Work Text:
I sigh, looking at the clock. [1:43 AM] It's late, far too late for me to be up. I have to be up for class in about four hours. I should go to sleep; however, the mission report Dolus requested by tomorrow is far from done. I look back at the paper, words blurring together from exhaustion. I barely slept last night, so if I don't tonight, I might look tired enough for people to ask questions, and if people ask questions, they start talking; and all talking leads its way back to Dolus. But sleepiness can be covered up; not getting the report finished can't be. I could ask for an extension, but that would come at a cost. A cost I don't think I could pay right now. So I continue working.
I work for what feels like hours before I hear the distinct sound of the window being opened. I’d stopped keeping it locked since Atlas started sneaking in, though I rarely did before. Being eight floors up, it had never seemed necessary; Atlas, however, always found a way. I don't turn to look at the window, opting instead to keep my eyes steady on the report. I hear Atlas let out a small yelp, then a thud as he falls onto the floor of my dorm. “Very graceful Lithium.” I taunt in a tired voice.
“Shut up, Solace,” Atlas groaned. I heard Atlas finally get up and work towards me. “Ooooo, what are you working on?” I feel Atlas’s hands on my shoulders as he looks over my head to the paper.
“Just a mission report, Dolus wants it done by tomorrow.” I drawled.
That didn't seem to be the answer Atlas was hoping for as he groaned and walked to sit on the bed. “He’s making you do work at two in the morning?” Atlas sounded frustrated.
“No, I had three days to do it, but I didn't, so now I have to do it at two in the morning,” I explained calmly.
Atlas rolled his eyes and looked at me callously. “You were busy!” He snapped.
“Atlas love, you were the one distracting me.” I mused.
“Nonetheless,” Atlas said begrudgingly.
We sat in silence while I worked. Atlas was watching something on his phone, stopping occasionally to watch me write the report and make some snide comment, and once or twice showing me some stupid video about a capybara. It took me another hour and a half to finish writing it. And when I did, I got up and sat on my bed next to Atlas.
Atlas glanced up at me. “You’re finally done?”
“Shut up,” I playfully pushed Atlas, making him fall off the bed.
“Hey!” Atlas got back on the bed.
We sat quietly for a while, Atlas on his phone again, and I started to scroll on some social media. After a while, I turned to look at Atlas.
“Babe, can you make me some hot chocolate?” I appealed.
“Do we have any of the good mix left?” He asked.
“Yeah, remember we bought an extra container.” I reminded him.
“Then yes.” He got up and walked across the dorm to the kitchen and watched him as he put water in the kettle, put it on the stove, then got the hot chocolate mix ready. After about 10 minutes, he walks back over to me, holding two mugs.
“Hot chocolate, your majesty,” He mocks.
I roll my eyes and take the mug. “Thank you, peasant.”
He sits on the bed next to me and lays his head on my shoulder and yawns.
“How was the patrol?” He asks as he moves his head up to drink some hot chocolate
“Fine, boring mostly. I got into a fight with some new vigilante, I can't remember the name of, they had this freaky power that made you feel like your limbs feel asleep, more inconvenient than anything. But other than that, everything went smoothly. How about you?” I answer
“Annoying, I got into a fight with Tempest, almost drowned.” He explains his voice laced with anger.
“Yeah they tend to be… harsh. Are you ok now?” I ask.
Atlas nods before yawning.
We finish out drinks in silence before I get up and grab the empty cups. I walk to the kitchen and clean the cups then put them into the cupboard. I walk back over to Atlas who is now laying back on the bed and lay next to him,wrapping my arm around his waist.
“I love you.” I whisper
“I love you too.” He replies
I lay awake for a few minutes after he’s gone to sleep, just holding him and savoring the moment before sleep finally claims me and I drift off.