Chapter Text
(5 YEARS LATER)
SIMON
I head home after leaving work early and stopping at a place nearby to buy Chicken Noodle Soup.
When I get there, I make sure to put the soup in the fridge (it’s only 4PM, a little early for diner) and walk toward the bedroom.
I open the door and get inside. It’s all dark in there. I take off my shoes and jeans and get in the bed.
« Hey, Darling » I whisper, looking for black hair.
I hear a groan. Baz turns around to face me, his head still resting on his pillow. He looks a little crazy right now. I push his hair away from his face and kiss his forehead.
« Are you feeling any better ? » I ask, putting my head on my own pillow so we’re facing each other. He shakes his head.
He’s been going through a really bad flu for three days and this morning he was still too weak to go to uni. I was really worried at first, I thought vampires couldn’t get sick. Baz told me they could, under some drastic circumstances, and lately he’d been studying so much and barely eating (or drinking), it made sense he’d caught something.
« Did you sleep all day ? »
He nods. « What time is it ? » he says hoarsely.
« Around four ».
« What are you doing here ? » he asks, looking surprised.
« Left early. You need me more than they do ».
He smiles a little, though he still looks sleepy. My eyes are starting to adjust to the dark and I can see his features better now.
Even like this, after days in the bed, his complexion more grayish than ever, his eyes almost red from the exhaustion, he’s still the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
« I bought that soup that you like » I say. He smiles bigger now. I think I hear him whisper a « thank you, love ».
I get closer to him and wrap my entire body around his. He hums in approval. Now that I know he’s not dying, I’m almost liking this. Being stronger than him. Coddling him, taking care of him (would Baz mind if I just became a housewife ? He could probably provide for both of us. I’d just cook him diner and take care of the house, I’m rather good at it).
My hand goes to stroke his cheek and I press my nose against his. I kiss him on the mouth.
Baz moves away a little. « You’ll get sick » he says.
« Like I care ». I go back to kissing him. Coming home to him is always the best part of my day.
I let him go quickly, though, I don’t want to waste his strength. I notice he shivers without my warmth.
« Are you cold ? » He nods once again.
« I’ll draw you a bath » I say. « And while you’re in it I’ll go get you some rats »
He doesn’t answer, I wonder if he’s fallen back asleep.
I go to the bathroom and turn on the hot water.
BAZ
« Baz ? » Simon says, coming back in the room five minutes later. « You ready, sweetheart ? »
I make an approving noise (to the question and to the pet name). He comes on my side of the bed and lifts the covers to help me stand up. I gather my strength and get out of the bed. Simon takes my arm and supports my weight, helping me walk to the bathroom.
When we get there, Simon starts to take off my clothes. I barely have to move at all. Never has Simon undressing me felt less erotic than then. It’s purely domestic. Soft, sweet. He doesn’t need to do all this for me, but he does it anyway.
« Okay. I’ll see you in a minute » he says when he’s done. He kisses me on the cheek.
« No » I say, catching his arm. « Stay with me ».
« You need blood to get better ». Since when is Simon the reasonable one ?
« I drank some yesterday » I say. « Please, I don’t need more blood. I need you ».
I start unbuttoning his shirt (it’s white with blue lines on it. I bought it for him. He looks great with it). « Please, Simon » I say again.
He puts his hands in my hair. « Okay. Don’t beg, baby. You know you don’t have to » he kisses a spot under my ear that always makes me melt and takes of his clothes too.
He gets in the tub first and I follow him. I’m lying entirely on him, my back to his chest, and my head in the crook of his neck.
We stay like this for a while. In silence, not moving, apart from Simon’s fingers brushing my hips lightly, making the water move. I close my eyes, thinking that if Heaven exists, it must feel a lot like this (without the throat ache).
The warmth of the water feels amazing on my cold body and Simon made sure to put some salts that I like in it.
« I love you » Simon whispers in my ear.
I rest the side of my head on his jaw, content. I don’t need to say it back. He knows. I say it enough.
He kisses my temple and moves us a little. We’re almost sitting in the bathtub now.
« Let’s wash this beautiful hair, okay ? It’s getting messy » he says. Turning the water back on and wetting my hair softly.
He takes my (our, I won’t let him use cheap ones anymore) shampoo and starts massaging my scalp. I wish I could see his face right now, I’m positive he’s so focused his tongue is sticking out of his mouth.
He washes the shampoo off, humming a melody.
« You are my sunshine… my only sunshine » he sings, before kissing the back of my shoulder.
I want to tell him that he’s getting it wrong. He is the sun. Always has been. But I don’t have the energy to contradict him. Instead, I just giggle a little as he leaves a trail of kisses on my back.
« Have I ever told you that your laugh is my favorite sound in the whole world ? » he says, taking the conditioner and applying it on my hair.
I know he’s being extra nice to make me feel better. And I love him for it, even though he’s saying nonsense. « No, actually »
He makes a shocked sound. « That will not stand » he says, and the water’s back on my hair. He’s making sure it won’t get in my eyes. « Let’s do a recap. You are my favorite sound. My favorite smell. And, obviously, my favorite sight ».
I laugh. « You’re an idiot ». It does make me feel better. Simon being foolish has always been my best source of dopamine.
His mouth is back on my shoulder, then on my neck. He licks me there and I shiver.
« Remember the first time you let me wash your hair ? » I whisper.
I can almost hear the smile forming on Simon’s face. « Fat chance »
I turn around to look at him. The water is moving around us.
« Best decision of my life » he says, combing my hair with his fingers.
I duck my head below his, nuzzling his collarbone. He holds me for a minute.
« Let’s get out of here, water’s turning cold and I’m not getting you any sicker than you already are ».
He gets out first and quickly dries himself on a towel before putting PJs bottoms. Then he helps me out of the bath and into my bathrobe.
He takes me in his arms and rubs my back to warm me up for a while.
« I’ll go get you those rats now » he says as he kisses the tip of my nose.
« I’m so in love with you, Simon Snow » I say, holding on to him.
He laughs. « Weird timing, but I’ll take it » he says before kissing my mouth quickly.
I hold him by the back of his neck and we rock together slightly, almost like a slow dance.
I kiss him again and again.
I’ll never get enough.