seepysilly

Today, Odysseus was curled up against Penelope's stomach, his body cocooned between her legs like a blanket of ease and safety. He was definitely much bigger than he was when he’d done this twenty years ago, despite the weight loss, but she didn’t mind. It was nice for his sleep to be peaceful, not to be plagued by nightmares for once.

Odysseus always looked younger when he was asleep. He didn’t have the hesitation or ghosting touch like usual, like he was afraid she’d disappear in a flash if he touched her skin. He instead had a pleasant look on his face, mouth agape, snoring noisily. Before the war, Penelope would complain about his snoring. The cuddling, she didn't mind as much, but it's not very attractive when he's snoring in her ear all night. But when he left, she struggled to sleep in the silence.

Penelope wasn’t sleeping anytime soon, and she didn't mind one bit.

She could study his face for hours, eyes following every crease and dip in his features, listening to his soft breaths coming in and out. And most importantly, the way he’d sigh in relief when her hand found his hair, as if she had just cured all of his troubles. Her fingers ran through the strands like the threads of her shroud. A faint smile spreads on his face. Seeing Odysseus happy is a sight better than any heaven.

Penelope remisced on the day he came home. That was a side of her husband she had never seen before.

But he was so… so gentle. The way he held her. Her once stoic and macho husband, weeping into her arms.

She drew a bath for him and washed off all the age, dirt, and blood, massaging through all the kinks and aches in his bones. She had no doubt he didn’t crack a few ribs while away, so she made sure he was all healed up. Odysseus, a man she knew as very chirpy and romantic, barely said a word throughout this. He was naked, yet he didn’t feel exposed or uncomfortable, a feeling he hadn't experienced for two decades. She was his wife, after all, his Penelope. And he could never feel ashamed in her presence. Instead, he basked in her glow.

Penelope sighed and brought her fingers against his chin, thumb stroking his beard and lower lip. Odysseus looked up at her with those big, stupid eyes that told her exactly how he felt about her. And it made her heart shatter. He looked at her like she was the most gorgeous creature in the entire world.

Odysseus mumbles something in his sleep, eyes closing once again. He leans in closer to her, burying his body deeper into her. Like his was sculpted to fall perfectly into place with hers.