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Wise and Nicole were partners. Business partners, Life partners, Proxy partners, you name it. Their relationship had its ups and downs, but they cared a lot about each other, even if they had trouble admitting it at times. Given Nicole's astronomical debt and Wise putting up with her shenanigans. But absence makes the heart yearn, and Wise and Nicole were only made aware of how much they really cared about each other after the Vision scandal where Nicole nearly was going to crash into the ballet twins.
Or with the fact that Wise was nearly all she had on the brain when Phaethon went to the outer ring and surprise, also nearly got caught into a pretty bad accident which nearly had her heading straight for the outer ring with Belle to check up on him. Wise reassured her that it was fine, and in the end it was. Barring fighting an Overlord turned Ethereal, some blonde bastard called Lucius who Nicole was definitely going to look into one day.
What really made her realize she loved Wise, was when he almost died.
She remembers doing everything she could just to try and save him, telling herself she wasn't going to let the one she loved die.
…what she failed to realize was that she had said that part out loud.
In front of Billy.
In front of Nekomata.
In front of Anby.
and in front of Section 6.
Even if she tried (and failed) to do mouth to mouth to revive him, at least she got her first kiss and Wise’s out of it.
A few days later, after the Bringer investigation had come to an end, Wise learned through trusted sources the lengths that Nicole went for him.
And that’s when it finally got through the cement block in Wise’s head that she loved him, and even if it took him a long time to realize, he loved her too. Wasn’t it obvious either way, The way he dropped everything just to save her and the cunning hares with Victoria housekeeping? All those little moments they shared together, those excuses to spend “Quality time” together?
The way she called them partners?
So. Wise came to a decision with Belle, who enthusiastically agreed. She might’ve had her own agenda, but jokes aside she supported his decision wholeheartedly.
Wise sent a DM to Nicole on Knock-Knock, asking her to meet up. What followed was a long heartfelt conversation. Where they both admited their feelings. Wise went first, catching Nicole adorably off-guard, but once he cracked the Shell, she stopped hiding it.
He loved her, She loved him.
But the real kicker that may have been what got her to jump in his arms was that he was willing to consider 80% of the debt paid. They, (yes, They.) would work off the rest of the debt through Commissions, and… should Nicole want it, The cunning hares would become employees of Random play, and instead of being commissioners would be Phaethon’s Top agents.
And… if Nicole wanted, she could live with Belle and him.
Wise might’ve just said he wanted to marry her by telling her that. Because he was pretty sure Nicole was tearing up.
Nicole wouldn't have to worry about the cunning hares not being Phaethon’s top clients anymore. She was their first choice now.
Wise was practically giving her a stable place to live and work and she got to be around him more often.
Nicole sealed their deal with a few dozen kisses on the face.
However… there was still one, tiny problem.
Sleeping arrangements.
It’s not like she had never slept at random play. Anby often slept in his Bed. She didn't mind, and neither did he. Billy loved to sleep on couches, and Nekomata insisted on keeping her little box.
But those were normally one time occurrences if the Cunning hares were gonna live with them… that meant moving in all the things that were back in the Cunning hare’s HQ.
So it was that Nicole came to call Wise’s bed her own. until they had secured enough funding for a few renovations in Random play.
Sleeping with Nicole was a tug of war. Wise and Belle didn’t invest in a bunk bed, they each had their rooms, and rarely did ever have anyone sleeping in the same bed which led to what Belle called their “Lover’s nightly quarrel.” Which was just Wise and Nicole fighting over who gets the covers because heavens forbid that Nicole catches a cold or that in Belle’s words. “Act like a couple and actually sleep together.”
Stop hogging all the blankets!" Nicole whispered loudly, pulling the blankets of Wise's bed over to her side.
"I'm not hogging them, I'm just cold!" Wise whispered back, trying to sleep hogging some of the blanket to his side.
"Well, get some extra ones, then!" Nicole argues back, pulling the covers back
"I don't have extra ones!"
They argue back and forth in a sleep tug-of-war, but it doesn't last long, they're both too sleepy to argue over sleeping arrangements for the hundredth time. Wise’s room only has one bed, Belle was already sharing hers with Anby and they were gonna have to do it, Wise could use the couch, but it was his bed, and he wasn't gonna let Nicole sleep on one anytime soon. So it was that a couple of managers who were barely a few weeks into dating and living together, already argued like a married couple going thirty years strong.
Isn’t love beautiful? It was to Belle, Sarcastically speaking,
Yet somehow their argument got them entangled with each other, stuck in a soft cocoon of their own making.
"Looks like we're stuck like this for now till morning..."
Nicole looks away, thankfully the darkness covers the red on her face. "Y-yeah..."
"...Why didn't you let Anby sleep in my room?"
"I-I was just..." She sighs, hugging him a little closer. not that they can do much about it, they're stuck like this till morning, or if they somehow wriggle their way out. which wasnt the best option. "...I just wanted to switch it up, that's all.."
"Nicole...." Nicole can tell Wise is raising an eyebrow at her.
"...I haven't seen you since the Vision corporation case, I just... really missed you."
Wise brings her close...well, she was already close enough as is, but it was the thought of the hug that mattered more.
"...I missed you too. I really missed you too."
Nicole snuggles her head on his chest, or at least tries to get comfortable while Wise lets his chin rest on her head.
"We'll go by some extra blankets tomorrow, okay? We can pick them together if you want."
"I'd love that, Partner." Nicole smiles, closing her eyes
Wise smiles.
"Night, Nicole.... I Love you."
"Night Wise, I love you too.”