Lyney x Reader

Cold

"The knells... The knells are a-ringing~"

Lyney.

Lyney was sitting in a corner playing cards with himself. Like he does every other Saturday morning. His moment of solitude, a moment you wouldn't dare interrupt. His own space. Even if his humming and low whispered singing was... strange.

Taunting, Lynette once called it. To which, Lyney only smiled and replied, "Oh dear sister..." before he returned to his own little world of cards. Sometimes he would stack them, forming them into a tower, huffing whenever it tumbled down. But without a hitch, he would start all over again.

Building the first layer. Then the second. Then the third. Fourth. Fifth. And down the small pieces of paper came with a small flutter.

This morning was no different. Lynette was busy preparing tea and Ferminet was nowhere to be seen. You looked out the window, it was cloudy. Seems like there's rain in the air today. "It might rain..." You said in between the silence, Lyney's murmurs, and the teapots' whistling.

"So it seems..." Lynette replied, not a hint of amusement in her voice. She set some teacups on the table. One. Two. Three. Then four. "It certainly has been raining an awful lot lately, I wonder..."

She didn't finish her sentence. It hung in the air for a minute before Lyney spoke again. "Thee shall bind the will of the prophecies and seek fathers land." He was still singing to himself as he sat and took his place at the table. Lynette followed too, carefully serving both of you the recently brewed tea.

One. Two. Three chairs. No fourth one.

"There's no show today, so it's pretty much a free day." Lynette explained. "Which means I can get recharged until the next show which is... tomorrow..." She sighed, sipping her tea elegantly.

You blew into yours before placing your lips at the edge of the cup. "Is it too hot for you Y/N?" Lyney was staring at you with his usual smile, his head resting on his hand that he used to perch himself up. With his other hand, he swiftly stirred sugar into his tea. Casual.

"No, not at all. Tea is perfect for this weather, don't you think? Cozy."

"'Of course. It's just, I don't want you to burn those... lips." A smirk was plastered on his face, before it disappeared when Lynette cleared her throat.

"Lyney... wasn't there something you had to tell Y/N? Something professional related?" Lynette eyed you for a moment, before they flickered back to Lyney.

"Ah, you're right!" His face became more professional, a hint of seriousness. "Y/N, we would like for you to participate on stage for tomorrows show. It won't be much and it won't take too long, but it's quite essential. And it's got to be much more fun than being backstage all the time. What do you say?"

Your mind went blank for a second. This proposition was not what you were expecting, in fact the opposite. You were thinking that this moment would go down something like this: The twins would sit down and tell you that you were useless. That they could hold the shows themselves, with ease, they have done it before. They would apologize and turn you away. Then you would have no choice but to leave their residency and find a way to survive. Yeah survive first, revenge could've been thrown into the mix later.

"What about Lynette or Ferminet? Can't he do it? I'm sure he could do it much better than I." That was the way you were, playing humble while your whole self was screaming 'yes.' It's better to act like you had no ambition at all, before showing everyone that you indeed had everything in your palm of your hand. It's always satisfying to see the humiliated look on their faces.

"No, Ferminet isn't in the mood to do it, especially at the last minute. And Lynette... She has some matters to attend to. In fact, it will be just us tomorrow night. Lynette will do her share of tricks for half of the show, then the rest is up to us."

A night alone with Lyney... How could you resist that offer? Your eyes settled on the fourth teacup, filled with tea that's most likely becoming cold. It was most likely Ferminet's, but he hadn't arrived for breakfast. That's something he does often, Lynette reassured you. But, you've always felt he gave you the cold shoulder. So he speaks little to nothing to you. You tried to adjust. "Are you sure I'm up to the job? What if I get stage fright?" You tried to hide your excitement.

Lyney leaned closer, and spoke softly. "C'mon Y/N... We both know you aren't that afraid. Confidence is key and you? You know that very well." He retreated, giving you a smug smile. With his normal-leveled voice he added, "And besides you wouldn't let us down, would you?"

You shook your head, letting your humbling act melt away. There was no need for it anyway.

"Parfait! So it's settled." Lyney clasped his hands together. Lynette simply nodded and gave you a sheepish smile.

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Rain poured down. Tiny droplets clashed against the cobblestone like icy icicles. A muffled thunder rolled in the distance. Your hair getting soaked by the second, your clothes sticking against your cold skin. Even with a coat, you managed to feel the freezing rain trickling along down your neck. Like tears. Silence and the pattering rain filled your ears like a small symphony.

You were gonna get sick. You knew that. Maybe not now, or tomorrow but it's effects will take a toll on you eventually. Eventually. But right now. Right now you just wanted to sit here. Here in the old concrete steps of the sibling-trios' small cottage house. The house provided by the House of Hearth. The siblings didn't know you knew that, but you found out. By accident of course...

"If this is your way of dodging tomorrow's performance you're gonna have to try harder than this. Especially, when my eyes are on you, dear~" Lyney sat next to you as he held an umbrella over both of your heads.

"Oh you know I would never," You nudged him, stifling a laugh. You looked back to the puddles and the rain, relaxed.

"What is troubling you, Y/N?"

You stayed silent, not knowing how to reply. If you really felt troubled or if you weren't just in a mood for small talk. "Nothing, I'm just here,,, I guess? There's not much to think about or say, not when the rain pours down like this. It's just peaceful."

The lights on the street flickered on, the sky dimmed into a darker shade of grey. It was getting late, but that somehow didn't bother you. You stayed, frozen in place.

Silence. Some shuffling.

And Lyney stood up, bent over in front of you, his right arm held the hovering umbrella, and his left hand extended in front of you invitingly. His smile was sincere and soft, his eyes a dark layer of purple. "May I?"

You reached to take his hand. Almost automatically. He pulls you up and the rest goes into a confused slow blur. Faded.

The umbrella falls to the ground in unison with the droplets. Forgotten. His hand intertwined with yours. He pulls you close, burying his face against your neck, and sways you following the rhythm of the rain. You didn't get a chance to say a thing, yet you kept your silence embracing him.

This. This was real.

He lifted his head to face you, his hair was dripping with little drops of water, his eyes locked with yours. And something. Right then and there, something blossomed in his lavender eyes. A smile crept up his face. He just couldn't help himself.