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They have been fine nowadays. Not necessarily in relationships, but Hugo likes to think his… situationship? Yes. Situationship with Lycaon—as per Vivian’s words—is something good to hold onto. Hugo has always thought they will never go back to the way they were again, days before that one fateful day. Surprisingly, or unsurprisingly, both of them end up finding companionship through each other once more. Nowadays, they talk almost everyday through text or calls or meet ups when both of them are free.
So when one day Lycaon isn't replying his text, Hugo chugs it to the fact that Lycaon is probably busy with Mayor’s work. He remembers Lycaon talked about an event that needed his attentions this week. As much as Hugo despises Lycaon’s occupation and circle of elites that the butler and his teammates grovels to, he respects how Lycaon always puts his best effort into his work.
Yet the next morning, Hugo doesn't see any replies to his text. Which is a bit… odd. So he follows up with another text, asking if Lycaon will have any free time this weekend for a brunch. A new cafe opened up near his gallery last month, and maybe it’s time to try it with Lycaon. Just an easy brunch, nothing like a date. Obviously.
A whole day past, and still no response from Lycaon. He texts back again: ‘How much groveling you had to do that you can’t even make a reply, my dear?’
The next day, it was Hugo who has a busy day. His gallery has an upcoming exhibitions, meaning new artworks and the likes are being delivered to his place. Robin says Hugo always makes him maintains the gallery by himself—which is true—but with the amount of things to be checked & verified, means there will be even more paperwork needed to be done. As the owner of the gallery, naturally Hugo steps in and helps his dearest bangboo out. All the gallery works easily saps away Hugo’s time. Only when the night covers the whole city, he finally has the time to get ahold of his phone. Feeling slightly bad for not answering his phone, if Lycaon ever tries to call him today.
But still. Nothing.
No text reply, much less a call.
‘What the hell is going on?’
Hugo wants to call Lycaon, but seeing how late it is, he will most likely not getting any answer either. Hugo always teased Lycaon being such an old man that sleeps early and wakes up early, when in reality, it is that way with Lycaon. The butler purposefully sets up a strict routine for himself so he can always tackle everything he is given everyday. ‘The leader of Victoria Housekeeping should always be ready for anything' as Lycaon once said.
Couple days past and still nothing from Lycaon. Hugo almost thought if he is in a mission that needed him to go out of the city. But Lycaon will always let him know whenever he is about to go on a long mission. Lycaon never shares anything important about his job, but he sure as hell always shares his schedules. The same applies to Hugo and his own schedules. It’s how they are able to compromise here and there, while keep up with texts, calls and meet up every so often. The thought of Lycaon getting kidnapped or something akin to it also passed his mind. Though if that ever actually happens, Hugo will pray for the culprit’s life first rather than the mutt. Nothing can ever get past that sharp instinct, smell or hearing of his. Especially not when any kind of malice is involved. Lycaon as a wolf thiren is not one to mess around with, as far as physical strength is concerned.
Hugo has texted exactly 10 times more & calls at least 8 times in separate times these past two days, he feels like a clingy teenager at this point. He will never admit this—especially not to Lycaon, but 5days passed without the mutt makes him feels uncharacteristically… lonely. Ever since they properly reunited, this has been the longest period of his days without Lycaon’s presence. Which is weird to him. Hugo had lived without Lycaon for a decade before and he was fine.
…Okay maybe he wasn’t ‘fine’ per se.
But the bitterness of Lycaon’s betrayals and his anguished regrets of never truly telling the ‘truth’ to Lycaon did most of the heavy lifting to his survival from a decade of solitude. If it wasn’t for Vivian & Robin presence in his life, Hugo had no doubt he would’ve gone mad already. Much less reviving Mockingbird as a team.
Sigh…
Hugo can’t believe he ever get to a point, thinking that he… starts to actually miss Lycaon.
It’s a very sunny day in New Eridu when Hugo finally meets Lycaon again. Well, if their ‘meeting’ can even be called as a meeting.
Hugo was walking through Lumina Square, trying to get to the subway and hopefully finding some answers at the Victoria Housekeeping Manor directly. He is done waiting around for the mutt's response. If it were not for his polished skill of having huge peripheral sight—trained from being phantom thief and all, Hugo would’ve missed the familiar white furred ears to his right. There stood Lycaon, seemingly just being your everyday customer to the 141 Convenience Store just across the street.
Thump
For a moment, Hugo feels relieved seeing Lycaon again. He looks fine, just like how he looks any other day. The next moment, he can feel his cheeks heating up. No way his heart just skipped a beat just by seeing the mutt. Surely not.
While mulling over this fact, luck is on his side as the crossing light turns green. Hugo hurriedly crosses the street to catch up with this pompous mutt who—mind you—has been neglecting him for the past 5 days. Who does he think he is, not answering the Great Thief’s texts & calls?!
As Hugo walks closer—still a bit further away from where Lycaon stands—he saw the telltales of the thiren’s ear twitching to his directions, signaling his acknowledgement of Hugo’s presence nearby. Hugo knows this well because it’s the one habit Lycaon never truly be able to get rid of, even after their long decade of separation. But, instead of turning towards him, Lycaon hurriedly turns and walks the other way around. One will even say, speed walking away.
“Wha… Lycaon?!”
Did he just… walk away despite knowing I'm here? Hugo thought as he tries to catch up to Lycaon’s speed. But the closer their distance is, the more speed the thiren walks. At one point, Lycaon just takes off, completely running away.
“Are you kidding me?! Lycaon!”
THE AUDACITY OF THIS MUTT!
“Ummm… Sir Lycaon?”
“Yes, Corin.”
Lycaon was rechecking some items needed for today’s work. The Victoria Housekeeping has been busy working around a major event that the Mayor has asked them to focus on this week. It has been a week-long event, and the Manor in the morning ends up being very lively everyday. Everyone has been assigned to their works and their stations for the day. Corin should be on the way out already by now with Rina. But…
“Is there something wrong, Corin?”
“There is… a letter for you. But this is…”
The young maid carefully shows an elegant purple envelope with a familiar writing in the front. ’To Sir Von Lycaon’. In the back, a black wax seal stamp, neatly closing said envelope. The wax seal is embellished with a golden bird in the middle. Particularly, a mockingbird.
“Isn’t that…” Ellen suddenly shows up out of no where, checking the same envelope. Both girls turns their heads towards Lycaon, one with confused look, the other with judging eyes. What happened with you and Hugo now?
Lycaon takes the envelope and puts it on his vest pocket, without opening it at all. He doesn’t even ask where did Corin gets the letter. “You should go with Rina, Corin. The catering should be there already in the venue, waiting for you.” The butler said softly, a slight sigh apparent on his words. “We should go too Ellen. The Mayor is expecting us in his house.”
Not able to retort the head of Victoria Housekeeping, all of them starts to move towards each of their destinations. There are a lot to do today after all. So much so, Lycaon only remembers the envelope again by the time he is back in his quarter. It’s not that he forgot about it. How can one forgets when one got a letter of declarations from The Mockingbird? His thoughts goes back to two days ago where his cowardice ends up winning, instead of being truthful to his partner.
Lycaon did promise to himself that when he sees Hugo again, he will somehow explain all of it. But his legs, despite being mechanical as it is, seemed to had its own idea. From speed walking to full blown running away. Away from Hugo. He could hear Hugo calling his name from behind, no doubt will caught up to him soon enough. And as he rounded the corner, Lycaon hurriedly scaled up the building to his left, up and away from the streets. In the end, Hugo lost his partner’s track. Lycaon didn’t linger around and walked away from the premise as fast as he could.
He just… wasn’t ready to face Hugo.
Carefully opening the letter with a letter opener—Lycaon can already imagine the smug look on Hugo’s face saying, 'such a proper mutt, aren’t you now?'—he takes the letter out. A hint of crisp winter floral scent dances in the air. The paper is surprisingly devoid of any writings. Only a single pressed violet flower present on top of the paper. Lycaon can feel a frown starting to take place on his face. He is genuinely confused on what this so called declaration letter supposed to be, if there is no declaration nor messages written on it.
“You know, they say a violet represents faithfulness.”
Lycaon’s ear pinpoints the place where the voice comes from before he even heard the man’s steps. The fatigue of today’s work must’ve been so immense if Lycaon doesn’t even feel Hugo’s presence in the first place. The Phantom Thief steps out from the shadow, standing under the room's dim moonlight, revealing his smirk that doesn’t quite reached his eyes. Lycaon gulps, knowing how screwed he is right now seeing that particular look once again on his partner’s face.
“Not that you were ever one to be faithful, but surely you are smart enough not to do it twice to the same person, Lycaon.” The thiren always loves how Hugo said his name. There’s firmness yet gentleness behind each syllable that comes out of his lips. But in current situation, it is anything but.
“Wait. What do you mean… twice?”
“Oh stop with your acting. You think I don’t realize it?”
Lycaon can feel his heart hammering in his chest, “… Realize what… exactly?”
“Seriously?” Hugo starts to scoff, slowly it turns into sneering laugh, “If this is your way of making me angry, I have to admit, I’m impressed.”
Lycaon doesn’t know where to start. On one hand, he is confused as to what Hugo is referring to. On the other, the thiren doesn’t think he is ready to explain everything to him in a convincing manner. Hugo is still standing in front of him, waiting for an answer that doesn’t seem to appear anytime soon. It might be because he is sick and tired of being avoided for the past week or so, that the phantom thief starts to confront his dearest partner bluntly.
“You don’t text me or call me back. You don’t tell me where you have been this whole time. And quite literally ran away from me in the middle of the street. Tell me, oh dear Lycaon. Are you trying to leave again?” Hugo points his finger, jabbing into that luscious fur of a chest, “Because if it is, don’t bother. I will be the one to leave instead. Your welcome.”
“What? No! That isn’t why I avoided you, Hugo.”
“So you did avoided me! On purpose!” Hugo jabs his fingers even harder.
“… I did. I have my reasons.” Lycaon hurriedly says. “I just don’t know how to say it without making more misunderstanding. Though I guess… that did happened anyway.”
Lycaon sighs, heavily. Hugo has seen his partner sigh, quite a lot actually especially after they reunited. But he has to wonder what it is this time that makes Lycaon sigh this much, not to mention resulting in avoiding him for a whole week. Sighs must be contagious because the next moment, Hugo feels himself doing the same while rolling his eyes. “Come on Lycaon. Just rip the band-aid off and spit it out already.”
Hugo sees that single crimson eye looks up his way, with a determination as fiery as the first time they traded blow again after separating for so long, on that rooftop inside the hollow. “Okay. Do you remember what you said last week about Lady Livia?”
The name doesn’t ring a bell on Hugo. “Lady… Livia? Who?”
“Victoria Housekeeping client last week that—“
“That kept you from clocking off because she demanded more hours from you? Yeah, I recalled.” Hugo doesn’t remember the name, but he remembers the details because he and Lycaon had quite a debate about it on the phone. They already had an appointment for a casual dinner, nothing special. Lycaon, however, wasn’t able to come, explaining his services is still needed and he wasn’t able to turn down the so-called Lady Livia. Hugo understood, a work is a work after all. Still, Hugo didn’t appreciate being cancelled on the last minute. Their meeting time span was getting smaller and less frequent by the weeks already. And now his dearest partner keeps working even off the clock? Yeah, Hugo hates it.
“I still think you should’ve said No by the way. It’s not efficient for yourself or your team, nor it is professional to keep working when your hours is up already. Sure they can pay you more hours, but how many more times do you have to do it, Lycaon? They will always keep doing it just because they feel like it. People like them will think about themselves first before anything else.”
“First of all, she didn’t demand more hours. The situation is more complex than—“
“Than what i thought. Yes. Yes. You played this card every time you need an excuse for your overtime, Lycaon.”
“Second of all, i don’t like that attitude of yours.”
Hugo’s eyes can only rolled back so far, so he closed his eyes and sighs instead. “We are long past that, don’t you think?” The phantom thief walks towards the wolf thiren, shortening their distance. A teasing smile slowly appears on his visage. “Besides, just because you don’t like my attitude, doesn’t mean you don’t love me for it.”
At this point, usually Lycaon would get flustered and looked away, trying to nonchalantly disagree. Which is a lie of course. Hugo did this dance for so many times, specifically because he knows Lycaon’s fondness of his bratty side regardless of how many times it gives the thiren so much troubles. But apparently, that is the wrong thing to say in this situation. Lycaon doesn’t look away, nor does his gaze soften. Oh, he actually is angry.
“Lady Livia was on her deathbed.” Lycaon says it so factually, it made Hugo’s body flinch. “She was one of the Mayor’s best friend and respected mentors. Without any living family around and having common illness of old age, she has entered herself into a hospice that Victoria Housekeeping tends to from time to time. Unfortunately, she… passed away that night.”
Hugo doesn’t necessarily feel remorse assuming the worse about the lady previously, since he doesn’t even know her well. But he knows when to shut up when the situation is needed. Lycaon, feeling grateful for the moment of silence, continues his explanation. “The Mayor knew her time was short even before it happens. He and his friends in Lady Livia’s circle were honoring her with a new construction of hospice under her name. Which already been planned to be celebrated this week. The lady always said if it were not for the current hospice, living alone all those years would’ve driven her mad. It’s unfortunate that it was honored alongside her funeral.”
Living alone for years… Something that Hugo can empathized with, even just by imagining it. But still… “I’m sorry to hear that, Lycaon. But what’s this has to do with you avoiding me?”
“I know we both have our disagreements when it comes to the New Eridu’s elites and government. Working for Victoria Housekeeping has surely made me privy to the parts which we both despise so much. But it also opened my eyes on things that we never knew before. Just like how the people of New Eridu is, not all of them are bad apples, Hugo.” Lycaon looks back towards Hugo with a solemn look, “And frankly, I’m quite fond of this job. I take pride of the work and effort I put into each commissions. So whenever I heard of your disparaging comments about my works or days, I begin to wonder, is it really the society I’m working for that you hate or do you not trust me enough that I will become one of them?”
Shock appears on Hugo’s visage, “That’s not—“
“You said before that you allow me to walk my own path. I felt glad when you said that because it meant you knew what we both has the same ‘goal’ in the end, just achieving it in different ways. And yet, it felt that no matter what I do, something is always wrong in your eyes.”
Hugo is speechless. All the times he opposes Lycaon, never once Hugo thinks Lycaon will take it to heart. Every time they were having their debates about this topic, they would always sort it out fast. He always felt it more of a banter than anything. But thinking back on it now, it wasn’t because the problem is solved. It was more because Hugo would start teasing Lycaon and shift the topic entirely. Or Lycaon would have more work to do that day, putting the debate on a damper until next time the same situation arises. Lycaon clearly has been mulling over this for a long time. It’s the most Lycaon has been open about something, ever since their talk on Port Elpis.
Seeing how silent Hugo has become, Lycaon thinks if this is a bad idea in the end, for being so honest about what he feels. The thiren starts to speak again, hoping it can salvage whatever it is left between them. “I know this is a… delicate topic between us. The whole week I was avoiding you was time spent wrecking my head, trying to find a way to convey it to you properly. I feel like I’m lying to you and myself, if I keep responding to you without telling you all of this. God, this all sounds so foolish right now. I’m sor—“
“Don’t you dare apologize!”
Hugo grabs Lycaon’s left muzzle belt so abruptly, forcing the thiren to bent down unsteadily. “Nothing about what you said is foolish. What’s foolish is for you to feel the need to avoid me, when you can just tell me as it is.”
“…Okay, but could you not tug my muzzle like this?”
The phantom thief sneers and makes a point by tugging the belt even harder, “Deserved for avoiding me.” The butler can only sigh over his partner’s antics.
Hugo eventually let go of the belt, small mercy for Lycaon who has been leaning forward awkwardly. As Lycaon straightens up, Hugo’s hands make its way back towards the thiren’s silky hair, swiping away his bangs, touching his cheeks. To others, the scene might look like Hugo is ruffling Lycaon’s face like one would do to a dog. But to Lycaon, this is Hugo’s way of caressing him. It feels good, it always does when he does it. Hugo always runs a bit on the colder side, but his touches are always warm. The thiren takes a hold of the blond’s right hand that has been softly brushing his face, nuzzling the inside of the his palm.
“Lycaon.” Hugo calls him with a firm tone, but the gentleness underlying it made Lycaon looks back towards that mesmerizing heterochromatic eyes. “I will say this once, so you better listen well.”
Lycaon nods.
“I trust you. As much as I trust myself. Drill this into your brain so don’t you ever question it again, you hear me?”
Lycaon eyes widens, stunned by Hugo’s words. So much so that the only thing he can do is to just nod again.
“As for my ‘disparaging’ comments on your work—as how you explained—it was mostly because I feel angry for you. Whenever we met up, you always looked so exhausted.” Hugo continues as he fondly stroke Lycaon’s fur once more, “Maybe my one-sided prejudice of this society also hates that this so-called Mayor’s elite commission group was used as a mere ‘servant’ instead. You and your Victoria Housekeeping teammates are more capable than that.”
Lycaon can feel a smile blooming from the corner of his maw, “Am I supposed to say thank you?”
Hugo grins to the same question the thiren had mockingly asked back in Port Elpis, “Your welcome. Don’t get used to this, it’s a one-time thing only.”
“Then I shall indulge in it for a bit longer.” Lycaon says as he nuzzles Hugo’s palm once more.
Perhaps it’s because the conversation that Lycaon dreaded all week has ended in a good note, alongside his schedule this week that kept him running on fumes, Lycaon can feel the tension in his body melts away. He slowly moves closer and rests his forehead on his partner’s shoulder. Lycaon senses the smallest twitch from Hugo as he wraps his arms around him. Surely, this is fine? They did this a lot back then. Touching, nuzzling, hugging. Things one do for or onto the other. A mutual feeling of reassurance. Especially when one of them were feeling under the weather.
With how often Hugo calls him ‘his dearest partner’ and how he acts around the thiren ever since their reunion, Lycaon can put two and two together. It wasn’t like they were in an official relationship even before they separated, but they never put a label on whatever they had anyways. And Lycaon is sure that will also be the case this time around. So surely, it’s okay to do this… things again with him?
“What are you doing?”
Or not?
“I just realized, I really missed you.”
Hugo gasps in complete surprise, though he doesn’t push him away. Instead, he feels both of Hugo’s palms reaching for him as well. Right hand ruffling Lycaon’s hair, left hand squeezing Lycaon’s shoulder. “What a sap.”
Lycaon chuckles lowly, “Avoiding you for a whole week was difficult, but I managed to do it because I didn’t see you in person.” The thiren tightened his hug. “And now having you in front of me, I feel like I can finally breath easy again.”
Thump Thump
With how close their bodies pressed to each other, pretty sure what Lycaon heard just now is Hugo’s beating heart. Beating very loudly—at least as far as the thiren’s hearings is concerned. Cute.
The next second, however, Hugo pushes Lycaon away as far as he can. Which is not that far, considering how bigger and heavier the thiren is compared to the phantom thief. It does leave Lycaon’s heart with a pang, already missing the lingering warmth of his dearest partner. “Well, I don’t. Miss you, that is. I’m still pissed and I’m not gonna let you off the hook that easily.” The phantom thief starts to turn around and walks towards the only opened window in the room. “Now it’s my turn to ignore you for a week. Maybe two, if I’m being generous.”
“Isn’t it the other way around?”
“Make that three.”
Even in the dim moonlight shining upon the room, Lycaon can clearly see the red tinge blush of Hugo’s pointy ears. Lycaon scoffs in amusement, “Doubt you can even last a day.”
“Excuse me?!”
Hugo makes a terrible mistake of turning around, feeling offended by the mutt’s retort. Exactly few seconds that Lycaon needs to pull Hugo hard by the arm, proceeds to throw both of them onto the king-sized bed nearby. “Wha—what the…” The phantom thief tries to leave, only to be seized by the thiren on top of him. Lycaon makes himself comfortable by lying on top of Hugo, head on that still loud-beating chest, arms circling that tantalizing slender waist, legs carefully tangled between them.
“What the hell are you doing?!” Hugo pushes both of his hands onto the thiren’s shoulders, which does little to move him at all.
“You can start ignoring me tomorrow.”
“Oh, now you ordering me around as well?!”
Lycaon looks up towards his dearest partner, his jaw rests softly on Hugo’s chest. “Let me have this for tonight, please?”
Hugo can’t fathom how can a wolf thiren as big and menacing as Lycaon can still pull off this puppy eye look. Lycaon’s tails slowly wags across their legs as he waits for Hugo’s response. He knows this is Lycaon’s way of teasing him. However, looking at Lycaon’s face this close, Hugo realizes how truly exhausted the thiren is. His puppy eye look doesn’t cover the tiredness behind it and his fur has slightly loose its usual shine. This whole thing isn’t just Lycaon teasing him. It’s Lycaon giving him a sign, that he truly needs Hugo beside him.
“Hmph! Be grateful I still tolerate you for tonight.” Hugo nonchalantly says.
Lycaon smiles and turns his head back down, nuzzling Hugo’s chest, “Thank you, My Liege.”
5 minutes hasn't even passed, yet Hugo feels Lycaon’s body on top of him gives away to his slumber. Soft snores can faintly be heard in this otherwise silent bedroom. They are both light sleeper—given their occupations, but Hugo doubts the thiren will wake up by his fingers playing around the thiren’s occasional twitching ears.
“Have a good night sleep, Lycaon.”
The next minute, Hugo follows along to his own slumber.
The next morning, Hugo wakes up feeling warm. An unusual feeling to wake up to, but not unwelcome all the same. It feels nostalgic for some odd reasons that he can’t put a finger on. Slowly opening his eyes, the view in front of him becoming more and more clear as his eyes adjust to the dim morning light. Lycaon is there, lying awake on the bed facing him instead sleeping on top of him just like last night. Lycaon’s arm are still holding his waist, resting on top of the blanket that covers them both. Lycaon must’ve acquired them sometime in the night while he was sleeping.
There is a fond smile on Lycaon’s face. Most likely also feeling that same nostalgia. It’s been years since they shared the same bed. They used to wake up like this every morning. Warm and content. Feeling refreshed everyday, ready to start the day to plan the next big heist. Hugo would’ve laugh if somebody told him months ago, that him and Lycaon can wake up on the same bed once again. That’s why this feels so surreal to him.
“Good Morning.” Lycaon greets him softly after a while. Hugo takes note on how his voice sounds even lower and lovelier in the morning.
“Hmm. Morning.”
“How’s your sleep?”
Hugo scoffs, “That should’ve been my line.”
“Honestly? This is the most refreshed I’ve ever felt waking up since…” Lycaon let his sentence hangs, trusting Hugo will understand the meaning behind it.
“Well, you can thank me by giving more intel about your dear mayor then.”
Lycaon rolls his eyes while getting up from his side of the bed “Not a fat chance.”
“Hmm… One can hope.”
As Lycaon getting ready for his day—surely it will be another hectic one—Hugo sits on the bed rubbing his eyes, swiping away the remnants of his sleep. He hears Lycaon murmured to himself, listing all the to-do list for the day. Honestly, the way Lycaon is already up and mentally ready to tackle his day this early in the morning is beyond Hugo’s comprehension.
“French toast?”
It takes a second for Hugo to realize that was Lycaon’s voice, asking him for breakfast.
“You’re making it?”
“Who else?”
The whole scene is oddly domestic, making his body tingles all over. “With honey, please.”
“As you wish, My Liege.”
“Stop that.”
Lycaon chuckles as he walks toward the bedroom door. “Oh, before i forget. Hugo.” He turns back to the phantom thief who is in the middle of a huge yawn. Lycaon can’t still quite believe the sight of his partner in his bed.
“Yes, dearest?”
Lycaon smiles, “Told you, you can’t last a day.”
The thiren elegantly closes the door, before he sees white pillow flying towards his face.
“Lycaon, you pompous mutt!”