fluffmelange

COLLAB WITH @buf309-art-binder ‼️

(buf did most of the work, that is why it looks so nice hehe 😌)

“Well,” she explains nervously, “that and city hall paychecks. I didn’t see any point in keeping the money separated.”

She’s right, even if her reasoning is different from his; it’s better that she didn’t divide either source of income. A local-level government worker stashing this kind of money, even with a decade of work under her belt, was just asking for unsavory figures to appear in their life.

Still, the possibilities are stumbling through his mind for exactly how Garden cuts their checks. Because that is a lot of zeroes.

“What did you spend on yourself and Yuri exactly?” he asks.

Yor takes on a distant focus as she recalls expenses past. “Just basics, I suppose? Groceries, electric bills, some items for school. That sort of thing. Is there too much missing?”

“No,” he chuckles in disbelief. I’m surprised it’s not more. “And you lived in… a studio before this, didn’t you?”

“Mhm.” She occupies herself tracing quick patterns in the air with her thumbs. “It got the job done. Why do you ask?”

“You just…” Loid’s hand makes another pass through his hair as the numbers continue to bewilder him. He lets out a breathy laugh. “I’m surprised, I guess. You could’ve been living in the Upper Lehms district with this kind of money, easily. Hardly need the job.”

“Oh.” He looks up, shocked to find a blush coating the apples of her cheeks. Tilting his head, he presses her silently to open up about the worry. When she doesn’t, his hand tenderly captures one of hers, his socked foot crossing into the space of hers beneath the table in a strange but familiar reassurance.

“You can tell me anything, Yor.”

She’s more than aware his promise rings true, especially now. Her hand turns over so that their palms meet, thumb hooking around to trace lines down each phalanx. “It wasn’t…” She hesitates to find her words, but they come about soon enough, with an avoidant gaze and a bashful half smile. “I didn’t really take the job for the money, Loid. More for the cover and socializing, I guess. For… normalcy.”

One of his heartstrings snaps, plucked with guilt. Idiot. He knew every word out of his mouth wouldn’t be perfect, but he should’ve known better than to say that. His hand engulfs hers once more, pulsating little squeezes distracting her with the reminder that neither of their professions was exactly typical. Strangehood, at the very least, could be made a bit less lonesome with empathy.

“That’s perfectly fine, as well,” he assures her in a soft tone. Yor’s able to meet his eyes then, staring for a few seconds before returning the smile.

She takes the bank statement from his grasp, giving the total a thoughtful look. “I guess I hadn’t realized how much had accrued,” she casually shifts the subject. “What do we do with it?”

“Retire?” Loid offers into the air, grinning as it earns him a playful smack to the forearm. He leans over to look at the total as well (and try to maintain a steady breathing pattern). “Honestly Yor, it’s up to you. It’s your money.”

His wife raises an eyebrow at him in admonishment. “Going into a family account.”

Her giving nature is kind, amusing even, especially in this situation. “I’d feel quite bad spending money that’s been 90% earned by my wife, dear,” he laughs.

She lets out a small pout under her breath, nothing stinging, though. Loid sits back in his chair, tossing an elbow over the adjacent one. “Pick a family expense, then. If it’s a family account.”

Yor continues to look at the paper before resting her head in her hand, perching an elbow on the table. Her gaze turns to the sofa, eyes on a child too absorbed in a story to realize she’s being watched.

“College fund?” she suggests casually. Across the way, Loid’s mouth folds into a smile he can’t fight. Always giving.