Alphonse never really got a break. Like..never. He was always cooped up in his office, at the club where the family holds meetings, or at Grillby’s to go to the bar with his key men. Latte saw it all. He’d look more tense, more tired. It wasn't obvious at first. Alphonse was good at hiding it. He'd still come home with that same stupid grin on his face. He'd still ask how her day went. He'd still make sure Kaitlyn had eaten, complain about the news, and sit at the dinner table like he hadn't spent the entire day buried in paperwork and problems that weren't supposed to be hers.
She noticed the way he'd rub the bridge of his skull whenever he thought nobody was looking. The way his shoulders stayed tense even after he'd taken off his suit jacket. The way he'd stare at his office paperwork long after everyone else had gone to bed. Even his cigars had become more frequent.
One night, Latte found him exactly where she'd expected. His office was dim, save for the small lamp sitting on his desk. Papers were scattered everywhere. A half-finished cup of mustard sat beside his ashtray. Alphonse sat hunched over the desk, one hand supporting his head while the other dragged a pen across another sheet of paper.
Latte had to get him out of this trance and quick. Luckily, she had just the thing to do so.
Earlier that day, Latte went out shopping with Kaitlyn, the usual. Wasn’t expecting to find anything good until..she saw it. A long laced night gown that was see through. Latte immediately reached for it. "Auntie?" She barely heard Kaitlyn. "One second, baby." She held the gown against herself, studying it in the mirror. It was perfect. It was Alphonse’s favorite color and EVERYTHING. It was BEYOND PERFECT! Immediately, she got a store clerk to help it get tailored to her body, picturing the reaction on Alphonse’s face. Maybe THIS could get his mind off of things!
Outside his office doors, she fretted with her appearance, tugging her gown down every five seconds. She took a couple of deep breaths. Inhale..exhale..Inhale..wait- why is she taking breaths?? You’re literally about to fuck your husband. Just go in, act cool. You got this!
She landed three soft raps on his doors, waiting for a response. Nothing. She glanced down at herself. "...Oh, God." She adjusted the gown again. Why was she so nervous? Was she scared that she was going to a make a fool out of herself? It wasn't like Alphonse had never seen her dressed up before. Hell, he'd seen her at her absolute worst and still looked at her like she was the most beautiful woman in the world. So why was her heart beating like she was some teenager about to confess her first crush?
Latte took another breath and closed her eyes. Get it together. She'd bought the damn thing. She'd gotten it tailored. She'd spent the entire afternoon imagining his reaction. She could do this.
She raised her hand to knock again. Before her knuckles could touch the wood, Alphonse's voice came from inside. "Doll?"
"Ya gonna knock again, or are ya jus’ gonna stand out there all night?"
Her cheeks immediately warmed. He knew she was there. Of course he did.
Latte straightened her shoulders, a tiny smile creeping across her face. "Can I come in?"
There was a brief pause. "Door's open."
She finally pushed the doors open, revealing her husband at his desk with a lit cigar in hand. He looked up to see her, completely stopping in his tracks to whatever he was doing. He was completely stunned. For once, Alphonse had absolutely nothing to say.
Latte shifted nervously in the doorway, suddenly regretting every decision that had led her here. "...Well?"
Nothing.
"Al?"
His eyes slowly traveled over her, taking in the gown she'd spent all afternoon having tailored just for this.
"Don't just stare at me."
Alphonse finally blinked.
"...I'm tryin' ta figure out what tha hell ‘m s’posed ta say."
He slowly got up from his chair, cigar still in hand. He slowly walked over to her, getting a closer look of his wife.
“Sweetheart..ya look..”
“Is it too much..? I’m sorry, I thought you’d like it and I just kinda bought it on a whim and-”
“Yer tha sexiest thing alive.”
Latte stopped mid ramble, her pearls (eyes) doting at him. “What..?”
“Yer tha sexiest thing I’ve eva seen.” He purred, softly grabbing his wife’s chin, making him look at her. “Look at ya.” He ran his phalanx ( another word for thumb bone) on her bottom lip, having his most iconic grin flash across his face, his gold tooth beaming with his desk light. “Those lips..” He dragged both of his hands to her hips, leaving his cigar loosely in his mouth. “These fuckin’ hips..” Latte's cheeks warmed beneath his stare. Alphonse let out a quiet, almost breathless laugh. “Christ, doll...” His grin widened. “The hell am I ‘posed to do with a woman like ya?”
“Well, for starters..” Latte reached up and grabbed his tie, slowly bringing down to her level.
“You could be a gentleman and take me to the bedroom.”
A/N: … AHHHA AHHHH AHHH AHHHH AHHHHH AHHHH TAKE IT JUST FUCKING TAKE IT
