Work Text:
As usual Misaki’s Trailer smelled like smoke… not the usual cigarette type of smoke, something heavy underneath metal. rust. something that could cling to the air no matter how many times the trailer’s window was opened. Youmei of course liked it, it felt honest to her; as she sat on Misaki’s couch in the corner with blood on her due to a recent assasination of hers, Youmei didn’t need permission to enter Misaki’s trailer, since Youmei managed to make a copy of the key Misaki uses for her trailer, Youmei had her sketchbook balanced carefully on her knees. The dim light of the TV that Misaki owns in front of the couch,
Casting an uneven light across the page of Youmei’s sketchbook, which made the shadows move.
Youmei didn’t bother to fix them, she liked the feeling of the sketchbook’s pages feeling “alive”. As the door creaked open revealing a not too tall non-binary woman with short hair, that was cut uneven, dark as ink with red dyed tips on the front, with her hair also being a bit tied in the back, the non-binary woman’s expression was with a small soft smile, their eyes a bit dull-looking since their eye color was pitch black with star highlight on them, Her clothes weren’t dirty or new either, but it was something they liked to wear, and everything in the non-binary woman felt worn in, countless times (whether it be for assasination duty or just because that is the only clothes they have). The oversized shirt hung loosely off her frame, one shoulder slipping just enough to look unintentional. It wasn’t messy. Just… lived-in.
“You're still here?” Misaki asked, their voice flat, but there was something… else underneath it. something as if they were tired, not surprised… never at Misaki’s lover since Youmei does this often.
“Of course” Youmei puts the sketchbook aside and gets up and goes straight to meet up Misaki, giving her a gentle kiss on the lips, their difference in height is barely even there since Misaki is a bit taller than Youmei but neither are Tall than their other friends, like V for example (which Misaki loves to tease the poor man for). though Youmei smelled something like Metal on Misaki along with as if it was burnt, which made Youmei’s expression change to one of concern as Youmei spoke up again now, while looking at their lover (Misaki) now.
“You smell like smoke again… dear” Youmei Murmured softly as they looked at Misaki with a calm expression like they haven’t been analyzing Misaki for so long now, to well the point Youmei always enter Misaki’s trailer thanks to the Key(which was mentioned before).
“You say that like it’s anything new… Youmei” said Misaki with a small huff of laughter escaping their lips, as Misaki then ruffled Youmei’s hair gently and softly, which Misaki is right because whenever Youmei says that Misaki smells like smoke it’s always the same each day.
“Yeah but it isn’t new, is it Misaki dear?” Youmei said, sounding a lot calmer as they also tilted their head slightly after getting Misaki’s hand out of their hair. “I just like pointing it out, meu tesouro” then Youmei’s gaze drifted to Misaki’s hands.
There was a long pause between the two now and a chilly feeling hanging around them before Youmei broke the silence in the most honest and creepy way they knew how to.
“You didn’t clean them properly, again… either Misaki…” Youmei said calmly before they looked Misaki in the eyes, it was common for Youmei to be the one to help Misaki out when her hands were either dirty or bloodied. As Misaki takes their Jacket off to place it on the couch that their lover sat on. Youmei gently took hold of Misaki’s hand to wipe it with a handkerchief that she took from her pocket. Misaki tightened their grip a little whilst holding Youmei’s hand staring at their lover who was focused on cleaning their bloodied hand.
“They're fine Youmei… you worry too much, darling” Misaki said trying to coax Youmei to calm down as they knows that their lover only maintains a calm behavior when they know that they made up their mind with something especially when it comes to Misaki themself.
Youmei didn’t react right away. She glanced up to her lover, eyes drifting slow and deliberate back to her hands like the conversation had never moved on.
“…If they were fine,” she said quietly, “you wouldn’t be trying this hard to convince me.” Her thumb brushed over the same spot again. Light. and Persistent.
Misaki exhaled sharply through her nose, tension settling back into her shoulders. As she spoke up now while looking at Youmei “You’re overthinking it again Youmei.”
“Am I now Misaki… dear? or am I just taking care of someone who has blood on them? especially in their clothes and hands” There was no bite in Youmei’s voice. As Youmei stared at Misaki, which made it a bit worse for Misaki.
For a moment, Misaki considered pulling her hand away. yet they didn’t instead, she let her head tilt back slightly, eyes flicking toward the dim ceiling light. There was a short silence.
“You’re annoying, Youmei…” Misaki spoke up in a quiet mutter as she sighed a bit while looking at Youmei. Their gaze on Youmei lingered for a while. The usual cheerful woman is drained and exhausted. Misaki didn’t mean to utter such words towards the person they love.
“I know…” Youmei said with a small smile a bit pleased with Misaki’s reply, silence followed their conversation again, this time it wasn’t heavy. just… close. After a second, Youmei shifted, tugging Misaki’s hand gently guiding her as Youmei spoke again with the same calm tone.
“Now… please sit…” Youmei said softly which earned a confused look from the slightly taller one now as they spoke up.
“Are you giving me orders in my own Trailer Youmei…?” Misaki said, still a bit confused now as they sighed once more.
“orders? no. of course not it’s just a suggestion honey.” Youmei corrected Misaki’s words with a pause following suit.
After a whole minute of hesitating Misaki sat on the couch that she owns, it was subtle, the way she lowered herself beside Youmei with their shoulders still slightly tense, like she wasn’t fully committing to staying.
Of course Youmei didn’t comment on it, instead she reached for her sketchbook again, flipping it open like nothing happened. As if it was something normal for Youmei, her partner glanced at her from the side and a short pause followed.
“You’re going back to it Youmei…? seriously?” Misaki asked, which earned a quick response from Youmei herself.
“I wasn’t finished…” Youmei said with a small, quiet scoff. Youmei didn’t move away, instead she leaned a little closer, close enough that their arms brushed occasionally before going back to sketching. This time she didn’t hide what she was drawing, her lover noticed this and didn’t say much nor looked away, there was a short silence between them until it was broken by Misaki’s question.
“...Youmei… darling… Do you always draw me like that?” Misaki asked quietly, waiting for Youmei to respond.
“like what?” Youmei asked back as she paused what she was doing and looked at Misaki as if she was staring into their souls.
“...Like I’m about to fall asleep, honey…” Misaki replied sighing as they glanced back at their lover’s sketch, Youmei briefly paused and spoke again, setting their sketchbook aside for a moment and turned to face Misaki.
“Maybe you should… then” Youmei said, which earned a small huff from the taller woman..
“Not happening. dear” Misaki said with a deadpan eyes still locked at their significant other.
“You are a terrible... liar Misaki.” Youmei replied absentmindedly. The words made Misaki freeze, as if something inside them clicked. Youmei picked the sketchbook up for the third time yet this time she didn’t look up from the book . “You're tired, my sweet marshmallow… you have been doing a lot of assassinations non stop these past few weeks.” she added, her tone softened.
The room fell quiet again as the light from the TV flickered, the sound of pencil against paper filled the space between them steady and grounding. After a while Misaki shifted slightly, her shoulder brushed more firmly against Youmei’s.
Youmei didn’t react outwardly, yet the movements of her hands slowed a little, careful not to break the contact which earned another huff from Misaki.
“Don't make it a habit out of this now…” Misaki murmured, their voice quieter which made the corners of Youmei’s lips curve to a faint smile.
“I won’t…” Youmei replied followed by a slight pause. “unless you let me… that is” Youmei added as she kissed Misaki’s forehead softly.
Misaki remained silent; she didn’t answer and she didn’t move away either. After a while of silence she inched her head closer to her partner’s shoulder, close enough to the point that if Youmei shifted even just a little her cheek would touch her lover’s head. The sound of pencil grinding on paper filled Misaki’s trailer, the silence between them was comfortable. This made a yawn escape Misaki’s lips indicating that they’re sleepy.
“You should go to sleep, dear.” Youmei interrupted , eyes locked on her sketchbook. Misaki hummed as they snuggled closer to her, turning their head to bury their face on their partner’s neck before finally falling asleep.