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It was almost impressive just how quickly everything had gone wrong.
Illaria let out a tired sigh as she ducked across a rooftop that she knew like the back of her hand, sliding through a permanently open window and slipping out another on the other side of the building. Her clothes were uncomfortably damp after the incident with the fountain earlier, and she was more than ready to turn in for the night.
It served her right for daring to think it might be an easy job. Lucanis had warned her that she was tempting fate when she'd made that comment just before they set out that evening, and even Spite had seemed somewhat amused at her daring to think something might go as expected. She should have listened.
One moment, everything had been going to plan. Illaria had been playing her role perfectly, keeping the target's attention focused on her as she casually led the man away from the crowded party on the ground floor to a more secluded bedroom upstairs where Lucanis was waiting. Their target hadn't suspected a thing. It should have been a quick job, in and out without anyone being the wiser just as the client had asked.
In the end, it had been anything but quick.
In their defense, no one could have predicted that the House of Repose would be stupid enough to attempt an assassination of their own in Treviso of all places. Especially without even doing the Crows a courtesy of notifying them that they were quite literally in their home and stepping on their toes. Heads would surely roll before it was all said and done. More than already had, that is.
At least Lucanis had been able to take care of the contract while she made sure the Orlesians learned a lesson that they clearly needed taught.
She let out a frustrated sigh before taking the running leap required to land on the upstairs balcony of the small home she was slowly learning to call her own. Lucanis had offered to let her move in with him, but she'd put her foot down. She trusted Caterina Dellamorte about as far as she could throw the woman, and neither of them wanted to live under the same roof as the other.
Besides, her having her own space gave Lucanis somewhere to escape to when he needed it. And she was well aware that sometimes he needed it, even if he didn't quite realize it himself most of the time.
"Aria?"
There was a hint of worry in Lucanis's voice as he appeared in the balcony's doorway, although she could practically see the concern melting from his face and being replaced by amusement as he took her in. She was well aware that she probably looked a mess, and he wasn't even attempting to hide the way that his gaze was darting over her damp clothes and equally wet hair.
Lucanis's eyes practically danced with amusement as his gaze made its way back up to her face. "It looks like you had an interesting night."
She rolled her eyes. "I reminded the House of Repose where they stand in Antiva," Illaria said. "Our friend from earlier will make sure to pass on the message to his betters. And now? I need a bath."
Lucanis opened his mouth as if he was about to say something. Then he suddenly flushed, his eyes focusing on something only he could see off to his left. He didn't say a word, but the glare that he was shooting to what seemed like empty air to Illaria spoke volumes.
Illaria let out a quiet laugh. "Do I want to ask what Spite just said?" she asked as she pushed past him, heading towards the bathroom.
The house included dwarven piping, an extravagant expense but one that Lucanis had insisted on. She'd argued against it a bit, more for the sake of not giving in too quickly than because she didn't actually want it, but she'd given in before too long. Even she had to admit that the immediacy of a filled tub was worth any blow to her pride.
"No, you don't," Lucanis said firmly, not a hint of give in his voice.
Illaria glanced back at him. She silently counted to ten in her head, well aware that there was a very good chance that—
"TELL HER," Spite said matter-of-factly, Lucanis's entire physical demeanor shifting for a moment as Spite took over. His eyes glowed with a purple light. "WE WANT. TO JOIN HER BATH. YOU. ME. ARIA. YOU DREAM. YOU WANT. WE—"
The glow faded from Lucanis's eyes as suddenly as it had appeared, and he reached up to rub the bridge of her nose. "Spite," he said tiredly. "We've discussed these. You cannot just—"
Lucanis cut off as, just for a moment, there was another flicker of purple in his eyes. When it disappeared, the look on his face was much sterner as he looked at something only he could see and hear. "Spite!" he snapped.
There was another pause, and if anything the flush on his face grew a little darker. While she couldn't hear the other side of the conversation, it was clear there was one happening. The look on Lucanis's face was teetering between amusement and irritation, as if he couldn't quite decide just how he should feel about whatever it was that the spirit was saying that only he could hear.
Judging by the occasional flashes of embarrassment mixed in with the other emotions, Illaria could make a few guesses as to the subject of the conversation.
Illaria laughed despite herself. "Lucanis, it's fine," she said. "If you and Spite want to join me, I'm not going to complain."
At that, Lucanis turned his glare towards her, although she could tell from the way his eyes crinkled at the corners that he was more amused than irritated. "Don't encourage him."
She gave him a teasing smirk before fully turning and taking a few steps towards Lucanis. She reached upwards and rested her hand on his cheek, making it clear what she wanted him to do.
With a chuckle, Lucanis leaned down so that she could press a kiss to his lips. It was short and sweet, more of a promise of what was to come than anything else.
His eyes flashed purple as she started to pull away, making it clear that just for a moment it was Spite instead of Lucanis standing there. The corners of her mouth twitched, and she leaned back in to press a kiss to Spite's cheek that was more chaste than the one she'd given Lucanis but still full of its own promises. He didn't say anything, but she knew without a doubt that the momentary look of pure smugness on Lucanis's face was the spirit rather than him.
Then the purple faded, and it was Lucanis looking down fondly at her again.
"Come with me," she said, taking him by the hand and pulling him towards the door. "You and Spite aren't the only ones who want."
It took a moment to sink in, but Lucanis spluttered a bit as he realized just what she meant. Illaria simply grinned at him.
It had been a long day and an even longer night. She deserved a little bit of a reprieve, if only for a while. And a hot bath for three sounded like perfection to her just then.