Work Text:
The old radio in your apartment is playing a soft tune. It kept you company while you cooked breakfast. You hummed along to the song that was playing, taking a small break from your cooking to take a long sip of your coffee before getting back into it. You did your best to be quiet, not wishing to disturb your partner as he slept in, but you didn’t doubt that he’d wake up soon to the smell of crispy bacon sizzling in the pan.
Soft rays of sunshine filtered through the kitchen window, bathing your plump skin in its warm glow as a new day dawned over New Eridu. Thankfully, your apartment wasn’t close to the main street so the sound of car engines and screaming school children was but a distant murmur, easily tuned out by the radio as it kicked over to the next song. You perked up when the radio announcer called the title of the next song and you scooted closer to it just to turn up the volume dial a smidge.
Your head immediately started bopping to the tune, your voice soft as you sang along to the familiar lyrics. Your kitchen turned into your stage as you sang along, soft strands of hair fluttering over your shoulder as you twisted your wide hips and tapped your fingers against your thick thighs to the beat. At one point, you pretended the spoon in your mug of coffee was a microphone as you sang along to the catchy beat. The sound of your slippers scuffling along the floorboards was drowned out by your passionate, off key singing as you continued to sway from side to side. You added a little spin to your dance just for some extra flair and you couldn’t help but giggle as the spin made your head feel a little dizzy. You spun once more to go fish for some clean utensils out of the drawer, your movements coming to a complete halt as you gasped sharply. Your eyes went wide, your long lashes fluttering over the round swell of your hot cheeks as your singing died in your throat.
“Hugo!”
Hugo sat on the other side of the kitchen counter, elbow against the top and cheek pressed into the palm of his hand. A slow smile spread across his face, his heterochromatic eyes sparkling like gems in the morning light as one of his fangs peeked from the top of his lips. Dark circles lingered under his eyes, his long blond hair untied and golden strands haphazardly falling across his forehead. He looked like he had just rolled out of bed.
“Good morning dear” he chimed, voice still thick with sleep when he greeted you.
Heat continued to consume your face, the plush seam of your lips pressed into a wobbly line as you swallowed the flustered noise that wanted to crawl out of your throat. Embarrassment twisted in the pit of your stomach, the tip of your tongue timidly licking your lips as you swallowed the uncomfortable lump in your parched throat.
“How-How long have you been sitting there?” you asked.
You sounded a little hopeful. Hopeful that he didn’t see you making a complete fool of yourself. Hugo smiled back at you, pressing more of his cheek into his hand and long fingers curling over his face as he looked at you with dazed eyes. He hummed softly in thought, the sound stirring in his chest and making you wring your fingers together as you silently fretted.
“Long enough to enjoy your performance.”
You groaned softly, nose crinkling and shoulders sagging when you realised he had witnessed the whole thing. When he first woke up to the music pouring from the radio, he crept down the hallways like a wraith, staying completely silent the entire time before you broke out into song and dance. He didn’t have the heart to stop you. You looked like you had been enjoying yourself. Instead, he simply slipped into a chair and waited for you to notice him. He didn’t expect to be treated by an entire performance. He had enjoyed how carefree you were, a merry tune falling from your lips and a natural rhythm as you swayed your sumptuous body along to the music. He thought it was quite cute, watching you scoot around the kitchen in your sleepwear, fuzzy socks and slippers included, like you were some sort of pop idol on stage. It warmed his heart to see you with your guard completely down and how you acted when you thought no one was watching. He adored this quirky, unique side of you.
A flustered noise suddenly crawled out of your throat, tapering off into a whine of embarrassment. You covered your face with your hands, cupping your chubby cheeks as your skin burned under your touch. You peeked at Hugo through the gaps of your fingers.
“I’m so embarrassed” you whined. “Please, forget you saw anything.”
Without waiting for his response you turned your back on him, completely forgetting why you had turned around in the first place as you stalked back over to the stove top. Luckily, none of your food had been burnt. You tried to preoccupy yourself with finishing breakfast, nerves still eating away at you as you tried to expel the embarrassing thoughts from your mind. You must have looked like such a fool. You heard the chair legs scraping softly against the floor as Hugo stood up and approached. He called your name. You did not answer.
“Darling?” he asked as he got closer.
You still ignored him. You gasped softly as you felt his presence behind you. He wrapped his arms around your plump waist, hands resting on your soft stomach as he hooked his chin on your shoulder. You could feel his warm breath caress the shell of your ear, making the hairs on the nape of your neck stand to attention as a shiver ran down the notches of your spine.
“Darling?” he cooed.
“What?” you grumbled as you flipped a rash of bacon.
Hugo tried to get a peek of your face, but judging by how hot your skin was pressed against his cheek, he knew that you were still flustered. He brushed a lock of your hair behind the curve of your ear before his fingers hooked around your chin and tipped your head in his direction.
“There’s no need to be embarrassed” he mumbled, brushing his thumb under your eye. “I found it quite endearing.”
A deep frown still tugged at the plush seam of your lips. A frown that turned into a soft pout when Hugo pinched your chubby cheek between his fingers and tugged until your frown was gone.
“It is embarrassing” you argued. “I probably looked like an idiot.”
“No, you didn’t” Hugo reassured.
He hugged you around your plush waist tighter, moving you away from the stove so he had more room to encourage you to turn around. You immediately buried your face into his chest with a soft groan, embarrassment still lingering in your system as you were folded further into Hugo’s arms. A warm chuckle breezed past his lips as he rubbed his hand along your back, trying to coax you into relaxing.
“You have nothing to worry about” Hugo said. “You looked quite cute sliding around in your fuzzy slippers.”
You raised your head, resting your chin on Hugo’s chest as you peaked up at him beneath your thick lashes. Being called cute lightened your mood a little.
“Really?”
“Really” Hugo reassured.
You were now preening a little under his attention. You weren’t so embarrassed now. Hugo had a way with his words and you were always so easily charmed by them, or flustered, depending on his mood. You were glad that he chose the former, rather than the latter after witnessing your morning show. You hugged him for a little longer, enjoying the scent of vanilla that still clung to his clothes. You tried to return to the stove to finish making breakfast but with a little encouragement, Hugo made you hand over the utensils to him.
“Let me finish making breakfast” he said, words whispered into your hair as he kissed the top of your head. “You go sit down and enjoy your coffee.”
You opened your mouth to argue, but all that came out was a delighted squeal as Hugo spun you in a circle, pulling you back briefly to plant another kiss on the swell of your cheek before letting you go. You giggled as you trotted over to the chair, swapping positions with Hugo as he finished making the rest of breakfast.