Secrets of the Orient (Lau x Reader)

As you flopped down onto your bed, a long sigh was pushed out of your restless body.  Sitting around doing nothing just wasn’t your style.  You needed to be doing something, entertaining yourself in some way other than counting ceiling-tiles.  You were just about to call for the butler when a rhythmical rapping sound echoed through the thick oak door leading into your chambers.
    
  “Come in.”  You sat up and folded your hands in your lap.  Your bare feet were dangling in midair.  Despite the plushy quality of the mattress, you were still several inches from the ground.  A familiar Chinese man poked his head into your room.
 
“Miss ______,” he greeted you.  His voice was soft and relaxed, but his accent was heavy and pronounced.  You smiled politely.
 
“Good evening, Lau.  Is Ran Mao with you?”  You had seen Lau in the company of Ciel and the others many times, but never in private before.  Something about his smile and the way he casually glanced around your room made you a bit uncomfortable.
 
“No, actually.  She’s running an errand for me at the moment.”  Lau opened the door fully to reveal his deep green Tangzhuang.  As usual, his hands were clasped beneath his lengthy sleeves, making him look especially foreign.  This, in turn, made all of your discomfort disappear.  You had always been fascinated with the Orient.  You had never been there, but all of your books described it was a mysterious, mystical place full of strange customs and beautiful scenery.  There was actually a painting of one of China’s “sacred mountains” hanging beside your bed.  Symbols that meant something yet nothing to a girl like you scrawled down the side of it.  As you glanced at it, a sudden gleam of excitement flashed in your eyes.
 
“Can you read this to me?”  You pushed yourself off of the bed and pointed at the painting.
 
“Why, of course I can.”  You smiled a wide, Cheshire-cat smile as Lau gave you a short bow.  “I’ll have to cross the threshold of your room, however.  Is that alright with you, Miss _____?”
 
You nodded impatiently.  “Yes, yes.  Now come!  Reveal to me the secrets of the Orient!”
 
Lau approached you slowly, then let his head fall to one side.  “What am I reading again?”
 
You nearly toppled over backwards.  “The words on the painting that I just pointed at!”
 
  Lau chuckled lightly and scratched his neck.  Your eyebrow twitched as he leaned towards the painting.  He seemed to be studying it intently.  He gave you a sly grin as you peered over his shoulder eagerly.  “Well?”
 
Lau straightened his posture.  “It’s the painter’s name.”
 
There was a forced silence as your face flushed.  After a moment, Lau broke into a fit of laughter.  You felt like a total idiot.
 
“Oh…”  You buried your face in your hands and turned away from the Chinese man.  As your shoulders slumped, Lau leaned around you and smiled.
 
“Come now,” he peeled your fingers away from your face and held them in his hands gently.  His skin was warm and soft; the feel might have been pleasant had you known him well enough to feel comfortable with such contact.  “There was no way you could have known.  Plus, it takes more than a few hanzi to reveal the secrets of the Orient.”  You frowned as Lau let one of his hands release your fingers.  With a look of amusement, he gently pinched your cheek and tugged at it.  “Now give me a smile.”
 
 Your entire face grew hot as you allowed a small grin to present itself on your facial features.  Lau let both of his hands drop.  Once more his hands disappeared beneath his sleeves as he linked them together.  Your grin blossomed into a full-out smile.  “There.  A lady looks so much lovelier when she smiles.  You are no exception.”
 
Once more, your face heated.  This time it was accompanied by an odd fluttering sensation in your stomach.  Your whole face twitched as you tried linking your fingers together.  For some reason, you couldn’t seem to get them to fit without knotting them together.  “Thanks…I think.”
 
“You’re welcome,” Lau’s voice was a bit musical as he spoke.  Suddenly, as if remembering something important, his brows shot skyward.  “I almost forgot why I came here.  I was going to ask if you were enjoying your stay at Phantomhive manor.  I thought you might want some company.  Being stuck in a stuffy place like this must be frustrating.”
 
“You, Sir, are correct,” you sighed.  “It’s driving me crazy.  I was actually entertaining the idea of asking Sebastian to entertain me for a while when you came knocking at my door.”
 
“Asking Sebastian to entertain you,” Lau chuckled.   “What a dangerous thing to do.  You should be careful of the company you keep, Miss ______.”
 
“Oh?”  You arched an eyebrow.  “What a curious thing for you to say, Mister Lao.”
 
Lau’s lips crept upward ever-so-slightly.  He tilted his head to the side curiously.  For a moment, you thought you saw a flash of chocolate colored irises beneath his thick lashes.  You couldn’t be sure, however.  “I thought I’d like you, Miss ______.  I was right.”
 
You opened your mouth to speak when something stopped you.  Standing directly behind Lau was a small Chinese girl.  She had raven hair with thick, square bangs that made a straight line right above her eyebrows.  Two long braids looped in wide circles and trailed down her back.  The girl’s large gold eyes were fixed on you; they looked totally emotionless, like she had no opinion of you whatsoever...or if she did, she was excellent at hiding it.  You grinned awkwardly.
 
“Ran Mao,” you greeted her.  Ran Mao nodded once.  Lau turned and snaked his arm around her shoulder.  He gestured to you with his free hand.
 
“I shall return later.  You wish to know more about my culture, correct?”  His words made you stiffen a bit.  You nodded quickly.  Ran Mao slid a small package into the hand on her shoulder.  Lau’s fingers closed tightly around it.  As the two left, the door was closed with a soft click.
 
“The company I keep…”  Your lips curled into an impish grin.  “Interesting advice coming from someone like you.”
 
Fin~