Work Text:
Words of affirmation
"You look good today."
Stu paused his hand on Nina's head. Her head was lying on his lap, allowing her to stare at him. When he looked down, she had a bright smile on her face. Stu nervously chuckled.
"What makes you say that?"
"What makes me not say that?"
Stu chuckled, "True. I guess you're free to say whatever you want."
"And I only speak the truth so whatever I say is true."
Stu stared at Nina, her eyes staring up at him with determination as if egging him on to try to argue against her. He knew better than to try to take her on, and besides, he didn't feel like entering a fight he knew he would lose. He went back to stroking Nina's buzzcut hair, loving how it felt like velvet. If his mood was uplifted because of Nina, then so be it.
Acts of Service
"Ugh, I hate battering fish. It's so gross. I thought I left this behind me."
Nina was in Strayz's kitchen with a pot of hot oil, fries cooking in the oven, and pieces of floured fish on a plate. Not once in her life did she see herself making fish and chips again after leaving that job behind her yet here she was now. As she finished coating the piece of fish in batter she gently dropped it into the oil and eyed it as it started bubbling. It's not that she hated making the dish. It's just that she had to have a reason to do so.
And boy did she have a good reason.
Nina knocked on the door before entering. Stu was playing away at his keyboard, eyes closed with a relaxed smile on his face. Nina stood and listened to his playing, feeling as if she was at a private performance as she listened to the melodic tune. It was very rare that she got to hear Stu play outside of concerts. When he finished she whistled.
"That was so pretty."
Stu chuckled, "Thanks."
Nina walked towards him and held out a plate with food on it, "I made you some fish and chips."
Stu smiled wide as he took the plate and went to sit on his bed, "Aww, you didn't have to."
"I didn't," she went to sit next to him and tapped his nose with the tip of her finger, "But I wanted to."
Nina watched as Stu picked up a fried fish piece and took a bite. She worried that her expertise from the fish and chips restaurant had left her but was soon put at ease as she heard Stu make a pleased sound.
"This is delicious, Nina."
"I'm glad you like it."
Receiving Gifts
Nina stared at the beanie on display. It was black with a red star on the front. She knew Stu would absolutely love it but the price tag was a hundred pounds. She could buy a month's supply of cat food for that amount! She brought her thumb up to her mouth and bit the nail. She started to walk away from it but quickly turned around and grabbed the beanie.
"Stu, I got you something."
Stu didn't even get a hello in before Nina met him with that declaration. He looked at what she was holding out and let out a laugh as he took the black red starred beanie and put it on.
"Thanks, Nina. I think it'll be my favorite one. How do I look?"
Nina got on her tippy-toes to peck him on the lips, "You look wonderful."
Quality Time
They were driving. To where? Nina didn't know. She had decided to let the roads take her and Stu on an adventure, and wherever they ended up, it'd be a surprise to them. Instead of listening to the radio they chatted. They spoke of anything and everything. Usually, Stu would get lost in his thoughts and ramble for minutes about a topic but Nina didn't mind. She loved hearing him talk. She could listen to Stu for hours and never be bored of him.
Even when there was a lag in conversation Nina felt the atmosphere enjoyable. All she had to do was glance at Stu to see him smiling out the window while humming.
It was moments like this that she lived for.
Physical Touch
Stu stood in the restroom with a bottle of pills in his hand. It was no lie that he had his bad days, some worse than others. Today was worse than other days. What he had planned for the pills was a simple solution. He had always told himself that he would never go through with it. In a way, it brought him comfort in having that plan. So he stood in the restroom staring down at a bottle of pills. His palm sweating as he held the bottle.
Then he felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist and something resting against his back.
He tore his eyes away from the bottles to look at the wrists of the arms around him. He saw a green beaded bracelet and knew instantly it was Nina hugging him from behind. He set the pill bottle down and let out a shaky breath.
"Thank you."