Work Text:
As it reached around midnight, Jade was still awake within her room, painstakingly writing her newest novel. Despite the physical anguish she was feeling, she wanted to finish this story as soon as possible since it has been some time since one of her works made it to the public. The battles she has partaken in while contributing to the Divine Dragon’s war effort against Sombron have absorbed much of her time. The battles have and will only continue this trend of becoming tougher. More and more of her time will need to be spent recuperating from battle, rather than on writing.
So she continues to work as best she can. This pounding headache is certainly slowing the process down. She greatly wished she could make the pain simply dissipate on the spot, but sadly, no instant gratification such as that exists. It also doesn’t help that she is feeling fatigued due to the late hour. If only she could reap energy from cuteness like Rosado can. Her one saving grace has been her partner, Louis.
He’s been periodically checking in on her, bringing her various things like food or beverages so that she could work without losing her train of thought. And he always brought her favorites too. This treatment is hardly an isolated event however. He’s so privy to her that it’s as if he knows what she wants or needs and already has it ready for her right as she herself realizes she needs it. And whenever she asks why he does this for her, it’s always the, “Because I love you.” response. Her heart can’t help but skip a beat whenever he says it.
Some time following when they started taking tea together after she asked if he was a spy, he started caring for her in this way. He at first just wanted to get to know her and then fell in love with her. The affection felt…really nice to be honest. Most people see her as an emotionless combatant that’ll snuff lives without a second thought, but Louis immediately paid no mind to such rumors and treated her as a person. While that was becoming more commonplace while in the Divine Dragon’s army, it felt different with Louis. Jade blames the charms that come from his bluntness.
—
There was a knock on the door, the sound of which made her head hurt. Yet there was only one person she could imagine it being this late at night.
“Come in, Louis.” As he entered, Jade noticed from the corner of her eye that he carried an assortment of items. She didn’t make out the specifics as she was still mostly focused on the paper in front of her.
“How is the novel coming along?” he asked while setting his items down on the bed behind her. He then walked behind her and peered over her shoulder to view her work.
“It’s been…rough.” Jade’s hand massaged her forehead in hopes of alleviating any pain.
“If you ask me, I think it would be best for my gemstone to set aside her work for the night and continue at a later date. Writing in this state will only hurt you more in the long run.” He rubbed her back with circular motions. There was no doubt that he could see just how much pain she was in.
“I need to finish this book. I can’t put it off any longer than I already have.”
“Excuse me if I’m overstepping, but would waiting one more day truly be such a detriment? It pains me to see you hurt this much.” Jade gritted her teeth. She knows continuing in this state is a bad idea. Louis wants her to stop in recognition of that, but she can’t help but want to get this novel out to her readers as quickly as she can.
“I’m so sorry, Louis. But I need to finish this. The enemy is getting stronger and people are dying every day. I received a letter from a reader earlier on in the war. They thanked me for the comedy in my novels because of how it’s helping them cope with the stress of what's happening in Elyos. It’s been too long since I’ve released a new work. If I can help the people in this way, then I want to.” She clenched her fist on her desk in frustration.
“Oh Jade…” Louis proceeded to give her a back hug, which was followed by a kiss to the back of her neck. She let her hand drop her pen so that she could hold onto his arms that wrapped around her. “You’ve placed such an immense responsibility on your shoulders. You want to allow the people to be able to laugh despite these dark times.” She simply nodded, the weight of the conversation and her pain brought tears to her eyes.
“It is quite admirable of you to want to be that pillar of hope for them. Your pure hearted nature is one of your traits that makes me love you so. Even my younger brothers have taken up reading your novels when I spoke of them in letters. They positively adore your work with how they have spoken of them since.” She made a light gasp. This was the first time she was hearing that Louis’s brothers read her novels too. “But…please Jade. You mustn't tear yourself apart like this.” She could then feel something streaming down her back. Was he crying too now?
“I…I want to be able to make everyone smile, Louis…” Louis then let go of her so that he could move to her side and look her in the eyes. He kneeled down and took hold of her hands, rubbing his thumbs over the backs of them.
“And that you will, my gemstone. But only if you can publish your work with a smile on your own face.” His emerald eyes shone in the candle light, while the streams on his face glimmered in a similar way. It only took staring in each other’s eyes for a short while for Jade to essentially fall out of her chair and into his arms. They cried together. They held each other. Louis kissed the top of her head along the way.
When the two calmed down, they looked at each other once more. “So…will you rest?” He yearned for her to say yes.
“I…I will, Louis.”
“Thank you.” He gave her a quick kiss on the lips before helping her up from the floor. Jade loosely organized her materials before looking to her bed and now seeing the items that Louis had brought in earlier. A bowl, a water bottle, headache medicine, and a washcloth. Louis picked up the bowl with the other contents inside and placed it on her desk. He took the washcloth out before speaking, “While I prepare this for you, I ask that you prepare for bed.”
He promptly left the room to go soak the washcloth in water. Despite them being partners, he’s still very conscious of respecting her privacy with this trip of his giving her ample opportunity to change clothes alone. Yet in this moment, she would not have minded if he stayed in the room…
—
Upon his return with the damp washcloth, Jade had changed into a green nightgown and now sat against the backboard of her bed. Louis took the medicine and water bottle from the bowl and dropped the washcloth in there momentarily. He gave Jade the medicine and the water bottle after opening it himself to help her wash it down.
Louis put the medicine bottle onto her desk and placed the bowl onto her nightstand. He placed Jade’s water bottle next to the bowl so that both would be in arms reach should she need them in the middle of the night. Jade readjusted herself so that she now laid properly on her pillows before Louis placed the damp washcloth on her forehead. Being cared for so tenderly touched Jade’s heart. She knew she fell in love with the right man. “Thank you…Louis.” Her fatigue made getting her words out more difficult.
“Think nothing of it.” Louis then leaned down to kiss her forehead, “Sleep well, my gemstone.” He turned to leave, but not before Jade grabbed his hand.
“Louis…please stay.” She had her eyes locked on him. The look she gave him was proof of the great longing she had for his presence.
“If that is what you want, then I’d be overjoyed to oblige.” While he spoke with confidence, he was actually quite nervous. This would be the first time they’ve shared a bed together. Yet he would be lying if said that he didn’t adore the idea of sleeping next to his lover. But if Jade has any say in it, she will ensure that this is just the first time of many intimate moments like this.
Louis extinguished the candle and then entered the bed from the other side and placed the covers over himself. Jade then grabbed his arm and brought it over the top of herself, hugging it.
“I love you, Louis.” Louis blushed at her words.
“I love you too, my gemstone.”
—
Jade awoke sluggishly, but overall she felt very refreshed. Luckily she didn’t need to use the bowl during the night, but she did drink some more of the water bottle when she woke up at one point, but that was the only instance of that. She looked to her side and saw the love of her life, still sleeping. She was so grateful to have him in her life.
She could not refrain herself from giving him a kiss on the lips before snuggling up next to him. She wanted to do this last night, but decided against it in case the bowl was going to be needed. She had settled for his arm instead.
She thought of when next she’d continue writing her novel, but found that any time would likely suffice. After all, she had the biggest smile on her face as she fell asleep next to her lover once more.