The Arcana: Fragments

XVIII: Please

Lucio x Reader

"Y/n!!!!!", the Count's voice rang into your ears like a screaming tea kettle. Exiting the small servants quarters that lay opposite Lucio's bedroom, you enter into the hallway and make your way down the wing. It was dreadfully early in the morning; the sun hadn't even risen yet but the time of day never determined when the day started in the palace, it was all up to the Count. Something must really be bothering him for starting the day this early, his usual routine began past eleven o' clock.

"I'm here", you yawned, padding your bare feet across the stone cold floors to his bed where he sat hunched over and brooding. Chills went up your spine as the coldness of the floor woke you up. "Starting the day early, are we?", you lightly conversed with him. He wasn't a morning person so it was up to you to be as obedient and quick as possible if you wanted to make it out of there in one piece. He grumbled a 'yeah' and some other words you didn't catch.

You prepared the wash basin and makeup train as you usually did and brought it over to the edge of the bed, deciding it was better if you came to him rather than ask him to come to you. "The usual?", you bowed your head as you gestured for his permission to begin touching him. He nodded and lifted his head so that he stared up into the canopy of his bed. Dampening the muslin cloth with the toner water you made you begin wiping down his face. You're gentle as you do this, applying little pressure as you rub the sides of his nose free of oil and remove the sleep from the corners of his eyes.

"Aren't you going to ask?", he broke the comfortable silence finally. You shrugged as you mixed his shaving cream, "Ask what, exactly?", you carefully shaved him as the two of you continued to speak. "Why I woke you this early? It's a quarter past five, you know".

You shrugged again, "It's a bit out of routine, definitely, but I wasn't even sure if I was allowed to ask. Suck your lips in please". He obeyed and you removed the beginnings of a mustache from his upper lip. "You've never cut me before", he stated suddenly as you cleaned him off. "Ever".

You smiled softly at his awkward praise, patting your cool hands over his lower face with after-shave. "I've never had a barber not cut me, what makes you so good at it? Did you have experience before?" You shook your head 'no' and re-explained to him that you've only ever served him and had no prior experience before. You've worked in the palace since you were young, working your way up from the stables to the Counts personal servant.

Your relationship with him was odd; to him you were something between a waitress and a mother. He never made you formally address him by 'my lord' or 'your highness' unless in public, and if anything he preferred when you called him by Lucio regularly when it was just the two of you around - which was often because you two were practically inseparable. Anything he needed and you were right there to await his command. It was no bother, and for all you cared it was nice being of service. You had your own room, three meals a day, nice clothing, a good friend named Portia who taught you all you know, what else did you need?

"Right", he'd agree, silently cursing himself for always forgetting your backstory. By the time you began his makeup, ten minutes had passed and the Count once again grew bored with the silence, "You're still in your pajamas", he noted. "When you called for me this early I figured there was an emergency. I didn't think of getting properly dressed".

"That's comforting", his eyes opened and looked at you while you powdered his face, "Did I worry you?" The glint of light that caught from the red sclera of his eyes told you that he wanted you to say yes, so you did. "What did you think was wrong?", he mused, curiosity plastered across his face. The answer came easy, "Another nightmare", you said. He grew silent.

The nightmares were what made you and him become so close. You recalled the night he snuck into your bedroom and held you in his arms so tightly you thought your ribs were going to break. "It's just me", he whispered as he climbed under the sheets and positioned himself against you. His hands were cold and clammy and he was practically shaking as he pulled you to him. Beyond your visual astonishment at a Count visiting his servant in the dead of night, you were nervous with his behavior. "Are you alright?", you asked, unsure what else to say. He shook his head 'no' as he buried his face into your hair, catching his breath. "Hold me", he ordered.

"Please".

You engulfed him in your arms instantly and cooed him into relaxation and back into sleep. That was the first night the nightmares brought you two together. You applied his eyeliner the way he liked, and you were about to do the final touches when he stopped you and held the sides of your face. "I never thanked you for doing all that", he whispered. "You don't need to thank me, it's my job".

"Is that all you see that as? All those nights you did that for me? It was a job to you?", a flash of a frown crossed his face. Your brows furrowed as you thought about it and came to the conclusion that no, it wasn't a job to you, it was more than that, deeper than that. The Count noticed your thinking, and it was as though he could read your thoughts, "Nah, you know it wasn't just that", he smirked and leaned forward, wrapping his arms about your waist and placing a kiss in the hollow beneath your neck. Instinctively, you brought your arms around his neck and entangled your fingers in his uncombed hair, doing your usual swirls and circle motions.

He rested his face in the crook of your neck as you held him, comfortably enjoying your scent and touch. "I've changed my mind", he said holding you still. "Hmm?", you hummed. "My priorities have shifted for today, I now have new plans", leaning back into the bed he brought you down and over him into the lush red sheets. "Put me back to sleep", he said. You were folded easily under the covers by the strength of his arms. He now lay on top of you, his head laying between the gap of your breasts, his arms encircled around you.

"Please", he groaned, waiting.

That was all it took. Your arms engulfed him as they always did, and you soothed and eased him back into sleep as the first light of the sun began seeping into the room.

[07.17.2019]