Chapter Text
“Soon it will be your Birthday…!” Valentine chirped while tiding around Wyvern’s apartments as per usual.
“Mh. What of it?” Came Rhadamanthys’ uninterested reply, without him raising his eyes from the paper in his hands.
“Well-“ Val paused while turning his back on the other. “I know it doesn’t really mean much to you, My Lord. That you care little for festivities and such… But I’m still happy about celebrating this day.”
“Because of Halloween?”
“No! It’s… A day meant to celebrate that my Lord is born. It’s… A beautiful message.”
“There’s no need to waste time on things such as this. To born and die… It’s nothing remarkable at all. Especially for us.”
Valentine smiled at that. There wasn’t anything Rhadamanthys could say to make him any less happy. He adored him and his birthday was nearly sacred in Harpy’s eyes. How could he not be over the moon over the reminder about his Lord’s very existence?
Perhaps daring too much, Val peeked over his shoulder and timidly voiced a request he had been brooding for several days.
“Do you think… I can be bold enough as to ask… Something of you for your birthday, My Lord?”
“…Not that I do care. But shouldn’t be the other way round? Isn’t me the one who’s supposed to be granted presents?”
“Yes! Of course!” Valentine answered raising his voice. “But… I was thinking that perhaps you would want… To be so gracious as to accept doing something… Together.”
A long minute passed without any reply. As if Wyvern had not even heard him. But then, as Harpy’s eyebrows began to curve down, the blond gave his reply.
“It seems to me we spend quite a considerable amount of time together already.” He began, trying to make sound his voice as uninterested to that idea as possible. “Because of our Underworld’s duties, we see each other everyday. We eat together, too. And in the evenings when work has piled up, like now, you are always here as well. Even when it’s way past your shift… Not that I… Would have it another way.”
Valentine couldn’t hide a smile.
“Your… Your presence, your assistance. It’s essential. And I wouldn’t trust others, you see.” Tried the Englishman to justify himself, not daring to cross the other’s eyes, internally embarrassed of voicing aloud those thoughts.
“Nothing can be more flattering than hearing you saying you trust me… My Lord…” Valentine answered him, his eyes glowing as the smile on his lips grew bigger, incapable of hiding the happiness from the other’s words. “And you are very right. That’s why I was thinking that… We indeed spend a lot of time closed somewhere. Being the Tribunal, the Caina or these rooms.
There’s always so much to do, I know… The dead never cease and so our work.
But maybe you could benefit by making use of this occasion and take some time off, get some real air and sunshine. Especially considering that… Well. In England that’s lacking too. Heh.”
“And where would you have me go?”
“I… I don’t know. I admit, I didn’t think that far!”
“A warm place. That’s what you would answer.” Rhadamanthys added, silently priding himself with that display of knowledge towards his Lieutenant’s’ preferences.
“Yes, that’s true, I definitely would do that. But It’s not about me! If you don’t… Want do anything together… Then…
Why don’t you leave for some days off to your family’s Southern Estate in Wal-”
But he couldn’t finish his sentence, as the Englishman rose from his chair, the paper still in his hands, and walked closer, feeling intrigued.
“-Wales?”
“I don’t like taking time off…” Rhadamanthys stated rubbing his chin, his eyes wandering around the room.
“Y-yes I know. I was hesitant to propose such thing in fact. But… I think you spend way too much time focusing all your energy here, My Lord. And yes, your birthday might not be something you care to celebrate, alright. Yet it’s a good excuse to make use of and take some time to recharge…
I speak only with your well-being in mind.”
Rhadamanthys turned his head in Val’s direction, looking at him as the corner of his lips turned upwards, ever slight. A sign of appreciation for Valentine’s ever genuine and selfless cares.
He remained silent for what felt an infinity, pondering to himself, under the focused gaze of the Harpy.
“ You speak true, I’d never wager otherwise, know it well Valentine. If I accept this suggestion, though, the Caina will remain unsupervised.”
“No. Of course not!
I will make sure everything runs smooth. There won’t be a thing to trouble your mind, I promise. I will ensure that everything-“
“You won’t be able to ensure anything. For if I go… Then you are coming with me.”
“?!”