Work Text:
Clicks on a keyboard and taps on a touchscreen were a new addition to the background music in Le Symphonique Café, a sudden inflation had increased Félix’s workload overnight, and as to not cause more stress than necessary, he took his laptop to the café so that he’d still have a constant in his routine. It didn’t take long for Marinette to also bring her assignments to complete alongside him, milked coffee, and the light’s buzzes.
It was undoubtedly the most relaxed hour of Félix’s day, but the added work still took its toll on him. And by the soft grumbles, unrhythmic taps, and cheek smacks coming from Marinette’s direction, she wasn’t much better.
Félix screwed his eyes shut, slumping back on his cushioned seat as blue lights blurred behind his burning eyelids. He peered at the dark streets beyond the glass window. Tap, tap, tap’s slipped in and out of his ears, migraning his temples with their irregular tempo. He bit down a groan and leaned on a folded elbow on the desktop, pushing his laptop out of the way.
He raised a finger to the misted glass, a chill running down his arm from the fingerprint pressed in it. He traced it down slowly, letting the glass’ cold surface muffle all noises in and out of his head.
Turn ninety degrees right, up, left, and back down. Two dots and a curve in the middle of the square. A stroke inside it, two on the outer sides–
“You did SpongeBob!”
Without moving his head, Félix glanced up at where Marinette sat across from him. She had also rested her head on the table, laptop pushed aside.
“Uh-hum,” he confirmed, letting his arm drop from his glass art.
Marinette raised her finger to the window. An upside down triangle, a stick under it, two strokes–
“A stickman?” Félix asked.
“Nope.”
A semi-circle connecting the triangle to the sole of one foot, mimicked it on the other side, an arch on top of it, two curly lines–
“A dog!”
“Yep!”
Marinette dotted the eyes and drew out the dog’s tongue before moving to the vacant spot beside it. Félix propped his chin on his arms so that he could see her work better, legs rocking slightly under the table. He instantly recognized what she was going for and reached over to add the plaque of the Speared Tree.
Marinette slapped his hand—only after he was done drawing—fake-glaring at him. “That was my drawing.”
“Isn’t knowing how to share essential for a relationship?”
She stuck out her tongue with a blee.
Snickering, Félix leaned forward to mist another part of the window. Marinette observed thoughtfully as he drew wavering lines. Then she reached over and drew a square around it.
“Hey, I was doing the Seine!”
“Too bad.” She grinned, drawing antennas out of the box. “It’s a malfunctioning TV now.”
Félix crossed his arms, humphing. “At least I didn’t butcher your drawing but helped you finish it.”
Marinette shrugged, gleefully drawing a table for the TV. She cupped the image when Félix reached over, but he just rolled his eyes and started drawing some portraits over the TV.
“It isn’t as funny when you’re nice,” Marinette said, posture relaxing.
“‘As’?” Félix raised an eyebrow, filling a shelf with books.
“It’s still kinda funny.” Marinette carpeted the floor. “More sweet, though.”
Eventually, they’d have to leave—and with delayed assignments to complete—but for now, they basked in the calmness of the café’s clinks and tinks while decorating a fogged living room together.
