Work Text:
Fighting The Mind
Luka Redgrave had always been a person that was always in pursuit of the truth no matter how far it took him. He would use his deceased father's journal entries as a map and although his antics often got him in trouble or almost killed, he wouldn't stop looking because it would all be worth it in the end. Of course, he would always make the time to show off his charming and flirtatious behavior to various women he would come across during his many travels. Luka was pretty sure that he was a wanted man in some areas, but it bothered him none because he always knew how to get away and hide.
However, what seemed like simply stealing documents and trespassing was actually part of something very personal.
. . .
His father Antonio Redgrave had been hired by the CEO of the Ithavoll Group to locate and retrieve the contents of a coffin that had been found at the bottom of a lake. Remaining behind a log as he watched him dive into the lake, Luka waited patiently as he wondered what exactly the Itavoll Group was and its purpose. As far as Luka knew, the group was located in a far away land and that the CEO was named Balder. As he continued to watch the lake, Luka also wondered what was so important about this mysterious coffin.
Suddenly, a purple splash came from the lake and once it cleared, what Luka saw immediately filled him with immense fright.
He saw a woman wearing a black suit floating in the air and in front of her was his father screaming in pain as his limbs were being pulled while the woman just watched. To the boy's horror, the limbs were ripped off just as the woman disappeared. Antonio's blood had stained nearly everything in its path, including Luka himself.
The woman had killed him.
At that very moment, Luka decided to avenge his father's death by finding that woman and exposing her for what she had done. Even though he didn't get a very good glance at her, thankfully he already had a clue.
The scent of rosemary.
. . .
For years, Luka had been searching for the woman or any hints of her whereabouts. He would repeatedly read through Antonio's journal hoping that there would be one or two things that could help. Upon closer inspection, Luka found another clue that could lead him to her.
The entries containing information about the Umbra Witches.
He learned of their history and even about their counterparts known as the Lumen Sages.
There was so much detain that in Luka's opinion, could be made into a movie.
However, due to the details and story, Luka was laughed at by his colleagues who told him that he was chasing a fairy tale. That what he was after didn't exist and how foolish he was for believing his father's story. Antonio himself had been mocked by his own colleagues for his obsession with the Umbra Witches and Lumen Sages.
But like Antonio, Luka didn't care because he knew everything was real. He didn't care who believed him. If he had to work alone, then so be it.
Soon, he was able to discover the woman's name.
Bayonetta.
Not only that, but Luka had also learned that Bayonetta was an Umbra Witch.
. . .
Knowing that she killed his father, Luka dedicated himself to finding the Umbra Witch, no matter how far he had to go. But when he finally caught up to her and brought up his father's death, Bayonetta would simply smirk and put on her own flirtatious behavior on him. Anytime after that (which was actually more of a surprise attack for Luka) resulted with her doing and saying the same thing. Bayonetta would tell him that he misunderstood what happened and she would just leave it at that.
Despite the witch's behavior towards him, Luka remained focused on the reason why he was chasing her around the world in the first place.
Unfortunately, that was easier said than done, not because of her ability as an escape artist (as well as her other abilities), but for several other reasons.
Every single movement she made was always so graceful. Whether it be tearing apart an angel or simply walking towards him, they were full of sheer grace and elegance. It always looked like she was dancing to some song he couldn't hear.
Her face.
Luka had seen many beautiful women during his travels, but Bayonetta was completely different. Her beauty was absolutely incomparable. When he first met her in an alleyway, immediately found himself unable to breathe. Not because he was being chocked, but because he had never seen such a beautiful woman in his entire life.
Her voice.
The first time Bayonetta spoke to him, shivers ran down his spine. If he were asked to describe her voice, Luka would say that it was like a mixture of poison and sugar. It was so dangerous, but so sweet at the same time. How it sounded when she would call him by the nickname that she knows he hates to her teasing and flirtatious statements. As much as Luka hated all her remarks, they sounded amazing to him.
Her scent.
The scent of rosemary that Bayonetta carried with her suited her so well, yet was a fierce reminder of what he saw that day. Everywhere the Umbra Witch went, it lingered and on a couple of occasions, would attach itself to him. One instance that always stayed with him was when the Umbra Witch straddled him after saving him from a falling pillar…the rosemary clinging to him well afterwards.
In Luka's mind, Bayonetta had stolen his heart. But he knew he had to fight these thoughts and feelings because not only was she a witch and him an ordinary human that could offer her nothing and only get in her way, she was the one that stained him with blood.
He had a mission to complete and falling in love with Bayonetta was definitely not a part of it.