They entered the room and found that Lucian and Edgar weren’t in the bed. Cass immediately felt a small knot of panic fill him. He didn’t think that he was gone for that long. Where the hell had they gone? Had they gone looking for him? They should be resting, especially Lucian since they were going to have to rely on him solely for this dungeon. Had something bad happened?
Just as Cass was about to work himself up into a frenzy, both Edgar and Lucian both came out of the bathroom. Lucian carried a wooden tub under his arm and it didn’t look like it was full of water. It was too high up, and too far away for Cass to be able to get a glance of what was inside of it. Edgar was holding open the door, his gaze cast downwards as he adjusted the buttons on his jacket before raising his gaze and his face lit up.
Cass was staring at them, slack jawed, wondering what the hell they were doing in the bathroom together?
"Cass! Welcome back. We had a feeling you had gotten up at some point to wander, so Lucian and I got a bath ready for you to help you relax. I can go over the list once more with Sam while you get dressed, alright? Lucian is going to go make sure the carriage has everything we need, and that the food we want to pack is safe and ready. It sure is convenient to have fairies around who can help with drying foods." Edgar told him with a soft smile and Cass felt frozen in the doorway.
This wasn’t what he had expected when he woke up in the morning, but he wasn’t...upset. That was even more confusing to him. Edgar was a little chatterbox as he stood there, wearing an outfit that was similar to what he used to wear around the mansion back home. He looked more princely than normal and it was really throwing Cass off of his rhythm.
"Okay..." Cass said quietly and Sam quietly nudged Cass away from the front door of the room and towards the bathroom. Edgar and Lucian didn’t move from the doorway, staying nearby with soft, gentle smiles on their faces that had Cass’ shoulders up and tensed for anything.
Edgar reached out, grasping onto him when he got close enough. Sam left them at the door and Cass found himself crowded by Lucian and Edgar. Lucian, with his wooden bucket, and Edgar with both of his hands on Cass’ shoulders.
Cass could hear the water running in the room beyond them, could smell the sweet, nice scent that had often graced his last baths. Cass’ cheeks warmed as he remembered the last baht that he’d taken with the two men.
He did not think that doing something like that this early in the morning wasn’t something that they should do. It would exhaust him too much, and he just couldn’t understand why the two men were all for it. Plus, Edgar had just put on a fresh outfit. What was he going to do, dry himself with magic?
Cass felt a little dumb as he realised that yes, he could do just that. Hell, Cass could do that, just to help the man out.
Cass was a little too nervous as Lucian opened the door, Edgar leading Cass inside as Lucian closed the door behind them. What was in the wooden basket? It was a place to put Cass’ clothes so that they didn’t get dirty. It was essentially a portable hamper. Cass had actually never seen a hamper here, and realised with alarm that he was greatly spoiled by the people around him.
That didn’t mean that Cass let his guard down. He kept his tension up, worried as the men slowly began to undress him. He expected that there was going to be something else in their touches, in the way that their hands grazed his skin, but that was simply not the case.
Instead, both men were calm, careful, and while their fingers would brush his skin, they didn’t react. They were taking their time to undress him, but there was nothing sexual in their touches. Cass would know, and realising that also made his face warm. He couldn’t look either of them in their faces for long, his mind running wild as they continued to help him undress.
Even as Lucian bent, carefully instructing Cass to put his hand on Lucian’s shoulder for balance as he helped him step out of his pants and underwear, the man didn’t linger on Cass’ private parts. The only touch that felt even remotely tinged with the essence of what Cass was worried about was when Edgar pressed a gentle kiss over Cass’ hero mark. It was more like a farewell kiss as Edgar then left the bathroom to go help Sam with the count, like he had promised.
Then it was just Lucian and Cass in the bathroom. Cass felt worry fill him again, gulping silently as the dragon moved around the bathroom with a measured gait. Cass couldn’t take his eyes off of him as he rolled up the sleeves on his billowy white dress shirt, the laces at the front of his shirt undone so that when he bent over to turn off the water, it showed off the expanse of skin of his chest and pecs. Cass could even see the sweat from the room, the steam beading on his skin and threatening to roll down his skin.
Cass tore his gaze away, realising, with alarm once more, that he was the one whose mind was wandering. He was the one who was being a degenerate.
He was the problem.
Cheeks flaming, and aware it was only by a damn miracle that he wasn’t hard in front of the man, Cass allowed Lucian to help him into the tub so he didn’t trip and fall and sunk into the water, his eyes closing as the warmth washed over him. It also helped Cass take his eyes off of the dragon who was moving around the bathroom.
Cass jumped at every little sound until Lucian settled closer to him, dragging what sounded like a stool nearby.
"Can I wash your hair and skin, Sweetness?" Lucian asked and Cass felt a shudder rock his body. Cass opened an eye carefully, bracing himself for the impact of what he was about to see. It still wasn’t enough.
Lucian was slightly bent, those damn strings dangling in a breeze that Cass wasn’t even aware was in the room. He’d braided his hair back again, the hair tucked over his shoulder and a few precious strands hanging around his face. His orange eyes were locked on Cass’ face, his expression tender. He had a few bottles, something that looked like a sponge, and what looked like a bowl nearby. Cass assumed that was for rinsing.
"S-Sure." Cass agreed, then felt his face heat. "As long as you don’t try anything." Cass muttered. Lucian’s smile broke his face in half and Cass hated how it made the already handsome man even more dangerous for Cass’ heart.
"Try anything? I just want to try to get you clean. Is that so wrong?" Cass felt like he was going insane as he stared up at Lucian, both of his eyes opening to give Lucian a proper glare. Lucian chuckled, reaching out a free hand to push Cass’ hair back and away from his face. "Sorry. That was the perfect time to say that. Don’t worry, I truly just want to get you clean." Lucian promised. Cass wasn’t sure he’d fully believe it until it happened.
Then, it did.
Lucian helped Cass wash his hair and body. Again, nothing sexual, just thoughtful and respectful touches, even when it came to his privates. Lucian didn’t listen to Cass’ protests that he could do it himself, but he didn’t linger either. It kind of felt like he was being cleaned up by a parent or grandparent, not a partner. When it came to rinsing his body, Lucian was extra careful, making sure no soap or shampoo got into Cass’ eyes.
This was an unfamiliar type of care for Cass. One that he had fought against hard since he’d come to this world. Sam didn’t even help him bathe, but so far he’d allowed Edgar and Lucian to help him a couple of times at this point.
Cass wondered why he allowed it as Lucian continued to help him get out of the bath, dried off, and then carefully helped him get dressed in a fresh, Sam prepared outfit. Lucian wouldn’t have picked something this complicated, or at least, Cass didn’t think so.
Cass was finding that he was doubting his observations on the men as time went on. Did he even know the men at all as they touched him so carefully and kindly, without ulterior motives in the slightest?
Cass wasn’t sure what was going on, especially when he found himself looking in the mirror in the bathroom, Lucian behind him as he adjusted Cass’ lapels from behind, his gaze focused on Cass’ body instead of Cass’ eyes.
Cass’ cheeks were still tinged pink, and had been the whole time that the men had been touching him. However, Cass didn’t think that any of this was...bad. He was just...unsure about this treatment.
He was going to have to think about this all when they were on the carriage. He had wanted to tease Gideon and Edgar, but now? Now he was going to be caught in his own damn thoughts about everything.
Lucian picked up the wooden basket again, leading Cass out of the bathroom and opening the door for him with a gentle smile. Lucian had been tending to him with a rather careful, caring hand. That, and dangerously soft eyes. Cass was at a loss for words.
"A-Are we having breakfast before we leave?" Cass asked, like Lucian would allow anything else. Lucian knew that Cass was rather disquieted, and while he did grin, he didn’t mock the man. He just reached out, squeezing Cass’ shoulder.
"Of course. I think Gideon is done with his morning work out. Let’s go see how he’s doing, check in with Byron to see if anyone left us a message, and head on out, hmm? Do you feel relaxed? Is there anything else you need to do?" Lucian asked and Cass shook his head.
"No. I already spoke to the nursery tree, and I’m sure Ser Hune and Sir Sanders are capable. Plus, Byron and Sam are staying here, so I’m not particularly worried." Cass told him and Lucian’s gaze softened further. Cass nearly jumped out of his skin.
Why was he looking at him like that? All...soft and sweet. It was alarming. They were going into a dungeon. Everyone had to toughen up, and Cass was surprised that included Lucian. The man was a dragon.
He usually didn’t need to toughen up.
"Was it a good talk?" He asked and Cass glanced at him worriedly.
"Y-Yeah. We spoke about lots of things, including my Mom. The tree was pretty upset with her." Cass admitted and Lucian chuckled.
"I’m sure it was. Are you sure there is nothing else you need? Are you going to want to stop back in your room before we go downstairs or before we leave?" Cass froze at his question, stopping in his tracks to scan the room. Was there anything that he needed?
His eyes wandered over the area before he landed on the thick book on demons and his eye twitched.
Yeah. He should bring that.