Chapter Text
Luca didn't bother looking up from his work when he heard the careful footsteps on the stairs leading down to the basement where he worked. That must be Edgar on his daily mission to bully him into taking a break. He only had a few seconds left before Edgar gave him no choice but to put his work aside, so he put the precious time remaining to good use organizing his space. After all, a tidy environment made for far more efficient work. Life was short enough that one would serve themselves best by utilizing each moment toward a worthy goal. And what purpose was more important to him than this mystery invention that teased him from the concealed edges of his memory? It had something to do with electromagnetic currents. Right?
"Still tinkering, I see. You haven't moved from that spot since I last checked on you, have you?" Came the familiar nasally voice from behind him.
Luca remembered the day they had first met as well as he could remember anything. He had been muttering to himself as he routed his cipher's progress to another as he often did to speed the process along when he had suddenly lost consciousness and awoken to find himself tied to the death chair. Edgar was incredible that day. There was something captivating about the painting that he had hastily put down that had stolen the hunter's attention for long enough for them both to get away. Ever since then, the bratty artist had taken it upon himself to mother him.
Luca continued to "tinker" as Edgar had so condescendingly put it as he half-listened to his companion drone on and on.
"Its amazing that you haven't wasted away down here. You would if it weren't for me, you know. You should be grateful. I don't do this for just anyone," he bragged.
"Yes, Edgar. Whatever would I do without you," Luca hummed absently as he fought with a particularly stubborn bolt. At first, Edgar's snobby attitude had been unbearably grating, but through the course of his visits, Luca had adjusted to his presence.
Edgar huffed and Luca didn't need to look at him to know that he was tossing his honey brown curls like a pageant queen. "So long as you understand my sacrifice, then."
Luca finally tore his gaze from the device in front of him at the dull clink of china on the table. He blinked at the plate of food beside him. Curious how he hadn't smelled his dinner before now.
"Go on. Eat," Edgar demanded. "I won't leave until you've finished everything on the plate."
Luca sighed as he set aside his tools. He wouldn't put it past the spoiled brat to steal his equipment if he didn't comply in a timely manner.
He turned in his seat to face Edgar with his plate in his lap. His stomach roared the moment his fork touched the potatoes and he had to fight the urge to shovel them into his mouth like a savage lest he have to suffer one of Edgar's lectures.
After a few bites, he looked up at him to see him engaging in a staring contest with the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. "You know, I've been wondering why it is you bother with me," Luca pondered aloud. "I'm aware that I don't make particularly engaging company."
Edgar narrowed his eyes at him as he often did when considering his words before he spoke. "I think that's precisely why I tolerate your company. There is no pretense with you, no desire to put on airs to impress. You simply are as you are."
Luca set his now clean dish aside as he mulled over Edgar's assessment of him. It was certainly accurate. Luca didn't see the point in worrying about his image too much. No matter what you did, people would always see what they wanted to see.
He refrained from pointing out that Edgar did far more than tolerate his presence when he was the one who typically sought him out. The roles would likely reverse if Luca wasn't so absorbed in his work, though.
"If you ask me, there's more important things to focus on." Luca demonstrated his point by slapping his unfinished contraption, only to tense as a mild shock went through his body.
"Oops," he giggled. The nerve damage he had received from the accident had been a blessing in disguise as he could no longer feel minor volts of electricity like that one. It was quite a handy condition with his kind of experiments.
Edgar sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, but Luca swore he could see the hint of a smile at the corners of his ruby lips. It was a rare sight, but the young noble was pretty when he smiled. So much so that Luca couldn't help but stare when it happened. It was strange. He had never been one to put much stock into good looks, but he couldn't help but be captivated by the dignified way the man carried himself. It seemed vaguely nostalgic in a way. Perhaps he had known someone who had acted in a similar way in his life before?
Soon enough though, that cute smile was swallowed up by a scowl. "What are you staring at?" Edgar snapped.
"You," Luca responded simply, not phased in the slightest by his attitude.
That got the proud nobleman blushing and sputtering. Still, he tried to maintain a modicum of composure as he retorted. "Then perhaps you should learn to paint so that you might gaze upon me whenever you wish."
Luca chuckled. Flustering Edgar always presented him with an ornery sense of amusement. "Nah. Think I'll leave that fancy stuff to you. I'm looking to change the world in other ways." At that, Luca looked to his invention like anyone else might look at a long time lover.
Edgar slumped in his seat with a pout and grumbled, "Your grammar is atrocious."
Luca couldn't fathom what Edgar was so prickly about. It just seemed to be the man's default setting. Luca dismissed Edgar's sour mood with a shrug, got back to work.