Chapter Text
Side effect of heavy boots and old hotels: they make lots of noise. Creaking floors, the soft shuffle across the floor, the whining of a door opening, and finally the thud of a closing door. Such a symphony of sound to back Peter’s groggy state. Of course he had heard all of it. Juno had been the conductor. And now, he was awake.
And he was alone.
Again.
Peter noticed how the bed had already forgotten Juno’s indent.
He wanted to file whatever he was feeling, what he was thinking under “for future consideration,” but the sheer amount of feelings and thoughts could not be contained.
One would think being forced to relay your tragic backstory, thinking your love had died, and then escaping from a collapsing Martian birthing chamber would bring two people closer together.
But, Peter had thought wrong.
Obviously, he had done something. Was it his past? Had Juno seen a monster that lurked beneath the surface? Granted, a person’s past didn’t necessarily define them, but Peter had barely earned Juno’s trust. He saw him murder people and almost destroy a city. Commiting a form of patricide to really drive home the ‘monster’ bit.
After he escaped the first time from Miasma’s prison, Peter had to trust that Juno would still be there. He was, and they both made it out. Not before blowing the entire thing to pieces and Juno losing his right eye. And killing Miasma. Can’t forget that little detail.
That could not have been the cause. Juno was there. He saw how killing Mimasma was the only way out. Juno had literally locked him out of the room.
Maybe he was moving too fast. Peter had told Juno that he might have fallen in love with him. Did that scare his lady away? What had caused him to run? Was it the uncertainty that the word “might” held? Did Juno not want to waste his time with someone who only “might” be in love with him? Peter knew the detective well, and while he knew this was probably not the cause, he still considered it.
What Peter thought soon after was more likely to be the cause. The fact that he had said “love.” A signifier of an intense emotion. Peter remembers the first time he almost said he loved Juno. It has been while playing Rangalian Street Poker with Engstrom for information about the unstoppable train. Juno had asked him to come into a separate room with him. Talking about how he does not trust Engstrom, and honestly, who would? There was every reason to not trust this man. Besides the point, Peter had talked about how he trusted Juno. Trusted him for various reasons, as supported by his research on the infamous Detetive Steel. He had almost said he loved Juno, but stopped himself to say “tolerate.” That was not the right word to use, but it was called for at the time. Peter wishes he could go back in time and slap himself.
Damn. It’s almost sunrise.
Now might be a good time to do what Peter Nureyev is best at.
The nameless thief slips out the window, onto the Mars pavement.