Work Text:
The whirr of the old cooling unit hummed along like a lullaby in the background, broken only by the occasional sputter of sparks from a far-off corner panel. Tools lay scattered across the dampened floor like dropped coins, shimmering softly in the flickering lights of a broken ceiling lamp, which swayed with every thump of the machine which stood in the neighboring room. And at a cornered desk in the small room, sat you. Slumped over an open blueprint, your hand still clutching a grease smudged pencil, half of your face pressed to the paper. You were out cold. It seemed that exhaustion had finally won.
Juliette stood in the doorway, oil-stained hands on her hips as she eyed you, and a towel slung over her shoulder. She let out a low exhale and brushed a bead of sweat from her brow with the back of her glove. “Damn it…” She murmured. “Told you to take a break…”
Her boots creaked softly into the quiet of the room as she stepped across the metal floor, coming to a halt at your side. Carefully, almost reverently, she tugged off her blue jacket from around her waist, unfolded it and draped it over your shoulders. Her fingers hesitated at your temple, before brushing a stray piece of hair behind your ear. Her movements were uncertain and tentative. Usually, she would never allow herself to be this gentle, it was unlike her. But the sight of your exhausted form, sagged over the table like a dropped sack of potatoes. It tugged at something within her. Even if she would never admit to it.
“You work too hard,” she whispered, a small smirk pulling at the corner of her lips as she reached down to slowly rake her fingers through your hair. “Almost worse than me…”
Your head lolled slightly into her hand, and Juliette froze in place. But she didn’t move. For a moment, she hesitated, lips parting as she was unsure of what to do with herself. The trusting tilt of your head, the soft sigh which left you at the comfort you’d seemingly found against her skin. It was unlike anything Juliette was otherwise used to with the life she led. Her opposite hand hovered just above your back. Close enough to feel the warmth you exuded, not quite close enough to touch.
“You’re gonna get yourself killed working like this,” she then added under her breath, voice barely audible. She then knelt down at your side, exhaling softly. “Stupid…”
She stayed like that for a little while, tilting her own head forward to rest it against your forehead. The blueprint fluttered gently with every quiet breath of the vents, and Juliette stroked your hair once more. “Come on. We’ve gotta get you in bed…”