𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓷𝓲𝓮𝓳𝓳𝓲

“uneventful, since the supposedly diplomat i was meant to speak with mysteriously disappeared from their own hotel in the dead of the night.”

“hm, how unfortunate!”

“yes, how unfortunate.”

your hand thread through the hair at the back of his nape, before clutching at the strands in a firm grip and pulling harshly.

“oh my archons.”

lohen's groan was loud, echoing against the stone walls of your basement and he continued to whimper when you remained still, holding his head back steadily. each attempt to tug his head back into your neck was futile, but he still does so to feel the burn of his scalp and the pain of your grip. celestia, he looks so drunk and only from a simple pull on his head–face flushed crimson and eyes so intoxicated.

“explain yourself. why did you hold the diplomat hostage, hm?”

cold air exhales from lohen's mouth from the exhilaration of pain, his adam's apple bobbed up and down as he swallows the spit gathering at the back of his throat from the tilt of his head. with a hoarse voice and maniacal smile, he giggles lightheartedly.

“it was their fault!”

“how so?” you tut, roughly shaking the hand gripping his hair and you relish at the moan that escaped his throat.

“they were staring at you so, so, so intently. they were undressing you with their eyes, my bun!”

“that's all?”

“they spoke badly of your reputation!” he whines, rough and croaky. “told their companions that you must have whored your way up in the ranks. i can't possibly let that slide, my bun! they weren't going to negotiate from the beginning!”

“and you thought it was a good idea to beat them up?”

“they'll only waste your precious time, my bun.” he purred, still tugging his head from your grip despite the pain and your exclamation for him to ‘stay still, you fussy thing.’

you can already hear the words echoing in his head over and over, like a broke record replaying the same lines.

me, it should be me, i'm here! be with me, stay–don't leave me! not them, not anyone else, just me! i love you!

with a sigh, you let go of his hair–already having braced yourself for him to plop onto your shoulder. the weight was as comforting as the situation allowed–you were uncomfortable, there's still an unconscious person in the middle of your basement, beaten to a pulp until their face is only a flesh with purple and red bruises. you feel bad for them, but what's done is done.

how you're going to face the questions of their whereabouts tomorrow, will be a problem for tomorrow.

the set of teeth leaving small red indents on the skin of your neck tore you away from your thoughts.

“lohen.”

“yes, bun?” he sings, humming against you.

“i better not see this in the morning. if someone questions you, do not, in any form or circumstances, give a hint about what happened here.”

“mhm-hm!” he nods, nuzzling his cheek on yours. “i wasn't planning on it!”

“good.”

reveling in your embrace, he sinks deeper into your arms, purr like sighs rumbling from his throat. your hand now gingerly brushes the part where you had pulled, nails scratching the tender spot and he moans into your ear. honestly, this could be the picture perfect of heaven in his eyes and he would never ask for more than just this–a moment of peace in your warmth, like a snow globe slowly melting from your touch.

until he remembers something quite important.

“bun.”

“hm?”

you press your lips against his ear and he shudders through the warmth of your lips, inhaling and exhaling your scent deeply. god, you're really good at redirecting and making a mess of his cerebrum. just a lingering feeling of your touch was enough to render him into a pool of goo.

“what about the body?”

your hand pauses its ministrations, humming quietly before you whisper right in his ear.

“do what you see fit, my love.”

“i was supposed to pick her up today, but i got out of work so late. is she still here?”

you look so adorably worried for coco it brought so much warmth to his poor poor heart–stop it, qifrey!

“she is.”

“really!?”

qifrey has to take a step back when you lean closer in anticipation, gulping down the large smile creeping upon his face. you look like a puppy, you really did, and it's not good for his heart.

“of course, we don't usually let children go home without a guardian. would you like me to show you where the children wait whenever their parents run a little late to pick them up?

“yes, please and thank you!”

qifrey steps aside and urges you to follow him through the corridors. “she probably thought you'd be late too, she went inside on her own after dismissal.” he turns to look at you as he walks. “are you coco's mother?”

please, say no.

“oh, no!” the angels sing their choir quietly in qifrey's head.

you scratch your cheek with a finger, face flushed and embarrassed. he wants to pinch your cheeks badly out of relief and the onslaught of cuteness aggression. “i'm her aunt. her mother and i are sisters.”

“oh?” he steals a glance at you, watching you gnaw at the bottom of your lips while avoiding his gaze. “where is she now, then?”

“she's in a coma. coco's been with me for over a year now.”

there's a glaze of sadness that appears in your eyes. qifrey's fingers twitch in an attempt to stop himself from wiping the unshed tears. the weariness in your face makes sense now; you've been shouldering such pain and responsibility. it must've been hard–watching over coco whilst having to work and worrying for your sister. qifrey hasn't known you for long, but he can already tell how much you've been bottling up for your sister's sake. it's admirable, the love you clearly have for your sister and her daughter.

qifrey smiles, already fond of the stranger walking beside him.

“if it makes you feel a little better, i think you're doing great as her guardian.”

the immediate embarrassment is evident on your face, the shy smile you wore suits you a lot. “thank you, mister?”

“qifrey, just call me qifrey. i happened to be coco’s teacher. she's doing very well in class, if you're wondering.” qifrey gives your shoulder a soft squeeze, gesturing you to one of the doors in the hallway. “it must be because she has a good role model in her life.”

“coco's a good child. she reminds me so much of my sister sometimes.”

qifrey likes the smile on your face, you should wear it more often, he thinks.

“she is! i'm sure your sister will be proud if she sees how well taken care of her daughter is.” he pushes the door open with one last look at your smile, revealing your niece kneeling on the floor, drawing mindlessly. some of her notebooks are sprawled on the ground and her white plush ferret sits beside her bag.

“coco, your guardian's here!” she looks up from her work and beams oh so brightly when she sees you.

ah, he can see it now. the resemblance is very evident.

“you came!” she squeals, running up to you with her arms wide open. with one sweep of your arms, she's nestled comfortably against your chest with a contented giggle.

“of course i did, when did i ever let you down, hm?”

“never!”

correcting his conclusion from earlier, there are two angels right in front of him. qifrey watches the two of you with a fond look and his heart full of warmth. it's picture perfect, the both of you smiling like you complete each other. if he could, he can tell you how much of a good job you're doing as coco's guardian, over and over again. he can see it from the way the little girl clings onto you with a bright look, safe and sound. he can tell from the way she comes to school with her hair brushed down, sometimes with little braids, and a lunch made with so much love it shows in the little octopus sausages and different shaped veggies. he can tell from the small reviewer notes and scribbles in her notebooks that helped the little girl in her school work more than once, where she proudly exclaims how someone she loves helped her study beforehand when he asked about it. he can see it from the way she turns to him, and proudly says– “mister qifrey! aren't they amazing!?”

“coco!” your voice cracked adorably from embarrassment, although you failed to hide the smile on your face. coco's giggles were irresistible, he can't blame you for being so fond of the little girl.

but honestly, all qifrey can see are two beautiful angels with the way the both of you are glowing.

“considering they went all their way to pick you up from work everyday, i'm pretty sure they're as amazing as you say they are, coco.”

there's no denying the starstruck look in qifrey’s eye and the sparkle in yours, glancing anywhere but him to avoid further embarrassment on your side. it's hard to look at him when he says those things and stares at you as if you were the sun. even coco can see it, happily laughing and nuzzling into your neck.