Work Text:
Simon knew something was wrong as he shut the door behind him. Typically you had something playing; music or some sort video from the internet. But the inside of your home was quiet, and you were just laying on the couch, staring up at the ceiling in this solemn way. His first instinct screamed that something had happened with the pigs again, but a quick look told him that all three were fine, save for the staring they were doing. Probably wanted another treat if he had a guess. So at least the boys were safe. That just left everything else in the world...great.
He made a point to make as much noise taking off his boots as he could, just so he wouldn't startle you. Last thing he needed was you falling off the couch and hurting yourself. You didn't move much, just turning your head enough to look at him. He noticed that your eyes were red rimmed and it instantly made something in his chest tight. You'd been crying.
He was going to ignore the way it made him want to hunt down whatever or whoever did it.
"Everythin' alright?"
You sighed like the weight of the world was pressing down on your chest, looking back to the ceiling.
"It's stupid."
"Let me be the judge of that. I do work with Soap."
It didn't pull a full smile from your lips, but Simon could see the corner of your mouth twitch as he went to get himself a glass of water. Small victories and all that. He didn't rush you for an answer, letting the sound of the water faucet fill the space before the silence came again.
"They took the holiday party from me."
"Isn't it already December?"
At least it was the last time he checked, and from what he recalled of your ranting, you'd had that wrapped up a month prior.
"Next years. They want a fucking committee to plan it next time."
Simon was...confused. By his reason it seemed like it would be a win for you. You wouldn't have to deal with any kind of deadline or planning issues. All you had to do at the end of the day was just submit the bills. He must have taken too long to answer because you just sighed again, turning so you were facing the back of the couch.
Fuck.
Yeah to him at least it was kind of stupid for you to be all upset about some office holiday party. Planning them sounded like a pain in the ass. But you were upset and just ignoring it would be a dick move on his part. Not to mention he'd still have to deal with it, he liked sitting on the couch now and again.
Resisting the urge to sigh himself he took his cup over to sit on the ground at the end of the couch where your head was. He sat with his back to you. Maybe it'd make it easier for you.
"Come on. Explain it to me so I get it."
He could only imagine the look on your face. You probably had your brow furrowed, lips all puckered so it made your cheeks puff out a little.
"I worked really hard on the holiday parties."
Simon hummed, hoping it would encourage you to keep going.
"I made sure that it could work for everyone but it still isn't good enough."
He didn't expect for your voice to start to get creaky, like you were trying to talk through a throat full of tears. He also didn't expect it to feel like a stab to the heart.
"I'm trying to help take something off everyone's plate, make sure that its a nice way to end the year and they're just throwing it back in my face."
Oh. Oh no. Simon could hear a sniffle behind him. This was a terrible plan of his and he couldn't just tell you to just stuff it now could he?
"I'm not respected enough to do my job right, helping just ends up with people being angry with me. I'm so frustrated and I just want to be done with it all."
Simon was tempted to tell you that technically speaking, if you wanted, you could quit your job and just stay at home with the boys. He had enough saved. But he didn't. Didn't think it would actually solve the issue.
He let you both sit in the silence of it all for a while, until the sniffling dwindled back down.
"So what'cha gonna do."
"My job."
Well that didn't seem very satisfying to Simon at all.
"And just my job. No offering to do anything, no going out of my way. Follow the job description to the letter and not a single thing above it."
Simon should have fond it concerning how attractive he found the idea of you being spiteful. Well a little malicious compliance never hurt anyone right?
"Atta girl."