The rain beat down on the winshield as the wiper blades moved back and forth, wiping the water off. Tadashi pulled up at the cemetery.

It was the fitting weather for such a place, providing enough gloom for a grieving heart.

He found the figure he was looking for, huddled not so far away from where he had stopped to look.

Alexander's figure crouched in front of a headstone as the rain kept falling on them both. It wasn't a heavy downpour, but it was enough to make him wet.

This Alexander wasn't a repeat of the one he found eight years ago. This one was worse. He hated it, the way he was seemingly accepting everything.

The Alexander he knew was much stronger than that. Did he need time? Was it the letter? Did he really read it?

Tadashi stopped watching his unmoving figure and turned the engine off before grabbing an umbrella from the back seat.

Under the umbrella, Tadashi remained dry as he walked over to his boss. Close enough, he held the umbrella in place to shield them both from the rain.

The only acknowledgment Alexander gave him was a momentary turn of his head as if to look at his shoes. And with the way he turned back to stare straight ahead, he'd known it was Tadashi by his shoes.

"You're going to catch a cold," said Tadashi.

Alexander didn't answer, nor did he move, so his assistant crouched too. "What are you doing here?" He asked.

Water trickled down from Alexander's hair to the sides of his face and down his chin, the drops now falling slowly as he wasn't getting any wetter.

"I don't think there's really much to do at a cemetery," he answered, sounding tired.

Tadashi humored him with a scoff. "I mean what are you doing visiting a random stranger's grave?"

The headstone read 'Lydia McGregor' below that was a short message. 'I probably owe you money...well bye."

"She seemed like a good person." The Master answered.

"Alexander–"

"I couldn't get to his...grave, I just couldn't," Alexander finally moved. He breathed out heavily and pushed back the dark locks from his face.

Tadashi confirmed one thing at least; he needed time.

He looked at a single flower lying on top of the grave. Droplets of water kept rolling off of its white petals, making it look more beautiful than it already was.

"He liked tulips?" Tadashi asked.

Alexander's facial expression didn't change. "His favorite," he answered. "He always liked just one...apparently many flowers weren't as meaningful as just one according to him. The way he thought...the things he said always fascinated me."

"That sort of makes sense the more I think of it," said Tadashi.

Alexander made a sound between agreement and acknowledgement.

Tadashi closed the umbrella as the rain let up and waited a few moments before he spoke. "I think we should leave Lydia here to rest. We need to talk."

"Talk?"

Tadashi nodded. "Before you ask, it's serious."

"What?"

"I'll start talking when you are dry," said Tadashi, he was already up and walking to the car, closed umbrella in hand.

He got there first and went to pull the door open for Alexander. He stopped instead and turned around at the same time Alexander neared him.

Tadashi pulled him against his chest and held tight with a hand wrapping around him.

The way Alexander didn't react for the first few seconds meant that he'd been caught off guard.

He then moved. "I don't need–"

"Shut up," Tadashi said curtly.

It took a short while before Alexander just accepted the hug. Tadashi's hand stroked the wet hair at the back of his head.

Alexander didn't say a word. But the breath he let out as he let his shoulders slump was more than enough for Tadashi to understand.

꧁______꧂

In the next thirty minutes, Alexander was in his penthouse, away from the cold. Warmer because of the shower he'd just taken.

He didn't catch a cold like Tadashi had suggested, but he didn't look so great either.

He took the cup of hot tea Tadashi had made, then watched as he sipped his own.

Tadashi broke the silence when he thought the timing was right.

"Listen to me, I need you to take some time off, I've already had the Seascape resort prepared. I'll handle everything here. One week... it is a reasonable amount of time isn't it?"

Alexander watched his movements. But he resigned from saying anything in response.

Tadashi stopped. "You're not going to argue with me?"

The Master shrugged a little while something on the window caught his attention. "I'm just so fucking tired."

It was perfect. "I'm glad you know that you need this," said Tadashi.

"No phones, or any electronic device... I know you'll get tempted to find some sort of work," his assistant said. "Don't try it, you won't."

Tadashi was still a little shocked that Alexander didn't protest. He should have already started disagreeing but he hadn't done even as much as interrupt him. He went on.

"I need you to take this time off and think things over, and I mean everything. And when you're back, according to how you've made up your mind, we'll go find them."

Alexander looked up at the last part, directly at him. It had rippled a current of electricity through him to hear that.

"If I'm getting such a reaction only from mentioning them, then you better get on with it. I'd say now was a good time as any, but I think you need this."

Alexander set his cup down and rubbed his face with his hands. He groaned a low sound.

"I have already spoken with the staff so when you arrive, they'll know exactly what to do."

Alexander crackled his knuckles and waited for whatever came next.

༻༺

You're smart. Tadashi wrote the text and sent it.

He'd asked for some answers ever since he'd got a hold of Pierre's pursuer. They were being discreet but Tadashi had his ways. He could be persuasive.

'I do this as a hobby sometimes but thanks.' They answered.

He could at least count on their quick replies if nothing else.

'Who hired you?'

It was a little direct but they'd been going back and forth talking about unimportant things. The other person deflected any attempts of Tadashi trying to know something.

Maybe being direct would trap them.

'If you told me anything about you, I could trace you. You could do the same about me so I don't think I should tell you that,,,,'

The person on the other side was still typing.

'you could be the government or some high class hacker who'd kidnap me and send pieces of my lovely toes to my employer as a threat. Bottom line: I like my toes. I like all of them.'

Just who was he dealing with? Toes? Seriously? Tadashi's lips twitched in an attempt not to smile.

'Well I'm not any of those things I can assure you, but I have a proposal.' He replied.

This time he was determined to get somewhere by all means.

'Oouu I love proposals! But,,, I'm not sure I'll say yes, you know ;('

Oh wow. Tadashi didn't know what he was supposed to say to that, the person was obviously toying with him. He ignored it and replied.

'Let's meet.' He hit send.

This person was way too cheerful, like they were just playing a simple game and nothing more. At this point they could either say yes or no.

'Hold up let me get my pink cat inside.'

Jesus Christ.

'You have a pink cat?' Tadashi quickly texted back. It took the other person a while before they texted back.

'No, course not. I thought we were mentionuing impossible things. Plus I don't like cats :/
also ;((( what sort of typo is that ew.'

Yep, Jesus Christ. And what the hell was that long pause for? Tadashi tried to persuade them.

'It's a good idea. There's a few things you want to know, and a few I'd like to know. Since you already know where he is, this should be off the record right? It'll be any public place of your choosing. of course if you pick that then I'll pick the date.'

Tadashi waited as they texted. He'd say the day after the next one, so that he didn't come off as desperate or something.

'I don't like meeting new people unless it's absolutely necessary, but that does sound a little fair........do I get to pick the food?'

It didn't matter to him either way.

'If you want.' He replied.

'Oh this is prrfect, im going to I'm bleed your pockets dry.'

That was a yes. Fucking finally.

'I think I can manage'

The reply came after a few emoticons he couldn't really understand.

'Fine then, see you. Don't say I didn't warn you'

Tadashi dropped the tablet on his desk and leaned back blowing out a breath.

"That was a little exhausting," he muttered. Then automatically tried to picture who was on the other side of his screen.

A nerd definitely, possibly a kid. Or someone really young with the way they texted, the stuff they said.

Nothing else came up, so he got back to work and waited for the text that would confirm their meeting place.

Hopefully as soon as possible.