Work Text:
Neha can practically feel everything just settling when she walks into their home. It’s odd- like the stress that’s been building evaporates, like the warmth is coaxing her in, like the smells coming from within has just activated the latent hunger. Neha doesn’t think she’ll ever get used to it- doesn’t think she even wants to because it’s simply just nice. A nice feeling of peace and pleasant surprise every day. She practically sighs in relief as she takes off the wig and wig cap, undoing the binding and bra, and awkwardly shimmies them off while keeping her shirt on.
God- she’s probably so sweaty from it all. Genuinely fuck Chris. A girl signs a contract when she’s 16 and a decade later she’s still forced to cross-dress while working with the psycho who put her in the situation in the first place. Neha doesn’t even know why she’s still working for him anymore. It’s getting more and more physically and mentally exhausting as the days pass on, and the money no longer motivates her like it used to. Hell, Neha could probably start her own company and not be in any financial danger if it fails. The kind of money she only dreamed of as a kid. And as much as she would like to say her frugal ways to save money was the main contributor, she unfortunately has to admit that it’s only because of Chris. Chris who gave her a high-paying job when she was only 16. Maybe that’s why she’s still there, she’s gotten far too comfortable (she really needs a change) and used to it.
Speaking of comfortable, she puts everything she took off away in their room and slips on her fluffiest socks because her feet are cold dammit. However, something feels off. Everything is just a little bit too quiet and it's kind of unnerving. Then Neha remembers why it's so quiet and the uneasy feeling turns giddy. Mary-Kate is at her friend’s house for a sleepover, and the twins are at one of their brothers' houses for her niece’s birthday party. Spending the night she thinks…… Yeah! Definitely spending the night. Which means that for the first time in a long time, Neha and Alejandro have the house to themselves.
Speaking of, her husband is clearly in the kitchen based on the sound of humming and metal on wood. Neha wonders if she would be able to walk over undetected. Just to watch him work. Now that would be a sight to see. Unfortunately, those dreams are cut short.
Almost like a dog, Alejandro’s head swivels as she enters the kitchen. Perked up and grinning broadly, his hair thrown back into a low ponytail (or bun, she didn’t get a proper look) and donned in the frilly apron the girls got him only weeks ago. He looks ridiculous. And sexy. Ridiculously sexy. Fuck does she love him.
“How was your day?” he asks, turning the flame off from under the bigger pan and straining whatever is in it. She peers over to look and oh, it's pasta. Neha fucking loves pasta.
“I don’t even want to think about it.” She grumbles, watching as he begins to portion it out. Neha feels like she needs to do something to help, so she starts stirring the smaller part filled with- is that homemade carbonara sauce? Fuck. Yes.
“Ah. Chris?”
“Yeah, the devil himself.” she pauses, reevaluating her statement. “No. Actually, I genuinely wonder if Satan has a fan club dedicated to him. Like he must take inspiration from Chris. Can you imagine? They have a meeting every month to discuss their best victim highlights of the month.” Alejandro laughs- snorts and all- and Neha grins at the sound. It took her so long to get him to stop hiding his actual laugh, to stop trying to sound so perfect, and it still brings a smile to her face every time she hears it. Way better than that chalky, rehearsed stuff. So she kisses him briefly. Nothing better than Pavlov Dogging your husband into being himself and dropping his stubborn masks.
After he serves the sauce on top of the pasta, Alejandro begins to bring the plates to the table. Neha gets two glasses out of the cupboard and a bottle of wine from the fridge. She has two things she’s been wanting to talk to him about, and now that they have some actual time alone together, tonight would be the perfect chance. But that doesn’t mean she can’t stall and have a drink or two. Liquid courage or whatever. “How were things on set today?”
“Ah- funny story actually- you are going to love this…” Neha digs in, more than happy to hear her husband talk about his day while she eats. Just because she isn’t in the mood to talk about hers doesn’t mean she doesn’t want to listen to his. Plus, it's amusing watching how animated he gets, putting on slight voices and gesturing. Whoever said this man was some kind of mystical, suave creature from another world is clearly on drugs. He’s just ambitious and mean. Neha loves ambitious and mean. He suits it just as much as the domestic dorky look.
They do the dishes together after dinner. Nothing crazy, it's more of an Alejandro rinses and Neha puts them in the dishwasher sort of thing- but still. And Neha just thinks that she should finally say something, but she keeps putting it off. Not out of cowardice or anything, it’s just not the right time. It’s stupid to bring up something in conversation when the conversation has nothing to do with it. …plus, she needs to do work- yeah! She can’t keep procrastinating it. If she gets it done tonight, then she doesn’t need to do it tomorrow. Yeah. Yeah. They can sit on the sofa and cuddle while she works.
So Neha lets Alejandro herd her into the living room, ignores his frown as she picks up her laptop, and settles down on the sofa, half-heartedly throwing a blanket on them while she gets to work. Alejandro hasn’t grabbed a book or, well, anything. Instead, he brings an arm over her shoulder to rub slightly and leans them back to stare into space or something. It’s kind of suspicious but Neha doesn’t say anything- focusing on her incredibly important work.
She gets a whole half hour until she feels a soft press against her neck. Five minutes and then another. And another. And another. And- you get the point. So that’s what he was planning she thinks to herself. Neha doesn’t complain though, it feels pretty nice actually and she can still focus on her work, so it’s not like it’s too distracting.
But then her laptop is shut (autosave thankfully on, though she always makes sure it's on before she does anything anyways), ripped away from her and put down on the floor.
“What are you doing? Alé? ALÉ!” Neja shrieks, unable to hide her reaction when he very purposefully rubs his cheek- his fucking stubble- against her very ticklish neck.
Dickhead.
“Shhhhh, mi amor, it’s nighttime, we don’t want to be waking up the elves, no? What will they tell Santa?” he grins, all smug and clearly making fun of her admittedly terrible lie from the night before.
She was tired when she made it up, okay! And Hannah and Elizabeth had thought it was appropriate to host a loud dance party far past bedtime. Neha would like to see Alejandro try to deal with that. Actually, never mind. He’d probably do a hell of a lot better than she did. Her asshole is irritatingly perfect. It’s equal parts hot and annoying. Even then, the annoyance only adds to the hotness. It’s unfair.
“…. you’re an asshole.” She hisses, voicing her opinion out loud.
“And yet you still married me.” He’s stopped his attempt to give her beard burn but is now returning back to pressing soft kisses against her neck. Clearly trying to soothe her over which is just plain slippery. Sadly enough, it’s working. Not that she’ll let him know straight away- ignoring the hum she subconsciously let out of course.
“A fucking eel.” She twists her neck to return the smug grin.
“Ouch. Going there now, are we?” he’s not even offended anymore. Which is very rude because now she needs to find a new nickname to tease him with and rile him up. Neha refuses to be at a disadvantage in their little games.
“mmmmm….maybe…” she sighs, far too content where she is. Alas, life is not fair and she really needs to get up and get a more done on that stupid project for her stupid boss. So she sits up- well, that’s a lie. She tries to sit up but suddenly finds that impossible due to the muscular arms clamped around her chest and stomach. “What are you doing?” Neha asks. Again.
“Constricting you.” Alejandro responds in all seriousness, wrapping a leg around hers like some kind of clingy koala. And now she can't move. Great. “You keep on saying I’m an eel, so I thought why not act like one?”
Oh. Constricting, right. “You’re thinking of snakes.”
“Morray eels twist themselves into knots to restrict their prey, tear them in pieces and eat them.” His chin digs in slightly at the last point so she pinches him in retaliation. Alejandro just chuckles. “I like to listen when you talk, mi amor… and I also like to do my extra research lest the topic comes up again. Is a man not allowed to surprise his wife?”
“How romantic.”
“Only the best for you.” He coos sounding utterly pleased with himself. She can just picture him reading information on fucking eels with that delighted smile on his face trying to think of a natural way to bring it up in conversation. Dork.
“Cool, since we’ve got all of this out of the way, can you let go now? I need to get back to work- I need to get this done by the end of the day.”
“Do you?”
“Yes so-”
“So this definitely isn’t due in for another week and you’re not just pushing yourself to finish it early despite knowing that as soon as you submit it, you’ll be assigned another task that you’ll also finish early and get assigned another an-” wow. Calling her out now isn’t he.
“Okay, okay, I get it, I’m a workaholic.” Neha laughs bitterly. She’s gotten many, many comments about it from her Amma and her friends. Something about it being ‘unhealthy’ to like working. But that’s not entirely true. Because she currently doesn’t like working. Not when she has to dress up in a costume from some stupid deal she made with Satan’s personal tutor. She likes to work; she doesn’t like her current work. But fuck if she still won’t try to do her best.
“And I love that about you-” he reassures, “I love you. Which is why you can take one itty bitty night off to take advantage of a no-kid night to snuggle with your amazing, handsome, loving husband.” Okay, gassing himself up huh?
“But I ca-”
“And do nothing except from maybe watching a movie.” One arm loosens to reach up to her shoulder, rubbing deep circles and ooooooooh fuck. Fucking bastard. And he knows it, she can practically feel the grin in his voice as he mutters a soft: “just let that beautiful brain of yours switch off for a bit and relax. One night is all I ask. Por favor?”
It is very hard not to lean back into those stupidly magical hands. She can feel the warmth of his hands seep through her skin and just spread. “You drive a hard bargain.”
“Mmmmmhm.”
“…what movie are we watching?” there. She’s conceded and accepted defeat. In response, Alejandro draws her even closer, if that was even possible, and reaches over to grab the remote.
“They’ve released a movie adaptation of the first novel of that series you have been reading. I thought we could watch it and you could tell me what it gets wrong and what it gets right.” oh. That sounds really nice actually. Neha relaxes further in his grip, back pressed to chest as they’re now fully lying down.
There’s a bit of a dull part in the movie that stretches too long when Neha finally decides she really should talk to him. It’s circling her mind, and the only way to get it out is to say it out loud. So, Neha decides to just rip the band-aid off. “……I’m thinking of quitting my job.” Okay, not the one she wanted to bring up first, but definitely something they need to discuss.
“Hm?” He prompts her to talk.
“I just… I don’t know. I think I'm finally getting sick of it. I’m getting nowhere. Like, when I first started, I thought I wanted to be a host- or at least work in a set, you know? But I don’t think I want it anymore. I like working behind the scenes, but I want more responsibility, and I don’t want to be someone’s personal assistant anymore. Even though I do like a lot of the job. I just… I don’t know.”
“That’s okay. We can just find something new for you. We have plenty of time. You can be an agent, a writer, a chef, a manager, the tea lady, maybe try to host a small show to definitely rule it out, oh- you could be a producer, or if you really want to, you can quit work and just stay at home.”
Neha raises an eyebrow at some of those suggestions, especially the last one. “You know I can’t do that Alé. I’ve been working for 21 years, I like to work. Just not this.”
“I know mi amor. And I truly do love you for that, workaholic tendencies included.” He emphasises tactfully. “I was just listing all of your options, including ones you wouldn’t do so we can at least say we crossed something off. Very productive, no?” he puffs out his chest, clearly proud of his plot.
“You goof.”
“Although…” Alejandro smirks, a mischievous glint in his eyes that practically scream ‘I’m going to say something truly stupid right now’. “I definitely would not mind knowing you were home 24/7. Away from intrusive eyes, people thirsting over my amazing wife. I would even quit my job. Then we could always be together.”
Neha snorts, curious to see where this will go, and shuffles around to face him. Her neck was going to get crooked and sore if she continued her previous position. “And you wouldn’t be sick of me?
“Of you? Never. I only long for you more as time goes on. Though it is becoming quite a problem. Give it a couple years and I may end up never letting you leave our room. I’m quite possessive you know?”
Yeah?” Neha breaths out, watching her idiot’s eyes droop as she cards her hand through his hair, leaning in to whisper in his ear. “You try that shit with me and I’m divorcing you.”
His head drops against her shoulder and she can feel- never mind hear- as he starts snickering. “You couldn’t have just played along?”
“I knew I shouldn’t have left you and Eva unsupervised for so long.” It’s nice that they’re getting along after their rough start, but they have far too much in common. They’re almost the same person sometimes- it’s scary.
“She has great taste.”
“In trashy romances where the relationships are all the exotic shades of toxic and the flags are neon red.”
“You’re right.” He pauses then grins. “She has excellent taste. We’re actually going to have a movie night in about a fortnight. The good wine, best gossip, shit-talking movie adaptations of dark romance books, if you want to come? I think Heather might be coming too.”
Neha shakes her head in amusement. “Only you could invite your wife to watch what could be classed as borderline porn with friends just to discuss it. I can’t tell if you’re a pervert or not…. I’ll have to check my schedule.” Alejandro nods in understanding before gasping dramatically.
“I am a virtuous prince charming- a knight in shining armour.”
“That’s a lie. You are definitely a pervert.” Case and point, the hands that have not left her body since they lay down.
“Must you continue to insult me tonight?” Yes.
“Please, you love it.”
He doesn’t bite back, just visibly softens and Neha’s retort to whatever his retort could have been dies before she can even think of it. “I do. I wouldn’t want you any way.” And then he kisses her, sweetly. This spurs Neha to finally blurt it out.
“Speaking of wanting, I think we should try for another.” There. It's out. In a totally normal and natural sounding way. ….good job Neha. Woo.
That finally gets him to freeze. “you…?”
“Yeah, I’ve been doing some thinking. And we both know that having an odd number of kids barely works out.” It’s a cheap excuse, referencing their own childhood.
“Well, I suppose it is time that I get a mini-me. Hannah and Elizabeth clearly take after your beauty more than mine.” Yeah, right. says the walking Adonis. He’s literally the reason their kids even stand a chance. “And I still believe that you asexually produced Mary-Kate. Lack of DNA evidence be damned- there is no way you two aren’t somehow related.”
Neha rolls her eyes. “Are you seriously suggesting that I cloned myself when I was 16?”
“Well, she certainly has a splitting copy of your personality. Just as grouchy too. I’m just saying it would be nice to have one of my children take after me.”
“Reaaaaally.” She drawls out. “Well, you would never guess what Elizabeth and Helena did the other day in the shops.”
“What did they do?” Alejandro prompts with a raised eyebrow.
“I turned my back for five minutes and they charmed and conned a group of strangers into buying them more teddies. As if they don’t have enough as is. I had to tell them off with a straight face all while thinking that I could totally imagine a toddler version of you doing it.” And then she decided that they maybe have enough room for one more little person.
“Ah- I thought their collection had grown. Might be another display of your intelligence though.”
“Yeah, that’s not me baby.” She deadpans. “That’s aaaaaaaaaaaall your genes. So don’t even try it.”
“Hmmmmm, I suppose you have a point.”
“Of course I do.”
“But you definitely want this- this isn’t just your mother pressuring you? Because you know I don’t want this if it's just because you feel like you need to.” It’s sweet. She doesn’t care what her Amma says or thinks anymore, but the little check in really is sweet.
“Yeah, I do. I want to get a new job first though, but if we just so happen while I’m looking…”
“Mierda- you can't just say that.”
“I think I just did.”
“…I knew you were being more mean than usual tonight. Trying to get under my skin, weren’t you?” Oh, so he finally caught on, looking far too amused for someone in his position.
“So, what are you going to do about it?”
“Neha.” She’s greeted by hands on her shoulders and her husband giving her a serious look. “I’ll tidy, lock up and set the alarms, you can just go to our room to get comfortable, and I’ll meet you in 5 minutes.” And to think, this is the same man who was called a seductive Spaniard by the media for years. Though the bluntness is certainly doing more for her than the flowery language. Not that she doesn’t like it- how could she not when her idiot likes to come up with exceedingly more complicated ways of communicating simple things. He just looks so happy when he does, and that’s definitely when he’s at his most attractive. What can she say? It's definitely grown on her.
“It better be just five minutes, otherwise I might fall asleep. I am feeling a little tired from all this talking.” She pretends to be more interested in the sofa they're still on. Thankfully, it doesn’t last very long. Not when Alejandro gently cups her face and presses their lips together for way longer than necessary. She kisses back almost instantly. It's just so intimate. Not that Neha is complaining because God does she love it- love him. Just stupid things like this makes her heart skip and yet fills her with nothing more than the gentle rocking of peace. Makes it feel so so right.
He finally pulls back, smug and devious, skimming his thumb against her cheekbone. The distance is barely anything though, and she can feel his words on her lips when he whispers, “Then I guess I’ll just have to wake you up.”
Ohhhhhh, that little fucker.