Work Text:
Uneasy Alliance
Lucanis sat alone in the dining hall. Or, as alone as he could be with Spite lingering nearby. The others had slowly filtered off to go to their own rooms as midnight was fast approaching. He knew he should try to go to sleep too, but his alliance with the demon had only just been established. They had spent so much time at odds with one another that it felt odd to consider sleep willfully.
He'd over-caffeinated and forced himself to stay awake for far longer than should have been humanly possible for longer than he cared to remember. All to prevent Spite from taking control of his body.
He would no longer need to go to those lengths.
Yet he couldn't quell the uneasiness that filled him as he sat on the couch, his eyes becoming heavier, nearly impossible to keep open. It would be difficult to break his old, defensive habits.
The door to his left opened suddenly, Lucanis jumping as the sound roused him from his drowsy state. His eyes flew open and he sat upright as he turned to see who was entering the hall at this hour.
"Rook," he sighed as she walked into the room. Her violet-hazel eyes turned toward him and she smiled as she met his gaze. Only a handful of hours had passed since they had sat in the music room together. Since their first kiss.
"Oh, sorry to disturb you. I thought you'd be in your pantry by now," she apologized in a gentle tone, her cheeks reddening slightly. She approached the table that sat in front of the couch and grabbed one of the fresh apples from the bowl at its center. "Just needed a late night snack." She took a bite of the fruit and chewed it thoughtfully. "Why are you still out here?"
"Tell Rook! Lucanis is still afraid. No reason to be!"
Lucanis leaned back against the cushion of the couch and let out a heavy sigh. He patted the spot beside him as an invitation for her to join him. "Truthfully? I'm nervous about sleeping," he answered earnestly. Rook moved to sit on the couch with him, taking another bite of her apple as she considered him.
"Makes sense though, doesn't it?" she asked, a playful gleam in her eyes as she looked at him.
He noticed the hazel coloring of her iris that encircled her pupil, the way it slowly merged with the violet hue and eventually gave way to it. Gorgeous. Lucanis pulled himself back to the moment, trying not to get lost in her. He shrugged his shoulders noncommittally.
"This is the first night where you don't have to worry about Spite trying to use your body to escape. You've been in survival mode for a long time, Lucanis. You don't just snap out of that because the two of you came to an agreement earlier today."
"Lucanis needs to trust."
"Trust must be earned! It doesn't just happen instantly because you promised you'd behave, Spite!"
"Not good enough."
Lucanis squeezed his eyes shut tightly, too frustrated to continue the back and forth. He wanted to give in to the feeling of relief lingering on the precipice of his mind. A result of Rook's validation of his concerns. Before speaking with her, he'd been afraid that his anxiety about sleep following the fresh alliance with Spite was foolish. Or that it was even his own stubbornness persisting.
Rook leaned forward, placing her partially-eaten apple on the table before turning toward Lucanis. She took his hand in hers and he felt a rush of emotion wash over him. So much had changed today, so much good it was almost overwhelming.
"What's he saying?" she asked as she watched him carefully. He opened his eyes and looked at her, once again admiring the gorgeous coloring of her eyes. He toyed with the idea of feigning ignorance.
But she deserved better than that. She had proven herself to him, time and time again. Unsure of what they were to each other now, besides companions working toward a similar goal. Two Crows assigned to the same contract. They were more than that now. They would figure it out in time. But for now, she was a welcome reprieve from the wanderings of his troubled mind.
"He wants me to trust that he will not take over when I got to sleep," he admitted, gripping her hand tightly as he spoke.
"I'll sit with you," she offered. "If it'll help you feel safer."
Spite jumped over the table, eagerly reaching toward her. His long claw-like fingers ached to drag along the soft skin of her arm. "YES! Let Rook stay. Rook is safe. Trust Rook!"
Lucanis was taken aback by her kind offer, his eyes widening with shock. "I do not deserve your kindness," he said as he squeezed her hand gently. She smiled at him, her expression softening as she once again closed the distance between them. She rested her forehead against his, reaching up to cup her other hand against his bearded cheek.
"Of course you do, Lucanis," she assured him before pressing her lips against his.
The gentlest of touches he'd ever felt, which made his heart ache in his chest. He had fought against his feelings for Rook for so long, but it was a relief to have someone to talk to about the things that concerned him. To have someone not just understand, but also support him.
She pulled away from him slowly, moving to the end of the couch. "Now, lay your head in my lap. We can call this a test run," she said as she positioned herself so he'd be able to lay down. He silently obeyed, too emotional to respond.
The nearby fireplace crackled soothingly, coupled with the relaxing sensation of Rook's hand running through his hair, helped him relax.
"Is he still bothering you?"
Lucanis chuckled as he realized that Spite had gone. Unsure of his location, but glad that he was being given this moment of peace with Rook. "No, he is quiet for once." His eyes became heavier with each stroke of her hand, the fatigue taking its hold. He found himself welcoming it for the first time in a long time.
"Rook?"
"Yes, Lucanis?"
"Thank you for this."
"You're welcome. Now, shhh, go to sleep. I'll be here when you wake up."