Work Text:
It was winter now. Snow gently swayed and glided through the wind outside, ice creeping along the glass. With the heater cranked to seventy, Maddy was wearing only a tee shirt instead of the sweaters she’d been lounging in all week. She’d be damned if she gave up on the festive pajama bottoms Jules got her as a joke. They were comfortable.
Rue, on the other hand, was curled up on the couch, hugging a pillow, with the bulkiest furry hoodie Maddy had ever seen, paired with just as fluffy pants and socks. She didn't doubt she’d be wearing a scarf and mittens if Maddy wasn't there to judge.
The movie was hallmark at its worst, basic characters and scenes she’d seen hundreds of times. But it was something to watch. Plus, it had lesbians and pretty girls. What more could you want?
When Rue let out her first yawn of the night, Maddy was forced to hold in her grin or risk Rue jolting herself awake. This was part of why she put on the movie in the first place. Rue’s ridiculously short attention span usually led her to either leave halfway through or…
She sniffed, hugging the pillow closer, her legs tucked in under her as she leaned into the corner of the cushion and armrest. With her hood up, her hair acted as insulation. Her half-opened eyes flicked back and forth between the two characters. Maddy could see her holding in a yawn, her lips sealed shut but her jaw clenching.
One blink. Two blinks. Three and she was out, sinking into the corner. Maddy smiled and shut the movie off, instead going to YouTube for some gentle soothing Christmas music. She took the mugs and plates from the table, frowning when she noticed just how little Rue ate.
Not like this hasn't become typical, though. Since Rue got fired from her old job at the gas station (some bullshit that literally had nothing to do with her. She wasn't even working when it happened!), and Ali offered the job at the construction site his friend worked at, She’d been coming home more and more spent than the day before, going so far as to forget to change out of her dirty clothes before coming into bed.
Maddy makes sure she changes as soon as she gets home now.
With the dishes in the dishwasher and Her phone in hand, she swiped over to the camera. Rue was just so cute cuddling into her pillow! Maddy couldn't control herself, adding little heart emojis and heart eyes.
She finished her photoshoot quickly, though, going straight back to the task at hand. She sat at the edge of the couch, reaching forward to push Rue’s hair out of her face, ticking her cheek with her feather touches until she gave a cute pout and scratched.
“Time for bed~,” She teased.
Rue groaned, “Wha’?”
“It’s eight thirty, baby, time for bed,” Maddy chuckled at the pout on her lips.
“Mm. shut uh,” Rue slurred.
Maddy smiled gently. She always fell asleep around eight- two hours after she gets home and one hour after she gets settled.
“Fine. be like that. Guess ill just have to find someone else to snuggle,” she sighed theatrically, getting up.
She was halfway down the hall when she heard Rue’s small groan as she got up, her squeaky yawn making her giddy. Everything Rue did made her giddy. She was so lucky to have a cute, strong girl like her, even when she was dripping with denial.
Rue was face first in their bed when Maddy was finished getting ready for bed and she leaned against the doorway, crossing her arms. “Your turn.”
“Mm.”
“You skipped brushing your teeth this morning, hun, and You and I both know it's part of your routine- I'm not kissing a dumpster fire.”
Of course, Rue lifted her head only to say,” Ha, jokes on you, you do every day-”
A stuffed bear was thrown her way, hitting her in the back. “Brush 'em or no kisses for a week.”
“So mean to me” but she was already standing, never willing to risk losing Maddy’s comforting kisses goodbye.
“Good girl,” Maddy quipped while she walked out of the room. Rue blushed and sped up, listening to Maddy’s pleased giggles until the bathroom door clicked shut.
Maddy snuggled under the covers, both their phones plugged in. Rue was going through her closet, getting her uniform for tomorrow ready, throwing the pieces haphazardly onto their tantra chair. Another yawn gave her pause halfway through reaching for a pair of socks and Maddy winced at the small crack it made.
“Baby,” she whined,” come to bed.”
“Mm. mhm.”
She weaseled her way under the covers, sliding up behind her and pulling her close, nuzzling her face into Maddy’s hair. Maddy resisted the urge to complain at the knot she knew she was going to wake up to.
Being the little spoon is all fun and games until a certain curly-haired cutie kept moving her head…but oh, those arms felt so nice wrapped around her like this!
“Love you,” she mumbled into her hair.
“I love you too, Ruby.”
Silence.
“...I love you, Madeline”
Maddy snorted,” worth a shot”
"mhm."