Who: Brooke & Leonard What: Brooke is dropping some truths. When: Thursday afternoon (Backdated to the Truth Plot) Where: Streets Rating: Low most likely
Brooke was mortified and ready to lock herself up in her house until this truth mess was done. Yes, she was brutally honest about 98% of the time; however, there were certain thoughts she kept to herself. Or had until today and now, she was sure her professor was probably going to have some things to say or her grade would suffer for it. Brooke still couldn’t believe she had told her professor he was a misogynistic pig who wouldn’t know right even if he pulled his head out of his ass.
The class had loved it, the professor did not, and Brooke was pissed at the dome. Oh yes, she had thought it and was planning to tell him once she never had to take his class again. Now? Well, she hated to see what was going to happen from the comment. Not that she wouldn’t fight it, but she still had to deal with it. Not needing to drop any more truths of any kind, especially ones that might admit to her possibly liking someone or digging herself a nice grave that she didn’t need, she figured keeping away from people was for the best. Take out existed for a reason, and this was the perfect reason as far as Brooke was concerned. Now she just had to figure out what to do with her phone. Hating the idea of being apart from it, but she knew it was best for everyone. Walking towards her house, she spotted Leonard and tried to do a U-Turn quickly to avoid him. Oh god, he was the last person she wanted to be dropping any truth bombs with, knowing he’d enjoy himself way too much. Hoping maybe he didn’t see her, and she could find the long way around.
Leonard was on his way to work when he spotted a familiar face who did an abrupt U-Turn as soon as those pretty eyes looked in his direction. Chuckling to himself, he picked up the pace to catch up to her.
Yes, the thief was aware of the weirdness going on around Madison Valley. He’d had more than a few people come up to him and just admit they found him attractive. One person even offered him money to go on a date. Sure, it fed his ego, but Leonard wasn’t interested. The only person he wanted to sleep with, to be with was Sara Lance. No doubt whatever was affecting him was affecting Brooke too.
Hence why she was trying to make a beeline in the complete opposite direction of him. Too bad for her, with Leonard’s long stride, he caught up to her easily and fell into step beside her.
“Hello, Brooke. Fancying running into you here,” Leonard said, offering her a playful smirk. “Though, one has to wonder, why you were running away from me just now.”
Brooke was someone who was honest about most things, but she had a few topics that she tended to avoid talking about. Did she lie? No, she just usually changed the topic or…well okay, she did lie sometimes, but mainly when it was involving the topic of feelings. If she knew without a doubt that all she’d say to Leonard was about him being hot or how she’d sleep with him, then Brooke wouldn’t care. Just like she wouldn’t care if any of her honesty was about Sara. Considering she told him without being forced to that he was hot so that wasn’t even a worry or concern.
No, it was the possibility of things she didn’t want being known coming out of her mouth that had her doing a quick turn around to avoid Lenoard. Of course, he had seen her and caught up with her! All she wanted to do was give him a sarcastic reply back to what he was wondering, but she knew the damn dome wasn’t going to allow that. “Because I do not want to risk being all open and honest about things I don’t feel like sharing. Even more so with you because I know you’ll have fun with it,” she said before groaning out in frustration. God damn truth, and she didn’t even need to look at him to know he was probably all amused. “First my ex as a ghost and now this, the dome can go fuck itself.” That part she didn’t care as much about coming out since she would’ve told Leonard that without being forced to say it.
It was true. There was a good chance that if Brooke told him the truth about anything, he’d tease her about it. However, if the roles were reversed? He had little doubt in his mind that Brooke would do the exact same thing. After all, it was the nature of their relationship. They teased each other, exploited weaknesses, and cracked jokes. At the end of the day, they drove each other crazy, but they were friends. Leonard was protective of Brooke as surely as he was protective of anyone else he considered a friend here.
“Oh come on, Brooke. You think for a second that if the roles were reversed that you wouldn’t be having a field day with whatever I told you,” Leonard replied smoothly. “That’s how this relationship works. We tease each other, but it’s never with true malice.” And if what Brooke told him was something serious then he wouldn’t ever use it against her. He was a cold hearted bastard on occasion, but not about things involving his friends.
“But now that you brought it up. How was it running into your old boy toy from home?”
Brooke knew without a doubt if the roles were reversed that she’d do the same thing whether she was forced to do it or not. Just like she’d figured he’d probably try to avoid her so he didn’t end up spilling some things he may not feel like sharing. While she did tease him, and he teased her, Brooke knew he wouldn’t do anything that would leave her feeling like a fool or in danger. The same went the other way as Brooke would always have his back and be there for him even with the teasing. She trusted him; however, she didn’t trust what might come out of her mouth, and that was not good.
His comment normally would’ve probably had her faking some innocent act, but the dome wouldn’t even let her do that. Groaning when she opened her mouth and the teasing wouldn’t come out. Brooke didn’t care if it made her look like a crazy person, she was annoyed right now by the dome making her unable to make some teasing comments. “I know I would without even a second thought.I’d be having a field day, and with me not knowing what might come out of my mouth, I wanted to avoid all of this.”
Any other time, the boy toy comment wouldn’t have had any impact when it came to her reactions. This time? Brooke couldn’t even stop herself as the words poured out of her mouth. “Jake was never a boy toy, he was my boyfriend and I loved him. I know some words no one ever thought I’d say. As for having him around, it was awkward, sad, and a whole other range of emotions. Did ask a guy out in part to shut Jake up, which then brought back the guilt I have around his death. Ignoring how he doesn’t blame me,” and Brooke wanted to throw herself in front of a moving car to shut up. It didn’t matter if Jake didn’t blame her, she did and she also blamed her dad.
“Too bad for you that I spotted you before you could make a clean getaway.” Leonard was enjoying the fact that Brooke couldn’t actually tease him back. Not that Leonard was actually teasing either. Everything he’d said to her so far had been laced with truth. Including him clearly spotting her before she’d been able to get away from him and his sharp tongue.
It was obvious that Leonard had deliberately called her boyfriend a “boy toy” to get a rise out of her. And she didn’t disappoint in the slightest. The young woman beside him rose to the occasion spectacularly. However, Leonard found he couldn’t actually tease her for any of it. She was being genuine and honest. It was clear she cared about this guy and that his presence here had left her sad and shaken. Despite his original intent, Leonard felt his heart go out to her.
“While I sometimes consider you the devil incarnate, I don’t believe you are incapable of loving Brooke. Of course you actually asking a guy out just to shut him up was kind of harsh.” Though Leonard could understand she was probably attempting to push him away too. Keep those feelings at bay that he brought crashing in with his arrival in Madison Valley.
“If the dome pulls this shit again it shouldn’t be for a while. Gives me time to work on my vanishing act next time I see you.” Partly true, but enough the dome allowed her to say it. That would depend on what she had going on whether she wanted it known or not. Brooke hated being unable to reply with any sarcasm like she normally did with him, and she was sure he knew it was bugging the hell out of her. Oh, she’d make up for it with a bunch of sarcastic texts to him once she was able to tell the truth, but for now, she was stuck without her sarcasm. There were a few people who would’ve loved this.
Brooke was a lot of things, and she knew not all of them were good, especially before the psycho killers, but Jake had always been in her life. She knew he could be a dick and that he drove her nuts more often than not; however, she would always defend the people she cared about. Leonard was in that category but Jake meant the world to her and it was partly her family’s fault for him being gone, making her even more determined to defend him even when she knew Leonard was being Leonard.
Brooke laughed at him claiming how she was sometimes the devil incarnate, shaking her head. “And it’s one of the things you like about me,” she added with a smirk, amused at the whole thing. “I did love him, then he got killed with the help of myself and my dad setting him up to where he was an easy target,” she still hated her father for that, and even more pissed because now he was dead and things had been on the tense side between her and her father, which now they’d never be able to fix. “It was more like I may be interested in someone around here, Jake was being a dick because he has a habit of being a dumbass when he gets jealous, and yeah, I decided to not let Jake be such a douche so I decided to make the first move for once. Went against my normal rules of having the guy ask me out,” Brooke knew for some it was stupid, but she knew she was worth it, and if a guy wanted her attention, then he was going to work for it. Though for once, she decided to go against it partly because she did like Ben and partly because Jake was being an ass. “After I chewed Jake a new one for being such an ass, he just wants me happy even if he’s upset it won’t be with him..” And why the hell could she not shut up? Brooke wanted some tape to shut her damn mouth and stop giving up all the details about her life, knowing she wasn’t a big sharer on certain things about herself.
“Well, it at least keeps our relationship interesting if nothing else,” Leonard returned smoothly. If she wasn’t her devilish, smartmouth self, he knew he wouldn’t like her nearly as much. No, there was never a dull moment between the two of them when they were together. It was something Leonard could appreciate.
He could also appreciate the guilt she felt over this guy’s death. It was possible she would never fully get over it. Something that dark and sad left a mark on your consciousness for life. While Leonard did not regret killing his own father, he did regret abandoning Mick to the Time Masters. While it sounded as if his friend had managed to have a good life anyway, Leonard knew he would carry around that regret for the rest of the time this place gifted him.
“Death leaves a stain on your soul. I should know,” Leonard replied honestly. His answer was the truth, but he kept it vague. At the admittance that she’d broken her own rule just to keep Jake from being a douche elicited a chuckle from Leonard. “I have to give this guy some credit. He made you break your golden rule. He must have been obnoxious as fuck about you dating this mystery man.” Or overly protective. Of course, in the end, Jake only wanted her to be happy. It sounded as if his jealousy was born from a place of honest love and loyalty. He just wanted the best for Brooke because he knew she deserved that much.
“But I suppose, maybe this guy you asked out should get the medal of honor for being the one you broke your rule for. He must be one hell of a guy because you’re stubborn as hell about that kind of thing,” Leonard added, glancing over her. “And part of me wants to ask his name because you can’t lie.” And Leonard wanted to make sure whoever Brooke was going out with was worthy of her in all her divine devil incarnate glory.
“And I quite enjoy our relationship…well when I can be my normal self and not all spilling my heart out with the truth,” she admitted, which she knew Leonard would understand. It might be fun for him right now considering she couldn’t be firing any sarcastic replies, but the banter was what made their relationship fun. The two spoke their mind, and while some people might not be a fan of that, she preferred it that way since she was very much known for doing that with most things.
As Brooke reflected on Jake’s death, she started to realize she was in a way the cause of death for a few people. That thought hitting her made her feel even more horrible because if it hadn’t been for her, then they might be alive. Or at least not been taken at the time they did. Maybe it was a good thing she was interested in someone already dead because her past romantic interests didn’t leave her with a great track record. The lack of death to people she knew was one of the parts that she loved about this place. His comment did catch her attention, and she couldn’t stop herself even though normally she would’ve managed without much of a problem. “Who was it for you? But yeah, it really does a number on you, and I have a few that are on me,” Brooke never claimed to be a good person, and she was honest about how she was trying to be a better person. Though she never really admitted all the shit she had done or the bodies that were on her in a sense.
She couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the part about giving Jake some credit. “He’d love hearing that, but he has always been able to get under my skin. And yes, we had a habit of trying to make the other jealous at one point. So if anyone is going to be able to annoy me, it’s him.” Brooke knew there were probably a billion reasons for why Jake had been acting the way he was, but she couldn’t say what it was or even the multiple reasons for it. All she knew after their talk was that he did want her happy, which meant a lot to her coming from him. Not that she’d say that unless the dome made her.
Brooke gave him the finger since the dome was leaving her unable to make any sarcastic comments, but she did have a smile on her face at the comment. “Yeah, well, I think that should wait to see if it actually happens and if he can handle my stubborn self who is not always the easiest person to be in a relationship with.” All of that was things Brooke was comfortable admitting, but at least the dome had been kind enough not to dig into the deeper meaning behind her comments. Raising an eyebrow at his comment, she tilted her head to look at him. “Is that your way of wanting to know his name without actually asking it? If you really want to know, I’ll tell you, but don’t go making it weird or anything.” Though if asked right now, Brooke would say she liked having someone who cared enough to watch out for her. Not that she couldn’t do it herself; however, she liked knowing she had people who had her back.
If she’d asked him at any other time, Leonard would have deflected. However, with Madison Valley’s truth spell firmly in place, Leonard had no choice, but to give Brooke an honest answer to her question. “Many of them are nameless, but I did kill my father,” Leonard replied quietly. Blue eyes darkened at the memory, but when he looked over at Brooke, there wasn’t an ounce of remorse or pain in the depths. Leonard didn’t regret killing the bastard that had made his life a living hell and gave his sister a reason to cry. The man that had beat him senseless along with his sister didn’t deserve pity. “And no, I don’t regret it.”
His expression lightened when she spoke of Jake again, how he was able to get under her skin and annoy her. “Well, at least this time, he had a somewhat noble reason for doing it.” It sounded like her dead boyfriend was merely trying to look out for her. It is a concept Leonard could understand. After all, isn’t that why he took Mick on in the first place? Sure, Mick was the perfect muscle, but he was also Leonard’s best friend. Leonard knew Mick could be dangerous. The thief partnering up with him was as much for Leonard’s benefit as it was to help keep Mick toeing that very thin line that kept him from lighting the whole world on fire.
When she gave him the finger, Leonard chuckled, blue eyes alight with amusement. “True. You might drive him out the door within the first fifteen minutes of the date. Hey, maybe Sara and I should take bets on how long he can last.” Leonard was teasing. He wasn’t going to bet on her date and he wasn’t going to bring it up to Sara either. If Brooke wanted to tell Sara, she was more than welcome to do so when she was ready.
“Maybe...” Leonard paused on the sidewalk and gently tugged Brooke to a halt beside him. He released her arm and turned to look at her. “I promise I won’t make it weird unless he hurts you. And since the Dome is making us tell the truth, you know I’m not lying to you.” Leonard folded his arms upon his chest and a smirk played on his lips.
“So, who is the guy brave enough to date Brooke Maddox?”
Brooke knew on some level how she probably should’ve been all ‘oh no’ about being friends with someone who killed people, especially when he said many were nameless. Maybe if she didn’t know Leonard, then it might’ve happened or if this was back in her world. But that wasn’t the case. She knew Leonard would never hurt her and it wasn’t like she was all that innocent. Brooke never killed anyone; however, her actions and choices had led to some being killed, putting it on her. Looking at Leonard, she could see there was no regret behind it, and it made her curious what his father did that warranted that since she was sure the man deserved it. “Do you mind if I ask what was your father like to have you not regretting it?” She asked, reaching out a hand to squeeze his arm, letting him know she was there for him.
Brooke didn’t try to hide the sad smile that showed up on Leonard’s comment about Jake. She was a tough girl who tried to hide her emotions sometimes, especially with strangers, knowing better to show weakness. But this was Leonard, and she didn’t feel the need to stick to the Maddox way. Also, this was Jake, and she didn’t care if it made her weak as some people might say because no matter what she had loved him. “He may be a pain but he’s always had my back more than some. When people were voting me on a poll for who the killer should get next, he was my rock who was there for me. As much as the dome can suck like right now, I’m glad it gave me a chance to see him in a way that wasn’t like the last time I saw him.” A bit of it was the force to tell the truth, and some of it was her. Brooke trusted Leonard and it was why she didn’t care about opening up a bit, not that the dome was giving her much choice.
An offended look showed up at the comment on her driving him out the door, but only stayed for about a minute before laughing. “Trust me, I’ve had the same thought,” she admitted, thanks to the damn dome. “If it ever happens, I’m worried I might because I’m a walking disaster. A hot one, but still I know I can be a lot and I wouldn’t blame him if he ran for the hills.” She knew who she was and she was screwed up in more ways than one. Ben was sweet and she was pretty sure, he’d realize he could do better at some point. But that wasn’t a concern right now considering he was still a ghost and who even knew if they’d ever go out.
Brooke smiled at hearing how he wouldn’t make it weird unless Ben hurt her. Something that meant a lot even if Brooke didn’t need it. “Yes, I know, but I’m pretty sure if anyone will get hurt it’s him rather than me,” she admitted, sighing because that wasn’t something she’d normally admit but here they were. Though she was hoping her friends would talk her down before she set fire to her life, if anything did come from her asking Ben out. Brooke had a habit of self destructing her own life when things were good in a relationship as evident when she had been with Jake.
“Ben Hargreeves. He’s a ghost who's working on where he can be seen by all, but I can’t get him killed!” Hey, for her that was a big deal with her track record lately when it came to guys.
Again, if Leonard had been capable of deflecting, he would have, but because of what was happening in Madison Valley at this moment? He had to give Brooke an honest answer to her question. “My father was an abusive son of a bitch that beat me and my sister for years,” Leonard replied quietly, keeping his gaze straight ahead. “Then he used my sister, putting her life at risk, in order to con me into stealing for him.” Because their father was a piece of crap, a lowlife, that thought nothing of using his children to get what he wanted. “So, no, I have no remorse for ending the bastard’s life. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
Leonard nodded. “Yes, the Dome can suck it right now, but at least it let you see him again. Say a proper good-bye and all of that. Plus, I feel like I owe him a beer for making sure you didn’t end up on the killer’s list back home.” Not that it mattered here. Brooke was safe from all of that unless this place decided to bring that said killer here.
The thief chuckled briefly at the offended look she shot at him, but his expression sombered as she explained how she felt the same way. “Brooke, I don’t think he’s going to run for the hills…well, at least not on the first date.” Leonard added the last part with a teasing smile. Honestly, anyone should consider themselves lucky to date Brooke. She was fun, fascinating, and, despite what her facade said, she did have a good heart. Leonard doubted this guy would be running for the hills after a date with her.
“Ben Hargreeves. I can’t say that I’ve heard of him,” Leonard replied, shrugging his shoulders. “But hey, progress, you can’t get him killed.” Again, Leonard was teasing. Though, just because Brooke was used to being the one that ended up hurting people in relationships, Leonard knew it could easily go the other way too.
“If things get serious between you two, you’ll have to introduce me,” Leonard added. “Or, we could arrange a double date. That would be fun. Give me a chance to interrogate him.”
Brooke didn’t hide the look of disgust on her face at what his father had done to him and his sister. She thought her father was bad sometimes, but oh, he looked like a fucking angel next to Leonard’s dad. Her eyes were on him, watching and noticing how he kept his eyes forward. After everything, and hearing this, she wasn’t about to cut ties, feeling his father had what was coming to him. Part of her wanted to hug him, figuring it had to be rough on having to share that since she didn’t think he did it of his own free well. Instead, she comforted him with her hand, resting it gently on his arm, “I don’t fault you at all. The man sounds like a real fucking asshole and I’m sorry you both had to deal with that.” It also explained a lot about Leonard and his personality.
Brooke smiled because it was the only positive thing about the whole ghost situation. Seeing him without the bloody mess or the way his body had looked made it a bit better even if she was sure the nightmares would always be there. “He only made it where the vote wasn’t a clean sweep for people wanting me dead. The killer definitely kept trying to take me out of the picture. We had stage at school, the bowling alley, my house, and the movies which that one almost resulted in me dead,” she admitted, which this was never something she talked about and as she mentioned the last one, her hand went on autopilot to touch the spot where she still had the scar and always would.
She had a smile, which then turned to her laughing at him adding the last part because of course he did. “Look at you going all soft on me.” She teased and unlike before this time, she did hug him, pulling him down more to her level as they awkwardly walked for a moment with her hugging him from the side, hanging on him just a bit to be a pain in the ass. It was Leonard so of course she was going to make it awkward for her own amusement. Letting go of him after only a moment. “But that does mean a lot. Though there is always the chance because I’m pretty sure I’ve eaten guys like him for breakfast with my attitude.” Not that she had any plans to show that side with Ben. Since she was not that same girl from back home, and he was super sweet to her. Still, she knew there had plenty of guys similar to how he came across who had hit on her in the past that she had made rethink their choices.
“Considering he’s a ghost,” she waited for the comment, pausing to let him get it in, “it’s a bit harder to see him so only his siblings probably know he’s around. I met him at speed dating since one of his siblings thought it’d be funny to sign him up.” A quick glare at Leonard for the comment about progress, but he was one of the few who could get away with the joke and not have their head bitten off. “It’s a progress I’ll take since I would rather not be the reason anymore people die or be the one who made it easier for the killer.” Thinking of her English teacher on the second one since it was Brooke’s fault he had been easier to get.
The idea of the double date sent her into a laughing fit, shaking her head at the idea. “I wouldn’t have a problem with introducing you, if anything really happens. But sorry, I was just thinking how hilarious that double date could do depending on what the dome was doing.” Brooke was imagining the truth mess happening again and being all ‘oh yeah, I slept with Sara, and I said I’d have no issue with sleeping with him or both at the same time’ and Brooke was sure that would be an awkward mess. Definitely wasn’t going to happen during any truth telling mess if it ever came back around again.
At the feeling of her hand on his arm, comforting him, Leonard briefly placed a hand over her own. He didn’t trust himself to say anything else at this point. Besides, there wasn’t anything else left for him to say. There was nothing anyone could say to make the abuse he suffered at the hands of his father better. Admitting it to anyone never took the pain away; only Leonard’s will to be better than his father pushed him forward. Kept him going.
“At least he tried.” Leonard removed his hand from the top of hers. “Most people don’t find anyone that cares enough to try for them. I’d say you were pretty lucky just for that.” And lucky enough to have a second chance with him…even if he was just a ghost for it.
Leonard wasn’t expecting the hug so he didn’t return it at first. But after a moment, he wrapped his arms around Brooke and allowed himself a brief chuckle. “Don’t spread that around. I’m only a softy for very few people. Now you should consider yourself lucky.” She stepped back, releasing him, and Leonard did the same. Though, he knew Brooke appreciated the rare show of emotion on his part all the same. “And yes, there is a chance you could send him running to the hills. Like I said, we could always take bets.”
The thief already caught the part about him being a ghost. Hence why he said she couldn’t get him killed. It was a joke. “If he’s a ghost, how the hell did he do speed dating then?” Yes, Leonard caught the glare, but he was hardly intimidated by it at this point. It wasn’t a good day unless Brooke glared at him at least once. “Hence why I said progress. It’s a positive thing.” Well, normally. In this instance, Brooke not getting anyone else killed was definitely progress.
Leonard was pleased Brooke was amused with the idea as he was. Though he doubted it would be happening anytime soon. “Well, then we’ll have to plan it for a time when something like this truth craziness isn’t happening.” Because that would be very, very awkward in so many ways for all of them.
Brooke had a long list of issues with both her parents though now only one was around and she didn’t even know where her mother was in the world, but hearing what Leonard went through, made her thankful to an extent on what she had to deal with. Even though her home life still sucked and she wished it had been better, Brooke could say no one ever laid a hand on her. Though she left the subject alone since with them stuck being honest, she didn’t want to risk putting him on the spot anymore than she already had or ending up admitting something about her own parents. Stepping away from the parent talk since it was best for both of them.
“Trust me, I know I’m lucky for that. Which he knows that even if I had to deal with the ego that came from that,” she said with a sad chuckle, knowing how Jake was better than anyone. “He was one of the few people I could count on no matter what. It’s why I forgave him after blackmailing my father after he dealt with my pissed off side for a bit, which is a very long story for another time,” she got ahead of that before Leonard asked, knowing she’d need to be honest and probably go too detailed when she’d rather stick to the shorter story that was the truth. Brooke wasn’t sure if she’d ever find someone who treated her like Jake did, but she knew she couldn’t keep using the loss of Jake as an excuse to avoid possible heartache.
On his comment about not spreading it around, she pretended to be debating it, thinking it over as she stepped back from him. “How much is my silence worth?” She wasn’t actually serious, which she knew he knew that, but didn’t mean she couldn’t screw with him a bit. Even more so when the dome didn’t seem to consider this question a truth or lie because it had allowed it to be said. “But I guess I can keep my lips sealed for now,” she pretended to sound all sad about having to keep him being a softy to herself; however, she had no problem with that. It was like her with her self-esteem issues or her own soft side, she liked to keep that way, way on the downlow. “We’ll hold off on bets until we see if there even is a date. Then I might start some betting between the people close to me,” she joked. As tempting as the idea was, Brooke did not need to set herself up to self-destruct like she could do sometimes.
Laughing at his question about Ben doing speed dating, she smirked, still amused by his reaction and not surprised at all.. “He messaged us on the phone. Or at least he did with me so I’m figuring he did it with the rest. He’s working on the whole being seen by people, but his brother decided to sign him up.” Brooke had thought it was weird, but hey, she did have a good time talking to Ben so she didn’t mind as much as she had when first finding out. It had been better than some of her other times interacting with people, and she was not shy about saying what she really felt on things like that and she didn’t even need the dome forcing her to tell the truth either.
“Yes, if the whole thing even goes anywhere, then we might plan something.” Though no matter what Brooke knew it wasn’t going to be for a good long while. Still, the whole idea was hilarious and was the amusement she needed with the stuck telling the truth. “Now are you off to do something or you want to grab some food? Since I think all topics we normally talk about are ones I’m always honest with so I don’t have any worry on telling you the truth.” Not even adding how the same on his end because that was the reason they were friends since they were both very honest.
When it came to keeping his soft side a secret, Leonard knew Brooke didn’t mind nearly as much as she was pretending to. Why? Because Brooke had the same issue. She wasn’t one to go around bragging about being a softy herself. Besides, he knew Brooke didn’t take him being protective over her lightly either. She knew he didn’t act that way towards just anyone. “I figured you could handle it, Brooke. After all, you wouldn’t want everyone getting a glimpse of the Brooke that hugged me, now would you?” Because that showed her soft side as much as it did his own.
Leonard shrugged. “Interesting way to speed date, but whatever. When you’re a ghost, your options are limited.” And it sounded like he was still having issues becoming corporeal. It might be a while before Brooke got her actual date anyway. “So no betting until he becomes corporeal enough to have that date. It gives me something to look forward to.”
Being that Leonard wasn’t really off to do much of anything, he was up for getting something to eat and chatting more with Brooke. He had work later on, but for the time being he was free and chatting with Brooke would probably at least keep him out of trouble. “Let’s get something to eat and talk about things far less serious than what we just have. No more telling the truth for the day.” Because they’d had enough heavy conversations and the thief wanted something more lighthearted for a little while. He knew Brooke did too.