Rated: Teen and up
Characters: Norton Folgate, Gideon Lyme
Chapter 2 of 4: Battery Carsey
Summary: A short break at Gideon’s.
Prompt (from the bingo card): “day off work”
"Coo-ee!" Norton called, too loudly for the small flat.
It was just an austere room, hardly deserving the word 'home'. A stove, bed and desk were all the furniture that could fit in it. But it was better than nothing and more than Gideon would have found if it weren't for the help of Torchwood.b
The desk was covered with an open newspaper, Gideon hunched over it, writing on the margin of an article. Without looking up, he simply answered, "Shoes."
Norton stopped in his tracks, halfway across the doorway.
"It's bad enough that you're coming in without warning," Gideon continued. He set his glasses softly on the table and turned on the chair with a scowl. "And if my landlady came by, I'd be thrown out again." His voice was glacial. "All I'm asking is that you at least take off your mud-covered shoes before you come into my house."
Norton's smile was worrisome to anyone who knew him but especially when he did as told, hanging his coat and hat by the door.
Norton took only a few strides to sit on Gideon's lap and place a quick peck on his lips. Before Gideon could react, Norton had already turned and was now reading the paper in front of him.
Gideon wrapped his arms around Norton with a miffed sigh and rested his chin on his shoulder. "Shouldn't you be at work?"
"The Haunting of House Beyonek?" Norton read out loud, voice filled with amusement. "Despite the lively garlands and decorations, this house holds a terrible secret. Ooh, Norton loves those! The last family to live there disappeared a week ago, leaving all their belongings behind. We interviewed the sister, Ana Blake-"
"And why aren't you at Torchwood?" Gideon interrupted his reading.
"I took the day off," Norton answered quickly. "A haunted house! Smack dab in the middle of London! You'd think we'd have heard about it!"
Gideon sighed, knowing there was more to Norton's statement than what he'd said. "Why? Are you sick?"
Norton ignored the questions and continued reading the article, "A whole family disappeared! Impressive! Where do you think they ended up?"
"Norton…"
"We should go visit!" he chimed cheerfully and jumped off his seat.
But he couldn't walk too far, stopped by Gideon's hand on his wrist. "Norton."
"Yes, Lyme?" he cooed with his signature grin, that attractive smug look.
"You said you had the day off."
"I did say that, yes. Very observant, as always, Lyme." Norton batted his eyelashes but Gideon still hadn't released his wrist. "Is there an issue?"
"Why are you then rushing back to a case?" Gideon pulled on his arm and Norton followed his lead, ending back on his lap but this time, straddling him.
"You make a good point, Lyme, but I'm not quite sure I'm convinced yet-" Gideon's lips cut off his banter and that was enough to keep him still.
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b. Or, rather, Lizbeth specifically. Norton had attempted to help but his name was present on most landlords' blacklists. [ ▲ ]
⁑ Battery Carsey: "Knock at a door"
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