Title: To the Sea Author: paintedrecs Word Count: 172,000 (complete) Rating: Explicit Fandom: Great Pretender Relationship: Edamura Makoto/Laurent Thierry Published: 2024-11-27 Tags: slow burn, pining, post-case 4 canon compliant, healing from trauma, emotional hurt/comfort, epistolary, sloooow build, found family, friends to lovers
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Summary:
“No,” Edamura said, when he saw Laurent leaning against an ornate pillar in the lobby of his hotel.
Laurent simply grinned and waited for Edamura to stalk past the elevator bank and reception desk to join him.
Technically, he merely strode by Laurent, refusing to look him in the eyes, but he slowed his irritation-charged pace and glanced back, just the slightest bit, when Laurent didn’t immediately fall into step beside him.
He looked good, Laurent thought.
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Laurent had developed many skills over the years. With languages, in the bedroom, or even something as simple as convincing other people that his decisions were ones they'd made on their own. He had a good life. A full one, with everything a man could need. A wallet bulging with his marks' money, more stamps in his passport than he'd ever thought possible, and a string of potential lovers he could pick through at will, if he wanted.
That, you see, was the flaw in all of his perfect plans. There was only one thing that Laurent truly wanted. One person, who hated his guts.
The other problem was even more difficult to unravel. Laurent was exceptional at everything, except this: telling anyone, especially himself, the truth.
