Chapter Text
"Fire up the pot and get ready to cook me, housekeep! I need a bath, stat!"
You came home from a mission, and you needed a well-deserved bath to wipe off the grime. Pukei-Pukei breath was not very fun to parade around with, after all.
"As mew wish, meowster! It'll be ready in just a few meownutes, and I'll call mew when it's ready." Your Felyne housekeeper immediately got to heating up your bath and preparing the water. It was a good thing that the tub, a giant cooking pot repurposed for your cleanliness, was just outside your home, so you could jump straight in when you returned from your hunts.
You were inside the house removing your armor and clothes, and headed out to get started once the housekeeper gave you the okay. Closing the curtains behind you and dropping the rest of your underwear, you slowly lowered yourself into the tub.
"This is exactly what the doctor ordered. A good bath is second only to a good meal."
Yes, all you needed in this moment was the sound of the crackling charcoal below you, the warm embrace of your bathwater, and the strange bubbling figure emerging in front of you.
Wait. What-
"Yo, Ace!"
The instructor broke through the surface and happily greeted you, gloriously naked, just as you were.
You promptly shoved him back under the water. "Whafdgdgkdf-"
"Utsushi, what are you doing here?! In my tub! What if someone sees us?!"
He pushed himself back up for air. "The curtain is closed and nobody's around! I thought it’d be fine to join you, my beloved disciple! Also if you haven't noticed, it's not exactly a secret that we're a thing now."
Gods in heaven, what were you going to do with this fellow? How did you not even notice he was here? You looked to the side where you placed your underwear and spotted familiar Zinogre-shelled armor and scarves neatly folded. It seems that it was on you for not being aware of his presence. And you would also have a talk with the housekeeper later.
You sighed as you rested your hands on his broad, scarred-up shoulders. "Okay... I guess we're doing this. But please alert me next time."
"Of course we are! I needed this as much as you do, so let's have a good bath! You can tell me all about your day, if you'd like." When Utsushi leaned against the side of the tub, he pulled you in with him so that you could rest your head next to his. When both your breathing synchronized, you sensed his fatigue washing away with yours.
Once again, the instructor knew what you really wanted- to be close to him any chance you could get. It's been a while since the two of you became lovers, and he was prone to cutesy pranks such as this. As annoyed as you acted outwardly, you hated to admit that it made you melt every time. Knowing that he adored you for everything that you are gave you strength and ease.
"Sorry if this was sudden." Utsushi whispered. "I just couldn't wait for you to come back today. And thought I could surprise you."
You flicked some water at his face. "You really thought scaring me in my own bathtub was a good surprise. You're a fool."
"Well, you need to be alert at all times. Can't let your guard down for a second, even in the safety of the village. Grr." He playfully, and ever so gently, nibbled your ear after his perfect rendition of a Nargacuga's growl, and you laughed. "So what this says is that you've really gotten soft around me. I dunno, Ace, maybe we have to work on that." He said this with a grin.
"Yes, well, that's just the sort of effect you have. Also, I could show you what it means to be ready for you whenever, but I think I'll make you find out what that's like when you least expect it." He was not going to get away with this, and you had plans for later. If Utsushi thought he was the one who would always come out on top, he had another thing coming!
"Huh? What does that mean?"
You kissed him to shut him up. "Shh. Just unwind with me a little longer."