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Everything had started about a week ago, by Rook's estimations.
Okay, yes. Rook had flirted with the man frequently . Flirting was a favorite pastime of hers, but recently she had focused all that energy on him. The way he was thrown off his game only slightly, not quite flustered, made her grin with glee. He was an excellent target.
That was before she had actually developed feelings for him. Now she had toned down the flirting, keeping it limited to their chats in the pantry or during dinner.
She was sure everyone else had noticed that she'd stopped play-flirting with each of them, and had focused her attention on Lucanis entirely. If they did, they weren't saying anything, and she was so grateful for that. Though she suspected Taash and Neve were gossiping about her.
Just thinking about that made her blush. Her confidence was all bluster, to be honest. She had no idea how to actually go beyond flirting, as she was merely mimicking behavior that had been exhibited to her when she lived in Minrathous. Yes, there had indeed been others. Though they always sought her out rather than the other way around.
It didn't matter anyway; Lucanis had been avoiding her as of late. He was off his game as well, messing up during fights and cursing under his breath. He was off-kilter. His responses took longer than usual, he would glance around nervously, following something with his eyes.
She had caught him staring at her, but not quite . It was like he was seeing something next to her, something distracting him. Spite, she quickly realized, and she put two and two together to deduce that Spite was the reason he was avoiding her. She had to admit that it stung a little, considering she thought she'd made it clear that Spite wasn't a deal breaker for her. That she didn't care what Spite did.
It didn't help that Emmrich was also being rather shifty around Lucanis and her, muttering and excusing himself whenever the three of them were in the same room. That's how she knew it was Spite's fault entirely, because she thought there was nothing that could unnerve Emmrich.
It only got worse after the discussion of Spite's sleepwalking. The moment they shared there in the pantry was…intense, for lack of a better word. Her heart had leapt into her chest at the almost-kiss, only for him to quickly dip out and disappear. Rook was embarrassed, and maybe a little ashamed, to be honest.
The blank stares, the distant matter of speaking, it had all started then. Though it unnerved Rook a little, it also intrigued her.
Then, two days ago, she had entered the kitchen to very contradictory smells. The best coffee and the worst coffee she had ever smelled intermixed in the air, confusing her nose and brain. She almost choked on the scent, looking around for the culprit.
Neve and Lucanis were sitting at the table, two pots between them, with Neve facing her and Lucanis’s back to her. She knew he heard her, he was a trained assassin, in tune with his environment. He was ignoring her.
“I just do not understand why you would boil your beans, Neve. You must roast them to get a good flavor.”
Neve flicked her gaze to Rook's face, smiling politely before turning to look at Lucanis. She was going to tease him, Rook could tell, just by the look on her face. She had to admit, she felt a pang of jealousy that Lucanis was so willing to talk with Neve when she was standing right there . Maybe he didn't like her like she did…
“It gets the job done, doesn't it?” She smirked. Rook snapped back into focus and gave her a pointed look, crossing her arms. Neve chuckled in turn.
Lucanis let out an exasperated sigh, though he seemed distracted suddenly. “But it is so much easier to just do it the right way , and end up both with a cup you enjoy, and gets ‘the job done’, as you say.”
Neve hummed low in reply, swirling the coffee around in her cup thoughtfully before a devious smile crossed her face again. She abruptly stood up and turned to look at Rook.
“Rook. What do you think?”
She hadn't even realized she'd technically been eavesdropping. She had just been waiting for a break in the conversation to interject, so she could grab Neve for a mission to the remnants of Dock Town.
She noticed Lucanis froze when he heard her name. When he turned, it was slow, as if doing so faster would trigger something. He was looking up at her, but not really at her, yet again. He was looking at Spite, who was apparently hovering uncomfortably close to her.
She waited a moment, then cleared her throat. His eyes snapped to hers, then he quickly looked away, muttering to himself.
Now Rook was annoyed. “I think…that I need you, Neve. We need to go to Dock Town. There's some Venatori causing trouble.”
Neve sighed, looking between the two of them and shook her head. “Fine. I would never say no to some Venatori deaths.” She strode over, walking alongside Rook to leave. Rook spared a single glance backwards, finding, to her surprise, that Lucanis’ face looked flushed. Though she couldn't completely tell since he was looking at the floor. He caught her gaze for almost a second before literally vanishing towards the pantry he called his room.
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Lucanis was going to go insane. Either that or wrench Spite out by any means necessary.
He had wanted to let her down easy after the moment they shared. It was too tense for his liking. She kept coming to him, using her honeyed words…how could he not feel the pull? Plus, it's not that he didn't like her, in fact he did, but there were problems.
Spite. Spite was the problem. Once Spite had realized that Lucanis was as interested in Rook as Spite himself was, he had gotten unruly.
He had lost count of the times Spite had whispered in his ear when his gaze strayed to her, or the vulgar mimicking the demon did when close to Rook in his spectral form. Thank the maker she couldn't see him. Spite seemed to be enjoying Lucanis’s flustered expression, delighting in the way he could anger him.
It was driving him to a breaking point. He wasn't sure how much longer he could take it, and he had no idea how to get Spite under control. Not to mention he couldn't tell anyone on the team about it, though he suspected Emmrich knew. The necromancer could often hear Spite and would exit the room whenever Rook was also there.
It was bad enough Spite was making him sleepwalk, he couldn't imagine telling anyone that Spite was…well…spiting him by exploiting his genuine affection for Rook. Especially her.
Maker, if he told her, what kind of face would she make? Would she be disgusted or disappointed? He didn't want to imagine it, but she'd probably withdraw from him, and as much as he was trying to keep her at arms length, he actually didn't want that. So he withdrew from her first. That way he didn't have to tell her about the thoughts swirling about in his head. He needed to keep them -and him- under control. He would not let Spite win this mental game of tug of war.
That day, when Rook had entered the kitchen, he didn't hear her, but he knew she was there. He would love to say it was the benefits of a Crow's education, but it was actually because Spite was up in his ears again.
“ Oooh looky looky, it's Rooky Rooky ” He said loudly, standing off to the side. Prickles went down Lucanis's spine as he continued, detailing how good she looked in her new armor, or how she was swaying her hips and didn't even know it, that sort of thing.
Lucanis tried to shut him out, to continue his conversation with Neve, but Spite was glinting with glee, disappearing from view to presumably be near Rook again.
“ Don't ignore her! ” He barked from behind him. “ She's right there, and so, so pretty. Smells like home! Hot coffee and warm leather! ”
Lucanis wanted to groan, to bury his head in his hands and just disappear. But that would have alerted Neve and Rook that something was wrong. He couldn't bear Rook doing that thing where she touches his arm, soft and slow, and asks him if he's okay. Not right now, when he was trying very hard to not think about her delicate-for-a-rogue hands.
So he pursed his lips and sipped at his coffee, though he was barely tasting it at that point. Spite continued to taunt and tease him, only increasing in both volume and intensity as he ignored him.
Then Neve had called attention to Rook, and to his dismay, he was forced to turn and acknowledge her. She was standing there, hand on her hip, as if she was waiting for him to notice her.
And there Spite was, tip-tapping on her shoulders and tracing her curves with his hands. Mierda, Lucanis was so, so grateful he was the only thing Spite could actually touch.
When he finally acknowledged Rook by meeting her eyes, he saw a bit of anger in them. Then, instead of returning his acknowledgment, Rook had turned to Neve, bypassing him completely.
Could she hear Spite? No, no that wasn't possible. So her ignoring him had to be on purpose. It would be something to mull over, once Spite had calmed down.
Luckily, with the fuel to Spite's fire out of the lighthouse entirely, he receded back into Lucanis's mind.
What Lucanis didn't understand, was the why. Why was Spite acting like this? Just…for fun? He was a demon of Spite, didn't he only derive joy from hurting others?
He had always thought demons were one-note, only able to feel the emotion that they were . He couldn't risk anyone on the team finding out about it, or Maker forbid, Rook . He would be mortified, and there wasn't a lot that could do that.
He caught her eye as she left, and quickly disappeared back into the pantry to avoid her questioning gaze. He needed to get Spite under control, and fast.
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Rook was just redecorating her room that day. She liked to fill her room with knick-knacks and trinkets she earned or bought on her missions, it was a fun way to make the space hers, to feel less like she was isolated away from everything she knew.
To her surprise, Lucanis sought her out. She was under the impression he was ignoring her since the moment, and she had ignored him in kind. Well, to be fair, she wasn't actively ignoring him, she just didn't make an effort To acknowledge him. Though that probably didn't make much a difference.
He had questions, which was fair. Rook was the leader of the group and she wanted to be there for her team, so she listened to him. But as per usual, he seemed distracted. He avoided meeting her gaze, looking ashamed for reasons Rook couldn't identify. But his body language was telling her that he was hiding something.
Rook was getting extremely frustrated with his manner. She was (admittedly, several times in fact) not a patient person. She did whatever she had to do, and she did it fast. He was so hot and cold with her right now, she needed to know why, didn't he feel the same? He had flirted back!
Well, now she was distracted, as her thoughts strayed away from the Lucanis In front of her, to the moment the two had shared. She started to blank out, giving monotone answers like ‘mhm’ and ‘yea’ to each of Lucanis's questions.
He seemed to notice, as he finally met her eyes with concern. “Rook?” He paused in his questions.
Rook sighed audibly, looking at the floor. Then she leaned forward on the couch. She felt uncharacteristically solemn at this moment. Then she noticed Lucanis was staring at her with a mixture of embarrassment and worry. He kept darting from her eyes to next to her, but he seemed to really be trying to meet her gaze.
She was done with this. Done with beating around the bush. She wanted to at least attempt to address the Spite-sized elephant in the room. She couldn't avoid this forever, if she needed to go Treviso for a mission she would need to bring him.
“Lucanis?” She replied plainly, not really answering his own question, but posing her own. Without allowing him to reply, she continued. “If my flirting has… bothered you, Lucanis. I can stop. I don't want what we have to be ruined just because I made some passes at you.”
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Time stopped for Lucanis in that moment.
“ No! No! He doesn't think that! ” Spite hissed. “ He wants to- ”
Lucanis drowned out the rest of Spite's thought with a deep groan, rubbing his face with one hand. “Mierda. It is not you, Rook.” He felt bad, it truly wasn't her fault, and she needed to know that. He had to tell her something to ease her worry, without telling her the whole truth. He walked forward to stand in front of her. “Spite has just been…infuriating recently. I have been spending much of my time attempting to placate them.”
Rook looked down, chewing her lip thoughtfully. Then she looked up and smiled gently at him. “Oh, I see. I'm sorry Spite has been causing you grief. I know you two butt heads a lot. But you know you aren't alone, right?” She reached up and took one of his hands. “I'm always one little walk away.”
“ Soft! So soft… ” Spite whispered into Lucanis's ear, and he forced himself not to jerk his hand away from hers. She was breaking down his walls again, forcing him to admit that he liked her smile, her speech, her touch…
At that thought, Spite growled, and suddenly pushed against Lucanis's back as hard as he could, sending him toppling over.
And there they were. Rook trapped beneath Lucanis on the couch, his arms bracing himself on either side of her head.
They both flushed bright red, as Lucanis stared down at her. She was beautiful like this, her hair fanning out around her in a little halo.
She squirmed, clearly nervous, when he didn't immediately move. “Umm…Lucanis?”
He realized what he was doing and rolled over as quickly as he could to sit next to her on the couch. Muttering continuous curses under his breath, he buried his face in his hands.
He had never allowed Rook to see him like this, even after sleepwalking moments. He was always composed, or as much as he could be, when she flirted with him. He was setting a line in the sand, as it were. But now they were both embarrassed, Rook’s face a mess of bright pinks and reds. He could even see out of the corner of his eyes that the blush continued down, under her shirt and…
‘Stop looking!’ He mentally admonished himself.
He hadn't done that on purpose, Rook had to know. It hadn't been the first time Spite had physically struck him. He needed to get his breathing under control, and tell her!
“Lucanis…” She said suddenly, sounding unsure of herself. her mouth tilted up in one direction as she chewed her lip again, an anxious habit he had noticed she had. “Has Spite been ‘acting weird’ for a while now?” She wavered for a moment, but placed her hand on his back and didn't move when he flinched.
He brought his face up so he could look her in the eyes. She deserved that. He stared dead at her, willing any emotion to leave and render his face stoic.
“Yes.”
Rook took her hand away. She looked at the floor again, then back up at him, with a half smile. “Don't make me get Neve,” she teased. “She's a master interrogator, she'll have you spilling secrets you didn't even know you had!” She dropped the joking tone. “Tell me what's bugging you.”
Shutting his eyes, he took a deep breath. Well he had to tell her now, there was no getting out of it. “Spite has been…acting up in ways I had not considered possible.”
Rook looked out of her depth immediately . She stood up and started wringing her hands, another nervous tactic he had noticed.
“Do we need to get Emmrich? He's much more versed in demons and spirits than I am. He'd have an idea on why Spite is acting strange. Wait, what's he doing exactly that is ‘strange’?” She paused. “And what does it have to do with me?”
He groaned in return. “He's particularly…interested in you, shall we say.”
Oh. Oh!
Her face drained of all color, only to fill up with the color red. Sputtering, she looked at him. She was picking up exactly what he was implying between the lines.
“Ah I’m…somewhat flattered,” She started to joke. “But I'm afraid Demons are not my type.” The joke fell flat with him.
Spite laughed right in his ear at that, though.“ That's why we like Rook! I want to talk to her! ” He pushed on Lucanis's shoulder again.
“Don't encourage him, please.” Lucanis said tersely.
Rook looked confused. “How is that encouraging?!”
“You're giving him attention. That's what he wants.”
“Noted.” She started to play with her fingers again, twisting and pulling them, and pressing them against one another.
Lucanis sighed. “So you think Emmrich could help?”
Rook nodded, as she scanned his face, trying to read his expression. He had just managed to lock it back down, hiding behind his usual controlled demeanor.
“Y-yea. He is our resident fade expert. He must have some kind of idea to either calm Spite down or…I don't know... make him dormant? He's got to have a solution.”
Lucanis nodded. “Then that's the next step.” He stood up abruptly. He looked at her, trying to read her expression, before rushing out of the room.
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Oh that was mortifying…Rook had never been so embarrassed, and it wasn't even her fault.
Her box of trinkets lay forgotten on the floor by her feet, and she didn't feel like organizing them anymore.
Just as quickly as Lucanis had come into the room, he was gone, leaving Rook with a pit in her stomach, and a tingle in her mind.
Spite liked her. Did that mean Lucanis liked her too? She didn't know what to think. All she knew was she was buzzing and needed to get the stress out soon.
She walked out of her room, walking on pins and needles, not knowing where her feet were taking her. She paused as she passed Emmrich's room, wondering if Lucanis was already in there talking to him.
She started to play with her fingers as she walked. She was always anxious, but this had brought some of her worse tendencies to the surface. She wanted to do all her old comforts she did back in Minrathous. Chewing on her nails would have been her go-to, but she didn't want to have to deal with bloody thumbs again.
Eventually she reached the study, and found herself reaching up to knock on the door.
“Neve?” She called out, though it didn't sound like her own voice. She was disconnected from her body, almost.
A moment later the door opened. “Rook. To what do I owe the pleasure?” She walked over and leaned against her desk.
Rook wandered in, her brain fuzzy. “I'm…not sure…” She mumbled.
Neve tilted her head. “Okay, what happened with Lucanis?”
She focused sharply, turning to fully look at Neve. “What?”
“Oh please. You think I don't watch you all enough to know when someone's acting lovesick?” She scoffed and crossed her arms.
Rook sputtered, grasping at her necklace. “I'm not lovesick! I just…something did happen, but it wasn't bad, I just…” She recounted the encounter with Neve, who looked pensive.
“I see.” She shifted, crossing her legs over one another. “Well, I can't say I'm surprised. Spite's always been more into you than a normal demon.”
Rook whined, covering her face. “But what does that mean for me and Lucanis, Neve? Does he like me? That's what I'm worried about.”
Neve shrugged. “I think he does. I see the way he looks at you when you're not aware. He just might be a little less receptive while this issue with Spite persists.”
“You really think so?” Rook looked out the window into the fade. “You know I trust you, Neve. You wouldn't lie, would you? Just to spare my feelings?”
She scoffed again. “Please. Why would I lie to you? I'm not that mean.”
“But don't you like Lucanis too?”
“Where in the world did you get that idea?” Neve shot back, looking baffled.
Rook sighed. “I don't know. He always tells you your moves are beautiful during battles, and he just tells me, ‘nice work’. It hard not to feel like there's chemistry between you two.”
“Nipping that in the bud right now .” She grabbed Rook's shoulders. “There is nothing between us. We admire each other's style. Besides, I don't have time for romance with helping Minrathous.”
Feeling a pang of guilt, Rook flinched. That would be her fault. As a Shadow Dragon, everyone, including Neve, thought she would pick Minrathous to save during the dragon attack. But Treviso had nobody to protect it, if she didn't go, then no one but Lucanis would. She had disappointed Neve, and let down one of her closest companions.
“I'm sorry, Ne-”
Neve held up a hand. “Like I said before, you made an impossible choice. I won't hold it against you. I wouldn't steal someone's love interest just to spite them.”
Rook let out a short laugh. “Ha, yea. That wouldn't be like you. I just…get worried sometimes.”
“You do get up in your own head. It's a bad habit. Not to mention the hand-wringing” She motioned to Rook's hands, which were a bit red from all the rubbing. “Why don't you just sit him down and ask him?”
Horror was evident on Rook's face. “Neve, I just had the most mortifying experience of my life, and you want me to purposefully seek him out?”
“It's up to you. If you don't, I don't think you'll get another chance before we're swept up into another one of the God's schemes.” She smirked. “Besides, you don't have it in you to actually ignore him.”
Blushing, Rook stopped wringing her hands. She hated to admit it, but Neve was right. Lucanis deserved her being upfront and honest.
“Thanks Neve.” She started towards the door. “I'll think about what you said…”
“Wait, before you go-” Neve held up a hand, and Rook looked back, expecting anther piece of wisdom. “Since it's your turn on dinner tonight, could you make that stew you made last time?”
Rolling her eyes, she nodded. “Yea, of course, Neve.” She smiled and then she was out the door. She needed time to get her thoughts together, to formulate a plan on what she wanted to say to him. And her room was the best place to do that thinking.
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Lucanis was so mad at Spite right now. He and Rook were about to have another moment, a chance to clear the air, and he ruined it with his obsession.
And it was an obsession. Spite was fixated on Rook more than Lucanis had been on Zara. Not that Lucanis didn't hold his own deep affections for Rook.
After that debacle, he retreated to his room to compose himself before going to see Emmrich. There was no one in the kitchen when he got there, luckily. It was probably Rook’s turn to cook and she always waited until the last possible moment to get started, which was in line with her personality. She was a dive-right-in person when it came to adventures, and squeamish around domestic duties.
He entered the the pantry, his safe space. But even there, he was assaulted with memories of Rook. Memories of leaning over her, their lips almost touching.
He needed to stop. Maybe Spite would calm down if he thought he didn't like her? No…Spite was in his head, knew every thought. He knew him better than anyone and there was no pretending anymore.
He liked, really liked , Rook. He couldn't bring himself to say the words, not yet, but he could feel that he did.
When did he start being fond of her? Maybe it was after she risked life and limb fighting a blighted dragon to save Treviso. She had forsaken her own home, Minrathous, for the sake of his. Maybe it was that he could relate to her facade she maintained, knowing it was all bluster.
As if on cue, Spite began to growl again. “ Missed your chance! ” He said angrily. “ She was so warm…so soft !” He glared at Lucanis
Lucanis glared right back, and then cursed at him. “You are causing issues, Spite.” An idea popped in his head. “Rook wouldn't like that.” If Spite was obsessed with Rook, maybe he would behave if he knew he was inconveniencing Rook?
Spite hissed, but thankfully disappeared. Plan success.
He needed help sooner rather than later. He hated to tell yet another person about his issue, but he had no choice. This was an issue that wouldn't solve itself.
So off he went. He entered Emmrich's office slowly and quietly, gauging where everyone was. It was just Emmrich and his skeletal assistant Manfred, luckily. No one else to hear his secret.
Emmrich was seated at his desk, poring over a thick manual of some sort, and Manfred stood nearby with a tea tray.
Emmrich seemed not to have noticed him, so he cleared his throat. Manfred turned, but Emmrich didn't, so he cleared his throat louder.
“Ah, Lucanis.” Emmrich turned in his chair to face him. “This would be your first visit to my office, wouldn't it? What could our esteemed assassin require of me, hm?” He stood up, his hands behind his back.
Lucanis stared at the floor. Spite was quiet at the moment, but that could soon change. As much as he hated having to explain himself, he needed help, and it wasn't like Emmrich would tease him like Rook would. “Rook says you can help me and Spite with a problem.”
“ There is no problem!” Spite hissed in his ear, but Lucanis did his best to ignore them.
Emmrich looked directly at Spite, but also seemed to ignore him, at least for the moment. He turned back to Lucanis. “Ah yes, the spirit you are possessed with.”
“Demon.” Lucanis corrected.
Emmrich sighed. “At the Necropolis, we consider them all spirits, wayward or otherwise. But I digress, what is the issue? Unless it is what I think it is.”
Spite suddenly laughed, and sound that rarely ever came out of him. “ There is no issue! You like rook! ”
“Ah.” Emmrich's lip twisted, uncomfortable. “I was hoping that it wasn't the case. This is about Spite's vulgar behavior, yes?”
Lucanis nodded.
“It is unusual for a spirit, even a turned one, to act out of their domain, but not unheard of.” He considered, raising his hands to his face as he spoke. “But if they are contained…it is the nature of spirits to mold themselves to their host or summoner, if they are hosted or summoned long term.”
Grunting in turn, Lucanis glared at Spite, who was once again whispering in his ear. “He is not ‘molding himself to me’. He is acting ridiculous and causing mischief.”
“It is entirely possible he is acting on your own deep, hidden desires. Things you think but don't, at the same time, if that makes sense. Things that are usually stopped by inhibitions.” He paused, when Spite said something particularly loudly, and he awkwardly looked around. “Spite might be responding to your own emotions, basically. Is it possible that you yourself are harboring these feelings?”
Lucanis's carefully controlled expression almost faltered at Emmrich's suggestion. Thinking about Rook that way was…preposterous. Sure he liked her, but that didn't mean he…
His chest was tight. There was no way, right? Lucanis groaned again, his expression finally breaking. “I do not think so.” He lied through his teeth.
Emmrich looked at him with suspicion, but jotted something down on a piece of paper nearby. “Mhm. Unfortunately The only real piece of advice I can give you on a situation like this, is to address the base feelings that you are having that the spirit is feeding on. Otherwise Spite may ramp up to an unbearable degree.”
Unbearable? Lucanis gritted his teeth. It was already unbearable. “I guess…I'll talk with Spite soon. Thank you, Emmrich.” He said curtly, storming out of the room and heading back to the pantry.
As he sat there, fuming, he heard Rook and Bellara enter the kitchen a few minutes later. They were chatting about Arlathan forest and the Veil Jumpers, stuff like that.
He listened in as she spoke, the sound of her voice through the wall caused his heart to race as he thought about about their ‘conversation’ earlier. Rook, their fearless leader, had felt so small under his arms. Was she eating enough these days, between helping Minrathous and chasing the gods? She had felt so thin. Maybe that was just an elf thing.
“ See! ” He felt Spite, all riled up in his mind. “ You like her! I can feel it! ”
Lucanis snapped out of his reverie, glowering at Spite as Bellara’s footsteps left the kitchen. Now it was just Rook, her shoes clicking against the stone of the floor. He sighed.
“Spite. You need to stop.” He whispered, hoping that she couldn't hear them through the thick stone walls, even though he could hear her. “You are going to scare her away.” He almost pleaded with the demon.
“ Not me! ” He hissed back. “ You! ”
Confused, Lucanis stared at Spite. “How am I going to scare her away?”
“ You like her! She smells good! But you ignore her. She will leave. You should take what you want before it is gone! ”
It suddenly clicked in Lucanis's mind. This was what Emmrich was talking about.
“So you are doing this because you think she will leave?”
Spite didn't respond, but growled and disappeared.
So that was it. Spite was feeling anger at being left alone again, like the two of them had been in the Ossuary. They were feeding off his own fear of being left alone.
Rook was not a patient woman, he knew that. How would he feel if she focused her attention and flirting on someone else in the group? He could feel bile rising in his throat just thinking about it.
Suddenly there was a knock at the door, and a soft whisper. “...Lucanis?”
Spite's voice came rushing back, shrill. “ She is here! ”
Lucanis’s stomach tied itself in knots just from the sound of her voice, but he walked over to the door anyway. He needed to talk with her, for real. As Emmrich had said, addressing the root of the problem would help soothe it.
He opened the door, and was surprised to see Rook holding a tray with some mismatched cups and a pot. “I made coffee.” She said softly.
Lucanis couldn't help the incredulous tone in his voice.” You made coffee?” The entire time he had been at the lighthouse, he had only ever seen Rook imbibing tea or wine. He was surprised she even knew how to make it.
She chuckled nervously and entered slowly, setting the tray down on a table nearby. “Y-yea. It's not exactly the best, but I do know how to do a basic brew. I hope it's to your taste.” She tipped the metal pot, pouring steaming hot coffee into the cups.
As she handed him one of the cups, he took a deep sniff to test the waters. He could tell they were roasted, thank the Maker, but there was something underneath.
“Did you add chicory to this?”
“Uhm…yea…it's how I've always made it. My aunt used to make it for me.” Rook replied softly. “I hope it doesn't ruin the taste.”
He shook his head. “No, I like it. I was just surprised, since you said ‘basic brew’ I was expecting just the beans.” He lifted the cup and smelled again. The chicory really added to the scent profile, and he hadn’t had chicory coffee in years . As he took a sip, he smiled. She was so thoughtful. “It's good.”
Her face split into a grin. “Oh great! I haven't made coffee in so long. I just…I wanted to talk to you while the food was cooking. We didn't actually get a chance to earlier, thanks to…”
She was letting it hang in the air, but Lucanis knew what she meant. Spite.
“It's not your fault Rook.” He frowned. “I am the one who should apologize.”
She just smiled at him, but the corners of her mouth were tight. He realized, by the expression in her eyes, that she was offering him a chance to set the limits of their relationship. Whatever he said here would set a precedent.
Then she spoke first. “Did Emmrich have anything good to say?” She asked, turning her cup around in her hands.
He found himself looking at her hands again while she talked. Years of wielding daggers was clear as day, nicks and cuts suggesting that she was clumsy and probably dropped them a lot. But he knew how soft her hands could be. He'd felt them multiple times, like when she handed him things or held his hands like she had earlier.
“Ah, yes.” Lucanis flushed, his throat flexing as she realized he'd been staring. “He said I have to address the…base feelings that Spite is feeding off of.” He spoke plainly, sipping his coffee as he worked up the courage to ask her whether she still liked him.
Spite was in his ear again, whispering his usual nonsense, but mixed in were genuine pleas for companionship. Lucanis begrudgingly had to admit that Emmrich was right. He didn't just think fondly of Rook, there were deeper feelings there. He wanted to run his hands over hers and hold her tight, he wanted to…no, he needed to not think about that yet. One hurdle at a time. He needed to tell her, and he couldn't do that with Spite still fussing in his ears!
Spite quieted suddenly, hissing as he vanished back into Lucanis's mind.
“Lucanis?” Rook waved her hand in front of his face, voice laced with concern, snapping him back into the present. “Spite's being loud again, isn't he?” She reached up to cup his cheek. She was smiling, but her eyes betrayed her intentions yet again. She was testing the boundaries like he thought. If he pushed her away now, she would stay away. Give up on him Entirely.
No.
Lucanis wouldn't… couldn't let go of Rook now, not when he was so close. Spite would never shut up, and he'd regret letting her get away forever. He summoned his best affectation and leaned into her hand. She looked surprised, and then tested the waters further by swiping her thumb across his cheek.
She sighed, inching closer. “You have to know,” She started, blushing heavily. “that you mean a lot to me, Lucanis. I don't want to do anything that would upset you or make you uncomfortable. You never really answered if my flirting made you feel that way though.”
“It does not. You don't have to worry about that”
“Yes I do.” She countered, looking defiant.
This was going to go in circles at this rate. Rook wasn't one to back down once she had set her mind to something, and she had set her mind to whatever this was.
He moved her hand, and she deflated a bit. But then he kissed her wrist, and her expression shifted from confusion to joy. He caught a whiff of perfume where he kissed her, a light floral and fruit smell. Oranges and magnolias. There was also a hint of coffee beans, probably from making the coffee. It was just as addicting as the real thing.
“You don't have to worry about everything, Rook. I…Spite is my problem to solve.”
Rook pursed her lip. “Yea, but…I can help.” She tapped his chest. “It is my job to help you all be your best selves. We won't be able to kill the gods otherwise.”
Suddenly her eyes grew wide, and she stood up abruptly. “My stew! Just…hold on a moment, I'll be right back, I swear!” She clasped her hands and rushed out into the kitchen.
Lucanis followed her anyway, not quite done with their talk. He was met with a delightful smell as he entered the kitchen proper. Seafood and tomatoes, similar to a paella but more nutty and with hints of vegetables.
Rook grabbed some mitts and grabbed the cauldron from atop the fire. She looked so focused, and Lucanis watched her with rapt attention. He was only now noticing her lithe movements, her careful maneuvering. She swept around the kitchen like a swan. If he didn't know any better, He would have thought Spite was influencing his actual thoughts now.
Rook caught him staring and paused. “I said I'd be right back!” She chided, blushing.
“When, though? After dinner? That could take hours, and we still need to talk.” Lucanis crossed over to her and leaned over the table. “ I need to say something before I lose my nerve.”
She put a hand on her hip, still wearing the protective mitt. “Oh?” she started to grin, but then tried to control her expression to the best of her ability. She wasn't nearly as good as a Crow, but Lucanis could appreciate the effort.
“You are also very important to me, Rook.” Lucanis steadied himself as he continued the conversation they'd had in the pantry. His nerves were alight with tension, but he was going to say it. “You have done so much…for both of us. I can't imagine not meeting you.”
Rook looked pleased at that, but she still had concern on her face at him opening up. “I'm sensing there's a but coming.”
“I'd like to become closer. I'm just worried you'll end up hurt.”
She scoffed. “You think I'm that fragile?” I'm offended, Lucanis.” She seemed dead serious right now, nothing left of her usual mirth. She turned to face away from him, crossing her arms.
He faltered a bit. Of course she wasn't fragile, that was the issue. If he did end up hurting her, it would hurt more. “Ah, mierda. That's not what I meant, Rook. I'm sorry.” He laid an uncertain hand on her shoulder.
She glanced back at him, her face solemn. “What did you mean?”
Groaning, he pulled away. “It's just - I'm not exactly the most stable person on this team. You have much better options.” He gestured around them.
She turned to look at him with an exasperated look on her face. She was definitely annoyed with him, which was not what he wanted. He wanted to explain his emotions, his reasoning, but he was no good at it. He was messing everything up.
“First off, I'm not that naive, Lucanis I know the danger that Spite - and you - pose to me. I've already considered it fully. You think I would pursue you and ignore Spite?” She sighed, clearly frustrated. “Second, really? Name one person on our team who is stable.”
Lucanis was equally frustrated. His words just weren't coming out properly. “No, I don't think you're naive, Rook. I just meant I was surprised you…that you liked me.”
Rook’s face softened. Her arms remained cross, crossed, her stance was still abrasive, but she obviously didn't have it in her to argue against him.
“Of course I like you.” She almost purred, and his heart started to race again. “You're strong, and smart, you have passion and zeal.” She seemed tempted to tease him when he flushed and became flustered at her words, but thankfully didn't. This conversation was too important for her usual jokes. She motioned for him to sit down in a chair and when he did, she sat next to him. “Lucanis. You are who I like. There's no helping that. But if you don't want an ‘us’, I'll back off. We could go slowly as well.”
He was starting to worry. He had come into this ready to take the plunge, and yet she was backing away. Was she having second thoughts? Had he messed up again? He tilted his head to study her face, looking for any hint of discomfort. She was looking at him sincerely. For once, there was no joke, no ulterior emotion in there. Just genuine, pure affection
He had to do it now.
He cupped both of Rook's cheeks. She looked baffled, but didn't deny his touch. She also didn't move, letting him set the pace.
He couldn't say ‘I love you’ yet. That would come later. For now, he would try to be content with this. He leaned forward and kissed her, merely brushing their lips together. The feeling surprised him, electricity zipping through like he'd been shocked by a mage.
When they parted, Rook's hands flew up to touch her lips, then broke out into a huge grin. He was still holding her cheeks, so she reached up to put her arms around his neck, carding her fingers through his hair. It was a simple gesture, but in the moment it felt very intimate.
Suddenly, he knew he couldn't be content with just that. Now that he'd had a taste, he was already craving more of her. His emotions were swirling around inside him, but all he could focus on was the feeling of her fingers in his hair and the softness of her skin under his own.
He surged forward again to claim her lips like a man starved. She gasped when their lips touched, but she didn't pull away. On the contrary, he felt her lean in. Her lips were as soft as he could've imagined, save for a cut he could feel on the left side of her lip. Spite was roaring with excitement in his mind, but he was easy to ignore when she was tightening her grip on his hair.
When he finally pulled away, it was simply because he needed air. As they both heaved, Rook’s eyes shot to his.
“What was that about?” She asked, bewildered. She let go of his hair and settled her hands in her lap.
“It may be selfish of me, but I don't wish for you to leave me behind.” Lucanis said softly once he had his own breath back. “Neither does Spite. It is something we are of one mind on.”
Spite's uproar had stopped, a quiet, satisfied hum in the back of his mind telling him he had placated the demon for now. Who knew how long it would last before Spite asked for more, but for now he seemed pleased.
“Well… I'm glad for that.” Rook leaned in, brushing a strand of hair that had gotten loose away from Lucanis’s face. “I would hate to see my two favorite boys arguing again.”
“ Favorite! ” Spite echoed in his mind.
Rook stood up reluctantly, walking towards the door. “As much as I hate to end the evening, it is dinner time. They've waited long enough for this stew.” She chuckled, back to her joking self. Then she blew a kiss. “Meet up later though? We can talk more. Or just…hang out?”
“How does coffee sound?” He asked carefully, and her face split into a grin.
“Sounds great.”