I write far too much about Aspen, so here's my little impromptu Aspen drabble about canon behind the scenes things again

Licking the tip of his thumb and pointer finger, Aspen reached for a candle to put it out, closing his fingers around the wick. The flame hissed as it was snuffed, a few wisps of smoke still trailing in the stagnant air. The only other source of light was a lamp in the corner, casting the entire place in a golden glow.

He felt out of place. His cloak was neatly folded on a table and his swords were tucked away in one of the back rooms. Despite protesting it, Nyx insisted that he buy him a few new things, having gone out to get him a coat. For now, Aspen had taken a liking to a hoodie he had find tucked back in the recesses of Nyx's closet. He had never worn such mundane clothing, but figured it was fine for him to use. He had never seen Nyx wear it and couldn't imagine him wearing something so informal, so he took a pair of scissors to the back to cut two slits for his wings. The sleeves were too long for him, so he had to push them up so they bunched around his wrists slightly, but it was more comfortable than just walking around in a shirt, feeling slightly exposed without his cloak.

Wiping his hand against his pants, he frowned and lifted his hand to study a dark bruise on the side of his hand and wrist. He often had trouble sleeping and would startle awake. Once, he had reached out to the side quickly and drunkenly for his sword only to realize that there was only a nightstand there where his hand connected painfully with the wood. The next day, Nyx had noticed it, looking at it and blaming his restlessness on his guilty recklessness.

Instead of dwelling on it, Aspen walked over to the sofa at one end of the living room, sitting down in the corner with his ankles crossed, his hands in his lap. He had never been so entirely without a purpose or so on edge. Unsure of what to do with himself, he stared at the lamp until his eyes started to hurt, unused to such artificial light.

He was awoken from his daze by the familiar sound of the key in the door, a click of the knob turning as Nyx started inside with a coat over his arm and a small parcel in his hand. Aspen raised his chin, watching him expectantly, waiting for a greeting.

"Hello, my sweetheart," Nyx stated with a smile, his pointed teeth glittering in the low lighting. "I have some things for you, my Lolita."

"I am not your Lolita," Aspen corrected hastily. "I am twenty four, as you've told me. Not fourteen."

"Maybe not. But to me, you will always be my Lolita." Nyx appeared amused and smirked handsomely, shutting the door behind him. "You have been good, haven't you?"

Giving him a nod, Aspen uncrossed his ankles. "I have."

"Good. Good. I didn't expect any less." Walking over to him, Nyx moved to sit next to Aspen although he angled his body so he was facing him. Aspen could not help but feel slightly uncomfortable to be under intense scrutiny, his eyes focusing instead on a minuscule loose thread on Nyx's jacket.

"What did you bring?" Tilting his head up slightly, Aspen reached forward to touch the coat that was over Nyx's arm. "Is this for me?"

"Of course. You knew I was going to buy you something more fitting for you to wear." Passing along the coat, Nyx's gaze ran over him, his burgundy eyes narrowing. "Try it on."

Taking the fabric in his hands, Aspen clutched it to his chest as he stood up. It felt heavy and expensive, but he was sure that was what Nyx wanted him to think of when he held it. Starting over to the table, he eyed the scissors, picking them up so he could cut slits in the back. Part of him didn't want to have to cut a perfectly good coat, but there was no way he could wear it comfortably without the spaces for his wings. Digging the scissors into the fabric, he punctured holes so he could cut the two lines, good at eyeing where they needed to be.

He glanced back. Nyx appeared impatient, but he always seemed to look like that.

Moving a little faster, he set the coat and scissors down to curl his fingers in the hem of the hoodie to pull it over his head. His wings caught for a moment in the material and he grimaced, tossing the hoodie aside. He picked out the coat, struggling to get it on for a moment, but he did, his wings comfortably fitted in the slits. Looking down, he buttoned it up, adjusting it so it was fitted just right.

"Well?" Aspen turned back to Nyx, holding his arms out so he could see better. "How does it look?"

"Pretty."

"That's all?"

"It fits well." Nyx beckoned him over, his expression pleased as Aspen followed his order. "You look expensive."

"Oh?" Sitting back down beside him, Aspen tucked a bit of black hair behind his ear when it started to fall into his face. "You've never said that. In fact, I'm sure you've traded me off before for half the price I should go for." His tone was a little sour, but Nyx didn't bat an eye.

"You know you've always been my prized pet." Reaching forward, Nyx caught his wrist, his grip a little too tight for Aspen to pull away from. Tugging on him to make him come closer, he moved to comfort him as if he was a child. "But I'll take care of you."

"You were right," Aspen said imprudently as he pressed his cheek against Nyx's shoulder, inhaling with a shudder. He smelled of dew and peonies, a familiar scent that overwhelmed Aspen with a feeling of nostalgia.

"I'm usually right," Nyx replied calmly, his free hand petting at Aspen's hair, curling it around his finger before letting it spring back in place. "I'm surprised you just realized that."

Nodding a few times, Aspen moved back just slightly although his wrist was still trapped in Nyx's grasp. "What's the package?"

Finally, Nyx let go of his wrist, picking up the package to set it in Aspen's lap. "Just for you. You know I can't help but spoil you when you come over. It's a shame you won't just live with me."

"You know why I can't do that," responded Aspen delicately, picking up the package to peel off the tape. Discarding it to the side, he opened the cardboard, a bit of fancy looking wrapping paper surrounding whatever was in the box. Picking it up, he noted that it was light and soft, the wrapping paper falling off easily to reveal what was inside.

He drew in a sharp breath, staring at the gloves in his palm. They were an ashy colour with a silver trim, a little higher than his usual gloves, but fingerless as well, to allow for more movement. A wide ribbon tying them together easily came undone. Plucking the ribbon off and putting it in his lap, Aspen worked one of his hands into the glove, finding that they came up almost mid-arm. They were pretty, of course, but he was certain that was not the only reason Nyx had picked them out. When only silence ensued, Nyx took it upon himself to break it.

"I thought they would suit you, sweetheart," Nyx purred, taking Aspen's hand to admire the glove and its fit. "And it covers that pesky bruise on your hand perfectly, doesn't it? I can't have guests seeing that."

Aspen lifted his eyes. "Guests?"

"Of course, guests. I had hoped you'd help me entertain tonight." Lowering his voice, Nyx's words were a gentle murmur like he was trying to coax an animal from hiding. "You know you have always been popular. Put the other one on. I want to see them together."

Unable to refuse, Aspen tugged the other glove onto his other hand, staring at them. "They are nice. I feel like they might get dirtied back in the Hunt."

"Oh, they aren't for fighting." Nyx laughed, the sound grating and unpleasant against Aspen's ears. "They're for decoration, really. Not for practicality, but you will wear them, won't you? Just for me?"

"Yes." Aspen whispered the word like he was embarrassed, still studying the way the threads caught the light, opening and closing his hands to test their movement. "Will the guests like it? Will they think they are pretty?"

"They will think you are extremely pretty, but you already know that. You know that I won't have anything but the best." In a protective manner, Nyx leaned forward to kiss Aspen's forehead, a hand pressed against his cheek. Lingering, he drew away before he stood up, his eyes looking at the ribbon. "Our guests are coming soon. You had better put that on as well."

"I have the other glove-...Oh-..." Aspen swallowed, picking up the ribbon from his lap. "I see. Does it really need to be like that?"

"I'm afraid so." Nyx bent down a fraction to take the ribbon from Aspen's hands gently, moving to tie it around his eyes. His fingers worked the ribbon into a neat bow, one he had made many times. "Is that comfortable?"

Aspen raised his fingers to his face, a sliver a light at the bottom where the ribbon failed to cover. "Do I look okay?"

"You are more than okay," Nyx answered and, for a moment, Aspen believed him. "Now sit still and be good, my sweetheart. My...Lolita."