Work Text:
The aroma of rose, lemon, and fresh linen lingered in the cool air of the Chum Bucket. Karen had just gotten out of the shower, freshly shaven, scented perfumes and creams applied. It was refreshing to have their restaurant not smell of Chum for once. She hummed as she put her hair up in a towel and turned the bathroom light off. She assumed the floral and fruity scent came from whatever new device Plankton had scrounged up, rather frustrated thinking about how late it was. She tightened her silky silver robe and waltzed into her dimly lit room, only to be met with her husband lying on their bed, a red rose in his mouth, in another one of her robes. Assorted scents from flickering candles sat on their dressers, forming a semi-circle around their clean, white sheets. He raised his eyebrow twice and smirked.
“Impressed?” He said, putting the rose between his index and middle finger, as if it were a cigarette.
Karen smiled slightly and bit her lip to repress a giggle.
“Sheldon. What is this for, honey?”
Despite it being so very corny, she admired his attempt at being romantic. After all, he wasn’t known for making romantic gestures to his caring wife very often anyway.
“I can do things just because I love you, can’t I?” He said, slightly pouting. Karen walked closer to him and sat on the bed, giving him a quick but meaningful kiss on the lips.
“I’m not complaining, I promise.” She replied, her voice smooth and reassuring. Plankton stopped smirking for a quick second before scrambling off the bed.
“I almost forgot!” He awkwardly rushed to press the play button on an old, metallic CD player. After a few mechanical clicks, “I Want To Know What Love Is” by Foreigner began to play, muffled from the twenty-year-old machine. Karen put her hand to her mouth in a failed attempt to stifle her laugh.
“It’s just like the old days, Karen!” He exclaimed, giving her a smoldering look; eye squinted, lips barely pursed.
He cared for his wife and occasionally tried to deepen their relationship, but as time passed, he became increasingly closed off. Karen would make one-off comments about their distance that Plankton would frequently ignore. The realization that they were truly growing apart had been affecting him in more ways than one. He had been reminiscing on the times they had in college together, and the music that played during the earliest stages of their relationship. He needed to get that excitement back.
“Plankton, you have always been a romantic.” Her voice broke through the laughter.
“You hate it.” He said, dramatically turning his head away from her.
“I love it, Sheldon.” She replied sincerely.
Karen took the rose out of Plankton's hand and smelled it. She rolled over on the bed where he was lying and gave him a deep kiss, holding his face and enjoying the music that surrounded them.