Rui x reader: The Nanny

The Nanny: Part 5

"They're useless. The lot of them." You wash away the gore that had crusted into his hair. It was the remnants of a small group of demon slayers. It wasn't the first squad of low ranking slayers to make their way up the mountain and it wouldn't be the last. The more his family ate, the more attention they drew.

You thought this would concern Rui, but he didn't seem worried in the slightest. He practically melted as you poured the steaming water over his scalp. His tenseness washed away but that didn't mean he wasn't done brooding. No. The spider demon would deal with his family later.

You combed the last bits out of his hair and into the washbasin he leaned over. "You said they need to eat more?" It wasn't something you understood entirely, but you knew that they ate people to survive and gain power. How? Well, Rui didn't explain that to you. You didn't need to concern yourself with things you could never hope to understand. "They'll get there."

It was a lie to your own ears. Wishful thinking. His mother and brother would never live up to his expectations. His brother was more concerned with producing his spider army while his mother ate scraps. It just wasn't enough...

Rui lifted his head and reached for you.

Your breath catches as you flinch. You wait a beat for the slap that doesn't come. Instead, his fingers find your hair. Rui cards his fingers through your tresses. It isn't sweet. The action is mechanical as he attempts to replicate your affections as if he's trying to remember how to do it again.

It doesn't matter.

Your exhale is a long breath as you sigh and soak up the positive attention. Tears sting at your eyes and you blink them away. You just... You just haven't felt anything this soft in so long. Rui observes, his face was as neutral as ever as he takes in your reaction with a hint of curiosity that shines in his eyes. "At least you're capable of doing your job."

"Thank you..."

Later, as the sun was beginning to rise, you'd earned a scoff from Rui. "The princess kissed the frog?" His delicate features scrunched up in disgust at such a thought, but he didn't shy away from your lap.

"It was payment for retrieving her ball from the well. It's sweet." You tease him lightly with a smile that makes the corners of your eyes crinkle. He simply swats away the hand that lightly pinched at his cheek.

Rui huffed. "It's repulsive. If she was so grateful, she should have given him some gold and sent the creature on his way." The young demon stared into the fire as it crackled.

"Oh? How would she have gotten her prince then?"

He crossed his arms before rolling over. "I'm sure she could find herself a suitor if she's willing to kiss something as vile as a frog so easily." The moral seems to have gone over the young boy's head. You smooth your hand across his hair. Maybe one day he'll understand.