Work Text:
*ೃ༄ 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑦 𝑒𝑦𝑒𝑠
𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐼 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑛𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑙𝑒𝑒𝑝 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛 …
The sun was nearly gone when he left his clients house.
It was now more than unusual for him to work outside the Fortress. On the surface of Fontaine. He had spent the whole day checking on a recently released prisoner who, according to some testimonies, had become conspicuous again. Wriothesley now knew everything he needed to know and would pass on the information. Everything that would happen afterwards was not in his concern. At least until there would be a new arrest. But where was that his problem. These days his work drained him down a lot and yet he couldn't stop taking on more and more tasks and postponing them due to his immense fatigue until he desperately tried to defeat the piles of documents that apparently just didn't want to get any less. With the darkest bags under his eyes he drank coffee cup after cup, which was stupid because everyone knows he would never voluntarily choose coffee over a good cup of tea. Well at least it used to be like that. After many nights of non-stop working he actually started to like the bitter taste and the feeling of how it flows down leaving behind a weird but calming feeling. This feeling gave him the security of not falling asleep. He never had any problems with falling asleep he still didn’t but at some point he just chose to not do it. His time was way too precious and all those uncontrollable amounts of files and work waiting to get done stole him his time. His work took control of his time and no matter how much he would like to be able to stop for a moment to regain a piece of control, it would not work. No matter what. Not sleeping was like being one step ahead of his life. A great thought.
Now it was just a few minutes after midnight. He had originally planned to return to the Fortress of Meropide immediately as soon as he would be finished up here. But that could wait. The only thing that would expect him down there would be a lot of work and the temptation to sleep. Up here, on the other hand, the dark winter night offered him a beautiful panorama that you simply could not ignore. So he decided to take a little walk before he would go back. When he exhaled exhausted, he could see his breath as smoke in the air. That reminded him of something and amazed he found in the pockets of his jacket directly what he was thinking of. A pack of cigarettes. Wriothesley had probably smoked the last time more than 10 years ago. Before he had given up his life for the life down there. Smoking was strictly prohibited in the Fortress. Of course, even the Duke himself was not allowed to break this rule.
Even if the pack was very old, which was also clearly visible, Wriothesley surprisingly found 2 cigarettes in it. He quickly took one of the two out and put it in his mouth. Shit, he didn’t have anything to light them at all. He began to rummage around in his jacket pockets in which he had also found the cigarettes and indeed: He found a matchbox that still contained exactly one single match. Swiftly he took it and finally lit up his cigarette. Satisfied, he blew the warm smoke into the cold winter air and started his walk. While he kept walking, thinking about what he was even doing here, he didn’t notice a tall silhouette that stood on the bridge that he was about to cross and stared into the distance without moving at all. Wriothesley pinched his eyes together as he perceived the person in front of him. After he blinked three times he finally recognized who was standing in front of him…
”Well Well Well! What are you doing here this late, dear Chief Justice.”, the Duke smirked after putting the cigarette out of his mouth.
”I could ask you the same.”, Neuvilette, Fontaines Chief Justice answered while actually looking real surprised. Wriothesley just shrugged his shoulders and stood next to the man to also enjoy the view of the seas of Fontaine that were frozen at this time of year. Observing the beautiful silver shine, he smiled.
When he turned his head to look at Neuvilette, the moon shined directly on his face as if he wanted to emphasise this. For the first time Wriothesley now saw how tired the man next to him actually looked.
”Wow, you almost look as tired as I feel.”,he stated, raising his eyebrows. Before the Chief Justice could answer Wriothesley offered him the last cigarette from his pack.
”I don’t smoke, but I appreciate the offer.”
”I also thought that I don’t smoke but I guess tonight is a special occasion.”
Wriothesley still held out the cigarette. To his surprise Neuvilette actually took it. In that Moment the short haired realized that he doesn’t have another match.
”Oh crap, I don’t have a lighter or something…I mean you could just..you know, only in case you…”, Wriothesley stuttered but before he could find the right words Neuvilette already understood and carefully brought his face close to that of the other man. Wriothesley didn’t know how to feel when he could suddenly feel a warm breath near his lips. Precisely, the long-haired man lit his cigarette on Wriothesleys and immediately took a deep pull.
”I accepted your offer, but now tell me Mr. Wriothesley, what are you doing here?”
Wriothesley literally felt Neuvilette's look on his skin, which made him a little insecure. He could hardly remember the last time he got so close to someone and perceived someone so intensively. He had never really liked sharing his feelings with others and especially his suffering. But for whatever reason, he just felt indescribably safe. That's how he started talking. "Hm, I've been here professionally all day and although I've done my work here now, I don't want to go back to the Fortress and just surrender to the time loop that my life takes away from me. I thought if I have the chance to experience a night that is different from the others then I have to take advantage of this opportunity. I don't know what to do with my life right now. Do you see the bags under my eyes? Do you know what it's like not to have slept for a week?”
That escalated quickly.
”I’m sorry, Monsieur. I shouldn’t bother you with my problems. I really didn’t mean to-”
”One week and three days”, Neuvilette suddenly interrupted him while speaking.
”Excuse me?”, Wriothesley answered clearly confused.
” I haven't slept for a week and three days, Mr. Wriothesley. There is no reason to apologise, I should rather say thank you. It's a feeling unknown to me, but I suddenly don't feel alone anymore.”
After these words, Wriothesley looked at Neuvilette with big eyes, unsure what he should say or do at all. Nothing could express his emotions enough at the moment. But he would try. Without hesitating after his decision, Wriothesley leaned forwards. He took Neuvilettes cigarette out of his mouth and put his arm around his neck. Before he took out his own cigarette, he pulled deep into it again and now pressed his mouth against the cold lips of the other man and let the warm smoke in. Suddenly, a huge wave of heat spread from the head to the whole body of the Duke and filled every small part with heat. It was like an electrical voltage maintained by their lips touching. As he slowly removed his lips the heat also slowly left his body. The only thing left was the heat in his heart.
”I have no idea what just happened.”, Wriothesley smirked while actually knowing exactly.
“I-I too am still perplexed. Not in a negative way though.“
Neuvilette leisurely took Wriothesley hand, holding it up to his own chest.
“I think I should I should go now. You should probably return to the Fortress as well, dear Duke. It was a pleasure to meet you this night”
“It sure was“, Wriothesley said looking right into the others eyes like mesmerized. When Neuvilette let go of his hand, he turned around and began to walk away. But just when Wriothesley also wanted to turn around, the Chief Justice paused again.
“ I think all bad things also have something pleasant about them.
The bags under your eyes remind me of the moon shining tonight.“
In this night both of them slept peacefully, knowing there’s someone who shares the pain.
‗ ❍