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creative-frequency · 3 months ago

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Lucanis x Rook: Two Crows in the Pantry

⚜ Rook and Lucanis have a lot of history to unpack. What would be a better way to do it than a game of questions right after recruiting him to the Veilguard. ⚜ Or: Lucanis would've really liked for Rook to see a wyvern. → Unresolved romantic tension, Crow!Rook (she/her), spoilers for the Lucanis recruitment mission and events right after, Series: Spellblade of House de Riva Word count: 3.5k

A Crow in the pantry.

There was surely a joke to be made somewhere in there, but Rook couldn’t find it in the quiet, unassuming spot.

Her head and feet were aching, and she didn’t know what the correct protocol in approaching a senior Crow’s private quarters was even under normal circumstances. They were not in Treviso, so it was probably safe to forego some formalities. She was also going to meet just Lucanis Dellamorte; a master assassin, grandson of the esteemed First Talon, the Demon of Vyrantium, famed mage-killer, Rook’s rival turned enemy turned… begrudging, contract-bound ally?

Mierda, she really needed sleep or caffeine. Or both. Rook rubbed the spot between her eyebrows and the headache just pulsed more intensely. It was just one of those days, she told herself. Those days just seemed to come in abundance now.

Rook allowed a moment for hesitation before she rapped her knuckles against the wooden pantry door. Lucanis would already know she was there.

Someone had lit the fireplace in the dining hall and the sweet scent of coffee tickled Rook’s nose pleasantly. The coffee Neve made didn’t smell this delicious. Hers had the definite aroma of burnt stove in it, which was now missing. The only blessing Neve’s coffee provided was that it was so hot it burned the taste buds off your tongue.

Rook’s attention was pulled by the familiar voice of condemnation from the pantry:

“Come in.”

She huffed out the air in her lungs and yanked the door open. Lucanis, who was sitting on what could be called a bed if one was liberal with the definition, folded his arms as soon as Rook stepped into the room.

He was brooding already. Perfect. They needed to discuss whatever it was that had happened earlier with Spite punching Lucanis’ nose bloody.

Also, Rook wanted to clear the air on a couple of things since they were expected to work together.

“Glad to see you’re settling in,” Rook chimed in rhythm with the headache.

She settled to lean on the wall by the door, a safe distance away from Lucanis, just in case. The man cocked his head.

“You’re the last person I expected to stage a rescue,” he said in a deceivingly calm voice.

Rook smirked. “I hope the surprise was a pleasant one.”

Lucanis scoffed, but not without humour. “The Spellblade of house de Riva rescues the mage-killer. They will never let me live this down.”

It was difficult to imagine they had trained and run contracts together in their youth. It seemed like it had happened in another lifetime, in another reality. It had been a good run, for a time. When Rook decided to join the Inquisition in the South, all ties had been cut to ribbons with the Antivan Crows. She made enemies of them that day, but Caterina had the courtesy of accepting her will to make a difference and chose to ignore her getaway. Rook was still grateful to her for that.

Regrettably, she had never had the chance to thank her in person.

Too much had happened during the last day. Finally going back to Treviso, seeing Teia, Viago and Illario, meeting Caterina’s disapproval, the Ossuary, saving Lucanis and helping him finish his contract on Calivan. And now Caterina was gone. Illario was pissed at Rook. Lucanis was possessed by a demon. All of it made Rook’s head hurt more. At least Teia and Viago had seemed to be doing well.

“It’s been a while,” Lucanis said.

“That it has,” Rook agreed.

An uncanny, almost curious silence fell. Rook took the opportunity to really look at the state of her old rival Lucanis Dellamorte. Lucanis did the same to her, unabashedly.

Rook had a million questions and things to say that had accumulated over the years into a messy tangle. Lucanis looked so much more mature, more handsome and just somehow more like the master assassin he was. His posture was straight, but not rigorous. His body was lean and ready to dash into action if need be. Rook had seen him stretching those muscles so many times. The way Lucanis rolled his neck and shoulders had always been her weak spot.

“A question for a question?” Lucanis suggested.

Rook narrowed her eyes. This was a game they had played in the past for exchanging information. “Only if I get to start.”

“Ladies first.” Lucanis motioned for her to ask away.

Rook took a deep breath. “I was disappointed that the Crows never sent anyone for me,” she started. “Why?”

‘Why’ was always a good start. Lucanis and his logical line of thinking could never resist a why.

“Viago deemed it a waste of time and resources. Since we don’t really work in Ferelden anymore,” Lucanis replied, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

Rook huffed in amusement and rolled her eyes. She should’ve guessed. Viago had his own agenda, as always, and the infamous story of house Arainai had been beaten into the heads of all Crow trainees at one point.

“How did the Inquisition treat you?” Lucanis continued.

Linear and straight to the point, but he hadn’t asked why she had left.

Rook pushed off the wall and took steps closer to him. She felt like she needed the proximity to explain, to make him understand. Especially after the night in the wind and rain, which still haunted her.

“I like to think I made a difference,” Rook replied and inhaled to continue, but Lucanis stopped her by raising his hand.

“You don’t have to explain it to me.”

“But I want to.”

Rook’s own words halted her in the middle of the pantry. It was true enough, but she had not intended to say it so forcefully. Mierda, the sleep deprivation was getting to her.

“That’s not part of the game,” Lucanis said softly.

Rook shook her head.

“Please,” he motioned for her to continue with a question.

Rook sighed, leaned on the wall again and examined the face of the Crow before her. It was difficult to pull single questions from the messy tangle inside her head. Each pulse of the headache just scrambled it more.

“Are you hurt?” Lucanis inquired in that same soft and infuriating tone.

“No and it's my turn,” Rook protested and realised she was favouring her left leg which made her whole body lean to the side. Lucanis would notice a weakness like that easily.

“Here.” Lucanis tossed an apple at her. She bit into it without a thought. The sweet juice on her tongue eased the throbbing of her temples.

“Why did you accept the job?” Rook asked.

“When the First Talon of the Crows gives you a job, you do it. Especially if she’s your grandmother,” Lucanis said matter-of-factly.

“You’re still letting Caterina boss you around?”

The words were an echo from the past. Lucanis knew he didn’t have to answer, but he decided to humour Rook with the same answer as back then.

“You and I both know death may be the only thing that stops her.”

And Rook supposed it had. A silence fell. She took another bite of the apple. It was difficult to believe the First Talon was gone. Rook had already offered her condolences to Lucanis and Illario.

“Well.” Her face scrunched up and Lucanis lifted a brow in question. “I was going to ask how everyone is back in Treviso, but I suppose you wouldn’t know any better than I would.”

He shrugged. “Illario seemed to be in good health.”

“Yes, I exchanged a few words with him, Teia and Viago,” Rook replied in thought.

“You’re breaking the game rules, Rook.”

“I know. You don’t have to answer the next question of your choosing.”

This was why he always humoured her. A free pass. His head always stayed in the game. She was just using it as a means to an end. The apple had only a couple of bites left, but it had done its job and woken up her appetite.

“Thank you. So when did you return?” Lucanis asked.

“Two years ago with Varric and Harding. How did you get caught by the Venatori?”

Lucanis’ eyes went dark and restrained anger contorted his face. “Someone set me up. I boarded a ship from Treviso to Minrathous, and they were waiting for me. I woke up in the Ossuary with Zara gloating about it.”

Rook swallowed. Mierda. This was bad. There was a traitor amongst the Crows.

“Why did you never return to Antiva?” Lucanis continued and the ire slipped off his face like a shadow.

Rook hesitated. Of course she had wanted to go back. Even risking the attention of the Crows with a potential target on her back would’ve been worth it. Treviso was her city. She loved it dearly and wept at seeing the city under Antaam occupation.

There was no real, honest answer. The apple was down to its core and Rook tossed it aside.

“I needed to help Varric track Solas. And I didn't know if it would be safe and didn’t want to risk it,” Rook said after a moment.

“You should have sent word to me,” Lucanis replied like it was the most obvious and logical course of action.

And she had thought about doing just that. She had probably thought about it even more than she should have. Even though they had always competed in everything from cooking to training exercises, Lucanis had been there for her when she needed someone. Even for something that should never have happened. The same could not be said about any of the other Crows.

For the record, Rook had always been happy to initiate and lose a cooking competition with Lucanis. The man could make a mean paella.

Rook leaned her head back to the wall and looked at the ceiling. “Maybe. I think you were a little busy being tortured and forced to inhabit a demon.”

Lucanis’ head jerked to the side as if just mentioning the demon was a summons. The shadows in the corner were deeper than a moment ago.

“Spite, not now,” he hissed.

“Are you okay?” Rook tilted her head to look at him. It was eerily to watch Lucanis frown at the wall, his eyes focused on something she couldn’t see. Even though she was a mage, she had no idea what to do if Spite started to throw punches again.

Lucanis got up from the bed, watchful eyes lingering on the side until his attention turned back to Rook.

“Spite is throwing a tantrum,” he said.

“Right. How did you–”

Lucanis held up a finger in the air. “A-aah. It’s my turn. You just asked if I was okay.”

Rook pursed her lips together. It was just like Lucanis to be persnickety about the game rules to his own advantage. “Fine. Ask.”

He held her gaze. “Why didn’t you come with me to watch the wyverns that day?”

“What?” Rook blurted and instantly remembered:

Lucanis had invited her and Illario to go wyvern-watching with him because he knew the best spots and what food to use in order to lure the beasts into the open. Rook still regretted laughing and declining the offer, but at the time it had seemed more important to follow the example of the ‘cool cousin’.

To this day, Rook had not seen a real wyvern.

She chuckled a little at the memory. “I think I’m old enough now to confess that I regret it. I really would’ve liked to see a wyvern.”

Rook ventured a smile to which Lucanis answered with one of his own, but it was wistful, almost sad, and constricted her heartstrings painfully. She had disappointed him, despite how silly the notion was.

“Now that you brought it up, why did you ask me to go with you?” Rook inquired quietly.

“I really would’ve liked for you to see a wyvern,” Lucanis uttered. His smile took a turn warmer.

“That answer is against the rules, Lucanis,” Rook protested, but her heart fluttered.

“You haven’t asked about Spite,” Lucanis said.

“Is that your question?”

He just silently watched her. Rook tried to find the middle ground between the roles of what she thought she was to him, what she wanted to be to him and being the team leader. Her mind was lingering on wyverns and their implications, and there really was no room for Spite.

“Unless you’re going trotting around as a demon and causing havoc, it’s not really my business,” Rook finally mustered.

Lucanis still didn’t say anything. He had said he would handle it and that had to be good enough for her.

“I trust you. I know you’ll handle it.”

Lucanis looked relieved, if a bit bashful. “Thank you, Rook.”

“Were you…” Lucanis paused mid-sentence, looked down and shook his head. “Nevermind. I don’t have any more questions so you win this round.”

Rook frowned. There was a lot to unpack in there. Lucanis was hesitating and giving up. He seemed distracted, too. Maybe Spite was accosting him again, but it seemed different from what had happened in the dining room. He was also implying this had been just the first round of the questions game.

“Were I what?” Rook pushed.

Lucanis took a few steps closer to her, right to the edge of what would be considered a polite conversing distance. Rook’s pulse quickened as her instincts assessed the threat. Or maybe it was just him and his proximity that made her swallow in vain and her blood warm up.

Lucanis kept their eyes locked and Rook was scared to read too much into the pensive expression.

“We both know what it was like to grow up with the Crows,” Lucanis said quietly. His gaze explored every inch of her reaction like his life depended on it. “Still, you left to do the right thing.”

Rook pushed off the wall and straightened her spine – to do what, she had no idea. There was something in Lucanis’ tone and words that warranted action. Her heart was aching and not just because he had praised her for the one, life-altering decision she hadn’t quite made peace with yet.

“I didn’t hear a question,” she murmured.

“It was brave of you,” Lucanis continued. “Foolish, but also brave. Risking it all for something you believed in.”

Rook didn’t know what to say. How and why Lucanis had come to such conclusions was beyond her, but it didn’t stop the warmth spreading up to her cheeks. Maybe he had influenced Caterina’s decision to let Rook run away more than he let on.

“I… thank you, Lucanis,” she replied softly.

“Sometimes… I wanted to be as brave as you.” He took a tentative step closer.

Rook huffed. “At least one of us grew a spine. It’s to be decided which one.”

“Don’t argue with me over this, Rook.”

The yearning and unspoken words in those dark eyes. It was enough to steal the breath from her lungs. Whose turn was it again? Two Crows in the pantry, so lost in their little heart-to-heart that she had completely forgotten.

Rook reached out to straighten the lapels of Lucanis’ shirt. They were impeccable, but she needed to touch him. To somehow reassure them both that the moment was real. Lucanis’ expression softened and his posture relaxed slightly. His arm twitched, but he stayed still.

Rook had no idea what this was; a moment between two lost acquaintances reacquainting themselves? She felt heavy and warm.

“Did you miss me?” she murmured.

Lucanis smiled. “Pass.”

Rook’s mouth opened to inhale a shaky, surprised breath. Her hands fell down, touched his chest briefly and struggled to settle within her person.

She knew she should go already and have that nap or a cup of strong coffee or both. Leaving was proving to be extremely difficult. Breathing the cleared up air in the same space as Lucanis was all sorts of tingling and heady and intriguing. He was standing within a touching distance and Rook should have really just left, but her aching feet were glued to the stone floor.

Two Crows in the pantry was entirely too much tension.

There had always been some degree of this between them. Looking back, Rook could see it more clearly now. How many times had they stood on the line of propriety and never acted on their desires? How very un-Antivanese of them. Passionate trysts and backstabbing were the national sports in Treviso. Maybe the rivalry and competitiveness had been what prevented them. It felt silly in hindsight.

Except for that one night in the wind and rain. Viago’s words had left her shaken and emotionally vulnerable. She felt a sting of regret at having preyed on Lucanis to soothe her own pain.

Rook glanced at Lucanis’ mouth. It had felt so good, though. The afterthought of their steamy kiss from years ago lingered.

Heat followed Rook’s thoughts and memories. It pooled, trickled down and started an altogether different kind of ache. She was back from working with the Inquisition now and while they had a couple of gods to kill, Lucanis was there too. The realisation of these facts was like a permission that had not existed ever before. They had been orbiting each from such a close distance that after this time apart, a crash was imminent.

“In any case, I’m glad we get to work together again,” Rook said to fill the heavy silence, “Despite the circumstances.”

“These circumstances saved me from the Ossuary, so they can’t be all bad,” Lucanis reminded her.

He was really handsome, there was no denying it. Surely very dexterous with his fingers, too. Rook noticed she had clasped her lower lip between her teeth and Lucanis was definitely staring, his expression dreamy. Could he also be thinking about the midnight song and dance, the touches in the wind and rain?

“Let me know when you want to show your gratitude by cooking something for me,” Rook quipped, a bit shaky.

Or by any other means, she couldn’t help thinking.

She batted her eyelashes and Lucanis was looking at her as if he knew exactly what kind of dirty thoughts she had just been thinking. She squirmed at the thought, but couldn’t help the pleasurable pulsating in her core.

“I… I like that we had this talk,” Rook continued to fight the tension.

Lucanis’ dark eyes never left hers as he stepped closer. Close enough to lay his palm on the wall beside her head. He smiled wickedly as if he had just caught her red-handed from doing something naughty.

“So you’re saying you missed my cooking?” he practically purred and the tone liquified Rook’s insides.

Mierda, the man was too much of a hot mess for his own good.

Rook placed a finger on his chest and fought to prevent her own smile from blooming.

“I did not say that.”

Lucanis’ smile was devastatingly charming. “Hm. Must’ve been the demon over my shoulder.”

Whatever that meant, Rook had no time to unpack. She just remembered how Spite had punched Lucanis earlier.

“But I… Well, I’m still not comfortable with leaving you alone with a demon.”

“You don’t have to worry about me.”

“You were always… stubborn…”

Rook’s voice trailed off. Lucanis was not listening anymore. He was leaning in, inch by inch, and she was gravitating towards him like a magnet to its counterpart. Tingling, heady, intriguing. Would it be too much, too soon to kiss him? Lucanis looked like he really, really wanted to be kissed. That dreamy smile, half-hooded eyes; they were doing things to her she hadn’t thought possible with Lucanis Dellamorte. Rook didn’t know how she should feel after all this time, but her body urged her to go for it.

Lucanis paused as if he had just caught himself trying to go for a stolen kiss with his old rival, previous enemy and current… colleague.

Rook’s breaths were heavy, waiting. Her eyes were fluttering closed and open again, but he had stopped moving.

She reached out to touch the arm on his side. Her fingertips left goosebumps in their wake. Like frozen in place, neither moved to relieve them of the tension in one way or another. That one night had been a mistake and Rook wasn’t sure if she was up for testing it again.

Two Crows in the pantry, hesitant to act on their messy feelings.

“You still have some blood on your face,” Rook finally murmured absent-mindedly.

“Hm.” Lucanis pulled away slightly. Some of the tension dissipated, but he still leaned over Rook, preventing her from making a quick escape. Maybe he had learned something after all.

Rook placed a palm over his chest and closed her eyes, letting Lucanis’ presence soothe the aching in her body. Her stomach rumbled audibly and he chuckled. She gently pushed him away and he let her.

Yes, it would be better to stay just friends. From rivals to enemies to friends. She liked the sound of that. It was clean and simple. She stepped away from him and as if a spell was broken, the tension snapped. Everything, well almost everything, was clear.

“I was going to make some coffee,” Rook said.

“Coffee sounds great.”

#lucanis dellamorte #lucanis dellamorte x rook #lucanis x rook #rook x lucanis #dragon age veilguard fanfiction #dragon age veilguard #da veilguard fanfiction #the spellblade of house de riva #fanfiction #my writings #i know i said i would update the other fic #but this was waiting to be posted #so please have rook instead

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