Paradox Lost: Part 24
It's been AGES since I could come back here! So, without further ado, here's the next part!
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Paradox Lost
~*~*~*~*~*~*
Luke lifted the silver rapier in his hand, pointing it the Professor with a grim smile on his face. Flora sat to one side, her hands covering her mouth and her eyes wide as Layton drew his own rapier and slid into a defensive stance.
"I've dreamed of this moment, Professor. The chance to face you like this... don't hold back! En guarde!" the young man declared and attacked suddenly. Layton parried the blow, evading and striking back. Metal crashed on metal as the two men dueled fiercely, moving all over the rear garden as the locksmith tended to the doors of the Layton household. Young Luke cheered on his mentor while Flora oohed and ahhed and winced at every move, strike and miss.
Finally, the duel came to an end when Layton struck the rapier from Luke's hand and pointed the tip of his own weapon to the younger man's neck. Luke froze, then managed a crooked grin.
"I suspected as much." he remarked and chuckled as the Professor withdrew the blade and sheathed it, reaching over to pick up the fallen rapier, "Thank you for the practice. It seems as though I'm not anywhere near your caliber yet, Professor."
"You weren't as bad as you think you are, Penford." the elder man returned with a smile, handing him the rapier to sheath, "Though it may not be my field of expertise, I do know a few things about fencing and I'm glad to be able to share them with you." Luke flinched slightly as he handed the sword back. "For personal future reference, I should increase our practice sessions when Young Luke gets to be your age. That should be adequate for any demonstrations you may wish to hold."
"Ah... yes. Thank you... very much...." Luke trailed uncomfortably and looked around for another subject, "Where is Hershel? I haven't seen him since the locksmith arrived." His younger self snorted, rolling his eyes at the mention of the other Layton and pointing towards the street.
"The bugger ran off a while ago. Said he wanted to talk to some friends he knows." Young Luke answered, "Seeing as how he's not from here, in a manner of speaking, I would think he's looking for more of those other street boys." Luke blinked at him, startled, then groaned softly and pulled one hand down over his face.
"Hershel Layton, whatever am I to do with you?" he muttered, "Precocious little twerp...."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Finding other members of the Gutter Valley Boys wasn't all that hard; not when Hershel knew the most likely places to spot them. He explored the market streets, watching the food stands as he strolled along, wearing his top hat and coat as usual. Staying at the little brownstone while the locksmith worked on the doors and Sir Luke practiced fencing with the older Layton didn't seem that fun for him. And if he was going to help with his mentor's mission so that Sir Luke could go back with him, then Hershel would have to work at things his own way.
There! He spotted a young girl collapse into a faint near a fruit stand, drawing the attentions of concerned people as the stand-owner hurried over to check on her. Waiting in the shadows for this chance, a pair of boys emerged and hurriedly collected as much fruit as they could fit into their pockets and sacks before retreating into the alleys. Hershel stood and watched with a smile as the girl quickly recovered and scampered off laughingly. Well, no sense in wasting more time. The young Layton darted off to give chase, following the girl into the alleys to meet with the rest of her little entourage.
And it was while he was scampering after those three that Hershel spotted the first clue that these 'future' Gutter Valley Boys were of a different breed than what he knew in his own time. A glint of metal, spotted just on the edge of his vision, and the young Layton yelped, ducking under the surprise attack as his hat remained hovering for a split second. While his attacker skidded past him, arms flailing at the miss, Hershel reached up and snatched his top hat back down, planting it on his head as he continued on in a panic.
"Waaaah! Pa-parah! PA-PARAH!" he yelled frantically, "What in blazes are you doing?! Stop! Stop!"
"Oi! 'Ey! Dat's Hawk-Eye! Knock it off, Diggins!" a familiar voice shouted as Hershel ran into a small empty lot, tripping and tumbling head over heels into the dust. He lay there for only a moment before twisting around and clambering to his feet, eyes darting around quickly to take in the figures of the other children he'd been following now running towards him. He uttered a small gasp of surprise, recognizing the two boys that had snatched up so many fruits.
"Rattik! Duke!" Hershel exclaimed, straightening as another young boy hurried into the lot, a small knife clutched in one hand while the other rubbed at his dripping nose.
"Waaah! Rattik, I'm soooowwy! I wet da bwoke get away!" the child cried pitifully, pointing the knife at Hershel as though accusing him of the crime of not getting stabbed. Rattik blinked at the two boys, then laughed heartily, walking up to rub his head affectionately.
"It's all right, Diggins! Dat be Hawk-Eye! He's one of us!" he explained cheerfully. Hershel sighed in relief before turning a beaming grin at the older boy. Duke joined him, the girl following after in giggles.
"So what's a bloke like you doin' out here?" he asked the young Layton, "You found those old buggers and got yer friends back, eh?" Hershel nodded and curled his hand over his mouth in consideration, brow furrowed.
"Yes, we did, but they're not letting up on us at all." he replied seriously, "That's why I came looking for you chaps. I need your help." The children blinked in unison, surprised expressions on their faces.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
Luke paced the living room in agitation, jaws clenched tightly as he strode back and forth before the expansive window that gave him the best view of the street. Somewhere out there, little Hershel was wandering about in a London that was far different from his own time. He wanted desperately to get out there and retrieve him, but there was just no way he could leave his self-imposed post at Layton's side for any amount of time. And yet if anything happened to Hershel, then everything would fall apart right then and there.
"Geh!" Luke growled, biting his thumbnail fiercely as he paced even more quickly. Flora and his younger self watched him from their seats on the sofa before turning their gazes towards Professor Layton, the older man at the phone and making calls.
"It's his own fault for runnin' off." Young Luke grumbled, sitting back and folding his hands behind his head, "Stupid bloke." The elder Penford gave him a glare as Layton sighed on the phone.
"All right, sir. I'll be in touch, then, should anything else occur. Good day." the Professor murmured and hung up the phone, turning to the children with a shake of his head, "The authorities won't be able to help us recover him this soon. I've filed a report that Hershel's missing, using the name Harold for safety's sake, but it doesn't seem likely that they'll be able to pull themselves from their duties long enough to search for one errant little boy. Even a Layton." Luke made a strangely torn sound, turning from the door to the Professor in frantic indecision. "Luke, stop that; it does no one any good to stalk about the house like that." Layton berated the teen and took up his usual contemplative stance, fingers curling over his mouth as his brow furrowed. "He left to find the Gutter Valley Boys, this is for certain." he mused aloud, "What an interesting puzzle...."
"Puzzle?" Flora echoed in confusion as both Lukes flinched in synch. Layton ignored the expressions, choosing instead to pull out a sheet of paper and a pen from beside the phone, then joining the group at the tea table.
"Here, let me demonstrate this as a puzzle. Perhaps you'll see what I mean this way." he remarked with a smile and neatly folded the paper into six sections before tearing it apart to form six squares. With the pen, he wrote their names on five of the squares, setting the final one aside as it was unnecessary. "Here we have the five of us; Flora, Luke, Penford, Hershel, and myself. Hershel is not with us at the moment so let's place him here." Layton began and slid the paper with Hershel's name off to one side, "Now look at the relationships we have amongst the four that are left here. Let's try to send someone after Hershel, as we know that Scotland Yard will be of little aid to us, what with his distrust of the authorities at this age."
Young Luke and Flora bent forward in interest as Layton's finger hovered over the four squares. Luke huffed, but watched from where he stood, arms folded over his chest. His eyebrow lifted when the Professor finally chose his name and began to slide it across.
"We could send Penford here to retrieve Hershel...." Layton began and Luke snorted.
"No, we can't." he argued, "My reason for being here is to observe you, Professor. Leaving you for any amount of time is detrimental to my mission. We've already seen what happens each time you are away from me for even a short period of time." All eyes turned to him and the young man shook his head, "As much as I would love to go and find Hershel, I simply can't afford to abandon you either." He strode over and plunked a finger down on the paper with Layton's name on it, sliding it swiftly across to join his own name being held down by the Professor. "You'd have to come with me, then. The two of us can find Hershel quite easily."
"'Ey! You'd be leaving me and Flora behind!" Young Luke protested in irritation, "That's not fair!" Luke scowled at the boy as Layton adjusted his hat, frowning.
"It's also not gentlemanly. You shouldn't leave a lady and a youngster alone with unknown persons." he added, looking up at the time-traveler from under the brim of his top hat, "Luke, you should know better than this." Luke felt his face flush at that, embarrassment and guilt burning the tips of his ears.
"Then... then we should all go together! The four of us!" he blurted, sliding the other two papers to join the first ones. Flora opened her mouth, closed it, then blushed as she made a small gesture for attention.
"But... won't that leave the house unguarded as well?" she finally pointed out shyly, "I mean, we're having the locks changed, and none of us have a new key yet and the work is only partially done...." Layton nodded in agreement.
"You are very much correct, my dear. It would be quite foolish for us all to leave and invite thieves into our home while we are away." he murmured, shooting the elder Penford another look that made him mentally writhe in the flames of his own shame. "Why don't we do this instead?" And Layton took control of all four squares of paper, sliding them aside before sliding the one bearing Young Luke's name across to join the Hershel square. Luke bristled.
"We can't do that either!" he argued hotly, "Certain things are occurring that involve my younger self and I highly doubt that you'd be so quick to throw me to the beasts, considering...!" He stopped himself in time, clapping his mouth shut so quickly he nearly bit his tongue. Layton's eyes narrowed at him, a faintly predatory glint in them.
"Considering what, Sir Luke?" the man pressed and Luke huffed again, wagging a finger at him with a wry grin.
"Tsk, tsk, Professor. Shame on you for trying to gain information on the future from me like this." he taunted, "I never knew you could be this underhanded. Perhaps you're regaining what you've learned from the Gutter Valley Boys after all."
"Well, if none of us can go, and all of us can't go." Young Luke began thinking aloud, pushing the bill of his cap up in thought, "And pairs of us can't work... then the only way I can see to solve this puzzle...." He looked down at the table suddenly, a sharp expression on his face that quickly gave way to a wide smile, "Oh! How does this sound?" He jumped forward, pressing his fingers to the sixth square of paper and sliding it over to join the Hershel square. "We'll call someone else to go and get Hershel back! Someone who isn't in Scotland Yard and we can trust!" he declared and beamed up at the Professor, "Right?"
"Quite right, Luke!" Layton praised with a smile and rose to his feet, "And it just so happens that I believe I know the perfect gentleman to help us with this little predicament." He strode back to the phone and began dialing again, the disc of numbers rocking back and forth in a blur under his quick fingers. There was a minute of silence as the Professor waited for a response from the other end, and then....
"Ah, Mr. Riley, this is Professor Layton. .... Good day to you as well, dear friend. .... Would it be too much of a bother for you to perform a small favor for me?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"So's you want us to keep watch for those spiky-headed blokes around P'fessah Layt'n's house? Is dat right?" Rattik asked in confusion. Hershel nodded energetically and the four members of the Gutter Valley Boys looked at one another with some concern.
"I dunno. Isn't this somethin' Scotland Yard can do better than us?" Duke questioned the young Layton.
"Maybe, but I'd feel a lot better if you guys helped out too. I can sneak you some food and things to help out some. Like a payment of sorts!" Hershel pointed out quickly, "Please?! If I know the house is being watched by guys like you, then I can help Sir Luke with his mission and then we'd be able to go home sooner!" Rattik sighed, waving a hand at him half-heartedly.
"Ahh, a'right, a'right! We'll watch the bloody house. And we'll hold ya to the promise of food, too." he finally declared, "Geez. Ya make it sound like it's a matter of life and death, Hawk-Eye." Hershel chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.
"Not really. This is just until Sir Luke's watch says he's done, and then we're all done." he replied and waved to them as he turned to leave, "I'd better get back to the house before it's too late. Wouldn't want Sir Luke to call the constables on me or anything!" The boys and girl waved back as Hershel darted off down the alley back to the market street.
A smile spread over his face as he thought on the arrangements he'd just made with the Gutter Valley Boys. They would take turns keeping watch on the Layton house in case the creepy old man and the creepy other man started poking around there. If the old man was able to find out that Sir Luke was staying with him and his parents in the Layton Manor to attack him there, then maybe he could do it again here. For Sir Luke's sake, Hershel was going to make sure that there wouldn't be any surprise kidnappings or anything like that!
He hurried down the street, unaware of the car that was pulling up beside him until it honked and startled him out of his thoughts. Puzzled but wary, he slowed to a walk, scanning his surroundings to be sure he had a clear escape route in case he didn't like whoever was in the car. A man leaned across the empty seat in his car to stick his head out the window to blink at him.
"Pa-parah." he told Hershel and the boy's eyes widened in shock.
"Wh-what?" he blurted out, startled that this stranger knew the code of the Gutter Valley Boys. The man gave him a worried look.
"You're Harold, aren't you? Professor Layton gave me your description and said you'd respond to the code. Didn't think he knew any new members of the Gutter Valley Boys...." he remarked and Hershel stared at him longer, "So are you him or not?" For another moment, the young Layton remained dumbfounded. Why was this man calling him Harold? Was this another of those things Sir Luke was doing to make sure people didn't know who he really was because they were in his future? And if that was so, then why didn't they just use his nickname of Hesch?
But, wait, this same man knew the codes for the Gutter Valley Boys, and it was the Boys that had given him the name 'Hesch'. So if this was one of the Boys all grown up, and they heard that name from him now... would that do something bad to his future, or something that would mess up Sir Luke's mission?
"Um, um...." Hershel stammered for time before remembering his gentlemanly lessons and straightening his posture, "Y-Yes, sir, that's me." Best go along with it for now. Don't wreck a perfectly good cover story if it's been provided for you, after all. "Professor Layton sent you to find me? May I ask who you are?" The man nodded, smiling at last.
"What a relief! Yes, the Great Professor said you'd be wandering around this part and asked if I could take you back to his house. He's been worried and wasn't able to leave to pick you up himself, what with the house being so open now." he remarked and touched his fingers to his forehead in a mock-salute, "Daniel Riley, at yer service, sir! Y'know, you look an awful lot like Hawk-Eye when he was a kid." Hershel managed a weak smile.
"A-ah, so I've been told...." he returned and frowned slightly. Daniel Riley... the name sounded faintly familiar. Well, the Professor had sent this gent out to take him back to the Layton house and he was once a member of the Gutter Valley Boys, so he should be fairly safe. But just to be sure.... "Did anyone else ask about me when they sent you to find me?" he questioned, eyes narrowing in suspicion. The man called Riley blinked at him, then laughed.
"You really do take after Hawk-Eye! So sharp!" he declared, "Right, right. A young man Layton referred to as your mentor had shouted from the background. Said that if you came back safe and sound, he'd let you wear his blue hat all you like for the rest of the day." Hershel lit up and he hurried to the car door.
"Really?! He said I could wear his hat?!" he asked excitedly and Riley nodded, laughing. A quick motion with his hands on the door and Hershel plopped himself into the empty passenger seat, smiling widely. A chance to wear that hat, Sir Luke's favorite hat! He clapped his hands gleefully at the idea as Riley set to driving them to the Layton house.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The reunion at the Layton house was warm and friendly, with Luke keeping to his word and plopping his own blue newsboy's cap in place of Hershel's top-hat for his reward... after lecturing him on running off without so much as a note and reminding him severely that he was responsible for keeping an eye on him this whole trip. Hershel looked properly abashed and apologized several times and made the usual childish promises of 'I'll never do it again, ever, ever, ever!' before all was finally forgiven. He then set to chasing after Young Luke all over the front garden for having teased him so much about coming home only for the sake of the hat.
"You have my gratitude in bringing him home safely, Mr. Riley." Layton remarked in a soft but genuine tone, quelling the flinch that a headache brought on thanks to his younger self getting into yet another wrestling match with his apprentice. "Though he is technically the responsibility of this young man here, both are under my care as long as they live with me, so I feel the weight of the responsibility as well. I apologize for being unable to leave my home to retrieve the boy, but...." He trailed off in embarrassment, gesturing towards the locksmith that worked on the front door, the last lock in the household.
"Think nothing of it, old chum!" Riley returned brightly, then took on a confused look, "Though I kept having the strangest sense of deja vu. If I hadn't known better, I would have thought that I was looking at a living embodiment of our boyhood memories, the Hershel Layton I knew as a child." The Professor chuckled, a nervous sound that he tried to keep smooth and unassuming.
"Wishful thinking, perhaps? If only we could be that young again. No, my good man, young Harold here is a cousin of mine who came from the countryside for a visit with his mentor. He simply wanted to explore London and you know how restless children can be, especially young boys with a penchant for mischief." Layton replied, not entirely too pleased with himself for telling yet another untruth. He watched the boys tumble across the grass in their rough-housing for a moment before turning back to the young attorney. "I don't suppose you know for certain how goes the... process?" he asked anxiously and Riley sighed.
"It will take a few days for all the records to be changed over properly, but you can still amend your own personal documents to reflect the adoption." he explained, "Though you've already said that you would come to me for this matter, I still suggest getting in touch with the attorney who handles your personal matters to work it out."
"I would be more at ease if it were you who made the alterations." Layton murmured, turning to keep the younger Luke from overhearing him. He was well aware, however, of the intense look being given to him by the elder Luke, who stood by the locksmith as he finished the final touches on the new lock. "I don't wish my family to realize too soon that I've... that I...." He trailed off uncomfortably and Riley gave him a comforting smile.
"I understand what you're trying to say. As a token of our friendship, I will gladly make the alterations to include your son in your documents and preserve their secrecy until such time -and God be willing it be far, FAR in the future- that his true identity needs to be revealed." he agreed and Layton sighed in relief, relaxing a bit. "However...." Here, he tensed again, uncertain as to what the attorney would say next. Riley was giving him a more serious expression before looking over at the young Luke, watching the boy laughing in triumph as he sat on Hershel's belly, pinning him to the ground yet again.
"However?" Layton prompted cautiously.
"At least let him know of your relationship with him." Riley told him firmly, in a low voice to keep from being overheard, "It would be cruel to the boy to deny him the knowledge that he finally has a family again. What if something were to happen to you, though I pray nothing ever does, and he were to learn of who he was only after you were gone? You're a kind-hearted man, Hershel Layton, so I trust you will do what is best, but I implore you anyway." He paused and glanced over at the elder Luke. "And tell the young man there that I thank him for his message, though it's very queer to be told of something like that. I suspect...." Riley began, then stopped and shook his head, "Well, that's not in my place to say. Good day to you and yours, Professor." With that, he stepped back into his car and headed off with a wave.
Layton waved back, his mind already puzzling over those last bits of advice. For some reason, Riley's words seemed to strike a chord with him, as though fitting into place like a puzzle piece, but he had already forgotten what the previous pieces were. Another faint headache and he sighed, dismissing the thoughts for later contemplation as he turned back to the young boys.
"Luke, please get off of Hershel. I think he's well aware that you're much larger than he is and it is starting to become a bit painful...." he called out.
"He's bloody fat, is what he is!" Hershelf yelled in a fury, struggling under Young Luke's weight. Luke strode over to the two of them with a harsher sigh.
"Off, half-pint! Don't break the future!" he griped, hoisting his younger self up into the air by the back of his shirt. Young Luke flailed in surprise.
"'Ey! Put me down! Professah!" he cried in alarm and Layton only sighed, lifting a hand to his forehead as Flora giggled behind her hands. The locksmith stood from his work and walked up to the Professor, holding out a set of keys.
"Work's all done, sir. These be your new house keys." he told him and wiped his brow with a handkerchief, "Hoo, warm day. Well, if that be all ye need of me...." Layton nodded, thanking him quietly as he pocketed the keys, "Right, then. Good day to ye." The locksmith tipped his hat, then tottered off to his own car, the vehicle whining in complaint as he drove off.
By then, Luke had set his younger self down to help Hershel up, then flipped open the Time-Binder, studying it grimly as the minute hand completed its circuit and both hands clicked down to the fifth hour. So the fourth event was now complete. He only wished he knew for certain how Don Paolo had gotten past the new locks and deadbolts to reach the Professor. The face of the watch was also glowing, a soft green color that was one of several coded alarms built into the device. Green was the color of a personal Time-shift, an alteration in the past that affected a single entity in the future. The soft chime that accompanied such an alarm had gone off in Mr. Riley's office, but he was uncertain as to whose personal history had been altered; his own, or Hershel's?
Luke's hand tightened around the pocket-watch suddenly, willing back tears that threatened to fall as thinking of the chime reminded him of what he had learned there. Thanks to his interception of the letter in the attorney's office, he now had a motive to place in this historical tragedy.
"My fault. He died because of me." Luke hissed under his breath. Don Paolo had wanted him, but Professor Layton had adopted him, forever keeping the mad scientist from his goal... unless Layton was no longer alive to keep him. But why? That was the main question. Why was all this centered on him? Was it because of the money?
Luke fished out his notebook again, flipping past the time-shifted pages to the newest notes. According to the copy he had made of the letter, Don Paolo had wanted him BEFORE the adoption could take place. So then he didn't want Luke to take Layton's name? Without that name, the Layton estate wouldn't be under his control. What did that old nutter want from him that could only be given if he lacked the name?
He tapped the notebook against his lips, watching without truly being aware of it as Professor Layton called Young Luke and Flora over to him to pass out the new keys. Young Luke clutched his happily, smiling broadly as his mentor... father... pointed out to him that he should keep that key safe and secure. Flora held her own tightly in hand, an expression of joy on her own face that made Luke blush and look away quickly. He felt a small hand in his and looked down at his apprentice in surprise.
"It'll be all right, Sir Luke. I asked the Boys to help watch the house and keep those creepy old men away from you." Hershel told him, looking so solemn and serious despite wearing the blue cap in place of his top-hat. "We'll finish what we came here to do and then we can go home. Just like you said." Luke gazed down at him with a tremulous smile, fully aware that things would not go as the young Layton planned or hoped. He knelt and placed his hands on the boy's shoulders, schooling his expression into one that was more light-hearted and worry-free.
"That's right, Hershel. When it's all done, we'll be back where we belong." he murmured, feeling his own heart twist at those words.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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Paradox Lost
~*~*~*~*~*~*
Luke lifted the silver rapier in his hand, pointing it the Professor with a grim smile on his face. Flora sat to one side, her hands covering her mouth and her eyes wide as Layton drew his own rapier and slid into a defensive stance.
"I've dreamed of this moment, Professor. The chance to face you like this... don't hold back! En guarde!" the young man declared and attacked suddenly. Layton parried the blow, evading and striking back. Metal crashed on metal as the two men dueled fiercely, moving all over the rear garden as the locksmith tended to the doors of the Layton household. Young Luke cheered on his mentor while Flora oohed and ahhed and winced at every move, strike and miss.
Finally, the duel came to an end when Layton struck the rapier from Luke's hand and pointed the tip of his own weapon to the younger man's neck. Luke froze, then managed a crooked grin.
"I suspected as much." he remarked and chuckled as the Professor withdrew the blade and sheathed it, reaching over to pick up the fallen rapier, "Thank you for the practice. It seems as though I'm not anywhere near your caliber yet, Professor."
"You weren't as bad as you think you are, Penford." the elder man returned with a smile, handing him the rapier to sheath, "Though it may not be my field of expertise, I do know a few things about fencing and I'm glad to be able to share them with you." Luke flinched slightly as he handed the sword back. "For personal future reference, I should increase our practice sessions when Young Luke gets to be your age. That should be adequate for any demonstrations you may wish to hold."
"Ah... yes. Thank you... very much...." Luke trailed uncomfortably and looked around for another subject, "Where is Hershel? I haven't seen him since the locksmith arrived." His younger self snorted, rolling his eyes at the mention of the other Layton and pointing towards the street.
"The bugger ran off a while ago. Said he wanted to talk to some friends he knows." Young Luke answered, "Seeing as how he's not from here, in a manner of speaking, I would think he's looking for more of those other street boys." Luke blinked at him, startled, then groaned softly and pulled one hand down over his face.
"Hershel Layton, whatever am I to do with you?" he muttered, "Precocious little twerp...."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Finding other members of the Gutter Valley Boys wasn't all that hard; not when Hershel knew the most likely places to spot them. He explored the market streets, watching the food stands as he strolled along, wearing his top hat and coat as usual. Staying at the little brownstone while the locksmith worked on the doors and Sir Luke practiced fencing with the older Layton didn't seem that fun for him. And if he was going to help with his mentor's mission so that Sir Luke could go back with him, then Hershel would have to work at things his own way.
There! He spotted a young girl collapse into a faint near a fruit stand, drawing the attentions of concerned people as the stand-owner hurried over to check on her. Waiting in the shadows for this chance, a pair of boys emerged and hurriedly collected as much fruit as they could fit into their pockets and sacks before retreating into the alleys. Hershel stood and watched with a smile as the girl quickly recovered and scampered off laughingly. Well, no sense in wasting more time. The young Layton darted off to give chase, following the girl into the alleys to meet with the rest of her little entourage.
And it was while he was scampering after those three that Hershel spotted the first clue that these 'future' Gutter Valley Boys were of a different breed than what he knew in his own time. A glint of metal, spotted just on the edge of his vision, and the young Layton yelped, ducking under the surprise attack as his hat remained hovering for a split second. While his attacker skidded past him, arms flailing at the miss, Hershel reached up and snatched his top hat back down, planting it on his head as he continued on in a panic.
"Waaaah! Pa-parah! PA-PARAH!" he yelled frantically, "What in blazes are you doing?! Stop! Stop!"
"Oi! 'Ey! Dat's Hawk-Eye! Knock it off, Diggins!" a familiar voice shouted as Hershel ran into a small empty lot, tripping and tumbling head over heels into the dust. He lay there for only a moment before twisting around and clambering to his feet, eyes darting around quickly to take in the figures of the other children he'd been following now running towards him. He uttered a small gasp of surprise, recognizing the two boys that had snatched up so many fruits.
"Rattik! Duke!" Hershel exclaimed, straightening as another young boy hurried into the lot, a small knife clutched in one hand while the other rubbed at his dripping nose.
"Waaah! Rattik, I'm soooowwy! I wet da bwoke get away!" the child cried pitifully, pointing the knife at Hershel as though accusing him of the crime of not getting stabbed. Rattik blinked at the two boys, then laughed heartily, walking up to rub his head affectionately.
"It's all right, Diggins! Dat be Hawk-Eye! He's one of us!" he explained cheerfully. Hershel sighed in relief before turning a beaming grin at the older boy. Duke joined him, the girl following after in giggles.
"So what's a bloke like you doin' out here?" he asked the young Layton, "You found those old buggers and got yer friends back, eh?" Hershel nodded and curled his hand over his mouth in consideration, brow furrowed.
"Yes, we did, but they're not letting up on us at all." he replied seriously, "That's why I came looking for you chaps. I need your help." The children blinked in unison, surprised expressions on their faces.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
Luke paced the living room in agitation, jaws clenched tightly as he strode back and forth before the expansive window that gave him the best view of the street. Somewhere out there, little Hershel was wandering about in a London that was far different from his own time. He wanted desperately to get out there and retrieve him, but there was just no way he could leave his self-imposed post at Layton's side for any amount of time. And yet if anything happened to Hershel, then everything would fall apart right then and there.
"Geh!" Luke growled, biting his thumbnail fiercely as he paced even more quickly. Flora and his younger self watched him from their seats on the sofa before turning their gazes towards Professor Layton, the older man at the phone and making calls.
"It's his own fault for runnin' off." Young Luke grumbled, sitting back and folding his hands behind his head, "Stupid bloke." The elder Penford gave him a glare as Layton sighed on the phone.
"All right, sir. I'll be in touch, then, should anything else occur. Good day." the Professor murmured and hung up the phone, turning to the children with a shake of his head, "The authorities won't be able to help us recover him this soon. I've filed a report that Hershel's missing, using the name Harold for safety's sake, but it doesn't seem likely that they'll be able to pull themselves from their duties long enough to search for one errant little boy. Even a Layton." Luke made a strangely torn sound, turning from the door to the Professor in frantic indecision. "Luke, stop that; it does no one any good to stalk about the house like that." Layton berated the teen and took up his usual contemplative stance, fingers curling over his mouth as his brow furrowed. "He left to find the Gutter Valley Boys, this is for certain." he mused aloud, "What an interesting puzzle...."
"Puzzle?" Flora echoed in confusion as both Lukes flinched in synch. Layton ignored the expressions, choosing instead to pull out a sheet of paper and a pen from beside the phone, then joining the group at the tea table.
"Here, let me demonstrate this as a puzzle. Perhaps you'll see what I mean this way." he remarked with a smile and neatly folded the paper into six sections before tearing it apart to form six squares. With the pen, he wrote their names on five of the squares, setting the final one aside as it was unnecessary. "Here we have the five of us; Flora, Luke, Penford, Hershel, and myself. Hershel is not with us at the moment so let's place him here." Layton began and slid the paper with Hershel's name off to one side, "Now look at the relationships we have amongst the four that are left here. Let's try to send someone after Hershel, as we know that Scotland Yard will be of little aid to us, what with his distrust of the authorities at this age."
Young Luke and Flora bent forward in interest as Layton's finger hovered over the four squares. Luke huffed, but watched from where he stood, arms folded over his chest. His eyebrow lifted when the Professor finally chose his name and began to slide it across.
"We could send Penford here to retrieve Hershel...." Layton began and Luke snorted.
"No, we can't." he argued, "My reason for being here is to observe you, Professor. Leaving you for any amount of time is detrimental to my mission. We've already seen what happens each time you are away from me for even a short period of time." All eyes turned to him and the young man shook his head, "As much as I would love to go and find Hershel, I simply can't afford to abandon you either." He strode over and plunked a finger down on the paper with Layton's name on it, sliding it swiftly across to join his own name being held down by the Professor. "You'd have to come with me, then. The two of us can find Hershel quite easily."
"'Ey! You'd be leaving me and Flora behind!" Young Luke protested in irritation, "That's not fair!" Luke scowled at the boy as Layton adjusted his hat, frowning.
"It's also not gentlemanly. You shouldn't leave a lady and a youngster alone with unknown persons." he added, looking up at the time-traveler from under the brim of his top hat, "Luke, you should know better than this." Luke felt his face flush at that, embarrassment and guilt burning the tips of his ears.
"Then... then we should all go together! The four of us!" he blurted, sliding the other two papers to join the first ones. Flora opened her mouth, closed it, then blushed as she made a small gesture for attention.
"But... won't that leave the house unguarded as well?" she finally pointed out shyly, "I mean, we're having the locks changed, and none of us have a new key yet and the work is only partially done...." Layton nodded in agreement.
"You are very much correct, my dear. It would be quite foolish for us all to leave and invite thieves into our home while we are away." he murmured, shooting the elder Penford another look that made him mentally writhe in the flames of his own shame. "Why don't we do this instead?" And Layton took control of all four squares of paper, sliding them aside before sliding the one bearing Young Luke's name across to join the Hershel square. Luke bristled.
"We can't do that either!" he argued hotly, "Certain things are occurring that involve my younger self and I highly doubt that you'd be so quick to throw me to the beasts, considering...!" He stopped himself in time, clapping his mouth shut so quickly he nearly bit his tongue. Layton's eyes narrowed at him, a faintly predatory glint in them.
"Considering what, Sir Luke?" the man pressed and Luke huffed again, wagging a finger at him with a wry grin.
"Tsk, tsk, Professor. Shame on you for trying to gain information on the future from me like this." he taunted, "I never knew you could be this underhanded. Perhaps you're regaining what you've learned from the Gutter Valley Boys after all."
"Well, if none of us can go, and all of us can't go." Young Luke began thinking aloud, pushing the bill of his cap up in thought, "And pairs of us can't work... then the only way I can see to solve this puzzle...." He looked down at the table suddenly, a sharp expression on his face that quickly gave way to a wide smile, "Oh! How does this sound?" He jumped forward, pressing his fingers to the sixth square of paper and sliding it over to join the Hershel square. "We'll call someone else to go and get Hershel back! Someone who isn't in Scotland Yard and we can trust!" he declared and beamed up at the Professor, "Right?"
"Quite right, Luke!" Layton praised with a smile and rose to his feet, "And it just so happens that I believe I know the perfect gentleman to help us with this little predicament." He strode back to the phone and began dialing again, the disc of numbers rocking back and forth in a blur under his quick fingers. There was a minute of silence as the Professor waited for a response from the other end, and then....
"Ah, Mr. Riley, this is Professor Layton. .... Good day to you as well, dear friend. .... Would it be too much of a bother for you to perform a small favor for me?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"So's you want us to keep watch for those spiky-headed blokes around P'fessah Layt'n's house? Is dat right?" Rattik asked in confusion. Hershel nodded energetically and the four members of the Gutter Valley Boys looked at one another with some concern.
"I dunno. Isn't this somethin' Scotland Yard can do better than us?" Duke questioned the young Layton.
"Maybe, but I'd feel a lot better if you guys helped out too. I can sneak you some food and things to help out some. Like a payment of sorts!" Hershel pointed out quickly, "Please?! If I know the house is being watched by guys like you, then I can help Sir Luke with his mission and then we'd be able to go home sooner!" Rattik sighed, waving a hand at him half-heartedly.
"Ahh, a'right, a'right! We'll watch the bloody house. And we'll hold ya to the promise of food, too." he finally declared, "Geez. Ya make it sound like it's a matter of life and death, Hawk-Eye." Hershel chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.
"Not really. This is just until Sir Luke's watch says he's done, and then we're all done." he replied and waved to them as he turned to leave, "I'd better get back to the house before it's too late. Wouldn't want Sir Luke to call the constables on me or anything!" The boys and girl waved back as Hershel darted off down the alley back to the market street.
A smile spread over his face as he thought on the arrangements he'd just made with the Gutter Valley Boys. They would take turns keeping watch on the Layton house in case the creepy old man and the creepy other man started poking around there. If the old man was able to find out that Sir Luke was staying with him and his parents in the Layton Manor to attack him there, then maybe he could do it again here. For Sir Luke's sake, Hershel was going to make sure that there wouldn't be any surprise kidnappings or anything like that!
He hurried down the street, unaware of the car that was pulling up beside him until it honked and startled him out of his thoughts. Puzzled but wary, he slowed to a walk, scanning his surroundings to be sure he had a clear escape route in case he didn't like whoever was in the car. A man leaned across the empty seat in his car to stick his head out the window to blink at him.
"Pa-parah." he told Hershel and the boy's eyes widened in shock.
"Wh-what?" he blurted out, startled that this stranger knew the code of the Gutter Valley Boys. The man gave him a worried look.
"You're Harold, aren't you? Professor Layton gave me your description and said you'd respond to the code. Didn't think he knew any new members of the Gutter Valley Boys...." he remarked and Hershel stared at him longer, "So are you him or not?" For another moment, the young Layton remained dumbfounded. Why was this man calling him Harold? Was this another of those things Sir Luke was doing to make sure people didn't know who he really was because they were in his future? And if that was so, then why didn't they just use his nickname of Hesch?
But, wait, this same man knew the codes for the Gutter Valley Boys, and it was the Boys that had given him the name 'Hesch'. So if this was one of the Boys all grown up, and they heard that name from him now... would that do something bad to his future, or something that would mess up Sir Luke's mission?
"Um, um...." Hershel stammered for time before remembering his gentlemanly lessons and straightening his posture, "Y-Yes, sir, that's me." Best go along with it for now. Don't wreck a perfectly good cover story if it's been provided for you, after all. "Professor Layton sent you to find me? May I ask who you are?" The man nodded, smiling at last.
"What a relief! Yes, the Great Professor said you'd be wandering around this part and asked if I could take you back to his house. He's been worried and wasn't able to leave to pick you up himself, what with the house being so open now." he remarked and touched his fingers to his forehead in a mock-salute, "Daniel Riley, at yer service, sir! Y'know, you look an awful lot like Hawk-Eye when he was a kid." Hershel managed a weak smile.
"A-ah, so I've been told...." he returned and frowned slightly. Daniel Riley... the name sounded faintly familiar. Well, the Professor had sent this gent out to take him back to the Layton house and he was once a member of the Gutter Valley Boys, so he should be fairly safe. But just to be sure.... "Did anyone else ask about me when they sent you to find me?" he questioned, eyes narrowing in suspicion. The man called Riley blinked at him, then laughed.
"You really do take after Hawk-Eye! So sharp!" he declared, "Right, right. A young man Layton referred to as your mentor had shouted from the background. Said that if you came back safe and sound, he'd let you wear his blue hat all you like for the rest of the day." Hershel lit up and he hurried to the car door.
"Really?! He said I could wear his hat?!" he asked excitedly and Riley nodded, laughing. A quick motion with his hands on the door and Hershel plopped himself into the empty passenger seat, smiling widely. A chance to wear that hat, Sir Luke's favorite hat! He clapped his hands gleefully at the idea as Riley set to driving them to the Layton house.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The reunion at the Layton house was warm and friendly, with Luke keeping to his word and plopping his own blue newsboy's cap in place of Hershel's top-hat for his reward... after lecturing him on running off without so much as a note and reminding him severely that he was responsible for keeping an eye on him this whole trip. Hershel looked properly abashed and apologized several times and made the usual childish promises of 'I'll never do it again, ever, ever, ever!' before all was finally forgiven. He then set to chasing after Young Luke all over the front garden for having teased him so much about coming home only for the sake of the hat.
"You have my gratitude in bringing him home safely, Mr. Riley." Layton remarked in a soft but genuine tone, quelling the flinch that a headache brought on thanks to his younger self getting into yet another wrestling match with his apprentice. "Though he is technically the responsibility of this young man here, both are under my care as long as they live with me, so I feel the weight of the responsibility as well. I apologize for being unable to leave my home to retrieve the boy, but...." He trailed off in embarrassment, gesturing towards the locksmith that worked on the front door, the last lock in the household.
"Think nothing of it, old chum!" Riley returned brightly, then took on a confused look, "Though I kept having the strangest sense of deja vu. If I hadn't known better, I would have thought that I was looking at a living embodiment of our boyhood memories, the Hershel Layton I knew as a child." The Professor chuckled, a nervous sound that he tried to keep smooth and unassuming.
"Wishful thinking, perhaps? If only we could be that young again. No, my good man, young Harold here is a cousin of mine who came from the countryside for a visit with his mentor. He simply wanted to explore London and you know how restless children can be, especially young boys with a penchant for mischief." Layton replied, not entirely too pleased with himself for telling yet another untruth. He watched the boys tumble across the grass in their rough-housing for a moment before turning back to the young attorney. "I don't suppose you know for certain how goes the... process?" he asked anxiously and Riley sighed.
"It will take a few days for all the records to be changed over properly, but you can still amend your own personal documents to reflect the adoption." he explained, "Though you've already said that you would come to me for this matter, I still suggest getting in touch with the attorney who handles your personal matters to work it out."
"I would be more at ease if it were you who made the alterations." Layton murmured, turning to keep the younger Luke from overhearing him. He was well aware, however, of the intense look being given to him by the elder Luke, who stood by the locksmith as he finished the final touches on the new lock. "I don't wish my family to realize too soon that I've... that I...." He trailed off uncomfortably and Riley gave him a comforting smile.
"I understand what you're trying to say. As a token of our friendship, I will gladly make the alterations to include your son in your documents and preserve their secrecy until such time -and God be willing it be far, FAR in the future- that his true identity needs to be revealed." he agreed and Layton sighed in relief, relaxing a bit. "However...." Here, he tensed again, uncertain as to what the attorney would say next. Riley was giving him a more serious expression before looking over at the young Luke, watching the boy laughing in triumph as he sat on Hershel's belly, pinning him to the ground yet again.
"However?" Layton prompted cautiously.
"At least let him know of your relationship with him." Riley told him firmly, in a low voice to keep from being overheard, "It would be cruel to the boy to deny him the knowledge that he finally has a family again. What if something were to happen to you, though I pray nothing ever does, and he were to learn of who he was only after you were gone? You're a kind-hearted man, Hershel Layton, so I trust you will do what is best, but I implore you anyway." He paused and glanced over at the elder Luke. "And tell the young man there that I thank him for his message, though it's very queer to be told of something like that. I suspect...." Riley began, then stopped and shook his head, "Well, that's not in my place to say. Good day to you and yours, Professor." With that, he stepped back into his car and headed off with a wave.
Layton waved back, his mind already puzzling over those last bits of advice. For some reason, Riley's words seemed to strike a chord with him, as though fitting into place like a puzzle piece, but he had already forgotten what the previous pieces were. Another faint headache and he sighed, dismissing the thoughts for later contemplation as he turned back to the young boys.
"Luke, please get off of Hershel. I think he's well aware that you're much larger than he is and it is starting to become a bit painful...." he called out.
"He's bloody fat, is what he is!" Hershelf yelled in a fury, struggling under Young Luke's weight. Luke strode over to the two of them with a harsher sigh.
"Off, half-pint! Don't break the future!" he griped, hoisting his younger self up into the air by the back of his shirt. Young Luke flailed in surprise.
"'Ey! Put me down! Professah!" he cried in alarm and Layton only sighed, lifting a hand to his forehead as Flora giggled behind her hands. The locksmith stood from his work and walked up to the Professor, holding out a set of keys.
"Work's all done, sir. These be your new house keys." he told him and wiped his brow with a handkerchief, "Hoo, warm day. Well, if that be all ye need of me...." Layton nodded, thanking him quietly as he pocketed the keys, "Right, then. Good day to ye." The locksmith tipped his hat, then tottered off to his own car, the vehicle whining in complaint as he drove off.
By then, Luke had set his younger self down to help Hershel up, then flipped open the Time-Binder, studying it grimly as the minute hand completed its circuit and both hands clicked down to the fifth hour. So the fourth event was now complete. He only wished he knew for certain how Don Paolo had gotten past the new locks and deadbolts to reach the Professor. The face of the watch was also glowing, a soft green color that was one of several coded alarms built into the device. Green was the color of a personal Time-shift, an alteration in the past that affected a single entity in the future. The soft chime that accompanied such an alarm had gone off in Mr. Riley's office, but he was uncertain as to whose personal history had been altered; his own, or Hershel's?
Luke's hand tightened around the pocket-watch suddenly, willing back tears that threatened to fall as thinking of the chime reminded him of what he had learned there. Thanks to his interception of the letter in the attorney's office, he now had a motive to place in this historical tragedy.
"My fault. He died because of me." Luke hissed under his breath. Don Paolo had wanted him, but Professor Layton had adopted him, forever keeping the mad scientist from his goal... unless Layton was no longer alive to keep him. But why? That was the main question. Why was all this centered on him? Was it because of the money?
Luke fished out his notebook again, flipping past the time-shifted pages to the newest notes. According to the copy he had made of the letter, Don Paolo had wanted him BEFORE the adoption could take place. So then he didn't want Luke to take Layton's name? Without that name, the Layton estate wouldn't be under his control. What did that old nutter want from him that could only be given if he lacked the name?
He tapped the notebook against his lips, watching without truly being aware of it as Professor Layton called Young Luke and Flora over to him to pass out the new keys. Young Luke clutched his happily, smiling broadly as his mentor... father... pointed out to him that he should keep that key safe and secure. Flora held her own tightly in hand, an expression of joy on her own face that made Luke blush and look away quickly. He felt a small hand in his and looked down at his apprentice in surprise.
"It'll be all right, Sir Luke. I asked the Boys to help watch the house and keep those creepy old men away from you." Hershel told him, looking so solemn and serious despite wearing the blue cap in place of his top-hat. "We'll finish what we came here to do and then we can go home. Just like you said." Luke gazed down at him with a tremulous smile, fully aware that things would not go as the young Layton planned or hoped. He knelt and placed his hands on the boy's shoulders, schooling his expression into one that was more light-hearted and worry-free.
"That's right, Hershel. When it's all done, we'll be back where we belong." he murmured, feeling his own heart twist at those words.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*