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“I’m home.” Mizuki’s tired voice rang out through the hallway of her apartment as she slipped her shoes off. She cringed at how dry her tone sounded, despite trying to make the effort to sound somewhat enthusiastic about coming home to her girlfriend.
Mizuki had spent the better part of her afternoon (poorly) attempting to push down the fuzzy feeling that was consuming her as more and more work and big responsibilities piled on her weary mind. Despite how heavy that feeling was, she’d managed to push through and at least make it home.
Although, she didn’t quite desire to have the feeling overtake her when she returned. Sure, she wanted nothing more than to just crawl into Ena’s arms and fall asleep right now, but she at least needed to make dinner first!
The sound of footsteps padding down the hallway broke Mizuki out of her trance, causing her to look up and see Ena coming her way,
“Hey, how was your day?” The artist asked, clasping her lover’s hands in her own and helping her take off her coat.
“‘S fine.” Mizuki responded, the warmth of her girlfriend blinding her senses. She hated how bitter it felt to not even give a wholehearted response. Even after the longest days, she could usually muster up something better.
Ena looked up at Mizuki, her brow furrowed with what could only be described as worry as her expression contorted into something vastly different from the warm smile she adorned just seconds ago,
“Are you okay…?” she asks. Lifting one of her free hands to stroke Mizuki’s cheek, she watched as her girlfriend closed her eyes and leaned into the warmth.
Great.
I made her worry again.
Why do I always do this?
She deserves better.
“Mizuki?”
Mizuki blinked, opening her eyes and looking at Ena, before her words registered fully in her brain; “Ah- y-yeah! I’m fine. Just tired, y’know?”
Ena’s face knitted with concern, “Yea, I know… but it really seems to have taken you out today, hm? You look exhausted, ‘Zuki.”
Mizuki couldn’t muster up any more words. She just wrapped her arms around Ena, hiding her face in the crook of her neck. She prayed that the fuzzy feeling creeping within her would just go away.
Ena sighed in content, running her fingers through the animator’s hair and placing a kiss on her temple, “Don’t worry about cooking tonight,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, “I’ll take care of that, ‘kay?”
Mizuki just nodded. She wanted the feeling to go away so badly. It felt wrong to have Ena do everything for her like last time. She couldn’t burden Ena with this again.
-
The next two hours purely felt like a blur to Mizuki. She could only vaguely make out that Ena had taken her to their bedroom while she sorted dinner, and then they ate said dinner, before returning to the bedroom and getting changed into cozy pajamas.
Now Mizuki was cuddled up with Ena in their bed. Jeez, if she wasn’t feeling fuzzy enough before she definitely was now.
“Hey, Mizuki don’t do that.” Ena scolded, pulling Mizuki’s fingers from her mouth; truthfully, Mizuki hadn’t even realised she’d been doing that until Ena pointed it out.
Tears welled in Mizuki’s eyes, she hadn’t meant to do that. It just felt nice. She tried her hardest to keep her tears in and sniffle quietly, she really did! Alas, her efforts proved futile as Ena turned back to face the animator, her eyes widening upon seeing the girl’s expression.
“Mizuki?! Hey- hey what’s the matter?” Ena scrambled to sit up, pulling Mizuki up with her and holding onto her shoulders, rubbing her thumbs in comforting circles.
Mizuki rubbed at her eyes in a poor attempt at trying to play this off, “Nothin’s wrong! ‘M fine…”
And then, it all clicked in Ena’s head. Mizuki’s out-of-character behaviour suddenly made sense. The sloppy vocabulary, the fingers in her mouth, the way she so quickly and easily got upset,
“Mizuki, are you feeling small?”
Mizuki froze for a second. She thought she was doing an okay job of hiding it! More tears pooled out of her eyes as she felt Ena’s hand reach up to wipe them away.
“It’s okay, sweetheart.” Ena comforted, “I won’t be mad. I just want to take care of you, okay?”
“Don’t want to burden you…” Mizuki muttered, covering her mouth with her hand.
“Hey, hey. You are not a burden to me. There’s no such thing. No matter what. I promise.” Ena comforted, continuing to wipe the younger girl’s tears. “You are feeling small, aren’t you, sweetheart?”
Hesitantly, Mizuki nodded, shuffling closer to Ena and wrapping her arms around her.
“How old are you feeling honey?” Ena pulled Mizuki further into the embrace, her hands cascading through the younger girl’s hair.
The animator thought for a moment, pondering on the question before lifting up her hand, raising 4 of her fingers.
Ena hummed in acknowledgement, adjusting her sitting position with Mizuki - even if the latter was younger, she was still decently taller than Ena. Trying to maneuver an upset 4 year old who’s 165cm while being 158cm yourself isn’t the easiest thing in the world. Especially if you’re not that strong to begin with.
The artist tapped Mizuki’s shoulder to grab her attention, “Mizuki, do you want your paci? I don’t want you chewing on your fingers.”
Mizuki nodded, but clung to Ena as soon as she tried getting up.
“Baby your stuff is just in the drawer over there, I’m not leaving the room or anything.” Ena protested, trying to gently push Mizuki off without unsettling her further. She made it about halfway off the bed before hearing a sniffle from behind,
“B-but Enan..!” Mizuki cried, tears welling in her big pink eyes, glossing them over as the little one reached her hand out to grasp her caregiver’s sleeve.
Ena’s heart shattered seeing her baby’s face. She sighed and climbed back over to Mizuki, stroking away her tears with her thumb. “Do you wanna come with me then? The drawer is just over there, kitty.”
Mizuki nodded, and the two returned to the bed seconds later, a baby pink pacifier in Mizuki’s mouth, and a pink kitty plush that was adorned with a red ribbon tied in a bow around its neck in her arms.
Mizuki’s face was still stained with tears, but she wasn’t crying anymore. The two sat down on the bed for a moment, Ena reached into her pocket and pulled out a packet of tissues, pulling one out and putting it to Mizuki’s face,
“Blow your nose, honey.” she instructed. Mizuki responded by doing what she’d been asked. Ena put that tissue in the bin before pulling out another to wipe away the tear stains from her cheeks.
After, they settled down, both laying on their sides. Mizuki shuffled down slightly so that Ena could hold her. The latter wrapped her arms around Mizuki, one hand rested on her back and the other on her head, stroking her hair as the artist cradled Mizuki to her chest. In turn, Mizuki cradled her kitty plush close to her as well. Calm consumed the two of them. Mizuki closed her eyes.
“Hard day..?” Ena mumbled, keeping her voice soft and quiet.
“Mhm.”
“I’m sorry it was like that, sweetheart. Do you feel a bit better now?”
“Uh huh…”
“I’m glad. Just rest now, okay?”
“‘Kay. Love you, Enan…”
“I love you too, sweet girl.” Ena kissed the top of Mizuki’s head, “Sleep well.”