Work Text:
Qifrey carefully carried you upstairs to your shared room in the atelier. The girls were long asleep, Olruggio gone off on a mission, leaving you both alone downstairs in deep conversation.
But this time to Qifrey it felt deep- too probing for comfort. So once he reveals what he read in the tower of tomes, your face filled with concern. He can feel the silverwood taking root, so when he caresses your face a familiar routine takes place.
He erases your memory, he can't remember the amount of times he's had to remove your memory or the countless more to come. But it never feels normal, or natural- just another thing he has to do to protect himself.
He lays your unconscious body onto the mattress as he begins to undress, he's in his thoughts as he unbuttons his pants. The brimmed caps incidents would only worsen from here, when will the one with his eye appear and grant him release? How much longer will he deal with this.
He hears the shuffling of blankets, turning his head slightly to gage your wake. "You fell asleep downstairs, again" he added quietly putting on his nightgown. "I did?" you ask rubbing your eyes, "it happens quite often, you must be working far too hard" he smiled softly settling beside you.
"You should take more breaks" he added caressing you cheek, "get ready for bed it's late". you look up to see his sweet smile.
He watched as you hesitantly got up from the mattress and into the washroom, he knew you better than anyone. He knew you didn't suspect anything, but you knew something was wrong. It's wasn't like you to just pass out, just like that. Qifrey needed to prevent it, you were always asking about incidents like these. How could you suddenly wake up in a new room each time you suddenly "fell asleep", and each time you were alone with Qifrey.
"We're going to bed early from now on" he said as you cozied next to him, "so you'll sleep like a baby". His arms hugged your body, the smile not reaching his eyes this time. "Yes, I suppose" with a small hum he gently lulled you to sleep again.
Though he didn't sleep for awhile, his eye looking out the window. He knew it was hurting the both of you, even if you didn't know it. It was to protect himself, he wanted nothing more than to give a genuine smile.
But he had to put himself first, to find out the truth. As his thoughts spiraled, he felt a warmth on his cheek.
"are you not tired" you mumbled softly.
"ah, no it seems my heads gotten to me again" he mumbled into the palm of your hand, his slender fingers covering yours.
"why don't we all go out tomorrow, it's been a rough few days"
"that sounds lovely" he smiled softly, here you were after he's removed your memories for the nth time. Offering to take him and the girls out, he pressed a chaste kiss onto the palm of your hand.
"I don't deserve you"
"you always say that"
"I know, and it's true"
"How come?"
He felt the familiar cycle start once more.
"I'll tell you later" he uttered not wanting to erase your memory for the second time in one night.