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Why Mikaru chose to build his quarters so deep into the ground was beyond Delalo. He could have put himself anywhere in his palace. For crying out loud, he built the entire place himself! But instead of choosing somewhere normal, like a tower or in the back or center of the palace, he stuck himself in a hole in the ground! He was half-elf, not half-dwarf! Also, what was the point of his domain being mostly forests if he didn’t even have a window he could look out of to see them!?
Delalo breathed a sigh as she finally came to the end of the long stairway leading to his quarters. She didn’t knock before trying the door, unsurprised to find it unlocked. Quietly she stepped inside. The room was pitch dark, save for the small stream of light coming in from the stairway. She closed the door behind herself, allowing the darkness to flood in around her. Confidently she stepped forward several paces. She came to a stop and snapped her fingers in front of her, a spark igniting from them and lighting a candle she knew her hand had been hovering beside. With the new light source, she turned her attention towards Mikaru’s bedroom. The door to it was closed, but she knew that it would be just as dark in there. With another sigh she left the candle where it was and went to the door.
Once more she didn’t knock before trying to open it. Sure enough, it wasn’t locked. The meager candlelight illuminated only a small corner of the bedroom, but it was plenty for Delalo. Like any demon worth their salt, her low light vision was superb. She strode on into the room and came to stand beside Mikaru’s bedside. His form laid on the bed, curled up on his side and covered entirely by the blanket. Delalo sat down on the side of his bed and carefully, though not gently, peeled the blanket back from his head. As she expected, he was sound asleep.
She couldn’t help the smile that broke out across her face. How much good it did her heart to see him sleeping soundly for a change… She felt the urge to reach out and brush a lock of hair from his face, but restrained herself from doing so. There were other things to attend to before she woke him.
Allowing herself to gaze at him only a moment longer, she stood again. She proceeded to flit about his bedroom. First thing was first, she stepped into the adjoining bathroom and drew him a piping hot bubble bath. Once she was satisfied with that, she returned to his bedroom to procure a set of clothing for him for the day, which she laid out on top of the dresser she took it out from. She found his hairbrush just underneath his bed where it had likely fallen. Mikaru had a habit of setting it down while he was falling asleep and missing the night stand entirely. Lastly, Delalo leaned over his sleeping form again and shifted the blanket just enough to take a peek at the claws on his feet. She mulled over what she saw for a moment before pulling a nail file from her back pocket and setting it beside the hair brush.
With her preparations complete, she once more sat down on the bed. This time she combed her fingers through his hair and brushed it out of his face. She repeated the process a couple of times, gently dragging her claws further and further across his scalp each time so as not to hurt him. Her petting of the sleeping man worked, and he was roused from his slumber with a groggy grunt. Mikaru curled into himself a bit tighter, still unwilling to wake fully. Delalo was unphased and simply tucked his hair behind his ear before scratching him around one of his horns.
“Wakey wakey, brother dearest~” she sang teasingly.
With a soft “humph”, Mikaru finally opened his eyes. He turned his head to look up at her. “Do I have to…?” he asked, his voice thick and rough with sleep.
“Unfortunately, yes. Unless you want Kiko to come down here and wake you himself.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time.”
“He’ll be far less gentle about it than I. And he’s likely to throw you over his shoulder and carry you upstairs before you’ve even had a chance to brush your hair. Again.” Delalo stated.
Mikaru groaned. “Fiiine… I’m up, I’m up.” He sat up in his bed and began to rub the sleep from his eyes.
Delalo watched as he stretched and yawned. The circles under his eyes had lessened considerably from when he had gone to bed. But they were still present. His hair was also a complete mess. It stuck out everywhere and was clearly knotted up where he’d been sleeping on it. His clothes were loose-fitting, which at least told her that he’d thought to change before falling into bed. And lastly, but most tellingly about his current state, he smelled heavily of sweat. She made a mental note to strip and wash his bedding later.
However, in that moment, she once again felt warmth in her chest. Her brother was alive. He was awake and alert and doing better than many days. He had lunch plans with their eldest brother. He was going to be out of the palace, but still resting, and spending time with somebody who loved and cared for him. No matter how disheveled he looked in that moment, Delalo couldn’t help the surge of love she felt for him.
Without thinking she reached out and placed a hand on his cheek. Mikaru jolted only slightly before turning to face her. The younger woman closed the distance between them before he had a chance to register what was happening. He felt a soft peck on his other cheek. It lingered for a moment, then withdrew slowly.
“There’s a bath waiting for you.” Delalo said. “I’ve picked out some clothes for you, too. I’ll brush your hair for you, if you want, and your toe claws could use some filing before you go out.”
Mikaru leveled her with a disturbed look. “You checked that…?” She nodded. He laid his head in his hand and groaned. “I swear…”
“ Somebody’s gotta take care of you. And you aren’t doing it. Sooo…”
The man sighed. “You can brush my hair, but I’ll take care of my own claws.”
The woman giggled. “Go get your bath! I’ll be waiting here.” To emphasize her point, she flopped herself down onto his bed. Mikaru pushed her legs out of the way so that he could turn himself and stand up. She laughed again while he stretched his arms high over his head. He grabbed up the clothes she picked for him and went into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
Delalo had half expected him to complain and insist that bathing himself was too much. That he hadn’t even asked her to wash his hair for him was a lot. For him to say he would file his own claws, too? Remarkable. Perhaps the thought of spending time with Kiko was enough to keep the depression at bay, if only for a little while.
She would have to tell their brother about that. The only question was whether to do so before or after his visit. After all, Kiko loved to tease Mikaru. She just didn’t know yet if Mikaru was in the mindset to take that teasing well. They still had plenty of time before their brother arrived, so she would continue to monitor Mikaru’s mood and decide from there.