Chapter Text
It was a strange place to be in, to be proud of Ink for working hard at uni, while not understanding in any way, shape, or form, why she bothered. University was long days, with classes in the morning and work at night, and notes and notes and notes, and never actually doing anything. For three months at a time, Ink sat at a desk and read. When Sera wanted to learn something, she went out and did it. Learn by doing. Practical, quick. Better.
But Ink said she needed a piece of paper to get a job, so, Sera put up with it. She was really looking forward to the day where Ink could be done with the whole miserable thing. Sera missed her.
—
It was past ten when Sera heard Ink’s key in the front lock. Sera turned the volume down on the tv and poked her head up over the back of the sofa. Ink appeared in the entryway on the tail end of three slow, heavy steps. She toed her shoes off with one hand on the wall for balance, and let her backpack slip from her shoulder and down to the floor, with less care than usual. It made a thunk when it landed. Ink had dark circles under eyes, and an uncharacteristic slump.
“Welcome home,” Sera said, to fill in the silence.
“Hey,” Ink said. “Frick, I’m knackered.”
“Want to turn in early?” Sera asked.
Another night with Ink dead to the world as soon as her head hit the pillow. Great.
“I’d love to, but I can’t. I have an essay to finish,” Ink said.
“Ugh, leave it ‘til tomorrow,” Sera said.
“I can’t, it’s due tomorrow.”
“Do it in the morning, then.”
“I have other classes.”
Sera sighed, but nodded. Ink frowned lightly, and used the moment to stretch out her shoulders, like she needed something to do with herself other than stand there. She was off towards the kitchen right after, without so much as a by-your-leave. Sera turned back towards the telly and put the volume back up.
“Do you want a coffee?” Ink called.
“Nah,” Sera replied.
“Alright then.”
It wasn’t like she was even that interested in what was on. It was some Orlesian film about a man that fell in love with a god that had fallen from grace, down into Val Royeaux. There was a lot of fast talking and staring at train tracks. For an Orlesian film, there was surprisingly little sex.
She heard Ink walk down the hall behind her and pick up her backpack. Ink stopped for a minute, before walking back towards the kitchen.
Sera switched channels, landing on an action film. There were explosions. A man’s head popped off his shoulders like a cork. Sera made a face at it, and changed the channel again.
“Sera?” Ink called.
“Yeah?” Sera replied.
“Could you turn the sound down a bit?”
“Fine.”
She turned the sound down.
“Sera, can you please turn it down a bit more, I’m trying to work.”
“Ugh, fine,” Sera said, putting it so low she could just hear it.
“Thank you!” Ink replied, sounding tense or annoyed, or something else.
Sera grabbed one of their throw pillows and hugged it. Felt like Ink didn’t want even the slightest hint that Sera was even around. She pushed the off button on the remote and chucked it on their coffee table. Sera heard the wind whistling through the trees outside, and something else. Sniffling.
She got up, pillow left on the sofa, and walked to the kitchen. Her feet were dry, so they didn’t make a sound against the linoleum floor. Ink was in front of the kettle still, her head leaned against the top cabinet and her hip against the counter, shoulders curled in. Arms wrapped around her own body protectively. Her chest juddered, then went still.
“Hey,” Sera said. “You alright?”
Ink flinched, brought her hand up to her face like she was wiping at it. She didn’t turn.
“Yeah,” Ink said, pausing to sniff before speaking again. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Alright,” Sera said, softly.
“You off to bed?” Ink asked.
“Was thinking about it.”
“Ok. I’m gonna be a while, I’ll try not to wake you up.”
Her voice cracked a little on the last bit. Sera had that feeling, like someone stepping over her grave. She hated when Ink cried. She never knew what to do.
She stepped into the kitchen anyway. Put her hand down, gently, on Ink’s shoulder. She felt a burst of sweet relief when Ink didn’t shrug her off.
“What’s wrong, Tadwinks?” Sera asked.
Sera could see Ink in profile, her liner running (she never bought waterproof), tears welling slowly before they fell. Ink didn’t move, but she did look down, and met Sera’s eyes.
“I’ve had the longest bloody day, and I’m in for more of it tomorrow,” Ink said. “I just… can’t you support me? Even a little.”
And that brought confusion, and anger, because Sera’d thought she had been. She brought in half the rent, did her share of everything, brought Ink lunch sometimes and ate it with her. Loved her, more than anyone.
“What do you mean, I don’t support you?” Sera said. “I do all sorts of-”
“Tonight! I meant tonight!” Ink said.
Somewhere in all of that, Sera’d let her hand drop, and fall into a fist by her side. She only noticed because it went loose after Ink snapped at her.
Ink tucked her face away.
“I’m so tired,” Ink said. “I have so much work to do, and I’m so tired, and I’m so scared I’m going to fail at this.”
“You won’t,” Sera said. “You’re you, you won’t fuck it up.”
Ink laughed, but it was wet, and disbelieving. In front of her the kettle bubbled loudly, and then clicked as it turned off. Sera put her hands over Ink’s, as Ink reached for it.
“Hey,” Sera said. “How’s about I make you a cup of tea, and get you a biscuit, and you can do your thing?”
Ink sniffled again, and nodded.
“Alright,” she said.
“Alright,” Sera replied.
—
“All these long days…” Sera said, later, in bed. “I miss you.”
“I miss you too,” Ink replied.
Ink burrowed in closer, from where she was hiding in Sera’s neck. Sera could feel her lips move when she talked.
“This won’t last forever,” Ink said. “We’ve just got to wait it out.”
“Yeah,” Sera said, sadly.
“We will, right?” Ink asked.
Sera kissed Ink’s hair.
“’Course we will,” Sera replied.
Ink’s breath went slow and quiet within minutes. Sera listened to her sleep, and savored her presence. Ran her hand through Ink’s hair, lying in their bed, in their place. Held on until those things calmed her.
And after that, she slept.