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Tumblr leaned in the doorway of the home office, a fond smile on their lips as they watched Ao3 type furiously at the computer. They let the silence settle, but when Ao3 didn’t notice and perk up at the smell of coffee like they usually did, Tumblr entered anyway, carrying the two warm mugs of decaf.
“How’s the collection-browsing work going?” Tumblr asked, leaning against the desk as they settled the red mug a safe distance from the keyboard.
Ao3 startled slightly as they glanced up, but relaxed quickly, a weary but grateful expression crossing their face when they noticed the coffee. “Oh, thank you, hellie…it’s going fine. All in a day’s work at the library, y’know. Should be done in a few hours.”
Tumblr smiled at them. “Yeah, and when you’re done…” their grin grew as their fingers landed and slowly crawled up their spouse’s shoulder, letting their tone drop. “There are a few…tricks I’ve been learning lately. That I want to show to you.”
“Oh.?” Ao3 tore their gaze away from their monitor as they picked up their mug, meeting Tumblr’s eyes as their own narrowed in understanding. “And where would you be showing me these tricks…?”
“Why, the bedroom, of course.” Tumblr leaned over their beloved, smirking as they felt the shiver that made Ao3 sit up a little straighter.
Ao3 was starting to look quite excited now, but they were obviously trying to brush off the tension- likely to make it easier to focus on work again. It didn’t seem to be working well for them, judging by the quiver in their slightly higher voice; Tumblr wasn’t surprised, their mind always seemed drawn to the explicit, not that Tumblr was complaining. “Mm-mhm. And this trick is?”
Tumblr leaned down to whisper directly into their ear, playing up the seductive tone just to whisper one singular word. “Juggling~”
Ao3 spluttered coffee back into their mug, and Tumblr’s heart leaped at the sight of that smile as they stood up straight again and steadied their dear’s drink.
“Hellie,” Ao3 wheezed, leaning forward in their chair as they shook with laughter. “Juggling?”
“Juggling! Here-” eager to keep the laughter ringing through the air, Tumblr set down the drinks and grabbed the nearest small items they could find- ah, little plastic crow figurines, close enough to the red balls they’d been practicing with- and started tossing them about.
Ao3 was still laughing, so hard they were just about falling out of their office chair, clutching at their chest and Tumblr’s sleeve. The figurines clattered on the desk as Tumblr realized how choked their mirth sounded now.
“Love?” Forgetting the figurines, Tumblr hunched over Ao3, taking their hand that had grasped their sleeve. “Oh, honey, I’m sorry- oh, shit-”
Tumblr had to catch Ao3 as they slipped sideways off the chair, and they hastily lowered their lover to the floor, supporting their back and head. Ao3 held onto their shoulder as they coughed, the pain-filled sounds tearing at Tumblr’s heart and filling the room.
When the ragged gasping finally eased, Tumblr stretched to grab some water from the desk. “Baby, are you okay? I’m sorry if that’s my fault,” they murmured as they guided the bottle to Ao3’s trembling hands. The librarian shook their head before drinking, so Tumblr quieted, waiting impatiently as Ao3 caught their breath.
“Not your fault,” they murmured eventually, waving as if to dispel Tumblr’s worries- which was unsuccessful. “Just- sorry. I don’t know what happened.”
Tumblr frowned at them. “Did you take your medicine this morning?”
Ao3 nodded, resting their head on Tumblr’s shoulder and making no effort to sit up properly. “Of course.”
The words had barely left their lips before their breathing hitched, and Tumblr held them through another hacking fit, even worse then the last one.
“Love,” Tumblr murmured, feeling their forehead as Ao3 slumped against them. “You’re warm. I don’t like it. When’s your next appointment?”
Ao3’s pale features scrunched. “Uhhh…pretty soon, I think. Three days, and it’s probably gonna be a long one.”
“Maybe you should call and ask if there’s any sooner available time.”
A hoarse groan. “Hellie…”
They stopped when Tumblr’s hand moved up to their hair and started slowly stroking there, fight draining like their energy. “…huff, okay. But only if you make the call.”
A completely fair response, Tumblr supposed. “Mkay. And you’re resting for today.”
Ao3 shot them that glance- the grumpy one that said I’m too damn tired to argue, so just know I’m mildly displeased with this. Their features softened when Tumblr picked them up, just mumbled something about make sure to clean up those plastic crow boys.
“…great. Thanks so much.” Tumblr’s shoulders slumped as they finally got off the call and looked down at Ao3, whose head now lay in their lap on the couch, expression smoothed out at the pampering they were receiving. “They have a space tomorrow. Two days earlier than you were supposed to go, I’d say that’s pretty good.”
Ao3 grumbled softly, tugging on Tumblr’s arm. “Just…mkay, whatever. I hope the appointment’s not too long…keep going…”
Tumblr leaned down to kiss their head, before continuing the head scratches Ao3 had been savoring. “Yes, dearest…”
They sat like that in savory silence for another minute, before Ao3 rolled over with another soft grumble. “And I was gonna update my fanfiction tomorrow, toooo…”
Tumblr chuckled. “The author’s curse strikes again, my dear.”
