Thankfully, or the server had perfect timing, someone came by so that Cass had a delay on having to explain himself. They brought food and drink that was...suspiciously safe, and that Cass nor Mr. Collins had ordered. Mr. Collins pointed out this issue but the server said that it was on the house.
After all, they didn’t get visits from Dukes that often, and the owner and chef said that they wanted to give them a small token of appreciation. Cass was suspicious of that, hell, everyone in the room was, but they couldn’t take it out on the server. The server looked extremely nervous. Sweat was beading on their face, their eyes darting around nervously with every move from Cass and the others.
Cass could also feel a connection between them, but he still couldn’t pinpoint if it was because they were a demon or a fairy. That was an annoyance he hadn’t had to worry about before, but since awakening more of his...bloodline up, he had a feeling this was going to be something he had to work on.
Eventually, Cass just sighed and let the server leave. He knew that the food and drink wouldn’t hurt him, he was more sensitive to those facts now, it was just...upsetting that others would know that about him now. It led him to think that this was more the work of demons than the work of fairies, but he couldn’t be sure.
The food was mostly meat in front of them, with a few crackers, sauces, and other things to add different flavour and texture to the meal.
When the server left and the door had closed behind them firmly, Lucian tugged Cass closer to him. Lucian took Cass’ smaller body and tucked him against his side, his arm around him, pouting and huffing the whole while. Cass could feel how Mr. Collins was staring at him over the table, slack jawed, because he knew that the hero party were all married to Fiona.
Hell, everyone knew that, so seeing Lucian and Cass like this...he just knew what question was going to be asked. Cass had thought that he had gotten away from having to answer the onslaught of questions that they no doubt had, but instead, Lucian had just opened them up to them all over again.
Cass couldn’t even blame the man. They were supposed to be on a date and so far, Lucian had been nothing but a gentleman. He was just on edge because he’d been caught by someone who knew him. Cass wouldn’t have cared if it was just some random noble who had seen them, but this was...Mr. Collins. A man who he was going to have to see every time he came to the capital.
"Does, um, Lady Adderberry know about this?" Mr. Collins asked quietly and Lucian huffed, snorting before Cass could answer. He tugged Cass closer, and Cass wasn’t sure if it was for his comfort, or Cass’.
"She’s the one who encouraged it." Lucian said boldly. Cass closed his eyes, not wanting to see the looks of shock on the two men’s faces. That was a shocking thing to hear, no way around it.
"Um, what?" Mr. Collins seemed to be in shock. Again, Cass couldn’t blame the man.
"Fiona is completely fine with our relationship." Lucian said with a prideful ring to his voice. Cass wanted to smack the man, but it wasn’t like he was wrong. Fiona had been...encouraging before she ran away. That bitch.
"Not everything is as it appears, Mr. Collins." Cass said softly. "Especially in the hero party." Cass kept his eyes closed still, really worried about how they would judge him. However, he didn’t fight Lucian’s hold on him, which from the tension in Lucian’s body, he had expected Cass to do so. Lucian gradually relaxed as Cass continued to remain pressed against his side. No complaint, no fight.
Just two bodies warm against the other.
"Cass is right. Besides, why else would he be so cool about you, Mr. Collins? After being raised in that hellhole? It’s obviously because-"
"Lucian." Cass cut in, a warning in his voice. "As the most sexual being here, shut your damn mouth or this date is over." Cass’ words hung over the group for a moment before Lucian let out a shaky breath. Cass only called him that way because he could feel his embarrassment getting to him.
Lucian was, baseline, the most experienced person in the room, and he saw no problem with talking about it. Cass said it that way to drive home what he wasn’t happy with to Lucian. It was clear that the man understood that when he responded.
"U-Understood." He clearly didn’t think he’d said anything wrong though, which was why he didn’t apologise. Cass sighed. Shit. He was going to have to look at Mr. Collins and Christopher.
When Cass did open his eyes and look towards the two men, he found that neither of them were judging him, like Cass had worried. After all, he was still getting used to this world’s version of marriage and loyalty when it came to romance. He had no idea what they were going to think when they heard...part of the truth.
They didn’t need the explicit details, like the how and why Cass and Lucian ended up in the relationship that they did. The fact that they were even privy to how they ended up together was...a big deal to Cass. Shit.
He looked at Christopher first, a man who had only heard about Cass from news and Mr. Collins first. His reaction would hurt Cass the least. However, Christopher actually looked...impressed. Very impressed. Maybe it was because he was older, but he didn’t have any judgement in his gaze either. Cass wasn’t sure why, but he also looked more relaxed.
Cass felt his face warm, his heart racing in his chest. Damn it. He was getting emotional on his own. These people were practically strangers.
Cass turned to look at Mr. Collins, knowing he couldn’t avoid it anymore.
Mr. Collins sat with his hands in his lap, his back straight, and his eyes were looking directly at Cass. His eyes didn’t waver, and he had...a lot of sympathy on his face. There was a look of understanding in his eyes that made it hard to keep eye contact with him for an extended period of time. It was like looking at someone who saw both sides of Cass, Cassian and Caspian. As if Mr. Collins had seen both men inside of Cass and knew what both of them had gone through.
What both men needed. A softness, a gentleness that made Cass’ heart squeeze tightly. His lips trembled slightly and Cass’ palms grew damp with sweat. He didn’t like it.
"Do you both care for Fiona?" Mr. Collins asked carefully and Lucian, the dumb lizard, huffed loudly.
"Not right now. If I saw her, I’d want to beat some sense into her." Lucian grumbled and Cass gasped. He turned, pressing a hand against Lucian’s chest as he glared up at him. He had wanted to slap his chest, but had decided against it. The man would probably like it if Cass got violent with him.
"Lucian!" Cass hissed. "You do not say that kind of thing right now!" He warned and Lucian looked upset that Cass was upset at him.
"Why not? She’s the one-" Lucian cut off, turning his face away, his jaw hard. He understood his anger, his upset. Cass was upset too, but what he’d told the public and what the nobles knew was completely different from the truth. It couldn’t get out.
Christopher’s words washed over them and this was the exact fucking reason Cass wanted Lucian to keep his damn mouth shut.
"She’s not in the city right now, correct? Isn’t this because she’s with child?" He asked carefully and Cass knew that if Lucian opened his damn mouth, they might be in even more trouble.
"She’s with a child, yes." Cass said, not lying. Lady Ava was very child-like in her own ways. Lucian huffed.
"Everyone’s a child when compared to me. I worry more about when others consider themselves adults." Cass almost wanted to laugh at his ridiculous response. It was so factual it was fucking hilarious. Cass wouldn’t tell him that with words, though.
"It’s not important what is going on with Fiona. We’re making do with what we have and the gods have been-" Mr. Collins grabbed onto the edge of the table.
"The gods? You’ve spoken to the gods?" He asked, his eyes wide and Cass remembered, fuck, he didn’t know that he was a hero. Cass and Lucian just kept digging deeper and deeper holes for themselves that at this point, they should just make out to get them to shut up.
Cass glanced up at Lucian, his hand still holding onto his pec, the damn thing bouncy in his hand, and Cass seriously considered it. He truly considered it.
Lucian glanced down at Cass, a glitter in his eye as if he caught onto the direction of Cass’ thoughts. Cass worried for a second that he was going to act without Cass saying so, but instead the man took Cass’ hand on his pec in his own. He raised it up, pressing the palm of Cass’ hand against his lips and pressing a soft kiss there.
It was a tender act, one filled with an affection that made Cass’ stomach quiver.
Lucian, the damn dragon, knew exactly what he was doing to Cass as he gave a soft chuckle. He turned his gaze back towards the two men watching them like hawks. Mr. Collins was flushed, while Christopher was glancing at Mr. Collins like he was envious of Lucian’s open display of affection.
"We should eat the food that we’ve been provided before ordering some more. I can hear Cass’ stomach growling." Cass hadn’t felt it, but he was glad that Lucian had thrown down a gauntlet that no one would be willing to cross.
Mr. Collins began tripping over himself, embarrassed that he’d let his lord go hungry.
Lucian shifted Cass again, pulling the man fully into his lap. He was sure they looked ridiculous. Two very well dressed men in suits, one tucked into the lap of the other. He was sure that if anyone else saw them that they would make fun of him.
Cass’ cheeks burned, but he didn’t protest the hold. Lucian’s proud purr against his back was worth more than struggling out of his grip. Even if he felt like he could have a heart attack.
Lucian tried to insist that he would hand feed Cass as well, but Cass put a stop to that. He was an adult, and there were only so many embarrassments he could live with. One good thing did come from their moment like this.
Mr. Collins and Christopher also behaved more intimately. It was a rather shy affair, Mr. Collins and Christopher being so damn cute together that Cass almost forgot about the fact that Mr. Collins was probably 20 years younger than the other man.
Almost.
Cass had been so caught up in their issues he’d forgotten the major one staring him in the face.
Mr. Collins was dating an older man.