Chapter Text
The air was frigid, bitter; cutting past Ren with each slight swing of his blade with a lingering sting. He had been practicing all day now at this point, his ink black eyes seemingly focused on nothing but his movements. Nothing else mattered in his mind, nothing else but eventually gaining his Master’s approval and title.
His life was bound to be a short one, Ren knew that; better than anyone. He had two choices in this: either wallow in self-pity, or make something of himself. Becoming somebody who chose to burn out like a star rather than fade away and die like nothing. Albina referred to him as atrociously ambitious, Sora sometimes spoke of him as if he were the second coming of the Dihui Star. But, he was neither of these things; for his lowly self still was not good enough for any praise nor pointless jab from a so-called friend.
The grass brushes past his ankles once he swings his blade once more, still not good enough. It was never going to be if he just could not get this right. He scoffs, preparing to strike down another invisible enemy; his blade raised before him.
Until he hears the faintest footsteps from behind; easily recognizable in the evening silence.
“Apprentice of the Thumb.” He utters once, not even turning to meet his gaze; just an acknowledgement of his presence. Lucio spoke up almost immediately, it was customary to answer when spoken to; his words quiet but polite.
“I could not help but notice you are *still* training” He simply points out, his tone almost blunt. His violet eyes drifting up and down Ren, easily able to pinpoint the signs of exhaustion as if he were an opponent he had to strike down. His head was still reeling from their sparring session earlier today, how their masters pitted them against one another constantly. Lucio could not even recall if he had ever spoken to Ren on a basis that was not about training or sparring; all he really knew him for was that he was the Dihui Star’s apprentice.
Ren scoffs at the man stating the obvious, sheathing his blade as he shuts his eyes to inhale sharply. What did he want? He was too injured to spar some more, what could possibly be so important that he must interrupt him? Lucio stands there, his expression blank as if forcing his face to remain contorted neutral. “I was concerned, that is all” he states, glancing off in the distance. His heart felt a flutter whenever his violet eyes met the ink black gaze from Ren; he could already hear his master’s drunken scolding and lectures in the back of his mind… So, along with the rest of his complaints; he shoves it down and continues on.
“Concerned?” Parrots Ren, his arms crossed as he scoffs again; this interruption still felt incredibly unneeded. It was infuriating, almost; but Ren could not be too upset at it. It had been the first time in a while somebody had shown some form of concern for him. “There is no need for concern about my humble self, I assure you” He speaks with a slight air of superiority and pride, a sigh escaping his lips as his right hand reached for the handle of his odachi.
“Shouldn’t you be worried more about yourself, Child of the Thumb?” he ponders, turning away to practice a couple more slices with his blade; his eyes flickering back to the silver-haired man still standing by him. Lucio’s body remained stiff, his answers simple.
“There is nothing to worry about when it comes to me, I can just endure it”
While Ren was a drifting soul who remained detached from others outside of his master, Lucio was stuck, wasn’t he? He could recall the nights he had overheard the violence, yet he did not speak out against it. He was just standing there, willingly, a petrified statue enduring beating after beating. The insults snowballing downwards until it shattered his sense of self. Lucio could easily predict his attack patterns, but Ren could understand why his psyche was potentially like this.
“You’re enduring it quite well for someone whose ribs ache with each desperate breath. Someone whose legs are begging for mercy.”
“...Is it hypocritical for you to point that out when you yourself are exhausted?”
Lucio hesitated with his retort, the idea that somebody could acknowledge his pain was foreign… Valencina yelled at him for even limping or remotely expressing that he was hurting. Ren just…acknowledged it as if it were common. He bristles slightly, remaining stoic alongside him.
But, the apprentice of the Dihui Star just chuckled quietly, the thinnest smile ghosting his lips as he finally sheaths his Odachi for the final time tonight.
“I suppose you are right… My master often tells me hypocrites are some of the worst of the evils in this world; going against your own word would be slicing yourself with your own blade.”
For once, Lucio felt his body soften, even if it was slightly. This interaction was not going to end in a quarrel or a beating, was it? It felt surreal, but pleasant. Ren sits down in the dew-topped grass; patting the ground beside him for Lucio to join him. He hesitantly accepts, wincing ever so slightly when he knelt to the ground; his muscles so tense from the endless work and beatings.
“Still injured are you? Your footing seemed off when you were standing there” Ren speaks with a sigh, reaching to his side to pull out a bundle of bandages he uses to dress his own wounds during training. “Here we are, I keep these on me so I do not have to stop for too long during spars” He scoots closer, the proximity leaving Lucio almost flushed and anxious. He immediately pulls back with another wince, biting his lip to stifle it.
“What are you…?!”
“Easy, Lucio”
Just hearing his name from another person felt bittersweet… He was so used to being called a plethora of insults or just “Textbook”. The moment his name reached his ears, he was practically frozen like a deer in the headlights. Ren paused before reaching out again, making sure to keep his hands where Lucio could see; so he did not have to worry about a potential strike.
“I’m simply going to wrap these around your leg for now, the cuts will get infected and you need to keep it compressed anyway” He explains this as if telling a child why they need a shot; pulling up Lucio’s pant leg to reveal the wounds and scars that dappled his skin as if they were birthmarks. That this was just his life he couldn’t change. For the first time, a hint of sympathy hits Ren’s heart. How does he keep going on? How does he just… continue to endure this?
Carefully, he wraps his leg with the bandages; keeping it tight. Each time Lucio showed any sign of discomfort or pain, he’d pause; wait until he was calm enough and then continue. It was unlike anything either of them had ever experienced… Once he finishes, Ren ties off the bandages, using his blade to cut off the remaining of the bundle. “There we are,” he hums “Good for now, though if it gets infected feel free to come back to me”
A pang of selfishness hits Lucio’s heart, he remains silent momentarily; thinking about whether or not he should bring up such a request. Yet, he could not hold his tongue any longer; he blurts out a question that brought him such shame.
“And what if it does not get infected?”
“...Then do not come and see me. Just let it heal the best you can.”
“I see…”
Lucio pauses as he glances back at Ren, his hand hesitantly pulling away from his as he whispers his self-indulgent request like a dog who had been caught chewing the furniture. “...And what if I wish to see you again?” It was a question that left Ren frozen for a split second, he was willingly seeking out his company? Usually, only their masters would agree to let them meet if it was for sparring purposes… Why did this leave Ren almost feeling fuzzy on the inside?
If it were anyone else, usually the answer was no. Sure, he let Albina hang around him during training; but it was mainly so she could analyze his form for whatever art projects she was working on. It was different, it was strictly for work purposes. But, this felt…intimate. Personal. He falters with an amused sigh, indulging himself for once in his life. “Then, my humble self shall humor it” He says with an entertained huff, his hand reaching for Lucio’s as it attempts to pull away. Their fingers touched briefly, brushing past each other. Has Ren’s skin always been this soft? The way his breath was so calm yet precise, as if he put thought into each and every one…
Perhaps Lucio was looking too much into it, his head felt dizzy once more. But, they weren’t sparring or anything… It was not making much sense. It certainly was not to Ren as well. Why was he even encouraging this? He could be using this time to continue practicing, wasting time and breath on another. But, is it truly wasting if for once he felt warm? He shook off the thought, this was probably just some sort of pastime for training and nothing more.
“Shall we meet at this time again tomorrow night?” Ren asks, subconsciously shifting closer; he was enjoying the presence of another more than he would like to admit. The way Lucio’s eyes shifted around, the way his hair fell across his face and cascaded down his back in that silvery ponytail. He swallows the thoughts down, attempting to keep his head clear.
“That would be fine, yes” Replies Lucio, attempting to get up but his leg was aching still; buckling under him and causing him to fall once more. Ren immediately rushes to catch him, helping him back up with a concerned expression. “...I shall help you walk back if needed.” He offers this swiftly, wrapping his arm around Lucio’s shoulders and letting him lean his weight onto him.
The House of Spiders was a pitiful labyrinth of pain, it was hard to get from corridor to corridor without the dwindling reminders of one’s circumstances. How did they get here? Why do they choose to just remain and weather away? But, with Ren by his side, Lucio felt less anxious and bitter and more…whole. Somebody was beside him, somebody who was not going to use him as a stepping stone to their own success, or beat him senseless because of his mistakes.
“Take it slow,” Ren whispers, keeping quiet so no one would find him like this. “I am here, my humble self will not let you fall”
It took a couple of minutes, but the two of them finally made it to the corridor of The Thumb; the sound of snoring audible. Thankfully, Valencina was asleep; slumped over on the couch probably surrounded by empty liquor bottles. Lucio pauses, finally able to place his foot back onto the floor without toppling over. “I should be able to take it from here,” he softly replies, taking one last look at Ren; his hand already on the doorknob. “...Thank you,”
“You’re welcome” Ren answers, one arm crossed while the other remained at his side, just in case Lucio needed help walking again. “I suppose I shall see you again tomorrow evening?”
Once more, Lucio hesitates, feeling that same fluttering in his gut and his heart beating at a slightly faster rhythm. “...You shall, Ren-”
“Then, my humble self will wait with bated breath for your return”
With those words spoken, Lucio limps back inside; remaining quiet as to not wake his master. The blonde woman snored on, drunkenly sprawled out on the sofa just like Lucio had assumed she would be. A half burnt cigar hanging out of her mouth, scattered beer bottles along the floor. The usual sight if she wasn’t drunkenly walking about the place, rambling about nonsense. It was Lucio’s preference, really. This was better than her being drunk and awake.
Despite the pain screaming for him to instantly go to bed, he shuffles silently to grab the spare blanket Valencina had shoved away; draping it over her sleeping body.
“Good night, ma’am.” He whispers, the hint of bittersweetness stinging his tongue as he finally makes his way to his room; flopping onto the mattress with a pained sigh. He was so tired, so damn tired; not even caring to pull the tie in his hair. Lucio just stares at the wall, knowing what kind of bullshit he was going to have to put up with tomorrow. But, for now, he just did not care. The idea that he would be able to see Ren tomorrow evening was enough motivation to get through the day.
He sighs, his eyelids fluttering shut as his body melted into the covers. Tomorrow evening, he repeated in his mind. He will see him again…