Work Text:
It was the middle of the night, but Charles Augustus Milverton was not asleep. He woke up all of a sudden an hour ago and ever since then, he was unable to get back to the land of dreams. Not like he usually had dreams, his mind kept perfecting his evil plans even in his sleep. It didn't make him tired during the day, but he knew that the disturbance in his rest can have an effect on his daily work. So he tried to fall back to sleep as quickly as he could. First, he tried to count the people he had ruined, but instead of getting exhausted, he just got even more awake. Remembering his evil deeds filled him with strength, so now, Milverton was even farther from sleeping than he was before. Therefore, he tried to change tactics and now he concentrated on his secretary, Ruskin, who was sleeping deeply next to him.
It was normally Ruskin who fell asleep later than Milverton, but unlike him, he was capable of dreams. Ruskin sometimes started jittering in the bed without waking up and he was talking in his dream. Milverton didn't mind it, he got used to this by now. He shared his bed with his secretary for a few years - at the start, it was merely for safety reasons so Ruskin can protect him from assassins easier, but Milverton soon felt even more comfortable by sleeping next to his secretary. Ruskin often hugged him and this made him feel safe. He was aware that Ruskin had feelings for him and Milverton, while he didn't return them - it would have been impossible from the incarnation of pure evil - he was not bothered by Ruskin's love. Ruskin's body lying next to him was able to calm him down. He just listened to his secretary's light breathing and watched as the moonlight shone down on the other man's face. Ruskin looked so peaceful, so warm. Milverton leaned closer, hoping to fall asleep easier from it.
"Mr. Milverton..."
Milverton looked back at Ruskin's face hearing him call his name. Ruskin's eyes were still closed, showing that he was asleep. So he is talking in his dream again, Milverton thought and he listened more carefully. But he could never expect what he would hear next.
"My greatest wish is you to marry me."
Milverton blinked from the surprise. What? First, he was sure that he didn't hear it right. Then, when his secretary repeated the sentence, Milverton could be sure that he was indeed talking about what it seemed. Marriage... with him.
A smile appeared on his face. Even the thought was ridiculous, but something told him that in another world, he would not be so against it. After all, Ruskin truly understood him more than anyone else. He was the only one he could fully trust. He was the one who devoted his entire life to him.
"Silly." He whispered in a gentle voice and pampered Ruskin's cheek. He was sure that he would never bring up to Ruskin what he heard tonight, but he didn't want to forget the words either.
And they finally helped him to fall asleep.