Chapter Text
“Now cousin, you lost the bet fair and square. Put it on.” ‘It’ being a knee length navy skirt, a flowy low cut navy blouse and a purple and navy brocade bustier. Looking at all the clothing pieces appalled, Illario tries to plead, ”Lucanis, you know I have a shift at the cafe soon. Please, I can't show up wearing this.” Lucanis snorts, crossing his arms, ”Nice try, you're wearing it for your shift. Now put it on.”
Sighing, Illario does as he is ordered to, putting on the skirt and blouse first and loosely cinching the bustier. Lucanis rolls his eyes and gestures for him to turn around, which he does, the skirt flowing. Then he starts cinching the bustier properly, ”Remember to breathe Illario, and keep your back straight.” And then the bustier was cinched tight.
Lucanis pats Illario on his bare shoulder, ”Now get to your shift, cousin.” Huffing, Illario manages to get his boots on and get out his apartment door, locking it behind the two of them.
As Illario enters the cafe through the employee entrance, Jacobus looks up from his prep work and cackles before slapping a hand over his mouth. Drawn from his office by the noise, Viago sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance. “Mierda, you just had to make that bet with Lucanis, didn't you? You are an idiot.”
Glaring at them both, Illario clocks in for his shift. Scoffing, he focuses on Viago, “What am I doing for my shift today?” Viago smirks, crossing his arms, “You are on shift for, waiting on tables.” Illario freezes, his face dropping in horror, hissing, ”Dressed like this?” Viago nods, his expression smug.
Illario sighs, slumping. “Mierda.” Making a shooing motion, Viago gestures for him to get to his shift. Getting the waist apron on, putting the pad of paper and charcoal into the pockets, he steps into the front area.
Teia looks up from the seating chart, lifting an amused brow, “Lost that bet with Lucanis, huh?" Sighing, Illario waspishly asks, “Where am I starting?” She points, smirking, at a table where a lone person sits.
Sauntering over, Illario leans his hip against the table. “Are you ready to order, Señor?” The person's head jerks up, violet eyes wide under their hood, “Amatus? Wha-” They look him up and down, bewildered, ”-what are you wearing?” Illario blushes, before realizing and hissing, “mi amor, what are you doing in Treviso. Especially after Zara.” They sigh, “Venatori started hunting me down, after the fall of the gods. Didn't seem to get that I am not one of them.”
Hesitating, Illario cautiously asks, “would you like something to eat or drink, Hemlock, my love?” they softly smile at him, ”please, you know the menu better than me.” He nods, “one cioccolata calda and a serving of churros then.” Illario brushes his hand gently against their arm as he takes the menu, smiling before turning to take the order to the kitchens.
Entering the kitchens he sees Lucanis at the brewing machines, “One cioccolata calda, cousin. Jacobus a single serving of churros.” Both acknowledge him and go about making the order. Illario grabs a tray to put the finished order on, then pauses as Viago stands next to him, “Who was that? You seem to know them.” He tenses, warily watching him out of the corner of his eye. “I don’t know what you mean, de Riva.”
Crossing his arms, Viago leans against the counter. “Illario, quit misdirecting. Do we have to worry about a repeat of Renata?” Lucanis fumbles a cup before putting it down with a clank in the machine to pour out the cioccolata calda. “What? Does Illario know another Venatori?” Glaring, Illario hisses, ”Hemlock is not Venatori, I knew them years before Zara.”
All three of them stare at him, before he realizes what he said, “Mierda.” Viago crowds into his space, forcing him back against the counter behind him, ”Hemlock? There is only one Hemlock in the Magisterium. Magister Hemlock Arminius, the most wanted target of the Venatori.”
Blinking startled, Illario furrows his brow, “What are you talking about? He’s never said anything about that before. That it was only recently that the Venatori started hunting them.” Lucanis’s breath catches as Viago’s eyes narrow, his cousin mutters, “Now you’ve done it Illario.” Viago hisses, grabbing his neck, “How long have you known them? How long have you been hiding this?”
Wheezing at the abrupt grip, Illario stares wide-eyed at him, “I met them years before Zara, maybe 9-10 years before the ‘Gods’ broke out. Zara didn’t even know about Hemlock and I.” Jacobus is off in the back getting out of the way of the rest of them.
Two different timers go off, signalling that both parts of the order are done. Twisting away from Viago, Illario moves to put the cioccolata calda and churros plate on the tray. Holding it steady he turns for the door to the dining area, then Lucanis steps in front of him, “Cousin, I hope you know what you are doing. Because if they hurt you, nowhere will be safe for them. The Venatori will be the least of their problems.”
Chuckling softly, Illario shakes his head, placing his free hand on his cousin’s shoulder, “that is unnecessary, Hemlock has already given me permission to cut them down.” Lucanis nods, his shoulders relaxing as he steps aside to let Illario pass by.
Carefully maneuvering through the doors, Illario glides over to Hemlock’s table, “Mi amor, your order” he gently sets down the cup of cioccolata calda, and plate of churros. He leans forward, hemlock leaning in to meet him, ”My fellow crows know who you are to me. Lucanis has even threatened that if you hurt me, the Venatori are the least of your problems.”
Hemlock facepalms, “Do I need to worry about them otherwise?” Shaking his head, Illario chuckles, “No, mi amor, you don’t.” They pull down their hood, revealing dark blonde, “Good.” They lean up, kissing him softly, before sitting back, “Love the outfit. Lost a bet with someone, Amatus?” They gently blow on the drink before sipping it, watching him with eyes crinkled at the corners.
Illario pouts at the question, “I did not lose a bet with anyone.” Teia snorts from the seating chart, calling over, “He lost a bet with his cousin Lucanis.” He whips around to stare at her in appalled betrayal. “Teia, why must you do this?” She lifts a brow, “Because I can in front of them.” She gestures at Hemlock who is snickering into their drink.
