Work Text:
Azure poked his head out of the bedroom like a confused cat.
“Two Time… are you still awake?”
A beatpause.… following Aa suspiciously fast, “Yeah!”
Azure squinted. It was 1:47 AM. The apartment was dark except for the glow of Two Time’s iPad and the pile of snack wrappers forming a small ecosystem around them.
Azure shuffled into Two Time’s bedroom, blanket still wrapped around his shoulders like a depressed wizard.
“What are you even doing?”
Two Time didn’t look up. “Commission.”
Azure leaned over their shoulder. He blinked. Then blinked again.
“…Two Time. What is that.”
Two Time paused their Apple Pencil mid‑stroke.
“I got an… interesting request.”
“Interesting,” Azure repeated flatly, staring at the screen like it had personally wronged him. “That’s one word for it.”
Two Time shrugged. “It pays fifty.”
Azure side‑eyed their lover.
“Fifty dollars is not enough for you to draw…. whatever this goonerbait is.”
“It’s seventy if I shade it…” Two Time said, completely serious.
Azure groaned, flopping forward until his forehead thunked against Two Time’s shoulder.
“You’re insane.”
Two Time smiled smugly. “You’re in pain, I can tell by what you’re saying!”
Azure lifted his head just to glare. “I did not need that reference right now.”
Two Time shrugged. “Too late~ It’s out there.”
Azure stared at the iPad like it was cursed.
“You’re employed by freaks.”
“They are patrons, actually. And they tip well!” Two Time added, blinking all innocent-like.
Azure narrowed his eyes. “Money isn’t the only tip they like giving, apparently.”
Two Time choked on air, giggling like an idiot. “Azu, please, I’m working.”
Azure sighed, letting his weight rest against them again.
“You better sleep at a normal time tonight.”
Two Time snorted. “Define normal.”
“Before the sun comes up.”
“That’s a big ask.” Two Time poked his side lightly. “Why do you even need to wake up that early anyway?”
Azure groaned into their shoulder. “Because I have to start waking up earlier.”
Two Time blinked. “Why?”
Azure lifted his head just enough to glare at the wall.
“Because Willow hates me.”
Two Time snorted. “He does not hate you.”
“He’s more of a tsundere than a manager,” Azure mumbled, defeated. “Which is worse.”
Two Time laughed softly, headwings giving a tiny flutter. “You’re ridiculous.”
“You’re impossible,” Azure countered, but it came out fond.
Two Time clasped their hands dramatically, eyes huge and sparkly like some stupid puppy impression. (🥺 ahh twinkle toes)
“Awww, but don’t you love me?”
“Unfortunately.”
Two Time nudged him with their elbow. “Go back to bed, Azu. I’ll finish this and join you.”
Azure didn’t budge.
……
“…Five more minutes,” he mumbled, eyes half‑closed.
“You said that an hour ago.”
Azure groaned again, louder this time. “Fine, fine, I’m going. But if you pass out at your desk again, I’m hiding your stylus.”
Two Time gasped dramatically. “You wouldn’t.”
“Try me.”
Azure pressed a quick, sleepy kiss to their cheek, then dragged himself back toward his bedroom like a dying Victorian child.
Two Time watched him go, smiling to themself before turning back to the iPad.
“…Seventy dollars,” they muttered, resuming the shading.
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
Azure woke up first.
The rain was tapping softly against the window, the room dim and warm, and Two Time was curled up beside him, half‑buried in the blankets, clutching their stylus like it was a stuffed animal.
Azure smiled to himself. That tiny, sleepy smile he only ever made around them.
He carefully slid out of bed, trying not to wake them. Two Time made a tiny noise and tightened their grip on the stylus. Azure gently pried it from their hand.
“…You’re gonna lose this in the sheets again,” he whispered, walking over to their room and placing it on their desk.
Two Time didn’t move, didn’t even twitch. They were out cold, breathing slow and even. As Azure leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to their forehead, Two Time’s headwings gave the faintest little ruffle — a sleepy, instinctive flutter, like their body recognized the affection even if their brain was still miles deep in dreams.
“I’m going to work,” he murmured. “Sleep in, okay?” Two Time breathed out slowly, still asleep and still peaceful.
Azure quickly got dressed, grabbed his hoodie, keys, and backpack… then hesitated for a moment, eyes drifting toward the hat sitting on the dresser.
He used to wear it everywhere. Two Time adored it. But work was… different now. Customers stared. Willow complained (in that very Willow way that wasn’t actually complaining but still somehow felt like it).
Azure sighed and reached for his apron instead — the one with the embroidered flowers and matching headscarf Willow insisted on.
And then he walked out the door without a single thought about food. 😋
Two Time woke up around 10 AM, hair a mess, blanket half on the floor, and something immediately felt off.
They sat up slowly, blinking at the empty space beside them where Azure had been.
…He left already? They thought to themself.
Still groggy, they pushed the blanket aside and shuffled out of Azure’s room, feet dragging across the soft rug. The hallway lights were still dim, the apartment quiet except for the rain tapping the windows.
They stepped into their own room — the one with the art posters, cluttered desk, and half‑finished canvases.
And there, placed neatly on the desk, was their stylus.
Two Time stopped in the doorway.
Their glasses were still crooked from sleep, but they could see it clearly: Azure had put it there for them.
A tiny smile tugged at their mouth.
“…Azure,” they whispered, soft and fond.
Then the realization hit.
“Wait. Did he bring food?” They checked the kitchen. Nothing missing. Checked the counter. Nothing packed. Checked the fridge. Absolutely nothing that counted as a meal.
Two Time sighed to themself.
“He didn’t bring anything. Again. :(”
They covered their mouth with the back of their hand as they yawned, already shuffling toward the fridge.
“Okay. Okay. I got this. I can make something good. I can be a responsible adult for once!”
They pulled out ingredients like they were defusing a bomb. Rice, veggies, leftover chicken, the good seasoning Azure always hid on the highest shelf he could reach.
They cooked slowly, carefully, trying their best. And it actually turned out… good!
They packed it neatly into a container, added a fork, and stuck a note on top:
“You forgot something, silly!
Thanks for loving me even when I forget to eat.. and ruin the kitchen. (´-﹏-`；)
Come home safe :3
— Two Time <3”
Then they threw on a jacket, grabbed the umbrella, and headed out into the rain.
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
Azure was sweeping petals off the floor at The Flower Patch, apron tied loosely around his waist, his tail swaying lazily behind him with each step, when the bell above the door jingled.
He didn’t look up at first.
“Welcome to–”
Arms wrapped around him from behind, and a familiar pair of soft headwings brushed lightly against his shoulder blades.
Azure froze for half a second, then laughed softly.
“Two Time?”
He turned around, and there they were. Slightly damp from the rain, smiling like they’d been waiting all morning just for him, their tail wagging behind them, quick and happy.
“You forgot something,” Two Time said, holding up the lunchbox proudly.
Azure’s face lit up instantly.
“Oh– oh wow, thank you! You made this?”
Two Time nodded, a little shy. “Yeah. You didn’t bring anything. Again.”
Azure laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I… definitely didn’t. You’re a lifesaver.”
Two Time nudged his shoulder with theirs. “I know.”
Azure’s own tail flicked in response, cheeks warming. A tiny giggle slipped out of him before he could stop it, soft and breathy. “Wanna eat with me? We can go in the back. It’s slow today.”
Two Time brightened immediately.
“Yeah. I’d like that.”
Azure took their hand and led them toward the back room, petals still scattered on the floor, rain still tapping softly outside.
Lunch together wasn’t planned.
But it felt perfect.
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───