Little Lux

34

22nd November, 2022 - Los Angeles, California

Lux sat in the back seat of one of her daddies sleeked out Maseratis, her little fingers creating patterns and drawings on the window with the condensation.

It was an early Tuesday morning and the sun had only just started to peek over the horizon, casting warm orange and pink hues across the sky. Lux was still groggy and 'not 100% with the living' as Sebastian had put it when he'd carried her out of the house and into the car.

She still didn't completely understand what was happening or where they were going. All she could remember was being told to 'trust us' as they wrapped her in a soft, oversized hoodie that smelled faintly of cologne and lavender laundry detergent.

Sebastian, seated in the passengers seat, glanced back at her through the rearview mirror. His sharp jawline softened with a smile when he caught her drawing on the window. "You doing okay back there, little one?" he asked, his voice deep but kind.

Lux just hummed, her eyes focused on the little flower she was tracing.

Sebastian's smile lingered as he turned his attention back to the road, his fingers tapping softly on the dashboard in rhythm with the hum of the engine. He could tell she wasn't fully herself yet. That was okay, though. They had time.

Vincent, who was driving with a calm, steady hand on the wheel, turned his head slightly to look at her through the rearview mirror. His eyes softened as he watched Lux's small form, the way she looked so fragile and innocent as she traced the patterns on the window.

"You're doing good, Luxie," Vincent said gently, his voice calm and reassuring. "We've got a special day planned for you. We're gonna meet your new tutor, baby. Do you remember daddy talking to you about that a while ago?"

There a few seconds of silence before Vincent catches her nodding her head in the rearview mirror.

His smile grew as he watched Lux respond, even if just a little. "That's right, sweetheart. Your tutor is going to help you with everything you've missed. It's going to be fun, you'll see," he continued, his tone warm and soothing. "But today, it's just to meet and get to know him."

Lux nodded again, but the fuzziness still lingered in her head. The car's engine hummed softly beneath her, and she felt the coolness of the window against her cheek as she leaned a little closer to it. The morning was peaceful, and for a brief moment, it almost felt like a normal, bus or tube ride to school. The life she used to know, the chaos and the confusion, felt so far away now.

Her small fingers continued their intricate dance on the window, drawing swirls, flowers, and circles that only made sense to her.

"You're so talented, Luxie," Sebastian said, his voice filled with genuine admiration. He watched her little hand trace the edges of her doodles on the glass, his smile tender. "You could be an artist one day, you know. If you want to."

"No more space." Lux mumbled quietly. The window only had so much condensation for her to draw patterns on and she'd used it all up.

Sebastian chuckled softly, his gaze flickering to the window and then back to Lux. "You've covered the whole thing, huh?" His voice was light, but there was a warmth to it that made Lux feel safe and cared for. "Well, I think that's a masterpiece. You don't need more space when you've already created something so beautiful."

Lux nods shyly, finally drawing her focus away from the window. She fiddles with the sleeve of the oversized hoodie she's wearing, putting it in her mouth and sucking slightly on the fabric.

"Let's not do that little love," Vincent says softly. "sucking on fabric can't be nice, huh?"

She pulls the sleeve from her mouth, her fingers still curled around the fabric, and gives a small, bashful nod. She wasn't quite sure what to do with herself sometimes, especially in moments when she was feeling particularly small.