬=V🐋=W 🦖=X 💦=Y🦎=Z
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   "I seriously cannot understand, why you had to bring him back here," Connor hissed angrily, under his breath, "and worst yet, he's supposed to be meeting with a friend!?"
"Correction, Connor," Désiré said, as he helped bring fresh dishes to the plate warmer, "Luka is meeting with his brother."
"Awww, a sweet little family get together," Connor said, in a high pitched voice, and rolling his eyes.
"Well. I. Think..." Désiré grunted under the weight of another stack of dishes, "I think, that the correct term, would be a family reunion, Connor," Désiré concluded his sentence, as he set the dishes in the warmer, "I mean... they have not spoken to one another, for five years."
"Yeeesh," Connor grimaced. Suddenly, a look of curiosity, settled on Connor's face, "I wonder why?" He asked no one in particular, "Sibling rivalry? No... must have been a family death... hmm... no... WAIT! I KNOW! One of them works for the government!
Désiré couldn't help but to smile at Connor's change of heart... and rather outrageous idea.
Even if the change of heart was driven by Connor's ulterior motives (if there was one thing that Connor loved, it was real life drama), Désiré was enjoying Connor's smile. After all, there was not much time for that... not lately, anyway.
When Désiré glanced over at Luka, he could tell that he was nervous. Perhaps it was the pile of shredded napkins in front of him, that gave the nervousness away...
    "Hey, Connor," Désiré said, as Connor was still throwing out guesses, "I think that Luka could use some encouragement..."
Connor followed Désiré's gaze. Indeed, Luka was looking a bit nervous. Actually... very nervous.
"Yeah," Connor agreed, "it looks like he could use some help. Go on, get out of here, Prince Charming."
"Thank you! Bye!" Désiré said, as he practically dropped the remaining dishes into Connor's side of the sink.
"Hey! Wait, wait, wait!" Connor whispered loudly, reaching into a drawer that was near the sink. "Wait... HERE!" He exclaimed, pulling whatever the target was, out of the drawer.
    "What this time, Connor?" Désiré said, in an exasperated tone, and rolled his eyes.
    "Here," Connor said, as he handed a small, circular contraption to Désiré.
     Désiré's eyes widened, and then turned to glare harshly at Connor. He knew exactly what Connor was trying to have him do... "There is NO way, that I am going to allow you to eavesdrop on their conversation, Connor!"
"Please?" Connor begged. "I'll do anything."
Désiré thought about this. How could he pass up Connor's offer? Well, the truth was... he couldn't.
"Free lunch, starting tomorrow," Désiré began.
Connor looked at Désiré. "That's it?" He asked, skepticism thick in his voice. If he knew Désiré, and he did, Connor knew that Désiré drove a harder bargain than just free lunch...
"And two of your blackberry bonanza cakes," Désiré said.
     As he felt the color drain from his face, Connor noticed that Désiré was practically drooling, just by thinking about those blackberry bonanza cakes. Of course, it would be easy for Désiré to eat the cakes. However, to make just one, took effort.
    "Those are going to take me hours to make, Des," Connor whined.
     "Take it or leave it," Désiré said with a shrug, and he started to walk away, towards Luka.
"Okay, okay! Fine! Free lunch, and two blackberry bonanza cakes," Connor sighed reluctantly.
"Deal," Désiré sighed, as he clicked on the device, made a *tsk* sound, and shook his head—"Connor, buddy, I think you need a partner," Désiré concluded.
"I have you," Connor snapped in defiance.
"No, no," Désiré shook his head, "I mean, a female partner. Maybe she could show you that there is more to life, than turning other people's lives into living soap operas."
"How dare you," Connor gasped in offense, "women are boring, and they don't know how to do anything but makeup and shoes!"
Désiré just shook his head, shrugged, and walked over towards the table that Luka, and his now two, napkin stacks were occupying.
"Well, if it isn't the historical Twin Towers," Désiré said, causing Luka to jump out of the seat in a frenzied panic, flying napkin scraps all over the floor.
"Is he here!?" Luka cried, grabbing Désiré by the neck of his shirt, "Oh my G— He's here! What do I do!? What do I say!? This is your fault, Désiré!" As Luka said these last words, he began to violently shake Désiré.
"S-s-s-stop!" Désiré exclaimed, as he took hold of both of Luka's hands, "calm down! your brother is not here. Well... not yet."
Luka looked Désiré straight in the eyes, suddenly realizing what he had done. "I am so sorry!" He quickly let go of Désiré, and then began to straighten out Désiré's wrinkled shirt. "Let's get this fixed, alright?" Luka said.
As Luka fussed over his shirt, his hands gently brushing past the bare skin of his neck, and arms, Désiré felt something tighten in his chest. He began to panic internally, since he knew this feeling. This feeling was wrong, disgusting, forbidden, even. He had to get rid of the feeling, before it was too late...
    "I am so sorry," Désiré was barely listening to Luka apologize again, "I guess I just got nervous, and... we should go out..."
    Well that got Désiré's attention. "I'm sorry?" Désiré asked, feeling his heart jump to his throat. He was sure that he had just misheard Luka.
    "Oh. I was saying, that if my brother doesn't kill me, maybe he and I should go out somewhere. You know? Kind of like a brotherly reconnection."
     And that did the trick. Désiré sighed in relief, as he felt that forbidden feeling slowly melting away.
     "Yeah, I think that would be a great idea," Désiré told Luka, as he snatched his shirt out of Luka's grasp, not wanting the feeling to come back. "In fact," Désiré continued, "I know a great place to hang out."
A smile beamed on Luka's face. "Oh, thank you, Désiré!" He exclaimed, suddenly throwing his arms around Désiré, and pulling him into a hug.
"I-I- umm... you are very welcome, Luka. I-I'm glad that I could help," Désiré stammered, unsure about how to react to Luka's rush of gratitude.
Right as Désiré decided that it would be the appropriate thing to do, to hug Luka back, a suave voice brought Désiré and Luka back to reality— "I Do hope that I am not interrupting anything... Luka?"
"Liam!" Luka exclaimed, as he and Désiré shoved each other away from the hug.
"M-M-Mr. Westfield," Désiré stammered, "I-i-it is n-n-n-nice t-t..."
"Liam, this is Désiré," Luka interrupted Désiré's stammering greeting, "he is my... uh... m-our tour guide!"
"WHAT!?" Liam and Désiré both exclaimed.
"Why do you need a guide for the slums, Luka?" Liam asked in confusion.
      Désiré flinched, at Liam's words. However, he decided to play along with Luka.
      "The slums are full of uselesses, just waiting to pounce on the well fed wallets of usefuls, sir," Désiré said in a dark voice.
      "Oh?" Liam raised an eyebrow, "and just who are you, really, and how did you meet my brother?"
       Désiré mirrored Liam's expression, and Luka panicked. This kid was going to get both of them in trouble with Liam, if he didn't stop with the funny business. "Just tell him, Désiré," Luka demanded in a slightly defeated voice.
      Désiré rolled his eyes, and began to explain to Luka's brother— "Liam Westfield, my name is Désiré. I am not a tour guide."
Liam's glare softened. "I could have told you that," he said, in an understanding tone.
Désiré and Luka both relaxed a bit, under Liam's gaze. Luka had relaxed enough to feel the need for a drink. As a bar maid passed by, with free samples of some sort of beverage, Luka and Liam both picked one.
Acknowledging that they had had similar ideas about needing a drink, both Liam and Luka smiled slightly at each other. "Perhaps," Luka thought to himself, "it is nice to see Liam."
However, as Désiré continued his explanation, it was clear to Luka, that Désiré had relaxed a little too much—
"Luka came here, already drunk," Désiré continued, earning Luka a new glare from Liam, "Connor helped me get him into his..."
"OH MY G—! Are you saying that Luka drove under the influence!?" If Liam's glares could kill, Luka would be dead a thousand times over.
"Oh no," Désiré chuckled, "no, Luka passed out as he was leaving. Connor let me borrow his car, I took him to my place, and he slept with me..."
The next few seconds, were a blur of drinks being spit and coughed out of Liam and Luka's mouths, all three of the young men's faces paling in color, and Connor's scratchy laugh, crackling through on the listening device.
"Who was that!?" Liam demanded, after hearing the laugh. Luka was still too busy choking on his drink, to realize what was going on.
Désiré threw the device down, and moved to stomp on it. Connor's laugh was killed by the heel of Désiré's leather boot.
"Nothing! No one!" Désiré, rambled, followed by a shout of "That's gonna cost you your fee lunch!" Oh well, he would just have to reason with Connor later. Right now, Désiré knew that he had to fix his previous mistake— "of course, what I meant was, that he slept in my bed. Wait! I mean... we... well, I... of course it was my bed, and after he fell asleep, I took the floor... haha... Luka was too out of it to try anything funny, if you get what I mean... haha.. *AHEM*
"Not. Helping," Luka's raspy voice said, as Liam's face was now turning red, and eyes wide.
"What Désiré means, Liam, is that I was unconscious, and he let me take the bed," Luka said hurriedly, desperate to have his poor, traumatized brother, understand.
    "Stop," Liam interrupted, "just stop. I get it... I think."
     "Umm... would either of you like a drink? Connor owes me a few free ones..." Désiré said, wanting out of the situation.
     "Yes please," both Liam and Luka said.
     After Désiré left, Liam signaled for Luka to take a seat, and Luka sat.
     "So Luka, why are you now bordering the safe zone?" Liam asked seriously.
     "I don't know," Luka shrugged, "I was hoping you had that answer, Liam."
      Liam shook his head, "Xander refused to tell me..."
     "Oh, come on! Xander Helwind!? You mean that guy that resembles a young Johnny Depp? Ha!" Luka was practically falling off of his seat, his body wracked by laughter.
      "Laugh all you want, Luka, " Liam said, casually. Suddenly, his tone darkened, "but you should know, that whatever is going on, Xander is watching you."
      Again, Luka just shrugged, "What? Does he want an autograph, or something?"
     "If only it was that," Liam sighed, both frustrated at Xander, and his brother.
     "Hmm," Luka sighed too, and stared over at The main bar.
      For some reason, his gaze landed, almost immediately, on Désiré. Désiré was currently balancing three drinks on a tray, and sneaking some sort of crackers, into his pockets.
     Luka smiled, lost in thought, as he watched Désiré. Suddenly, he began to wonder how, and why, Désiré was actually working in the slums. Normally, usefuls, even if they were undercover, wouldn't be caught dead in a place like this... maybe he would thank Désiré, by treating him to a real lunch! And he knew just the place to...
    "... Hey! Are you listening?" Liam's voice brought Luka back to reality.
    "Sorry, not really," Luka said sheepishly.
     Liam sighed. As he was waiting for Luka to reply, Liam noticed something in Luka's gaze. Though Luka probably didn't realize it, Liam had noticed... but... maybe he was wrong? There was no way... right? After all, Luka had Nikala...
    "I don't think that you should talk to Désiré anymore, Luka," Liam said, finally gaining Luka's attention.
    "What!? Why!?" Luka stared at his brother in disbelief.
     Liam shook his head, "I am not at liberty to say. It's just... I think that he would prove to be a bad influence."
      "What?" Luka repeated.
       Liam rolled his eyes, "Look, Luka, I just came here to give you this," he handed a stack of papers to Luka.
     "Wh-what is this?" Luka's expression darkened.
      "A recruitment list..." Liam looked away. He knew what Luka was going to say...
      "Get. The. 🦋🐽🐱🍃. Out." Luka growled. Liam stood, gave Luka a look of longing, and left.
      "Okay! I have three non-alcoholic drinks... and... and..." Désiré's much too cheerful voice, trailed off, "I guess I should have only brought two..." Désiré said, as he looked around. "Luka..." he said, as his gaze fell on the papers that Luka was still holding, "a recruitment list... oh."
      Luka relaxed. He couldn't show Désiré that he was troubled. "Yeah, cool, right!? I get to go and hunt down some uselesses." His tone was similar to a child receiving a gift.
     Désiré kept his eyes on the paper, his blood turned to ice. "Whatever. It was nice knowing you," he said, flatly. With that, Désiré turned, and walked away, leaving a confused Luka in the isolation booth.