Content Warning: Stalker POV in Beginning, mentions of violence

He watched, waiting as a low growl escaped his lips, barely audible to anyone but himself as he stared out at the car, following a safe enough distance behind that he was unnoticed throughout the trip. And when they pulled into the parking lot, those eyes continued to stare, locking onto Lucas with disgust as the detective carried Diederich inside. Who was that man? Why was he touching Diederich, no one was allowed to touch Diederich!

‘Except me.’ A slow, sickening grin began to tug at Cedric’s lips as he put the car into drive, pulling out of the parking lot and going to find his own hotel, to figure out his plan of action. He’d wait. He’d be patient. With his daughter now safely at his mother’s house, he had nothing holding him back.

If Diederich wouldn’t be his, he’d be dead. At least they would be together in the afterlife. The sickening grin only grew as he pulled into the parking lot of his own hotel. Lucas wouldn’t be around all the time to protect him. For now, he would let Diederich have his sense of false security. It would only make it all the better when he finally took his prize.

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Lucas checked the perimeter first once, then again, before bringing the supplies from the car inside and up to their room, pleased to find that Diederich was still sleeping. Honestly, he was amazed the man had been able to stay awake as long as he had to start with.

Blue eyes flickered to the sleeping blonde’s face, sighing quietly. He wasn’t the type to be able to handle something like this, Lucas could tell that just to look at him. Too innocent, too trusting. But then… from what he understood, that was what had gotten the young teacher into this mess in the first place.

Quietly, he put away the clothes before moving to the bed, sitting on the edge as blue eyes ran over the sleeping man’s face, taking in every detail. Soft, almost feminine features. A small body. Flawless skin save for the one small scar that sat under his right eye, a lingering memory from some forgotten accident. Blonde locks that shone in the light of the room like gold… Lucas had to admit, Diederich was incredibly cute. Down to the soft, full lips that Lucas could so easily lean down and capture with his own… no. No! He definitely had not thought that. He was here to protect this man, not to take advantage of his fears.

Sighing quietly, he stabbed his fingers through his hair lightly, sparing Diederich one last glance before shaking his head.

“Dammit, kid…” He muttered, the raven haired detective forcing himself to stand. Laying a painkiller on the nightstand with a glass of water for when Diederich awoke, Lucas slipped from the bedroom into the suite living room, dialing his boss.

“How is he?”

“Sleeping right now. We’re settled in, he seems to be in a lot of pain. Gave a fake name, told the front desk we’re married.” Lucas bit back the urge to groan as he updated his boss, particularly hearing the snort that came across the line.

“Married?Jones, what the hell? Here I thought I’d never get you to settle down.” The man teased, amusement coloring his tone before turning completely to business. “In all seriousness though, be careful. The kid has been through a lot, take good care of him. His safety is your only goal here, let us worry about everything else.”

“Got it.” Lucas grimaced slightly, hanging up and pressing a cigarette between his lips and heading outside to light it, content that Diederich was sleeping safely and the suite was secure. Take a deep drag, he sighed. His boss's words bothered him, to say the least. As though he were going to pull something as unprofessional as falling for the client he was protecting.

Lucas had never wanted to settle down, not even when he was younger. The idea of commitment half terrified him. There were so many things that could happen, and he had never wanted to take that risk. He took another deep drag of his cigarette, before finally putting it out, returning to the room, surprised to find Diederich wide awake and trying to sit up.

“Careful. You shouldn’t be up.” He scolded, moving to the blonde side and handing him the painkillers and glass of water. “How are you feeling?” The raven haired man did his best to keep his voice soothing. After all, it wasn’t Diederich’s fault he was assigned this case, and surely he had to be sore enough that he could use a little bit of gentle care.

“Sore… I’m fine though. I’m not used to staying in bed.” Diederich grumbled sleepily, rubbing at his eyes with the back of his hand. “I didn’t sleep too good though… kept having bad dreams. You.. You’re sure he doesn’t know where we are, right?” Diederich half pleaded, before burying his face in his hands.

“I don’t… I still don’t understand. Why is this happening to me? What did I do to deserve this? I try to be a good person… I even tried to politely tell him I wasn’t interested! I wasn’t trying to be rude, I just don’t have the time for a relationship.” He sniffled, beginning to shake as he thought about it.

Lucas’s eyes widened in panic as the other began to shake. Shit, fuck, shit! He was not particularly skilled at comforting people, sitting beside the blonde and awkwardly taking his hands.

“Shhh… Shhh. You didn’t do anything. Honestly, that’s probably exactly why he got so attached. You’re too innocent and nice for your own good, kid. You just happened to attract a creep. Everyone has gotten one at one point or another, you just got unlucky and got one who took it way too far.” He shrugged, as though it weren’t that big of a deal.

“I mean… if it were me, I’d be thinking how lucky I am. You survived, right? And look, you got me here to protect you, and be damned if I’m going to let anything happen to someone I’m looking after, that gives me a bad reputation.”

“I’m not a kid..” Deiderich sniffled, rubbing at bleary eyes. The words did the trick though, even as Diederich leaned forward until his forehead rested against the bigger mans shoulders, arms wrapping around Lucas’s own and clinging on, the young teacher trying his best to ignore the blossoming pain the position caused him.

Lucas was right. He was going to be safe. That man had disappeared anyhow, right? There was no way that he could have possibly followed them here, not without them noticing. He was safe. Eventually, when he’d healed and they were sure the threat was gone, he’d be able to return home. To return to teaching.

Would he ever feel safe again in his house though? Maybe he’d begin to look for a new one? There was time though, before he had to think about that. For now, that concern seemed so far away, it might as well have been nonexistent.

“Thank you…”

If Lucas had been surprised by the arms wrapping around his own, the face burying against him, the quiet thanks stunned him even more.

“Uh… for what? I’m just doing my job, it’s not that big a deal.” Shit. He was not used to these types of situations. Lucas was not the social type, even as work, he usually kept to himself. But Diederich… he’d never quite met anyone like Diederich before. Everything the younger man said, he just seemed so damned sincere, and it was throwing the detective off.

The blonde flushed slightly, emerald eyes locking on cerulean and holding, even as a small smile tugged at his lips.

“For protecting me! It’s nice to know I’ve got someone so big and strong keeping an eye out for me. I don’t think I’d feel half as safe with someone else. So I just… wanted to thank you.” Perhaps it was the amount Diederich spent around small children that coaxed out that honest sweetness. After all, with little ones, if you weren’t genuine, they simply wouldn’t trust you.

Lucas stared at him in stunned silence for a moment, then another, before finally speaking.

“...You’re welcome. You don’t have to worry… They’re going to get him.” He reassured once more, even as he shifted to pull the other closer. His heart gave a strange thumping in his chest, face flushing slightly as he simply readjusted Diederich in his arms until the younger man was leaning against him more comfortable, head on his shoulder.

He would never admit it, but the warmth of having the blonde man there was more pleasant than he cared for.