———————————————————————————————————————
Summary: You’re drunk… and Alexia is about to discover that you’re very clingy, very affectionate, and just a little bit chaotic.
Word count: 9,968
Pairing: Alexia x Reader
Warnings: None, just a load of fluff
For main story: MASTERLIST
A/n: Based on this request. Thanku boo 😘 I hope you enjoy 😊 see end for more notes
———————————————————————————————————————
You grab your lip gloss, smoothing another layer over your lips before giving yourself one last spray of perfume. You ruffle your hair, immediately decide you’ve made it worse, brush it back into place, then, after a moment’s consideration, ruffle it all over again.
Tilting your head, you study your reflection for a long moment before a small smile tugs at your lips.
Not bad.
It’s only a night out, nothing particularly special, but it feels nice to make a little effort. A few months ago, you would have reached straight for whatever made you blend into the background, but now you find yourself gravitating towards what you’ve affectionately labelled your ‘sexy dresses.’
Really, it’s just a dress, but somewhere along the way you’ve realised that confidence has far less to do with the clothes themselves and far more to do with how they make you feel. And this one makes you feel pretty.
The evening is entirely Maria’s doing. Apparently the team was in desperate need of a night out, somewhere they could forget deadlines, meetings and responsibilities for a few hours and focus on the much more important task of having fun.
She’d looked almost personally offended when you’d suggested that staying at home and researching the most environmentally friendly compost bins sounded just as enjoyable, and after five solid minutes of telling you that you were “an actual grandmother trapped in a young person’s body,” she’d simply informed you that your attendance was no longer optional.
And really… who are you to argue with Maria?
You wander into the living room, slipping your phone into your bag as Alexia lounges across the sofa, absent-mindedly scrolling through hers. The moment she hears you, she glances up, her thumb freezing against the screen as her eyes settle on you.
You stop in your tracks. “…What?”
She doesn’t answer immediately. Instead, her gaze travels slowly over you, unhurried and completely unapologetic, lingering just enough for warmth to creep into your cheeks. Almost instinctively, you glance down, smoothing your hands over the front of your dress.
“Is… is it okay?” you ask, suddenly far less certain than you were in the mirror. “It’s not too short, is it?”
“Amor,” Alexia says softly, setting her phone aside as a smile spreads across her face. She pushes herself to her feet and walks over until she’s standing directly in front of you, reaching for your hands as though it were the most natural thing in the world. “You look beautiful.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.” Her thumbs stroke gently across your knuckles as she holds your gaze. “You’re going to be the most beautiful person in that bar.”
You can’t help the shy smile that appears, your eyes dropping to the floor for a moment before she hooks a finger beneath your chin, lifting your face back towards hers. She leans in, pressing a soft kiss to your lips. You sigh happily into it, your hands settling against her chest as you melt into the familiar warmth of her embrace, but after a few seconds you pull back with a quiet gasp.
“Oh no.”
Alexia blinks.
“What?”
You grimace apologetically.
“I forgot I just put lip gloss on.”
Her smile immediately disappears, replaced by an expression of exaggerated offence.
“You do this on purpose.”
You snort. “I do not.”
“I think you enjoy denying me kisses.”
A laugh escapes you as you lace your fingers through hers, tugging her towards the hallway.
“Come on, La Reina.”
She rolls her eyes but follows willingly, muttering something in Spanish under her breath that you’re fairly certain is aimed at you. Stopping by the shoe rack, you glance between your trainers and your heels, tilting your head thoughtfully.
“Mmm…” You purse your lips. “Do I take a chance with the heels?”
Alexia doesn’t even hesitate.
“Amor,” she says, already laughing, “I think we both know you’ll regret the heels after ten minutes.”
“That’s an exaggeration.”
“Is it?”
“…Maybe.”
You crouch slightly to inspect them. “But these ones aren’t that bad.”
Alexia only shakes her head with an amused smile before bending down to pick them up anyway.
“If you’re determined.”
She kneels in front of you, one hand resting lightly around your ankle as she guides your foot into the heel. You instinctively reach for her shoulder to steady yourself. She repeats the motion with the other shoe, taking just as much care, her fingertips lingering for a brief moment against your calf as she checks the strap.
When she finally looks up at you, your eyes meet. Your cheeks warm immediately. There’s something strangely intimate about having Alexia kneeling in front of you, looking at you as though you’ve hung the moon.
Then, predictably, she ruins the moment.
A slow grin spreads across her face.
“They fit.”
You raise an eyebrow.
“So…” She stands, brushing invisible dust from her knees before wrapping her arms around your waist. “I suppose that makes you the princess.”
You groan loudly.
“Oh, absolutely not.”
“I think it suits you.”
You laugh, slipping your arms around her neck as she pulls you closer.
“Are you sure you don’t mind dropping us off?” you ask quietly.
“Of course I don’t mind.”
“You really don’t have to.”
“I know.” She smiles softly. “I want to.”
Your expression softens.
“I’ll drop you off, and I’ll pick you up. Just text me whenever you’re ready,” she says, pressing a quick kiss to your forehead.
“If you’re sure.” You absent-mindedly smooth your dress again. “I don’t think we’ll be out too late… although that probably depends on whatever chaos Maria has planned.”
“I’ll be awake.” The simple certainty in her voice makes something warm settle in your chest.
You lean forward, brushing another quick kiss against her lips. She smiles into it before narrowing her eyes at you with unmistakable mischief.
“Come on then, princesa.”
You sigh dramatically.
“I’ve created a monster.”
“You really have.”
Still laughing, you let her take your hand. She gives it a gentle squeeze before leading you out the front door, locking it behind you as the two of you disappear out into the hallway.
———————————
The closer Alexia gets to the city centre, the busier the streets become. Restaurants spill laughter out onto the pavements, music drifts through open doorways, and groups of people weave between one another, already wrapped up in the excitement that seems to settle over the city once the sun disappears.
Warm fairy lights are strung overhead, stretching between cafés and bars, their soft glow reflecting against shop windows and catching on the polished roofs of passing cars. Even with the windows closed, you can almost feel the energy outside, buzzing with the promise of a good night.
Alexia eases the car into a space by the kerb, only a short walk from the bar. You glance towards her as you unclip your seatbelt.
“Thanks, baby,” you murmur, leaning across the centre console to kiss her.
She meets you halfway, one hand coming to rest against your thigh, her thumb brushing absent-mindedly over the fabric of your dress as though she’s in no particular hurry for the moment to end.
“Sí, gracias, chica,” Maria chimes in from the back seat, already climbing out of the car.
You smile against Alexia’s lips before reluctantly pulling away. “I’ll text you.”
She nods, her expression softening. “Be safe, sí? If you need anything, call me.”
“I will.”
You steal one last quick kiss before climbing out onto the pavement. A second later, the window glides down.
“Have fun, niñas,” Alexia calls, resting one arm along the window frame. “And try not to do anything too reckless.”
Maria snorts. “We make no such promises.”
She loops her arm through yours before you have any say in the matter, already steering you towards the bar. You glance back over your shoulder. Alexia is still watching you. You offer her what you hope is a reassuring smile, though you’re fairly certain your nerves are written all over it. She seems to read you anyway. With a knowing smirk, she blows you a kiss. You laugh quietly to yourself before blowing one back. Only then does she pull away from the kerb.
Your heels click rhythmically against the pavement as you and Maria join the steady stream of people making their way through the lively streets.
“I’ve been looking forward to this all week,” Maria says, practically bouncing beside you. “I cannot wait.”
You laugh. “You go out most weekends, Maria.”
“Sí.”
“So what’s different about this one?”
She grins, squeezing your arm. “You are different about this one.”
You look at her suspiciously.
“That doesn’t sound reassuring.”
“It shouldn’t.”
Her grin only widens. “You never come out with us, which means tonight is automatically special.”
Something about the look she gives you, equal parts excitement and barely concealed mischief, makes your stomach flutter. For the first time all evening, you find yourself wondering exactly what Maria has planned.
——————————
Maria leads you through the bar, weaving confidently between clusters of people already several drinks into their evening. Music hums through the speakers, just loud enough that conversations become a little animated, glasses clink together every few seconds, and laughter rises above it all in waves. The whole place feels warm, busy, alive. You spot the others tucked into one of the booths towards the back.
Cruz notices you first. “There they are!”
Heads turn in unison.
“Hola, chicas!” Sergio calls, already getting to his feet.
Cruz lets out an exaggerated wolf whistle that has half the table laughing. You roll your eyes despite the smile tugging at your lips.
Maria throws an arm out towards you like she’s introducing the headline act. “May I present… the woman of the hour.”
A chorus of cheers erupts around the table. Heat immediately creeps into your cheeks.
“Alright, alright,” you laugh, holding your hands up. “I can still leave, you know.”
“No!” Cruz protests dramatically. “You’re here now. We’re holding you hostage.”
“Well, that’s mildly concerning.”
“What are we drinking?” Sergio asks.
Maria doesn’t even look at the menu. “Surprise us.”
She slides into the booth, patting the seat beside her until you give in and join her. As soon as you’re settled, Cruz leans across the table with the kind of grin that usually means trouble. “So…”
You narrow your eyes.
“So?”
“Maria says if we get you drunk enough, you’ll give us all a pay rise.”
You slowly turn towards Maria. “Did she now?”
She simply shrugs, entirely unapologetic.
“I may have floated the idea.”
You laugh, shaking your head.
“Don’t get your hopes up. I’m really not that entertaining.”
“Nonsense,” Cruz says. “There’s definitely a party animal hiding in there somewhere.”
“There really isn’t.”
“You can’t date Alexia Putellas and not know how to have a good time.”
The table erupts into knowing laughter. You shake your head but your smile is already in place.
“Wow. It took you all of about thirty seconds to bring her up.”
Cruz looks genuinely proud of themself.
“I actually thought it’d be quicker.”
Before you can think of a comeback, Sergio returns balancing a tray loaded with colourful drinks. Hands immediately reach out, everyone claiming whatever catches their eye, until only two shots remain in the middle of the table. Maria picks one up and offers the other to you. You eye it with immediate suspicion.
“To tonight,” she declares.
You lift your glass anyway.
“And wherever the night takes us,” she says with a wink.
The rim of your glass meets hers with a soft clink.
You smile. “I think we should lower the expectations a little.”
Maria raises an eyebrow.
“I’m just here for one nice, civilised evening. A couple of drinks, some questionable dancing, then home at a perfectly reasonable hour.”
Something flashes across Maria’s face. It isn’t agreement. It’s amusement. The kind that suggests she knows something you don’t.
You squint at her. “…What?”
“Nothing.”
She smiles far too innocently.
“Salud.”
You down the shot. Your face screws up as the burn races from your mouth to your chest, and you cough once, blinking rapidly as your eyes begin to water.
Absolutely not. One was plenty.
Surely.
—————Alexia ——————
Alexia settles back against the sofa, a book open in her lap while some forgettable film plays quietly in the background. She manages exactly three pages before her phone buzzes. She smiles before she’s even picked it up.
Y/n: Help
Another message appears almost instantly.
Y/n: They’re holding me hostage here
Y/n: Sergio has told the same story three times already
Alexia laughs softly to herself.
Alexia: Having fun then?
The typing bubble appears instantly.
Y/n: No
Y/n: You said to call if I needed anything
Y/n: I need help
Y/n: SOS
Alexia shakes her head, unable to stop smiling.
Alexia: You’ll survive amor ❤️
Y/n: 😭
———————————
The apartment falls quiet again. Alexia turns another few pages before pausing to make herself a cup of tea. By the time she returns to the sofa, another notification is waiting.
Y/n: The tables here are made from Mahogany
Alexia can’t help smiling. The earlier messages had been perfectly normal. This one, however…
This one told her everything she needed to know. Y/n was officially tipsy.
Alexia: I’ll trust your expertise
Y/n: I asked the bartender
Y/n: He said he didn’t know
Y/n: I told him it was
Alexia lets out a quiet laugh. There it is. The random facts had started. Alcohol didn’t invent that habit, it simply removed the part of Y/n that usually wondered whether anyone actually wanted to hear them. In this case, she doubts the bartender had much choice.
Alexia: That’s right, bebé. You tell him.
Y/n: 💪
———————————
Ten minutes later.
Y/n: I miss you
Alexia’s expression softens.
Alexia: I miss you too, bebé ❤️
The reply arrives before she’s had a chance to lock her phone.
Y/n: You’re so petty
Y/n: pefty
Y/n: pretyy
Y/n: PRETTY
Alexia laughs properly now.
Alexia: Gracias, bebé. Not as pretty as you.
———————————
Her phone buzzes again. Alexia smiles automatically, expecting another message from Y/n. Instead…
Alba: Why has your girlfriend just sent me 12 pictures of a table?
Alba: From different angles
Alba: Alexia
Alba: Is she okay?
Alexia: She likes the wood
There’s a long pause before Alba replies.
Alba: 😶
Alba: I don’t know whether she’s having an existential crisis or becoming a carpenter
Alexia laughs quietly.
Alexia: She’s out with her friends
Alba: Wait… is she DRUNK???
Alexia: 👍
Within seconds her phone explodes with notifications.
Alba: 😂😂😂😂😂
Alba: Your girlfriend is out drunk and I’m not there to witness it?!
Alba: This is a crime
Alba: If I was there, I’d join her
Alexia: Where are you?
Alba: Ibiza 🎉🎉
Alexia rolls her eyes. Of course she is.
———————————
By now she barely manages a page before her phone buzzes again.
Y/n: *photo*
Alexia opens it. It’s slightly blurry, but clearly shows Y/n grinning from ear to ear while Maria pulls an absolutely ridiculous face over her shoulder.
Y/n: We’re having fub
Y/n: fuj
Y/n: funnnnnn
Alexia shakes her head, smiling to herself. She starts typing a reply when her phone begins to ring. She smiles as Y/n’s name flashes across the screen and presses the green button.
“Hola?”
“Holaaaaaaaaaaa!”
The music from the bar floods through the speaker, mixed with laughter and voices talking over one another.
“It’s meeeee!”
Alexia can’t help but laugh.
“Did you know…” Y/n begins seriously before immediately losing her train of thought. “…Hi.”
“Hola, bebé.”
A giggle.
Alexia smiles to herself. “How’s your night going?”
“It’s fun! Everyone here is so much fun! I’ve made so many friends, and everyone keeps trying to dance with me but I said no! You know why? Because I said, I only dance with my girlfriend! They didn’t believe me!”
Alexia chuckles, trying to keep up. “That you had a girlfriend?”
“No. That I didn’t dance! Anyway listen I need to tell you something.”
“Okay?”
There’s some rustling on the other line, voices and laughter ringing out.
“Alexia?”
“Sí, bebé. I’m here.”
“Where?”
“I’m at home.”
There’s a pause.
“Are you having fun?”
Alexia chuckles.
“Well, I guess. But probably not as much fun as you. What did you want to tell me?”
“Tell you what?”
“You said you wanted to tell me something.”
“Oh… I can’t remember.”
Alexia laughs again. A familiar voice suddenly appears.
“Give me that!” There’s some rustling. “Alexiaaaa!”
Alexia smiles. “Hola, Maria.”
“You’re missing everything!” Maria announces dramatically. “These people are absolutely insane!”
“So I’ve gathered.”
“And your girlfriend has abandoned me.”
Alexia raises an eyebrow. “She has?”
“She keeps wandering off to make friends!”
“I do not!” Y/n protests somewhere in the background.
“You absolutely do! Every five minutes she’s talking to somebody else!”
Maria sighs dramatically. “I need a new best friend.”
Alexia chuckles. “I don’t think Y/n will approve.”
“I don’t!” Y/n shouts from the background.
More muffled voices. A squeal. Then—
“Alexia!”
Y/n is back.
“I remembered!”
“You remembered?”
“I remembered!”
Alexia smiles. “What did you want to tell me?”
“I love you!” The words come so earnestly that Alexia’s heart immediately softens. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too, bebé.”
“No…” Y/n whispers loudly, as though she’s sharing a secret with the entire bar. “I don’t think you understand.”
Alexia smiles. “Oh?”
“I love you…” She pauses for emphasis. “Sooooooo much.”
A few people in the background cheer.
“They keep saying I’m cringe,” Y/n continues, sounding deeply offended. “But I don’t care.”
“Is that right?”
“Yes! Because you’re my baby.”
Alexia laughs, unable to stop herself.
“And everyone needs to know.”
“They do?”
“They do.”
Another thoughtful silence. Then—
“Will you come and get me later?”
“Of course I will.”
Her excitement is immediate.
“You hear that?” she shouts, clearly no longer talking into the phone. “She’s coming to get me later!”
A chorus of cheers erupts around her.
“I’ve got the best girlfriend!”
The declaration is followed by what sounds suspiciously like applause before the line suddenly goes dead. Alexia stares at the screen for a second before shaking her head, smiling to herself. Drunk Y/n is certainly something.
———————————
About twenty minutes before midnight, her phone buzzes again. Alexia barely glances away from her book before reaching for it.
Y/n: Babyyy
Alexia smiles instantly. Another message follows.
Y/n: Can you come fet us
Y/n: ger us
Y/n: get usss
A few seconds pass before one last notification lights up her screen.
Y/n: I miss your face
Alexia’s smile softens.
Alexia: Be right there, bebé.
She closes her book, switches off the television and slips her phone into her pocket. Pulling on her trainers in the hallway, she can’t help but smile to herself. Something tells her she’s about to find a very different Y/n to the one she’d dropped off a few hours earlier.
———————————
Alexia parks almost exactly where she’d dropped them off earlier that evening before climbing out of the car. The streets have thinned slightly, but the city is still very much awake. Music spills from open doorways, laughter carries down the pavement, and groups of people drift from one bar to another, determined to make the night last as long as possible.
The warmth and noise of the bar greet her the moment she steps inside. Her eyes scan the room, searching, but she doesn’t spot Y/n straight away.
She hears her first.
“There she is!”
Alexia barely has time to turn before Y/n comes hurrying towards her, weaving through the crowd with an enormous grin spread across her face. A second later she’s throwing her arms around Alexia’s neck. Alexia catches her instinctively, laughing as Y/n’s enthusiasm carries them both back half a step. Her arms settle securely around Y/n’s waist.
“I knew you’d come,” Y/n mumbles happily, burying her face against Alexia’s shoulder.
Alexia smiles, rubbing a hand gently across her back.
“Sí, bebé. I said I would.”
Y/n pulls back just enough to meet her eyes. Her cheeks are warm with colour, a few wisps of hair have escaped around her face, and there’s an unmistakable softness to her expression that only ever appears after a few drinks. She smiles, a huge, utterly adoring smile, before leaning forward to plant an unapologetically long kiss on Alexia’s cheek.
Alexia laughs. “Bebé…”
“What?”
“You’ve covered me in lip gloss.”
Y/n looks at her thoughtfully for a moment before nodding.
“…Good.”
Without another word, Y/n grabs Alexia’s hand.
“Come!”
Before Alexia can ask where they’re going, she’s already being led through the crowded bar.
“There!” Y/n announces proudly, pointing towards the bartender. “I told you!”
The bartender looks between the two of them, recognition slowly dawning across his face.
“I told you my girlfriend is Alexia Putellas!”
Alexia’s eyebrows lift in surprise. It isn’t embarrassment she feels. Just disbelief. Y/n was normally so private, almost shy whenever people recognised Alexia. She never introduced her as Alexia Putellas. She simply said, my girlfriend.
Tonight, though…
Tonight, she looked impossibly proud.
“I wasn’t lying.”
“No,” he says with a laugh. “You definitely weren’t.”
Alexia lets out a quiet laugh of her own before offering him an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry.”
He waves a hand dismissively. “It’s been entertaining.”
Y/n continues pulling Alexia towards the table.
“Everyone!” The remaining group looks up. “She came!”
A cheer goes around the table.
Alexia laughs.
“I can see that everyone’s had a good evening.”
“The best evening,” Cruz says confidently.
Sergio nods in complete agreement.
Y/n beams. “You have to meet everyone.”
Alexia smiles. “I’ve already met everyone, bebé.”
Y/n doesn’t seem convinced.
She points at Cruz. “This is Cruz.”
“Hola again,” Alexia says with a knowing smile.
Then Sergio. “And this is Sergio.”
“Also… hola again.”
They both wave at her. Y/n continues around the table, carefully introducing Alexia to everyone else. They all greet her with warm smiles, politely pretending they hadn’t already met. Y/n nods seriously, clearly pleased with the introductions.
“Where’s Maria?” Alexia asks.
Her question is answered almost immediately as two arms wrap tightly around her from behind.
“Alexiaaaaa!”
She laughs, turning her head. “Hola, Maria.”
Maria squeezes her dramatically. “The bartender cut us off.”
Alexia glances towards the bar. “Did he?”
“He says we have to drink water.” Maria sounds personally offended. “Can you believe that?”
Alexia catches the bartender’s eye across the room. He gives her an exhausted smile. She responds with an apologetic nod. He nods back, looking quietly relieved.
Alexia turns her attention back to Y/n, gently rubbing slow circles across her back.
“What do you think, bebé? Shall we head home?”
Y/n’s face lights up.
“Home.” She nods enthusiastically. “Sí.”
As everyone gathers their belongings, enthusiastic goodbyes are shouted across the bar, each one louder than the last. Alexia is fairly certain the bartender is relieved to see them leave.
Outside, the cool night air greets them instantly. Some of Y/n’s other colleagues split off, calling taxis and saying their goodbyes before heading in different directions.
Alexia turns towards Cruz and Sergio.
“Are you alright getting home?”
Sergio nods confidently as he pulls out his phone. “Sí.”
He stares at the screen for several seconds.
“…Why isn’t it working?”
Cruz leans over.
“It’s upside down.”
“…Ah.”
Alexia smiles. “I’ll drive you.”
Both of them immediately shake their heads.
“No, honestly,” Sergio says. “We’ll be fine.”
Alexia glances at Cruz, who looks as though they could happily fall asleep where they’re standing.
“I insist.”
Neither of them argues a second time. As they begin walking towards the car, Y/n quietly slips both arms around Alexia’s waist, leaning comfortably against her side. Alexia smiles to herself, wrapping an arm around her shoulders to steady her.
Somehow, she had a feeling the journey home was going to be just as entertaining as the phone calls.
———————————
Cruz is pretty much asleep against the window, their head gently bumping the glass every time the car goes over a slight uneven patch in the road. Beside them, Maria and Sergio are in the middle of a heated debate about who has the better dance moves, each becoming more convinced they’re right with every passing second.
Meanwhile, Y/n has gone unusually quiet. Alexia glances across to find her leaning against the headrest, watching her. Not looking out of the window. Not looking at her phone. Just… watching her.
When their eyes meet, Y/n smiles dreamily.
“You’re so pretty,” she murmurs, the words filled with quiet wonder, as though she’s only just realised.
Warmth spreads through Alexia’s chest. She reaches across the centre console, resting her hand gently on Y/n’s thigh.
“Gracias, bebé.” A small smile tugs at her lips. “You are too.”
Y/n’s grin grows impossibly wider. She immediately twists around in her seat, leaning over the backrest.
“Did you hear that?” she announces proudly. “Alexia says I’m pretty!”
Maria and Sergio are far too invested in proving that Sergio’s attempt at the worm had, in fact, been successful. Neither of them even glances over.
Y/n waits another second. Then slumps back into her seat with an exaggerated pout.
“Meanies.”
Alexia bites back a laugh.
———————————
One by one, Alexia made sure everyone got home safely. Cruz and Sergio were dropped at their respective apartments before she finally pulled up outside Maria’s building. Maria hugged them both goodbye, declared her love for them one last time, then disappeared happily through the apartment entrance.
Alexia waited until she was safely inside before climbing back into the driver’s seat. The moment she closed the door, Y/n turned towards her, her brows knitting together.
“Where did you go?”
“I just helped Maria inside.”
Y/n looks over her shoulder into the back seats.
“…Where is everyone else?”
“They’ve all gone home, bebé.”
The colour immediately drains from Y/n’s face.
“…Wait.”
Alexia glances at her.
“I never told Maria I love her back!”
Her voice is full of genuine horror.
Alexia smiles gently.
“I’m sure she knows.”
“No.” Y/n shakes her head emphatically. “It’s really important.”
She reaches for the door handle.
“If I don’t tell her, she might think I don’t love her anymore.”
Before she can open the door, Alexia gently catches her wrist.
“Amor.”
Y/n looks at her with wide, worried eyes.
“Maria is probably already passed out.”
“Passed out?” Y/n asks, her eyes widening. “Like… dead?”
Alexia freezes for half a heartbeat before a startled laugh escapes her.
“No! No, bebé.” She cups Y/n’s face gently. “Not dead. Asleep. I just mean she’s probably asleep.”
Y/n searches her face for a moment before visibly relaxing.
“Oh.”
Alexia waits another moment to make sure Y/n isn’t about to make another dash for the building before starting the engine.
“Let’s get you home.”
She reaches across, resting a gentle hand on Y/n’s thigh. Y/n immediately relaxes. She turns to look at Alexia with the same dreamy expression she’d worn for most of the drive.
“You’re so pretty,” she murmurs quietly.
Alexia smiles to herself as she pulls away from the kerb.
“So you keep telling me, bebé.”
———————————
The car is quiet as Alexia drives them home. Not an uncomfortable quiet. Just the peaceful kind, filled with the soft hum of the engine and the occasional sound of Y/n humming along quietly to whatever song is playing on the radio.
For a few minutes, Alexia thinks she might have finally fallen asleep.
Then—
A sniff.
Alexia glances over.
“Amor?”
Another sniff.
She immediately sits up a little straighter.
“Are you okay?”
Y/n doesn’t answer. Instead, her bottom lip starts to wobble.
Alexia’s heart drops. “Hey, bebé. What’s wrong?”
“I just…”
Her voice cracks.
Alexia immediately looks for somewhere safe to pull over, her hand reaching across to find Y/n’s.
“Did something happen?”
“No.”
“Are you upset?”
Y/n nods.
Alexia pulls into a quiet street, turning off the engine before turning fully towards her.
“Talk to me, amor.”
Y/n looks at her, eyes full of tears.
“The turtles.”
Alexia blinks.
“…The turtles?”
Y/n nods, wiping at her cheeks.
“They don’t know.”
Alexia’s brows knit together. “They don’t know what, bebé?” she asks softly.
Y/n sniffs again, staring miserably down at her lap.
“They don’t know what we’re doing to their oceans.”
For a heartbeat, Alexia simply looks at her.
Then it clicks.
Of course.
Of course Y/n was crying about turtles.
She’d happily spent entire evenings explaining the impact of plastic pollution, watched documentaries that left her unusually quiet for hours afterwards, and had once refused to buy a particular brand of tea because of its packaging.
Sober Y/n worried about the planet every day. Drunk Y/n just… felt every bit of it all at once.
The thought is so undeniably her that a quiet laugh slips out before Alexia can stop it.
Y/n glances up at her, her expression immediately falling.
“It’s not funny.”
“No, no, bebé.” Alexia tries to stop laughing. “I’m sorry.”
“You think it’s funny.”
“I don’t.”
“You laughed.”
“I didn’t mean to.”
“You think I’m ridiculous.”
Alexia’s smile softens instantly.
“No,” she says, reaching over, gently taking Y/n’s hand. “I don’t think you’re ridiculous.”
“Then why are you laughing?”
“Because only you could make me pull over the car because of turtles.”
Y/n looks away, offended.
“They’re important.”
“They are.”
“And they don’t have a voice.”
Alexia nods seriously.
“You’re right.”
A pause.
“…But I think they’re going to be okay tonight.”
Y/n looks back at her.
“Promise?”
Alexia smiles.
“Promise.”
Y/n studies her face for a moment before finally relaxing.
“Okay.”
A beat.
“I still think we should do more.”
Alexia laughs quietly.
“Of course you do.”
Y/n narrows her eyes.
“Don’t laugh at the turtles.”
“I would never.”
“Good.”
Alexia starts the car again, shaking her head with a smile. A few seconds pass in comfortable silence before Y/n reaches across, threading her fingers through Alexia’s hand resting on her thigh.
She looks down at their joined hands for a moment, her expression softening, before lifting Alexia’s hand to her lips and pressing a gentle kiss to her knuckles.
Alexia glances over, warmth spreading through her chest at the small gesture.
“I’m sorry I cried,” Y/n murmurs.
“Amor,” Alexia says softly. “You don’t have to apologise for caring.”
Y/n looks at her.
“Even about turtles?”
Alexia laughs.
“Especially about turtles.”
Y/n hums happily.
“Do you think turtles know they’re cute?”
Alexia bites back another laugh.
“Probably, bebé.”
———————————
Alexia unlocks the apartment door, gently guiding Y/n inside. Y/n pauses in the middle of the hallway, looking around with a puzzled expression.
“…Wait.” She looks back at Alexia. “This isn’t my apartment.”
Alexia slips an arm around her waist, smiling.
“No, bebé,” she says gently. “But you’re here so often it practically is.”
Y/n’s eyes widen.
“I am?” A grin spreads across her face. “Lucky me.”
Before Alexia can reply, Y/n loops both arms around her neck and leans in to kiss her. It’s slow, unhurried. The sort of kiss that lingers simply because Y/n doesn’t seem to have any intention of ending it.
When they finally part, Y/n doesn’t let go. Instead, she rests her forehead against Alexia’s shoulder before wrapping her in another hug.
“I missed you so much,” she mumbles.
Alexia smiles, one hand drifting lazily up and down her back.
“I missed you too, bebé.”
Y/n lifts her head.
“…How much?”
“A lot.”
“A lot a lot?”
Alexia laughs softly.
“A lot, a lot.”
Y/n smiles proudly.
“I missed you more.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.”
Alexia raises an eyebrow.
“Is it a competition?”
“…Yes.”
“And who decides the winner?”
“I do.”
Alexia laughs. “Convenient.”
“I know.”
For a brief moment, Alexia thinks the conversation is over. Then Y/n hugs her again.
“Cuddle me.”
Alexia wraps her arms about her again. “I am cuddling you.”
“No…” Y/n, says, pulling back slightly with an unimpressed look. “Cuddle me like you mean it.”
Alexia laughs under her breath.
“I’m not entirely sure what that means.”
“It means…” Y/n pauses to think. “…More.”
Alexia smiles and tightens her arms around her.
Y/n hums happily. “…Better.”
They stand like that for another few moments before Alexia gently brushes a strand of hair behind Y/n’s ear.
“What do you think, amor? Shall we get you to bed?”
Y/n wrinkles her nose. “But I’m not tired.”
“You will be tomorrow.”
“That sounds like Tomorrow Y/n’s problem.”
Alexia chuckles.
“I think Tomorrow Y/n might disagree.”
“Tomorrow Y/n complains a lot.”
Alexia laughs again. Reluctantly, she begins easing herself out of the hug. Y/n watches her with the deepest pout imaginable.
“…Don’t go.”
“I’m only walking to the bedroom.”
“…That’s still away.”
Alexia feels herself smiling again.
“Would it help if we went together?”
Y/n considers that very seriously. “…Yes.”
A grin immediately replaces the pout.
“Carry me.”
Alexia tilts her head, pretending to think it over.
“Hmm…”
Y/n’s bottom lip juts out dramatically.
“Pretty pwease?”
Alexia only manages another second before smiling.
“Anything for you, amor.”
She slides one arm behind Y/n’s back and the other beneath her knees, lifting her effortlessly into her arms. Y/n lets out a delighted giggle, instinctively curling closer as she wraps her arms around Alexia’s neck. She presses a kiss to her cheek.
“My hero.”
Alexia adjusts her grip, smiling to herself as Y/n settles comfortably against her. She carries her into the bedroom before gently lowering her onto the end of the bed. The moment she’s on the mattress, Y/n flops backwards dramatically, stretching her arms out.
“This bed is sooo comfy,” she sighs dreamily.
Alexia laughs quietly before kneeling in front of her. She carefully undoes the clasps on Y/n’s heels and eases them from her feet.
The second they’re off, Y/n lets out a blissful groan.
“Oh my God…” She wriggles her toes. “That feels incredible.”
Another wiggle.
“Whose idea were heels?”
Alexia looks up at her with an amused smile.
“Yours, amor.”
Y/n’s brow furrows.
“You should’ve stopped me.”
“I tried.”
“You didn’t try hard enough.”
Alexia laughs, rising to her feet.
“Well… you can be a little stubborn sometimes.”
Y/n gasps dramatically, sitting up. “I am not.”
Alexia squints, holding her finger and thumb a tiny distance apart.
“…Just a little.”
Y/n folds her arms tightly across her chest.
“You’re mean.”
“I’m right,” Alexia replies with a playful wink as she walks over to the dresser to grab one of her pyjama sets.
When she turns back around, Y/n has already flopped backwards again, staring happily at the ceiling.
Alexia smiles.
“Come on, amor. Let’s get you out of your dress.”
Y/n giggles.
“Stop flirting with me.”
Alexia lets out a laugh.
“I don’t think helping you into pyjamas counts as flirting.”
She holds out both hands, and Y/n takes them without hesitation, allowing Alexia to gently pull her back to her feet. Y/n studies the pyjamas on the bed and then glances at Alexia.
“I can do it myself.”
Alexia lifts a brow, clearly unconvinced.
“Are you sure, bebé?”
Y/n gasps, placing a hand over her chest in offence. “Excuse you. I’m a strong independent woman, remember. I can handle pyjamas.”
Alexia presses her lips together, fighting a smile. There’s very little point arguing with Y/n when she gets like this. Instead, she simply raises both hands in surrender.
“Okay, bebé. I’ll give you some privacy.”
Y/n nods approvingly.
“Thank you for respecting my independence.”
Biting back a smile, Alexia wanders into the living room instead, settling onto the sofa where she can still hear Y/n pottering about in the bedroom.
She manages almost a full minute before—
“Baby?”
Alexia looks up. Y/n is standing in the doorway… completely naked.
Alexia’s eyebrows lift, a laugh threatening to escape despite herself.
“…Bebé? What happened?”
Y/n pouts. “I couldn’t do it.”
The disappointment in her voice is so genuine that Alexia’s heart almost cracks.
“Oh, amor.”
For a moment, Alexia thinks she’s trying to figure out how to explain what went wrong. Then Y/n tilts her head slightly, studying her where she sits on the sofa.
Alexia waits.
“Also…” Y/n says slowly, folding her arms. “You’re making me jealous.”
Alexia blinks.
“Jealous?” she repeats. “Jealous of what, bebé?”
“You’re sitting on the sofa when you could be sitting on me.”
Alexia coughs into her fist, doing her absolute best not to laugh.
“Amor…”
Y/n only pouts harder. The thing is, she isn’t joking. Alexia can see it in the way she looks at her, completely serious, as though this is a genuine injustice she needs to address.
Of all the things Y/n could have been upset about, this was somehow the one she chose.
Alexia gives in, pushing herself to her feet and opening her arms.
“Come here.”
Y/n immediately walks over to her, melting into the hug as though they’d been apart for hours instead of barely a minute.
“Bebé,” Alexia murmurs, rubbing slow circles across her back, “I wasn’t going anywhere. I was just giving you a little space because you wanted to do it yourself.”
Y/n tips her head back to look at her.
“Yeah but… I didn’t think you’d actually leave.”
Alexia blinks. “Bebé, you told me you wanted to do it yourself.”
Y/n pauses.
“I did?”
“Sí.”
She thinks about this for a moment.
“Well…” she says gravely, “that was clearly the biggest mistake of my life.”
Alexia can’t hold back the laugh this time.
“I missed you,” Y/n mumbles, pressing her cheek against Alexia’s shoulder. “And I couldn’t do it by myself.”
“That’s okay,” Alexia says softly. “Do you want some help?”
Y/n nods. “Sí… por favour.”
Alexia smiles, tucking a loose strand of hair behind Y/n’s ear.
“Did you like my Spanish?” Y/n asks, a hopeful smile creeping onto her face.
“I loved it,” Alexia replies, pressing a quick kiss to her forehead.
“I’m practically fluent now.”
“You’re making excellent progress,” Alexia says with a smile, only then remembering that they were still standing in the middle of the living room.
“…Let’s get you dressed before you catch a cold.”
Hand in hand, she guides Y/n back to the bedroom. The pyjama process takes far longer than it should. Every few seconds, Y/n becomes fascinated by something entirely unrelated, the necklace Alexia was wearing, a loose thread on the duvet, the fact that socks were “basically tiny jumpers for feet”, and each time, Alexia patiently steers her attention back to the task at hand.
Eventually, after much distraction and considerably more negotiation than anyone should ever need over a pair of pyjama shorts, Y/n is finally wearing them.
“Arms up, bebé.”
Y/n immediately throws both arms into the air.
“Woooo!”
Alexia laughs, slipping the panda T-shirt over her head before smoothing it down.
“There.”
Y/n immediately looks down at herself. Her whole face lights up.
“Awwww.”
She pokes the panda with one finger.
“Look at him.”
Alexia smiles as she changes into her own pyjamas.
“He is quite cute.”
“Pandas are sooo cute,” Y/n murmurs, still studying the picture. “I’ve never seen one.”
Alexia starts pulling her own T-shirt over her head.
“Hm… neither have I.”
Y/n looks up so quickly Alexia almost laughs.
“You haven’t?”
“No.”
Y/n falls quiet.
Her gaze lingers on Alexia instead, drifting slowly over her. Across the broad line of her shoulders. The defined muscles in her arms. The familiar contours of her stomach she’d traced with her fingertips more times than she could count. She studies her with quiet admiration, as though she’s seeing something extraordinary.
“…You’re so beautiful.”
Alexia’s movements falter for the briefest moment.
“Gracias, bebé,” she says softly.
Y/n keeps looking at her, smiling to herself.
“…You have really nice abs.”
Alexia laughs, warmth creeping into her cheeks.
“Do I?”
Y/n nods with complete certainty.
“Mhm. Ten out of ten.”
She continues looking at Alexia for another second before her expression suddenly changes.
“We have to go.”
Alexia raises an eyebrow.
“Go where?”
“To see a panda.”
She says it with such conviction that it’s as though she’s solved one of life’s greatest mysteries.
Alexia simply stares at her for a moment. She has absolutely no idea how they’d gone from complimenting her abs to planning a panda expedition.
“Oh please, baby.” She clasps her hands together dramatically. “Please can we go and see a panda?”
Alexia can’t help smiling. Of course this was now the most important thing in the world. And really, Alexia is unable to deny her anything when she looks at her like that.
“Sí,” she says warmly. “Of course we can.”
Y/n’s eyes brighten. “We can?”
“We can.”
A delighted squeal escapes Y/n as she launches herself forwards, wrapping both arms around Alexia’s neck once again. She peppers kisses all over Alexia’s cheeks until Alexia can barely stop laughing.
“I love you soooo much,” Y/n mumbles between kisses. “You’re the best girlfriend ever.”
Alexia wraps her arms around her waist.
“Ever?”
“Ever ever.”
“That’s a long time.”
Y/n nods with complete certainty.
“The longest.”
Alexia smiles, resting her forehead gently against hers.
“I love you too, bebé.”
Y/n smiles contentedly. Then she cups Alexia’s face and kisses her, lingering a little longer this time. Alexia kisses her back, smiling into it, but after a few moments she gently rests a hand on Y/n’s cheek and eases back.
“Easy, amor.”
Y/n frowns.
“…Did I do something wrong?”
“No.” Alexia brushes her thumb across Y/n’s cheek. “You did everything right.”
“Then why did you stop?”
Alexia smiles warmly.
“Because I’m looking after you tonight.”
Y/n studies her for a second before nodding.
“…You’re very nice.”
“I try.”
Y/n seems to consider this, apparently satisfied with the answer.
A few seconds pass. Then—
“Kiss me.”
Alexia smiles. “Again?”
Y/n nods enthusiastically. “Again.”
Alexia leans in and gives her a slow, gentle kiss. When she pulls back…
“Again.”
Alexia laughs. “Bebé…”
She leans in for another quick peck.
“One more.”
After the third one, Alexia smiles.
“I think that’s enough for tonight.”
Y/n pouts. “Why?”
“Because you’re tired.”
“I’m not.”
“You look like you’re about to fall asleep.”
Y/n blinks a few times. “… I am a little.”
Alexia smiles, leaning in to steal one more soft kiss before taking Y/n’s hands in hers.
“Come on.”
“Where are we going?”
“The bathroom.”
“…Why?”
“So we can get you ready for bed.”
Y/n considers that for a moment before nodding.
“…That’s sensible.”
Alexia chuckles. She gently wipes away the last traces of makeup from Y/n’s face before keeping an arm around her waist as they brush their teeth together. Halfway through, she glances up into the mirror. Y/n is staring at her reflection with an enormous grin, toothpaste foam covering half her mouth. She catches Alexia looking.
“What?”
Alexia laughs.
“Nothing.”
They finish brushing a few moments later before Alexia guides her back towards the bedroom. She eases Y/n down onto the edge of the bed.
“Stay here for one second, okay? I’m just going to get you a glass of water.”
Y/n immediately grabs both of Alexia’s hands.
“Nooooo.”
Alexia smiles.
“I’ll only be a second, amor.”
“I don’t want you to go.”
“I’ll be right back.”
Y/n’s bottom lip begins to wobble.
Alexia raises an eyebrow.
“…Bebé?”
“I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll literally be in the kitchen.”
“I know.”
A tiny sniff.
“…But I’ll still miss you.”
Alexia bites the inside of her cheek, desperately trying not to laugh.
“I’ll be so quick, you won’t even notice.”
Y/n blinks. One tear escapes. Then another.
Alexia’s smile disappears instantly.
“Oh, hey…” She kneels in front of her, gently cupping her face. “No tears.”
“I don’t want to be abandoned.”
Alexia can’t help smiling again.
“You are not being abandoned.”
“I am.”
Y/n sniffles.
Alexia lets out the smallest laugh, reaching up to wipe away another tear with her thumb.
“What if you come with me?”
The tears stop immediately.
“…Really?”
“Really.”
Y/n nods enthusiastically, as though this is the greatest idea anyone has ever had. Alexia helps her to her feet, threading their fingers together before the two of them slowly wander into the kitchen. Once they reach the sink, Alexia fills a glass with water before holding it out.
“Drink this for me, bebé.”
Y/n eyes it suspiciously. “I’m not thirsty.”
“I know.”
“So why would I drink it?”
“Because Future Y/n will thank Present Y/n.”
Y/n frowns thoughtfully. “…Will she?”
Alexia nods.
Another pause.
“…Okay.”
She takes the glass. Alexia keeps one hand beneath it to steady her as Y/n takes a few reluctant sips.
“There.” Alexia smiles. “See? That wasn’t so bad.”
Y/n nods slowly. “…It tastes like water.”
Alexia smiles. “I’d certainly hope so.”
She takes the glass from Y/n before guiding her gently back towards the bedroom. The mattress dips as Y/n sits obediently on the edge of the bed, swaying ever so slightly. Alexia pulls the sheet back, encouraging her underneath before tucking it loosely around her legs.
Y/n glances around the room.
“…Baby?”
“Sí, amor?”
“…Where’s Cat Culer?”
Alexia blinks before spotting him tucked against the headboard.
“One moment.”
She reaches over, retrieves the plush and places him into Y/n’s waiting arms. Y/n hugs Cat Culer to her chest immediately, letting out a small, contented sigh.
“…Perfect.”
Alexia chuckles.
“Was he the missing piece?”
Y/n nods with complete certainty.
“Family should sleep together.”
Alexia’s smile softens.
“Family?”
“Mhm.” Y/n cuddles the plush a little closer. “We’re a family, aren’t we?”
For a moment, Alexia can only look at her. The words catch her completely off guard. She’d never needed a label for what they had, she’d known for a long time that home was wherever Y/n was, but hearing her say it so simply, so matter-of-factly, makes something warm bloom in her chest.
“Sí, bebé,” she murmurs, brushing a loose strand of hair behind Y/n’s ear. “We are.”
Her hand lingers against Y/n’s cheek for a moment before her gaze drifts towards the open bedroom door.
The painkillers.
She still needed to fetch them.
Alexia can’t help smiling to herself. Judging by how the evening had gone so far, she has a feeling this isn’t going to be as simple as walking to the kitchen and back.
“Stay there, okay, bebé? I’m just going to grab some painkillers for the morning.”
Y/n reaches out at once, catching Alexia’s hand before she can move.
“You’re leaving again?”
Alexia can’t help laughing.
“Only for a minute.”
Y/n studies her carefully, as though trying to decide whether she believes her.
“…How many seconds is a minute?”
“Sixty.”
Y/n nods with complete seriousness. “…I’ll count.”
“Okay, bebé.”
Alexia bends to kiss her forehead. “I’ll be right back.”
Y/n nods solemnly before tapping an imaginary watch on her wrist.
“You’ve got sixty.”
Alexia laughs all the way to the kitchen. She grabs the painkillers, fills the glass water again and is back less than a minute later.
“There.”
She pauses in the doorway. Y/n is sprawled diagonally across the bed, one arm wrapped tightly around Cat Culer, the other hanging over the edge, the sheet already tangled around one ankle. Soft snores drift across the room. Alexia feels warmth bloom in her chest. “So much for counting.”
She sets the water and painkillers on the bedside table before switching off the light, the room settling into darkness. Carefully, she slips beneath the sheet, claiming the narrow strip of mattress Y/n has generously left for her. She has barely rested her head on the pillow before Y/n stirs. Without opening her eyes, she rolls across the bed until she collides gently with Alexia, Cat Culer still tucked securely against her chest.
“Cuddle me,” she mumbles.
Alexia smiles into the darkness, wrapping both arms around her.
“There you are.”
Y/n immediately melts against her. For a while, they simply lie there. Alexia slowly traces comforting circles across her back.
“I had a good night,” Y/n murmurs.
“Sí? Alexia says with a smile. “What was your favourite part?”
“Seeing you.”
The answer comes without even a second’s thought. Warmth spreads through Alexia’s chest.
“I meant before I came to collect you.”
Y/n hums thoughtfully.
“…Before you dropped me off.”
Alexia laughs quietly.
“No, bebé.” She brushes a kiss against Y/n’s hair. “What was your favourite part that didn’t involve me?”
Y/n lifts her head just enough to look at her. She looks genuinely horrified.
“Baby…” Her voice is full of concern. “You are my favourite part of every day.”
Alexia blinks.
“So don’t ask silly questions.”
For a moment, Alexia simply looks at her. Her heart gives the tiniest, helpless squeeze. She isn’t even sure Y/n will remember saying it in the morning, but that somehow makes it all the more precious. There isn’t an ounce of hesitation behind the words, only complete certainty. Then she smiles, warmth spreading through her chest.
“I’ll try not to,” she murmurs, brushing her thumb gently across Y/n’s cheek before leaning down to press a lingering kiss to her forehead.
Y/n nods, apparently satisfied. She settles her head back against Alexia’s chest, humming thoughtfully.
“I liked dancing with Maria.”
Alexia smiles, her fingers absentmindedly tracing slow circles across Y/n’s back.
“I bet that was fun. What else?”
“I made lots of new friends.”
“Did you?”
“Mhm. Especially the bartender.” She smiles proudly. “He likes me.”
Alexia bites back a laugh.
“I’m sure he does, bebé.”
“And…” Y/n continues, sounding even prouder of herself, “…I’m giving everyone a pay rise.”
Alexia lifts an eyebrow.
“Are you now?”
Y/n nods with complete confidence.
“Mhm.”
“That’s very generous of you.” Alexia smiles to herself. She makes a mental note to remind Y/n of that particular promise in the morning.
Another comfortable silence settles between them. Alexia assumes Y/n has finally drifted off. Then—
“Tell me a story.”
Alexia laughs quietly.
“A story?”
“Mhm.”
“It’s very late, amor.”
“Stories help people sleep.”
Alexia smiles. It was well past the point either of them should still be awake, and she was tired enough that her own eyes were beginning to grow heavy. But if Y/n wanted a bedtime story, then Y/n was getting a bedtime story.
“I suppose they do. What would you like to hear?”
Y/n thinks for a moment before smiling sleepily.
“Tell me about little Alexia.”
“Little Alexia?”
“The tiny one.”
Alexia chuckles.
“Well… when I was about six, my uncle decided I was old enough to help wash the car. I was so excited that I spent almost an hour carefully cleaning every wheel.”
“What about the rest of the car?”
“I forgot.”
Y/n lets out the sleepiest little giggle.
“When my uncle came back, he found four perfectly spotless wheels… and the dirtiest car in Sant Pere de Vilamajor.”
Y/n laughs again, softer this time.
“You’ve always been adorable.”
Alexia feels her cheeks warm.
“I don’t know about adorable.”
“You are.”
A pause.
“I bet the wheels looked lovely.”
Alexia laughs, tucking Y/n a little closer.
“They really did.”
She waits for another reply. None comes. Looking down, she finds Y/n fast asleep against her chest, Cat Culer still squashed comfortably between them, his little ears poking out from beneath the sheet. Alexia smiles to herself, brushing one last kiss into Y/n’s hair.
Tonight had been dramatic, chaotic and wonderfully ridiculous, but beneath every tear, every dramatic declaration and every plea not to leave the room for sixty seconds, there had only ever been one thing at the heart of it.
Love.
Y/n wore it a little louder after a few drinks, perhaps, but it was still the same heart Alexia had fallen in love with. Every version of Y/n was worth loving. The confident one. The stubborn one. The anxious one.
Even the one who thought a twelve-second trip to the kitchen counted as abandonment.
Especially her.
Alexia looks down at the two of them, her girlfriend wrapped around her, a football mascot plush wedged faithfully between them, and can’t help smiling.
It’s ridiculous. It’s perfect.
And in that moment, she’s certain there isn’t a luckier person in the world.
Alexia settles a little closer, content to spend the night exactly where she belongs.
“Buenas noches, bebé,” she whispers, letting the quiet of the room settle around them.
—————You——————
You feel it before anything else. A dull, relentless throb pulses behind your eyes, each beat seeming to echo through your skull. Your face is buried deep in the pillow, your mouth feels like it’s been lined with sandpaper, and your stomach sits somewhere between hungry and deeply offended.
You decide, quite confidently, that moving is no longer an option. This is, without question, the worst hangover in human history.
You should have stayed home researching compost bins. At least compost bins would never betray you.
With an enormous amount of effort, you force one eye open. You squeeze it shut again with a pained groan.
A moment later, you hear the bedroom door creak open.
“Bon dia, sleepyhead.”
Alexia’s voice is soft enough that it doesn’t make your head hurt any more than it already does. You feel the mattress dip beside you before gentle fingers brush the hair away from your face.
You groan again. “It’s so bright.”
Alexia glances around the room. “The curtains are still closed, bebé.”
You pause.“…Oh.”
Your eyes stay firmly shut.
“Then why is everything so… loud?”
Alexia smiles to herself.
“I don’t think that’s how light works.”
“It does today.”
She laughs quietly.
“How are you feeling, amor?”
“Like I’ve been hit by a bus…twice.”
Alexia reaches for the glass of water and the painkillers she’d thoughtfully left on the bedside table the night before.
“Here, amor.”
You slowly roll onto your back, every movement requiring far more effort than it should. Propping yourself up on one elbow feels like completing an Olympic event. Alexia waits patiently while you swallow the tablets with several reluctant mouthfuls of water. The second you’re done, you collapse back onto the mattress with a dramatic sigh.
“I’m never drinking again.”
Alexia watches you with a fond smile.
“You say that every time, amor.”
“Yeah…” You stare up at the ceiling. “…But I really mean it this time.”
“You say that every time too.”
You attempt to narrow your eyes at her. Unfortunately, that requires opening them a little more than you’d like. The effort isn’t worth it. Instead, you settle for a deeply unimpressed frown.
“I don’t appreciate your lack of sympathy.”
Alexia leans down to press a kiss against your forehead.
“I brought you water, painkillers and my undying love.”
You think about that for a moment.
“…I appreciate your sympathy.”
Alexia smiles knowingly. “There she is.”
You hum quietly.
“Still never drinking again.”
Alexia chuckles.
“We’ll see.”
She watches you for a moment before tilting her head.
“Do you remember much from last night?”
You think. Or at least, you try to. The attempt sends another pulse of pain through your head. You immediately abandon the idea.
“…No.”
Alexia’s smile grows. A wave of dread washes over you.
“…Wait.” You look at her cautiously. “I didn’t do anything embarrassing, did I?”
Alexia lets out a quiet laugh. “No, amor.”
Relief immediately floods through you.
“You were perfect.”
You narrow your eyes at her. The smile tugging at the corners of her mouth tells you there’s definitely more to the story.
“You might want to avoid that bar for a little while, though.”
You freeze. “…Why?”
“I think the bartender deserves a holiday.”
You groan, dropping your head further into the pillow.
“What did we do?”
“I’m still not entirely sure,” Alexia admits. “But he definitely knows more about mahogany than he did before.”
You blink.
“…Mahogany?”
“You became very passionate about tables.”
“… I became passionate about tables?”
“You also promised everyone a pay rise.”
“Oh no.” You let out a long, defeated groan before hiding your face in your hands. “They’re never going to let me forget that.”
“Probably not.”
Alexia tries to hold back a smile.
“And then you cried because of turtles.”
Slowly, you lower your hands.
“…The turtles?”
“The turtles.”
You consider it for a moment, before giving a small shrug.
“Fair enough.”
Alexia laughs. “That one doesn’t bother you?”
“No. Turtles are having a difficult time.”
Alexia shakes her head fondly.
“You also convinced me we’re going on a trip to see some pandas.”
You furrow your brows.
“…Pandas?”
You let the thought settle for a moment. Then your expression slowly brightens.
“…Are we going?”
Alexia can’t help laughing.
“I suppose we have to. I did promise.”
A smile spreads across your face.
Well… at least one good thing had come from your drunk antics. You’d somehow talked your way into a panda date.
Alexia tilts her head.
“It also became very clear that you might be slightly obsessed with me.”
You pause, absentmindedly rubbing your temples.
“Obsessed?”
Alexia nods thoughtfully. You pretend to consider it.
“I prefer the phrase ‘deeply in love.’”
Alexia laughs. “I’ll accept that.”
She reaches over, gently intertwining her fingers with yours.
“For what it’s worth…”
Her thumb brushes lazily across the back of your hand.
“…I’m pretty obsessed with you too.”
A small smile tugs at your lips. Despite the pounding in your head, that somehow makes you feel a little better.
You stare at her for a moment, taking in the fact that somehow, even after your complete lack of dignity last night, she’s still looking at you like you hung the moon.
You let out a tired sigh, sinking further into the pillows.
“I don’t think I can move,” you mumble.
“You don’t have to.”
Alexia squeezes your hand gently.
“I’ve cancelled your plans, I’ve got the day off, and I’m not going anywhere.”
You look across at her.
“…Really?”
“Really.”
The knot of embarrassment that’s been sitting in your stomach since you woke up eases just a little.
“Do you want some breakfast?” she asks.
The thought alone makes your stomach lurch.
You pull a face. “…Maybe later.”
Alexia smiles knowingly. She leans forward, brushing a soft kiss against your forehead before pulling the sheet a little higher around your shoulders.
“Get some more sleep, bebé.”
You nod, your eyes already growing heavy again.
“I love you,” she murmurs.
A sleepy smile finds its way onto your face.
“Love you too.”
Within moments, you’re asleep again. Alexia watches you for another second, unable to stop herself from smiling. Last night had been chaotic, dramatic and wonderfully ridiculous.
And yet… she wouldn’t have changed a single moment of it.
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A/n: This was a lot of fun to write 😂 of course drunk r would be obsessed with Alexia, who can blame her 😍 thank you to ale riding rs face anon for requesting this, I hope I did it justice 😘
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