Work Text:
“What are you doing with all these bags, Ernest?”
Kat’s tone was light and curious as Ernest placed a cup of freshly-bought tea on the table in front of her.
One would never have thought that, just last night, Kat had unraveled the conspiracy embroiling Ernest’s family— along with Ernest’s plan to ruin the Seven Dragons of London…
Ernest’s gaze shifted towards his bulging knapsack and his duffel bag left on the settee. His baggage— everything he owned— was so heavy. It had felt like such a relief to unload it all when he stepped inside the— Kat’s agency.
The scent of flavoured tea and sweet treats had washed over him— warm, familiar and homely — but beneath that, there was a whiff of something wrong.
Sherl, claiming he wanted a ‘quiet rest’, had retreated out to the kitchen with his tail between his legs, leaving Ernest alone with Kat.
Still, Kat displayed no outward signs of wariness or resentment around Ernest. She had assumed her usual seat and asked Ernest to prepare her some tea— just like any other day before…
It would have been just like any other day— had Ernest not carried out his plan at Richmond Court.
Since he had met Katrielle Layton, for the first time in his life, he had felt truly blessed. He’d been so happy working alongside she and Sherl…
But Ernest had sabotaged it all. Bad luck had nothing to do with it; his childish promise, his ego, and his drive for revenge had gotten in the way.
Why on Earth would he need a castle, when he had the Layton Detective Agency? Why would he need a fortune, when he had real friends?
Why would he need to mislead Kat, when she would have helped him, had he only asked?
Gosh— his eyes were watering again…
Ernest wiped his tears away before he turned to Kat. Putting on a smile, he replied to her, “I’m… I was thinking of moving, Miss.”
There was no point in being ambiguous about this; he had to go.
Ernest Greeves— his chosen identity— was already gone. The alias he had worked so hard to maintain had fallen away the moment Kat revealed his true intentions.
He had wanted to make the Dragons pay, though it turned out they hadn’t stolen a single penny from the Richmond family.
Grandfather’s death wasn’t their fault…
Neither was Mama’s…
No one was at fault, apart from Ernest.
If he remained here, with Kat, he would be nothing but a thorn in her side— a reminder of the lies and the pain he had put her through. How could she begin to trust him again, after all this?
“Really?” Kat audibly gasped, as if Ernest’s reasons for leaving weren’t obvious. “Where are you moving to? Is it closer to the agency? That would be so helpful…!”
Even now, she was humouring him. Ernest’s smile softened with sadness. “I wish that was the case, Miss…” (He wished he could help her, as much as she had helped him.) “But no— I was planning on moving… further away—“
“How far? Could you get the Tube or a bus? Would I need to pay your travel expenses…?” Kat trailed off as Ernest shook his head.
“I need to leave London.”
Kat’s eyes widened, but still, she persisted with this indulgent pretence for Ernest’s sake. “You’re going on holiday? Why didn’t you tell me? I’ll have to… to manage on my own while you’re away…”
Ernest swallowed past the wedge in his throat. “You’ll manage,” he just about managed to say. “Sherl will help— and Inspector Hastings, and Emiliana…”
(The latter two would probably be glad to see the back of Ernest.)
“But they’re not my assistant,” Kat pointed out.
Ernest assured her, “You’ll find someone else— in my absence…”
Someone honest, loyal, and diligent. Someone deserving of her kindness, who would never let her down. Someone who valued her over riches and revenge.
Someone who loved her, more than anything…
“When will you return?” Kat demanded, suddenly surging to her feet.
Ernest stared at her. The room was silent, save for Ernest’s tense breaths.
Kat wasn’t being indulgent and flippant anymore. She was frowning at him.
“When will you return, Ernest?” she repeated, slowly.
“Miss Layton…” Ernest released a sigh. “I… I can’t… not after what I—“
“I foiled your plan before you could see it through,” Kat reminded Ernest. She strode up to him. “No one was hurt. The Dragons might have been a bit shocked— but you’ve made amends with them now—“
“But what about you, Miss?”
Kat looked just as surprised as Ernest felt when he cut her off. He ploughed onwards, “Weren’t you hurt to discover that I had lied to you— manipulated you— all this time?”
“O-of course I was!” Kat snapped at him, finally unleashing that frustration Ernest deserved. “I still am… But do you know what hurts more?”
She seized his hands as if she feared he would suddenly fly out the door.
“F-for you to just leave me— after everything! Like…” Sniffing, she squeezed his hands.
“I don’t want to leave,” Ernest admitted in a whisper. He could feel more tears burning behind his eyes, but he refused to let them fall this time.
“I don’t want that either!” Kat pulled him closer to her.
Ernest’s hands fumbled against her back, until finally, he returned the hug.
“How…?” His chest heaved. “How can you forgive me so easily?”
“You’re not the first friend to deceive a Layton…” Kat shook against him with laughter. “You’re not even the first assistant— and let’s just say there was a lot more at stake, back in Dad’s day.“
“What happened—?”
“I’ll tell you later— tonight!” Kat vowed as she moved back from him. “Right now, we’ve got cases to solve…”
“Tonight?” Ernest repeated as she dashed towards her desk.
Had she booked for the three of them to go out to dinner? Or would they order food in to the agency?
“At my flat,” Kat said vaguely. “You can bring your bags with you…”
Ernest glanced at his luggage. “Are you saying— I can stay the night?”
“You can stay as long as you need,” Kat clarified, smiling at him. “But not for free— you’re going to have to earn that forgiveness by working even harder, and… and keeping my flat tidy.”
“Yes— yes, of course, Miss!” Ernest didn’t mind tidying— he would scrub the entire street from top to bottom if it meant he got to stay!
Kat hummed. “Plus, I’ll be able to keep an eye on you and make sure you aren’t plotting anymore nefarious schemes!”
“I… I wouldn’t dare…”
Kat winked and poked her tongue out at him.
Ernest released a chuckle. “If… As long as I wouldn’t be imposing, then I accept, Miss.”
He placed the potted pink gladiolus on the windowsill in Katrielle’s spare room— now his room, he supposed. (Kat had said her older sister stayed here from time to time, but Flora wouldn’t mind at all.)
The room still looked rather empty, even after he had unpacked all of his possessions…
Kat had offered to return to Richmond Court with him— to collect some of his family’s old belongings— but he had politely declined.
Everything in that castle was to be sold for charity. (Grandfather would have wanted that.)
The castle itself would eventually become an orphanage, but he would leave that for the Seven Dragons to arrange.
He was to remain Katrielle Layton’s assistant— supporting her with cases and hopefully, finding her father.
He owed it to Miss Layton, and he hoped it would one day bring a sense of redemption to himself as well.
He would never be a great, powerful man, as he had promised his mother, but he would strive to be a good one.
“ Ernest? Come help us with dinner!”
“Hurry up, Pinstripes!”
“Won’t be a minute…!” Ernest Greeves smiled around the room before he went out, shutting the door behind him.