I love/hate Lacroix from VTMB but the amount of disgusted pining I love to imagine him having toward the fledgling is so chef's kiss. Like he has them doing all of these suicide missions but eventually they're actually doing so well and are genuinely impressive that he can't help but feel this weird possessiveness over them when they bring up Nines. Like Sebastian hates the idea of charming Nines winning over HIS fledgling, the fledgling HE decided to spare (even if it was Nines's idea lol) so he orders fledgling around to keep them away from the Anarchs as much as he can. When it's time for the bloodhunt call on Nines, he is wayyyy too eager to call it because it means Nines won't be the fledgling's secondary savior anymore, leaving Lacroix as the only one Fledgling has in the end

LaCroix hating that ignorant uncouth Fledgling who just barely does a passable job and somehow survives all of the missions he sends them to die on. He's always so unpleasantly surprised to see them back in his office, ready for another assignment. And yet their presence isn't entirely unwelcome. He likes having someone so new to the World of Darkness to explain everything to, to show his superiority to. And that scrappy upstart attitude of theirs is endearing, sort of like how a human would find a three-legged dog playing tug of war endearing.

And regardless of his dislike for them overall, they're HIS Fledgling. Nobody should command their attention more than him, especially not any of those ignorant pointless rebels that call themselves Anarchs. They keep insisting that they have his Fledgling's best interests at hear, but...they're his! His best interests are their best interests, so obviously the Anarchs have no right to disrupt his plans. And even if Darling is from another clan, they're his responsibility. Like a stray pet foisted on him. If anyone else tries to take it from him, then they're trying to steal what's his. And maybe they can be molded into something truly useful under him--not as low as a Ghoul, but just as useful, and who needs to be just as obedient. That is, if Nines won't stop trying to insert himself and leading his Fledgling down the wrong path.