Cass looked around where they had stopped, and felt his chest tighten. He glanced at Lucian, noticing how the people around them scattered as soon as his gaze swept across them. It was clear that they were curious about what Cass was doing here, but they clearly knew better than to linger.
Lucian grinned at Cass, straightening to his full height under the hard gaze from Cass.
"What are we doing here?" Cass asked, glancing around. Lucian chuckled.
"Well, I know that you have no idea what a real date is like, especially after our conversation in the carriage, so I wanted to start nice and easy. Simple. Your house is so damn big, but it doesn’t feel like a den. Not even your bedroom feels like a place you like. You’ve left it as is until now because you’ve been too busy, so I thought we could go to the artisans and you could pick out some things that you’d like to fill your space." Lucian grinned as Cass let his gaze linger on the tiny details of the area they were in.
It had felt like a shopping district, so at first Cass thought that he had taken him to a similar boutique area where he’d gone shopping with Edgar. He had thought for a minute that he had been jealous. Instead, Lucian had been plotting.
He had noticed something that Cass hadn’t even dealt with because he’d been busy. He hadn’t even hated what the previous owner had done with the place, even if it was outdated for their time period. Lucian had looked around where Cass spent most of his time and had...thought about what Cass would want.
Cass felt something warm and tight squeeze in his gut as he turned his gaze to Lucian. Lucian continued to smile at him, refusing to let go of the hand that Cass had placed in his own.
"I didn’t make any appointments, but then again, who would be foolish enough to turn you away?" Lucian asked with a sparkle in his eye. Cass didn’t know what to say to that. The carriage door closed behind him, and Cass stood in the street for a moment longer. Then Lucian tugged him over to the side of the road, the sidewalk, and began to tug him past the storefronts.
It was different being with Lucian, who was more focused on pointing out the pretty colours and the different woods. He wasn’t speaking from the same standard then if Cass had done this with Edgar. He spoke more from the honest side, how some colours would clash, and how certain woods were better.
He had lived for centuries, the scope he was talking about for the longevity of the woods was a different beast entirely compared to what Cass knew, and it was heartwarming that the man cared so much.
Cass was nervous about the fact that they were holding hands. It was such a little thing, but something that made Cass sweat heavily just knowing that others were looking at them. He knew that they were, there was no way that they weren’t. Cass was a big name in the city, and it wasn’t like there were that many white-haired assholes in the city. Even in a world where Byron, the blue-haired dragon existed, brown was still a more common colour for hair and eye colour.
There were just...sprinkles of supernatural beings amongst the humans. Even Lucian would look normal if you didn’t catch his eyes. Or his height. Or his overall presence.
Okay, so maybe Cass’ experience wasn’t the average human’s experience. He was just...used to the strangeness of this world now, but he wasn’t used to people staring at him. He didn’t leave his house for this exact reason, and the people from their little town didn’t stare at him like this.
The capital people were staring at him like he was a damn freak, and maybe he was. He was white haired, red eyed, holding the hand of an even taller man while looking for furniture while said tall man spoke about how strong certain woods were.
Cass felt his face heat as he realised what that would sound like to outsiders. Oh god, shit. It sounded like-
Cass tried not to think too hard about that, turning his attention to the actual shops. If he did that, he might be able to forget how fast his heart was racing, who was at his side, how warm his hand was in Cass’ and how every once in a while Lucian would subtly step in front of Cass when someone got too close.
Protecting him. Caring for him.
Shit, Cass was truly not going to survive the day.
~
Somehow, Cass was able to decide on visiting a few of the shops. Like Lucian had said, no one was going to turn Cass away once they realised who he was. Cass realised that his look was famous, but he didn’t understand why. It wasn’t like he was well known. He wasn’t like Edgar who had paraded himself around like a damn peacock, all pretty and handsome and all over the gossip papers.
It wasn’t until Cass remembered the ball at the palace that he remembered he had made a rather public appearance, and that appearance was to defend the hero and the saintess from a very bad demon.
Lucian had also been there, but he had been a dragon so maybe that was why people didn’t react the same way when they saw him. They were nervous to approach him because he seemed rather serious and passionate.
Somehow, the general public seemed to twist the words of the paper to mean that Cass had protected the common folk and his pregnant wife from the schemes of the other nobles. Did Cass know why they thought that? No, but he had a feeling that Mr. Collins and Byron might have a role to play with that. Which reminded Cass that he hadn’t spoken to Mr. Collins about his role in all of this. Then again, Cass had felt a little strange speaking to the man after Sam and Byron had fought about him.
Cass wondered how Mr. Collins would take the news that he had almost broken up a couple because one of them was jealous of them? He could almost see how flustered and worried Mr. Collins would be upon hearing that.
He’d have to speak to him in the next week. Before he had to leave for the dungeon. Before they all had to leave for the next dungeon.
Either way, Cass had found the visit actually quite fruitful. Lucian had an eye for good workmanship, and his insight in wood and its character seemed to win over several of the shops he visited. They had been nervous when Cass showed up, but as soon as Lucian began to speak about the kind of wood they were looking for, the craftsmen would light up and begin speaking to Lucian exclusively.
Cass didn’t get upset. How could he? Lucian looked so confused by the change in behaviour it was honestly quite cute, and somehow Cass ended up commissioning a few different artisans to build furniture for him.
A few bedroom sets, some couches, a few desks. Lucian even asked for a new bedroom set for the master bedroom and Cass was rather surprised by it. It was the soft words whispered in the moment that had Cass turning bright red.
"Your current bedroom set isn’t going to be able to handle all three of us soon, and if Gideon gets involved...you’ll need a bigger bed, Sweetness." The pet name outside of the mansion was unfair. How could Cass fight against that when he had no ammo against the man?
He was sure if he called him a pet name the man would beam, so pleased that he’d go singing in the streets. He’d brag to anyone that could understand him that Cass had given him a pet name. He just knew it. Plus, Cass had no idea what to call him.
He’d stopped calling him by his last name. Calling him Lucian felt intimate enough and he’d even slipped up a few times and called him Lucy, but everyone also called him Lucy. What could he call him? Dragon? Beast? The red dragon? All of that felt wrong?
Darling?
Cass wouldn’t be able to manage that. He couldn’t. His head spun just thinking about those words leaving his lips. Impossible.
"It’s almost lunchtime. Are you hungry? I scouted out a few places that I think would have some safe food for you." Lucian asked as they were leaving the last shop that had interested Cass. Cass made a thoughtful face, taking an internal scan of his body.
He felt tingly, warm, a pleasant feeling as far as Cass could tell. He’d been able to eat most of his breakfast, but with how much walking they’d done compared to Cass’ normal exercise level...yeah, he was feeling a little hungry.
"I could eat." Cass said. "I also...could use a rest as well. I haven’t walked this much in a while." Cass admitted, embarrassed. Lucian chuckled, squeezing the hand that he had refused to let go of for most of the day. He’d only done so twice to look at samples of wood that artisans had given him to examine.
"That’s true. You get more of your exercise these days in different ways." He gave Cass a teasing glance. Cass glared at him, embarrassed as Lucian laughed loudly. "Alright, my sweet Cassy Baby, let’s go. I think one of them is close by. I can smell food." Lucian raised his head, sniffing slightly.
Cass didn’t mind these moments, where Lucian didn’t fully hide who he was. Showed off the skills he had from being a dragon, being true to himself. It was honestly a bit...relieving. If someone like Lucian could be accepted and appreciated for who he was...maybe others could be too.
Lucian tugged Cass along, pointing out little things that Cass wouldn’t have noticed without Lucian around. Little bugs, old building styles from a long time ago, pretty wildflowers growing in places that they shouldn’t be. Little things that a dragon with heightened senses noticed. For the first time, Cass wondered if he was okay being around everyday life.
Was he doing okay? Was it bothering him? Was this...a lot for him?
"Are you okay?" Cass asked when they had come to a stop at a corner to let a carriage pass. Lucian blinked, turning to look down at Cass.
"What?" Lucian asked and Cass cleared his throat. He squeezed Lucian’s hand for the first time that day.
"Are you okay being around...all of this? I realised I haven’t been thinking about it much, but are all the scents and sounds too much for you? Is it okay for you to be out like this?" Cass asked, raising his gaze up after a few seconds of silence.
Cass wasn’t staring up at Lucian, the human, he was staring up at Lucian, the dragon.
The reptilian gaze that looked at him had Cass’ breath halting, his heart stuttering, and Cass swore a small puff of smoke left his nostrils. Lucian’s head shot up, he looked around, before tugging Cass away from crossing the street. In a few seconds Cass found himself shoved into a narrow space between two buildings. Before Cass could get a word in, Lucian wrapped his arms around him and hugged him close.
He tucked Cass’ head into the crook of his neck, holding the other man close.
"That’s the first time you’ve asked something like that." Lucian admitted, and Cass realised that he was purring. His body vibrated with the force of it. "It’s the first time you’ve shown interest in me like this." Cass had nothing he could say, any words of complaint caught in his throat.
It was, wasn’t it? He had no excuse. Cass felt his heartbeat begin to race in his chest. Fuck.