Buenos Aires: Compliments

"Fuck.... Should I destroy another property and wreck this door?" Leon grumbled.

Wolfe shook his head. "You're gonna make them wonder why you broke this door and what the hell we're doing here."

"I know.... I could possibly swing my way down slowly by hanging off this terrace....." He looked at Wolfe. "But you can't do that."

"Yeah.... No way I'm going to try that from this height." Wolfe looked down below, gulping.

"We can't stay stuck here until morning though." Leon sighed.

Wolfe rubbed his chin. "The janitor must come to do their regular clean up before every performance. Then we might be able to ask them for help and get out of here."

Leon sat back down, still unable tot ake away the adrenaline form earlier.

Wolfe was almost shot. This is getting too far, and because of so many factors, he can't do much about it!

He feels so useless! What kind of policeman is he even, Wolfe is more competent than him!

"You know, you're way better at this detective thing than me, Wolfe." He admitted.

Wolfe just widened his eyes. "What are you saying? You've been a top-class policeman for 10 years, Leon Mo."

"I know... But you are much more observant. Like too damn observant."

He continued to let out a list of all the great policeman qualities Wolfe have.

"You are also pretty good at thinking about what to say.... Like with interrogating Yao Yuzhui and negotiating with Mickey Xing."

"You don't let your emotion get the best of you and think ahead..."

"You're just so amazing at this, Wolfe. You're a natural in every single thing you do, you're so---"

"Stop!" Wolfe clamped his mouth. "Stop it already!"

Leon furrowed his eyebrows. "What?"

"You think I'm a damn natural at everything!? Look at yourself, Leon Mo!"

"You can do things no human can! Send a guy flying with one punch, smell polishing oil and noodle soup from miles away! Jump on a fucking moving van like a ninja!"

"You're also very smart too! You got Mickey Xing all figured out, and you know so many things from astrology to science to---- EVERYTHING!"

"Uh.... That's just cause I study at school." Leon scratched his head. "You probably skipped a lot of classes because of acting."

"I studied too! W-Well.... I have a degree in Performing Arts!" Wolfe growled at him. "Don't think that I'm a dumbo just cause I act!"

"I didn't say that!" Leon defended. "I'm just saying that knowing things is nothing out of the ordinary. That just comes with experience and constant studying."

"Strength and physical performance too. I just trained for many years and exercise every single day."

Wolfe nodded. "That's the point! We both have things we're skilled at and most of that are things that come with time! So don't put yourself down too much!"

"I make mistakes too! And don't always reach the right note... I was even a terrible singer at the start. Unlike you, your voice is naturally good like honey....."

Leon suddenly felt a little flustered. "I-It's not that good...."

"You are also a natural performer, Leon Mo. You owned the stage the moment you stepped on it."

Wolfe smiled sadly at him. "For me, I had to work my way through it, I only got a big break since 3 years ago. The last time I saw someone as naturally talented as you...."

"It was Leslie, and even he can't see how lucky he was that he's so good at his own passion."

"That he didn't have to worry about ever messing up, or not looking good enough, acting good enough.... Everyone loves him."

Leon felt this shift in tone.

He thought that when he complimented Wolfe, he would just happily take the compliments due to his narcissism.

He didn't expect that.... It would bring out his anxieties instead.

"Do you envy Leslie Del Mar?" He asked.

"More than you'll ever know." Wolfe confessed.

"But there's someone I envied and looked up to more than anyone else..."

He looked directly into his eyes, and Leon felt those eyes were piercing through him. Making him feel the same pain hidden within them.

"That's you, Leon Mo."

He teared up a little. He continued:

"Ever since we were children, I had always adored you just like one would adore a perfect statue. You were like my idolized big brother, my gege. "

Leon looked away. He had always been a bit avoidant when it's Wolfe himself that brings up their childhood relationship.

"I wanted to be like you, but also knew I never could. I'm just not you, Leon." Wolfe looked down.

"You are perf---- no, you are great.... But you also don't let it get to your head. You are a policeman because you are so damn brave and would do anything for others."

"I don't have that trait. In fact, I'm quite selfish." Tears had fallen, and he wiped them away. "I never take the time to be considerate of others. To stop when I'm hurting them."

"All I know is to get what I want. And that makes me ruin people. I'm a wrecker, Leon Mo."

Leon hugged him. "That's not---"

"No, it's true. Many people have told me so." He chuckled. "My mother was right when she says I break hearts, you don't know how much mess I had with my exes."

"You're probably the type that ends it peacefully and don't talk back when they get mad at you, right?"

Leon shook his head. "No.... I'm just as problematic as you are. I never say anything, and make them feel unneeded, that they were the one who did something wrong."

"When in truth, it's just me. I'm the one who lost interest, yet could not bring myself to break things off."

"Ah, we're opposites. I break things off too quickly, and do it without any sympathy. It always ends up with a lot of screaming and crying." Wolfe chuckled bitterly.

"Both are bad." Leon said. "Let's agree with that."

"Mn..... I guess so. We're both bastards." Wolfe sniffed.

Leon did not answer for a while.

"Well, the only natural thing for humans is to be flawed. Neither of us is flawless, Wolfe." He said. "And that's actually what makes it cool."

"I like that you were not this picture-perfect star that you appear to be on the screen."

He kissed his tears away.

"You're human like me, and you're by my side. When I learn about these things you messed up with, I don't feel so far away from you anymore."

Wolfe nodded. "Me too....."

They just hugged each other for a while. Then, Wolfe looked up at him.

"Leon... I want to talk to you more like this. The cringey heart-to-heart stuff." His lips quirked up a little. "Is that okay?"

He nodded. "Okay. I want to get to know you more too. The current you."

"We have a lot to catch up on."