after months of quietly serving the high lord katsuki his meals, exchanging only the bare minimum of words with him and tiptoeing n around his legendary temper, you are invited to sit with him while he eats.
he’s alone in his office and has cleared his work papers to make room for the tray of delicately prepared food you carry. food that you have never even dreamt of tasting. katsuki watched as you carefully walk and set the tray in front of him, addressing him properly and briefly explaining the meal. he stares as if waiting for you to mess up, for a slip of the tongue or a stutter. instead, as you turn to go, he clears his throat and quietly, almost gently, asks you to stay.
“would you care to stay for a moment?”
the sentence shocks you. not just because of his gentle tone, but because in the few months you’ve worked here, he has not so much as uttered a word to you beyond what is necessary.
“my lord? is there something else you need?” you ask, fighting to keep your thoughts from your face.
katsuki shakes his head. “i only asked if you cared to sit for a while.”
you don’t know if you’re allowed to turn him down, better to oblige his request. you take a seat on a chair partway through the room, down the back of your thighs and lowering your head. truth be told, you’re exhausted and it feels good to get off your feet, though you feel tense at being alone in a room with someone so far above your rank.
katsuki doesn’t say much as he eats, lifting the food to his mouth with closed eyes and an unreadable expression. you’re anxious to know why he’s kept you here. the silence is almost deafening and the smell of his meal makes your mouth water.
as the silence drags on, you are almost tempted to ask him why he’s asked you to stay. in fact, it’s on the tip of your tongue when katsuki next speaks.
“where did you learn to read?” he asks, his voice even and firm, though a bit rushed.
the question surprises you and you instinctly look up at him in confusion before meeting his crimson gaze and lower them again.
“my father taught me before he passed, my lord.”
“when you were young?”
“yes, my lord,” you reply, your nerves evident in your voice. “he taught me from when i was a child.”
katsuki nods his head as you raise your gaze. he’s looking at you with a slightly tilted head.
“what have you read?”
“whatever i could get my hands on. not many books were available to us.”
you pause as you realize your wording may have been rude. if katsuki notices he doesn’t say anything. in fact, he seems to relax into himself.
“and you enjoy it?”
“enjoy what, my lord?” you ask.
katsuki rolls his eyes and huffs.
“reading.”
“oh!” you feel best rush to your face, “yes, very much.”
katsuki nods his head again and let’s the room fall into an awkward silence. you get the sense that he’d like to say more to you. what’s holding him back? you have no idea. you serve at his pleasure, he should have no reason to worry what a servant thinks of him.
still, you’re surprised at the gentleness of this conversation, even with his impatience. there’s an awkward air even to him and, in some perverse way, his uneasiness makes your own feel somehow milder.
“will you be needing anything else, my lord?” you question quietly.
katsuki startles for a moment, as if he’d forgotten that your job is to serve him, and shakes his head. you think, for a moment, that you see the tips of his ears flush pink, but you don’t feel comfortable looking at him long enough to find out.
“no, that will be all.”
you almost get the impression that he is trying to be delicate with his wording as you stand from the chair and bow.
“then i’ll take my leave,” you say softly, making your way to the door.
katsuki watches you as you do, his meal seemingly forgotten in front of him. you peer through the door as you shut it just in time to see him run a hand over his face and rub lightly at his temples. the expression he wears is not one you’d expect from a man with a reputation such as his.
