Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

"Are you trying to punch a hole in my skull?" Claude asked blankly.

Thud!

You laughed, bringing your clenched fist on his forehead with a solid thump. "I'm trying my best to be gentle, your Majesty!"

Thud!

Somehow you ended up in doing it; abiding to his order. You didn't want to but you did half-hearted, still perplexed over his strange behaviour.

But when he threatened Athy to sing lullaby for him, your ire rose to the point you end up smacking his head.

"Sleep tight, child. Moons and stars...." Athy's soulless yet soothing singing filled the tiny space, only served to amplify your angry.

Poor Athy. You wanted to hug her but Claude wasn't budging his head from your lap thus you were forced to stay still and continue smacking him to get out your frustrations.

Thud!

Claude clicked his tongue, unfazed by your 'gentle' massage. "You're doing fine job doubling my headache. Can't you do it properly like you used to."

"I don't have the best memory, your Majesty." You said. "Are you going to apply said 'hundreds ways of making someone remember by force' on me?"

"No," Claude muttered faintly, eyes shut close. "Why would I?"

Your movements fluttered as you stared at him for few seconds before resuming. This time your movements noticably losing its aggression.

"Should I stop since it's not helping with your headache?" Please, say yes.

"No."

Goddammit. Stubborn bastard!

Thud!

"Sleep tight, my child..." Athy's sang monotonously, swaying side by side in cutely manner.

You sent her helpless look. You would lying if you said you weren't enjoying her sweet, child-like voice singing in soothing manner, mimicking Lily's way of singing. You just wished it was in different, more normal circumstances instead forced into it.

And the said culprit was soundly relaxing on your lap, eyes closed while hands sprawled on his chest lazily, his legs crossed at ankles with a pensive, indifferent attitude.

You were peeved how effortlessly handsome he was. God, you wished you could give him a bruise or two to make him less irresistibly good-looking.

Thud!

What is his forehead made of?!

Stone?! Marble?!

Your hand was starting to hurt.

"Your punches are becoming more violent." Claude remarked carelessly, showing no sign of being bothered by your smacks.

"The offer to stop still stands." You said annoyed, rolling your eyes at his persistence.

"Or you can start massaging for real."

You resisted the urge to stick out your tongue. Like hell you would. "I'm not a professional massager, unfortunately. This is the best I can do."

When he knew he wasn't getting his way, he sighed. The exhaustion and defeat in his sigh made you guilty.

Stupid, sensitive heart!

You grumbled, annoyed at yourself for being softie.

Huffing under your breath, you unclenched your fist and started massaging for real. You brushed back his bangs from his forehead to get better access, and rubbed firm circles on his temples, applying gentle pressure.

Slightly tensing up, Claude opened his eyes. There was a flicker of surprise before it morphed into something intense that made you avert your eyes.

I'mma ignore this man. He's just a illusion! A illusion, I say

He let out a 'tsk' sound. You refused to look at him, keeping your eyes fixed in Athy, silently cheering her up.

She looked gloomy as she repeated the lyrics of the lullaby. Growing less and less enthusiastic about it.

You softly snickered and Athy pouted at you. You mouthed 'sorry'.

Your hands abruptly paused when you felt tugging at your hair.

"Your hair is tangled."

Claude's hands threaded in your hair, pulling at the tangled part.

Caught completely off guard by his unexpected and out of character behaviour, you blankly stared, eyes two small blank dots. Mind still registering his actions, slowly, sluggishly as if it was having hard time making sense of it.

This morning Ces and Hannah insisted on styling your hair. You were excited, it's been a while since you done anything remotely self- caring but when they started pulling out scary needle like hairpins and other hair accessories, you noped out of there. Messily pulling your hair into side pony.

Your pony had come undone, hanging loosely on your shoulder, you weren't bothered with it so you left it alone.

Apparently he was bothered with your messy, unkept hair.

"Did you cut your hair?" Claude muttered, focused on the task of untangling your messy hair. "It should've been longer."

"Y-yes.." Your vocabulary was reduced to nonsensical single word answer.

A smug look overcome on Claude's face. He looked way to pleased with himself.

Sadly you couldn't do anything about other than screech mentally about it

Claude ran his fingers through the tangled part, smoothing them out with great concentration.

You flinched, hyperventilating when he pulled your hair little too hard. "O-ow.."

His brow furrowed, eyes staring intently at your grimaced/freaked out expression. His movements turned more careful and less rough. When you didn't flinch, he became more confident with his movements.

Though there was underlying stiffness to his movements as if he hadn't done it before and it was his first time. He was a bit awkward as how to handle and soften his usually rough movements so he wouldn't rip your hair off.

Nope! I'm definitely forgot to wake up this morning. There no way Claude de Alger Obelia is running his fingers through my hair. No way!

You nodded. Yep, that's it. I just need to pinch myself to wake up.

.... I'm not waking up.

You repeatedly pinched your arm but the dream still continued. You started freaking out, eyes wildly shaking as Claude looked at you with straight face but still managing to come off smug.

You were officially brain dead when his fingers lightly scratched at your scalp, eliciting goosebumps.

"You're blushing." Claude said, his fingers lightly brushing against your reddened ear and you gasped, closing your eyes.

No shit, Sherlock!

Oh, god. You were going to faint. Like for real faint. Why was he doing this to you?!

Your poor, inexperienced heart can't handle something this intense!

It felt like dream. The focused look on his face, the careful movements of his hands, the soft sensation traveling all over your body. It felt so unreal.

On the other hand, Athy was full-blown panick mood. She gaped at Claude like he was alien from another planet.

"Athy can do it!"

Athy climbed over Claude's chest, digging her knees into his abs, reaching for your hair. Claude let out a surprised exhale, his breath knocking out forcefully.

You snapped out of your dreamy stupor, surprised at Athy's rather sudden action.

"Papa is tired so let Athy do it!" Athy laughed, rather nervously. Sweat beads appeared on her forehead as she hurriedly untangled your hair, patting once when it was done.

You were thankful for Athy's intervention yet there was slight disappointment.

"There all done!"

"Thanks." You said, giving a teary- smile. I'm so sorry Athy you had to see this freakshow.

Claude clicked his tongue, expression soured. Athy spared him a quick look and scrambled off him smiling.

There was awkward silence in the tiny space. Athy was smiling. Claude had closed his eyes, furrowing his twitching brow and you were quite frankly still reeling back from both of their strange behaviour.

"Continue the lullaby." Claude said, side-staring, eyes aglow menacingly.

Athy flinched before give him hundred volts smile. "Yes, Papa!"

You jolted when his eyes focused on you. Was he... sulking?

You eyed him in disbelief.

"Continue with the massage." Claude muttered, his monotonous tone laced with gloominess. He closed his eyes, exhaling roughly.

You didn't pull any punches, doing as told. Your hands were tense, heart threatening to jump out any second.

You didn't want to be in close proximity with him. You needed time to cool off and process what just happened. His presence wasn't helping the heat on your cheeks.

Some time passed, both Athy and you peered at his motionless figure, looking cautiously.

"Is Papa asleep?" Athy whispered.

"Uh-huh." You poked his nose until it looked pig's snout. Claude didn't move a inch. "Yep, deep asleep."

Athy exhaled, dropping on her back.

You leaned back with a groan, flexing your sore shoulder. My poor shoulders..!

But it's better than my poor heart who almost stopped today.

My poor innocent organs are in critical danger because of him and his unpredictable actions.

You glared at him, but your traitor heart softened at his peaceful expression. A nostalgic warmth filled you. Back then he looked like innocent child sleeping, now he looks like a fallen angel out for your heart and a tempting devil all at once.

Goddammit, you hated the unfairness of good genes.

You traced your thumb underneath his eyes, the slight darkened area was telltale the sleepless night he spent.

No wonder he always looks spaced out and exhausted.

Ah, I stop looking at him or else I'd fall for him all over again.

You closed your eyes, leaning back and letting a deep exhale, sparing a look at Athy who was emerged in inspecting the extra fluffy pillows scattered around her.

You went over things that happened. You didn't know what to make of his actions. It was true you long got over your fear and stopped blaming after the so called punishment. Each act of thinly veiled consideration went further to reinforce the belief that he wasn't the same Claude from past life.

Still there was wariness you couldn't get rid of. It was thriving inside, making you hesitate in expecting his efforts to reconcile.

But if he wanted the friendship bond back, his actions spoke otherwise. You clearly remembered he had friendzoned you, hard.

So why were all his actions way to intimate for friends. And the intense look in his blue eyes weren't helping either.

You softly exhaled, trying to calm down your accelerating heartbeat when a thought crossed your mind.

Does he has romantic feeling for me?

You laughed softly at the possibility. Wouldn't that be nice?

"Is his majesty asleep?" Felix came through the blind.

How long was just standing there alone? Poor guy, being knight was a tough job.

You pretended to sleep. You could feel Athy's presence near you, gushing over Claude's golden hair as she 'inspected' his hair.

Momentarily you felt her eyes on you as she answered.

"Yeah. (Y/n) is too!"

"That's a surprise. His majesty normally don't let his guard down but then again it's you and (Y/n). It expected afterall." There was playfulness to Felix's tone.

You quietly listened to them as both of them properly apologized to each other. You were glad when suddenly Felix's brought up his mother. Heart heavy with sadness, as he explained his resentment and indifference towards his mother and finally realizing he did care for her after accidentally coming across a handkerchief.

You recalled how sad he was. That was when you sneaked him out of palace to cheer him up, dragging Lawrence along.

There was a melancholic pause as Athy pondered over Felix's words.

"It's secret." Athy started in a conspiracy tone. "Athy lied when she said she doesn't want to see Mommy."

"Did you?"

Her next words almost made you bawl your eyes out in joy.

"Athy has (Y/n). (Y/n) is what Athy's imagines Mommy to be like." Athy said softly. "If (Y/n) is not Athy's Mommy, Athy's doesn't want Mommy."

You could die from the warmth pulsing in your heart. The heaviness lifted off, and light joy filled in the void of doubt, making you sniffle quietly.

A pause.

"Is that so. (Y/n) would really happy to hear that, princess. She thinks of you as her daughter too." You could hear the smile in Felix's voice.

I'm happy, Felix. A wide smile stretched on your face. She doesn't know how the precious gift she gave me by thinking of me as her mother.

"Athy's knows! That's why I don't need to see Mommy. And I have Papa too!"

"Do you have a wish princess?"

"--18!" Athy exclaimed much to your puzzelment.

"Pardon?"

"I want Papa to like Athy a lot. Like Athy does to papa. And- and I want (Y/n) to stay with me forever and give me lots and lots of chocolates!"

You swooned at her childlike, heartwarming wish. You wanted to hug her so bad and pinch her soft chubby cheeks and fangirl at her adorableness. But you didn't want to disturb their moment.

Felix chuckled, wholeheartedly amused yet touched. "I'm sure your wish will come true."

***

There was comfortable silence. Athy had fallen asleep after some time, leaving you the only person awake.

You were biting your lips to stop smiling like an idiot. Athy thinks of you as mother. Hee-hee.

Your thoughts were only filled with her words and how much happiness and solace it brought you. Occasionally it would stray away to Claude's intimate action but you would forcefully grabbed it's tail and fling it away.

"You're awake"

You cried out in surprise when Claude shot up from his sleeping position abd stared intently at you.

"Wha--!?" You spluttered. "You weren't asleep?! You were pretending to sleep all this while!"

Claude rolled his eyes at your outburst. "I could hardly let out my guard down around a girl who carried dagger in her boots. I do value my life."

"Hic!" How did he know about it?!

Claude ran his hair through his dishevelled hair, sparing you a look before placing his hands on Athy's forehead.

You tensed up, but when you recognised the memory passing magic, your eyes widened.

"You aren't going berserk." Claude observed.

"I don't go berserk." You huffed, pulling a pillow to your chest to set a barrier between you and him.

"I beg to differ." Claude drily said. "Last time has taught me a solid lesson."

You fell silent, observing him as he brushed his finger on Athy's head, almost fondly.

"What are you acting this way?" You demanded, damning all insecurities to hell.

Fuck it. I'd go insane if I didn't get answers.

Claude raised a eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"The kindness." You stated, gesturing at Athy. You huffed when his expression turned unreadable. "Your all too vague softness. With me, with Athy. What are you playing at, Claude? One time you threatening us and next moment you do something exactly opposite. You always come off as someone who hates us; someone who wouldn't mind if we died at some point. And then you're act like...you care. I don't get it!" You throw up your hands in frustration and exasperation.

"It's so fucking hard to keep up with you." You point a accusing finger at him. "You suddenly go from cold to hot. From caring to uncaring. It's...confusing as hell!"

"Would it surprise you if I said I care?" There a intensity in his blue eyes that compelled you to not look away

You swallowed hard, barely getting the next words out. "That's doesn't answer my questions."

Claude stared at you, the unreadable emotions behind his eyes making it glow like twin blue flames.

"As if you are any better." Claude coldly glared, lips pulled at beginning of a vicious snarl. "One time you are absolutely terrified of me and next moment you care for me. You say I'm confusing?"

You shrank back. "I- I have valid reason. I'm trying to get over it, okay!!"

"Then I too have a valid reason." Claude spat, getting real close to your face, glaring icy daggers.

"Yeah," You said with a blazing glare, feeling his breath fan on your face yet not backing away. "Please do enlighten me!"

"I'm testing if I can have back what l lost!" He snapped.

That shut up you real quick.

He smirked with no emotion, cold eyes void of smugness when you didn't reply only stared at him tensely, eyes wide with shock.

"I-I.."

Claude sighed. "Fuck, you always managed this feat, didn't you? Bringing the more emotional side in me.And just when I thought I had full control over my emotions." He grumbled.

"What...?"

Letting out another sigh, his finger reached out and poked your forehead. "Sleep. You look awful."

You promptly fell asleep, your limp body falling forward into strong embrace.