“Grow old along with me. The best is yet to be”– Robert Browning

Where You Belong

Leo sighed to himself as he stared across the room. This was exactly the sort of place he was most uncomfortable in. Socially, he’d never even considered himself quite adequate (although his friends might have disagreed with him) and to be here, simply because of an invite from a good friend, was something of a small annoyance to him.

It wasn’t even that it was a friends invitation. Although, he was fiercely loyal to them and as such would have come if any of his friends had asked. Anywhere, that is, but here, at the height of the Manhattan social life, in a condo he could never even dream of touching if he saved up his salary for his entire career (both already earned and currently projected). So his finding himself where he was at the moment, and he was honest enough with himself to admit this, was only because she had asked him to be here.

Asked, and come in person to deliver the request.

That meant something. Especially when he knew that none of his other friends were there, either having been invited and declined to attend, or having not been invited.

Still, he ran his hand through his graying hair, he wasn’t quite comfortable here. He didn’t fit in, even if she had dressed him up to look the part.

...Her

Her...

...Her...

She was the only thing on his mind tonight; so much so in fact that he’d been watching her the entire evening, and listening when he couldn’t watch. Not exactly a healthy habit, but he wasn’t making a habit of it, precisely. It was more of an occasional indulgence.

She was the only one who could do this to him. Always had, every since the first time they had met, back in college. What exactly he’d been doing a thousand miles away from his own campus with two hours until a final... well, he’d been wondering that himself until he’d met her.

Her being Aubrey Reinard.

Leo had heard her words, even across the crowded campus mall. Aubrey had been speaking with her boyfriend (not the same as her current one). That was all it had taken. A single sentence and he’d been hooked. Not that it was entirely his fault, knowing how well Van and Mai could manipulate people, he supposed there shouldn’t have been surprising that the sound of her voice was intoxicating to him.

That’s just how it was: then and now. The past twenty years hadn’t changed much in that respect. He was just a bit older, not a whole lot wiser when it came to girls though.

Leopold let out another sigh; this was going to be a long evening.

And it was. Not that he hadn’t experienced nights similar to this, but- weren’t parties supposed to be fun? He shrugged to himself as he moved to get yet another glass of champagne. Normally, he didn’t touch alcohol but tonight, for a variety of reasons, seemed to warrant the occasion. Besides, there wasn’t a whole lot else for him to do.

“Excuse me.”

Leopold almost missed the small voice. Still, it managed to intrude in on his thoughts and he turned to find himself facing a delicately sculpted young woman.

Even in his intoxicated state Leo knew this wasn’t going to go anywhere good. He could see it in the woman’s expression as she eyed him hungrily. It was, however, due to his inebriated state of mind that he decided he didn’t really care.

“How may I help you?” he responded politely, pleased that he didn’t slur any of his words.

“You’re rather handsome, you know?”

Leo could feel his ears warming, even through his alcohol induced blush. “Thanks. I think. I never quite- er... Never mind.”

The woman laughed delicately. “It’s quite all right.” She reached out her hand, “I’m Maria.”

“Maria, hm?” Leo took her hand and brushed his lips lightly over the back of hand, while bowing extravagantly. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Maria, darling. They call me Leopold.”

Maria gave a delighted laugh, “You’re funny.”

“Why thank you.”

And that, for the vast majority of the time, was how Leo spent his evening, as the alcohol fueled even more outrageous commentary and flirtation.

Out of nowhere though, he felt a change in the rooms air currents and realized with a sudden, sober clarity, that he lost track of Aubrey. She was no longer across the room, with her boyfriend, but behind him. In fact, he was surprised to find, she was right behind, tugging at his sleeve, urgently.

“I’m sorry... Maria, was it?” Leo apologized, “but it seems my attentions are required elsewhere. Kindly excuse me?”

“But of course,” Maria touched Leo’s forearm with a sensual familiarity as she took his leave.

Freed of his previous engagement, Leo turned to his friend, “What’s up?”

Aubrey looked calm enough, but as she spoke Leo noticed her slightly harried tone of voice, “I can’t find Sean.”

Leo looked around in surprise; it was late and, with the exception of one or two stragglers, the majority of the guests had gone home. It shouldn’t have been that difficult for Aubrey to find her boyfriend.

“So... I was wondering if-“ She broke off.

Leo sighed, his pleasant buzz from a moment ago vanishing as her words doused him in cold water, “You were wondering if I would able to find him for you.”

It wasn’t a question and Aubrey knew it. She always knew.

“Yes...”

Her response was one of a small child, getting caught in a lie with no way out. Still, she lifted her head resolutly as he looked down at her.

Another sigh escaped Leo’s lips, “Fine. I’ll find your little boy toy for you. What are friends for, after all?”

He winced internally, hoping she wouldn’t pick up the bitter tone in his voice, and wondering if maybe he hadn’t just imagined it. It wouldn’t due to upset her when this was her party.

Closing his eyes, he extended his senses, listening for any sound of Aubrey’s boyfriend. A moment later, he felt his cheeks heat up and this time it had nothing to do with alcohol.

“Oh dear...” Leo breathed out a slightly embarrassed laugh, under his breath.

“What?” his friend’s harried look had melted into stony irritation.

He hadn’t meant for Aubrey to hear him, and maybe she hadn’t, but then she had other ways of knowing he hadn’t liked what he had heard.

“Well-“ Leo paused, quite uncertain as to how exactly to proceed with what he had to say.

“Sean’s with another woman, isn’t he?” Aubrey must have taken his silence as confirmation because her eyes immediately narrowed in anger and she began pacing irritably.

“Always always always: he’s with someone else.”

“Well, it seems like he’s almost finished,” Leo offered up tentatively. “He might come back here.”

“Oh, he will, and he’ll act like nothing’s happened. It happens all the time.”

“Why are you still with him then?” Leo felt a cold anger start to well up within him, as his indignant response rushed forth.

Aubrey stopped in her tracks, “Because- I... there’s someone else whose attention I’m trying to get. To make jealous.”

Leo was rather startled by this comment and took a small half step back, in surprise, and thus failed to notice his friends’ slight smile at his reaction.

“Well, then that person is an id-“

“Honey!”

The front door to the condo opened, unceremoniously crashing into the wall, and the words called out had distinct slur to them, Leo thought.

“Hello Sean.” Aubrey spoke the words coolly, as her boyfriend walked into the room. “It appears I must apologize for throwing a boring party?”

“What?”

“Well, you did leave in the middle of it. Find something, someone perhaps, that was more entertaining?”

“I-“

Aubrey laughed gently, “Of course you did. The same as always.”

“Yes,” Sean’s words were less jumbled but he was obviously still quite intoxicated. “As always. Don’t pretend you haven’t been aware of it.”

“I won’t then.”

Suddenly Sean turned to Leopold, as if just realizing he was in the room with them, “And it even seems like you’re having plenty of fun on your own.” His voice was silky and his eyes, cruel.

“No,” Aubrey contradicted Sean, only the slightest hint of anger in her voice, “not the same. It was fun though.”

“Are you referring to me,” asked Sean, “or him?” He pointed at Leo.

“You, Sean. Please leave.”

“And if I don’t want to? Can you make me?”

“I won’t have to.”

Leo watched the entire exchange with mild alarm. It wasn’t as though Sean could actually hurt Aubrey but Leo didn’t really want to take the chance. Accidents did happen, after all.

“The lady asked you to leave. Please do so.”

“And if I don’t want to? Can you make me?”

A small, humorless laugh escaped Leo’s lips, “Yes, I can.” He looked directly into Sean’s eyes as he whipped the air around Sean into a miniature tornado and was satisfied by the slightly scared look in them, as the grey sheen from his own eyes briefly illuminated the room. “Care to test me?”

The other man shook his head fiercely and then turned and hurriedly stumbled out of the apartment.

Aubrey turned to Leo with an amused smile on her face, “‘the lady’?”

“I know, I know, forget it. More importantly, why did he think we would be having-” Leo could feel his ears heat up. “Uh- that we were, entertaining each other?” this last part was said in a bit of a rush.

It wasn’t that he minded the thought, just the implication that he would interfere in another relationship. The idea of being with Aubrey was far from unpleasant, in his mind.

“He...” and here Leo thought his friend seemed a bit uncomfortable, “Well, he’s aware that my feelings aren’t for him. Not the ones he wants and that’s when he started cheating on me: when he figured that out.”

For a few minutes, Leo stood there, trying to comprehend what Aubrey was saying, and then it clicked.

Ever so slowly he moved forward and leaned in, half of him was worried about what would happen if she pulled away, the other half was terrified of the consequences if she didn’t.

For a very brief moment his lips lightly brushed hers.

It was almost a ghost of a kiss but it held within it a deep passion and fierce longing that shocked Leo. He knew how he felt about his friend, of course, but he hadn’t been expecting the feelings to rush to the surface from a single touch.

Apparantly neither had Aubrey as she stood silent, seemingly torn before pulling away or leaning in to the kiss. Then, after a moment, she stepped back and stood there, silent. A long silence stretched between them, made even more awkward than it already was by the increasing dim light of the fading candles.

Finally, after the last candle had burnt itself out and only darkness illuminated by the pale light of the moon through the window remained, Aubrey spoke.

“I don’t know if you should stay...” her words were tentative, and Leo found himself wondering what was causing her indecision.

So he decided to ask, “Why not?”

Aubrey looked away, unable to meet his eyes.

“Hey!” Leo could feel his blood heating up as his friend refused to give him a straight answer. Why was she being so obstinant? All he had done was kiss her. Hell, it had even been borderline chaste.

“Please, just go...”

“And if I refuse?”

Aubrey’s response echoed in the dark apartment and Leo felt his face jerk to the left as her palm connected. He wanted to open his mouth and speak but turned away, towards the door, instead. He didn’t want her to see the hurt left in his eyes as his anger drained away.

Leopold closed his eyes and let the air currents around him sink into his awareness. She wasn’t moving, save for her slightly unsteady breath.

This wasn’t what he had wanted. It wasn’t what he had intended.

Slowly he opened his eyes, wanting to say more but knowing it would change nothing. A small sigh escaped his lips as he headed for the door, desperately wanting her to call for him to wait, even while knowing she wouldn’t. This was goodbye, and the end.

His fingers grasped the cold steel of the door knob and began to open the door. Without warning, he felt a small hand on his left sleeve, grasping not his arm but the fabric around it.
The words spoken were almost too soft for him to hear, but he felt her whispered breath on the wind, asking him not to go: to stay.

“...please...”

He could hear the tears in her voice, as her arms encircled him, and felt the back of his shirt slowly become damp. Still, he said nothing, it was not his place to speak. Any words would have been meaningless. Instead Leo turned into her arms and pulled Aubrey close in a fast embrace.

“Before...” Aubrey hiccupped. “I didn’t want you to stay-”

“I realized that,” Leo replied wrly.

“Shush!” she hit his chest lightly, “I didn’t want it because I only just got rid of Sean.”

Leo wanted to point out that he was aware of this, he had been there an hour ago when her ex had stormed out, same as her, but refrained.

“I wasn’t sure- All I know is I didn’t think you should stay, but when you headed for the door… I couldn’t stand the thought of your leaving. Ever.”

“I won’t then,” Leo lifted her chin so that she was looking him in the eyes. “Leave, ever.”

“But- I’m worried. About Bailey. And Dave. About... us.”

“Shhhh,” Leo placed a finger on Aubrey’s lips silencing her worries. He knew her fears, even shared some of them, but they were not of this moment. All he wanted, he had and she needed to know that.

As he looked into Aubrey’s eyes, tracing the edges of her slender lips with his thumb, Leo allowed himself the barest hint of a smile and then, ever so slowly, he bent down and kissed her, again. A little bit longer this time but still, every bit as soft, tender and passionate as he had before. This was his way of letting her know, without words, that he was hers for as long as she would have him.

If Aubrey’s response was an indication he wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon, and he was glad of that.