Just a disclaimer this doesn't entirely follow the story, It's got some non-cannon things in it between MC and Julian.

You had just made your blood pact with Lucio, well maybe not JUST did it. You had hung out with Lucio and watched him play with Malchior and Mercedes, now you were walking down the hall, Lucio still laughing to himself as he placed the feather he took from the guy setting up decorations in your hair. "man it feels nice to stretch my legs!" Lucio smiled in contentment as he floated beside you. You gave him a glance from the side as a smile crept onto your face. "Well I'm glad your happy,  but don't forget why I helped you." You stated trying to stay as formal as you could while you whispered to the invisible mute person floating beside you.

"Mmm, Because my charm had you wanting mme by your side?" He teased softly.

This man, always going on about how amazing he is. You just roll your eyes, "No because we need to you to tell Nadia that Julian is innocent." you explain, you silently mulled over in your head how exactly you'd explain that without sounding crazy. "Ah right, Save your lover from parral." Lucio huffed in slight annoyance.

"He's not my lover." You corrected absentmindedly. Trust was he wasn't, You guys shared a kiss or two both neither were romantic in anyway— Mostly just Julian being so excited and Happy that you'd help him or Some sweet friendly kisses to your head like an older sibling would do.

"Then why are you so hell bent on proving his innocence?" Lucio asked as he floated in front of you, pulling you from your thoughts. "He's my friend and I don't want him to die— Duh. Have you never had friend's before?" You asked as you walked. You were so glad that no one was down the hall to hear your one sided conversation. After all if Nadia saw or heard you were talking to yourself  she'd think you were crazy and not let you on the case anymore.

Lucio blew an annoyed raspberry, "Of course I have friend's! Everybody loves me!!!" Lucio exclaimed with his arms outstretched. You hummed in response which made Lucio snark slightly. "What? Do you not like me?" He asked, "Mmm Well you can be a little annoying with the ego and all." You mused as you began to reach the balcony where Asra and Nadia were waiting for you.

Lucio gasped, "Ego!? I do NOT have an ego!" Lucio said with a slightly high pitched  tone which you would soon realize that when he did that he was almost always lying.

You laughed softly as you looked at him, you had arrived at the door now. "Oh please, It's so big I don't know how you see over it to talk to people." You whispered, mindful of the people on the other side. Lucio just crossed his arms as you opened the door.

Outside on the balcony there was Nadia who sat in a chair elegantly sipping her tea, her eyes darting to the door when it opened, a smile found its way to her face when she saw you. Just you. Asra was sitting across from her, his tea on the table between them. He stood with a smile, "Hey!" He exclaimed as he opened his arms for a hug, you quickly accepted by running into said hug. "God I missed you!" You squeezed him causing him to laugh.

Lucio peeked around the corner to watch you, "Ah I see your into the lazy type." Lucio commented, you tried your best to ignore it now that you were in front of people but you couldn't help shooting him a glare.

Asra's eyes followed yours, his body slipped from yours when he saw Lucio. You didn't notice, he couldn't possibly see him right? Asra look at you now, his who mood changed to worry with a hint of some Th omg foreign to you— Anger. "What did you do?" He asked you slowly.

"I— what?" You asked.

"How is he here!? He's supposed to be dead, what did you do!?" Asra asked as he raised his voice, the anger coming through more then the concern. Nadia was appalled by his sudden mood change and so were you. "Who on earth are you talking about Asra?" Nadia asked, Asra pointed to Lucio who was now standing in the doorway. "Lucio! Lucio's Ghost is connected to MC, I can feel the line. What did you do?" Sara said with more urgency now.

"Lucio's Ghost? Now this is intriguing. Perhaps you'd Should calm down Asra so they can explain." Nadia suggested calmly. Asra took a deep breath as he sat back down. You stood there kind of awkwardly as the center of attention, Lucio took a step in the room but receded said step when Asra shot him a glare.

"So, Mc if you don't mind. How exactly did this happen?" Nadia asked, she kept her mind open to this whole ghost thing.

You took a deep breath in and out. "Lucio's been haunting his wing of the palace ever since he died." You began, "I didn't DIE! It was just an oopsie!" Lucio interjected. Nadia didn't flinch since she couldn't see or hear her Ex-Husband. You just rolled her eyes at his comment and continued your story.

"I found him there when I was investing..." You finished your sentence. "That would make sense with all the stories from the maids through the palace." Nadia said with a sigh, Asra sat there siliently.

You played with the hem of your shirt as your finished telling the story. "He said he couldn't leave the wing because that's where he died." Lucio went to correct you but you paid him no mind as you continued— "He looked really lonely... And I figured if anyone could help solve his death it'd be him but I needed to get him out of the room or he wouldn't help. I found this spell in one of Asra's old books I had brought to protect myself." You stated hesitantly. "Blood pact— You made a blood pact!? Do you know how dangerous that could be!! You bound your souls together!" Asra exclaimed as he stood again, his anger shocked everyone but especially you.

"He wouldn't help unless I did!" You countered, "and what's stopping him from not helping? He got what he wanted— MC you shouldn't trust him!" Asra told with worry laced in his voice. "Asra I'm not a child— you act as if I'm to stupid to know what I'm doing!" you barked at him. Lucio floated over and stood between you two hoping to stop the fighting— to stop Asra's aggression towards you— to protect you.

Asra looked through Lucio right at you, "You don't know what your doing, I treat you like a child because you act like one. Your to careless with what you do and you put yourself in danger because of it!" Asra snapped back. You stood there honestly shocked by his words. Lucio snarled at Asra viscously.

Nadia stood with now, "Enough!" She yelled, her voice full of dominance. Asra backed up and sighed, he looked away not meeting your gaze. "I should have never left..." he grumbled under his breath.

You clenched you're hands that we're balled into a fist— you knew you'd never hit him but you couldn't help that they became fists. Your teeth gritted together as tears prickled in the corner of your eyes. You were furious and hurt. "Yeah well maybe you shouldn't have! You always leave when I need you!" You suddenly snapped, Asra looked at you from the sudden words. When he saw your his expression softened, you standing there trying to to cry or scream— Lucio standing in front of you as if he was trying to protect you from something. Protect you from him.

"Look what you did!" Lucio snapped at Asra, Though you couldn't hear it all you saw was Lucio talking without noise, but Asra heard it loud and clear. "This is your fault you urchin!" Lucio snapped again, Asra sunk softly in his place like a scolded child.

Your turned swiftly and existed the balcony hearing your name called by Nadia, only Nadia.

Your stomped down the hall with Lucio following far behind, not far enough that he was being tugged by the string that connected you, but far enough that gave you space. Funny how he's being the considerate one.

When you got to your room you entered and slammed the door, Lucio was there not too long after but he waited on the other side of the door listening.

A sniffle.

A sniffle caught his attention from the other side.

Lucio pokes his head through the closed door to see you sitting on the floor at the end of the bed, your knees pulled to your chest and your face buried in your arms you had that pulled you closer to yourself.

Lucio stepped through the door and floated over to you. He didn't know what to do— he'd never had to comfort anybody except himself and when he did that he just caught him things to make himself feel better but now that he was a ghost he couldn't really do that. "Hey... are you.... crying?" Lucio asked dumbly as he at in front of you.

"No..." you took a minute to reply, you'd only known Lucio Fir about an hour you didn't want him know you were crying in front of him. Lucio clicked his tongue in disagreement. "Look at me then." He challenged, you were cornered now— "Okay I am..." you admitted.

"Still, Look at me." He said almost softly, you lifted your tear stained face but didn't look directly at him, instead off to the side. Lucio sighed since you didn't do what he asked and just kind of went around it.

"Look at me." He said again, your head looked away but you glanced at him from the side.

"Look at me." He said again, he was starting to sound like a broken record now. You huffed as you gave in and stared at him dead on. "What?" You asked with slight annoyance. Lucio reach out to grab a hair from in front of your face and move it, it was barely caught on his ghostly fingers before it slipped through landing back where it was. Agitated that the action hasn't done what it was supposed to he tried again only for it to fail again.

Lucio groaned in absolute annoyance, he stopped though when he heard your sweet laugh. "What?" He asked like a confused puppy. You had to admit that even if the action didn't happy like it was supposed to even if was a small action that didn't mean much it made you laugh at how he was trying so hard. "You." You hummed at you looked at him, his lip puckered into a pout as heat roast his his ghastly face. This made you smile even more.

Your smile faded as you laid your head on its side, cheek pressed to your arm. "I've never seen Asra so mad— much less at me." You mumbled softly. "Well take it from someone who he's mad at a lot, he'll get over it." Lucio shrugged with a smile. You smiled at his attempt to cheer you up, you sat up nodding. "Yeah I guess he'll have to get over it— the damage is done." You sighed.

Lucio frowned a little at you, "Damage, is what you did for me that dangerous?" He asked, "It can be, but I'm glad I did it." You shrugged with a smile. "Yeah, so you can do the case thing..." Lucio said with a pout. "And, I guess your pretty good company, even if you are annoying." You teased, Lucio chuckled, "Aha! So you do find me charming! Admit it you've fallen for me!" Lucio exclaimed, "in your dreams Casanova!" You retorted. Lucio just laughed at the whole conversation.

"I'm glad you helped me too." He hummed happily.

Word count: 2036