Hysterical

Disclaimer: I don't own any part of the game The Layton Brothers: Mystery Room.

"Prof? I made you some tea. "

Lucy sat the cup and saucer down next to her mentor who was writing a report for the last case they solved. It had taken a couple of days and some scary interactions with who she liked to call "the Potty Prof" but they finally managed to nail the killer in the end. Organizing books onto shelves in an attempt to tidy up the Mystery Room, Lucy began to absentmindedly chatter to Alfendi.

"You should think about takin' some time off, wot wit' all t' cases that come pouring in and turning you into Potty Prof. It can't be good for you."

A shadow cast over her was her only warning before a dark chuckle behind her caused her spine to shiver.

"You're so simple. You really shouldn't be worrying about me… If anything, you should be more concerned with how the changes will affect you."

Lucy whipped around, "Eh? Wot on earth are you puttering on abou-?!" She inhaled sharply.

Amber eyes glinted at her with a dark satisfaction that was only reserved for calling criminals out on their lies. The disheveled, crimson hair and twisted smirk only confirmed Lucy's fear that this was the Potty Prof she was dealing with… alone. Remembering Florence's warning, she tried to make a run for it only to be met with a familiar white sleeve.

"Tsk, don't you know it's not polite to run away from someone when they're talking to you, stupid girl? Do I have to cut off your legs to make you stay?"

Terrified, wide red eyes stared back at Alfendi, who's smirk only grew.

"I know I threatened you with cutting your tongue out before, but it would be a good idea for you to speak to me."

Scowling, Lucy tried to disguise her fear; it would only encourage him further.

"Wot's gotten into you, Prof? All the crooks are gone, so why are you the Potty Prof again?"

"Because, my dear Lucy, I see in front of me the biggest criminal of all."

Alfendi's face loomed closer as his assistant began to sputter, "I weren't no criminal! How dare you accuse me of any wrong doing!"

The smirk turned into a snarl and the Potty Professor's eyes narrowed.

"I dare because I'm right. Did you really think I wouldn't notice? Did you really think you could get away with it forever and not have to pay the consequences for it?"

"Get away with WOT?!"

Large hands gripped Lucy's shoulder's tightly, almost to the point of pain.

"You and your stupid, sickly sweet kindness when you help me out with cases, try to take care of me and make me tea, worry over me when I revert to me, my true self… Using your charm and kindness to steal from me is the worst crime of all… The kind of crime I admire."

Lucy panicked and tried to push him away when he began to get closer, almost making her shrink into herself in the face of his true persona.

"Wot exactly am I tryin' to filch from you?!" she yelled in a desperate attempt to understand the situation she found herself in.

Alfendi's dark voice ('Like crushed velvet,' Lucy thought to herself) snarled in a tone that could almost be mistaken for endearment, "My heart."

Lucy could only do one thing in response.

She began to laugh.

Loudly.

Hysterically.

Taken aback, Alfendi backed away from the assistant of the Mystery Room who was close to tears and possibly breaking a couple of ribs.

Through her laughter, Lucy managed to sputter, "Th-That were such a overused pick-up line, it were! Hahaha, I cou-couldn't believe it were you sayin' it!"

Wiping her tears away, she looked up at the Professor, only to see that his hand covering his face and his hair reverting to a duller burgundy.

"Eh? Prof, you're-"

Passive amber eyes peered out between slender fingers and a slightly self-depreciating smile tilted his lips, "Yes, I am. Probably due to your rather explosive reaction."

Lucy couldn't help giggling again, relieved that the normal (or at least easier to deal with, in her opinion) Professor was back.

"Sorry abou' that. I couldn't help it none. It just seemed so odd, me filchin' your heart like some kinda actress in the pictures."

A chime was heard and Lucy quickly looked up at the clock.

"Eh? It's already that late? Cripes, I better leave now afore it gets too dark out!"

Hastily, Lucy grabbed her things and was about to walk out of the door when she heard her mentor speak again.

"Lucy?"

"Hm?"

Alfendi smiled, "What exactly would I have to do for me to steal your heart?"

Lucy thought that maybe she had driven herself hysterical in her laughing fit earlier, because his hair was still burgundy.