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One moment, Rook, Emmerich, and Lucanis are owning the battlefield. They move together as a unit, taking down foes and quipping to each other about their kills. Lucanis is sure they're going to win this fight.
The next, Rook is shoving Lucanis out of the way of an enemy and taking the blow meant for him. Lucanis watches in what feels like slow motion as Rook falls and doesn't get back up.
“Rook!” Lucanis isn't sure the sound comes from him at first. Spite is raging behind his eyes, and Lucanis forces himself to focus on the fight at hand. Spite's wings come out and Lucanis is unsure whether it is him or Spite that finishes off the remaining enemies. When the last one falls, they run to Rook who still has not moved.
Carefully they roll Rook over and Lucanis immediately sucks in a sharp breath.
“Mierda.” The wound is deep, and Lucanis feels dread fill him. Emmerich kneels across from him and examines the wound.
“We must get her to a healer. For now, see if you can get a potion in her.” Lucanis reaches for his supply of potions and pulls one out. He quickly uncorks it and holds it to Rook's mouth.
“Come on, Rook. Drink for me.” Her eyes flutter behind her eyelids before cracking open. He presses the potion to her lips and she manages to swallow most of it.
“W-What happened?” Rook croaks. Lucanis breathes a small sigh of relief, seeing her awake.
“You're hurt, Rook. We're going to get you to a healer.” Emmerich tells her. Her eyes flutter close again and Lucanis panics. He puts a hand on her cheek.
“Stay awake, Rook. You have to stay awake for me.” It doesn't work though and Rook's body goes slack in his arms.
“We need to move. Now.” Lucanis slips his arms under Rook’s back and legs and carefully picks her up, trying not to jostle her too much. She still makes a sound of pain and Lucanis can feel his heart break at the sound. Spite immediately responds.
“Get. Rook. Help!!”
“I'm trying.” Lucanis grumbles back to his other half, adjusting his grip to make sure he wouldn't hurt her further. Lucanis and Emmerich hurry away, heading for the casino. Lucanis hopes the healer is close by and not away on business. It takes some adjustments to make it to the casino but once they do, they hurry through the doors. Emmerich is first through and immediately calls for help. Teia and Viago are drawn in by the sound and gasp upon seeing Rook.
“What happened?” Viago asks as he leads them to a room on the side. Lucanis carefully sets Rook down on a bed. Teia takes the time to get a healer and she brings the older woman in. Even she lets out a curse at the sight of Rook's wound.
Lucanis feels his throat close. This was his fault. If he had been paying more attention, Rook wouldn't have had to shove him out of the way.
“Not. Our. Fault.” Spite says but Lucanis shakes his head and stays silent. Emmerich answers in his silence.
“It was the Antaam. She took a hard hit and went down.” The healer peels away Rook's top and Lucanis grimaces at the wound.
“Everyone out, except Teia. There's too many of you gathered around and I need quiet to work.”
“No!” Spite does not like being told to leave but Lucanis grits his teeth and turns to head for the door. But Spite apparently feels more strongly than Lucanis anticipated and the spirit rushes to the forefront of Lucanis's mind.
“No. Leave. Rook!!!” Spite growls. Everyone in the room turns to Lucanis, who is struggling to gain back control.
“Spite, it's to help her. We need to leave so that the healer may work uninterrupted.” Emmerich explains slowly.
“Lucanis, get your demon under control.” Viago tells him. It takes a minute but Lucanis is able to wrest back control from Spite, but the spirit shows his unhappiness by making their nose bleed.
“Lucanis-”
“I'm fine. Let's go.” Viago, Emmerich, and Lucanis shuffle out of the room, closing the door behind them. Spite rages in his head, throwing a tantrum that would rival a toddler's. Emmerich even grimaces at the volume. Viago watches the two of them warily. Lucanis pretends not to notice.
That's how they spend the time it takes for the healer to work on Rook. Lucanis is unsure of how much time actually passes but knows it feels like a lifetime. When the healer and Teia walk out, Lucanis immediately turns to them.
“Go. See. Rook.”
“Not yet.” Lucanis mumbles. He waits impatiently for the healer to speak. She sighs and cleans her hands with a rag.
“Your friend will be alright, but she needs rest. I've done everything I can for her. Her body will need time to heal and recover.” The older woman says. Lucanis feels bad that he doesn't know her name but there are bigger concerns for him.
“We should get Rook back to the Lighthouse.” Emmerich says but the healer shakes her head.
“You will need to wait until she awakens at the very least. Moving her now is not a good idea.” Lucanis crosses his arms over his chest and nods. Emmerich nods as well and thanks the woman for her help. She leaves them with instructions on how to care for Rook's wound.
“We. Need. To see. Rook!” Spite growls in Lucanis's mind, the spirit raging against his skull. Emmerich gives him a sympathetic glance then gestures to the room.
“Lucanis, why don't you watch over Rook? I'll return to the Lighthouse to let the others know what has happened. I'll return in a couple hours to see if she has awakened.” Lucanis is already walking towards the door by the time Emmerich finishes speaking. He says a quick thank you to Teia and Viago, then opens the door and steps in.
The room is quiet, aside from Rook's breathing. Lucanis hesitates for just a moment before he finds himself walking over to Rook. Glancing down at her when he reaches her side, he feels a lump in his throat. Her torso is wrapped and he can smell the elfroot from where he's standing. The bandages are already staining red over the wound.
“Damnit, Rook…” he murmurs. “Why would you do something so foolish?”
Rook is silent, as expected. Lucanis drops down into the chair by her bed and puts his head in his hand. He itches to hold her hand that lies closest to him but he doesn't allow himself the luxury.
Time passes by slowly. Every second Rook stays unconscious is a second of hell for Lucanis. Spite is oddly quiet now that they're in the room with Rook. But Lucanis's mind is a flurry of thoughts. He wonders why she would do such a thing, what was going through her mind when she did it, if she'll be angry with him for not noticing the attack sooner.
His thoughts distract him enough that he almost doesn't realize Rook is waking up. A soft groan pulls him back to reality though and his head snaps up to watch Rook.
Her eyes blink open slowly and she tries to sit up, only to hiss in pain and lay back down. Lucanis immediately lurches forward and gently puts his hand on her shoulder.
“Lie still, Rook. You're injured pretty badly.” He says softly. Rook's attention shifts to him then and he braces himself for her anger. Instead he sees relief on her face.
“Lucanis… you're okay?” She asks. He nods and she relaxes into the bed.
“What happened? I remember we were fighting, but not much else.” She says. Lucanis swallows past the lump that suddenly forms in his throat.
“You pushed me out of the way and took a hit meant for me.” Lucanis admits. Rook is silent for a few moments, making Lucanis want to squirm, before she nods.
“Sounds exactly like something I would do.” Lucanis raises his eyebrows in surprise at her nonchalance.
“You're not angry?”
“Why would I be angry?”
“I should have seen that Antaam coming. I should have been able to move in time. If I had, you wouldn't have been-”
“Lucanis. We all have blindspots. Even master assassins. Plus, in the heat of battle with that many enemies, it's hard to keep track. I don't blame you for something I chose to do.”
Lucanis lets out a soft breath, looking at Rook hard. It is her turn to raise her eyebrows at his stern look.
“Why did you even do it? You could have gotten yourself killed! What were you thinking?” Lucanis asks, a tinge of anger in his voice. Rook looks sheepish and Spite speaks up for the first time in a while.
“Do not. Yell. At Rook.”
“Stay out of it, Spite.” Lucanis growls. Rook raises an eyebrow, curious over what the demon said. But Lucanis doesn't elaborate, he simply stares at Rook and waits for an answer. Rook closes her eyes for a moment then sighs.
“I did it because the thought of you dying does something to me. I can't… I can't lose you, Lucanis. I care too much about you.” Rook admits. Lucanis blinks in shock and feels his face warm at the idea of Rook caring for him. Rook looks away from him and sighs.
“I know you don't want to get in to anything because of Spite. And I respect that. But you deserve to know how I feel.” Rook continues. Lucanis feels his stomach twist at her words. Spite. It always comes back to the demon. Before he can say anything though, Rook is speaking again.
“You should also know that Spite doesn't bother me. If you ever changed your mind, Spite wouldn't be a problem for me.”
“Tell. Rook. How we. Feel?” Spite asks. Lucanis sighs through his nose. Being hit from both sides makes it seem like he's the one overreacting. But the idea of getting into a relationship with Rook is a terrifying one. While Rook has seen his mind and seen the darkest parts of him, he doesn't know if she really understands what all it entails. Spite and him are working together more often than not lately though. He can't deny that entering into a relationship with Rook is something he wants.
“Rook, I-” Lucanis cuts himself off though when Emmerich enters the room.
“Rook! You're awake!” He says, not realizing what he just interrupted. Rook forces a smile at Emmerich.
“Emmerich. It's good to see you.” Rook says.
“We were waiting for you to wake up. I thought I heard voices in here so I thought I would check on you. Do you think you could make it back to the Lighthouse? I am sure you will feel better in your own space.” Rook nods and slowly tries to sit up. Lucanis can't help but to reach over and assist her. The smile she gives him is tight. He hates that he's once again made her feel like he doesn't want her. It couldn't be further from the truth. But he resigns himself to staying silent.
Together, Emmerich and Lucanis help Rook stand and then help her make her way to the Eluvian. She says a quick thank you to Teia and Viago on their way. Once back at the Lighthouse and back in her room, Rook lays on the chaise. Lucanis produces a blanket from somewhere and lays it over her. Emmerich quietly excuses himself and Lucanis finds himself sitting next to Rook on the chaise. He debates saying anything but then steels himself.
“Rook. You can't put yourself in danger like that again. The world can't afford to lose you.” Rook's face screws up but before she can say anything, Lucanis cuts her off. “I can't afford to lose you. Especially not like that. You were right earlier, about me not being ready for anything. But you also deserve to know how I feel. How we feel. Spite cares about you just as much as I do and we'll do anything to keep you safe. But we can't do that if you throw yourself into danger every chance you get.”
“Lucanis…” He places a hand on her face and she leans into it.
“I can't give you a relationship right now. And for that I'm sorry. But never doubt that I, we, care for you.” Lucanis is afraid of her response but she simply nods and breathes out a soft okay.
“Will you stay with me? Until I fall asleep?” Rook asks, her voice timid. Lucanis is helpless against her plea.
“Of course, Rook.”
And so he stays by her side, long after her breath evens out and she slips into sleep. Watching her be so vulnerable so willingly around him stirs something in him and he vows in that moment to figure out his shit so he can finally be with her.
Until then, he'll watch over her like an avenging angel.