Work Text:
The quiet sound of the oven fire flickering was all that could be heard through the otherwise quiet Casita.
Outside, the night sky looned high, an owl hooted somewhere, crickets chirped, a donkey or two brayed in the distance, likely plotting a new escape.
The Villagers, all asleep in their beds, slept peacefully. Their minds free of burdens that they know little off, as their work was rather calmer when compared to the magical families' work.
That's why the healer was up so late, as she told herself.
She had to be ready for tommorow.
Today was her day off. Or was it tommorow? She'd lost track of time, days blurred together and made an unclear picture for her mind, her body weighed down by that familiar ache of exhaustion that became a companion many years ago.
Her hands kneaded dough as if it was second nature. And to her? It likely was. She'd been doing it since she was all but five years old, of course the work hadn't been as heavy then. That was fourty five years ago. Well, nearly fourty six now. Just a month away.
After the Casita fell, and the gifts disappeared, the family had been heavily supported by the town. But even then, Julieta had felt lost. She couldn't heal them. Mariano's nose remained broken for many weeks, and by the time their gifts returned? The break had healed so her magic didn't work, as it was no longer an injury. Her sombrina loved it however, said it gave her boyfriend some 'uniqueness'.
Cooking was her therapy. She didn't talk about her issues, and in her mind she was right to do so. She was a mother of three, and the towns healer. If she was to burden someone, she wouldn't be healing, would she?
The older woman failed to noticed when her hand grazed too close to the oven top until her hand made contact with the scalding top.
She let out a small hiss, pulling her hand back and holding it to her chest. Julieta didn't get burned often, if ever.
She dropped the half cooked empanada she'd been making and muttered a few curses in their native tongue.
As she crouched down to pick the now ruined food up, she failed to notice the approaching footsteps.
Two arms wrapped around her waist and she sighed. Not even needing to turn around as she mumbled. "Agustín, you should be sleeping, mi vida." As she tried to return to work, but his grip remained.
He murmured in a sleep-addled yet concerned voice "You never slept. You left the second in fell asleep, Juli." As one of his hands moved to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
Julieta sighed yet again, muttering "i need to work, Agustín. The villagers need-"
He cut her off softly "the villagers can handle themselves for one day, and you have plenty food leftover from yesterday." He turned her round to face him "But I? I will simply die if my wife does not return to bed."
She smiled slightly, eyes crinkling at the edges, but instead of a sarky comeback that he was expecting, she pressed her forehead into his chest and sighed deeply.
He quickly reacted, one arm wrapping around his wife's waist as the other cupped her head.
She put her hands on his chest, to rest them, only to wince as her wounded hand made contact.
Agustín noticed. The grogginess dissipating like snow in fire.
"Juli, you're hurt?" He murmured, brows furrowing as the hand in her hair moved to take her wrist.
Julieta let him examine it. She could easily heal it, but that wouldn't soothe his worries.
He grabbed one of her empanadas, freshly cooked, yes it stung his fingers slightly, he broke it in half and held the steaming half up to her.
Julieta hesitated. The food was for the villagers, she shouldn't-
Agustín tapped the food on her lips, she opened her mouth and blew on it anyway, like she'd do when the girls were little.
She took a small bite, then let her body relax as the healing worked.
Agustín had a little smug smile, seeing how Julieta slumped against him. It quickly turned soft though "okay mi amor, time for bed."
Casita put the fire out as Agustín slid his arms behind her knees and shoulders and swept her off her feet.
Julieta wrapped her arms around his neck, suddenly too tired to argue. She just huffed slightly, turning her face into his chest.
So he took her upstairs and into bed, tucked her in, and then went to sleep himself.
Julieta didn't remember that last part, too tired, but she fell asleep warm and happy, which was what she wanted in the end.