you recognize that familiar pain in your bottom. it wasn't agonizing per-say, it was simply tender and a discomfort that you didn't exactly wish to feel regardless of the intensity.
in all honesty, you didn't want to wake up them up by any means. it would be embarrassing to explain that your tailbone is hurting just from laying down too much during your attempts to sleep. a deep sigh leaves you, forcing yourself to flip onto your stomach instead and stare at their flaccid expression, resting without a care in the world that sparked a twinge of playful and lighthearted jealously.
"your staring has this feeling of disturbing my sleep, you.." they murmured drowsily, a lazy utter that came sluggish and quietscent yet still so affectionately. it startled you despite the volume and tone. it wasnt something you expected and genuinely believed they were fast asleep after all.
due to being stunned, you stared like a fool before a brain fart moment, "huuejabpoen." is what came out of your mind. damn.
both you and your partner stared at each other with confusion, "what did you just say?" they said with a growing smile and a chuckle of disbelief. you felt your cheeks heat up and you rubbed your temples with mild disappointment from the brain fart.. "I meant to say.. sorry. I just couldn't sleep." you finally managed to speak, say something coherent while keeping out the part of your pain a secret.
but they knew. they always did. you weren't as secretive nor mysterious as you would've liked. however, that's the point of a relationship you suppose. as you laid there, head lowering slightly to avoid eye contact, they made no move to scold or ridicule you. they got closer, lowering a hand to your lower back and began to massage your tailbone area to soothe the tenderness and dull ache.
silence washed over the both of you — sweet, comforting and enough to slow your mind.
"don't feel so ashamed to tell me where you hurt. we must rely on each other or else we'll suffer in the same house but not together." they coaxed gently to you. you nodded. it'll be hard, of course it would, it was a necessary evil you think.
> I dont use ai for my works
> lowercase is intentional
> just in case, do not use my work to train ai or for ai purposes
> au and setting is intentionally ambiguous
