One day later
This day sucked. Royally. He never knew that Robert had so much to do. Thankfully, he had postphoned most of the stuff via e-Mail. But this didn't mean that he was of the hook. He had tons of papers to sign. Was it illegal, if his signing was not that different from Roberts but not the real one? Or was it okay, if the german didn't tell him to stop? He shook his head. Why was he even thinking about that stuff now? He had more on his mind than that.
After two hours, a rather strong storm had given him the opportunity to stay inside and to see what was in the room that Robert so casually called his working cell. Not many pictures. Three, to be exact. One was his father - he had inherited the strong cheekbones and the jawline. The other one seemed to be his mother - though the blond locks did not help to guess. She looked far too beautiful to be compared with Roberts features. Far too fragile to be the mother of a child so rational and so strict. Was she a tender mom? He had wondered and tried to call his captain, but to no avail. Then he had remembered. Tour-day. Of course, he was out and it would have been bad if Johnnys father heard the topics of their talks today.
After the sorm had gotten weaker, he was asked to examine the damage it may have taken. He rounded the castle, totally clueless what to look out for. He even stopped right in front of a trap and Gustav - good old Gustv - warned him not to fall into the pit. He had looked down and had seen the sharp splinters of metal - that would have hurt, if he even turned out to be alive after a fall. He had excused himself and had gotten into Roberts private rooms. There, he slumped into a chair and sighed deeply. Johnny wanted to curl up into a ball and sleep untill everything turned back to normal. Untill now, he never wasted a thought about Roberts life. He never listened because he was so damn sure it was the same as his. Not he knew, he was being naive.
His phone vibrated in his pocket and he took it out. Robert called. He accepted and heared a rather groggy voice say: "How on earth does your father do this?" Johnny smiled, knowing full well that it was even for him a bit of a challenge to keep up with his dad. "Done a lot?", he challenged, snickered even. He was greeted with a groan. "I'm completly done for today." Now the scot laughed out loud. "So am I. How much papers can you sign in one day without your hand falling off?" "Quite a lot." It was strange to talk like this. So normal, so peaceful. No harsh words, no ironic tone. Just them, discussing their day.
"Hey", Johnny said and stopped, slightly unsure. "Hm?", Robert made a sound, "What is it?" "Uhm, I'm just...where are your parents?" He whirled around and took another picture from the desk. "And this gorgeous blond woman? I haven't seen them ever." He stooped when he heard an intale of breath. "Robert? You okay?" There was silence on the other end.
"Right, I didn't tell you guys." It sounded like Robert was sad. Was that grief shining through? "My parents...are dead. They died in a car accident when I was ten." Johnny felt how his fingertips turned cold. "I'm sorry. I am. I didn't know-" "Yeah, I know. I never told you, it's not your fault." The german took a shaking breath. "And for the other girl...that was my sister." The redhead noted the past tense. "Don't tell me..." "She didn't take it that lightly when our parents died. She was old enough to go her own way and so she did. Only after three years she delivered me a message that she was going to get married. I told her to come to me before so we could talk. Her plane crashed over the ocean."
That was the most horrible story Johnny had heard in years. "I...gosh, that is more than...I don't even know what to say. I am sorry, I truly am, Robert." Now he looked at it all with a totally different perspective. That was why Robert was forced to grow up much quicker than everybody else. How he wished to hug his teamcaptain right now!
"I know, Johnny. And thanks, it's been years since I have talked about them. It feels good to do it now." The german laughed a sad and shaky laugh. "And you have a wonderful dad, I can guarantee you that." His eyes were full with tears. "Yeah, that is absolutely right. My dad rocks." He shook his head to clear his thoughts. "Did he notice?" "Uhm", Robert was thinking again, "I don't think so. Well, at some points he looked ready to ask something but he remained quiet. I can't really tell, I do not know him enough for that." Meant that maybe he screwed up big time. A knock on the door made him halt. "Uh, I gotta go, there's someone out htere." He slid the phone shut and got up. When he opened the door, he almost closed it again.
The man in front of him was tall. Taller even than Robert, had green piercing eyes and blonde-reddish, messy hair. His beard was clearly at least three days old and his dark clothes looked pretty vintage - or just worn out. His posture had an agressive undertone and the little smile was rather creepy. "Hello there", the stranger greeted. "Glad to see me?" There was an ironic edge to that statement and everything about this guy screamed bad boy. Johnny gulped. "Uh, no?" Who was this equally intimidating and attractive hunk of a guy? Johnny felt a little bit of fear starting to build in his chest. HGe needed to get out there, quickly. So, he took two steps around the man. "Excuse me", he started and only this two steps he was gripped harshly. He whirled around, ready to say Let go! but the words died in his throat. The eyes that were in the littlest bit tender right two seconds ago were now cold as ice. "You are not Robert", the man threatened him with a voice like a knife, "I know every cell of him and you are not what I exspected to see. I did not come all this way to be fooled. Where is he and what have you done to him?"
Johnny flinced, absolutely taken aback by the sudden intensity. He found himself unable to speak. "Where is he?!", was the demand. "Not here", he choked out, "I mean, who are you?" "Is it for your concern who I am? Just tell me and I can get rid of you." "Wait", Johnny said, took a couple of steps back and took his phone out. Praying internaly that Robert was alone amd able to talk he dialed his number. "What is it?", was the answer to his prayers. He was never so glad to hear his own voice ver again. "Uh, Robert? I think, we have a problem here..." And he handed the phone over to this mysterious stranger.
