you're working for the police and the private, the pirates and the pilots

In all the years that Sookie's worked alongside Lafayette at Merlotte's, she's only ever known him to skip out on work when real shit's been going down. He's a man who takes pride in his work, and who has a real way with the kitchen, treating it as kindly as someone might a close friend and serving every meal with love and care. When Robin disappeared from Semele's, it was a deep loss for the both of them, not only of a friend but also of a benefactor, and so Sookie and Lafayette had stayed up late into the night to figure out a plan of action that wouldn't let Goodfellow's restaurant fall into disrepair.

For Lafayette not to show up after all that work and effort is completely unlike him. Which is why, before even bothering to stop by her apartment for a much needed break and shower, Sookie practically flies on over to Lafayette's apartment, digging in her purse for the spare key and bursting inside.

It's empty. No sign of struggle. No ransom note. But, more importantly, there's almost no sign of Lafayette left. None of his candles, his statues, his necklaces and scarves draped around with perfume lingering on each bead. Nothing, save for a large shawl thrown over the couch.

Knowing full well what it likely means, Sookie rushes on ahead and bites down on her lower lip, hard, almost enough to draw blood as she wraps herself in the shawl, breathing in the scent and stifling the air until her heart stops pounding enough to leap out of her chest.

Only then does she pack up her things, making her way slowly over to Jason's apartment. She has to believe that he hasn't vanished too. She has to believe, stopping on the sidewalk to peer up at the building, where the lights of the suite are still thankfully on.

Feeling her eyes start to burn at the corners of her eyes, she knocks on the door.