Work Text:
A beeping from the nightstand gradually became louder with every other high-pitched ping, earning a groan from Yuri while Setsu's hand quickly—and carefully—reached over to lightly tap at the holographic display that hovered, producing a small, blue glow in the dim room. Light itself peeked in through the curtains, and the air outside of the blankets would send a shiver through either of them if they even threatened to leave the comfort of their bed.
"Good morning, Yuri." Setsu said, as quietly as they could; they had, in fact, sat up—with goosebumps almost immediately starting to prickle down their exposed arms—as they slowly ran a hand through Yuri's hair. "I'm going to go make coffee, if you want any."
Yuri sighed, scooting further under the shared pile of blankets, and buried their face in the other's side. Their hands had wadded up into the blankets as they curled up closer, one now resting across Setsu's legs.
Waking up early like this was normal for Setsu; their alarm would go off, typically waking them both up—and Yuri would snuggle closer, letting Setsu pet them until they eased their way out of bed to start the day. Oftentimes, it was too early for them to talk much past quiet grumbles, some only half-coherent. And other times, they seemed more reluctant than usual to let Setsu go this early—they would ask with garbled and sleepily slurred words that they stay for a bit, cling to their pajamas, or give some other indication that they weren't fully ready for Setsu to get up for the day.
They understood why Setsu, even once they had left the military behind, would want to keep on a routine—the words consistency and routine might as well have been synonymous with comfort for them. Yuri had seen them handle spur-of-the-moment events—from casual and fun things to flat-out emergencies (even if, sometimes, they were visibly stressed, exhausted, or overwhelmed, or even acted impulsively, during those times), but once they fell into a routine, that was where they seemed the most at-peace. Yuri encouraged them to wake up as early as they wanted, even—it was just that sometimes, Yuri wanted them to linger a bit, staying in bed—it didn't matter if either of them stayed awake or fell back asleep, or if Setsu quietly slipped away the second that Yuri dozed back off, Yuri just wanted them to stay nearby for a little bit.
This was, apparently, one of those mornings.
Though, it's not like Setsu would complain.
Setsu slowly ran their hand through Yuri's hair again; the braid had come undone sometime before bed, only a small remnant of it still loosely left to dangle in their hair, and their arm, with the blankets still clutched in their hand, had moved around Setsu's waist.
"You don't have to get up for the day yet." Setsu said quietly, a small smile tugging at their lips. Yuri didn't move, their nose only scrunched slightly. They never did have to get up; the alarm was for Setsu, and Setsu alone. Some mornings, Yuri would join them, but Setsu would usually just let them rest comfortably until they either woke up naturally, or their own alarm went off.
"I know…" Yuri murmured, burying their face in Setsu's side more. They sighed again, fingers lightly clinging to the side of Setsu's tank top instead of the blankets.
"Are you wanting me to stay?"
"Just for awhile," Yuri said, their voice low and still sluggish from sleep. "You can go once I go back to sleep, if you want? But."
"It's fine…" Setsu, with one hand still in Yuri's hair, reached over to the nightstand and pulled a paperback book closer with their fingertips. "I can stay as long as you need."
Really, though, it was just waking up early in the morning—on that set schedule—that brought Setsu a bit of peace. They could genuinely do anything during that time, but they did enjoy using the time between then and Yuri waking up to get ready for the day.
They held the book with the thumb of their free hand holding it sturdily down the center, and their eyes slowly wandering over the pages. Only when they turned one, the sound of paper brushing by, did Yuri raise their head a little more from Setsu's side to look up at them.
"Oh, are you reading…?"
"M-hm. Should I stop, or?" They lowered the book to their lap and let it rest at a slight angle, their head tilted downward and their full attention now on Yuri. They gave their hair soft, small tugs, as they watched Yuri practically melt at the physical contact.
"No, it's fine? You can keep reading. You're not too cold, right…? You can take one of the blankets and keep it around you, or you can go grab a jacket?"
"I'm fine." Setsu raised the book again, curling a strand of Yuri's hair around their fingertips as they looked back to the book. "If you wanted, I could always read to you."
The offer had left their mouth effortlessly, like it was something that they had offered time and time again—and honestly, there hadn't been much actual thought behind it. Processing what they had said, though, as Yuri's eyes widened—practically shimmering in the dim light, and a warm, cheerful smile flashing across their face—they felt a heat rise to their face.
"Yes? … Please??"
Setsu wasn't expecting that answer—or any answer at all, really. It's not like they had never read to anyone before—it's just that the material had been different from what they were looking at now. They were used to reading off information—instructions, news, details on individuals, groups, or locations—this was a fiction novel, written on Earth long ago.
Something that was supposed to be a sappy, cute love story.
"I…"
"You don't have to, if you're having second thoughts." Yuri laughed a bit, burying their face back in Setsu's side as they settled there once again. They breathed slowly, relaxing, as Setsu's hands slowly worked their way back to playing with their hair. "Really, I'm fine like this, too."
"No, I do, I just…" Wasn't expecting myself to offer something like that? Setsu thought to themself, now glancing off to the side as the gave another light tug on Yuri's hair. If I say that, they'll probably tell me that I can go back to reading on my own.
"I'm just embarrassed, honestly…" They answered, voice low.
"That's fine—you can work yourself up to it, if you want to. If you change your mind, like I said, it really is fine." Yuri said, letting the comfortable quiet fall back between them both.
A quiet hum caught in Setsu's throat, an unintentional sound, as they weighed the options—they would be fine, even if they really did feel like they needed to work themself up to it.
How long have we lived together? Setsu thought as they drew in a slow, quiet breath. They started reading aloud and felt their face only redden a bit more with each word. They tried to soothe the rising embarrassment by still curling Yuri's hair around their fingertips, running their hand through their hair, as they continued. We sleep in the same bed… And I still get embarrassed over something like this?
They were sure their voice came out hesitant, as hard as they tried to hide it, for the first paragraph or two—but Yuri said nothing. They only seemed to relax further, their breathing slowing into a steady pace as they listened.
They weren't asleep yet (and likely, they didn't intend to fall asleep right now), and they made a small noise here and there—some kind of half-laugh or surprised noise in response to something Setsu had read, though, they never fully interrupted them to comment.
Though Setsu's voice was a bit flat right now, Yuri hadn't complained—even if it caused some line deliveries to lack whatever emotional weight they might have normally had otherwise. Setsu just wasn't sure how to inflect when reading like this—they didn't have time to really prepare or think, and not to mention, the book itself was something they hadn't read before.
In the past, Yuri had commented that Setsu's voice, clear and steady, comforting and reassuring to them, but Setsu couldn't really see how it would be comforting or even entertaining now.
Maybe it's just because it's me? They thought, eyes flicking down to Yuri as they turned another page.
At some point, they had shifted more, eyes closed and the blanket only half-covering their back, as they dozed off. Setsu smiled a little more, and slowly pulled the hand from Yuri's hair to give the blanket a few careful tugs until it was fully over them again.
I'll stay a little bit longer. Making coffee can wait… They thought, hand resting against Yuri's back. They continued reading, their voice quieter, and another smile tugging on their lips.