In The Lovers Arc I Guess

“Why don’t you move?” Sigewinne asked, placing the cup of water she was drinking down on the table in the cafeteria dining hall.

“I mean, that would be the best thing to do.” Y/N only let herself entertain the idea for a moment before shaking it out of her head. “I don’t want to just move into another apartment, though. I’m tired of paying rent. I would rather move into a house. I know my mother would go on about how if I ever got tired of paying rent to move back in with her, but I would rather not. I want a place that's my own.”

Sigewinne didn’t have to question why. Wriothesley and Y/N had been in a relationship long enough that privacy was a valuable commodity. “You should start looking for a house now. Wouldn’t that make things easier?”

“Moving into a house sounds nice, but that would be so overwhelming. Just thinking about doing that whole process by myself sounds exhausting.” Did she even make enough for that to even be a real option?

Sigewinne glanced away for a second and began to wave. Wriothesley had returned from the surface. Her wave of hello turned into waving him to join them at the table, the two of them.

He was quick to join, taking a seat next to Y/N. There was a greeting to Sigewinne and a peck on Y/N’s cheek as her greeting. A rare bit of PDA displayed where inmates and guards could see. Sigewinne couldn’t help but smile at seeing them so cute together. There was pride in seeing how far Wriothesley had come.

“I thought you would have been back sooner,” Y/N spoke as her body leaned towards him, taking a moment of respite.

“There were a lot of things coming up, keeping me up there. I tried getting out of having to go back, but I couldn’t. Got a few more trips I’ll have to make.” Wriothesley explained.

“I think we switched roles as of late. You’ve been up on the surface so much as of late, while I’ve been down here.” It was meant to be a joke, but it had far too much truth to be that.

“Isn’t that because the hot water at your apartment has been out for the past two weeks?” Sigewinne asked.

Y/N couldn’t help but roll her eyes at that annoying fact.

“Oh, is that why? And I was thinking you just wanted to spend more time together.”

She ignored Wriothesley’s teasing comment. “Not only has the hot water been out for the last two weeks, but the power has been out too. Not completely, but from 8 pm to 11 am. You know, I only found that out after I spent a day down here. I came back to my food spoiled. Leftovers were just wasted. There was a beautiful cake that Navia had made for me as well. It was horrible that I had to toss it.”

“I could talk with your landlord. Bet that would get things fixed real fast.” Wriothesley offered.

“You don't have to, but I would appreciate that.”

“If you get that fixed, would you still plan to move out into a house?” Sigewinne asked.

Wriothesley couldn’t help but laugh, earning a look from Y/N. “No, it’s just while Neuvilette was filling out some paperwork dealing with a case I was helping with, he had me going through all the paperwork I was supposed to fill out for me being a Duke. I commented on wanting a pet.”

“A normal comment from you.” Y/N had heard plenty of ideas on what would make a good name for a dog.

“Yes. I also mentioned how it would only make sense to get a pet if I had a house in the Court of Fontaine. More places to run around and sunlight, too. I just think it would be better to have a pet on the surface.”

Nothing to argue about that; he practically brought it up all the time. Every time there was a dog within sight, he would go on about it.

“It would also help on days when I have to be in the Court of Fontaine longer than normal.” Over the past year, he had found himself staying in Y/N’s apartment.

It had become a habit for both of them to stay with each other. Excuses would be made as reasons to stay near each other longer. Nothing that would be in the way of their professional or social lives. It was more excuses, like having to pick up tea in the Court or having a morning shift there the next day, and wanting to sleep in.

Sigewinne was grateful for the guard who said she was needed in the infirmary. She couldn’t help but be proud of how much Wriothesley had grown, with him about to talk about buying a home now. Though part of her did want to tell him, ‘I told you so '. Mostly for those angsty teen days, where he said there would be no home for him anywhere. Maybe she would save those words if they actually did end up buying a house together.

Sigewinne made her goodbyes quick. Wriothesley and Y/N were as alone as they could be sitting in the cafeteria. The topic that lingered in the air was just too serious to be spoken of with listening ears.

Wriothesley didn't even get a chance to speak. The moment he opened his mouth, he was cut off.

“You know, I could go for a cup of tea right now.” Y/N’s words were quick. The speed at which she talked hid the vulnerability in her voice.

“I was thinking the same thing.”

His office was comfortably quiet. They walked around repeating steps they had done hundreds of times by now. Y/N worked on setting up one of the records Wriothesley enjoyed while he made tea for the two of them.

“Got a preference today?”

“I trust your taste.”

Wriothesley couldn’t help but smile when he heard that. “One pot of Earl Grey coming up.” It had become their favorite to drink together after all.

Y/N sat down on the couch in his office. “So we are both thinking about getting a house.”

“Funny how we were both thinking about it separately.”

“Quite.”

“I guess it’s better to just ask the damn question instead of delaying it further. Would you even want to do this together? I get that the last time didn’t go so well for you, and I wouldn’t want you to feel like you are being rushed or forced into this. If you don’t want to-”

“I love the idea of waking up next to you in the morning. It makes me feel safe.”

Wriothesley brought a tray over and placed it on the table in front of her before sitting next to her on the couch. “Even when I have a knife under my pillow most nights?”

“Yes. You know I wouldn’t say most nights anymore. I see that knife on the nightstand much more now. Even when you need it back under your pillow, why would I judge? You’ve explained to me why you have that habit.”

“None of it,” his past, “bothers you?”

“You aren’t your past. You aren’t that version of yourself at this moment. I don’t think I need to explain that. I’m sure you know it. Even then, I've been with you how long? If it bothered me, I would have left long ago.”

“Yeah. I just needed to make sure.” He hid his nerves with a laugh. “Just a big step for me, I guess.”

“Getting a house?”

“Wanting a home.”

“Oh.”

A home. Together.

Why was that part hitting her so hard? Of course it would be a home. But the idea of the two of them making a house a home made her stomach do flips. All kinds of nervous excitement.

“I just figured it would be best to make sure. I was hoping that you were at least leaning towards a yes with how you’ve been down here the past two weeks. I should be more upset that your landlord isn’t taking care of all the issues that have come up, but I can’t help but enjoy waking up beside you. A small part of me was even hoping they would get drawn out longer.” He spoke with honesty, even if part of it was a little selfish.

“That’s awfully cheesy of you.” She couldn't help but smile.

He shrugged. “It’s true. I thought we agreed that I would do better at being open about things like this.”

“We did. I just didn't think you would become so cheesy. I wouldn't be surprised if people down here think you’re going soft now.”

“I can always go a few rounds in the ring if people are too concerned about that.”

“I would prefer you didn’t do that.” It's not like he had to prove how tough a guy he was.

“You’re the one who brought it up.”

She shook her head as she scooted close to him, leaving only inches apart. “Cause I was teasing you. I like you like this.”

“Cheesy?”

“Soft. Caring. There’s so much warmth in your eyes. I like seeing this side of you." She leaned her head up and placed a quick kiss on his lips. "More importantly, I like that you let me see this side of you."

Wriothesley shook his head, fighting the smile that was taking over his face. "So house hunting this weekend?"

“Why don’t you move?” Sigewine asked, placing the cup of water she was drinking down on the table in the cafeteria dining hall.

“I mean, that would be the best thing to do.” Y/N only let herself entertain the idea for a moment before shaking it out of her head. “I don’t want to just move into another apartment, though. I’m tired of paying rent. I would rather move into a house. I know my mother would go on about how if I ever got tired of paying rent to move back in with her, but I would rather not. I want a place that's my own.”

Sigewine didn’t have to question why. Wriothesley and Y/N had been in a relationship long enough that privacy was a valuable commodity. “You should start looking for a house now. Wouldn’t that make things easier?”

“Moving into a house sounds nice, but that would be so overwhelming. Just thinking about doing that whole process by myself sounds exhausting.” Did she even make enough for that to even be a real option?

Sigewine glanced away for a second and began to wave. Wriothesley had returned from the surface. Her wave of hello turned into waving him to join them at the table, the two of them.

He was quick to join, taking a seat next to Y/N. There was a greeting to Sigewine and a peck on Y/N’s cheek as her greeting. A rare bit of PDA displayed where inmates and guards could see. Sigewine couldn’t help but smile at seeing them so cute together. There was pride in seeing how far Wriothesley had come.

“I thought you would have been back sooner,” Y/N spoke as her body leaned towards him, taking a moment of respite.

“There were a lot of things coming up, keeping me up there. I tried getting out of having to go back, but I couldn’t. Got a few more trips I’ll have to make.” Wriothesley explained.

“I think we switched roles as of late. You’ve been up on the surface so much as of late, while I’ve been down here.” It was meant to be a joke, but it had far too much truth to be that.

“Isn’t that because the hot water at your apartment has been out for the past two weeks?” Sigewine asked.

Y/N couldn’t help but roll her eyes at that annoying fact.

“Oh, is that why? And I was thinking you just wanted to spend more time together.”

She ignored Wriothesley’s teasing comment. “Not only has the hot water been out for the last two weeks, but the power has been out too. Not completely, but from 8 pm to 11 am. You know, I only found that out after I spent a day down here. I came back to my food spoiled. Leftovers were just wasted. There was a beautiful cake that Navia had made for me as well. It was horrible that I had to toss it.”

“I could talk with your landlord. Bet that would get things fixed real fast.” Wriothesley offered.

“You don't have to, but I would appreciate that.”

“If you get that fixed, would you still plan to move out into a house?” Sigewine asked.

Wriothesley couldn’t help but laugh, earning a look from Y/N. “No, it’s just while Neuvilette was filling out some paperwork dealing with a case I was helping with, he had me going through all the paperwork I was supposed to fill out for me being a Duke. I commented on wanting a pet.”

“A normal comment from you.” Y/N had heard plenty of ideas on what would make a good name for a dog.

“Yes. I also mentioned how it would only make sense to get a pet if I had a house in the Court of Fontaine. More places to run around and sunlight, too. I just think it would be better to have a pet on the surface.”

Nothing to argue about that; he practically brought it up all the time. Every time there was a dog within sight, he would go on about it.

“It would also help on days when I have to be in the Court of Fontaine longer than normal.” Over the past year, he had found himself staying in Y/N’s apartment.

It had become a habit for both of them to stay with each other. Excuses would be made as reasons to stay near each other longer. Nothing that would be in the way of their professional or social lives. It was more excuses, like having to pick up tea in the Court or having a morning shift there the next day, and wanting to sleep in.

Sigewinne was grateful for the guard who said she was needed in the infirmary. She couldn’t help but be proud of how much Wriothesley had grown, with him about to talk about buying a home now. Though part of her did want to tell him, ‘I told you so '. Mostly for those angsty teen days, where he said there would be no home for him anywhere. Maybe she would save those words if they actually did end up buying a house together.

Sigewinne made her goodbyes quick. Wriothesley and Y/N were as alone as they could be sitting in the cafeteria. The topic that lingered in the air was just too serious to be spoken of with listening ears.

Wriothesley didn't even get a chance to speak. The moment he opened his mouth, he was cut off.

“You know, I could go for a cup of tea right now.” Y/N’s words were quick. The speed at which she talked hid the vulnerability in her voice.

“I was thinking the same thing.”

His office was comfortably quiet. They walked around repeating steps they had done hundreds of times by now. Y/N worked on setting up one of the records Wriothesley enjoyed while he made tea for the two of them.

“Got a preference today?”

“I trust your taste.”

Wriothesley couldn’t help but smile when he heard that. “One pot of Earl Grey coming up.” It had become their favorite to drink together after all.

Y/N sat down on the couch in his office. “So we are both thinking about getting a house.”

“Funny how we were both thinking about it separately.”

“Quite.”

“I guess it’s better to just ask the damn question instead of delaying it further. Would you even want to do this together? I get that the last time didn’t go so well for you, and I wouldn’t want you to feel like you are being rushed or forced into this. If you don’t want to-”

“I love the idea of waking up next to you in the morning. It makes me feel safe.”

Wriothesley brought a tray over and placed it on the table in front of her before sitting next to her on the couch. “Even when I have a knife under my pillow most nights?”

“Yes. You know I wouldn’t say most nights anymore. I see that knife on the nightstand much more now. Even when you need it back under your pillow, why would I judge? You’ve explained to me why you have that habit.”

“None of it,” his past, “bothers you?”

“You aren’t your past. You aren’t that version of yourself at this moment. I don’t think I need to explain that. I’m sure you know it. Even then, I've been with you how long? If it bothered me, I would have left long ago.”

“Yeah. I just needed to make sure.” He hid his nerves with a laugh. “Just a big step for me, I guess.”

“Getting a house?”

“Wanting a home.”

“Oh.”

A home. Together.

Why was that part hitting her so hard? Of course it would be a home. But the idea of the two of them making a house a home made her stomach do flips. All kinds of nervous excitement.

“I just figured it would be best to make sure. I was hoping that you were at least leaning towards a yes with how you’ve been down here the past two weeks. I should be more upset that your landlord isn’t taking care of all the issues that have come up, but I can’t help but enjoy waking up beside you. A small part of me was even hoping they would get drawn out longer.” He spoke with honesty, even if part of it was a little selfish.

“That’s awfully cheesy of you.” She couldn't help but smile.

He shrugged. “It’s true. I thought we agreed that I would do better at being open about things like this.”

“We did. I just didn't think you would become so cheesy. I wouldn't be surprised if people down here think you’re going soft now.”

“I can always go a few rounds in the ring if people are too concerned about that.”

“I would prefer you didn’t do that.” It's not like he had to prove how tough a guy he was.

“You’re the one who brought it up.”

She shook her head as she scooted close to him, leaving only inches apart. “Cause I was teasing you. I like you like this.”

“Cheesy?”

“Soft. Caring. There’s so much warmth in your eyes. I like seeing this side of you." She leaned her head up and placed a quick kiss on his lips. "More importantly, I like that you let me see this side of you."

Wriothesley shook his head, fighting the smile that was taking over his face. "So house hunting this weekend?"