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“Is that the new book?”
Cath looked up from her laptop. It was late, and she hadn’t heard Levi come in to their room. After they’d put the kids to bed, Levi had gone back out onto the ranch and now the smell of the warm summer night followed him inside.
Cath looked back down at the screen. “Fanfic,” she answered. “I needed a break.”
She was dimly aware of Levi moved around the room as she scanned what she had so far in the document. God, it had been a long time since her last reread... She was going to need to double check a lot of this against canon.
“Simon and Baz?” Levi asked. A drawer sighed shut as he spoke.
“Always.”
The bed dipped next to her, and Cath finally tore her eyes away from the screen again. Levi had changed into his pyjamas, and piece of greying hair had fallen over his forehead.
“Are you gonna read it to me?”
Cath sighed, taking off her glasses and setting them to the side. “When there’s something to read, sure. For now it’s just jot notes and fragments.” She shut her laptop and slid it off her legs so she could turn toward Levi, leaning her head on his shoulder.
His hand came up to stroke her hair. “Tell me about it then.”
“Simon and Baz as adults, after the war and Simon ascending to Mage, but when things are still tense. I think Baz is probably on the Coven. It’s sort of looking at repairing things with the Old Families and having at a kind of Cold War type of animosity between them? Like. Baz joining Simon against the Humdrum in Eighth Dance sort means they’ve made up, but the years of rivalry aren't gone.”
“Hmm, canon compliant. That’s unusual.”
“Yeah. I’m trying something new.”
Levi yawned. “Are they still gonna be in love in the end?”
“Of course. But I think it’s going to be angsty-er getting there. With a darker tone.”
“Huh. Well, it sounds interesting. Am I gonna have to wait for the new book to be done before you finish it?”
Cath frowned. “Probably not. It might not even go anywhere, and I’ll be switching back and forth if it does.” She groaned, squeezing her eyes shut. “It’s been too long since I’ve written fic. I’m stuck in beta-ing mode now that I’m trying to do it— which is weird 'cause I don't have that problem with original stuff. I probably need to rework some things. And I’m definitely being too mean to Agatha.”
“You know what I think you should write?” Levi asked, grinning at her.
Cath looked up at him. “What?”
“I think you should write a sequel to Carry On, Simon.”
Cath snorted, “Yeah, you and half the fandom. Anytime I post that’s all the comments are. I’m lucky they don’t know I write original stuff too, or they’d take over my Goodreads comments.”
“Ah, yes,” Levi said, “but unlike your adoring fans, I have pitch for the plot."
“A lot of them have those too, actually, but okay. What’s your pitch?”
Levi yawned again, still smiling. “So. It’s been a year or so, and Simon and Baz decide to go on road trip across America.”
“Why?” Cath laughed.
“They’re rescuing Agatha. And then—”
“From what?”
“Evil vampires, shush. Penny’s there too, of course, that’s the most important part.”
Cath raised her eyebrows at him. “Is it?”
“Yes. Because then, when they come through Nebraska—”
“I still don’t see why they’d be here in the first place.”
“Shh, Cather, listen to my vision.” Levi straightened up a little against the pillows “They come to Nebraska, and Penelope Bunce— leading lady— is swept off her feet by a tall, charming young man with a pick-up truck and a winning smile.”
Cath snorted, laughing in surprise and turning into Levi’s shoulder. Levi clicked his tongue in mock disappointment.
“I’m making a serious pitch here, this could be a ground breaking move in the world Big Name Fics. Penelope fans rejoice! She finally has a man worthy of her!”
Cath took a deep breath, still smiling. “I’m not making you and OC in a fic just so you can fall in love with Penny.”
“Not me, just a guy who shares my deep and abiding appreciation for Penelope Bunce that is unmatched by anyone else on this Earth.”
Cath sat up so she could move her laptop off the bed fully then lay back down, pulling the blanket over her legs. “I don’t know...”
“Please...” Levi widened his eyes art her, shifting as she moved the blanket around and getting under it himself. “You take requests from Wren,” he added as Cath settled back against him.
“I’ll think about it,” Cath yawned. Levi reached over to switch off the bedside light. “When I’m done this new idea, if it goes anywhere. And once the new book has gotten to revisions.”
Levi shrugged, the sheets rustling around him. “No rush. I’m patient.”