Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Isa sat on her bed in her room in the de Riva estate with the cup of hot coffee in her hands. It wasn’t as good as when Lucanis made it, but just the smell of it reminded her of him. He was just on the other side of the city, likely dealing with his First Talon job, but it was still enough to make her miss him. Even if she saw him nearly everyday, she still reminisced about their first date in her eyes.

“You know I would never pass up the coffee here,” Lucanis insisted as he sat next to Illario. Isa sat next to him, excited to try something new. “You must try this one roast they have. They call it Andoral’s Breath. It’s bitter and sweet, like a kiss goodbye. I think you’d like it.”

“Oh, best idea you’ve had all day,” Isa chuckled, smiling at Lucanis.

It wasn’t the first time he sweet-talked her, but it was one of the more memorable parts. Enough where she really couldn’t drink any other coffee anymore. Not when she was alone, anyway. She even bought a new coffee maker just for her room so Viago couldn’t accidentally add their poisoning regimen in with the grounds.

Generally, she wouldn’t care. She would need to be on the same regimen to keep up with the immunity, but there was something sacred about this coffee. Poisoning it was like poisoning the man she loved. It was unthinkable. 

A part of her wanted to bring a cup over to the villa to surprise Lucanis with it. Isa wasn’t exactly sure how she would pull that off, but she was sure she could think of something. He usually liked it when she surprised him when he was working.

Usually.

Sometimes she liked to tease him, and she could see his exasperation underneath the grin he had on. Lucanis generally humored her, and she tried not to tease him too often. Especially while he was working. However, surely he wouldn’t say no to a cup of Andoral’s Breath.

Lucanis wanted to bang his head on the desktop. Spite was finally behaving, but nothing else in this universe seemed to be. Every contract that was finished had some sort of issue that made it nearly cost more than it was worth, and the reports of how the other contracts were going were worse. It seemed that they weren’t going to have finished any contracts for a few days, and he just wanted to go out there and fix it himself. 

He exhaled and rested his forehead on the desktop as his arms circled his head. He just needed a minute and then he would be back at going through the paperwork. He would need to go out and meet his Crows to check to see if they were well enough for him to scold. He wanted to shout and scream, but they had barely made it out alive. They had been through enough without him yelling at them. The near-death experience would be punishment enough. 

There was a soft clink of ceramic next to his head as he sat up to see a coffee cup on his desk. The smell of Andoral’s Breath embraced him as he saw his novia (girlfriend) standing next to his desk with a gentle smile. Lucanis glanced between her and the cup of coffee as Spite jumped up and clinged to her. 

“Seems like I came at a good time,” Isa remarked as Lucanis smiled wide, relieved that she was here. He reached for her as she walked around the desk and towards him before he pulled her into his lap for a kiss. 

Lucanis swallowed her yelp as her arms flew around his neck for stability as his went to her back to keep her upright. She hummed, enjoying his reaction before pulling back to smile at him.

“A very good time, it seems like,” Isa grinned before biting her lip. 

“Your timing could not be better,” he answered before pulling her into an embrace so he could rest his head on her shoulder. She smoothed the hair on the back of his head and hummed appreciatively. “How did you know that I needed you so badly?”

“I was having coffee, but I was having it all by myself. You know how I enjoy it more when I’m with you,” she answered, making him laugh. It was such a simple answer, but it really did make it feel like his world was brighter and his workload was lighter. “Has work really been that bad?”

“Just some poor contracts, but nothing we can’t bounce back from. It seems never ending today,” Lucanis sighed, pulling her in closer. She sighed, knowing that it was hard when so many contracts went badly in a row. Wounded and dead Crows were bad for morale and for his psyche. For any Talon’s psyche, really. 

“I think you should finish your coffee, and then you should take a little break from this,” Isa informed as Lucanis looked up at her for a moment.

“I’m already behind,” he mentioned before she shrugged, moving his coffee towards him. His wellbeing was more important than his work at this point. He could catch up another day.

“It wouldn’t be a long break,” Isa offered, brushing the hair out of his face with her bare fingers. She never wore her gloves around him anymore when it was just the two of them. “I just want to spend some time with you, amore mio (my love).”

“What did you have in mind?” he wondered, reaching around her to grab the mug.

The coffee was still warm, and when he tasted it, he nearly swooned. She had been practicing. He could taste how much she had improved her technique. It was just coffee making, but Lucanis believed that there was an art to making the perfect cup. Isa was doing a marvelous job of it. 

“Well, it depended on what you had going on here. Seeing as you can’t get away for very long, maybe we could wander the market for a moment. I could help with the grocery shopping. Or maybe just a walk around the gardens if that’s too much,” Isa answered. Lucanis nodded as he thought. 

He liked the idea of just staying right here where he had a cup of coffee in his hand and his lover in his lap. He really couldn’t complain with what he had right now. Although, he had been putting off grocery shopping for a while now.

“I suppose we could go to the market,” he sighed before smiling up at her. She grinned yet made no effort to move. “Was there anything you were hoping to get while we were there?”

“Not really. Maybe more coffee,” she teased before humming. “Maybe something for dinner?”

“Ah, so you’re staying for dinner now?”

“I don’t have to.”

“Please do,” Lucanis amended with a smirk. She often spent her free time at the villa unless she needed to prepare for a contract, and that meant that she was over for dinner most evenings. 

“Good because I didn’t plan on going anywhere,” she winked before glancing at his desk. She gestured towards the contracts, and he shrugged, letting her see the mess that they were. She would be a Dellamorte soon enough anyway. 

Lucanis closed his eyes as he enjoyed his coffee, letting his love take a peek at his job for a moment. She rarely even took an interest in his work, saying that it wasn’t her business. However, when he was like this, it was clear that he needed someone to help lighten the load a little. 

He heard the papers flip as she went through them before she hummed disapprovingly a few times. He smiled into the mug, knowing exactly what she was feeling. An unfortunate string of bad luck attached to today’s contracts would be a good way to put it. Well, a mild way to put it.

“Should I whip your Crows into shape? Porca miseria (Holy shit),” Isa hissed, shaking her head at the contracts. He chuckled and hummed, shaking his head.

“They already went through hell trying to get home, but I’ll talk with them as soon as they’ve been seen by a healer,” Lucanis informed calmly. Isa glanced at him with a frown, but she said nothing. She didn’t disagree with his sentiment, but she clearly thought that they needed more training. “Are you offering some de Riva training, mi amor (my love)?”

“If you approve, then yes,” she answered diplomatically, looking at the next contract. “Amore (Love), I could have had these done so much more efficiently. Is this how your House has been running?”

“It’s been low in numbers for a while,” he reminded as she sighed, shaking her head. “And I know you could have done these better. I could have as well, but we’re doing what we can with what we have.”

“I suppose,” Isa sighed, placing them back on the table. “I don’t mind offering a training session or two.”

“Isa, I know you’re offering to help, but it’s no secret that the de Riva training regimen is... intimidating,” he warned as she raised a brow at him. He held her gaze, knowing that he was right. De Riva had been known for their intense training of their Crows for decades, and that had continued with Viago. It wasn’t deadly like the prior Talon’s, but it was still intense. 

“So, you don’t want me to train your Crows?” Isa asked, leaning into him a little. 

“Not when you could be doing better things,” Lucanis amended as she sighed dramatically.

It was kind of her to offer, but his Crows weren’t exactly ready for whatever Isa was about to throw at them. If he could prepare them, then maybe she could give them a lesson or two. Besides, he could deal with his own House while she focused on more important matters.

“Like going to the market?” she wondered as he chuckled with a nod.

“Exactly right,” he teased before finishing his drink. “We should go before someone else comes in with more work for me to do.”

Lucanis held Isa’s hand as they walked into the marketplace. It wasn’t as busy as he was expecting, which was nice. There were a few Crows wandering around the place, and a few acknowledged him politely before going about their day. Isa did her best to wander without dragging him around too much, but he was happy to go where she went. 

They stopped by the food stalls first as he went through to find what he needed for the dinner that evening. He wasn’t exactly sure what he was going to make yet, but he would see what they had on offer there. He usually would see what ingredients looked good and build a menu or dish from there.

Isa walked with him, enjoying the sights and sounds of the marketplace. There were a few stalls that she stopped to look at, but nothing really caught her attention.

“Ah, señorita (young lady),” one of the stallkeepers called out as she looked up. She had been about to happen on his stall as Lucanis was buying vegetables a few stands over. “You look like you might have a sweet tooth, yes?”

“I suppose,” Isa answered. She enjoyed desserts and chocolate was usually her favorite of them.

“Ah, I thought so,” the seller beamed, beckoning over. She wandered over carefully, usually wary of anyone who would call out to people off the path to sell their wares. “I have just the thing for you.”

“Do you?”

“It’s all the rage in Antiva City.”

“I see,” Isa replied, doing her best to shield her boredom from the man. Everything was new and shiny in Antiva City. It was a gimmick.

“I don’t suppose you drink coffee as well, señorita (young lady)?” the seller asked before Isa nodded, confirming that she did. “Then this is exactly what you need.”

The seller produced a tin can with what looked like cocoa powder inside. Isa blinked before looking unimpressed at the man.

“Cocoa powder?” she asked, wondering if he was trying to pull a fast one on her. It smelled of chocolate, but she was well aware that it was not sweet.

“Ah, it looks like it, but it’s mocha powder, señorita (young lady),” the man explained as Isa folded her arms, asking to be wowed by the product. “It has added sugar and dried milk powder as well, you see. You add a few spoonfuls to it, and it turns your coffee into a chocolatey delight.”

“Are you telling me that you can turn coffee into cioccolata calda (hot chocolate)?”

“No, no, señorita (young lady), it turns it into a drink that’s somewhere in between. It’s called a mocha. A chocolate coffee drink. A little bitter and a little sweet with that richness that only chocolate can give.”

“Interesting,” Isa replied, almost intrigued by the idea.

She wondered how offended Lucanis would be by such a innovation. She was sure that he wouldn’t be more offended than he would be when she drank tea for the first time around him.

“How much?” she wondered before receiving the price. It wasn’t terribly expensive for what it was, and it would be interesting to see Lucanis’s face when she had him try something new. He might even like it.

She paid the seller for the small tin and thanked him for the information. The seller smiled brightly before bidding her a nice evening.

Isa wandered over towards Lucanis, who was glancing in the crowd to see if he could see her. He smiled at her when she came into view.

“Ah, there you are. Did you find something you like?” Lucanis wondered as she lifted her shoulders.

“Possibly. I found something that might be interesting,” Isa answered as he hummed in interest. “It might be harmful to your sensibilities, though.”

“You didn’t buy an empanada de pulpo (octopus empanada), I’m sure I’ll be fine,” Lucanis chuckled as she threaded her arm through his. She grinned at him and shrugged.

“I’ll show you when we get home,” she answered as he exhaled, loving it when she called the villa home as well.

Lucanis sat at the dining table after a nice dinner he had made for both of them. He ended up making a paella with chicken and sausage, and it turned out very nice.

Now Isa was insisting on making some after dinner coffee, which wasn’t exactly out of the norm for them. Although she usually had him make it. She said that he always knew how to make it the best.

He was a little curious to know why she wanted to make it this time, but he decided to be patient. He guessed it was likely due to the purchase she had been hiding from him most of the night.

“Alright, here’s your coffee,” Isa announced as she came back into the dining room.

Lucanis smiled at her as she walked back in with two cups, setting one down in front of him. She sat down next to him before he looked into the cup, and he furrowed his brow. He usually drank his coffee black, but instead of a transparent dark liquid, this was an opaque brown color.

“Just try it, Luca,” Isa insisted as he looked up at her.

“What’s in it?” he wondered. From her tone, he guessed it wasn’t just cream and sugar.

“What I bought at the market,” she replied with a smile, sipping from her cup first. She closed her eyes and looked pleasantly surprised. “It’s pretty good.”

“But what is it?”

“The man called it a mocha.”

“And that is?” he pressed before she gestured towards his cup.

“If you don’t like it, there’s more regular coffee in the kitchen. I’m not a monster,” Isa replied as he sighed.

Lucanis brought the drink to his lips and sipped it, surprised to find it sweet. It wasn’t like he was drinking a cioccolata calda (hot chocolate), but it was reminiscent of it. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t something that he would be able to drink all the time.

Isa watched him with expectant eyes as he looked over at her with a sigh, shaking his head.

“What have you done to my coffee?” he teased with a smile, not letting her off the hook that easily. She laughed as she leaned on her elbow on the table.

“I just sweetened it a little more for you with a bit of chocolate, amore mio (my love),” she answered mischievously. “I thought it would be fun to try something new tonight.”

“Sweetened it, huh?” he asked, looking at it again.

“I like to think it’s the best of both worlds. It’s complex, sweet, and intriguing. Wouldn’t you agree?” Isa wondered as she grinned. Lucanis stared at her before chuckling.

“It is good, I have to admit. Not something I could have on a daily basis, but I like it,” he replied as she nodded in agreement.

“It’s a good dessert coffee, I think. Something for after dinner or for special occasions,” Isa added before staring at him. “Besides, I still think you make the best coffee. This doesn’t even compare.”

“Oh?”

“You have a gift.”

“I’m glad you think so,” he laughed, reaching over the table to hold her hand. Isa took a sip of her coffee, content with any moment where she could share time with her ragazzo (boyfriend).

“How’s your coffee?” he asked as she brought the cup back to her lips. She hummed, savoring the flavor.

“Dark, complex, and intriguing,” Rook answered carefully, meeting his gaze. He stared at her with wide eyes, almost like he expected her to do something amazing. “A perfect blend, just as you had promised. Do you think we could get some for the lighthouse?”

“I was thinking about that earlier,” he chuckled with a nod. “I’m glad you like it.”

“Good because I think you’ve ruined me for all other coffee,” Rook teased, bringing the cup back to her lips. Lucanis smiled, watching the joy and contentment wash over her face.

Chapter Text

“Luca, I’m not so sure about this,” Isa warned, reading over the contract. There was a small blood magic cult that was working outside of Tevinter that had broken off of the Venatori just before the blighted gods had gotten loose. That meant that they were going to be different from the Venatori that they were used to dealing with, and Isa wasn’t exactly great with blood magic.

She had been experimented on by a similar cult when she was a child that left scars covering her body that were now sensitive to blood magic. The last time that she was near any kind of blood magic was when Neve had dealt with Aelia, and Isa was sure that she was going to pass out from the constant burning sensation. It had only been a few months since that fight, and she still remembered how much it had hurt.

Lucanis was aware of her scars and how she got them. He also thought that this would be a good way to get her confidence back. She had no issues facing down blood mages before Aelia, and he thought that this would be a great way to get her back into it. 

“It’ll be alright, I promise,” he reassured as he grabbed her hand. She exhaled, staring at the words. 

If it had been just the Venatori, that would have been one thing, but for it to be a break off cult like what kidnapped her when she was a child hit closer to home for her. Isa glanced up at him again before biting her lip then nodding.

“Alright,” she whispered with a nod, still unsure that this was what she wanted to do. Lucanis held her hand for a moment, letting her back out still if she needed to. 

He did believe that she was ready, even if she wasn’t entirely sure. She had been doing so well against the Venatori that the Archon had asked them to go after, and he was sure that this would be no different. They weren’t supposed to be combat trained either, so it would likely be an easy contract to complete. 

“Then I should tell the client that we’ll accept?” he confirmed. Isa took a deep breath and nodded. If he had this much confidence in her, then she could do it. 

She could do this.

She couldn’t do this.

Isa and Luca had found the small blood magic cult on the border of Tevinter, and they were lying in wait for the Crows. Somehow word had spread, and Lucanis was going to go track down every person the client knew to learn how this happened. 

However, right now, he needed to make sure that no one touched Isa as blood magic flew at them from every direction. Spite was helping as well, and that had made the biggest difference in the end as Isa was trying her hardest to fight against the burning in her skin. She wanted to prove that she was stronger than it, but the mages were noticing that the more magic they produced, the weaker she was getting. 

It was a slog of a battle, but Lucanis and Spite came out on top in the end, choosing to end the fight quickly rather than with their usual style. Isa had stopped moving but Spite insisted that she was still breathing. She was still alive. 

Lucanis ran to her once the last mage was dead. Spite looked her over as she laid on her side, practically catatonic. She was still breathing and her eyes were open and blinking, but she wasn’t responding to him.

“Isa? Isa!” he tried again and again. He shook her shoulder, but he just ended up turning on her back so she could stare at the sky instead of the forest around them. “What’s wrong?”

“Not there. Locked inside,” Spite informed as he looked over Isa. Lucanis looked at him with confusion.

“Locked inside?” Lucanis repeated before shaking his head. “Wait, like the mental ossuary? Like what we were trapped in before Isa opened the doors?”

“Yes. Think so,” Spite answered with a look of uncertainty. It was the demon’s best guess as Lucanis nodded. It wasn’t like Spite could dive into Isa’s head and find out.

Unless...

“Can you connect me to her like you connected her to me?” Lucanis immediately asked as the demon looked between him and the catatonic Crow. 

“Maybe,” Spite sighed before he turned to Lucanis. The Talon nodded before letting the demon take control of the body and then reach for Isa. Lucanis could feel something change as a blinding white light engulfed him. 

When Lucanis could see again, he looked around in confusion. He didn’t recognize this place, but he could tell that they were somewhere in the Fade as the colors around him were muted and mostly grey. Similar to the mental ossuary that he experienced with Spite and Isa. Spite stood by his side as he also looked around confused.

“Don’t recognize this place,” the demon commented with a frown. Lucanis hummed, hoping that they could find Isa somewhere in here.

It was a strange place with a long platform that was held up by what looked like stone hands. There was another platform across the way that was inaccessible since there was a wide chasm that led to an oblivion beneath them. He exhaled, looking around. There were dead trees as well as some stairs that seemed to lead nowhere. 

“You are not supposed to be here,” a voice sounded as Lucanis turned around. 

There were now a large set of stairs that led upward, but someone stood in front of them. Guarding them. 

Isa had explained how the mental ossuary worked to him once, and Lucanis wondered if she had somehow built this out of something he didn’t understand. 

Because he didn’t understand why Bellara stood in front of him now acting as if he were the villain when he was trying to save her. The archivist stood with her arms crossed and an angry expression on her face. Lucanis swallowed, wondering why she would be here. 

Spite sniffed the air.

“Curiosity and familiarity. Solidarity with scents of diversity,” Spite remarked with interest. Lucanis decided to ignore the demon as he walked towards Bellara. 

“Bellara? Have you seen Isa?” Lucanis asked, walking towards her. 

“She’s safer here, Lucanis,” Bellara informed with a frown. Lucanis blinked at her in surprise. 

“Bellara, how are you even here right now? And what do you mean that she’s safer here?” Lucanis asked before Spite touched his shoulder. 

“Not wood elf. Thoughts live here,” Spite explained as Lucanis looked at the demon.

“So, this is Isa’s manifestation of Bellara,” Lucanis guessed as he stared at her. “But what am I supposed to do?”

“Get passed the guards? Bella passed yours,” Spite guessed with a shrug. Lucanis exhaled, shaking his head. He wasn’t even sure where to go with that.

“Bellara, Isa is hurt and in trouble. I have to get to her,” he insisted as Bellara shook her head. 

“She can handle it by herself,” Bellara answered, but her anger was replaced with a sadness. Lucanis stepped towards her. 

“But she doesn’t have to. She should know that by now,” Lucanis replied before Bellara exhaled.

“Please make sure she’s okay,” Bellara whispered before she vanished. 

Lucanis blinked to see that the way upwards was clear. Spite nodded as they walked up the stairs towards a different area. 

The stairs led to what looked like a broken area of the library in the lighthouse. He looked around, confused, wondering why they were here now. 

Davrin walked from around the corner with his arms crossed, staring at him. Spite bristled before the Warden sighed.

“Come on, Lucanis, Isa wants to be left alone,” Davrin informed as Lucanis scoffed. 

“Protective and stoic with a touch of kindness. Soothing presence,” Spite added as Lucanis exhaled, rubbing his face. 

“Dav, you and I both know that’s not what Isa needs right now,” Lucanis argued.

“Right because you always know best, right?” Davrin asked. Lucanis pursed his lips, knowing he deserved that.

“I don’t always know best, but that doesn’t mean I can’t help. Let me help her. I want to help her,” Lucanis answered, nearly pleading. 

“Can you help her?” Davrin asked before Lucanis lifted his shoulders. 

“I won’t know until I try,” Lucanis replied. Davrin exhaled, shaking his head.

“Just don’t get poisoned, alright?” the Warden offered before vanishing. Lucanis nodded, glancing at Spite. 

“How many of these did we have when Isa was going through this?” Lucanis asked as Spite took a moment to think.

“Supposed to have five, but Bella can’t close doors. Ended up with four,” Spite answered as Lucanis groaned. So, at best there would likely be four guards, five at the worst he guessed. “Bella is worth it.”

“She’s more than worth it,” Lucanis agreed as he pressed on, walking through the lighthouse doors. 

The area changed again, and they found themselves in the dining hall of the lighthouse of all places. And Lucanis frowned as he saw a similar visage to himself. 

Unfortunately, that visage was Spite.

“This won’t be confusing,” Lucanis whispered as Spite tilted his head. The false Spite was at least a more muted purple so he could tell them apart visually.

“Why am I here?” Spite wondered, both confused and concerned. The false Spite hissed and sneered at them as if they were trespassers.

“We protect. Bella!” the second Spite growled as Lucanis covered his mouth. He could do this. He dealt with Spite all the time. It was just unfortunate that Isa was usually the one who calmed him down when he was like this. 

“We are protecting Isa,” Lucanis insisted, drawing the fake demon’s attention.

“Then why. Is she. Here?” The fake demon demanded. It was a valid point as Lucanis sighed.

“Because we were protecting her body while she was able to retreat here,” the Talon answered. It was the truth, after all. Isa hadn’t been able to protect herself fully, so he and Spite moved in to make sure that no one could take advantage of her position. 

“She shouldn’t. Be here!” the false demon shouted with far more emotion than Lucanis expected. Even Spite stopped for a moment.

“Then let us help get her out of here,” Lucanis insisted. The muted Spite hissed, shaking his head before frowning. He calmed down a little before snarling at both of them.

“Protect her better,” the fake demon demanded before vanishing. 

Lucanis exhaled in relief as Spite walked over to where his doppelganger had just been standing. He looked over at Lucanis, who just shook his head. He didn’t have a good explanation. 

They walked through the dining hall and into the pantry as there wasn’t a better direction to go, but the path didn’t lead them into the pantry itself. 

The room expanded into a replica of the Diamond’s attic, and Lucanis should have guessed that this would be Isa’s grand protector. Lucanis entered where the eluvian usually was, and he saw Viago standing on the other side where the ziplines usually were. 

Lucanis took a deep breath, knowing that he could do this. He had argued with Viago before and was sure that this wouldn’t be much different from that. 

“Lucanis,” Viago hissed as Lucanis pursed his lips. He didn’t enjoy this anymore since it seemed that everyone was blaming him for Isa getting hurt.

Did that mean that Isa blamed him for her getting hurt? 

“Anger and disappointment with a mix of fear beneath,” Spite informed as Lucanis nodded. Viago’s disappointment always came with a mixture of emotions for both Isa and her brother. 

“You were supposed to look out for her. Now look where she is,” Viago scolded, shaking his head. “She should have known better than to take this contract.”

“I was the one who insisted that she was ready,” Lucanis mentioned, surprised at his fellow Talon. Viago shook his head.

“You do not command my Crow yet, Dellamorte. She is not your wife yet.”

“I will not command her at any time, Viago. She has free will, and she gets to take what contract she likes,” Lucanis scoffed before wincing. “But I may have pushed this onto her prematurely.”

“Regardless, she is now stuck here by her own hand, regardless of whether or not you pushed her. I should have trained her better. She knows better than this,” Viago insisted, shaking his head.

“Viago would not be mad at you, Isa!” Lucanis shouted, realizing that arguing with Viago would not be conducive. Viago smirked and turned to Lucanis.

“Wouldn’t I? My prized Crow lying on her side in the middle of a battlefield like a fainting goat,” Viago mentioned as Lucanis sneered. “Yes, there’s so much to be proud of there.”

“He knows about your scars, Isa. He would know that this wouldn’t be your fault,” Lucanis insisted loudly before staring at Viago. “We are going to find out who set us up and take them out, amor (love). You know as well as I do that cultists don’t set up random ambush points for the fun of it.”

“I suppose so,” Viago hummed before placing his hands behind his back. “Find who did this and avenge my House’s pride, Dellamorte.”

And with that, Viago vanished. Lucanis exhaled, thanking every lucky star in the sky that he had made it through that. 

He walked through the doorway that went through the ziplines, and Lucanis expected to find Isa somewhere that looked like the de Riva estate or maybe the Dellamorte villa. 

However, he walked into the Dellamorte opera house, and it looked similar to the night when he and Isa went to fight Illario after rescuing Caterina. He looked around, confused about why she would be here. 

“Isa?” Lucanis called out.

From the left side of the stage, a familiar figure walked out, and Lucanis found himself appalled and speechless. Out of the shadows walked a man that he knew very well dressed in the same clothing that he wore that night that they had saved Caterina. 

Lucanis watched himself take center stage with a goblet of wine in hand and Spite’s wings extended behind him. 

“What is this?” Lucanis asked, completely shocked. He didn’t even know where to start. 

“Smells of power, authority, and pride. Spite in every breath,” Spite answered in surprise. 

“Isa!” Lucanis called out again, more frightened for her wellbeing more than anything else. 

“She’s fine, Lucanis,” the First Talon informed before Lucanis sneered.

“What are you?” he demanded, stepping forward towards the stage. “Surely you are not what Isa thinks of me.”

“No, I am not,” the First Talon admitted before taking a sip of the wine from the goblet. “I am what the prison created from my knowledge of the Crows and what happened that night you were deemed First Talon. Isa will not let me see you.”

“What... what are you talking about?” Lucanis hissed angrily, shaking his head. Spite looked at a loss for words, unsure what was going on either. 

“Isa has fed her thoughts over her time with the Dread Wolf, but she has learned to lock down her thoughts since then. Therefore, I have not seen anything of you since her time in the Fade Prison. I’ve had to gather what I can from the fragments left behind to build a protector from nothing,” the First Talon answered as Lucanis shook his head. “You are standing in the Prison of the Gods, Lucanis.”

“What?” Lucanis hissed angrily.

“Blood magic is a weird thing. It was what allowed Solas to grant Isa access to the prison in the first place, was it not?” the First Talon pointed out as Lucanis started to seethe with anger. “Something in the blood magic brought her back here. Surely you didn’t think that she would give up that easily?”

“Did you do this?” Lucanis growled before the First Talon laughed.

“I had no hand in it. Whoever was casting the blood magic was the one responsible. However, knowing you Crows, I would think that they have already been dispatched,” the First Talon answered with a shrug. Lucanis clenched his jaw, at least glad for that peace of mind. 

“What are you?” he asked with an anger he couldn’t understand himself.

“I already told you. I am a phantom of what little I can glean from her understanding of the events that took place here,” the First Talon repeated before gesturing towards the opera house around him. “And I have been deemed the watcher and protector of Rook.”

“That is not her name!” Lucanis shouted as the First Talon smirked.

“It is the only name that matters in the end. It’s what Thedas will remember as, and it’s what she’s known best for. The Not-Quite-Sentimental Crow,” the First Talon answered before Lucanis practically vibrated with anger. 

“Her name is Isabella Maria Carmella de Riva, and you know nothing. She is perfect in every way, especially at her job.”

“Even on today’s contract?”

“Especially on today’s! Do you know how many would have left the moment things turned scary or looked back? Yet she stood and fought until she physically could not! She relied on me to protect her, and I did!” Lucanis shouted as the First Talon huffed.

“Then why is she in here instead of out in the real world?” the First Talon asked before Lucanis sighed.

“Because I cannot protect her from herself, as much as I would like to. But I made sure that she was safe while she was vulnerable when it mattered, and now I am coming to get her,” Lucanis answered as Spite cheered behind him. The First Talon sighed.

“And if she does not go with you?”

“Then she will learn that she is not the only stubborn one in this relationship.”

Lucanis glared at the mockery of himself before he vanished as well. He caught his breath before glancing at the demon, who shook his head. He didn’t know that they had entered into the Prison of the Gods. Into Solas’s prison. Neither of them even realized that it still existed. 

The curtains on the stage opened to the next area, and Lucanis hoped that Isa would be there behind them. He paused for a moment, looking back at Spite.

“Does that mean that we are in the Prison of Regrets?” Lucanis wondered as Spite shook his head.

“Not sure. Could be. But we haven’t. Seen any regrets,” Spite pointed out as Lucanis nodded, wondering if he was just in his head about this. Seeing himself like that had unnerved him, and he was afraid that was how Isa truly saw him. 

With a deep breath, he walked through the curtains on the stage as they went into the next area. 

The light faded and he found himself in a small cottage where Isa was sitting in the far corner with a dagger in her hand. Their eyes met, and her fury surfaced for a fraction of a moment.

“I said you can’t come in here,” she growled before throwing the dagger at him. 

“Whoa, hey!” Lucanis replied as he dodged, revealing Spite behind him to her. 

Isa’s face immediately changed as she stood and took a few careful steps towards him. 

“Luca? Is that really you?” she asked carefully. He sighed, staring at the dagger which was now embedded in the wall behind him. 

“Yes, it’s really me,” Lucanis answered with a nod. She swallowed, still not fully convinced. “Did that poor imitation of me try to tell you that he was me? Is that what you think of me, amor (love)?”

“Oh grazie al Hacedor e a qualsiasi altro dio stia ascoltando (Oh thank the Maker and whatever other gods are listening)!” Isa cheered before she ran up to him and threw her arms around his neck. Lucanis caught her and exhaled, glad that she wasn’t hurt worse. “And definitely not! I blinked during the battle and ended up here. This is where Solas was trapped, and the Fade has been tricks on me ever since. It knew of you, but it didn’t know you like I do. It kept trying to get in my head.”

“Bella is alright,” Spite mentioned before Isa reached for the demon, dragging him in for an embrace as well. 

“I’m so much better now that you are here,” she whispered as tears started falling down her face. “I was so scared that I wasn’t going to get out, and everything kept telling me that I was safe now. I supposed it was right, but I couldn’t unlock the door.”

“Are you sure this isn’t like my mental ossuary?” Lucanis wondered as Isa shook her head.

“I don’t know. I just knew that I was scared and stuck. I kept hearing your voice shouting and then he kept asking questions about you. It was a nightmare,” she answered with a frown. 

“And what about the contract?” Lucanis asked, knowing that it was what landed her here in the first place. She frowned as fear crossed her features. “I think that was what was feeding the prison this time, amor (love).”

“Cazzo (Fuck),” she hissed before hanging her head. “I... I think you’re right, Luca. I wanted it to go well so badly, and when it didn’t, I panicked. I didn’t think it would send me here, though.”

“Fucking blood magic,” Lucanis whispered before embracing her again. “There is no one to blame for the contract except the client or whoever else sold us out. Right? We were fully prepared for everything else.”

“It... it might take some time for me to accept that,” Isa admitted, looking at him. Lucanis held her cheek and nodded. 

“As long as you promise me that you don’t blame you or me for landing you in this prison, then I am willing to work with that,” he replied. She smirked weakly and nodded.

“I don’t blame you or me anymore. I might have at first, but I don’t think that now,” she reassured. He kissed her forehead, deciding to let the matter of blame drop. 

A white light engulfed them before Lucanis opened his eyes to see the trees surrounding them again, and he took a deep breath. Isa immediately reached for him when she came to, uncomfortable with the idea that he would be far from her. 

Lucanis grabbed her hand and kissed the leather covering her knuckles, calming her a little.

“Should we head home and let Viago know that we have a rat somewhere?” Lucanis asked as Isa stared at him before nodding.

“And I want to kill them myself, if you would allow me,” Isa asked as he smirked. 

“Absolutely, mi amor (my love). Absolutely,” he promised before helping her to her feet.

Chapter Text

Find Bella 

Spite grumbled in the back of Lucanis’s mind as the rain poured down onto the streets of Treviso. Lucanis had just finished a contract and was on his way home when the sky decided to split open and pour water everywhere. 

Now the demon wanted to find Isa, which Lucanis had to admit he wanted to as well. It was hard to think of her all cozy and warm within the villa without him while he was marching through the downpour. 

With a little extra help from his demonic companion, Lucanis was able to rush through the streets of the city and head towards home. Hopefully, Isa would have a fire going and maybe some coffee as well. Mierda (Shit), coffee sounded wonderful right now.

He practically crashed through the front doors of his home, startling some of the staff there. He quickly apologized as they helped him with his coat. 

"Have you seen Isabella around?" Lucanis asked one of the maids before she shook her head.

"Señora (Mrs.) Dellamorte hasn't been in the common areas most of the day, señor (sir)," she answered and took her leave. Lucanis hummed as Spite complained again in the back of his mind.

Find Bella. Too cold

The demon grumbled loudly as Lucanis sighed. He could argue with the demon that he wouldn't feel the cold if he stepped out of their body, but he knew that Spite was just looking for an excuse to be close to Isa. Not that Lucanis needed an extra excuse to be near his wife. 

"Then help me find her, you louse," Lucanis hissed out loud. Spite growled at the name calling, but both knew that there wasn't any malice behind it. It was more of a warning that Spite was getting a little too obnoxious. 

The Talon climbed the stairs up to their chambers, expecting to find her either reading or mixing poisons. She still felt strange continuing her poison craft in another place other than the de Riva estate, but she admitted that going back and forth was more tedious. So, she had set up a small desk in the corner of their bedroom. 

However, when he opened the door, he found that she was doing neither. Instead, she was fast asleep on the bed taking an afternoon nap. It was rare that he found her asleep like this, but he was always glad that she felt comfortable enough to rest here. 

Slowly and carefully, he walked over to her silently, removing his shoes and outer jacket before sliding under the covers to join her. The demon purred in the back of his mind as they drew nearer to Isa.

However, as soon as he went to reach around her, Isa's eyes flew open as she scrambled out of bed almost in a panic. Lucanis froze, surprised by her reaction. 

"No, no, no," she hissed as she got to her feet, turning to point at him. She had dragged one of the blankets with her as she wrapped it around her shoulders. "Your hands are too cold for that, signor."

"I- What?" he asked, a little amused by the response. He had been worried that he had startled her into an attack mode or something. 

"I can feel the chill from over here, Luca. How do you live like that?" Isa asked as if she were offended by the idea of letting himself get that cold. He propped himself up on an elbow and chuckled.

"It was raining, amor (love). A torrential downpour. There's only so much I can do under those circumstances," he argued with a smile. She narrowed her eyes, knowing that he was plotting something. "I was hoping that you would be waiting for your pobre marido (poor husband) with a nice cup of coffee or something."

"We don't have a coffee maker up here," she pointed out with a poor excuse as he sighed.

"That would improve the space, wouldn't it?" he teased while she watched him carefully. 

"We're not putting a coffee maker in our bedroom. You'd never leave."

"Oh, that's not true. There are still things I would need to do. Jobs and work and the like."

"Why don't you go make some coffee, and come back when you are all nice and warm?" Isa suggested pointedly, humming at the end of her suggestion. Lucanis tilted his head in thought and shrugged.

"Coffee would be nice, but it's such a long way away," he mentioned with a thinly veiled smirk. "I think you should come back into my arms so you can warm me up."

"No, you'll steal all my body heat," she argued stubbornly with a shake of her head. Lucanis had a very hard time not laughing at that. 

"Well, then I can warm you up then," Lucanis suggested as Spite separated from him to nod emphatically. Isa narrowed her eyes at the demon as well. 

"That would still involve me getting cold," she emphasized, wrapping the blanket tightly around her. 

"I think you are being a touch dramatic."

"You're the one who rushed in all ready to freeze me."

"Now that is being dramatic," he added, trying really hard not to laugh. She cracked a smile for just a moment before she shook her head.

"I am not dramatic. I am just honest. Now go see to your coffee, and when your hands are normal temperature, we can discuss maybe snuggling," Isa teased as Lucanis gaped at her.

"Maybe? Just a maybe?"

"You are making fun of me. I don't know if I want to cuddle with a man who is dedicated to making light of his wife."

"Oh, don't you start that. You are trying not to smile," he accused as she turned away from him pretending to be irritated. However, he could see the sparkle in her eyes that said that she passed her annoyance. "Just come here to me, Isa."

"You are frigid, amore (love). I shan't," Isa replied as she struggled to suppress her laughter, turning fully away from him. He nearly cackled at her word usage. 

"Frigid? I've been called many things but frigid? That's a first," Lucanis remarked as he slowly slid out of the bed towards her while she had her back turned. 

He had played right where she wanted him as she moved out of his reach right as he sprang forward. Isa laughed over her shoulder before she dashed down the hall with the blanket fluttering like a cape behind her. Lucanis hummed with amusement as Spite buzzed with anticipation. The demon loved a good game of chase, especially through the nearly empty hallways of the villa. 

Isa never made it easy for them, either. 

She was quicker than she looked, and even with Spite's wings, Lucanis found that she sometimes could cut a corner faster than he could. Of course, the purpose of the game was not to outrun completely, but just to stay out of reach for just long enough to keep the game interesting. She danced on the line between competitive and entertaining like a bard, and she loved every moment of it. He wouldn't change a thing, either.

Lucanis flew down the corridor with the help of Spite's wings, but Isa had already dipped near the balcony door, ducking through before he had a chance to reach her. By the time they opened the door, Isa had already landed on the floor below and was rushing into the hallways beneath them. Spite grumbled in his mind as Lucanis laughed under his breath. Next time, he should remember to lock the balcony doors to see what she would do then if he could predict a chase. 

He could hear a few maids exhale with exasperation, wondering where the decorum of the Dellamorte name went to, but Lucanis could hardly care less. Isa brightened up the place and brought new livelihood to the villa. If a few maids wanted to turn their nose up at them, then he would let them. He was happier than he had been in years. 

As he reached the hallway Isa went down, Lucanis could see her peeking around the corner with a wild look in her eye. It was one that she usually got whenever they played this game. It was like she unlocked something inside her that told her to run before the predator comes. It wasn't fear, but it was something primal. A challenge. 

Spite gave him a push as they rushed forward before Isa vanished around the corner again, and the demon vibrated in his mind with excitement. 

Want to find. Catch. Touch.

She's around here somewhere. 

Sometimes she doesn't. Play fair.

You wouldn't have nearly as much fun if she played by the rules, though.

True. Bella knows. What we like.

Most of the staff knew by now what it looked like when the couple chased each other through the hallways. While both Isa and Lucanis were good at keeping out of the way of their staff and their jobs, the staff was just thankful that they didn't throw weapons at each other while they ran after each other. After hearing the horror stories of what the de Riva siblings' fights were like, it was a relief that Isa was calmer with her husband. 

Lucanis reached a point where he believed that he would have cornered Isa only to find the area empty. Spite hummed before hissing, telling him to look upwards. He cursed under his breath, genuinely impressed that Isa managed to climb up to the balcony with a blanket in her arms still. She leaned over the railing casually with a wide grin, smiling like a cat who got the cream. 

Bella plays dangerously.

She's toying with us.

Always does. Likely always will.

I suppose we'll never be bored.

Good.

Spite spread their wings as Lucanis launched them into the air, making a quick shortcut to the second floor. Isa smiled before slipping through the door again, dashing away as her husband continued the chase. By now, they had essentially cleared the entire villa, and he was sure that Isa would give up the game eventually. The only way for her to win was to outrun him, but that wasn't the point of the game. At least, he didn't think so. 

"Isa," Lucanis called out as Spite slipped his voice in a little to make it gravellier. She liked it when they did that. "Where are you, mi amor (my love)?"

"It's no fun when you know where I am," Isa answered, throwing her voice so it echoed across the hall. If he really focused, he could pinpoint where she was, but that wasn't the game. The game was to track her, not to hunt her down like a target. This was meant to be fun. 

"I beg to differ, Isa," Lucanis chuckled. "We usually have more fun when we are together. Don't we?"

Isa didn't answer, but he already knew. He was only goading her out into the open, even if it wasn't going to work. He would need to find her in the old-fashioned way as he usually did. 

He searched the rooms as he kept his ear open for any slight noises that could be her sneaking around. Each room was dark and empty, cold due to the weather. He shivered, closing each door before he thought to head back to their room. He wondered if she would be waiting in there for him after all. 

As Lucanis walked back into the bedroom, he saw that the fire in the hearth was now a full roar and there were two cups of coffee on the side table next to the bed. He paused, a little surprised by the change in his room as he had found Isa alone in the dark room when he had first come in. 

Isa jumped on him from the side, wrapping her arms around him as she planted a kiss on his cheek before chuckling. Lucanis caught himself before wrapping his arms around her in return, still a little stunned.

"What is this?" he finally asked, gesturing towards the room. She shrugged and sighed.

"Well, I was going to have coffee ready for you when you got home, but I fell asleep instead. When you woke me up, I realized I had ruined the surprise," Isa answered before frowning. "And you really were dreadfully cold. Like you were made of ice, cuore mio (my heart)." 

"I didn't think I had gotten that cold," Lucanis chuckled as she rolled her eyes.

"You were that cold, amore (love). You woke me from a dead sleep from your chilly aura alone, so something had to be done," she informed firmly before grinning as if she had won the game. "But I lost you long enough to start the fire, and I had the coffee on before I fell asleep. Hopefully it's still good."

"I'm sure it's wonderful," he reassured before he raised a brow at her. "But you aren't shying away from me now. Do I not have that chilly aura as you put it?"

"After making you run all around the villa for half an hour? No, I think you have started to warm up back to your normal self," Isa reassured, leaning into him. Lucanis stared at her in almost disbelief before Spite snickered in the back of his mind, enjoying Isa's embrace all the same. "What? It worked, didn't it?"

"You are devious," he teased before kissing her forehead. "Do we still need to discuss the possibility of cuddling, or can I please love on my wife a little?"

"I suppose I am amenable to a little bit of cuddling," Isa replied with a hum and a smirk. Lucanis narrowed his eyes playfully before quickly picking her up. Isa shouted in surprise with laughter trailing after before he dropped her on the bed, rolling her up in the blanket as tightly as he could. She laughed as she made his task a little difficult with some mild struggle. She had a feeling that she would like whatever game that he was thinking up. "Luca? What are you doing?"

"You said you were cold, mi amor (my love). I am simply making sure that you stay warm in that blanket after rushing around the frigid villa," Lucanis teased with a wide smile. He flipped her onto her stomach as she cackled before he rolled her over again, effectively trapping her in the lengthened fabric. "Now you shall stay nice and toasty, amor (love)."

"And how am I supposed to drink my coffee now?" Isa asked with a playful whine, resting her head on the pillow as she wiggled in her new cocoon. Lucanis hummed as he looked over at the two mugs.

"I suppose you will have to ask for help, or I could drink it for you. Since I was so cold earlier," he offered as she narrowed her eyes at him.

"Get over here," she remarked, shaking her head as she tried to free one of her arms. Lucanis climbed over her, gave her a quick kiss, and settled behind her, trapping her movements underneath the blanket before bringing another around them. "Are you content now?"

"Oh, very much so," Lucanis answered with a smirk. He kissed her cheek again as she looked over her shoulder with her limited movement. "It's not often that I get to trap my wife willingly like this."

"It's a good thing you warmed up, amore mio (my love)," she exhaled before she yawned. "You should tell me how the job went and remind me why I couldn't have gone with you on this one."

"You mean the exceedingly boring job where everything was done in a matter of an hour? You would have been bored and cold, Isa. You would have been miserable," Lucanis chuckled as she rolled her eyes at him. "But I promise, if I find another boring contract, you can come along with me on that one as well."

"You are insufferable."

"No, I'm not."

"Just take me with you next time. I'd rather be with you than in the villa by myself. You know that," she reminded, glancing back at him. He nodded with a gentle smile. 

"Alright, we'll at least talk about it before I rush out the door on short notice," he amended as she nodded. It wasn't that he didn't want her on this last job. It was last moment, and it had been something that he could quickly get done in less than an hour. It was supposed to be a chore or an errand, but it seemed that Isa saw it differently. 

"Thank you," Isa replied before shifting so she could look over at him more easily. "And maybe don't take jobs where it's supposed to be a torrential downpour, alright? You really were that cold. Don't you have a proper jacket or coat? And your clock doesn't count."

"We can go to the market for one later when the rain lets up," Lucanis offered as she hummed, knowing that the answer was no. "I never had to worry about that before."

"Well, now you do, especially with the winter months coming up. I expect you to find some very good gloves, Luca, if you want to sneak under the covers like you did today," Isa warned with a smirk. Lucanis chuckled before kissing her deeply. She exhaled, enjoying it before she wiggled away. "Alright, let me out of the cocoon so I can feel you, amore (love)."

"I don't know, I kind of enjoy the idea of you being restrained," he admitted, tilting his head to the side with a mischievous grin. She rolled her eyes and smirked, her eyes darkening. 

"Well, we can explore that more when I'm not restrained by a cocoon," she suggested before he helped unwrap her so she could grab his face to pull him down towards her again. He chuckled, letting her guide him as he rested an elbow next to her, hovering above her as her fingers threaded through his beard.

Chapter Text

Lucanis felt like he was going to tear out his hair. Spite had been on edge all day, and nothing he said seemed to calm down the demon. He was at his wits’ end and a complete loss. 

Isabella had taken a rare contract from Viago after several of his own de Riva Crows had failed it, and he had turned to his sister as a last resort. He said that it was one that she would have succeeded several days ago, and Viago was losing his patience. He said that he was about to go instead before Isabella assured him that she would go. In an effort to help her former House, Isabella took the contract, and now she had been gone for a few days.

Generally, whenever one of them had a contract, they either both went or it was only for a day or two of them being apart. This would be the fifth day that Isabella had been gone, and Spite wanted to go out and find her. He believed that she could have been hurt or worse, and while Lucanis knew that she was a capable Crow, there wasn’t anything he could do to convince the demon that she was more than likely perfectly fine.

Spite had seen what Isabella was capable of combat-wise. He had fought alongside her and Lucanis for years at this point, but that didn’t stop him from worrying and growing panicky whenever she was gone from their side for days on end. It mostly came from a lack of understanding, even if Lucanis insisted that this was logical and fine.

He saw no reason why they couldn’t go with her, but Lucanis had to make stupid excuses to keep them at the villa. Apparently, the First Talon was needed for a few meetings with other Crows and merchant princes that couldn’t be rescheduled, which meant that Isa had to venture out alone. 

So, Spite paced and complained, constantly muttering to himself before yelling on occasion at Lucanis for being too busy all the time. Lucanis had to remind him that this was the first time in years that they hadn’t been able to attach themselves to Isa at the hip, and all three of them would indeed be fine. 

Lucanis had also tried to explain that some distance once in a while was healthy for them, but Spite would not hear about it. He fully believed that Isa should be within his reach and eyesight at all times. Too many had taken her already that Spite did not like the idea of her being by herself without backup for long periods of time. Even if most of the taking happened while she was with her people. 

The demon shook his head, needing to figure out how to get to Isa. Lucanis had become wise to many of his tricks by now. He couldn’t convince the Talon to read to him anymore in an effort to lower his guard or to fall asleep. Lucanis had even gone as far as increasing his coffee intake to keep the demon at bay again. At least this time, Spite was willing to at least listen somewhat. 

“Need Bella found,” Spite insisted before Lucanis took a deep breath. He had been able to sit down at his desk in his office for a few minutes to sort through a couple old contracts that he had been meaning to get to, but it seemed that the demon wanted to be a menace instead.

“Isa is fine, and she doesn’t need to be found. She’s working on a contract in Rialto. She’ll be back tomorrow at the latest,” Lucanis insisted. Viago would have said something if she was going to take longer than a week to return to him. He wasn’t going to admit that he was getting worried, either. Not to the demon, at least. 

“Too long. No letter. No note. Nothing. Unlike her,” Spite pointed out bitterly as Lucanis sighed.

“On a contract, she likely doesn’t have the time or a spare thought to think about that,” the Talon reminded, glancing up at his demon. Spite glowered, but he knew how focused Isa could become while she was working. It was one of the reasons why Lucanis enjoyed going with her. He could break her concentration just long enough to give her a reset. 

“Don’t like it. Should check on her still,” the demon grumbled. 

The same old argument. It would be best if Isa would just come home sooner, but Lucanis wasn’t given the details of the contract. He had no idea where she had gone for the job, but he trusted Viago not to send her anywhere dangerous. He was still her brother, after all. 

“I can’t do that without knowing where she is, and we don’t know where she is right now. Viago knows where the contract was, but that doesn’t mean that she’s still there.”

“You said Rialto.”

“And Rialto is a large city, Spite. She could be safe and back in Treviso by the time we got there and were able to track down her trail,” Lucanis argued, giving up on trying to finish his work for now. He was just rereading the same paragraph over and over again, and he decided to just leave it for later. 

“Shouldn’t have gone alone.”

“She did and there isn’t anything we can do to change that now.”

“Bad excuse.”

“Then can you just magic her here? That’s the only solution that doesn’t involve you waiting patiently,” Lucanis remarked a little bitterly. Spite glared at him before crossing his arms. “Isa is fine, and you will see soon enough.”

“Soon isn’t good enough,” Spite griped. Lucanis threw his hands up in the air and shook his head.

“Why is it that you can’t ever relax when she’s not around? I know that Isa is your favorite person, as she’s mine as well, but I don’t understand why she gives you this calming sensation,” Lucanis finally asked, stunning the demon. Spite tilted his head in confusion, almost acting like the answer should be obvious. 

“Bella cares. Bella loves. She never harms us, but evil targets her. Always. They take her and imprison her. When we watch. When we don’t. Don’t like when she’s not around,” Spite answered honestly before Lucanis leaned back in his seat. 

Spite was genuinely worried about Isabella’s wellbeing, and Lucanis had to admit that he was surprised by that. Demons didn’t worry or concern themselves with others, and while Lucanis knew that Spite coveted and treasured Isa, it never occurred to Lucanis that Spite might actually love Isa. The demon was only ever worried about her, and Lucanis wondered what exactly went on in Spite’s head. 

“I suppose that makes sense,” Lucanis admitted with a whisper before nodding. 

Spite rolled his eyes before they widened and quite literally lit up. Lucanis furrowed his brow, watching the demon before he felt the dull edge of a knife press against his throat. 

“You are getting too relaxed, amore (love),” Isa whispered in his ear before kissing his temple. Lucanis chuckled, turning to her only when she removed the dull weapon. “Are you getting enough sleep?”

“Spite would have warned me about an unwelcome intruder, and you can thank Spite for keeping me up for the last three days,” Lucanis insisted with a relieved smile. “You are a few days later than you usually are, though.”

“The contract went better than we expected, but getting out of Rialto ended up being the tricky part. Turns out the target had some mercenary allies, but the local Crows and I were able to... persuade them to leave eventually,” Isa answered, sitting on the edge of his desk next to him. She figured that they could work on the sleep issue later. She could talk to Spite about letting Lucanis sleep while she was gone was something he needed to let happen. “Once that was done, we were able to get home easily enough.”

“Spite was worried,” Lucanis smirked as Isa hummed. She realized that was likely the reason why Lucanis hadn’t really slept the last few days. 

“Only Spite?” she wondered with a light teasing tone before he shook his head.

“Of course not. I just know that you will always come home to me,” Lucanis insisted as Spite grumbled with irritation. Isa smirked and shook her head. “He thinks that you are going to get taken again like Solas did a while ago.”

“Yeah, that’s a constant worry for us both,” Isa admitted before squeezing his hand. That was a scar that never really healed. The Fade Prison was a constant worry for her, but she had made strides to keep it in her past rather than her present or future. Neve had helped with more wards against blood magic, and they hoped that they would be enough. “But I’m fine, so we’re all good. Right?”

“He’s finally relaxed, which makes my life easier,” Lucanis added. Isa hummed before chuckling. “I’m a little surprised by Spite’s intense concern for you, though, Isa. It feels like it goes beyond his usual interest in you.”

“Oh? What do you mean?” Isabella wondered, feeling cold air against her back as Spite rested behind her. The demon placed his head on her shoulder as he watched Lucanis, also curious to know what the Talon had discovered. Spite wasn’t ever sure what Lucanis picked up on since the Talon had learned to keep some thoughts to himself. 

“His intentions feel more genuine than just obsession like we thought it was.”

“That you thought it was.”

“You didn’t think he was obsessed with you?” Lucanis asked, a little skeptical.

“No more obsessed with me than you were. He just tends to be more vocal about it than you are,” Isa pointed out as Lucanis groaned. Lucanis tended to show his affections rather than proclaim them while Spite would practically shout from the mountaintops that he would stop at nothing to protect Isa. 

“I’m more inclined to agree with that sentiment now. I think he feels genuine love for you, Isa. Something we’ve never seen in a demon ever before,” Lucanis mentioned as if he had discovered a great secret. Demons weren’t supposed to feel emotions like love or affection. At least, that was Lucanis’s understanding up until now. Isabella blinked at him, realizing that he did think he had revealed something huge.

“Luca, I knew that already. Did you think that Spite’s interest in me was pure obsession and possession?” she wondered softly as he nodded immediately.

“Of course I thought that. That’s what demons do. That’s what they are,” Lucanis explained earnestly. He was not the insane one here. He was going off of knowledge that he had been taught for decades. What he knew of demons prior to knowing Spite. Isa raised a brow before sighing. 

“Luca,” she whispered before he shook his head. He recognized that tone. It was one she used when she thought he was missing the mark. He knew he was onto something here. 

“No, Isa, Spite shouldn’t be capable of love. Not like this,” he insisted. Lucanis knew that she was going to tell him about her theory that the demon was somewhere between a demon and a spirit again. 

“Amore (Love), he lives inside your head, so how am I still the one who understands him better than you?” Isa countered with a sigh. Lucanis frowned at that. “Maybe Spite is a demon. Maybe Spite is a spirit. Maybe he is neither, or both. I don’t know. What I do know is that you will feel better if you stop putting everyone into your little boxes. That includes the entity that lives inside you now.”

“My... my little boxes?” Lucanis asked, suddenly surprised. He wasn’t entirely sure what she meant.

“Yes, you’re little boxes,” she answered before clearing her throat to mimic Spite’s voice the best she could. “People come in three kinds. Family. Enemies. Contracts.”

Lucanis scoffed before he could catch himself. She raised a brow at him before he shook his head.

“You know I don’t believe that anymore,” Lucanis insisted as Isabella lifted her shoulders.

“Maybe not, but you are still categorizing everything into little boxes. You have to break the mold,” Isa argued, folding her arms. 

“You want me to admit that Spite isn’t a demon,” Lucanis practically accused. Isa rolled her eyes in exasperation. 

“I want you to acknowledge that Spite isn’t going to act like you expect him to all the time. You come to me with surprise all the time, you know. It’s getting to the point where I can only pretend to be surprised for so long.”

“So, you are not concerned that Spite is exhibiting these new emotions?”

“You mean learning from you?” Isa argued before he clicked his mouth shut. “For a demon not called Learning, he sure learns a lot.”

Spite cackled at that before burying his face in her neck with glee. Lucanis glowered at the demon as Isa smirked.

“You’re encouraging him,” Lucanis muttered as Isa nodded.

“Good. Someone has to,” she remarked. “Now this wasn’t how I thought my return would go, and I did come to see you before Viago, so I can’t stay here very long.”

“What possessed you to do that?” he groaned, wondering if that would make Spite worse while they waited for her to finish at the estate. Viago’s debriefings always took three times as long as any other Talon’s did. Isa leaned down and kissed his cheek.

“Because I missed my boys,” she whispered with a wink. He sighed with a rueful smile. “And I’m sure that Viago is going to want me to explain what I did and how I did it to the Crows who failed so that they can learn better for next time.”

“Is there any way I could convince Viago to not give you anymore contract?” Lucanis wondered as she hummed.

“If you trained his Crows better, maybe,” she teased as he frowned. That would be akin to a death sentence. “To be honest, this was a tough contract, and I would like to know who commissioned it. The contract was misleading, and it makes me wonder if it was meant to draw Crows into dangerous situations.”

“An interesting accusation.”

“I’ll chat with the de Riva guildmaster about it. If anything comes up, I’ll talk to you and Viago about it. If it’s nothing, then it was just a misleading contract that happened to be unfortunate.”

“Do you really believe in coincidence at this point?” he wondered as she shrugged.

“I’ll take it over Crow killers,” Isa answered before sighing. “Anyway, I should get going.”

“I wish you could take Spite with you,” Lucanis complained as the demon glowered over her shoulder. Isa laughed as she stood from the desk. 

“Dramatic response,” she teased, kissing his forehead as he sighed. “I’ll be home for dinner, at least. I’ll send a message by crow if not. You’re always welcome to swing by the Diamond as well. I’m sure Teia would appreciate the backup.”

“I thought it would be at the estate,” Lucanis mentioned as Isa sighed.

“Teia’s idea. Viago tends to keep the peace a little better at the Diamond with other Houses present. This was a rather temper inducing one, so we’re hoping to keep his heart rate down,” she answered with a wink. Lucanis grimaced, wondering exactly how badly this went before she had to get involved. 

“Maybe we should take a vacation after this,” he suggested as she tilted her head.

“If you’d like. I’m not sure where we’d go,” Isabella replied, a little unsure how to respond to that. “We’re not really the ones who need the vacation.”

“We’re not inviting your brother.”

“That certainly would make it not a vacation. He’d find a way to work during it.”

“I’m not entire convinced you won’t do that,” Lucanis teased before she shook her head with a half-smile. 

“Go with her,” Spite hissed as Lucanis sighed.

“We’ll go with you,” Lucanis added as she smirked.

“Spite has good ideas, amore (love),” Isa chuckled, pulling him to his feet. “Viago will also appreciate the First Talon’s support in this, I’m sure.”

“In what way?”

“Scaring the shit out of the Crows who couldn’t get it done.”

“Really?”

“Ha, no, not really. But having you there will ensure that this is important and can’t be overlooked. It will also show that you are involved and interested in contracts. That will convince Crows to complete more jobs efficiently if they know you could be watching,” Isabella explained as he sighed. That wasn’t what he had wanted to be known for. “Oh, come on, it’ll be fine, I promise.”

“Alright, but you should tell me a bit about the contract on the way over so I’m not completely in the dark. I only know that you went to Rialto,” Lucanis reminded as she nodded.

“Fair enough. Well, the job itself wasn’t very exciting, but the events around it were more so,” Isabella admitted.

Spite listed intently as Lucanis threaded her arm around his while they made their way to the Diamond. Spite didn’t have an exact reason why she was his source of calm and peace, but he just felt whole when he and Lucanis were with her. Like he had found the sun for the first time, and when she was gone, he worried that he would never see the sun again. 

Perhaps Lucanis was right and that he was always too concerned about her, but to hear that it was love, something good, made the demon preen. Then to hear that Isa never doubted it was anything less made the demon lighter than air. 

Spite couldn’t care less about what the feeling was called as long as he was allowed to continue to feel it and still be around Isa. The peace he felt with her was unparalleled and something he would like to keep and share with both her and Lucanis if they would let him.

Chapter Text

Spite once asked Lucanis about children and if Isa’s family were to get any. Lucanis quickly avoided the topic at all costs, saying that it was up to her and that it was none of his business. The conversation happened long before any feelings had been exchanged and they existed only as friends. 

Now Lucanis and Isa were married, and Spite had a better understanding of the process. 

It didn’t mean he liked it. 

“Stop staring,” Isa warned as she looked up at the demon over her book. She had gained the ability to see the demon after her experience in the Fade Prison, and this had been the first instance where she wished that she couldn’t see Spite.

She was about eight and half months pregnant with their first born, and Spite was very concerned for her. He couldn’t help but stare and be over all confused. Lucanis had explained what was going to happen, but Spite didn’t think that the baby was going to make Isa explode like the slowest bomb in history. 

Lucanis insisted that she wasn’t going to explode, but the baby was just growing inside her. It was normal for people to grow like that. Spite didn’t believe him. It sounded like it was made up. Even when Isa backed him up, Spite wasn’t so sure.

So, now Spite watched over her like a hawk, watching her stomach like something was going to happen. Spite had just about lost his mind when he saw the baby move for the first time. 

“I’m fine, Spite,” Isa reassured again as the demon grew a little closer. It wasn’t that Spite thought she was going to die, though. He had seen plenty of mothers with children, after all. “Where’s Lucanis?”

“Don’t know.”

“Why don’t you go find him?”

“Watching Bella.” 

Isa exhaled as she marked her page and started to stand up. Spite started to fret a little as she struggled to stand from the armchair. She glared at him before standing to her full height, arching her back to stretch it out. 

She threw her book down where she had been sitting and exhaled. Lucanis would likely be in his office or possibly checking with the Crows guarding the place.

Spite hadn’t been the only one who had about lost his mind when she reached this condition. 

Isa counted about thirty Crows watching the villa the other day, and those were just the ones she could see outside. It wasn’t like she could really do much with her belly in the way, but it still seemed like a bit much. 

“Bella,” Spite called out to her as she sighed.

“We are going to find Luca. I need to stretch my legs,” she informed as she waddled down the hallway. 

“Should sit.”

“My muscles are going to atrophy is I sit any longer,” she hissed, shaking her head. 

As she turned the corner towards the office, she nearly bumped into Illario reading over a contract. Isa sighed before apologizing as Illario chuckled.

“The demon driving you crazy again?” Illario guessed, noticing that she seemed distracted as Isa nodded. Spite hissed as she glanced over shoulder at him. “Are you sure you should be wandering around?”

“Oh mio- Hacedor, aiutami (Oh my- Maker, help me!)!” Isa practically shouted as her patience was fraying. Illario smirked at her outburst, finding it uncharacteristic and somewhat humorous. “I’m fine! Hacedor (Maker), I’m not dying, and I’m not fragile. I can handle wandering around the hallways.”

“Apologies,” Illario smirked before gesturing towards Lucanis’s office. “Did you want an escort anyway? Something to take your mind off the demon?” 

“As long as you don’t mention that I can’t walk on my own,” she hissed, taking his arm. She would never admit it, but it was a little easier to walk when she could lean on someone. 

“Isa, I would be dead in the ground before I would say that,” Illario informed, knowing better. 

He had heard an argument between his cousin and Isa a few weeks ago about how Isa might want to take it easier, and Isa took it as that she couldn’t do anything by herself anymore. Illario made a mental note not to say anything akin to that to her or about her to anyone. 

“Thank you,” she grumbled, throwing her head back a little. Illario shook his head, trying not to smile. 

Illario helped her as far as outside Lucanis’s office before he took his leave. He knew better than to stick around and be part of any possible argument that was about to ensue. He didn’t blame his cousin for being protective. After everything they both had lost, wanting to keep what they had gained was paramount. 

However, Isa was going to stab someone if he didn’t remember that she was capable of protecting herself soon. 

Isa took a deep breath and knocked on the door before opening it. Lucanis was working at his desk before he looked up with a concerned look. 

“Isa?” he commented before she stared at him.

“You need to talk to Spite,” she informed sternly. “I am going to go crazy if he keeps staring at my belly like it’s going to eat him.”

“I’m sure it’s not that bad,” Lucanis chuckled, trying not to show how worried he was about her wandering down the hall by herself. 

“Illario helped me here,” she added, crossing her arms as she looked at the wall away from him. Lucanis sighed before rubbing the back of his neck, knowing that he had been caught anyway. 

“I will try to talk to Spite, but you are the demon whisperer, amor (love). He listens to you more than he listens to me,” he reminded as she sighed, knowing that he was right. Isa wandered over to the chair across from his desk and sat down. “I’m sorry that he hasn’t left you alone in an age.”

“Normally I don’t mind, but he looks so worried that I feel like I’m going to spontaneously combust,” she huffed, glancing at the demon. 

It didn’t even look like Spite was listening as he stared at her stomach intently. Isa sighed, rubbing her face as she closed her eyes. Lucanis pursed his lips before nodding, seeing what she meant. 

“I just want to put him at ease, but he won’t listen to me,” Isa informed as Lucanis nodded.

“Well, only a few weeks away, right? It won’t be forever,” Lucanis mentioned, hoping that it would help. Isa hummed, knowing that he had a point. She was two weeks away from her due date, which was good at least. 

“Hopefully Spite won’t glare at the baby,” Isa chuckled as Lucanis made a face at Spite. “Aye, stop it. It was a bad joke, I’m sorry.”

“It’s a fair point,” Lucanis mentioned as he sat back in his seat. 

“He’s going to be perfectly nice, won’t you, caro mio (my dear)?” Isa asked, looking at Spite. The demon tilted his head.

“Nice to Bella. Nice to baby,” Spite answered as Isa nodded with a smile.

“See? What did I tell you?” she replied, turning back to Lucanis, who lifted his shoulders.

“Like I said, he listens to you more than he listens to me,” the Talon pointed out. Isa shook her head before motioning towards his desk with her chin.

“Anything interesting going on with the Crows right now?” she wondered as Lucanis shrugged. 

“Not really. More contracts and reports than I know what to do with. Illario said that he was willing to take on a few, and I think he’s earned a chance to prove himself by now,” Lucanis remarked as Isa nodded.

“Up to you, amor (love), but I agree,” Isa answered thoughtfully. It had been a while since Illario had completed a contract on his own, though. “Are you going to go with him?”

“No, it’s a quick one, so it’ll help him get back on his feet again,” he answered as Isa hummed. 

“You should go with him,” she mentioned. Lucanis hummed.

“I am needed here, so I can’t go with him.”

“You can spend one day out of the villa.”

“I would rather I didn’t.”

“But you could. I’m not going to vanish or anything while you are gone,” Isa pointed out as he nodded.

“But our cosita (little one, feminine) will be here any day now. I don’t want to miss that,” Lucanis reminded. She sighed, melting into the seat. 

“Or cosito (little one, masculine). We have no idea if it’s a boy or girl, Luca,” Isa argued, staring at him. 

“Call it a hunch,” he chuckled, leaning on his desk. She rolled her eyes at him, but she smiled. “But I’ll be fine either way.”

“Good answer,” Isa commented, watching him. She would make sure that her child was supported regardless of their identity. “So, tell me about this contract Illario is going-”

“Bella,” Spite commented, suddenly next to her. Isa turned to the demon, startled by him. 

“Aye, Spite, what?” Isa asked, wondering what was wrong. 

“Felt a change. One becomes two. Two scents. Similar but different,” Spite explained, staring at her with expectation and concern. Isa stared back at him. It was the first time he stared at her face rather than her stomach in weeks.

“What?” Isa repeated, confused. Lucanis glanced between his wife and the demon as well, confused on why Spite would suddenly jump on her like that. 

Then Isa felt a tightness in her stomach that was painful as she hitched forward. Her mouth fell open in a silent, surprised shout as she held the front of her stomach and her lower back at the same time. 

Lucanis stood immediately and went to her side in a panic, never seeing this side of her before. Isa relaxed after a moment, taking a few deep breaths as she blinked. Then she felt wet between her legs as if she had slipped an entire glass of water on herself. 

She grabbed Lucanis’s hand as Spite began to pace. Isa looked to her husband as calmly as she could, who looked like he was going to have a panic attack at any moment. 

“I think we should call the healer. I think our piccoline (little one, gender neutral) has come to say hello,” Isa informed. Lucanis’s eyes widened before he nodded dumbly at her before rushing out of the room. With a great effort, Isa stood and started to walk towards the hallway. Once Lucanis called for someone to get the healer and midwife, then he would return to help her to bed. 

Lucanis expressly told the demon to stand guard on the outside of the door. They had Crows watching every entrance and window, but Lucanis wanted to make sure that every place was watched while Isa was at her most vulnerable. 

Spite felt like he was being given a job as a distraction, but the job was important enough that he took it seriously. He watched the door, and he also watched over the other family members, too. 

Isa relaxed afterwards against the pillows as the midwife took the infant to be cleaned up. Lucanis laid next to Isa, wiping her brow carefully as he whispered how well she was doing. She had screamed at him and about him through the whole thing, but he was only ever encouraging. She grabbed his hand after a moment and kissed it softly in a silent thank you. 

After a moment, the healer made sure that she was patched up before he took his leave, letting Lucanis get Isa comfortable again. She relaxed against the pillows behind her as she felt her entire body aching, but she knew that she had done well. 

“It’s a girl,” the midwife announced as she came back into the room. Lucanis turned towards the woman as Isa looked up, both wearing wide smiles at the news. It meant that child was healthy as well if the midwife went straight to that news. 

The midwife placed the infant in Isa’s arms before Lucanis walked her out of the room, continuously thanking her for her hard work. 

Isa looked down at the swaddled baby in her arms, seeing the dark hair on her head that matched both hers and Luca’s. Tears formed in her eyes as she let the baby grab her finger. She was completely perfect in every way as she was sleeping in her arms. 

Lucanis walked over again, lying next to her. He stared down at the baby as well before Isa lifted her arm to push him back a little. Lucanis gave her a saddened, confused look before she chuckled.

“Do you want to hold her or not, amore (love)?” Isa asked before Lucanis’s eyes widened.

“Of course I want to hold her, mi amor (my love),” he replied, immediately relaxing as he sat back a little. Isa handed him their child as Spite appeared over his shoulder. Isa winked at the demon in an effort to keep the demon quiet for now. 

Lucanis stared down at the best thing he had ever seen in his life. He held her close, and he knew that he would kill and lay down his life just so she would live a good life. He would make sure that she would never grow up without parents if he could help it, and he would protect her at every turn.

He felt Isa’s hands on his cheek before a kiss there as well. Tears had fallen, not that he was surprised. He had spent so much time worrying about her arrival, he hadn’t thought about what he would do when she arrived.

“We’re going to have to name her, amore (love),” Isa mentioned as Lucanis blinked, knowing that she was right.

“You’re right,” he replied, completely at a loss. His mind was gone. He didn’t remember any of the names they had thought about. 

“No thoughts, caro mio (my dear)?” 

“I’m afraid I’m preoccupied.”

“I can see that,” she hummed with a grin. “We thought about the name Carmella.”

“Yes, I like that,” Lucanis answered. 

“I think I could name her Cacio e Pepe, and you would like it,” Isa remarked as he looked up at her.

“I’m not that far gone,” he admitted with a laugh. She nodded before laying her head on his shoulder. “What about Carmella Valentina?”

“Carmella Valentina de Riva Dellamorte,” Isa nodded, looking down at her daughter. Lucanis smiled, liking the sound of it.

“I love that,” he replied before Spite drew closer.

“Smells like Bella. But also. Lucanis,” Spite mentioned before tilting his head. “Unfamiliar and new, but not. Little thing.”

“It’s a baby, Spite,” Lucanis informed as he glanced at Isa, who nodded. “And if you’re very careful, you can hold her. You can’t stand up with her yet, though. She’s very fragile and delicate right now.”

“I can hold. Little Bella?” Spite asked in surprise. 

“For a little bit,” Lucanis replied as he nodded. Isa held the baby’s head as Spite disappeared into Lucanis.

His eyes opened, turning the bright purple they did when Spite had control. Isa removed her hand as soon as she was sure that Spite had a firm hold on their treasure. The demon stared down where Lucanis was looking, and the demon was shocked to see the tiny thing as well.

This had been what Isa had been holding all this time? It was crazy to think about, but the scents matched. He understood a little better now.

“Her name is Carmella, but you can call her Ella,” Isa informed with a smirk. Spite glanced up at Isa before turning back at the small creature in his arms that slept so soundly. 

“Little Ella. Why so small?”

“She’ll grow bigger given time. In a decade or so, she’ll likely be as tall as I am.”

“So long,” Spite whispered before shaking his head slowly. “Will protect along with Bella. Rhymes.”

“I... didn’t think of that,” Isa sighed as she grimaced. Spite shrugged as if it made all the sense in the world to him. 

“Would protect anyway. Will keep safe. Always,” the demon replied with a firm nod. Isa nodded, leaning into the demon like she had with Lucanis to watch her daughter some more. 

“Thank you, caro mio (my dear),” she sighed, touching her daughter’s forehead to brush the hair out of the way a little. 

Spite watched the little infant for a while, still amazed that she existed at all. He was glad that she did, and he wondered if she would see him at all when she was older. Isa said that she would grow taller like her, so maybe that meant that she would be able to see him, too. He hoped so. It would be fun to interact with another person who could see him.

**Bonus - Zio (Uncle) Viago holds a bebe**

Viago and Teia had arrived not long after the healer and midwife, and Illario brought them into the sitting room closest to where Isa was without being terribly close. Caterina was there as well, but she was quiet as Illario and Teia talked and Viago paced.

A few of the Veilguard members were there as well. The only ones who hadn’t arrived yet were Harding and Taash, but they had told Teia that they would be there soon when they heard the news. The magic of the eluvians made it easy for her to get everywhere quickly and spread the news to those who needed to know.

Neve and Bellara had arrived with Davrin from Arlathan while Emmrich and Manfred had come through about twenty minutes later. All were waiting in the sitting room, doing their best to talk with each other while they waited for news on the newest addition to the Dellamorte family.

A half hour or so after Taash and Harding arrived, Lucanis walked into the sitting room, drawing the attention of everyone and halting every conversation. 

“How is she?” Viago asked as Lucanis nodded with a wide smile.

“Doing really well,” Lucanis reassured immediately. “We have a baby girl.”

“Oh congratulations!” Bellara was the first to cheer before everyone broke into their own felicitations for the Talon and his growing family. 

“She wants to see everyone, but she has asked to see her brother first,” Lucanis mentioned once the voices died down. Viago looked surprised as Teia pushed him forward a little. 

“Alright,” Viago answered, following Lucanis down the hall. 

Viago felt a little out of place, not expecting to be the first to see the child. He would have expected Caterina to be the first other than the parents, but he supposed the mother of the child got to decide who saw the child first. It was insane to think his little Crow was a mother now. 

Lucanis opened the door for him, but he remained outside.

“I’ll make sure the door stays closed until she’s ready for everyone else,” Lucanis reassured with a wink. Viago nodded before walking in. 

Isa was lying on the bed with what seemed like a thousand pillows behind her as she held a tiny thing in her arms. She looked up and smiled gently at him while he quietly crossed the room. 

“Hi, fratello (brother),” Isa smiled. “Come meet your nipote (niece).”

“Nipote (Niece)?” Viago whispered with a light laugh. It sounded so foreign and sweet, like it couldn’t be true.

“Yes, Vi,” Isa insisted, reaching to him with her free hand to encourage him to come closer. Her lack of gloves was concerning, but he said nothing as he took her hand to be pulled closer. “Because I’m going to teach her to call you Zio (Uncle) Viago, and you simply don’t get a say in that.”

“Is that so?” Viago chuckled softly before looking down at the small baby in her arms. 

The baby was sleeping and had a dark tuft of hair on top of their head. 

“Meet Carmella Valentina de Riva Dellamorte,” Isa introduced as Viago looked up at his sister. 

“Caterina is going to have a field day with that,” he warned before she shrugged.

“My baby, my decision,” Isa answered before smiling at her child. Viago hummed with a laugh before Isa turned back to him. “Do you want to hold her?”

“Oh, Isa, I-” Viago started before she rolled her eyes.

“There are three people I trust most in this world, and it is you, Teia, and Lucanis,” Isa informed as he exhaled. He looked down at the baby again before nodding. “Usually, I would have you wash your hands, but I think removing your gloves will be good enough here.”

“Are you sure?”

“With a germaphobe like you? Definitely.”

Viago glared at her before removing his gloves and Isa gently handed her tesora (treasure)to her brother. Viago mimicked how Isa held the infant, and he relaxed a little so he could feel her cosita in his arms. 

“It’s surreal,” Viago whispered before noticing that the baby was waking up a little. “She has your eyes. Do you think she’ll have your eye color?”

“We won’t know for a while, but maybe,” Isa remarked with a smirk. “So, did I do well, fratello (brother)?”

“Oh, don’t you start,” he warned, enraptured with his niece. “I’m half tempted to tell Lucanis to send everyone else home so I can spend more time with her.”

“Viago,” Isa chuckled with a teasing tone. “Did little Ella soften your icy heart?”

“She just might have,” Viago hummed before letting the baby wrap her hand around his finger. “Teia is going to lose her mind.”

“Well, this little one won’t want for much,” Isa laughed before shaking her head. Viago moved to sit on the edge of the bed next to his sister. “Thanks for coming, Vi.”

“Of course, Isa. As if I would miss this,” he informed. “And you better send Lucanis in before I spend the rest of the day like this.”

“Ah, that’s your job, Vi. I’m not yelling from here,” she remarked as Viago sighed, standing back up to walk over to the door. 

Lucanis opened it, a little surprised to see the Fifth Talon closely holding his daughter in his arms as if he was afraid someone would steal her away.

Chapter Text

Lucanis felt strange as he opened his eyes. He felt different than he usually did. More weightless maybe? Almost like he was in a dream.

Well, kind of.

It felt more like when Spite was in control of his body, but he was both in control and… not? Partial control. He could glance around and move his head slightly, but he felt like he was barely waking up.

Possible sleep paralysis?

But he was in the villa, Lucanis knew that much. Things were slightly different, but he couldn’t pinpoint what the differences were.

A dream, then.

Although it wasn’t a nightmare, so he would take it. Dreams seemed to be a rare occurrence those days. It was also strange because Spite wasn’t there with him. He couldn’t feel his presence anywhere. Maybe he was just too deep in the dream.

He was on the sofa in the sitting room in front of the fireplace with the fire going. It was a nice feeling, and it was the most at peace he had felt in a while. If he could have more dreams like this, he would be more than thrilled.

“Nonna (Grandma)! Nonna (Grandma)!”

Lucanis heard a small child calling for a grandmother in the hallway, and he wondered if this was going to turn towards a memory or something darker. He went to stand up before remembering that he couldn’t move that much. Then he saw the child run into the room and into the arms of an older woman as she came into his view.

Into the arms of an older Isabella.

Lucanis stared at this older version of his wife in awe. Her nearly black hair was now dark grey, and she had wrinkles on her face. All smile lines and crow’s feet. She aged well with her hair pinned back and out of her face, and she wore similar leathers that she usually wore around the house. Her green eyes still sparkled, especially when she picked up the young girl running into the room.

“Ah, hello, mi piccolina (my little one),” Isa greeted as she grinned, pinching the girl’s nose lightly to make her laugh. The young girl couldn’t be older than four, maybe five.

Was this…

Was this their granddaughter?

Why would he be dreaming about Isa getting older? And why would he be dreaming about his hypothetical granddaughter?

What did he eat before he fell asleep that could have caused this?

“Did your parents drop you off again?” Isa asked, holding the girl steadily on her hip as if she had done it for years.

“No, they’re in the kitchen looking for Abuelo (Grandpa),” the girl answered as Isa chuckled, glancing at him. Lucanis met both of their gazes, and he noticed the young girl had the same green eyes.

“Well, your Abuelo (Grandpa) was pretending to be asleep by the fire,” Isa teased, winking at him. Lucanis froze, unsure what do say or do in this situation. He had never had a dream like this before. “I’m sure they’ll be along soon. What should we do while we wait?”

“Tell me the story of how the Rook freed the Demon Crow?” the child asked as Lucanis furrowed his brow.

What the hell was going on?

Isa laughed and nodded, bringing the child over to the sofa so she could sit with the child in her lap.

“Again? You don’t want to hear any other part of the story? It’s quite an interesting story, mia amore (my love).”

“Please?”

“Alright, piccolina (little one),” Isa relented with a smile. Lucanis sat up a little, interested in what story this was. He had an idea, though. Isa cleared her throat before she looked very seriously at the little girl. “Now, this is a story told many different times, in many different tongues, but this one is the truest version you will ever hear because it was the demon who told it to me.”

Long ago, there was once a roost high in the sky, farther than any could see with your naked eye. It started with a wren, an owl, and a rook who took on a falcon and a hummingbird to fill the space. They were fighting a danger that only grew and grew.

The owl had known the bird causing the danger, so he brought in the wren. Then the rook. Then came the falcon and the hummingbird as well.

Then when the owl took a hit, and it was clear that the danger was closer and larger than they feared, the falcon told the rook that it was time to see a crow for help against the danger.

So, with the hummingbird and the falcon, the rook flew down to the roofs of Treviso to find a crow to help against the danger.

There was only one that could be up to the task, and the rook pleaded to know where to find this crow to ask for his help.

“It is impossible,” said the taller crow in a somber tone. “The crow you seek is dead.”

“It is not so,” said the eldest crow, who led them all. She was the fiercest and strongest crow, and this was the crow’s nonna (grandma). “He has been taken by scaled beasts who think they are birds. Rescue him, and he will help you against the danger you fear.”

“I will find him and bring him home,” the rook answered before guiding the hummingbird and the falcon to where this prison was.

It was a magic, underwater prison to keep the crow at bay because crows cannot fly underwater. With magic and grace, the three birds rushed through the water to reach the prison, attacking the scaled beasts trapping the crow who was destined to help them.

Only the crow was lying wait, biding his time for an opportunity to strike. He just needed a moment, and the rook gave it to him.

The crow burst from the crystal binding him before plucking the eyes out of the monsters who held him captive. The rook, hummingbird, and falcon watched in awe as a purple aura appeared around the crow.

The rook did not understand what it meant, but she was glad for the help. She was happy that the crow was alive and well, as far as she could see. It meant that he could offer his help against the danger that lurked and followed.

However, the hummingbird and falcon had access to magic, and they saw more than the rook could. They could sense the demon that possessed the crow, and they warned her about the new danger the crow could be.

“Rook, he’s possessed by a demon,” the hummingbird warned as the rook glanced between the hummingbird and the crow.

“It’s complicated,” the crow admitted with a light shrug. The falcon watched over her two birds, unsure if she wanted to add this demon crow into their roost.

“We need your help, Crow, if you are willing,” the rook mentioned, knowing that their options were slim.

“I can still work,” the crow answered as the rook smiled. That was the answer she was hoping for. “But I have unfinished business in the prison. I cannot leave until it is done.”

“Then we will help,” the rook replied. The hummingbird and the falcon protested before the rook calmed them. They needed the crow’s help, so it made sense that they offered help as well.

So, the four birds were off as the rook remained closest to the crow. The hummingbird and the falcon kept a watchful eye over the demon crow, but he did nothing to give the impression that he was the danger.

Through the prison, they flew and fought the scaled beasts, creating a path to the exit where the crow’s unfinished business laid. It was the reason why he was there in the first place. The villainous snake that caught him and put him there after he was set up.

With the help of the rook and her flock, the demon crow was able to finish his job, letting him leave the prison with a clear conscious.

The rook explained the danger that they faced on the way back to Treviso, where the crow was also from.

After a brief reunion among the roofs of Treviso, the rook showed the demon crow the way to the roost high in the sky where none other could reach. The safest place in the world where they could rest from the danger that they faced.

The demon crow had questions, though, and he did not want his demon once he was out. He wanted to be just a crow again, but it seemed like they were bound together for the time being.

The rook offered what help she could, and during their trials, she helped the demon and the crow find common ground. The demon crow found that he couldn’t leave the rook’s side anymore, going with her to attend to more birds and bringing others back to the roost.

The demon crow helped Treviso with rook as well, fighting off the invaders who threatened their home. However, there was a traitor among them as well. Two traitors, to be exact. They needed to work together to unravel the web of lies and save the city and the crows.

It was easier said than done, though, but they had each other.

Soon, the rook and the demon crow fell in love along their travels, and the two became inseparable. The rook and her demon crow were known throughout Thedas as they helped everywhere they could as they fought off the danger.

“And then they live happily ev’r after!” the child announced prematurely, throwing her hands up in the air. Isa chuckled as she nodded.

“Eventually, yes, they did,” Isa answered, glancing at Lucanis with a soft smile. He felt his heart skip a beat, and he found himself smiling back. “You didn’t let me finish the story, though. We didn’t even get to the birdcage.”

“The birdcage is so sad, Nonna,” the girl complained, leaning on Isa. The older woman hummed and nodded with a faraway look in her eye.

“It is, isn’t it? But the rook always escapes, doesn’t she? With the help of her demon crow and the rest of the roost? And they take down the two evil dragons as well,” Isa mentioned as the girl pouted.

“Dragons shouldn’t be evil.”

“On that we agree. Hmm, I’ll see what I can do about changing the story. Should I speak to the demon and see what he thinks?”

“I’m sure he’d be fine with changing it a little,” the girl insisted with a light pleading. Isa laughed and nodded, knowing that changing the dragons to something else would be the easiest change to the story.

“Alright, we’ll make some revisions for Rook’s biggest fan,” she teased before pressing a kiss on the girl’s cheek.

“Nonna,” the girl giggled with a whine. Isa pulled back as she looked at the doorway.

“Your parents are taking their sweet time in the kitchen, piccolina (little one),” Isa mentioned as the girl shrugged. “Surely they haven’t found your Abuelo (Grandpa) in there since he’s sleeping in here.”

“Maybe they’re taking all of your coffee,” the girl laughed, throwing her hands out wide.

“Oh, they better not if they know what’s good for them,” Isa grumbled with a smirk. The young child laughed before crawling off her lap to stand on her own.

“I’ll go see what they’re doing,” she offered before dashing out the door. Isa stood as the girl ran off, and she watched down the hallway to make sure that no one else was coming down the way.

Isa then turned to Lucanis with a look of suspicion. He blinked at her before she hummed with confusion mixed with curiosity. A tone he had heard many times and knew by heart.

“Well, you definitely aren’t Spite, but I haven’t seen Spite around either,” Isa mentioned as Lucanis looked stricken. “My Luca usually does all kinds of voices for the demon crow, yet I hear nothing. Fade tricks? You are too close to the real thing to be an imposter.”

“I-I, uh,” Lucanis stuttered, confused by the line of questioning.

Was this… wasn’t this supposed to be a dream?

Isa shrugged before sitting next to him again. He stared at her, definitely not sure what he was supposed to do.

“I suppose stranger things have happened. As long as you aren’t losing your mind or otherwise growing senile, amore (love),” Isa warned, staring at him with a concerned intensity.

“Fade tricks would be a good phrase for this,” he admitted before her smile returned.

“Good. We are not old enough yet for you to lose your mind, not that you would know how old we are,” she remarked before the glare returned. “And don’t you start guessing.”

“I’m confused,” he added as Isa lifted her shoulders.

“I am no mage, Luca, and I can’t begin to tell you what’s going on with you. I just hope that you are better in a little bit. Tu piccolina (Your little one) is going to be rather confused if her Abuelo (Grandpa) doesn’t greet her properly when she comes back in here. I can only tell her that you’re asleep for so long before you’re going to have to fake it,” Isa informed, shaking her head before she started to think. “What is the last thing you remember, then?”

“I was…” he started, shaking his head. This all seemed insane. “I was asleep? Or I was working, I think.”

“Asleep at your desk in your office? Oh, Luca. What were you thinking?” Isa guessed as he frowned. She chuckled before smirking. “I hope you are still young where you are. Otherwise, you are in for a world of pain, amore (love).”

“Okay.”

“Hmm, I wonder then.”

Isa stared at him for a moment with a smirk before standing in front of where he was seated. He stared up at her, worried about what she was going to do.

“Cavolo, spero che funzioni (Hell, I hope this works),” Isa grumbled. He held his breath in wait before she stomped her foot on the wood floor and leaned forward slightly to shout in his face. “WAKE UP, LUCA!”

“Luca!”

Lucanis immediately sat up from his desk and glanced around in a fright, finding himself at his desk with Isabella looking concerned over him. She exhaled in relief when he opened his eyes, though.

“Hacedor, amore (Maker, love), you scared me,” Isa whispered as Lucanis stared at her.

Isa was young again, as he remembered her to be. He wasn’t dreaming anymore.

If that even was a dream.

“What?” he asked as she exhaled.

“Spite came to get me. He said that you were dreaming too deeply or something,” Isa answered, caressing his cheek. “He said it wasn’t a demon, though, but he was still concerned. He couldn’t reach you.”

“It was a vivid dream,” Lucanis answered as Isa hummed, eager to listen what had happened. “But it was a nice one.”

“I can imagine. Spite couldn’t even take over your body, amore (love),” she mentioned with a worried tone. She wondered if he was getting sick or something. “Are you feeling alright?”

“A little tired, I suppose, but nothing out of the ordinary,” he admitted, covering her hand with his over his beard. She exhaled and nodded.

“Well, don’t scare me like that anymore. Spite made it sound like you were dying or something,” she scolded with a humorless chuckle.

“I will do my best,” he remarked, feeling strange after the dream. He didn’t want a repeat of the experience, either.

“I think you should be done for work for the day if you are just going to sleep at your desk, though.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

“I usually am,” Isa informed, moving her hand to offer it to him instead.

Lucanis smirked at that, taking her hand as she helped him stand. She got him to his feet before pulling him into a kiss.

“You are the reason I never get anything done, you know that, right?” Lucanis teased as she rolled her eyes.

“I’m not the one who passed out on his desk while he was supposed to be working, stronzo (asshole). I was upstairs, minding my own business when Spite ran to me in a panic. I was quietly reading, I will have you know,” Isa corrected, bumping her shoulder into his, leading him out of his office. “Anyway, what was your dream about? You said it was vivid.”

“You getting old,” Lucanis both teased and answered honestly. Isa grimaced at that.

“Really? You dream about me getting old?” she asked before sighing. “And you said it was a good dream?”

“I’ll say it was sweet for the most part,” he replied, kissing her temple. She raised a brow at him before shaking her head. “You also screamed at me at the end of the dream, but that could be just you yelling at me in real life.”

“Ridiculous man,” she hummed with a smirk. “I suppose I will take sweet over you looking forward to me aging.”

“Would it help if I said that you made a very cute nonna (grandma)?” Lucanis asked before she stopped in her tracks in the middle of the hallway to look at him with wide eyes. That wasn’t what she was expecting to hear.

“Nonna?” she repeated before laughing. “Luca, there are a few steps that need to happen before that is an option.”

“Hmm, true,” he admitted with a hum. “That doesn’t mean that we can’t start towards those steps.”

“Right,” Isa replied slowly before touching his forehead and feeling around his head.

“What are you doing?” he chuckled as she stepped back.

“I was checking for a fever or maybe a goose egg to see if you hit your head, Luca,” she answered. Lucanis furrowed his brow in confusion.

“We’ve talked about having kids before,” he mentioned.

“Yes, but not so abruptly. I just wanted to make sure you’re feeling alright,” Isa argued before folding her arms. “And I’m not thrilled that you’re bringing it up so soon after you have a dream about me getting old.”

“Alright, mi amor (my love), but it could be fun,” he mentioned before she rolled her eyes.

“Illario is rubbing off on you,” she warned as she started to walk away with a sly smile. Lucanis hummed with interest, following her closely.