#veilguardappreciationweek

Mar 31st: The Grand Necropolis, curiosity, "Close your eyes. Take a breath."

Apr 1st: Rivain, Compassion, "I like to listen to the waves crash."

Apr 2nd: Hossberg Wetlands, Hope, "But if you say you're an expert? Show me some expertise."

Apr 3rd: Treviso, Determination, "Bitter and sweet, like a kiss goodbye."

Apr 4th: Arlathan Forest, Wisdom, "Sorry! Just breaking things!"

Apr 5th: Minrathous, Justice, "You know, I think you might be trouble."

Rook gave them both an incredulous look, arching an eyebrow. “Really? I won. Haven’t you listened to me at all?”

“I have. I won.” Davrin gave her a lopsided grin and Lucanis scoffed.

“No, no, I won!” The assassin sounded outraged and very drunk.

“Wait until you listen to my next story…”

Slurring, Davrin began telling them yet another of his misadventures as a monster hunter.

*

Rook woke up slowly and confused…she was pretty sure she was not on the big couch the Lighthouse had provided in what was supposed to be her room, alongside a big aquarium with a bunch of nosy fish.

No, wherever she was lying now was way warmer than a couch, and it was also more firm but at the same time more comfy…also, it seemed to breathe? The blanket on top of her was also warmer and heavier than she remembered, and again, was it breathing?

Rook forced her eyes to open and found that her blanket was actually Lucanis and they were lying on the dining room couch.

He was on top of her, in a quite chaste way despite being lying pretty much between her legs. He was snuggled to her, his head pillowed on her belly, his arms wrapped around her, holding to her shirt. She didn’t know how an assassin could look so cute and soft as Lucanis did. Her own arm was around him too, holding him protectively to her, her fingers buried in his hair. 

Rook didn’t know what was more surprising, that Lucanis was asleep on her, or that he was actually deeply asleep for once, with Spite behaving.

That wasn’t all, though.

Rook wasn’t quite lying on the couch, not really. She found that she was lying on top of Davrin, head resting comfortably on his chest. She’d always imagined that those pecs of him would be nice pillows, and now she had proof, they were. No wonder she’d felt she was lying on something warm and comfy. Davrin’s arm was a warm, heavy weight over her, holding her securely to his chest, with her head tucked behind his chin.

This was…nice, very nice.

Rook let out a content sigh. Why hadn’t they slept like that before? Why hadn’t they been sleeping like that forever?

Carefully, Rook let her fingers run through Lucanis’ hair. She didn’t dare to even breathe too deeply, in case the movement woke him, she didn’t want to spoil the rare moment of an asleep Lucanis, and much less if he was snuggled to her while he slept.

“And then he claims he doesn’t sleep…” Davrin’s voice was deep and rough, he too had just woken up.

“Shh,” Rook shushed him quietly. “Let him sleep. He needs it.”

Davrin just hummed, nuzzling her hair and tightening his hold on her, wrapping his other arm around her too now. Rook sighed again, a content smile spreading across her face. They should definitely do this more often…

Davrin moved from her hair to nuzzle her neck instead, his hot breath on her sensitive skin making her shiver, and she almost gasped…she was waiting, hoping, for him to kiss her neck, but he didn’t, just nuzzling it again. This time, she gasped, her hand tightening on Lucanis’ hair, who stirred but snuggled even closer to her.

“You’re trying to make me move and wake him,” Rook accused him and Davrin chuckled against her neck, the feeling sending another shiver through her.

“He better wake up before Assan gets in here and sees him,” Davrin said. “He’ll get jealous and peck his ass.”

Rook couldn’t help her snort. Still trying not to bother Lucanis’ sleep, she twisted so she could look at Davrin’s face. He gave her a smirk, his eyes warm and soft…he was always so beautiful that it was unreal, how could he look so pretty right after waking up? Looking at him, Rook almost forgot what she was going to say. Davrin arched an amused eyebrow at her as if he’d realized it, and so Rook decided to retaliate.

“Oh? Maybe you’re the one jealous that he’s lying on top of me like that…” She teased but regretted it as soon as it left her lips.

Maybe she was going too far? The last thing she wanted was to upset any of them, she’d never want to hurt them. She knew she’d been doing some flirting with both men, but she couldn’t help herself. They both were handsome, gentle, and so caring…they made her heart beat in a way that felt as if it were almost dancing, while butterflies danced foolishly in her belly.

It wasn’t a good idea, she knew it, she’d tried to stop it, but she couldn’t.

Davrin didn’t seem hurt or upset, though. He arched an eyebrow again, his cocky smirk growing.

“Jealous?” He smirked. “I got no reason for that. He’s no competition.” His tone was carefree, joking, and Rook relaxed again.

“Confident, aren’t we,” Rook snorted, though Davrin had plenty of reasons to be so. “Well…I think you win the award for best, comfiest pillow in the world, no doubt. But I must say, Lucanis is a pretty good blanket…” She teased.

Davrin nodded. “Yeah, he’s not bad. He should stop being an assassin and become a full-time blanket, I’d like him more then.” 

Rook chuckled at the nonsense of it all, a silly yet elated smile spread across her face, and she hoped for more mornings like this, just snuggles and silly, careless conversations and jokes.

Davrin buried his face in Rook’s neck again, nuzzling at it, his lips almost kissing it, and she shuddered, something close to a small moan leaving her lips. She felt him smile against her neck.

“See? No reason to be jealous…” His warm breath caressed her skin as he breathed out his words and Rook swallowed hard, she couldn’t stop her legs from tightening around Lucanis’ sides.

Lucanis mumbled something, stirring. He nuzzled at her belly, not totally awake yet, making Rook feel a very much not innocent tingle. The moment he woke up and realized where he was, he stopped, going still. He looked up at Rook and his eyes widened, the confusion in them giving way to almost panic, which grew when he noticed Davrin there too.

“Rook…what…I…” He mumbled, lifting from on top of her, and Rook could almost see the million thoughts and questions going behind his eyes. “I…uh…sorry…”

“Sorry?” Davrin said before Rook could say anything. “Please, she’s loving this.”

“I am, indeed…don’t leave…” Rook almost pouted, reaching out for Lucanis again. He seemed almost bashful, though, and Rook felt a bit guilty. She didn’t mean to make him uncomfortable. “Sorry, it’s okay if you want to leave.”

Davrin snorted. “He doesn’t.” He reached and tugged at Lucanis unceremoniously, making him fall on top of Rook again. “It’s fine, crow, don’t go running away now.”

Lucanis mumbled something, but it seemed Davrin was right, and so, after a brief moment, Lucanis wrapped his arms around Rook again, his head pillowed on her stomach. With a quiet sigh, his tired eyes closed once more when Rook caressed his hair, and her heart seemed to squeeze a bit at it. A professional, lethal assassin had no business being so cute.

“Ey Lucanis, best sleep you ever had, right?” Davrin taunted him and Lucanis muttered a curse at him, but didn’t bother to open his eyes.

Trying to stop her smile, Rook turned to shoot a playful glare at Davrin, who gave her an unapologetic, cheeky grin.

“Well, speaking for myself, I haven’t slept this good in a long, long while,” Rook said and she felt Davrin nodding.

“I could tell,” he joked. “But…yeah, it wasn’t bad.”

Lucanis was silent for a few seconds. “I hadn’t slept this well before,” he admitted, his voice quiet and shy, and Rook’s heart squeezed again. She ran her hand through his hair and felt Lucanis sigh and relax more into her.

Rook’s eyes closed again, enjoying the warmth of both men holding her and the feeling of Davrin’s fingers drawing patterns over her shoulder after he tugged at her sleeve to expose the skin. 

Rook felt Lucanis nuzzling at her belly and when he opened her eyes, she saw his flashing purple as he grimaced the way he did when he fought Spite.

“What’s Spite saying?” She asked.

“Nothing, sorry, Rook,” Lucanis said, grimacing once more.

“Let him speak, he deserves it as a treat for letting us sleep all this time,” she joked.

Lucanis tried to shake his head no but instead he nodded, gritting his teeth as if the demon were winning the battle.

“Rook. Smells. Nice.” Lucanis’ voice had Spite’s edge and his eyes were flashing purple again.

Davrin’s chest vibrated as he laughed. “For once, the demon and I agree,” he said as he buried his face in the crook of her shoulder, almost as if to breathe her in, making Rook squirm and giggle as he tickled her.

Lucanis shook his head, grimacing, and Spite relented. He gave Rook an apologetic, bashful smile. “Sorry, Rook.”

“Nothing to be sorry about.” Rook smiled at him, reaching to brush her fingers over his cheek. Lucanis’ eyes closed at it and he leaned into her touch.

The three startled, hastily pulling away from each other and almost in defensive poses, instinctually, when something banged insistently against the door, pushing it open. It was only Assan, though, who squawked loudly and rushed inside.

The griffon looked at them on the couch and trotted towards them, squawking again and giving them a reproachful look, somehow.

“See, I told you he was going to be mad,” Davrin said. “Sorry, boy.”

He reached out to pet him and so did Rook, stroking him behind his ears, and even Lucanis reached to pat the griffon’s head softly. He accepted the offer of attention and pets.

“I’ll cook breakfast,” Lucanis said, getting up and heading to the open kitchen area.

“Thanks, Lucanis…we should do this again,” Rook said to both men, trying to sound casual and joking, despite how much she actually hoped they could fall asleep like that again

“Yeah.” Davrin nodded. “But I get to be the one between your legs next time.”

Davrin gave her a cocky grin and Rook snorted, swatting his arm playfully. She ventured a look at Lucanis and saw that, despite his flush, half a smile tugged at his lips, as he busied himself making breakfast.

With a demanding squawk, Assan jumped onto the couch, pushing at them until he got situated between Davrin and Rook, which was, according to the griffon, his rightful place.

*

Despite Rook’s hopes and wishes, nothing like that night in which Davrin, she, and Lucanis had fallen asleep together, happened any time soon.

However, there was a night, after a particularly demanding mission at Minrathous, both emotionally and physically,  when Rook found herself in Davrin’s room, along with Lucanis, as they drank together, first silent, then talking about what had happened.

Davrin was sitting down on his armchair in front of the fireplace. Rook was sitting down on the armrest, her legs on Davrin’s lap, her arm around his shoulders, and she let her fingers draw soft patterns over the exposed skin of his shoulder.

Lucanis had been leaning against the wall next to the fireplace but, after Rook pouted at him with grabby hands, he’d indulged her, going to sit instead on the fluffy carpet next to the sofa, leaning his head on her leg so she stroke his hair, mumbling a curse at Davrin when he teased him for it.

She wasn’t sure when or how they moved from there to Davrin’s bed, and she wouldn’t dare to say a word about it, in case it ruined the moment. They were tired, drained even, they were a bit drunk, and this sleeping arrangement felt to Rook like the best idea they could have ever had, if Assan’s disapproving look was ignored.

It’d been Davrin, she thought, who had flopped down onto the bed first, dragging a giggling Rook with him, and they both had reached for a reluctant Lucanis before he tried to leave. The assassin hadn’t needed much convincing to let himself be dragged into the cuddle pile for the night.

Lucanis was snuggled to Rook, his arms around her, holding to her with his head tucked under her chin, pressed as close to her as he could. Davrin was behind her, his warm, strong chest against her back, his face buried on her shoulder, and his arm wrapped around her, hand resting on Lucanis’ side, holding them all together.

At a flash of purple, Rook opened her eyes, slightly worried, but it was just Spite, or his wings rather, popping out to envelope them three as Lucanis fell asleep. Rook closed her eyes but half-awoken briefly not much later when the bed dipped as Assan jumped onto it, curling up at their feet.

Her last thought before she fell asleep again was that there was certainly no better way to sleep.

*

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Emmrich knows what people think when they look at him, they let their guard down when they see the older man. They only see the gray hairs and the wrinkles — or the way he moves just a little slower than his compatriots which are half his age. It’s not ideal, but he’s learned to be fine with it. It’s worked to his advantage often, in all honesty, people seem more at ease with him as a result.

Oh but they can miss so much more with their hasty judgement.

Rook lets their practiced guard down when they meet the kindly old necromancer. He knows the moment it happens. It’s in the subtle slouch of their shoulders and a slowing of the breath in their chest. Too focused elsewhere, they miss the way his eyes follow their every movement with an already growing hunger, or how calculated that charming smile of his actually is.

Emmrich knows the moment Rook realizes he’s more than just an old man. It’s too early for him to hope that Rook could feel the same way he does, but foolishness is not a trait exclusive to the youthful. Although, between his burgeoning feelings and the way he can’t keep them out of his mind he’s feeling younger than ever these days.

He catches the way their eyes follow his hands and their every movement. It becomes an addiction almost immediately, the way he craves Rook’s eyes pouring over his body and he is shameless in the lengths he’s willing to go to for more of that delectable feeling. That night he slips off every bit of grave gold he wears on his fingers and wrists for the first time in longer than he’d like to admit. When Manfred has busied himself for the evening with his latest experiment, Emmrich dutifully polishes each piece of precious jewelry as thoughts of Rook’s presence dizzy him with glee.

He knows when it works.

A thrill chases down his spine when he catches the blush on Rook’s cheeks, their staring is no longer thinly disguised with their trademark charm and humor. The soft skin of his now deliberately exposed forearms is a gentle backdrop for the newly polished gold. His master plan works better than he could imagine when he notes how Rook is barely able to focus on even the simpler pieces of the fade harmonics he’s discussing with Bellara.

Emmrich is a man of science and magic, a man of considerable experience and singular focus. Rook’s crush wasn’t a subtle one, in fact it’s easy to see that Rook feels the same way he does. It’s tempting for him to take the easy route but he won’t act, not yet. He wants Rook to be sure. It’s not just about their gap in age, no, this is so much more. His admiration runs deep now, threatening his measured control. This interest of his isn’t a passing fancy or an idle fling. His selfish heart thrums possessively at the thought of Rook being his, forever.

Emmrich knows how bad Rook wants him.

It’s textbook. The dilated pupils, the higher pitch in their voice, and Emmrich could swear he could hear their heartbeat race each time he drew nearer to them. Then there were the signs that were uniquely Rook — the way they linger in his presence just a moment longer than needed or how their gaze seems to find the ground the moment his eyes find theirs across the room. His personal favorite is the way they bite the smallest corner of their plush bottom lip as they listen to one of his many lectures on the fade.

Even with his considerable experience it’s hard for him to keep disciplined when they look at him like that. He is a gentleman first but in Rook’s presence his convictions are nearly eclipsed by a heated want. Were he a lesser man he’d be consumed whole by a desire demon as he waits and yearns for their touch. It’s almost maddening. Emmrich just needs to find a way to help them see, to help Rook understand that their feelings aren’t unrequited ones. When it finally occurs to him, he’s almost embarrassed it took him so long.

Rook’s skin is already flushed when they lay their hand atop his during a private lesson in his quarters. The little balcony looking out to the fade is the perfect place. A reminder for him that the eternity of the fade is only a fraction of what he feels for Rook. He leans back further against the steady desk to quell his nerves at the thought.

“Close your eyes, take a breath” He lets the words rumble out of his chest, that deeper tone always finding its way out for Rook.

This is both lesson and lifeline, a desperate plea to Rook to see the affection before them. A tremble dances across their skin as it presses to his and an eager smile spreads across his face. This is it. He knows.