Chapter Text
It was dark out when Luke had run down the street to the little store on the corner to purchase some tea. They had run out the other day and it had slipped the Professor’s mind to buy more. It wasn’t like he needed the caffeine, but when pulling an all-nighter, the warmth and comfort a cup of tea provided was quite nice. Luke was more than happy to volunteer and had eagerly left the house, running down the street as fast as his little legs could carry him. The boy was always so eager to be helpful, it was quite endearing to the Professor’s old heart.
Layton wasn’t too worried about Luke being out at night. After all, he was just going down the street. The Professor was confident in his own abilities to reach Luke in time should anything go wrong. Though, he doubted there would be any trouble that night. Anything dangerous living in London’s shadows knew to stay away from this street in particular. Anything intelligent, that is.
About fifteen minutes after Luke had left, Layton paused in the book he had been reading when he heard the sound of his apprentice’s footsteps coming back down the street at a fast pace. Being a child, of course, he liked to run around, but accompanying the footsteps was panicked breathing - and as he got closer to the house - a panicked heartbeat. The Professor rose from his chair, taking the time to mark his spot before going to stand behind the front door. He wished he could have just ripped it open to usher Luke inside then and there but he didn’t want the boy to grow suspicious.
After all, no normal person should be able to hear him from so far away.
There was the rapping of a small fist on the door and Layton didn’t waste another second, pulling it open with a small, calm, oblivious smile.
“Ah, Luke, how was—?“ The boy pushed past the Professor to hide behind him. Now that he was so close, the soft sound of the boy’s fearful fluttering heartbeat was unmistakable as his wide watery eyes scanned the street he just came from. Layton looked down at him with concern.
“Whatever is the matter, my boy?” He rested a hand on Luke’s shoulder to help ground him a bit. It seemed to do the trick as Luke almost immediately began to calm down and buried himself against the Professor’s side.
“I- um…” Luke looked between him and the darkness beyond the front door, “I-It’s silly. My mind was just playing tricks on me… I think…”
“Trick or no, it’s okay to tell me what has frightened you. I promise I won’t laugh if that is your worry.” He offered his apprentice a smile and Luke’s fear seemed to melt a little more.
“I-I was walking back from the store when I thought I saw something,” The boy paused a moment, but continued when the Professor nodded for him to keep going, “It… It was hiding in an alleyway, across the street. Its eyes almost seemed to, um, glow, Professor. But it might’ve been a trick of the light. It was still scary though. It looked kind of like a man but because it was so dark it looked like his form was kind of… wiggly? Like he was a mirage or something. I tried to stay in the street lights when he or it or whatever, started to follow me. But then all the street lights went out and I got scared…” Luke buried his face into the Professor’s jacket in order to hide his watery eyes and reddened face. Layton frowned and turned his attention away from the boy to the street beyond.
Luke had been wise to stick to the lights. After all, the biggest dangers to humans lurked in the shadows. It was basically instinct in them at this point to seek safety in numbers. Safety in warmth and light. However, it seemed whoever or whatever had been stalking Luke had decided to plunge the street into complete darkness in order to try to get at the boy. Or perhaps it was one of the more theatrical sorts of creatures. A cute little trick, but Layton was not amused.
He scanned the street, hand on the brim of his hat as he leaned out the door. Sure enough, not too far down the street and hiding in an alley was a wavering figure with glowing red pinpricks for eyes. It stared at him, as though frozen. He imagined whatever it was, was new to London. As he was relatively certain everything that wasn’t quite human knew to stay away from this street and most importantly stay away from this child.
Its gaze went from Layton, to Luke who was still hiding his face, then back up to Layton. No doubt it was confused as to why Luke had sought out safety from him.
After all, the Professor wasn’t quite human himself.
It was part of the reason the Professor had been so hesitant to take Luke on as his apprentice. (Another reason being Emmy, who also wasn’t quite human but not in the same way Layton was. That didn’t mean she did not have the potential to be just as dangerous, however.) The boy was so bright, though. He showed such great potential and his pleading eyes when he had asked to come to London were filled with such warmth. That eagerness to learn, to explore, to hope… It reminded him so much of Her. How could he bring himself to say no?
It had been a little difficult to adjust to life with a small child, but he had managed. He had been good at hiding his abilities in public, but it took him a while to work out how to hide them well enough at home. Luke was a bright and observant boy, so he provided an interesting challenge in that regard. He didn’t exactly know of Layton’s technically half-dead status, and he would like to keep the boy protected and oblivious for as long as he possibly could.
They definitely looked like an odd pair - or trio when Emmy was around - to other beings who Knew.
Hence why this intruder was so confused and probably scared out of its wits when it saw that its prey had sought him out. It must have been clear to this creature that Layton was a lot older and a lot stronger than he seemed.
A small, helpless human child seeking comfort from a being who was meant to hunt them down and steal that which gave them life.
Like a small rabbit seeking shelter in a den of wolves.
Layton narrowed his eyes and glared at the creature. That was all it took, as the wavering shadow vanished into the night. One by one the streetlights flickered back on, bathing their block in light once more.
“Ah, there we are. It must have been some form of electronic trouble. Maybe the power plant was having some issues.” The Professor smiled and slowly closed the front door. Luke was significantly calmer now. His heartbeat returned to its regular calm pace as he pulled away wiping at his eyes. People liked logical explanations; things they couldn’t understand tended to scare them. Besides, he was quite certain that the boy would get no sleep had Layton told him the truth. Luke seemed to cling to that explanation for the lights like a teddy bear as he nodded.
“‘M sorry. I knew it was silly to think I saw a monster…” The boy sniffled, “It might’ve just been a cat or- or a perfectly normal person. I might’ve just offended them by acting so scared…”
“Now, now, I’m sure you did see something or someone, Luke.” Layton knelt to be at eye level with his apprentice. “In those kinds of situations, I prefer you run for safety rather than trying to ignore your sense of danger. Sometimes it is better to be rude and alive than polite and dead. It might not be the most gentlemanly of things to do, but in a matter of survival, sometimes you simply must.” He put a hand to the brim of his hat, an action which Luke mirrored, “I’m just glad you’re safe, Luke.”
The boy smiled a bit, that light in his eyes which reminded Layton so much of Claire returned and made the room feel brighter.
“Now, let’s go relax with some tea.” Layton got to his feet and walked into the kitchen. Something in Luke’s mind seemed to click as he remembered the whole reason he left the house in the first place and dug into his satchel to pull out the fresh boxes he had bought.
“I remembered to get your favorite, Professor!” Luke announced proudly as he followed his hero, holding both boxes high up into the air. “And I got my favorite too because I’m going to stay up all night with you!” Layton chuckled at his enthusiasm, knowing full well that when children ran out of their seemingly endless amount of energy, they crashed hard.
“If you’d like, Luke, you can certainly try. But don’t be surprised if you wind up sleeping in tomorrow morning and missing breakfast.” The Professor put a kettle on the stove before getting out the teacups. He could tell without even looking that Luke was playfully pouting, knowing full well the Professor was right.
It didn’t stop Luke from still trying, of course. He had settled down next to Layton in the parlor, both of them seated with a book and some tea. They enjoyed the soft music playing from the record player, the soothing atmosphere banished any lingering fear Luke might have had.
Layton knew Luke was getting sleepy long before Luke even realized it. His breathing started evening out, his head started to nod, and his eyelids seemingly closed on their own accord. It wasn’t long before he felt a small warmth lean against his side. Layton smiled, putting his book down and gently easing Luke’s book from his hands. He slipped the boy’s blue bear bookmark between the pages and placed it to the side before putting an arm around the boy. Since his favorite teddy bear was all the way in his bedroom, it seemed Layton was deemed a suitable substitute in the boy’s mind.
Even though Layton knew he could easily pick Luke up and carry him to bed, the Professor found he didn’t want to disturb the boy’s delicate sleep. Besides, after what happened, he would prefer to keep Luke where he could see him for the night. He didn’t want to take any risks.
Layton looked down at the boy cuddled up against him and figured that perhaps some sleep wasn’t such a bad idea. He didn’t exactly need it. He hadn’t needed to sleep in a very long time. It had been a while, though, since he allowed himself the luxury of a nap.
Yes, the thought of a nap sounded quite lovely.
So, he leaned back while adjusting his top hat over his eyes. Layton listened to the sounds around him. The soft music of the record player, the breeze that blew down the street, the gentle breathing of Luke beside him. It was the sound of Luke’s heartbeat that gave him the most comfort, however. That delicate little sign of life that he promised Clark and Brenda he’d protect while Luke was under his tutelage.
It was that precious sound that eventually lulled Layton into a peaceful sleep.