Chapter Text
They were sitting at a table. A really, really long table. Too big for the seven people there, not counting Lucius, and no one was sitting in the overly decorated chairs at the far end. The chairs looked important, like they were waiting for someone very specific to sit in them. More than the occasional piece of bread used as a spoon or plate back at the orphanage.
And everyone was looking at him like they hated him. Except maybe Father Aldric, who Lucius really wished would stop talking, because all he was doing was praising the boy. Lucius was starting to worry that the priest was trying to get him adopted. He did not want that. Especially not by nobles, if they were all as strange as this and using too much of everything, for everything.
And apparently there were really, really weird rules, too, because everyone gave him that same look other orphans did if he accidentally took their spot on the bed before the Sisters gave him his own bedroom. Only this time, it was for grabbing the wrong spoon.
Which led to Father Aldric saying that Lucius was just six and then started whispering what cutlery to use when to the boy. Why did nobles have rules that made no sense concerning food? That was even one more reason to NOT want him to get adopted. Especially not by nobles. And Lucius specifically did not understand why he had to pay attention to it, or why Father Aldric brought him here.
But it was still time with the priest and, even if he’d have rather spent it in any other ways… Well, he is not going to complain about it. He wanted to, especially when the adults only spoke about stuff Lucius did not understand, but maybe he could just ignore it.
At some point though, the subject of the discussion changed. Something Lucius had a little more understanding about, at least. And only because he knew what a foal was.
“So, Aldric, I heard your mare had a foal recently?” started a man sitting just next to the priest’s mom.
“But she’s still a patient mare. I hope she passes that down to her son,” answered Father Aldric.
Even if Lucius did understand what they talked about now, it was still boring. So, so much boring. Why did the priest have to bring him here?
“Moony will do a fine mount for Lucius, once both are old enough, ” continued Father Aldric casually. Lucius was sure he heard someone choke. And felt a lot of angry eyes on him.
He didn’t even ask for a horse. Horses were big. And scary. Why would he ask? Besides, the nobles probably had dozens of horses. This one even belonged to Father Aldric. So why did they all look so upset that he might ride it someday?
“Dear Aldric,” said the priest’s mother, her voice sending a shiver down Lucius’s spine. “What will happen if that foal ends up grey?”
What a weird thing to ask, as Moony was one of the blackest horses Lucius ever saw. Not that he saw a lot of horses before today. His mother was grey, sure, but Moony wasn’t. It was odd how little he looked like her at all.
“Then people start speaking. And?” Father Aldric did not look like he cared about what people spoke about. Actually, after a glance at the priest and his tired look, Lucius could only ask himself if maybe Father Aldric was too tired to care.
“And the implication of it?” asked Alrdic’s mom and the man that talked earlier at the exact same time.
“Well, public institutions are lacking finances, and…” started the priest, which means the talk was back on boring stuff Lucius did not understand. Or what Moony had to do with anything.
Lucius was standing straight in front of Sister Eliza, the oldest sister at the orphanage, Chance in his arms. It was going to be some seconds, now, that the boy and the elderly woman had probably started what could only be described as a gazing contest.
At some point though, Lucius probably won the competition he didn’t even realize was happening and the Sister sighed.
“Lucius,” she started, “what is that?”
“What is what?” asked the little kid innocently . Okay, maybe Lucius knew what she was talking about. But he didn’t understand why she’d question him bringing a cat in. That would have been dumb.
“In your arms”
“Father Aldric gave her to me,” said Lucius like it explained everything. And, for the six years old, it did.
“Father Aldric does not live here”
“But Chance is a gift…” started Lucius, trying to go past the Sister, in vain.
“Lucius. No one can bring pets in.” said the Sister, in the tired tone of someone that had to say it for years.
“But she’s a cat?” tentatively started the orphan, looking at the old woman with two big, sad eyes.
“And?” asked Sister Eliza, unapologetic.
Lucius had been so sure Chance being a cat would make everything okay, she could hunt the mouse. She wouldn’t even be the first cat in the building, just the one he would have been allowed to get close to, as she was his cat. Maybe he should just think of another way to convince the Sister?
“But I’m all alone in a room at night!” he tried next, hoping it would work.
“You stay right here. If you try sneaking out with that cat, you’ll regret it,” warned Sister Eliza.
Lucius could do that, maybe he had somewhat convinced her to let him keep the cat. After long, interminable minutes, where Chance might have clawed Lucius because she was tired of being held, the old woman came back, looking ever more tired than before.
“You are a really, really lucky one.” started Sister Eliza. “That cat of yours can stay. If it does not go out of your room. We are not helping you feed it.”
At that, Lucius beamed. He had absolutely no idea how to care for a cat, but Chance was allowed to stay! She was even going to sleep with him, since she was allowed in his bedroom! And the Sisters would not help him, but maybe he could find an older boy that knew how to take care of a cat.
But just a bowl of milk should be fine, right? It was what the orphanage’s mouse cats had every day. But first, before Sister Eliza changed her mind… Lucius ran towards his room, Chance claws slightly piercing his skin in fear. He didn’t like the fact the cat was hurting him, but she was still his and Sister Eliza said yes! And when the old woman said yes, the others didn’t argue.
One in his room, Lucius dropped the cat on the bed gently. Or, at least, as gently as a six years old could. Which the cat immediately took as an occasion to go hiding under the bed. Did Lucius do something bad? Why was Chance hiding? He didn’t want Chance to hide.
Maybe he should ask a Sister why a cat might hide somewhere? Would they even agree to answer him? Would they have a rule about no asking questions about cats on top of not being able to ask them to help feed her?
He hoped not. But he should probably find another, older boy, to help him. The problem was… He never really spoke to the other boys, except maybe the times he said to Little Tom, 4 years old and ex-bedmate, to stop snoring because it was annoying.
He really did not want to do that. He would rather ask Father Aldric, because the old priest was way easier to speak with, but he was scared the priest would be disappointed if Lucius didn’t know how to care for a cat.
Tomorrow, after one bad night of sleep like usual, he’d ask. If he found the courage to do it during the night somehow.