Lucius took a deep, deep breath, his eyes closed and the corner of his lips tugged upwards. Sitting by the half-open window, the lattice cross-stripe cascading diamonds of light on his face. The early-morning sun brushed over everything, sweetening the street smells to a cream cleanliness and draping soft lights across roof tiles. Behind his eyelids, Lucius’ world was a gentle miasma of pastels. The rapid growing hubbub of his duties, the impending war, was nonexistent. When his eyes opened though, the world returned along with the piled up tasks. He huffed at her statement, but made no further comment.
Exhaling roughly, he shoved his hands forward to his cup of coffee, feigning a ghastly look of displeasure. “And a little more obedience intermingling with respect when you speak to me.” Seeing as he was her lieutenant, Lucius took pride in being able to use that to his advantage. It was a harsh reminder, an effortless way to rebuke her, return the retorts that slipped from loose lips. “We’ve be given a break, tasks deferred for a later date. Bellatrix is most likely consuming her time with stories better left unsaid.”
Curling his fingers around his cup, his grip tightened as he relented a look of ease. It could be considered off putting how his body could conveyed two hundred differents messages all in one transient moment. “ ‘Course not. I enjoy what i do.” Albeit how exhausting it could be, there was satisfaction in shredding his enemies to pieces. The knowledge that there was one less abominable man roaming the earth left a palpable gaiety.
Alecto fought to avoid rolling her eyes again. Merlin, he was such a drama queen sometimes. Obedience and respect? Only on his deathbed, and probably not even then. Even in jest he knew that was over the top. Either Lucius was getting a little too self-respecting or he was particularly out of sorts today. She’d known the man since he was a little boy. Not friends, persay, but pureblood families always ran together in some aspect. She remembered both his awkward phase and when she’d broken his nose. He could act her superior all he wanted, but the sickening crunch as she’d smashed the door in his face could always remind her that she too could have the upper hand.
She gazed at him in slight skepticism. “You don’t know what to do with a break? Or Bella’s stories have you worried about exposure?” She didn’t really see the problem, to be honest. The oldest black sister was enthusiastic and maybe a little reckless, but Alecto couldn’t imagine her doing anything blatantly stupid. Lucius was similarly known to enjoy the hunt and the prey, both personally and professionally. If he needed more entertainment, waiting for a mission was unnecessary.
















