Work Text:
You woke up in the middle of the nigth, your eyes burning from the sleep you didn't get, the sleep which your mind refused to give you early in the evening, mulling over concepts and ideas, worries which wouldn't leave you be.
Untill she came.
She who hugged you, she who held you, she who's heartbeat and whispers lulled you to sleep.
She who wasn't where she was supposed to be, next to you. In bed. You whined as your arm stretched over the still warm place, marked by her absence.
"Archons…" you lifted yourself up, out of bed, feeling whiplash from the sudden temperature change. It was freezing, did you leave a window open?…doesn't matter, it'd be warmer outside the room anyways. Your Fontaine mansion was always warm.
"Arle.", you called, hearing it echo through the hall.
"Arlecchino?", she could be in the kitchen. Or in her office. God damn workaholic. Your body swung left and rigth as you made your was through your Home, calling for her name over and over, louder and louder.
"I'm here, I'm here.", she shouted from the kitchens. You hurried towards it, your feet tapping against the tile floor before you pretty much barged into the Woman you called Husband, listening to the breath that surged out of her lungs as she hit the counter.
"Fuck, love, you gave me a heart attack. "
"Sorry.", you mumble as she gently shoved back without problems.
You hid within her neck, inhaling her shampoo while your arms wrapped around her completely. "Where were you?"
"I had a nigthmare.", she said, her voice devoid of emotion as her hand traced down to your waist, as if looking for something, you hissed ligthly as a sudden pain jolted through your body.
She retrieved as if burned, her eyes still trained down.
"Huch, I didn't notice that."
"I did.", she turned to lean on the surface. "I keep burning you."
"I'm sure it's not that-"
"Lift your dress."
You groaned, but followed her request, refusing the shock you got from seeing the dark handprint. You barely noticed. "You…must've fried my nerves at some Point-"
"Don't make jokes about this.", she said as she went through the cupboards, looking for the burning salve. "It's not funny."
"I'm trying to make ligth of the situation-"
"Love" you looked up at her tone, as her hand went through her open long hair, pushing away the strands. ",not today.", she made her way to you, salve in hand.
You breath out. "Okay…"
Your Husband sat in front of you, in a wooden chair, as her hands worked on older and newer wounds.
"What was your nigthmare about?"
"Usual, red moon, blood."
You shouldn't push it, she'd only retreat into herself more. But your tired mind made a fool out of you. "That's what's troubling you so much that you're burning your Wife? Nothing more?"
She leaned back, chuckling a little. Three or two years ago you would've run. But after one year of marriage? The Knave wasn't as intimidating as she seemed.
"What is it?"
"We are very lucky that the Tsaritsa never made you work in the intelligence business, because you, my dear, would have failed miserably at getting information out of anyone."
She was offering you an escape. You were smart enough to take it. "I'm not even trying rigth now."
"Could've fooled me.", she mumbled as she leaned back forward to finish her work.
You went from tip-toeing to standing on the balls of your feet so much that she had to hold you down.
"Could you stand still for five more seconds?"
"No…how was work?"
She pulled your dress back down, turning towards the stove to watch the kettle. "Usual paperwork, reports from missions, the finances of the house."
The paste clung weirdly to your dress, but that didn't stop you from preparing a second tea, for you.
"You're joining?"
"Don't you want me to?"
Apparently the woman wanted to mess with you tonight. "I never said that I didn't want you to join.", her head rested on her hand, as she watched you like a theater she was particular interested in.
You crossed your arms. "I heard it. It was in your tone."
"Was it now?", she ceased you up. She was riling you up.
"Yes. You said that you don't want to drink tea with me… you'd probably rather have it if I slept in front of the hearth and my hair got all ashy while you ignore me all day, you'd like that, wouldn't you?", you hadn't noticed the kettle that started to sqeak, but you did hear your Husband loud laugh. It was unusual, hearing her laugh, making her laugh. Perhaps it was sleep, either way, you wouldn't complain.
She turned the fire down.
"You don't even love me…", you mumbled under your breath. The previous laugther died within her throat as she stalked up to you and lifted your chin.
"You insufferable, insane woman, you make me absolutely crazy and I love you to bits and pieces.", she squished your face "And that why I'll always love to have tea with you, so never doubt that."
You grin at her. "That's all I ever wanted to hear."
She stared at you for a moment, before recognition flashed in her eyes. "Oh, my smart.", she quickly kissed your lips, before pouring the both of you a cup of tea which you well enjoyed over some more conversation and a few leftover macaroons.