Chapter Text
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Mel looks up from her novel when Sevika pads into the living room. Her gray joggers are slung low across her hip and her defined arms are exposed from the tank top she’s wearing, and Mel doesn’t bother to hide her interest as she traces her gaze over her partner.
Sevika doesn’t seem to notice. Instead, she flops down onto the couch with a grunt and stretches out, dropping her head to rest in Mel’s lap.
Mel laughs under her breath and sets her book aside so that she can run her hand through Sevika’s hair, the silky dark strands slipping easily through her fingers. Sevika hums contentedly, her eyes slipping closed.
“Everything alright?” Mel asks after a few moments have passed, looking down at the woman in her lap. She doesn’t mind this, of course, but she knows Sevika well enough by now to be able to spot when something’s off. Such things are not usually spoken aloud when it comes to Sevika, but can be easily discerned through her behavior.
Sevika makes a half-hearted noise that Mel can’t quite decipher. Mel’s lips twitch up, but she continues her soothing strokes through Sevika’s hair.
“Words would be helpful, my love,” Mel says lightly, scratching at Sevika’s scalp. “If you can spare a few for me.”
Sevika cracks an eye open, squinting up at her. “Hurts,” she grunts, then closes her eyes again.
Mel’s heart squeezes. She wishes there was more she could do for the pain that her girlfriend is forced to live with nearly every day, a byproduct of all the strain her body has been put under through all the years.
“I’m sorry, darling,” Mel murmurs, her hand drifting lower to trace over the blue scars that spiderweb up Sevika’s face and neck. “The usual spots?”
Sevika nods, then lifts a hand to gesture vaguely at her face. “And m’head. Eyes too – feels like everything’s too bright.”
Mel hums sympathetically. She reaches for a pillow, then carefully arranges it under Sevika’s head so that she’s lying on it instead of Mel’s own lap. She slips off the couch and kneels next to Sevika, pressing a tender kiss to her lips.
“Sounds like a migraine. On top of your usual pain, poor love,” Mel says, running her fingers over Sevika’s jaw. Sevika grunts in acknowledgment but doesn’t open her eyes.
“I’ll be back in just a moment,” Mel whispers, kissing Sevika’s forehead before getting up and heading down the hall.
She returns with a myriad of items and gets to work setting everything up. First, she plugs a small lotion warmer into the wall and sets it up on the side table, placing a bottle of lavender-scented lotion in the device to heat. Then she picks up the rice-filled cloth wrap that she already warmed in the kitchen, and gently tucks it around Sevika’s shoulders. Sevika gives a pleased hum at that, which makes Mel smile and kiss her again.
Mel cups the back of Sevika’s head, gently encouraging her to lift it. “This will help your eyes,” she murmurs, slipping a black silk eyemask over the other woman’s eyes. Then she grabs the bottle of pain medicine and shakes out two pills into her hand.
“Open?” Mel asks. Sevika reaches up to lift a corner of the eyemask so she can peer at her.
“What are you trying to drug me with?” Sevika asks suspiciously.
Mel gives her a dry look. “Painkillers, love. The same ones I gave you last time, and the time before that…need I go on?”
Sevika rolls her eyes but holds out her hand for the pills. Mel drops them into her palm and passes over a glass of water. Sevika swallows the medicine, then puts the mask back in place and drops her head to the pillow again.
Mel watches her fondly for a moment, lightly running her fingers down Sevika’s arm. She still can’t believe she has this kind of love in her life. Still can’t believe she’s even capable of this kind of love, when for so long she thought her heart was too cold for such things.
She gets up and resumes her former position on the couch, exchanging the pillow under Sevika’s head for her lap. Then she pumps some lotion onto her hands, the cream pleasantly warm now.
Sevika makes a surprised noise when Mel starts massaging her neck and shoulders.
“That’s nice,” Sevika mumbles. “What’s that?”
“Lavender body cream from my favorite apothecary,” Mel hums, taking her time as she works the tight muscles. “My masseuse left a warmer here, it’s quite useful. I can set you up an appointment with her — as I’ve offered. I really think you’d enjoy it, love.”
Sevika snorts softly. “The day I have a personal masseuse is the day I can no longer call myself a Zaunite.”
Mel grins. “But having me give you a massage is acceptable?”
“Who am I to turn down a pretty woman who wants to rub my neck?” Sevika says, a tiny smirk on her mouth.
“So generous,” Mel chuckles, leaning down to kiss her forehead. “Well, just relax and let me pamper you, darling.”
Sevika relaxes into her, letting out a satisfied sigh. Mel smiles, and continues her massage.
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