Work Text:
Charles Augustus Milverton was sitting on the sofa and as he took a little break from the work, he was patting a cat. In the meantime, he was also reading through the newspaper, slowly, with a faint smile on his face. His secretary, Ruskin, who watched the scene from afar, thought that a peaceful picture like this was so rare in Mr. Milverton's study. His employer was always occupied with an evil plan, or some blackmail letters, or just maliciously enjoying the result of his manipulation and control. But in that moment, he looked like he was just a normal human being and not the incarnation of pure evil.
Of course, Ruskin had no problem with Mr. Milverton being the incarnation of pure evil. He loved his employer from all his heart and he was loyal to him, no matter how many souls he ruined. His evil pastimes brought pleasures to Mr. Milverton, so they brought pleasures to Ruskin as well. But he secretly also enjoyed these silent hours when Mr. Milverton just existed in his ethereal beauty and his mind was not brainstorming the stages of a scandal. Now, with the cat on his lap, Mr. Milverton looked like an angel who just descended from heaven to the human world. His curly, white hair was shining in silver in the sunlight that came through the window, his expression was soft and calm. Only his hand moved as it was patting the cat, his fingers running through the fur again and again. Ruskin just watched the sight, mesmerized by the long fingers and a strange thought came to his mind, a realization he never expected that he would ever make.
That he was actually envying the cat.
While he kept peeking at Mr. Milverton, not staring too vehemently to not make him look up at him, this wish took form in Ruskin's heart. He wished to be in the cat's place, laying his head down at Mr. Milverton's lap, getting lost in his warmth and letting him pat his face and his neck. He wanted those fingers to run in his hair, not in the cat's fur. He wanted to close his eyes and give himself over to the sensation of that gentle touch, just like in his fantasy sometimes while the soft fingertips would playfully pamper his cheeks. What a rest it would be. Ruskin was sure that he would forget all his worries, all his insecurities due to being so close to Mr. Milverton. He could fall asleep there. It would make even death be like a dream that he can awaken from anytime. And when he would do it, he would look up at that beloved face and his eyes would meet with that beautiful golden gaze. And Mr. Milverton's gaze would caress him with its tender blinks, just like his fingers would do with his hair.
Oh, if it was him lying there and not the cat!
Ruskin let out a sigh. He didn't notice that a wishful smile appeared on his face while he thought all this through.
"Ruskin?"
He was dragged back to reality by Mr. Milverton's voice. Ruskin got startled by it, then the shame flooded him and put a blush on his cheeks. Mr. Milverton shouldn't catch him on disrespectful thoughts by these!
"Yes, sir?" He asked and he tried to redirect his attention to the present where Mr. Milverton had the cat on his lap and not him.
"Your mind wandered off. What were you thinking?" Mr. Milverton cautiously tilted his head and his fingers didn't stop patting the cat. Ruskin didn't doubt that Mr. Milverton would have found the truth amusing - but it should stay his own secret hidden in his heart. And not because Mr. Milverton was the King of Blackmail - but because he was the love of his life and someone he was not supposed to fall for.
"Nothing important." Ruskin answered and when his employer shrugged his shoulders and got lost in the newspaper again, Ruskin allowed his previous thoughts to come back. This was just a lie; it was an important dream, finally getting his love returned.
But Mr. Milverton didn't need to know about this yet.