Daren wanted to wish for more time as well. Still, he would much rather they be safe. It crossed his mind he wouldn't be safe, not with them coming back so soon after leaving, but Leander would be.
"Maybe," the man said softly. He leaned into his lover's hand, closing his eyes for a moment. He wanted this to be real. For him to truly be the woman of high society Leander pretended he was to others. To be Leander's, not… Alcides's. He doubted he would ever be able to get out, though.
"I love you, so much…"
Leander smiled, but there was that undertone of sadness that came with the context. It hurt like hell knowing there wasn't anything he could do for Daren, at least not soon. It was worse for Daren, he knew. To be in the situation personally and not outside of it. And what if his brother?
“I love you too. I promise I’ll find a way to get you out. If not now, then soon.” Generally. “In…in the meantime I’ll try to give you reprieve, a safe place, whenever I can.”
"That's the sweetest thing you could ever do for me." Daren pressed his head gently against Leander's chest as they neared the brothel once more. It felt so good to have someone who made him feel safe, even with everything else. Leander was kind, and he really did seem to care for what happened to both his brother and Daren. He would find a way to protect them, even for a little while.
Leander tucked Daren’s head under his chin for the remainder of the ride, at a loss for words that weren’t just a regurgitation of what had already been said. So instead there was only the jolts from wheels rattling against the road, and their remaining time together—a brief reprieve—to fill the empty space before their inevitable return to the brothel.
(Skip?)
(Hmm I dunno if it’s time for it yet but I had a kinda angsty idea where Leander ends up getting his dad involved, trying to get Lucrèce out of the brothel, but he’s been too far traumatized that he doesn’t want to leave?)
(Oooo, that would be interesting! And with it being unsuccessful Leander will find there are many more consequences he might not have thought of. I'm good skipping to then if you'd like to now!)
(Ooh true!! I didn’t realize how much I would like Leander as a character lmao; I’m good to skip now too!)
Alcides was counting his earnings for the week, as he often did. He kept a close eye on the money, in case anyone found themselves with fingers too clever to be left on the hand. He was in his office as he did, sliding each piece from one side to the other as he marked it down. It was a ritual, something that kept him calm and his mind sharp.
One hand made its way down, idly running through the slave's hair that was at his feet. He always kept him close, it seemed, just like his mute butler and the small boy always running back and forth to bring him things. Even without Lucrèce in the brothel, he had quite the profits recently. It wasn't often a man was willing to pay so much, after all, to sleep with his own brother and one of the other girls. It was only too bad he had come back so soon from the night out with her- he might have been able to get a matching set.
Alcides subtly shook his head, turning his thoughts back to the money in front of him. 5, 6… It seemed there was no end as he marked everything down.
The days felt longer to Lucrèce without the usual rhythm he relied on at home. He took too many naps while Alcides was out of the room. It never felt like dawn when he woke in a stranger’s bed, but every couple days could have been another month for all he was aware.
At the very least there was some semblance of routine. Nothing was good about where he was at, sitting like a companion dog beside Alcides, but unpredictability would make it far worse.
Lucrèce had a headache: a sensation of throbbing behind his tired eyes like he’d been trying to read without glasses for too long. More concerned with the physical pain than any embarrassment, he let his head fall against Alcides’ calf.
Some carriage stopped in front of the manor, from which a man in a heavy burgundy coat emerged with the help of the driver. He ascended the porch steps and hammered at the knocker with an urgency awfully strange for a time outside of business hours.
Alcides glanced up as he was interrupted in his work, scowling. Who would bother him at this time of day? If they came for a girl, they would be disappointed to learn that the brothel didn't open for several more hours.
"Rafael." The man looked to Alcides, nodding slightly. He turned from his corner, making his way to leave the room and address whoever was knocking at the master's door. He opened it slightly, looking out with suspicion. He didn't say a word, seeing as there was no way he could, but it wasn't hard to see whoever it was outside was unwelcome at this time. Come back later, at the proper entrance.
The man cleared his throat, running hands down his coat to appear more dignified. He was a baron, after all, but these were strange circumstances. “I’m here for my son. He was brought here by mistake, and I need to bring him home. Now. His name is Lucrèce if…if that’s what you call him.”
The booming, familiar voice caught Lucrèce’s attention. “I um, I think that’s my father.” He couldn’t hear specific words through the walls, but it was definitely his father. Why would he be here? How would he have even known where to look? Oh, Leander.
Rafael glanced behind himself for a moment before stepping aside to let the man inside. He motioned for him to sit and wait, closing the door and making sure the man wouldn't try anything before hurriedly shuffling away to return to the bedroom and fetch his master.
"Your father, hm?" Alcides didn't have much reaction to the news. He ran his fingers through Lucrèce's hair, thinking in the time they had alone still.
"Do you really think he'll want to take you back like this?" He asked, voice level.
