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“Grand Master, are you sure this is fine for us to do?”
Varka looked up at Lumine. She was standing beside the chair he sat in, one hand resting against the back of it. He shrugged. “Why wouldn't it be? We're both comfortable with each other, right?”
Lumine glanced at the chair. “Yes, but the chair…”
“It’s a big chair. We'll both fit. Come on, Honorary Knight, stay a while, will ya?”
She sighed. Though she'd only come by the office to drop off a report—adding one piece of paper to the already impressive stack on his desk—she hadn't been able to leave yet. Varka, for a man of such great feats and an even greater reputation, was remarkably easy to talk to. He had a way of making even tedious conversations feel like chats between old friends. Today, however, he'd suggested Lumine sit with him for a little bit while he signed forms. She'd stared at him, he'd stared back, and…
Somehow, Lumine said, "okay."
At first, she'd perched carefully on the edge of the armrest, leaving as much space between them as physically possible, which was certainly not easy, considering just how big Varka was. Varka had continued reading, business as usual. Five minutes later, Lumine had shifted closer. At the ten minute mark, she'd leaned her head against his shoulder. After fifteen minutes, Varka had absentmindedly draped one enormous arm around her and pulled her off the armrest and into the chair with him, and—
Neither of them had spoken a word in that timeframe, and neither of them seemed to mind the proximity either. Now Lumine was tucked comfortably into him, seated on one of his massive thighs as an arm curled around her. Her head rested beneath his chin while Varka read through a report.
“Are you actually reading that?” she asked.
His thumb absentmindedly rubbed her back. “Of course I am.”
“You've been on the same page for five minutes.”
Varka's gaze averted to the paper. “It's a very interesting page, you see.”
“I didn't know the Grand Master could read upside down.”
"Uh—" He blinked. Then he turned the report around. “Well, no he cannot.”
She shook her head in disbelief. Varka sheepishly grinned at her before pulling her closer, bringing his mouth to her ear. “You're very distracting, Honorary Knight.”
A syrupy warmth shot through her. “I haven't said anything for the past few minutes.”
“That makes it even more so.” His hair tickled her face, and Lumine closed her eyes. She let out a slow breath as his large hand dropped to her hip. The office was unusually quiet, save for the quiet pattering of boots crossing the stone floor somewhere outside the office, followed by the distant murmur of knights going about their duties. His warmth tempted her to stay longer, to indulge in everything about him.
“This is nice,” she murmured in an attempt to distract herself from the sudden change in touch.
“Mhm.”
“You're very warm.”
“Mhm.”
“You smell like… wildflowers.”
Varka laughed quietly. “Blessing of the Anemo Archon, I suppose.”
She shifted into a more comfortable position against him. “You know, if anyone walks in, they're going to think this is strange.”
“They'll be fine.”
“Jean might not.”
“She's been through much worse.”
Lumine hummed. “That's true.”
Varka lowered the report and looked down at her. “Are you comfortable?”
“Mm. Very.”
“Good.”
“And you?”
“Best I've felt in weeks.”
Lumine looked up. “Long week?”
He let out a heaving sigh. “Long few months, actually.”
“You're going to start using me as a way to motivate yourself to do your reports, aren't you?”
“Ha. Good one. I've already formulated a plan, Honorary Knight. I'll need five minutes of your time per report.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Ten?”
“Varka...”
“Fifteen?”
She laughed and lightly elbowed him in the ribs, eliciting a deep laugh from him. Satisfied, she settled back against him. Neither noticed the footsteps approaching the office, nor the knock, nor the door opening.
"Grand Master, I've got all these documents ready for Windblume's preparation, and your signature is needed on—"
Silence settled over the office. Varka looked toward the door as Lumine opened her eyes. Jean stood frozen in the doorway, a stack of papers balanced in her arms. Her gaze moved to Varka, then to Lumine, and back to Varka.
“What in the name of Barbatos is going on in here?!” Jean asked.
Lumine sat upright. “Nothing.”
Varka's entire face had taken on a deep shade of pink, and he coughed into his fist. “Ah, Jean! I see you still have some work for me?”
“I—” Her eye twitched. “Yes. Yes, I do.” She marched into the office and dropped the stack of documents onto the nearest table with a considerable amount of force. “Windblume permits. Vendor approvals. Security arrangements. Budget revisions. Invitations. The schedule for the Knights' shifts. The final list of bards. And three separate requests from the Adventurers' Guild.”
Varka nodded solemnly. “Mm. Sounds important.”
“They are very important, and all of these require your signature.” Jean stared at him. “I've already done my part, Grand Master. In order to get these submitted in a timely manner, you should complete yours as soon as possible.” She looked at Lumine, who gave her an apologetic little smile. Jean's eyes narrowed. “Do you two have anything you… you know what, for my sake, I'm not going to bother asking.”
Varka raised an eyebrow. Lumine cleared her throat.
“I mean—there's nothing to explain, right?” Jean asked.
“Right,” Varka said.
Jean pinched the bridge of her nose. “I'm just going to pretend I didn't see this.”
“Probably wise,” Varka agreed.
“I'm also going to pretend that—” She stopped herself. "No. I will not be finishing that thought."
Lumine's cheeks warmed. Varka looked curious. “Pretend that what?”
“Nothing. It's not important.” Jean turned sharply toward the door. “Please, just sign the documents by the end of the week, if you could.”
“Will do.”
“And—” Jean had stopped and looked back. Lumine was once again leaning against Varka's side. Varka had apparently decided that there was no reason to disturb her. Jean stared. Lumine stared back. Jean closed her eyes. “Never mind.”
She walked out of the office, shutting the door behind her.
Lumine waited for several silent seconds. Then she groaned. “Oh, no.”
Varka chuckled. “She'll be fine.”
“She's going to tell Lisa all about this, isn't she.”
“Probably.”
“And Amber.”
“Maybe.”
“And probably Eula, too.”
Varka's grin widened. “Maybe.”
Lumine buried her face in her hands. “This is a disaster.”
“Nonsense.” Varka patted her shoulder. “You're overthinking it.”
“You're the Grand Master. I'm sitting on your lap in your office while we're supposed to be working.”
Varka glanced at the pile of documents. "Yeah? I don't see a problem with that."
“You've barely gotten through the stack.”
“You make better company than all this paperwork.”
“That's not exactly a high bar. Most people don't enjoy paperwork.”
“Most people don't sit here and tell me when I'm holding it upside down.”
“Someone has to.” Lumine stared at him, then let out a sigh. "Other than that, you've barely talked to me."
"Do I need to? To know that I enjoy your company no matter wha—"
The office door creaked, opening a crack. Both of them froze. Lisa's face appeared through the gap, taking a look inside. Her lips curled into a delighted smile, and her emerald eyes glimmered in amusement. “Oh.”
Lumine's stomach dropped. Lisa's smile widened. “Oh my.”
“Lisa…” Lumine warned.
“Yes?”
“This… this isn't what it looks like.”
Lisa's expression softened into something almost fond. “Relax, cutie. I'm not here to interrupt.”
Varka waved without looking up. “Afternoon, Lisa.” Lumine noticed a rosy pink had flared on the tips of his ears.
“Good afternoon, Grand Master Varka.” Lisa's eyes flicked toward Lumine, then to Varka's arm around her. She quietly giggled. “Oh, this is just too precious. Two knights cuddling in the office...”
Lumine covered her face again. “Lisa, please go.”
“Okay, okay. I just had to take a peek, to see for myself what Jean had told me she saw.” Lisa chuckled and slipped away from the doorway. A moment later, her voice floated down the hall. “Well, that is certainly more interesting than Windblume logistics.”
Lumine reluctantly lowered her hands. Varka was still grinning. She looked at him for a long moment before sighing and settling back against his chest. “Well.”
“Well what?”
“You have plenty of reports to do, don't you? and I'll be here for five minutes per?”
"That was the idea, yes. Do we have a deal, then?"
“Yes. Deal.”
Lumine closed her eyes again and nestled into his chest. Outside, another pair of knights passed the door. Neither of them moved.
After a moment, Varka murmured, “You know, you were always able to leave.”
Lumine smiled against his warm figure. “I know.”
And that was precisely why she stayed.