I stared down at my empty bowl, reveling in the warm feeling of a full stomach. The Duke's cooking was more than high quality-it was incredible. It had been a long, long time since either I or my partner had a meal with high quality ingredients, and not something wilted, slightly green and fuzzy at the edges, or simply scraps from someone else's meal.
I looked over at my partner, a calm feeling unfolding in my chest. They looked right at home here in the back of The Duke's caravan, surrounded by the wealthy man's various wares. A content, dazed expression was fitted on their hard features, and when they met your eyes their own lit up.
"Did you like your meal?" They asked, smiling as they nodded to my bowl. It was clearly a tease, since I had all but licked it clean.
"I don't know, did you?" I laughed, playfully knocking into their shoulder with my own.
"Yeah, I think I could eat this food forever!" They said, patting their stomach and leaning back on the elegant couch we were sitting on. "Plus, it doesn't seem like the vampires or lycans come anywhere near here." Their gaze flitted up to the garlic hanging overhead, then back to me. "Do you feel safe here?"
I paused. Before we had run away to find the village, my partner and I...had not had the best of lives. Trapped beneath my mother's thumb for years into adulthood, we lived in a less than sterile and a more than hostile environment. It felt as if the trauma was as much a part of me as the bones beneath my skin.
Then of course, the village...was not as dream-like as we had hoped. We had narrowly escaped a group of lycan like creatures before stumbling upon the Duke's caravan. He had offered us a place to stay and some food to eat in the back of his wagon in exchange for work-seeking out wares, cleaning, and just a little bit of heavy lifting. It was our first evening here and so far… It seemed too good to be true.
"I do feel safe." I finally said, swallowing down the hard lump in my throat. "But that's what scares me."
They leaned back, sighing heavily. "I know how you feel. It makes me wary, but...what choice do we have?"
"He does seem nice." I nodded in agreement. "Even if he is very interested in his stock."
My partner laughed, their hand encircling mine as they pulled me close. "It'll be okay. Maybe this is what we've been looking for! He did say he travels...so who knows where we might end up?"
"I don't mind as long as it's far, far away from there." I whispered, suddenly choked up. I couldn't believe we were really gone. That we were in this immaculate, clean and beautiful oversized wagon, with an immaculate, clean and...admittedly, beautiful oversized man. A kind man. We would never have to go back to that evil place ever again.
"Never again." They whispered, pulling me close and planting a kiss upon my forehead. "I love you, dearest."
"And I love you." I returned, nuzzling into the crook between their neck and shoulder.
The back of the caravan swung open then, letting the fading light of dusk in. "Well, well, how are we doing back here, little ones?" The Duke stood before us, leaning on an ornate cane to support his heft. He was a massive man, both in height and girth, immaculately groomed and dressed to the nines. He was the finest gentleman either of us had ever seen for sure, and we felt lucky to have been found by him.
"We're okay," I said shyly, standing up. "The meal was absolutely perfect. Thank you so much!"
"Of course, of course!" The Duke smiled broadly. "I quite enjoy cooking, so if there's anything in particular you have a craving for, just let me know. All I'll need is assistance procuring ingredients, but that should be no trouble at all." He heaved himself up the steps to the caravan, ducking through the doorway and coming inside. He had quite the mighty presence indeed, radiating a quiet elegance and strength despite his jovial tone and quaint attitude.
"Is there anything you need us to do tonight?" I asked as my partner took our bowls. My feet ached terribly from running so much , and I shifted a little from side to side. Like The Duke, I was also fat, and unaccustomed to the sort of travel and fleeing we had been facing in the days prior. I yearned to sit back down, but my politeness won me over.
"No dear, not tonight." The Duke said. "You two just rest after everything you've been through. Tomorrow is an early day though, so do be prepared!" He walked over to the couch, settling down with a sigh. "I have some stock for Castle Dimitrescu, so we will be heading there."
"Castle Dimitrescu?" My partner said, dubious. "I heard...less than good things about that place. I've already dealt with enough vampire hags!"
The Duke laughed heartily, as if my dear one had said quite the funny joke. "No need to fret! I have a truce with all of Castle Dimitrescu, as well as the other Lords you have heard about, so there is nothing to fear since you are now being employed by me. You simply have to look pretty and do a good job of peddling my wares." He winked, leaning back.
My partner blushed, and so did I. The Duke was also a rather straightforward man.
I kept shifting from foot to foot, feeling uncomfortable but doing my best to not to show weakness. Before, weakness had gotten me beatings and beratings. Though The Duke seemed benevolent, I had no desire to discover if he had a dark side.
"Are you alright, little one?" He asked, eying me up and down. "Feet hurting? After a long day, I certainly know how that feels. But you've had many long days, yes?"
I grimaced. "Ah… Yes. They are, a bit." I flushed with embarrassment.
The Duke leaned forward. "Why not have a seat, my dear?" His face crinkled with concern. "No reason to cause further harm to yourself. Rest easy now."
I began to lower myself to the floor, but jumped back up when the large man's jarring laugh rang throughout the back of the wagon. "W-What?" I said, flustered. My partner was then protectively at my side, their hand at the small of my back.
"You don't need to sit on the floor! While it is certainly a nice one, that will only hurt your back." The Duke said.
"But...there's no where else to sit." I looked around. Duke took up the couch we had been sitting on, and there was really nowhere else to go but the floor now, unless we went to The Duke's bed further in the caravan. The thought made me flush.
"You can sit right here, I don't mind." The Duke patted his sides. His ample belly and the arms of the couch made for a makeshift seat for sure. "And you too," He said, pointing to my partner. "I know you, the strong type-never wanting to rest, always pushing yourself for everyone else. Come, be comfortable, and let's chat."
I looked up at my partner, face red as a bushel of roses. I was delighted to see that they were too. It was rare that I saw my partner this flustered, and it made butterflies dance in my stomach.
"Are you comfortable with that?" They asked me, squeezing my hand, a knowing look in his eyes. We had talked about this sort of thing before, but nothing had ever come to reality.
I nodded, feeling like a storm of wasps was zooming around in my guts. The Duke really was incredibly straightforward, but it didn't seem as if he had any ulterior motives. He just wanted to offer comfort and good company to both of us-and I guess it was obvious that both my partner and I thought he was pretty cute.
My partner glided forward, hand still in mine. We stood before The Duke, who had a calm and knowing smile on his face. He offered his hands to each of us, which we shyly but gladly took. We climbed up on either side of him, settling down and reveling in the softness of his sides. We sat there stiffly for a moment, feeling completely out of our leagues.
The Duke chuckled gently, his strong arms coming 'round to encircle us. I felt myself go stiff when his hand brushed against my back, the cool metal of his rings soothing as he placed his hand there. "Is this alright?" He asked both of us coolly, looking from my partner to me. I nodded, locking eyes with my partner as he nodded too.
My partner was long and thin, a wonderful contrast when sidled up next to the massive Duke. I was short and fat, but even I felt swallowed up by The Duke's own plush body. He felt like the world's comfiest...well, not human exactly, but something.
"Good, good. Last thing I want is to make my newest proteges uncomfortable." The Duke nodded firmly before beginning to rub soft circles into my back. "Now, try to relax. The two of you deserve it. "
I let myself lean into The Duke, resting my head atop his pillowy chest. I relaxed into his side with a soft sigh, relinquishing myself to his soothing touch.
"Protege?" My partner asked, their tone light. "Since when were we your proteges rather than just employees?"
"I don't let just anyone handle my wares!" The Duke announced with a chuckle. "I could tell there was something special about the two of you. I've heard of the sensation of le coup de foudre."
"Love at first sight." My partner said coyly. "You don't play around, do you?" They slid an arm over The Duke's soft belly, reaching for my hand. Tenderly, I reached my own arm forward, taking their hand in mine in an embrace that came as easy as breathing to me. The feeling of my partner's fingers squeezing mine atop the pillowy expanse of Duke's midsection was heaven.
"Oh no, not when there's sales to be made!" The Duke laughed brightly. "And new friends to make. Perhaps more?"
I reveled in The Duke's scent-rich cologne intermingled with the faint touch of expensive cigar smoke. I looked into my partner's eyes, bright as the sun itself. I let myself relax even more, cuddling up to The Duke and relinquishing myself to comfort. I was finally free, ready to face the world with the love of my life, and we had both run right into the arms of someone else with plenty of love to give. The future was surely ripe with possibilities.
Both of them smiled down at me, and I felt...safe.
A/N: Just a fun little indulgent oneshot I made for myself! My partner and I are head over heels for the Duke, and I just absolutely had to make a little something for it. Simple, but I hope you all enjoy!
Safe at last.