Work Text:
Constant beeping rang from the cipher machine, as to indicate the progress made on it's deciphering. It was a large gray typewriter in actuality. A wonder how it worked. Used to decode messages it received. Such a machine intrigued Luca, how something made for one thing could be completely redone for another.
Luca held the back of the cipher, as Edgar stood and typed into it adjacent to him. Casually giving Edgar advice on how to efficiently decode. This was their final cipher, so it just made sense for them to work together.
The painter hung his head as he worked. It was pretty normal for him, as Luca had picked up. He had a generally shy demeanor, he assumed.
Edgar was a bit of an enigma to him. Based on some interactions, he'd picked up a bit. Like how Edgar probably knew him before he went to prison. Or that he was a famous painter. One being a… bit more concerning to Luca, but. He didn't know a lot.
"You're staring, Balsa."
Luca blinked back to reality and quickly apologized. He had a tendency to space out… but they had a task at hand.
"Right. Sorry." The two of them took their hands off the cipher, pausing for a brief moment of silence.
"You should head towards the gate. I can finish the decoding… when it comes time, you can have the gate open by the time I reach you." The painter muttered, with a motion off towards the gate.
"Oh… are you sure? I wouldn't want to leave you alone." It was a genuine concern for Luca, in all honesty. Edgar seemed to get on edge when he walked away. It was small, but Luca picked up a habit of paying close attention to little details in people.
Edgar waved him off with a flick of his wrist. "I will be alright. You go ahead."
Luca chuckled, and walked off towards the gate. They found themselves in Red Church, a relatively small location. The north gate wasn't a far trip away. He made haste regardless. It was for the best that he got to work opening the gate as soon as possible. The end game siren fired off as Luca stumbled up to the exit gate, fumbling over the numbers, but hastily pressing them in.
He cursed under his breath, peering over his shoulder, and then back. Waiting for the sweet relief of Edgar running into view.
Just… finish putting in the code. The quicker the better. He'd be fine. They were fine! They were almost out, and that was all that mattered.
He glanced back over his shoulder, letting out a gentle sigh when the painter jogged into his view. Slowing to a halt beside him and fixating his gaze onto what Luca was preoccupied with it. He was quiet, like a gentle breeze, and if Luca wasn't checking, he probably wouldn't have noticed. He was like that, appearing like out of nothing.
Luca returned his attention to the task at hand, with the new presence comforting him. Fixating on the buttons into the gatebox.
A pause of silence, then gate unlocked and slowly drew open. It was a sweet relief to Luca. He turned to the man next to him. Flinching by an odd greeting, when he proceeded to wrap a small hand around his upper arm. The smaller man flinched as well, hanging his head almost immediately, and apologizing.
"Sorry. Habit."
Luca shook his head frantically. "N-no- Sorry, I'm just not used to it. It's okay, you can hold onto me."
Edgar didn't do that. Luca felt a pang of guilt in his chest. Edgar walked into the gate, Luca quickly following after as to keep him company. Making sure to keep close behind as they walked out of the match.
_
Luca had his fair share of wrapping wounds. He could consider himself an expert, even. For such an unfortunate reason, though. Often himself, though others he had, which was still pretty upsetting. The idea of pain and misfortune was a mood killer for him. Though it was probably because he was empathetic, he'd like to think it was a universal experience.
Edgar often contrasted a lot of views he had. Edgar wasn't empathetic. Luca would wince, cleaning Edgar's injuries up, as if he was in pain as well. Luca would feel bad when others cried. Edgar did not. Though he did not fault him, it was surprising to him. As for sympathy, he didn't not often show either. Unless it was Luca.
It was kind of obvious that Edgar favorited Luca.
Luca found himself often accompanying the usually lonely Edgar because of this. His demeanor had pushed most people away.
Luca finished his handiwork on Edgar, stepping back to take a better look. "That was a pretty nasty scratch, huh? Glad we could get that cleaned up."
"...Yes. Thank you." The painter gave his arm a gracious look, before pulling his sleeve back over it and relaxing. He slowly turned away and off.
"H-hey, about earlier," Luca interjected, causing the man to pause. He acknowledged Luca with a look over his shoulder, and met eyes that encouraged him to continue. "I don't mind if you want to touch me like that. I really don't. Just… let me know, okay?" Edgar let out a lighthearted sigh. But that wasn't enough for Luca. "I'm being serious. You just startled me-!"
"Okay Luca. I will." His lips curled into something that … resembled a smile? Not really, but it definitely wasn't a frown. Wow. He was really bad at smiling. It was kind of charming.
He joined Edgar at his side, and Edgar looked him up and down before slowly wrapping his arm around him, making sure he was watching. The two stood, conjoined, before laughing quietly.
Luca smiled. "See?"
"I do." Edgar whispered.
The men stood there, in silence. Arms wrapped around each other, fingers locked. It was odd. It was intimate. Something Luca wouldn't do with anyone else. It made him wonder why he let Edgar always get away with these things.
He brought his attention to the painter in question. He stared at the man who seemed hyper fixated on their hands. He had gentle curls, and a kind of cute round face. Full cheeks, and soft lips.
He kept taking small notes of his features. How his face had a slight natural blush, how his lashes were curly, how cute the short eyebrows were. It flustered him when he realized what he had been doing. But he really liked it. He liked looking at him. He liked touching him. He didn't know why, but he reached out to his face, and used a finger to push his bangs out of the way. Edgar blinked and shot his head up at the gesture. He turned red, and his face curled into an odd look, like he was panicking. Luca chuckled under his breath.
"Mr. Balsa, I-" he stammered, before Luca dared to stop him again.
"What did I say about calling me that? We're friends, aren't we?"
Edgar's eyelashes fluttered at the comment. "Yes. Friends…"
Luca bit his lip.
"A-actually, could I talk to you about something, Edgar?" He confided. Edgar looked up at him, curious, and beckoned him to continue. "Truth be told, I'm very fond of you."
"That makes me happy to hear, Luca." He chuckled.
"N-no, I think more than you think. I think I'm… very fond of you." Luca blurted. He didn't know where he was going with this, truly, but he didn't want to keep Edgar in the dark. "I..i…-"
The painter looked at him patiently. He couldn't read his expression. He didn't know if the painter was happy, surprised, or anything. It was kind of blank, but not a soulless blank. Curious, but kind of expectant, perhaps.
"I love you, Edgar. I think about you all the time. I write your name in my notebook, I whisper your name. I like it when you bump into me, when you talk with me, or look after me. Nobody else is this close to me. I quite fancy it."
The painter's eyes widened with surprise, and his mouth opened to speak. Nothing came out when he tried to speak. He could only yank his arm away, and pull his hat lower over his face.
Luca grew flustered. Had he misinterpreted Edgar's feelings? He'd assumed, because Edgar was so comfortable with him, but he guessed he truly didn't know. He hung his head in shame, slapping his hand against his neck and pressing his fingernails into his skin through his electrical gloves.
"I-i'm sorry," he gagged out an apology. "I shouldn't have said that. I thought it'd make you feel better."
Their awkward silence was finally cut short with a sharp inhale from the painter, straightening himself out and sighing. "I'm sorry Luca, you surprised me."
"O-oh…" Luca laughed, hearing the words reminiscent to his own. In a way, it calmed him, even for just a moment, with the lightheartedness of it.
"Oh, what do I say… I suppose I've been wanting to hear that for a while. I just… didn't expect it today." He smiled, and grasped Luca's free hand, awkwardly trying to look at his face. Luca looked away from his glare, and awkwardly chuckled.
"Ah… really now? Well, suppose I have finally indulged you?"
"Please look at me when I talk, Luca." Edgar's tone made Luca instinctively, albeit with some hesitance, obey. He relaxed his body, and looked Edgar in the eyes.
Edgar liked staring into his eyes. They did it sometimes. But it was hard for Luca. It was like judgement. And when he couldn't hold the look, he'd get flustered and hide his face. Edgar didn't like that. He never understood. Edgar wove his fingers into Luca's other hand, curling his wrists into the gesture. He turned his head up to look at the man, and smiled. Looking into his eyes, as he usually did. Luca held his breath.
"You're so tense now. I'm sorry, did I put you off?" The man frowned.
"N-no… I'm sorry, you're just… you're lovely."
"Thank you. Could you say what you said earlier to me again? I'm ready now."
Luca's eyes fluttered open to finally meet Edgar's, and he took a firmer grip on the mans smaller hands. He looked at him eagerly, once again with a beckoning look.
"I love you, Edgar," he finally exclaimed, taking everything not to look away from him again. "I've never felt this before-I love you."
"I love you too, Luca. I've loved you forever. I'm so happy you love me too." Edgar smiled, warmly. It was odd, a smile he'd never expected from him. His warmth came closer, into a hug, burying his face into Luca's chest. He was very warm. Luca wrapped his arms around him as well, and comfortably so. "Ever since you went to prison, I-..."
Their embrace was crudely interrupted by a violent banging at the door, it horrified Luca. He stumbled backwards, but in a quick motion, caught himself and took a deep breath. The door continued to mercilessly bang, however, and he forced himself to work up the courage to answer it.
He gently opened the door, and Andrew loomed in the frame, along with Victor peeking out from behind him.
Andrew immediately began to shout. "Y-you said you two would come outside at 3:00-!! Do you kn…"
His face looked horrified, at a sight beside Luca. His curiosity led his eyes, and they landed on Edgar, who was comfortable beside him. He didn't quite understand what was so terrifying. The man stammered, and bit his lip.
"What's wrong…?" Luca finally asked him. Victor pushed beside Andrew and handed him a piece of paper, torn out of a notebook. It made him glance back at Edgar, who didn't seem to be paying much attention.
Oh. Edgar was smiling. A lot more than Luca had ever seen. Is that what he was so shocked about?
"Haha, you're funny," Luca chuckled. "We're just having a nice afternoon, that's all. I'm sorry for forgetting, Andrew, you know how I am."
Luca led him and Edgar out the door, and past the two who signed to each other. Luca didn't really know a lot of sign language. Victor tried teaching him, but he'd always forget. Andrew was the better out of him, Edgar, and Luca. Probably because of how much time he spent with Victor.
They began their slow walk down the hallway, Luca and Edgar in arms. He gently held the side of Edgar's head, pressing a kiss to his lover. Andrew let out an audible gasp from behind, something the two couldn't help but laugh at.