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The team returned to the Lighthouse after a long day of fighting some Venatori. Lucanis, Emmerich, and Rook entered the library to find Harding and Neve chatting. “Welcome back, guys! Everyone alright?” Harding said, walking over to the boys.
“We are alive, and the Venatori are dead. That's always a good day,” Lucanis says.
“Indeed! We are quite alive!” Emmerich smiles. He looks at Rook,” though you took a nasty hit from those brutes. Are you sure you are alright, Rook?”
Rook clutched his side, where he had been hit. One duelist Venatori had charged at him, and he had ducked the first attack but was not quick enough to miss the hard backswing from the Venatori’s blade and swift kick. He quickly recovered and continued the fight, but those assholes were quick. He wouldn't be surprised if they had broken his rib or at least bruised it severely. There was definitely a good cut there too. Rook smiled at his friend weakly, “I'm fine, Emmrich! Really! Nothing but a little elfroot potion and some rest can’t fix it!.”
Rook took a step to head to his room to tend to his injury, but a sharp pain from his rib shot through him. Causing him to falter and almost fall over. Lucanis was quick to catch him before his knees hit the ground. Supporting him to stand. “ROOK!”, they all rushed over to him.
Smells of blood! ROOK HURT! Spite yelled in Lucanis' head.
“Rook, please allow me to examine you! You are not fine!” Emmerich pleaded. He was moved towards his teammate to examine further.
Rooks' breath quickened and he started to sweat as his teammate drew closer to him. Instinctively, he grabbed his collar and drew it closer around his neck. “It's really unnecessary!” Rook said trying to hide is obvious anxiety. He straightened himself up and peel out of Lucanis grasp. Lucanis let him go but didn't let go of the elfs hand and gave him a very worried look that made Rook feel like a rock was in his stomach. The two men cared for each other greatly. Rook had been so patient with the assassin and with that patient had won the man's heart. But right now, his worried expression was the last thing Rook had wanted. “I’m fine guys really, I'm just going to go to my room and tend to my injuries.” He smiled weakly at Lucanis and squeezed his hand before starting to journey to his room. Why were there so many stairs?
Trying to hide. Escape! FEAR! Spite smells around Rook.
Lucanis moved to follow Rook, “Rook. Perhaps you should let Emmerich take a look.”
“I can handle it.”
Emmerich joined Lucanis “Really Rook, it would be no troub-”
“I SAID I’M FINE!” Rook shouted. The room went quiet. Rook has never yelled at, well ever! Especially not the team. Rook was halfway up the stairs clutching the hand rail. He didn't even look at the team form when he yelled.
“Rook..” Lucanis frowned. Rook was never like this. He was always cheerful and joking around with everyone. When needed to be serious he was serious. But, this was nothing he had ever seen before. He was worried.
“I.. I'm sorry” Rook sighed, “Please just drop it. I’ve got it covered. I have before. Just…” He kept moving up the stairs toward his room. No one followed this time. “Just let me deal with this.” He said before disappearing to his room.
Once they heard the door shut, they all seemed to let out a breath they had been holding. “What was that about?” Neve said, crossing her arms. “That was out of character for Rook.”
“Agreed. I do hope I didn't upset him” Emmerich worried.
“No you didn't” Harding said gently patting Emmerich's arm. “Rook has been like this before when dealing with his wounds.”
The three of them all turned toward Harding. “What do you mean?” Lucanis said. He so desperately wanted to know what was going on. He was so worried for Rook and he felt like he couldn't do anything about it.
Harding sighs, “Back when it was just the three of us, Rook, Varric and I. Rook always tended to his own injuries. I had offered to help but he would always decline and tend to his wounds in private. I once asked Varric about it, but he would say that it wasn't his story to tell. That if Rook wanted to share, he would.”
Emmerich and Neve both shared sympathetic looks. “I do hope he is alright.”
“I'm sure he will be. It's best we leave him alone for now. Let him have his space. I’m sure when he is ready he will come talk to us.” Neve said. Emmerich and Harding nodded before heading their separate ways. Lucanis though stayed back. Thinking over everything Harding had said. Rook had always been like this? “Hey.” Lucanis snapped out of his thoughts when Neve approached. “I'm sure he will be alright.” She tried to reassure him.
Lucanis couldn’t help but sigh. “I’m not sure how to help.”
“Sometimes people just need time. You of all people should know that.” Lucanis can't help but cringe. He still regrets how he was with Rook before. All the time he wasted. Rook had seen the darkest parts of his mind, had been patient with him, dealing with Spite, and still wanted him. He didn't want Rook to hide anything from him. “If anyone can get through to him, it's going to be you,” She smiled at him. Neve gave him a pat on the shoulder before heading her own way. She was right though. Rook was patient with him and he would be patient with him. He would not let him down.
–----------------------------------------------------
It had been a few hours since what happened at the library with Rook. The team had just finished dinner, well everyone but Rook. Rook has been locked in his room since they returned. Everyone was aware of what happened and after some arguments to check on him, they all agreed to best to let Rook have his space.
No space. NEED. US. Can help. Our Rook! Spite had been inisting since Rooks outburst to go to him. Lucanis wanted nothing but to go as well but wanted to give him his space. He was craving to help him, hold him, let him let out whatever troubles him. YES! HOLD! HELP! NEED. US!
Lucanis had made a plate for Rook in case he came down, but now it was just going to go cold. He sighed as he started cleaning up the kitchen.
“You know,” Emmerich came over and grabbed the plates from Lucanis. “Why don't we clean up and you bring dinner to Rook.” He smiled. Lucanis’ eyebrows raise and notice that the rest of the team were standing by with reassuring smiles. They all wanted to help Rook but they knew Lucanis would be the one to get through to the elf. Lucanis looked back at the plate, thinking about all the times Rook and been there for everyone else. He would be there for him. He thanked the rest of them and grabbed the dinner, marching straight to Crooks room.
YES! Help. OUR ROOK! Spite cheered
Lucanis slowly approached Rook's room. He hesitated slightly before knocking on the door. “Rook?”
There was silence, Lucanis was about to knock again when he heard a groan, “Yes?”
Lucanis sucked in a breath, “You didn't come down for dinner. You need to eat. May… May I come in?” Lucanis doesn't hear anything for a second then some rustling.
“Uh yeah.. One sec”, the rustling continues a bit more than the door opens. “Hey, come in” Rook moved slightly to open the door more and let Lucanis in.
Lucanis makes his way. Rook is dressed in his Veil Jumper jacket and a blanket draped around his shoulders. He can see that the elf still has a look of discomfort. “You should still be laying down and resting, I could have brought everything to you” Lucanis brings the food to the nearby table and tries to help Rook back to his couch. Rook flinches slightly when Lucanis goes to touch him and the assassins pauses. A flash of hurt crosses his face but Rook is already looking away and moving away to lay down.
“It's ok, thank you Lucanis for the food. I was going to come down soon”
Lies. Spite appeared. Smells of fear.
Lucanis comes over with the plate of food as Rook lounges back on the couch with a groan. He places the dinner so Rook could reach it. He looks at Rook who is looking at everything but him. Lucanis sighs and sits next to Rook. “Rook” The elf doesn't move at all “Cariño.. please look at me.” Rook breathes through his nose but eventually looks at Lucanis. “I understand that the mind can be a prison. You know that better than anyone, but you were there for me. You saved me from myself. I want to be there for you. As much or as little as you will let me.” Lucanis gently reaches for Rook's hands. With relief, Rook doesn't flinch and holds his hands back. There is a slight tremor in his hands but Lucanis soothes it with gentle strokes of his thumbs. Rook's eyes welled up with tears, threatening to fall. “You don't have to be alone in there, lean on me cariño.”
US! LEAN ON US! Spites voice comes through. Rook snorts at the sudden outburst. Rook has always liked Spite. He understood Spite and helped Lucanis and the demon meet an understanding. Spite always liked Rook. Rook was theirs. Rook. Is. His. Favorite!
Even with the slight smile on Rooks face from Spites outburst, one tear still escapes his eye. Lucanis moves closer to Rook and cups his face, wiping the tear away. “Cariño..” He soothes.
Rook frowns and pressing Lucanis hand againsts his face. “I don't want you to look at me differently.”
Lucanis’ heart broke right there. Look at him differently? How could he? Rook was everything to him. “Rook, you are everything Mi Vida. I could never look at you differently. Why would you think such a thing?”
Rook is Rook. Look. The. Same. Never Different.
Rook lets out a sigh, “people have before. I don't think I could bear it if you did.”
Lucanis raised the elfs other hand to press’ a gentle kiss on his palm. He stared directly into his eyes. “Never Mi Vida.”
Rook flushed at the intensity of Lucanis' gaze. His heart was beating so hard for this man. He truly cared for him, no one has ever cared for him like this. That’s what made all of this terrifying. Rook took a deep breath, “alright, alright I'll talk, just stop already with those eyes. They're dangerously persuasive.” Lucanis smirks at the elf, Rook just smiles back. He lets go of Lucanis' hands to adjust himself better on the couch, groaning from the discomfort of his side. The assassin is quick to help, much to his relief that Rook allowed him too. After he settled comfortably, Lucanis lifted his legs and laid them on his lap. Gently caressing Rook's calf. Rook , flushed at the gesture.
“Years ago, when I first started with the Veil Jumpers, a few of us went on a routine check on some artifacts”, Lucanis listened intently as Rook spoke, gently rubbing his thumb on his calf. His gentleness and attentiveness was soothing all of Rook anxieties from being so open to Lucanis. “It was just supposed to be routine, the artifacts were docile for so long. Something went wrong though” Memory flashes of that day and he shudders. “One of the artifacts was acting strange, emitting strong magical energy and one of the mages said the faded felt very strong by it. Our senior went to check it out and when they touched it, it exploded with dark magic”, Lucanis reached for Rook's hand again, squeezing it as he noticed Rook started to tremble again. “Everything went dark, I couldn't see again. I was shouting for my group. I heard their screams and then the screeching sound of demons. Our senior was fighting them and I wanted to help but then I got hit by the artifacts emitting rays. It felt like my whole body was on fire, I screamed and screamed until the pain was too much and I passed out.”
“Cariño.. I can't even imagine..” Lucanis squeezed his hands tighter.
“It was a lot, yea..” Rook sighed. “When I woke up I was back at the Veil Jumper camp. Another group was nearby and were able to secure the artifact and save as many people as they could. Our senior died trying to save us but we lost one Veil Jumper recruit.” Rook remembers how sad he felt at the loss but thankful for his senior saving his life. They were a hero and it made him want to be stronger so he could protect others as well. “I escaped with my life but not without damage.” Rook clutched his jacket again around his collar. Something he developed as a sense of security. “The rays that hit me not only burned me, but scarred me.” Lucanis' eyes widened. “It wasn't like fire magic, it was something the healers couldn't even figure out, something darker. Whatever dark magic was coming off the artifact, it scarred my skin… on more than half of my body..”
Lucanis was completely shocked by what he heard. His Rook, who was one of the strongest people he ever knew, who would help anyone without a second thought, was suffering so much. He felt like a terrible partner. Didn't know. Couldn't help.
“That’s why you wanted to treat your own wound” Lucanis understood now.
“Yea, after everything that happened, the way people would look at me” Rook's voice trembled but he sucked in a breath to calm himself. “I didn't want anyone to see. So I covered up as much as I could hide.” He moved his long hair aside, “You can see it on my neck but my hair covers it a lot. I just hated the way people would look at me because of it.”
“Mi Vida, I would never look at you differently.” He reaches over to touch the elf cheek “I am literally an abomination and you don't look at me differently.”
“You are not an abomination! You know I hate when you call yourself that!” Rook pouted, glaring at the assassin.
Lucanis chuckles, “See what I mean, you accept me for me, You accept both of us. I would never judge you.”
Spites voice pushes through. Rook. Is. Our. Favorite!
Rook again snorts at Spites outburst. He hisses at the end from the pain on his side. “Don't make me laugh, it hurts”
Lucanis gives him a serious look then, “Would you let me check out your wound?” Rook gives him a worried look but Lucanis is quick to respond. “Only if you want me too. I know you can take care of yourself. But you got hit in a difficult to reach spot. I just want to make sure you heal properly.”
Rook bites his lip, Lucanis won't admit it turns something inside of him. Now is not the time for such thoughts. “..OK.”
“Ok?”
“Ok.”
Lucanis slowly removed his partner's legs off his lap. “Where do you keep your injury kit?” Rook pointed to the dresser across the room and Lucanis swiftly went to retrieve it. When he turned back around, Rook's hands were trembling in the front of his jacket and his eyes or screw shut. Lucanis places the kit on the table and gently touches Rook's trembling hands. “If you don't want to..”
“No. I want to. Just help me.” Rook's eyes stayed closed but Lucanis leaned forward pressing a gentle kiss on his cheek. Rook's eyes shot open then. Only to meet Lucanis' big brown eyes and smile.
“Of course cariño”, Rook and eyes watered slightly. He let out the breath he was holding. He looked down as he and Luanis slowly undid his jacket. Lucanis helped peel the jacket off his shoulders carefully so as not to hurt him. His arms were exposed and Lucanis could see the scars all over his left arm. From his shoulder down to the forearm. Rook let out another breath and reached for the bottom of his shirt. Lucanis again helped him peel the shirt off carefully. Rook was now completely shirtless. From where the scars appeared on his arm they continued on most of his chest slightly up his neck and down his leg. Rook wasn't lying when he said the scars cover most of his body. On the other side of Rook was his wound, it was a decent size wound and Rook did a good job treating it. Lucanis looked back at Rook and his eyes were still closed, afraid to look at the assassin. “The bandages need to be changed ok?”
Rook quickly nodded. Lucanis gently removes the bandage. The cut is not deep thankly so he didn't need to stitch the wound. Grabbing a cloth, he gently cleaned around the wound and applied some palm. Rook twitched every now again but otherwise remained still. “Almost done.” Luanis wasn't surprised Rook was still in pain. After applying the palm, Lucanis reached for the bandages and patched up the wound. Once he was finished, he looked back up to Rook again. Rook's eyes were not clench closed, more relaxed but still shut. Keeping his breathing even. “There” Lucanis gently cups Rook's face. Rook opens his eyes, revealing a smiling Lucanis. He was looking straight into the elfs eyes with nothing but his adoring nature. “Perfect.”
In that moment, everything that Rook had feared shattered at that moment. All the walls he built, this man just completely destroyed them. Rook's eyes filled with tears and he pulled Lucanis into an embrace. Lucanis was startled at first but was quick to return the embrace just as fiercely. Rook buried his face into Lucanis’ shoulder and sobbed. Sobbed like he hadn't in a long time. Lucanis caresses the back of Rook's head, cooing at him and placing gentle kisses on the side of his head. “Shh Mi Vida. It's ok.” His heart still hurt for him but this was what he needed. Spites wings unfurled out and covered both of them in a warm embrace.
Keep Rook Safe. No tears. Spite says through Lucanis.
Rook laughs slightly and pulls away, wiping his eyes. “Thank you, both of you.” Lucanis cups his face helping with wiping his tears away then pressing his forehead to his.
“I hope you believe me,” Lucanis leaned back.
“I do,” Rook smiled. He leaned forward and kissed Lucanis. Lucanis eagerly returned the kiss. When they pull apart Lucanis kisses his forehead, cheeks and nose. Rook giggles.
Lucanis smiles at him, “You should eat, do you want me to heat it up more for you?”
“No, it's alright. Thank you. Just stay, please?”
“Always Cariño. I'm not going anywhere” Lucanis places another kiss on Rooks forehead before gathering Rooks kit to put away.
Rook watches Lucanis put everything and his heart is so full. He feels so loved that he wants to scream it from the top of the Lighthouse. How could he be so lucky? With everything that has happened he didn't think he would find someone like Lucanis. He was truly blessed.
“Lucanis?” He turned to look at Rook with a smile that made him weak in the knees. “Thank you. Ma Vhenan.”
Ma Vhenan. My Heart.