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Driving In The Rain.

Summary:

How did Leo Kasper die?

Notes:

Rewrite of another fic I wrote impulsively at 1 in the am. If suicide and descriptions of blood/gore trigger you then don't read this. Also yes this is sort of a reference to Girl, Interrupted.

Work Text:

Danny lay across Leo’s couch, head buried in the throw pillows as the argument progressed.

“Nothing’s ever easy with you, Cash,” Leo seethed from behind the kitchen counter.

“That’s rich coming from you, Leo,” Cash replied as he lowered his head.

Daniel had listened to this tense back and forth for the last fifteen minutes. He could feel the adrenaline start to flush through his system. He could tell something was close to a boiling point.

For the past month, Daniel had been living alongside Leo. He figured it was best for both him and his soon-to-be ex-wife Sarah. It wouldn’t burden the children, and Danny wouldn’t have a stiff neck from sleeping on the couch.

However, lately, it had been hell. Two nights prior, an old friend from high school surprised the couple with a visit. James Earl Cash, often either called Jimmy, James, Jimmy-boy, or more commonly, Cash.

Cash was a very sketchy individual, to say the least.

Even in their youth, Danny could always sense a menacing aura from him. He always walked with his head angled slightly downward and his brows furrowed so that his eyes looked dark. Danny couldn’t even remember the last time he cracked a smile. His knuckles were always calloused and scabbed from fighting. Danny feared Cash. Cash was not a man to mess with. Something cold was behind his eyes. Danny only prayed for Cash’s wife and son.

“Look, the only reason you’re bitchin’ with me is ‘cause I got better,” Leo grinned, his tongue glazing over his canines.

“Better? Leo, the only reason they put you on a high horse is cause you were everyone’s bitch,” Cash rolled his eyes.

“Well, look at you. You were never anyone’s bitch, and here you are on the run staying at my house to leave your wife and son to fend for themselves as you run away from the cops with your tail tucked between your legs,” Leo leaned back.

“And didn’t you do the same shit to that kid? What’s his name again? Garret?”

“My brother’s name is Gary,” Leo snapped, beginning the bubble with rage.

Daniel rolled over, muttering to himself.

Cash and Leo had to be the most insufferable men.

“Can you shut the fuck up?!” He hollered over his pounding headache.

Cash and Leo silenced, their heads turning slowly to Danny.

“I don’t think you have the business interrupting this, Danny,” Cash replied in a dark tone.

Danny looked up, now fearful. The look in Cash’s eyes was different. He’d always thought the man was evil, but he would’ve never anticipated the words that came out of his mouth next. Cash was going in for the kill.

“Both of you are full of shit. Full of it. Especially you, Danny. You can fool everyone with your little shy guy front, but you can’t fool me. Always running to Leo when you need protection. You’re fucking pathetic!” He yelled before he turned his head to Leo. “Oh, and don’t get me fuckin’ started on you either! You’re one to talk about me leaving my family while you’re destroying one! How fuckin’ hard is it for you to keep your hands off a married man, Leo? Probably harder than you when Danny looks your way. You’re a fucking dog. A little bitch.”

Danny stayed quiet, biting his tongue and holding tears.

Cash turned his head back to him. “Now you wanna fucking cry, Danny? Seriously/ You have the gall to cry?”

“Stop talking to him like that!” Leo shouted, shoving cash onto the tile floor.

Danny tucked his head, waiting for violence, but it was dead quiet.

Cash looked up, his sadistic eyes searing into Leo’s.

“And everybody knows. Everybody knows. What they don’t know is that you guys don’t care.”

Danny tucked his head as Leo stormed upstairs to his bedroom, slamming the door behind him.

That night Danny cried himself to sleep. Danny knew words hurt, but he didn’t know they could be this painful.

That morning he woke up to ‘We Are the Champions’ by Queen echoing from the stairs. He rubbed his eyes, glancing over to see Leo’s cat loafing beside him, patiently waiting for his breakfast.

He quietly sat up as the fluffy tabby jumped down and cried out for him.

“Relax, I’ll feed you,” Danny sighed as he followed the cat upstairs.

Typically Loe stored his cat’s food under the bathroom sink. As Danny went upstairs, he passed their shared bedroom, where he found Leo’s old record player spinning. Danny sighed, figuring Leo left it on before going to work. He went over, turning the player off and gently tucking the record vinyl back into its case. From the first floor, he could hear ash call out thanks. Danny ignored it.

Leo’s cat warily approached the adjoined bathroom door, letting out a weaker meow.

Daniel walked, shaking his head at the cat’s seemingly needless pitiful behavior, and opened the door.

His blood ran cold as he looked at the bathtub.

Leo was slumped over, holding his hunting knife. Long vertical cuts ran on his forearms, reminding Danny of the expensive fillets he would eat in Cottonmouth, Louisiana.

He instantly fell to the floor, screaming in agony.

Behind him, he heard heavy steps. It had to be Cash. But he didn’t even try to help. He just looked at Leo’s long-dead body before running out of the house, leaving Danny to call the ambulance alone.

That day would forever be ingrained in his memory. Danny now sat on the front porch, clutching his dead lover’s cat as they hauled his body on a stretcher, covered by a white sheet.

A hand rested on his shoulder. It was his best friend, Michael Grant.

“Come on, man, I’ll let you stay at my place.”

Danny could only nod and wish so hard he’d die as well.