#stefandra

Sleep:I'll write a drabble of one character snuggling in bed with another.

It was funny, but Cassie had never pegged Stefan as the cuddling sort. He was always so prone to keep people at a distance, he almost never even hugged people unless the two were in relationship or if the other person instigated it (aka Charlie). So when they had first gotten together and slept in the same bed, that he actually did initiate such a snugly action as cuddling.

It was even more odd when her only other boyfriend, though he was alright with cuddling, would only do so for a few minutes before he needed to move around. Such a thing had been unfortunate at the time, because Cassie was not one to move around much so she could not quite understand his predicament.

Stefan though was just the same. It was pretty much guaranteed that if fell asleep, huddled together, they would wake up almost the exact same way. She certainly didn't mind it; it was nice to wake up and feel someone's warmth. Knowing they're around without even needing to open your eyes.

1. What do they like to talk about?

Anything that isn't work, really. Because since they work together, they just kind of get sick of talking about it. They both really like documentaries and history though so I imagine they talk about those a lot.

2. What don’t they talk about?

Their families, dude. Like, Stefan's an only child; and his parents basically only had him to take over the family's company. And like, he likes his parents...? But he's not particularly close with them, y'know?

And Cassie feels kinda similar but not for the same reasons? Cassie has got three other siblings and she gets along decently with them? At least better than she does with her parents, probably. But her parents and her just do not have the same viewpoints at all.

Like whenever they vaguely reference their families the other is like "Wait, say what?"

3. What have each of them given up for each other?

Cassie gave up going to college because he offered her a job and a place to live. Like, this was wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy before they got together but I suppose it counts still?

Stefan has given up on having in-laws that approve of him. He owns a highly successful company, lives in a mansion; and all her parents can do is laugh at the fact that he has never used a gun so they buy him one for Christmas.

4. What compromises have they made with each other?

Well, having Jasper was sort of a compromise...?

But uh probably the fact that when he offered her a job and place to live, she would only accept if Kate could live there too--mostly because Kate had been sharing an apartment with her at the time and she didn't want to ditch her. Also sharing a house with just Stefan would be weird what the heck.

Stefan eventually has to compromise that he can't go on a business trip alone if it's longer than a week. Because even though Cassie can manage on her own, she doesn't like having the house to herself for longer than that.

5. Do each of them know how the other takes their tea/coffee/other?

Stefan (after a little trial and error) knows that Cassie prefers Jasmine tea.

Cassie's pretty sure it's favorite too...? He usually makes himself some too. But sometimes he has green tea so she's not entirely sure.

6. How much do they trust each other?

After living with and getting used to each other? Quite a bit. Mostly because they just come to understand one another better. Neither one of them would have expected this result initially though.

7. In what ways do they prefer to show affection for each other?

Stefan, growing up the way he did, definitely shows affection through, like, material gifts. Originally it's just like usual stupid stuff that, though she appreciates him getting it, it's not stuff Cassie really wants. Like, flowers, jewelry and whatever else. But eventually he picks up on it and actually gets stuff she likes even if he feels like they're just cheap presents. Like, those vanilla scented candles she likes. Ramen noodles since she was talking about craving some the day before

Cassie though is definitely more of a physical affection kind of person. But really only in private. Never in public nooooooo. In public, she definitely shows her affection more through teasing and poking fun at him. Don't get me wrong she'll do it in private too. But she does it a lot more in public.

8. Do either have habits that annoy the other?

Cassie really likes to make fun of the fact that Stefan has grey hair at his young age. Genetics suck. She can hardly cook anything without it burning or being under-cooked. Once she starts drinking alcohol, she does not want to stop.

Stefan has this really annoying tendency when he's working at home to just tune absolutely everything out even without music or anything to distract him. And when you're trying to get his attention? It is a tad annoying. He's a bit short-tempered. And he leaves his toothbrush on the counter rather than putting it in a cup or something. Like, really, who even does that??

9. What habits does each find endearing in each other?

Stefan's got this really sarcastic sometimes even dark sense of humor that will just make Cassie laugh every time. When she talks to him while he's reading, he'll look up over the rims of his glasses instead of lifting his chin. And a lot of times when he's really happy and can't help smiling, he'll bring a hand up to cover his mouth to hide it rather than just outright smile.

Cassie has, what Stefan feels, is an infectious laugh; because sometimes he'll make a snarky comment and she'll laugh at it and even though he doesn't find it too funny he'll wind up laughing too. When she gets angry, she has this tendency to say whatever comes to her mind even if it's something she doesn't want to say or won't help her point at all. It's like she can't lie when she's angry. Sometimes when she tries to embarrass him, she ends up feeling more embarrassed than he does. He thinks it's kinda cute...

10. What is the division of power like in the relationship?

She hated when there was a work trip. Well, no that was not quite right: She hated when there was a work trip and, for whatever reason, Stefan had to go alone.

It wasn’t that she didn’t understand. After all he was the CEO of a major corporation, and she was just a secretary and blah blah blah. It only made sense.

But she hated being stuck in their house without him. It just made the place so…empty. So boring. So alone.

She hated it. Hated, hated, hated it. Especially when it was one of his longer trips. Like right now. He had been gone for a whole week. And she had tried her hardest to keep herself distracted.

She had hung out with her friends and went to work. And she felt fine when doing those things. But every time she got back in their driveway, or even on the ride home in the car—she would feel this wave of depression suddenly return, weighing down heavily on her shoulders.

But today was finally the last day. The day he was coming home. She knew they had talked before he left and decided that she didn’t have to pick him up since she would just be getting off of work. But she ended up going anyway.

She already knew how he’d react: slightly irritated, asking why she’d shown up, sigh at her lack of a reason, and decide it didn’t matter too much if she was fine with it.

After a a half hour or so of waiting at the airport, she spotted him and called out to him. He barely opened his mouth to ask his question when he was attacked in a hug and they fell unceremoniously in a heap on the carpet.

"What…" Where did that come from? She pulled herself off so he could sit up, apologizing as she did. He was rubbing the back of his head (it had collided with one of seats behind them) and looking at her as though he wasn’t sure what to expect. “You feeling okay, Cassie?"