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Aylin’s fingers were covered in ink again. She kept messing up the same water spell no matter how many times she tried. She was growing frustrated at this point, grip tight on the pen and strokes rough.
The atelier was quiet this late; most of the girls had been in bed for hours by now.
Qifrey had been watching her from across the room, seeing her grow increasingly frustrated as she accidentally splashed herself with water again and again. He didn't usually get amused by a newer witch messing up multiple times, but she was his lover, and he knew how she could get if she repeatedly failed to get a result she badly wanted.
He finally walked over and stopped behind her chair, putting a hand on the back of it. He stood next to her, head tilted while he looked over the spell she was trying to draw. It didn't take long for him to see why she was messing up: her lines weren't straight, and some symbols weren't quite small enough
"Still struggling?" He asked softly, smiling as he looked from the paper to Aylin.
She released a heavy sigh as she let go of the pen and leaned back in the chair, her back brushing against where Qifrey's hand rested. The pen fell with a clatter. "Of course I am," she scoffed, eyes rolling, "I show up here by accident and I can't even prove myself by getting the simplest thing right."
Qifrey lifted his hand from the chair and put it on her shoulder, still smiling. "You don't have to prove anything. Everyone starts somewhere." He offered. "Coco was the same as you, once upon a time; it took her time to get simple spells right. You’ll get it. You always do."
"You're too kind," Aylin mumbled, crossing her arms and sighing deeply, "I don't know where you learned to be so patient."
Qifrey chuckled softly and squeezed her shoulder. "Months of chasing after four girls who sometimes refuse to listen. Why wouldn't I be patient with you?" He paused, then added in a quieter voice, "Besides… I like watching you try. Even when you get mad at the paper."
She turned her head to look up at him then, half-smiling. "Yeah? Even when I splash water all over myself like an idiot?"
"Especially then," he said with a chuckle, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to the top of her head. "It makes me happy to see you so passionate."
Silence fell between them for a few moments, where they really looked at each other. Aylin's brown eyes met Qifrey's blue. It was sweet and tender, the way they looked at each other. Olruggio once described it as the look of love. Qifrey hadn't quite understood it at the time, but he found the meaning in Aylin's eyes.
Suddenly she reached up and brushed a strand of hair out of his face. The touch pulled Qifrey from the moment and he laughed breathlessly. "Keep at it," he murmured, "and I'll stay by your side while you do."
Aylin let out a soft laugh and turned more in the chair to face him. "You’re really going to stand here all night watching me fail?"
He smiled, brushing his thumb gently over her cheek. "If that's what it takes, but not all night. You still need sleep, no matter how bad you wish to keep practicing."
Aylin huffed but leaned into his touch. "You’re really annoying when you’re right, you know that?"
Qifrey’s eyes softened and he laughed again, "And you’re cute when you’re frustrated. Come here." He gently helped her up from the chair and pulled her into his arms, rubbing his hand up and down her spine. They stayed like that for a minute, breathing in each other.
"Come to bed, dearest," Qifrey said simply to break the silence.
Aylin pressed her face into his chest for a second longer, then tilted her head up to look at him. "Only if you come with me. I’m not sleeping alone after you got me all soft like this."
He smiled, warm and a little amused. “As if I could say no to you.” Qifrey leaned down and kissed her slowly, one hand still rubbing gentle circles on her back. When he pulled away he rested his forehead against hers. "Come on, I've got you."
She let him pull away, keeping her hand in his as he began to lead her to their shared bedroom. The house was solitary and quiet except for them, the girls and Olruggio sleeping somewhere else within, unaware of the pair still being awake and sharing a lovely moment at this time of night.
She let him pull her along, fingers laced together as they walked through the quiet atelier toward their room. The house felt peaceful with everyone else asleep.
Once they reached the bedroom, Qifrey turned and cupped her face with both hands. "You don’t have to prove anything to me, Aylin. You already have me. All of me."
Aylin’s chest tightened in the best way. She smiled softly and leaned up to kiss him again, slow and heartfelt. "I know," she whispered against his lips. "I just like hearing you say it."
He kissed her once more, gentle and lingering, then rested his forehead against hers. "Then I’ll keep saying it. Every day, if you need me to."
They climbed into bed together, her head tucked against his chest as his arms wrapped around her. In the quiet dark, Aylin listened to his steady heartbeat and finally let herself relax. "I love you," she murmured sleepily.
Qifrey pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “I love you too, darling. Sleep now. I’m right here.”