#grumpy viago

Viago should have turned Teia down when she offered him to stay the night at the Diamond. They hadn’t slept at all, and it was the third night in a row that Viago hadn’t slept. The first two were due to contracts and Crow business while last night was more celebratory with the Seventh Talon. 

However, now he was truly exhausted. Exhausted enough that he had spilled a bit of indigo ink on his leathers as he went to sign a completed contract that arrived during the night. It was just enough for it to be noticeable, and he hated it. However, he had too much business going on at the Diamond to justify going home and changing. He could ask Isa to bring him a new set of leathers, but that seemed ridiculous as well. He could manage for the day.

He did his best to remain bright-eyed and bushy tailed as he walked into the main area of the attic. Teia smiled at him, knowing that he had been having a rough few days, and she had planned on taking it easy on him. She had noticed the ink stain on his chest, but she could tell that he was trying to ignore it. 

Which was why he likely didn’t notice a left-over lipstick mark directly above it placed on his neck that matched the color that she was wearing the night before. Her eyes sparkled at the realization, and she knew that she couldn’t say anything. And she needed to make sure that no Crow even mentioned anything about his neck. 

His sister was supposed to swing by that day as well, and Teia knew that she could get her on her side as well. Isa was on Viago’s side in all things. Until it came to teasing him with Teia. Then all bets were off. Isa loved teasing Viago even more than Teia did. 

Viago took a deep breath as he grabbed the work he put off from the day before. He thought he would have a chance to get a wink of sleep, but he really should have known better. Teia smiled as he stared almost blankly at the papers in front of him. 

“I suppose it’s a good thing we don’t have any meetings today,” Teia mentioned with a smile, turning towards him. He hummed as he looked before nodding. She chuckled. “Maybe we should get you some coffee this morning. Lucanis said that there’s a new place down the street that he wanted us to try before he left.”

“Right, the Demon’s coffee addiction,” Viago remarked softly, almost absently. He sighed, shaking his head. “Some coffee might be good, but I don’t think heading into Treviso would be a good idea right now. I’m not exactly dressed for it.”

“Oh?” 

“I know you noticed. I splashed some ink on myself like some young Fledgling.”

“Oh, Vi, it’s hardly noticeable,” she tried to reassure before he shook his head.

“I’ll just have the coffee you offer downstairs,” he explained with a sigh. She shrugged with a nod. 

“Your sister said that she was coming by since she’s not on contract right now,” Teia reminded. Viago closed his eyes before exhaling.

“Yes, I remember. Is there a reason why you’re bringing it up? She told us yesterday that she would swing by to see if there was anything that needed to get done,” he remarked. She grinned widely. 

“Just making sure you remember. I think she noticed that you’ve been working too hard, Vi.”

“She’s perceptive, I’ll give her that.”

“I’ll talk to her when she gets in. I wouldn’t want her to wear on your patience when you’re this tired,” Teia explained as Viago nodded, thinking that sounded nice. 

Teia went and did her rounds about the attic, mentioning to her regular Crows not to say anything to Viago about the mark since he was grumpier than usual. She used a different verbiage, but that was the gist of the conversation. 

While Viago was distracted and taking longer than usual with his work, Teia kept an eye on the attic’s entrance where the ziplines were for when Isa showed. She wasn’t as punctual as her brother was, but she was always aware of her timing. She wouldn’t be long, especially when the plan was just to hang out at the Diamond. 

When the second de Riva walked through the entrance, Teia nearly ambushed her. Isa almost grabbed her dagger before she noticed that it was just Teia. The Crow gave the Talon a curious look before Teia put a finger to her lips and brought her to the side. 

“This is new,” Isa mentioned with a hum. Teia smirked, glancing around for other Crows. “Usually, we’re not sneaking around your own place, soré. Any particular reason?”

“Your brother has a mark on his neck, and I don’t want attention drawn to it,” Teia explained as Isa blinked twice at her. 

“What kind of mark?” Isa asked, almost afraid to ask. 

“A lipstick mark, and you already know why it’s there. I know you don’t want to ask how it got there,” Teia reminded. Isa pursed her lips, realizing that it was true. The less she knew about her brother and what he did behind closed doors, the better. “But I don’t want him wiping off the lipstick either.”

“So, what do you want me to do about it?”

“I want you to warn people at the door that Viago is rather terse about today. He also has an ink stain on his leathers. He’s very tired.”

“Soré,” Isa complained as Teia chuckled. 

“He’s been busy with work the last few nights, hermanita, I promise. He hasn’t been able to rest properly. It’s the perfect cover, though,” Teia informed. Isa tilted her head, seeing how the plan could work. “I just need you to have people not look at the stain or the mark.”

“I was hoping that I would get to hang out with you today, you know. I’ve been running around the city because of Vi’s work, and I was hoping to not work,” she pointed out. The Talon smirked and nodded. 

“I promise, the teasing will be worth it,” Teia replied with her eyes sparkling. Isa sighed, knowing that she was right. There were very few opportunities like this, and they needed to make the most of it.

So, Isa stood watch, making sure to make a big deal about Viago’s mood and about the state of his clothes. The Crows were a little wary of it, and Isa even heard a few trying to mention the mark on his neck instead of the one on his shirt. That, instead, caused him to get upset because he thought that they were pointing out the stain on his leathers. 

Isa couldn’t help but chuckle to herself, and she had to admit that Teia was right. While they weren’t directly teasing him, the Crows around them were practically doing it for them. Oh, but Isa would likely be in for it when Viago eventually found out what they were doing. Teia had diplomatic and romantic immunity from his wrath, but Isa only had Teia’s word that it would be worth it. Isa just hoped that it would include some sort of protection at least. 

Eventually, the Crows around the Diamond grew wise not to mention anything to Viago, and Teia thanked them for their discretion. A few of them stared at her in shock, realizing that they had been partially set up for a harmless prank. Viago hadn’t yelled or berated, but his irritation was enough to set anyone on edge who wasn’t used to it. 

Teia was enough of a balm as she stood at his side to make sure that nothing too over the top. She made sure that he was being polite at least while she was making sure that her fun wasn’t ruined. She would check in on Isa every once in a while to make sure that she was doing alright as well.

Viago did grow curious why his sister was standing guard at the entrance, though. It was unlike her to stay so far away from the two of them, especially when they had made plans to be around each other. While he did need the moment of peace to get the work done, it made him almost uneasy to know that she was almost avoiding him. 

Isa was still watching the entrance when Viago wandered over to her, and she smiled at him with a wicked gleam in her eye. He narrowed his eyes, unnerved by it.

“Sorella, what are you doing?” he asked carefully.

“Teia asked me to warn the Crows coming in about your irritable nature this morning. I heard that you spilled some ink on your leathers, and I thought that you might appreciate some discretion on that,” Isa answered with a grin.

“Only there have been several Crows trying to point out the ink stain already.”

“They must have slipped by me. There are other entrances, fratello. I am not the keeper of the Diamond. I am just patrolling the main entrance right now.”

“What are you really up to?” Viago sighed with annoyance. 

“I just told you. I don’t lie; you know that. Especially to you. I remembered the last time you caught me in a lie, and I am not about to repeat that experience,” Isa reminded firmly before shrugging. “And I also don’t mind helping Teia out once in a while. Why? Did you need me for another job already?”

“No, nothing like that,” Viago admitted, glancing away for a moment. It was still strange for her to act like this, but she was right. She didn’t make a habit of lying to him, even if he did happen to overreact last time. The last time she lied she also nearly died because of it, but he shook his head. He didn’t need to dwell on it. “I just want to make sure you’re not causing trouble.”

“Fratello! I would never! I would never do that to Teia. She’s like an older sister to me.”

“Yet you cause me nothing but trouble.”

“That’s because you are my Talon. Do you think her Crows don’t cause her trouble?” Isa countered with her arms crossed. “And I don’t go out of my way to cause you trouble.”

“Yes, you do,” he argued as she rolled her eyes.

“I definitely do not. I don’t wake up in the morning plotting against you, caro fratello,” she scoffed. “Why? Do you wake up wondering how you can make my life a living hell?”

“Oh, do I make life a living hell for you?” he asked defensively. She dropped her arms with an attitude. 

“Gods, no, Viago, you don’t. It was a question. Do you plan to try to make my life a living hell?” 

“No.”

“Then great! I think we’re on the same page then!” 

“What are you two arguing about?” Teia wondered as she wandered over, standing next to Viago. Isa exhaled before running a hand through her hair, shaking her head.

“I don’t know,” Isa replied in all honesty. “He came over here with accusations for me, but I haven’t done anything out of the ordinary I don’t think.”

“Do you think?” Viago retorted before Isa gestured towards him. Teia sighed before patting his arm.

“Alright, alright, let’s separate you two for now,” Teia suggested before smiling at Isa. “And thank you for trying to warn my Crows about Vi’s grumpy attitude. Go get something for yourself downstairs.”

“Thanks, soré,” Isabella replied with a sigh. Without even glancing behind her, Isa walked away quickly, eager to get away from her brother’s temper. 

Viago watched her leave, realizing that Teia really had asked her to do that. He exhaled once she was out of sight as Teia gave him a half smile. 

“You know, you don’t have to fight with your sister every time you see her,” Teia informed, dragging him away from the front. Viago groaned, following her. 

He knew that, and it wasn’t like they argued all the time. There was just something about today that was irksome, and he needed to get it out. Isa was usually the only one who would give it back to him. He felt less bad when they argued when he argued with someone else. 

“How about this, let’s take a break in my back office, and we can have a moment for ourselves, hm?” Teia whispered in his ear. He raised a brow, unsure what she meant by that. “Nothing exerting, just relaxing. I promise.”

“Relaxing does sound nice,” Viago admitted with a sigh. Teia smiled before motioning for one of her Crows to watch over things while she was in the back. Her Crow, Natale, gave her a tired look before nodding. 

Teia unlocked her office to let Viago in before she closed the door, encouraging him to sit down in one of the chairs before sitting in his lap. Viago looked rather surprised by her as she wrapped one arm around his shoulders while the other rested near the ink stain. He gave her a tired look, still irritated about the purple on his dark leathers. 

“Is there a reason you are pointing out my mess?” Viago asked as she smiled.

“I’m only pointing it out because it distracted you from mine,” Teia chuckled. Viago narrowed his brows as he turned to her, wondering what she meant by that. She leaned in close, pressing a kiss over the old lipstick stain from the night before. “I thought it was thoughtful that you left it there all day.”

“I- All- what?” Viago sputtered as his face turned red as he realized that Isa had indeed warned the incoming Crows about the ink stain. They were pointing something else out right above it that he would have likely cared about more. “Che cazzo.”

“Oh, it was just in good fun, Vi,” Teia reminded as she smiled. “You never wear my marks. It was nice to see you wear it today.”

“But did it have to be while I was working? And in front of your Crows?” Viago asked before the blood drained from his face. Teia wondered if he felt dizzy from the abnormal blood flow. “Isa probably saw it.”

“She knows what we get up to.”

“She doesn’t need to see proof. My little sister doesn’t need to know what I do with you behind closed doors.”

“I’m sure she’s seen us kiss before,” Teia reassured as Viago grimaced at the thought. “Forget about Isa, Vi. She was out of eyesight until you went to go find her.”

“Merde,” Viago hissed, throwing his head back against the back of the chair. Teia admired the new mark she laid before she gently tugged his beard to get him to look at her again. 

“But it wasn’t like our relationship was much of a secret, anyway, right? We’re all adults here,” she reminded as he sighed. “And if it really bothers you, I will wipe it off right now and we won’t speak of it again.”

“No, no,” Viago whispered, gently reaching for her hand as she went to smear the mark. Teia looked at him sweetly the way she always did when she won him over. “I suppose I can wear a lipstick mark, but for today only. I already spilled ink on myself. What’s a little lipstick?”

“You sweet talker,” she teased with a wink. Viago rolled his eyes before chuckling. “So, did you want to get up to something in here?”

“You promised me that we could relax for once.”

“I suppose I did. Hacedor, you really are tired, querido,” Teia remarked with a laugh. Viago nodded with an exhale. “No more late-night contracts, mi amor. While it was fun to tease you in this state, I don’t like the idea of you being like this all the time.”

“Trust me, all I want is a good night’s sleep right now,” Viago sighed, resting one arm on her lap as he gazed up at her. “I might even make Isa drag me home like a large sack of potatoes.”

“I think she would just tell you to sleep here.”

“She would, but you and I both know that I wouldn’t get much sleep.”

“I think we would make an exception for when you are so tired you don’t notice lipstick on your neck, querido,” Teia murmured, running her hand through his beard. Viago sighed, still embarrassed by his lack of awareness. “Would it help if I said you looked adorable?”

Viago gave a long sigh.

“Maybe,” he admitted before she leaned in.

“You did look adorable, even with your grumpy expression,” Teia informed before kissing his cheek. “And I’ll make sure we’ll clean you up before we leave the office.”

“I did mention that I was marked up already,” he admitted, leaning his head forward to meet her forehead. She hummed, nuzzling into him. “As long as it isn’t a regular occurrence, I think I’ll live.”

“Well, then,” Teia replied, kissing him straight on the nose. He closed his eyes before looking at her triumphant face. “I’m going to give you a few more then.”

“I had a feeling, amore,” he smirked with a nod, closing his eyes as he held her closer. 

Teia balanced herself on him with her arms around his neck, feeling him slowly succumb to sleep. She ran her hand through his hair, letting him rest for a little while as she watched over him. Even with a locked door, she knew better than to keep her guard down. Isa wouldn’t bother them here, but that didn’t mean that there couldn’t be interruptions. Luckily, most interruptions were deterred by a well thrown dagger.

She rested her cheek on his head, feeling at home.