Chapter Text
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It was hard not to be impressed by her. The way she hefted a blade nearly twice her size, the way she charged into battle without caution and tore through enemies like an unchained beast. Lucanis found himself watching her often during their fights.
At first he felt it a necessity, he was certain that a stray blade would find her weak spot in the skirmish. Rook stormed headlong into danger with little thought for her own safety, he thought it only a matter of time when she paid the price. Lucanis provided the necessary backup, dispatching the enemies before they could harm the team’s fearless leader. As time went on and the more battles they faced, Lucanis could see the calculation that went into each swing of her greatsword, how she used the momentum of the blade to carry her forward and slip past enemy attacks. Still he always kept her in his sights, unable to tear his gaze away even now as she planted her foot on an enemy's chest so she could pull her blade free from where it was lodged in his skull. Her freckled skin glistened with sweat, her dark hair had escaped its ties and tumbled in curls down her back. He could see the muscles beneath her skin ripple as she lifted her blade once more to slam it into the back of a retreating Venatori blademaster. Blood sprayed from the wound and the blademaster gasped out an anguished scream as he collapsed to his knees. Rook wrenched the blade free once again and in one swift motion, freed the Venatoris head from his shoulders.
Lucanis relaxed his stance and lowered his blades once the final enemy had been dispatched; not that he had much chance to use them, the fight had been over in mere moments once Rook had charged in. He glanced over to where Bellara stood, she had barely enough time to power up her artifact and conjure an enchanted arrow before the fight was over. She was fiddling with one of the crystals on her gauntlet, chewing on her lip in concentration.
“Sometimes I wonder if Rook even needs our support in battle..” he remarked dryly.
Bellara looked up with a start, glancing around. “What? Oh, sorry Lucanis I was miles away. Did you say something?” Lucanis simply responded with a shrug and a smirk, looking back to Rook and finding her already staring at him. She had a playful glint in her warm brown eyes that made Lucanis’ mind spin. Mierda.
“Of course I need your help, Lucanis!” Rook pushed her hair off her face and bent down to retrieve a pouch from one of the Venatori bodies. She straightened up and grinned, throwing the pouch towards him. He caught it easily in one hand and shot her a questioning look before glancing inside. A random assortment of crystals and coins, nothing interesting.
“How am I supposed to carry everything by myself?” Rook continued with a broad smile. Lucanis retorted with an exasperated sigh and tucked the pouch into his pocket. Rook was more magpie than Crow, Viago had said. Lucanis now understood what he had meant.Rook had been little more than a fledgling when Lucanis had last seen her, several years before he was sent to the Ossuary. Though he may have occasionally seen her around the Cantori Diamond he knew little of her other than she was the Fifth Talon’s younger half sister. He was more than surprised when she and Neve had turned up to assist him in a prison break. The more time he had spent with her, the more she continued to surprise him. And now months later he often found his thoughts drifting to her, even as he sat alone on his cot in the pantry.
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Spite stalked up and down the narrow room, growling and huffing like a chained animal.
“Let me! Let me talk to her! You never know what to say!” he whined incessantly and stomped his feet. Seeing this crude copy of himself behaving like a child would be comical, if it weren’t so annoying. Spite growled and lunged towards Lucanis, the demon grabbing the man by the shoulders and shaking him. Lucanis simply let him, he learned long ago that it was easier to let Spite exhaust himself than trying to reason with him. A knock on the pantry door caught both of their attention, providing Lucanis a moment's relief from Spite’s antics.
The demon inhaled deeply, a smug grin twisting the caricature of Lucanis’ face.
“Smells like…lilac and…copper.”
The door swung open and Rook walked in, stopping suddenly when she saw Lucanis sitting on the cot. She was holding a large paper wrapped parcel in her hands, which she swiftly attempted to obscure behind her back.
“Oh! Lucanis…I thought you…might have been…out.” She paused, wincing at her awkward delivery. “Neve mentioned she was going to Minrathous to chase up some leads today…and I know you had some stuff to do there.”
“I’ve already been.” Lucanis stood up, looking at Rook quizzically. “What have you got there?”
Rook gave a dramatic sigh and held out the package she had been trying to hide. It was crudely wrapped in butcher paper and tied up with twine, like a poor attempt at gift wrapping.
“I saw it while we were at the markets in Treviso.” Rook said with a sigh. “You were so focused on getting stuff for the team, but you got nothing for yourself. So I got you this.” She pushed the box into Lucanis' hands as he stared at her, stunned.
“I was going to leave it in your room while you were out, but you thwarted my plan.” She continued wryly.
Lucanis wordlessly tore the paper off, unveiling the most beautiful dagger. The grip was wrapped in a purple silk, the crossguard engraved with runes he recognised as Ancient Tevene. The most astounding part was the blade itself, which at first appeared to be carved from bone. He traced his finger along the edge of the sharp curve of the blade, balancing the weight of the dagger in his hands.
“Is this a wyvern tooth dagger?” He looked up at Rook, unable to prevent himself from smiling. “I loved wyverns as a boy, Caterina would never let me have one of these though.”
Rook smiled at him and Lucanis felt more grateful than he already did. Mierda, she was beautiful when she smiled. Her eyes were dark yet warm, like the perfect cup of Andoral’s Breath. There was nothing bitter about her though, she was sweet like an Orlesian hot chocolate.
“I’m very glad you like it, truth be told I was worried you would think it was too much…” Rook was still smiling as she leaned her shoulder against the wall of the pantry. “Hence my master plan to give it to you secretly.”
Lucanis chuckled dryly and turned to place the dagger on the barrel that he used as a bedside table. He could not remember the last time he received such a thoughtful gift. Before the Ossuary certainly, but how long before?
“Thank you, Rook.” he said as he turned back to face her. Had she been standing so close before? “You are too kind to me.”
Lucanis’ face felt hot and his chest felt tight. He was close enough to smell the Orlesian fragrance she liked to wear and it made his head spin. Rook tilted her face up slightly to look him in the eyes.
“You deserve kindness, Lucanis.” she said in a soft voice. It was as if a spell had been cast between them, drawing them closer together until their lips were inches apart.
“Yes! YES!” Spite’s voice cut through the moment brutally and Lucanis flinched away. His head was pounding and mouth dry, his nostrils filled with the scent of lilacs. Rook’s eyes were wide with confusion as Lucanis pulled away.
“I…need to clear my head.” he said, his voice tight. “Excuse me.” He turned away and left the room as casual as he could, pressing a hand to his chest to feel the heavy thumping of his heart.
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