Gilded Thorn

Luca was avoiding Camille. It wasn’t something he’d admit out loud, particularly due to how harsh and unforgiving it sounded, but he knew it was the truth. He didn’t dislike Camille–on the contrary, he adored her (or, as much as Luca could adore someone, he supposed)–but rather disliked the very idea of facing her again after showcasing such vulnerability in front of her the night of the fire. It wasn’t as though he’d waxed poetics about his concern for the Doefoots and Tatiana (Baby in particular, perhaps), but he’d still shown a side of himself, albeit only minutely, that he preferred to keep tucked away deep inside the cavern of his soul. There wasn’t any need for Camille to see him so concerned and distraught over the safety of others; it only made him seem weak. Like an incompetent leader who couldn’t keep his head sewed on straight.

And if there was one thing Luca referred to be branded as, it was weak.

Luckily, there was a great deal of work to be done in lieu of the fire that had knocked out a wing of the estate. Paperwork needed to be signed, permits approved, schedules readjusted, and his entire fucking life had to be adjusted to accommodate for the construction that would be taking place where the battered remains of the ballroom stood. Luca hadn’t had much time for himself, so when he chose to spend the afternoon tucked in his office, poring over some of the employee files he’d requested to be pulled in the off-chance of connecting any dots between his newer hires and the Russian Bratva, he viewed it as a reprieve from the strange turn his life had taken in the past week or so. 

That is, it would have been, before a soft series of knocks came on the door. Immediately, Luca’s gaze shot up towards the door; he hadn’t ordered any food or beverages to be brought to him, so what was the purpose of this unannounced visit? He quirked a brow when he heard Camille’s soft, familiar voice and saw her head poke through the door. She seemed…anxious? Was that the word? Luca leaned back in his chair, eyeing her warily as she offered to bring him a snack amidst his work.

“Come in, Thomas,” he said at last, his throat thick with disuse as he reached for his cup of coffee and took a tentative sip. “Enter my humble abode. Take a seat. What can I do for you today?”

 ..

Camille nodded her thanks as she stepped in the room, taking care to close the door behind her. Obedient as ever, she crossed the room to set the box of sweets on top of a stack of closed files rather than hand it to him directly. When she sat, she crossed her ankles. Hands folded in her lap, on first glance, she simply seemed prim.

A second glance might draw attention to the way her eyes were downcast, or how tightly her fingers were interlaced. “I was just hoping to apologize,” she explained, lifting her gaze to meet his. “The night of the fire, I know I wasn’t as professional as I could have been, and I should have been more useful to you. I hope that we won’t be in the same situation again, but if we have another emergency, I assure you I’ll do better.” That night..he’d been phenomenal, strong..everything she wasn’t able to be. Under most circumstances, the need for a strong dominant to take a situation in hand wouldn’t make her feel the guilt that had made a home in her stomach. In the moment, she couldn’t fathom directing the crowd.

“I also wanted to thank you for saving Baby,” she added in a quieter voice. “I know it wasn’t for me, if anything, it was for her well-being, and Raphael, but..I don’t..I can’t..” Camille broke off, looking away for a moment to compose herself. She couldn’t fathom a world where Raphael, Baby, Luca, and Tatiana weren’t in her life. Luca was the only reason their little family was still complete - even after she’d delayed him by asking that he take control of the crowd. A delay that she shouldn’t have assumed could be taken. But for all her shortcomings, Luca didn’t seem to fault her. One more miracle the dom had managed to pull off.

Once she trusted herself to speak again, Camille gestured to the box she’d brought and continued, “It’s not much but I wasn’t sure if it would be convenient if I dropped in on you with more food than that. On a more professional note, I wanted to check in to see if there was anything I might be able to assist you with.” She couldn’t just drop in on him, become emotional for what would surely be seen as siilly, and not give him an out should he prefer not to acknowledge the fact that she’d almost cried.

Jett had been busy setting up and assigning new detail on Raphael’s girls. He was given that responsibility directly from the man himself, so he took the position seriously. The night he was stationed with Camille, and of course she went out of her way to make him feel comfortable. He couldn’t say no to having dinner with her, even though he was technically still on the clock. He could keep an eye on things while also enjoying her company. He’d have to do something in return when he gets the chance. “That sounds amazing.” He says, “I’m no chef, but those sound like they’d work for me.” He eyed what she had out on display, taking in each ingredient with a hint of curiosity. “Oh, no, you don’t have to. You’ve already done so much for me already. If you have any beer I’ll take that.” Jett said, hoping that she did so she didn’t feel the need to make him anything more than what she has done already. He wasn’t used to being pampered like this, it wasn’t something he’d ever see himself being comfortable with, either. “Thank you, for all of this. You really didn’t have to go through all this effort for me.”

..

The submissive couldn’t help the beaming smile she flashed at the man, nodding as she turned to open her fridge. “I’m glad you think so,” she murmured as she retrieved a beer and a bottle of pinot grigio from the fridge. It was certainly a relief that he’d be open to what she’d planned. Camille made quick work of opening it and setting it before the dom. “Not at all, I can’t keep you hungry. Besides, it’s kind of you to take the assignment,” Camille assured the other as she set about opening her bottle of wine and pouring a glass for herself. She raised her glass in toast to the other before taking a quick sip. Setting about getting their meal together was natural to the submissive now, but when she’d first stepped into Rosewood, she had no idea what to do in a kitchen.

“I hope they don’t keep you on these details for too long,” she commented idly as she started slicing vegetables for their salad. “I imagine these one on ones are a little tiring, and too many in a row can’t be all that good for you. If you do end up looking after Baby or Tatiana, please know that the door between this room and the penthouse is always unlocked, if not open. You’re always welcome over, and if you need a hand, I’m just a shout away,” Camille promised. Tatiana was a kind soul, and it was highly doubtful she’d be the cause of any problems. Baby could be another story altogether. Camille paused in her whirlwind of activity to flash a quick smile at her guest before continuing to prepare their meal.  

OVER THE TIME AUGUSTIN had been residing within rosewood manor, the man and camille had grown rather close to each other in a myriad of ways. the connection which he maintained with the girl was much different from other relationships he held within the manor, and he truly appreciated the moments he had with her, since she seemed to bring out a different side to his personality. the man just couldn’t bring himself to be insensitive around the girl, since she had always been so sweet to him, and he knew her too well intimately to be so arrogant. 

when his door opened, he wasn’t disappointed by the figure who had committed the action, a smile forming upon his face when he saw her. standing up from the chair he had been sitting in within the dwelling, he walked over to the girl before him, stopping only when he was a few inches away from her. “mon amour, i always have time for you,” he responded reassuringly, bringing his hand up to the side of her face, playing with a bit of her hair. “you know that you can have me whenever you want.” after he spoke his suggestive comment, attempting to get a reaction from the girl, he took his hand away from where it was placed and went to close the door behind her so that they would have privacy with each other. after closing the door, he began to walk over to the bed which was in the middle of the large room, sitting upon it and gesturing for her to follow him. 

“come here, ma belle. you can tell me anything.”

As she stepped into the room, Camille was almost overwhelmed by relief. “Thank you,” she breathed, her eyes drifting shut as his hand rose to the side of her face. His comment made her smile, the reassurance that he’d want her as well was appreciated. The submissive followed and stood before him. Uncertainty played across her features for a moment. She knew the truth to his words - they knew each other far too intimately for her to logically know the self-doubt plaguing her mind had any kind of veracity (emotionally..was another story).

“I..I was just hoping that if you had time, perhaps you might be able to..take control?” Camille’s question fell softly, and rather than face Augustin, her eyes drifted to the floor. It was strange, being so at odds with herself once again. She needed the freedom of submission, but it felt wrong to ask for it at a time like this. Again, logically, Camille knew that there would consequences - the withdrawals from denying her nature, her utter need to be dominated, would interfere with her ability to take care of those around her. The submissive swallowed before lifting her eyes to meet Augustin’s. “Please, sir,” she added quietly.

♡

It wasn’t often that Tatiana was given the chance to spend time with Camille alone. The older woman was kept incredibly busy, after all, as Raphael’s personal assistant and his younger sister’s maternal figure, but she always seemed to make time for Tatiana in her unbelievably hectic schedule nevertheless…especially when the young tsarina needed it the most. Whether it was bringing her in off of the balcony when Baby had once again forced her to sleep outside after she’d accidentally said or done something the head dancer didn’t approve of, or holding her close and cuddling her after a particularly arduous session with one of the VIP guests that Raphael had lent her out to for the evening…Camille was always there for her, even when no one else was, and in her warm and comforting embrace, Tatiana had found a safe place to land in the last place that she could have ever expected it. It might not have made very much sense to the pint-sized submissive, but she was extraordinarily grateful for Camille nevertheless. 

Visiting Camille’s apartment was a rare treat, and a much-needed one after all that had happened at the Fairytales After Dark gala. She hadn’t told anyone what had happened to her yet, not even Emmaline or Saria, and she couldn’t help but feel immensely guilty because of it. Was it fair of her, to hide things from Raphael and Camille? Or was she doing the right thing by maintaining her loyalty to Viktor instead? She didn’t know anymore; she was all mixed up and jumbled and so, so confused. Still, Camille was calling for her from the kitchen, and she scampered up quickly off of the couch, tucking her errant blonde curls anxiously behind her ears as she rushed towards the pretty brunette. 

“O - oh!” she breathed out in delighted shock at the fine china tea-set that Camille was pulling down from the cupboard, clasping her tiny hands in a display of pure, simple pleasure as she looked up at the elder woman with no small amount of innocent adoration. “Is, erm - like fancy little tea party, da?” she questioned shyly, taking a tentative step towards Camille so that she could peek curiously at the various assortment of tisanes and brews that she was being offered. “Is there still being, um, apple cinnamon one from last time, Miss Camille?” 

..

Camille beamed at Tatian as she scampered over, and nodded. “Yes, and just for the two of us,” she promised. “There is,” Camille answered, turning to put what she’d pulled down back and replacing them with Tatiana’s request. “And please, just ‘Camille’, sweetheart. Especially when it’s the two of us,” the woman urged gently. Her heart ached for Tatiana more often than not. The transition to Raphael’s pet couldn’t have been easy for the petite young woman, especially when it meant being plucked from her home. More than anything, Camille wanted any time they shared together to be a break from everything, a nice time where the other could feel as safe as was possible. 

“Oh!” Camille turned suddenly, going to the fridge and pulling out two boxes, one on top of the other. “A tea party can’t be complete without snacks,” she explained as she set them on the counter and opened each for the blonde woman’s approval. One box revealed a strawberry cake, complete with shiny glazed strawberries decorating the top, while the other revealed  two dozen assorted pastries. “I wanted to make sure that there would be something you would like,” Camille explained. “Where would you like to take our tea? The table, the couch, wherever you like. And I have milk, honey, sugar...” Camille paused for a moment to turn back to her cupboard and pulled amber rock sugar as well as regular sugar and honey for Tatiana to choose from. “Anything you like, dear one,” she promised. Camille hesitated for a moment before continuing as she set about preparing the teapot for them. “I was thinking too..if you’d like, perhaps we could make this a slumber party?” Camille had worried over Tatiana a great deal since they’d been introduced, but the way the tiny Russian had sobbed in her arms the night of the gala had stuck with her.

Raphael realized immediately that he had indeed woken Camille up but what bothered him more was the state of chaos she’d seemed to have made herself a nest in. Usually, her bedroom was neat and tidy, as was her calling card, but one look around at the piles of papers and stationary she’d circled herself with in her bed was … concerning, as were the deep, hollowed-out circles beneath her eyes as she groggily withdrew herself from unconsciousness. Had she not been sleeping either? It had been a rough week for all of them admittedly but he’d been so focused on picking up the pieces in the wake of the fire, all the while putting together a brand new security system, that he’d hardly been able to spend as much time with Camille as he would have liked, unless it was to assign her yet another task that he simply didn’t trust with anyone else. She’d always been his most faithful, most reliable constant, but she seemed … exhausted. 

Had she gotten so caught up in caring for others that she’d forgotten about herself?

Still, she didn’t falter, no sooner had he stepped into her bedroom and awoken her was she standing up in all of her gorgeous, graceful glory and walking towards him. She reached for the dossier and he handed it to her with a rather stupefied blink, Head Dom and he was always still a little dazed when it came to his perfect little PA. “A mix of both, actually, I’ve got several contractors attempting to schmooze their way into the manor to continue on with the repairs in the grand ballroom, and a couple of security companies as well that would give up their left testicle if it meant that we’d hire them on.” With a weary sigh, he ran one of his hands over the five o’clock shadow he’d been sporting for days, and after a moment of hesitation, he took away the stack of files he’d handed to Camille, so that he could set them on her nightstand instead. 

“You look tired, love,” he said gently, in a voice that was only ever reserved for her, and he took a step closer, one hand resting on the curve of her waist and the other sliding around to the small of her back so that he could ease her towards him. He felt a pang of guilt, then, he’d been so focused on keeping Tatiana in his bed at all times (Luca’s mere mention of the Russian Bratva possibly finding out about her whereabouts had lit a fire all of its own within him), as well as ensuring that Baby was safe and sound, and dealing with the current state of the manor as a whole, that … Camille’s needs had gone almost unnoticed, and he hated himself in that moment for taking advantage of her. She was his to provide and care for, she did so much for him and everyone else as it was. “Was this the first time you’ve been able to sleep in a little while?” 

..

Camille nodded as she started looking over the files. Some of the prices were actually pretty competitive. “That’s all well and good, but do they realize we’ll be taking the right as collateral?” she commented absently as she continued flipping through the files. Shock crossed her features as the files disappeared from her hands. Camille’s jaw dropped, and for some reason she found herself feeling...hurt of all things. All it took was his gentle voice, the one that let her know that everything would be okay. Hurt turned to lost, and instead of reassured, all Camille could feel was guilt and shame. Had she done something to displease him, or make him think she couldn’t help him with anything that had come up?

Understanding seeped through her bones, heightening the exhaustion she was already feeling. Raphael was only speaking out of concern, but he had so many other things to worry about. Baby and Tatiana needed safekeeping, the manor needed rebuilding, and an arsonist needed finding. All of that had to be weighing heavily on Raphael’s shoulders, the last thing he needed was his errant secretary adding to it. Camille hung her head as he eased her to him, his hands on her body soothing some of her worry. As much as she might hate herself for it in this moment, she could never resist Raphael. He’d been there for her from the moment she’d crossed the threshold into the manor - they hadn’t known each other more than five minutes when she completely shattered in front of him. Some how Raphael had helped her pick the pieces of herself up and reforge herself within the confines of Rosewood. He kept her close, let her stay in the only place that ever felt like home. Camille needed him like she needed air, but at the same time so many already needed so much from him as it was.

Camille flashed an apologetic smile at the guard. It felt..almost silly to have someone assigned to her. If anything, he should be looking out for either of the girls, or for Raphael or Luca. All the same, she couldn’t help but feel grateful for his company. Humming softly as she started pulling out ingredients, setting them out in a neat row on her countertop. “I hope you’re hungry,” she commented, breaking the silence between them. “I was thinking we could do a nice salad, paired with pasta carbonara? Are you okay with these vegetables? I was thinking we could toss them with some lemon olive oil and a pomegranate balsamic vinegar?” Camille asked, waving a hand over what she’d set out. “I can make you a cocktail, as well if you’d like,” she continued, watching for Jett’s reaction to judge if she’d need to change course.

Camille knocked briskly against the door to Roxana’s home. “Roxana!” she called out with a grin. With a box of treats from the bakery under her arm, it was easy to look forward to seeing the other woman. Hopefully Roxana could use some company as well. Uncharacteristically impatient, she knocked again. The prospect of seeing the other submissive had her feeling lighter than she had in a while. It lacked the distinct dread of needing that seemed to taint her mind when it came to so many of the people she interacted with. For once, guilt didn’t tug at her mind. Instead, the submissive was excited to spend time with the other.  “If the cakes melt, it’s not my fault,” she added a moment later, a grin tugging at her lips.

Camille made her way through the halls, perhaps a little too focused on her end-goal. So much had happened...been happening...it couldn’t have been too much of a surprise that she would seek out Augustin. A dear friend and trusted confidant..even if they simply conversed over tea, his presence alone would soothe her rather frazzled nerves. Especially if he were of a mind to indulge in her more submissive tendencies.

Finding her way to his door, Camille knocked a few times before letting herself in. “Sir?” she asked softly, uncertain. The submissive felt like she hadn’t quite yet found her footing in some ways, something that was hard to hide. Particularly with Augustin. What if he had changed his mind? What if their needs didn’t quite meet, and he wanted more or less out of her? "Did - do you still have time for me, sir?” she asked, caution lacing her voice. It was the only way Camille knew how to scream please I need this, especially with not knowing if their needs matched.

Given that she’d been at Rosewood for a little over a decade now, and  that she’d spent almost all of that time at Raphael’s side, there really wasn’t a need for Camille to make up an excuse to see Luca. Especially given that she was Raphael’s personal assistant and there were plenty of reasons for her to interact with Luca on a daily basis. And yet..Camille had made up some excuse of needing a signature on something. While not a total lie, it was still pathetic. More than anything, the submissive wanted to catch him alone. What she needed from him demanded privacy. Her heart was in her throat when he charged into the building to find the rest of their little family, an avenging angel who would not be deterred.

It took everything Camille had to not fall to fucking pieces when she was able to see Baby again. All she wanted to do was throw her arms around the tiny young woman (and god, she seemed so much smaller, so much more fragile than before) and never let go. And of course, there was Luca. Camille was ready to throw herself, sobbing out of gratitude, into his arms. Thankfully she had kept that in. After the fire, the fear of not knowing where Raphael, Baby, or Tatiana were, the last thing anyone needed was for Camille to fall apart and be completely useless. 

Once her drink was safely set on the table, Camille let out a sigh as she practically collapsed into her seat. Tucked away in a quieter corner, she was looking forward to a drink (or several) after a long day. There was so much going on in the wake of the ill-fated party, she hardly knew which way was up anymore. Everything seemed to pass in a blur. But now at least, all that could be put by the side. “God, I need this,” she muttered before lifting her glass and taking a long sip of the margarita she’d ordered. Looking up at Stevie, she couldn’t help the crooked grin that tugged at her lips. “I feel like a margarita machine wouldn’t be the most appropriate addition to the office, but I think it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, either.”

@gildedthorn​​ (Viktor & Camille)

After the debacle of the garden party, it was no surprise that the head doms would be extra vigilant about the newest guests to have joined the estate, and for good reason. A horrendous display such as the one that previous night was undoubtedly a blow to Rosewood’s reputation, and the longer the perpetrator remained at large, the more doubt would be cast on both Luca D’Amore and Raphael Doefoot. Viktor understood this logic enough to have expected the invitation to their office, undoubtedly to perform some form of interrogation. Plenty of time to ruminate how best to extract information from them in this precarious situation of theirs.

He sat quietly in Raphael’s office, at ease despite the grim circumstances that bought him there. It would have been an excellent time to snoop around, were it not for the assistant in the room with him. Perhaps he should have staged a distraction, so that he could skim their bookshelves for secrets? He considered it a moment, as he glanced her way thoughtfully. “Is it common for your employer to leave his guests waiting for so long?” He asked mildly, his fingers tapping against the wooden arm of his chair as Viktor finally broke the silence that was hovering between them. No, it was better not to expose the Bratva just yet, but there was some merit in looking for another source of information in the form of Doefoot’s employee. 

“Tell me, how does one become an assistant in a place like this? Can’t be a conventional story, can it?“ He smiled then, no trace of Russian in the way he spoke to her. Viktor may have had her boss fooled, but he couldn’t afford to slack off with someone so close to his affairs. “I imagine it must be difficult to keep a head dom on time in a place so full of distractions, isn’t it?“

..

Camille looked at her wrist watch, then checked her phone. She’d had reminders set for this meeting and texted Raphael, yet here they were. Normally, it would have been a minor annoyance, but with everything that had happened..there were just too many possibilities. Was Raphael okay? Had he or Luca been hurt? What something was wrong with Baby, or Tatiana? Viktor’s voice brought her from her thoughts and she offered a serene smile as she set her phone on the desk. “It isn’t as uncommon as I’d prefer,” she admitted carefully, moving so that she could lean against the front of the desk.

“I hope you’ll allow me to apologize on his behalf, Mr. Viccario. May I get you something while you wait? I can offer tea, coffee, water?” Camille asked, hoping that it might be sufficient distraction for him. It would also give her something to do while they waited. She returned his smile with a rather rueful one, and nodded once in response. “I don’t think any of us had a conventional path to Rosewood,” Camille confessed. “I imagine your path here would be far more interesting than mine.” She paused for a moment before continuing, her expression shifting to something more akin to outright fondness before she continued, “It can be trying at times, but I’ve worked under Master Doefoot for quite some time now. Some days are better than others, especially with the repairs on the ballroom starting. I imagine that may be where he’s gotten caught up,” Camille explained, hoping that might be sufficient reason. If nothing else, she was grateful the guest didn’t seem too irate. “Of course, we do value your time. Would you consider allowing the manor to take care of your dinner this evening? Have you been able to try any of our restaurants, Mr. Viccario?” In her experience, most guests would rather talk about themselves rather than hear her life story. Especially if they seemed to thing she was just Raphael’s little secretary. Camille figured that while sweet, his inquiries were more to allow her to pivot the conversation to revolve around him.

Camille hummed softly as she set her tea kettle on the stove to boil. The submissive was grateful to have been granted the afternoon off, and it was the perfect opportunity to invite Tatiana over for a peaceful afternoon. She adored Raphael, Baby, and Luca with her entire heart, but she also understood very well that the could be rocks and hard places personified. Perhaps that was why she felt a special sort of kinship with the petite Russian. Of course, there was a fair amount of guilt over her kidnapping as well, and a strong desire to protect her.

“Tatiana?” Camille called gently as she started to pull down her tea set. “What sort of tea would you like today? I have earl gray, paris, irish breakfast..” she listed off, setting the cups and saucers down on her counter before crossing the kitchen to get the tins of tea and herbs. “I have rosebuds, lavender, and chamomile as well, if you want something more floral,” the older woman offered as she set the tins out for inspection. A soft smile curved her full lips as she looked to Tatiana for her choice. This will be nice, she decided, as if through will alone she could make it so. Especially after everything that had happened with the party, surely they could both do with a quiet afternoon.

@gildedthorn​

He hadn’t slept or eaten all week, at this point he was fairly certain that he was more coffee than man with the amount he’d been consuming in order to stay awake. Ever since the night of the fire, Raphael had devoted every waking moment to not just the reparations so desperately needed for the grand ballroom that had all but gone up in flames but to hunting down the arsonists responsible as well. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind that the blaze had been committed purposefully, which meant that somebody in his manor was there under false pretenses, for all he knew they could have even been encroaching upon his inner circle. It might not have seemed it to most but at heart, Raphael was a family man, as dysfunctional as his little found family might have been, it was still entirely his own, and the fact that somebody had threatened them was enough to have his blood on the verge boiling deep within his veins. 

But they were safe. Baby, Tatiana, Luca, and Camille—not a single hair on their heads had been harmed, he’d take a thousand burnt ballrooms over so much as a scratch being laid on any one of them, marble floors and spiral staircases were easily replaceable, but the only people he’d ever … loved? He’d sooner kill himself than allow one of them to perish. “Camille.” Raphael’s voice came out sounding brisk and distracted as he let himself into the side-suite he’d had designed specifically for his personal assistant, pushing his glasses higher up upon the bridge of his nose as he furrowed his brow into the dossier he had open in front of him. What time was it? Day or night, he had no idea, just that Tatiana was sleeping peacefully in his bed after he’d tucked her in and Baby was staying with Luca for safe-keeping—thank god for his brother-in-arms. Where was his Camille, though?

He let himself into her bedroom, the path all too familiar after he’d littered it with both his clothes and hers more times than he count in the past, but he didn’t look up from his folders, a frown marring his otherwise sculpted features as he rapped his fist three times upon the wooden door … after he had already opened it. “Sorry,” he blinked then, suddenly looking up towards the curtains that, although drawn, were clearly blocking out the light of the moon shining in from outside. It was … nighttime, he realized in that moment. Perhaps even later than he’d previously assumed. “…Were you sleeping?”

..

As always, Camille took her cues from Raphael. He was everything to her, so when he spent his nights awake and working, she did too. It didn’t matter that she couldn’t close her eyes for long without seeing the fire, or that she was hesitant to sleep alone. The days following the fire were a whirlwind of coordinating schedules, setting meetings, making sure everything Raphael needed was in place. When she wasn’t tending to his affairs, she was tending to the rest of their little family, doting on them all as much as they’d allow her.

The nights were difficult. Baby was with Luca, Tatiana with Raphael. As much as she disliked being alone, there was no denying that it was for the best. She’d spent plenty of nights alone and afraid to sleep. What were a few more? When she was unable to find company for an evening, Camille simply kept herself busy. She’d started working from her bedroom rather than her home office. It was easier that way, she could simply work until she fell asleep. When she woke up, there might be a few things that weren’t precisely where she left them. It was a small price to pay when she could start her day, quickly reorganize what she’d need to accomplish, then get an early start on it all. The evidence of that was scattered across her bed, papers and files open, pens and highlighters sitting on a plate, and her laptop open to one of the many spreadsheets that needed updating.

“If you wanted to keep me under your thumb, Thomas, all you had to do was ask,” Luca teased brusquely; it helped him keep some of the normalcy in his tone. Camille was one of the only people at Rosewood Luca would show this side of himself to; he wouldn’t consider it vulnerability, because he showed his vulnerability to no one, but perhaps it was something close. It was strange, having a female companion he wasn’t regularly sleeping with, but Camille had been a staple of his life for so long at this point that he genuinely couldn’t imagine a day or week that didn’t include her in some capacity. She was important to Raphael, and over time, she had become important to him, as well. “Not sure how Raphael would feel about it, but I can’t blame you; I am quite astonishing to look at, all things considered.”

By the time Luca had finished his speech (rather moving, he’d rate himself 10/10) and watched the crowd disperse around them, he put the safety back on his gun and tucked it back into his robe. Camille came to stand by his side, and Luca nodded when the submissive thanked him for handling the crowd. He didn’t know how to take genuine praise like this, and so all he could do was nod dumbly as he took one last fleeting glance out into the frantic crowd separating into small groups and following leaders to the forest’s edge. At least he knew he was being listened to, if nothing else.

“Tatiana can’t be inside of there,” Luca answered reflexively. There couldn’t be one more person inside of the building for him to worry about, there just…couldn’t. It was too much emotional energy; too much worry, all bottled up that he didn’t know how to properly process. “Besides, she came to the party tonight with her little hillbilly friend; he would have gotten her out by now. But we should–we should check, just in case.” Luca surged forward, standing in the entryway before turning to look at Camille.

“Maybe you shouldn’t follow me…” he trailed off, uncharacteristically anxious. “Raphael would never forgive me if something happened to you.” I’d never forgive myself, either.

..

Camille nodded, relief seeping through her bones. The relief evaporated when he mentioned Tatiana’s ‘hillbilly friend’ and she didn’t even bother stopping herself from rolling her eyes. Some day, she’d have to sit Luca down (and maybe Raphael too, for that matter) and explain that he really shouldn’t begrudge someone else for having the same taste. He’d come with Baby on his arm, after all. Why shouldn’t Tatiana have a date? Why shouldn’t she have as many partners as she damn well pleased?

Of course, all that was moot given the present circumstances.

She nodded in response, eyeing the flames. “I’d never forgive myself if he needed help,” Camille answered him quietly. The thought of any of them being in need of help was enough to send her into a panic, but that wouldn’t help anyone at all. Camille kept herself together. “And if we need to check for Tatiana, you’ll need help. Do you want the east or the west portion of the ballroom?” The longer they argued over it, the less time the others could have. There were three to look for and only two of them. Camille let out a sigh as she studied his face. “I won’t fight you on this, Luca. There’s too much at stake. Just..please just promise you’ll come back out,” she pleaded softly. Deferring to Luca was as natural as deferring to Raphael. No matter the need she felt to run into the building, she would obey if Luca told her to wait.

Camille wouldn’t be held liable for what happened while she waited, but that could be dealt with later.

He expected this, she was always concerned for the well being of everyone within the manor. Despite expecting it he really didn’t want her to waste all of her energy worrying about him. He was fine, and if he wasn’t he would be through time and some rest. “That’s not necessary.” He said, waving her off, the last thing he wanted were doctors hovering over him again. He wasn’t the biggest fan of them anyways, so he’ll do his very best to talk her down from sending him anywhere. “I’m fine, Camille. Honest truth, this is nothing.” To him it was, he’s had worse injuries in the past. He wasn’t about to lie done because of a little bit of smoke. 

Jett shook his head, “No, don’t apologize. It’s nice to have someone show some concern for others around here.” Especially now, he was certain some individuals were enjoying taking advantage of the chaos. He may have turned down her help, but he did appreciate the offer. It was nice to know that someone was thinking about him even if he felt it wasn’t necessary. He hoped she didn’t spend too much time worrying about him. “Hopefully the bar doesn’t get damaged, or we’ll have a bunch of very uptight people.” He chuckled, trying his best to lighten up the mood a little bit. He did hope that the bar was still standing after the fire. “Well, I’m no doctor, but from those I’ve helped none of them were injured. That I could tell, though I’m sure a lot of them have inhaled a lot of smoke. That’s something to look out for.”

..

Camille nodded as he waved her off. It was good to hear that he was fine, even if she was still a little concerned over him. Truly, she couldn’t help it. Even after all this time in Rosewood, there was no shaking the stabbing guilt she felt whenever she fussed over someone too much. He got a little laugh out of her, and she knew he wasn’t wrong. That would be an issue she wouldn’t be able to fix for everyone at the manor, but for Jett would be the exception.

“Tell you what. If we lost the bar, I'll open up my stock to you,” she promised. “I’ve got a little bit of everything, and I’ll even share my favorite tequila with you,” Camille offered. It wasn’t much, but better than nothing. Shyly, she reached for Jett’s hand, wanting to give it a gentle squeeze - a silent I’m really glad you’re unharmed, if the man would allow it. “After everything settles down, we should get some drinks,” the woman suggested. A quiet night wouldn’t be amiss in the slightest, and she was being more than a little selfish in the suggestion. She couldn’t see herself wanting to spend any time alone if she could help it. Of course, it wasn’t anything she’d press if he didn’t seem interested (or available, surely there were plenty of others who he’d want to spend time with once the situation allowed).

Camille was a bit of comfort in a strange world–if she was alright, then Luca told himself that Raphael, Baby, and Tatiana must be, as well. Luca wouldn’t stand for anything else; he refused to accept the alternative, no matter how realistic it might be, given the current circumstances. But Camille was a familiar presence in his life; she’d been a part of Raphael’s life for over a decade now and, as such, that meant she was a part of his life, as well. She was kind, compassionate, and–most importantly–intelligent and hopelessly organized. If anyone would be able to help him find their lost little ducklings, it was the woman standing next to him. A forced, wry grin split Luca’s face in half when Camille commented about sucking the fire marshal’s dick; there was the humor he’d expected from Camille Thomas.

“As much as I’m sure Raphael would appreciate that on a calendar, I think we’ve got other things to worry about first,” Luca retorted, glancing at the flames surging before them. He strained, trying to hear or see any sign of the three people he was desperate to reconnect with, before glancing nervously at Camille. She didn’t know where Raphael was, either–and, from one concerned member of their little found family to another, Luca could tell she was afraid. Rather uncharacteristically, Luca reached over and took Camille’s hand in his own, lacing their fingers together and squeezing her hand reassuringly. He wasn’t skilled with words, but hoped she found comfort in his touch nevertheless.

When Camille stated that Luca needed to maintain control of the crowd, he glanced at her, taken aback. He was one of the leaders here, sure, but would anyone really listen to him during a fucking fire? He opened his mouth to say as much, but the earnestness and determination in her gaze had him backing down, and with a prolonged sigh, Luca glanced around for something to gather the attention of the teeming mass of people running about the place. Throwing his shoulders back, Luca strode up the stone steps leading to the ballroom, reaching into the back of his robe for his favorite handgun (of course he had a fucking gun on him, who did they think he was?)–a sleek Beretta M9–removing the safety, lifting it into the air, and firing two shots clear into the sky.

“Everybody listen now!” he demanded, his voice strong and loud as it carried over the garden. Poeple stopped, fumbling over each other as they turned to look at the head dom standing in front of the blazing inferno. “Everything is going to be okay; our top people are working to safely remove everyone from immediate danger, but in the meantime, I need you all to cooperate with safety protocols and measures. While security and the lead staff assess for damage and extract any missing or trapped persons from the building, I want everyone to head to the edge of the forest. We’ll meet near the mouth of where the hunting party was stationed and do a head count. I expect my party leaders to lead quadrants of people to the assigned meeting location, where the medics will assess and treat any surface wounds while we wait for reinforcements to arrive. Use the buddy system; find a friend and head to the designated meeting spot. I promise, I and Raphael will address any and all concerns once we ensure the building is empty and safe. You–” he used his gun to point at the lead chef. “–get the emergency survival kits out of the back shed and supply everyone with water. Any questions?” A mousy man in the back raised his hand, opening his mouth to speak as Luca spoke over him.

“No questions! That was fucking rhetorical, I have a fire to attend to! Now go!”

When Luca took her hand, Camille couldn’t help the vulnerability in her eyes when she looked up at him. Perhaps some of the idolatry she held for Raphael had rubbed off on the other head dom. Luca wouldn’t let anything bad happen to Baby, Raphael, or Tatiana for that matter, she was certain. That simple act alone made her feel like things would turn out alright. They’d find the others and she’d fuss over all of them for as long as they’d let her. “Next time we have a party, I’m not letting any of you out of my sight,” she promised quietly. Overkill? Absolutely. Did she care? Not in the slightest. The pleading in her eyes intensified as when he seemed to hesitate to take control.

Camille trailed behind him as he started walking away, though she didn’t follow him up the stairs. She had to admit, he cut quite an imposing figure with the fire as his backdrop and gun in his hand. It was oddly comforting, especially when he cut off some idiot wanting to ask questions. As if this was a good fucking time for it..it was also why she wanted him to take things in hand. Smoothing out one or two irate guests was one thing, a submissive issuing directives to an entire crowd another entirely. She watched as the crowd moved to obey (no one faster than the head chef, but that came with having a gun pointed at you) and breathed a sigh of relief. Bare feet darted up the warm steps so she could be by his side once more. “Thank you for doing that,” Camille murmured as she looked into the building. Unable to help herself, she reached for Luca’s free hand, giving it another soft squeeze. “Thank you for that,” she murmured quietly as she surveyed the fire.They could all be in there still.

“I can cover one part of that if you take the other...do you think Tatiana might be inside the building too?” Thoughts of the tiny Russian girl being trapped in there, all alone, tore at Camille’s heart.  They had to be found. They had to be okay.

Leo smiled as he continued to follow her (perhaps he was far too pleased to be following Camille in the first place, but she didn’t need to know that). “Too trusting? You’re saying that like it’s a bad thing.” He weaved through the crowd with her, side stepping a couple getting particularly steamy on the dance floor. He got a touch bit distracted, only to find that he was a few steps away from Camille. He reached out and gently took her hand, smiling almost sheepishly. 

“If I get lost and find myself with glitter once again attacking my corneas, I’m a goner.” He explained. “And… enjoying is definitely a word I would use to describe my evening. I’m still on the clock, but Rosewood definitely knows how to throw a spectacle. Have you been enjoying yourself?” He followed close behind her before finally moving beside her, though his hand still held hers despite now knowing the way. 

He pushed through a carefully concealed door and grinned at the staff bustling through the halls. At the end of the day, behind the fantasy of it all, Rosewood was a carefully oiled machine and they were the cogs and gears that helped make it work. 

..

Camille turned to look back at Leo when she felt his hand take hers. She flashed a grateful smile and nodded, giving his hand a soft squeeze. He hadn’t meant it to be comforting, but it was nonetheless. “It’s certainly best to stay close,” she admitted quietly. “I’m glad. Everyone deserves a night of fun, especially when there are events.” Camille kept her hand in his even after they stepped through the doorway. The contact was reassuring, and honestly just what she needed after being in the ballroom. “I’m..really not a fan of big events like this,” she admitted sheepishly. “It’s always fun to see everyone all dressed up, but it’s just a lot of people. I’d probably have more fun with a date but I feel like a downer because no one really wants someone hanging on their arm all night at something like this,” Camille confessed, leading the way to a first aid kit.

“Here we are.” Letting go of his hand so she could open the kit and dig around for some eye drops, she couldn’t help but wonder what he’d think of all that. Hopefully he wouldn’t think less of her for it. She let out a soft hum as she rifled through the kit and offered it to Leo. “If you want to try this, I can see about swiping some oil and towels? It’ll be the best way to get off the glitter. How much of it do you think you’d want off?”