Recluse ( Lautrec X reader )

CH 4 Lautrec's Knight in shiny armor

Finding a wooden door you touched it and knocked.

"I'm up here. Kehehe." You heard someone's voice behind the wooden slabbed door, their laughter echoing. The voice was of sinister elegance as of their laugh.
Stepping back to get enough space you charged forward and rolled into the wooden door through you looked at the stairs.
"Bloody stairs." You made your way up the stairs that felt like a marathon run through all these bloody places. Making it to the top a small cell with metal bars kept in a caged knight. His armor was not of what one would be of a regular knight. No, this armor was a rich burnished gold reminding you of the diseased horizon.

Arms that wrapped around his chest as if embracing the wearer. Close inspection made you think of a jester. The four curved horns that strung out from the front of the helmet curving outwords. The plate that covered his face was hollowed with holes. The shoulders as well spotted the same horn like a resemblance of his helmet.

Blood stained his beautiful golden armor, blood that now had dried and rusted the armor. The darkness behind the empty sockets gave off a malevolent energy binding and sucking the life out of anything bright around him. Yet he who wore this armor intrigued you. Worse in any case of who this prisoner is. A touch in your heart had fluttered in the disbelief of his cell.

Perhaps because you once were in such a state.

His back was against the stone cold wall, with his legs stretched out like a puppet, giving the feeling of his posture of rest and to mistake him as being vulnerable and unwanted. But only a fool would see him as such, his elegance still is shown. This would be seen as a seat of defeat but you knew better. He was more like a cat sitting at rest but ready to pounce. Like a snake with little to no movement but able to strike if needed.

One's armor is the symbol of oneself and those who they surve.

His head hung low as in defeat. His left arm rested on his left leg that was bend up close to him. His right leg rested and bent towards his body with his right arm leaned on it. What showed you not to see him as a vulnerable target was his fingers. Despite how limp his hands seemed, the fingers were curled in close, lacking the slight tension. Lacking, slight tension.

Meaning he was just saving his energy. And could still leap forward for an attack.

"Your knight in shiny armor is here." You started inhaling and exhaling tiredly from the loss of blood. Removing your helmet to get a better full of air. No one ever talks about the helmets getting hot and reeking of the material used to craft it.

His helmet moved in flex as if surprised to hear your tone. "Hmm?"
His humm in question brought chills around your body. As if behind those hollowed sockets his eyes were gazing at every corner of you. Even giving you the idea that he noticed your wounds.
"Oh? Still human, are you?" He stated in disbelief seeing your face which he was fixated on. "I am." You nodded.

"Then I am in luck. Could you help me? As you can see I am stuck, without recourse."

You took out the key from the back pouch. "What sins have you committed? To be imprisoned in the church and guarded so heavily. It was not easy getting through the Channeler, the hollow enemies. You just had an entire unit guarding. To just let out a prisoner, you are here for a reason are you not?"
"Hmmm." He hummed tilting his head as if he was bothered by having to stoop so low to this point. It was almost gut wrenching, since you were in such a position at one time.

"Indeed, it is quite flattering. Amusing at most for my.." he paused for a second as if attempting to hide his tone of mockery. "My knight in shiny armor to save me. Kehehe." His malevolent laughter made you flustered. "Well you can always await another." You said smirking looking away rolling your eyes to the bottom of the stairs.

He lifted his hand out catching your attention. "Forgive me. I didn't mean to offend. It is, as stated, amusing. If things were to be different." He tilted his head to the side. "I would be your knight in shiny armor." You sighed, feeling the room sinking in as you found it harder to breathe.

"Please, I have duties to fulfill, and I will reward you handsomely."
His voice was not in any attempt to keep his dignity. It was malicious yet sincere. All of his hopes of this day to come to be released from his confinement. He could be expecting you to ignore him. Begging you to release him will save him time. So you thought. It is difficult for you at the moment to know what his motives are.

"Well? I am certain you stand to benefit." He persuaded, expanding his fingers out and closing them back in. "You will bleed out before me?" He pointed at your wound. Showing his actual attention was on your wounds. Perhaps he's afraid his savior would die before releasing him. "Alright." You agreed. You were feeling sick to your stomach. Quickly unlocking his cell he looked up to you. "What is your name? Where are you from?" You asked as he tilted his head and you watched the helmet move from the right to the left. As if he was attempting to get a good look at you from behind those empty sockets.

"Thank you, yes, sincerely. I am Knight Lautrec of Carim. I truly appreciate this, and I guarantee a reward, only later."

You bit the bottom of your lip. His voice was fine like wine, elegant, malicious. Charismatic to the point you'd like to think his tone towards you was fake.

"I highly doubt you have any rewards. If you've been imprisoned there's nothing for you to pay. So fear not rewarding me."

Lautrec hummed behind his helmet. "Yes, very sorry, your reward will have to wait. I have just been freed. Allow me some time."

Hearing the loud crash you saw the The Berenike Knight enter the room. As he looked up the stairs that circled around to where you were. The other hollow knights entered the room as well. As you took out your Greataxe you stumbled and fell forward. The loss of blood had caused you to collapse. Too weak to get up you felt sick and weak. Your vision is not as sharp as it was.

Seeing the golden foot from his armor he stood over you as he hummed. "I am free." He said with a tone of victory. "Now I can get back to work! Keh heh heh he!" His sinter tone and laughter made you fearful of what his intentions were. He didn't seem frightened at all but the knights or the Berenike Knight. In fact he sounded excited in the future of battling them. A murdering intent.

But you couldn't fight nor stand and all that swept through you was regret.
How foolish to become vulnerable before someone who was imprisoned for such crimes that are unknown.
"You'll die.." You said before shutting your eyes.

"Don't we all!" Lautrec screamed as you heard him clashing with the knights below.

You have failed in even protecting a prisoner. Why did it matter to you? Why did any of it matter?