Work Text:
They were sat on the bed, Edgar's delicate fingers brushing through Luca's curly, messy hair, gently cutting it. The hair dropped onto the sheet underneath them,some sticking to Luca's back and making him itchy. Edgar brushed off the hairs from his bare back that were bothering his dear husband.
Luca looked outside the window, the night sky was beautiful. He remembered his youth, the nights he would spend outside with Edgar, watching the stars, kissing and cuddling on the grass.
A sudden, loud noise startled Luca, and noticing that,Edgar patted his back
"It's just the cane, sweetheart."
Luca looked over to see his cane on the floor, realizing Edgar was right. Loud noises always startled Luca, sometimes even gave him a panic attack..
Edgar continued to gently cut off his curly, long hair and give it some shape with his best ability.
"... I'm sorry."
Edgar stopped in his tracks. Sighing and putting down the scissors, he put a hand on his lovers shoulder
".. Why, my love?"
Luca's heart melted at the question. Edgar had such a gentle and loving voice that no one other than him could hear, and he would always be so grateful for that. He took a shaky breath and replied
"You have to take care of me like a child... I never wanted to be a bother for you."
At that reply, Luca looked back at Edgar to see his face drop and even hold back tears. Even though Luca saw a side of Edgar that Edgar did not dare show to anyone else, he still hated being weak in front of his husband who was already suffering.
"Don't say that..."
He could hear it in Edgar's voice— he was so close to crying.
Luca always hated being vulnerable. He was a grown man, he was suffering from his own actions, he deserved what he was going through.
When Luca went to prison, he thought Edgar would get over him, get a good life, maybe even a wife or a husband.. Edgar sent him letters every day. When they reunited back at the manor, he was sure Edgar had forgotten him— instead the petite man broke down sobbing in front of everyone because of the state he saw his dear husband in.The once polished, attractive young Balsa he knew was in bloody prison clothes with a cane that barely helped him stand up, body wrapped with old and dirty bandages that were falling apart.
He thought Edgar would surely leave him after that state. He thought he would lose him because of his own mistake again— because he didn't listen to Edgar.
...
"Luca, just stop! Look— I know you're mad, okay?! But ple-"
Luca shoved his hand away–
"STOP! just stop, Edgar! Let me go talk to him!"
Edgar didn't let go.
"Please! You'll do something you will regret! I know you, I know you can't control your anger, my love!"
The next thing heard was the sound of Edgar's grunt and the click of a door closing.
..
He thought Edgar surely hated him.
The man never gave up. He didn't wait one second before dragging the man away from the crowd, walking into his room while pulling his arm and shoving him onto the bed. Luca remembers that Edgar took one good look at him before shoving him back down and crying
"YOU IDIOT! I told you you'd do something you'd regret! You dumbass!"
The painter shouted with no mercy while sobbing, but let himself drop onto his husbands chest and tightly hugged him. Luca pulled the man closer, he kissed the top of his head, savoring the moment.
"I'm sorry. You were right."
...
When Edgar was finally finished cutting Luca's hair, he put down the scissors on the nightstand and wrapped the sheet underneath them, throwing it away. He grabbed a hairbrush and gently combed through Luca's hair, making sure not to hurt him. Once he was done, he set the brush next to the scissors.
He pulled his husband close, hugging him tightly from the back. Luca couldn't resist leaning into his husbands chest and throwing his head back onto his shoulder. Edgar heard the mans sniffles and softly cooed him.
"Shhh.. shh.. you're okay, honey.."
Edgar wrapped his arms tighter around the man, resting his head on Luca's shoulder. He started pampering the man with kisses all over his face, one hand moving to stroke his hair. He smiled against the mans cheek, softly speaking
"I love you... I love you so much.."
Luca could hardly speak with the tears running down his face
"Lay.."
Edgar wrapped his arms even tighter, speaking once again after pulling away his face
"You want to lay down, dear?"
Luca cried, shaking his head "yes", then he felt the man holding him once again and pulling them both down onto the bed to lay down.
Edgar kissed Luca's temple, throwing the blanket onto them and gently tucking them both in, but mostly making sure Luca is the one comfortable. Edgar connected their foreheads, kissing it once again and smiling softly at his husband
"Shhh.. It's okay, dear... I promise you, I won't leave.."
Luca closed his eyes, resting his forehead on top of his husbands, giving his lips a kiss before moving to his chest, listening to his heartbeat.
Luca knew that a little too well. ♡