#verse. main

Arms are crossed over her chest as she leans in the doorway, watching him. Her eyes trace over him clocking all the little things she'd written off during their latest few days of work. It was easy enough to miss for most people but a few things she'd kept silent in the back of her head to address later. It seemed now was the time.

She'd felt him slide from the bed about twenty minutes ago. At first she'd written it off. Perhaps he just needed the bathroom or had forgotten something. But then he hadn't returned. By ten minutes she was sitting up in the bed, a frown on her lips. She knew he wasn't coming back any time soon on his own account. So she'd gone looking for him.

He may not be looking at her but he's truthful with her at least. Doesn't try and write it off. Let's her call him out. She takes it as another sign that he must be exhausted. Instead of getting mad he's been trying to hide this from her she sighs. It won't do any good. Pushing off the door frame she walks over to him on the couch. When he doesn't look up or make eye contact she makes a decision.

She could drag him back to bed but she knows he'd probably just lay there for hours staring at the ceiling. Or maybe he'd sneak off again once she fell asleep. She's not taking a chance.

Knees plant on either side of his thighs as she climbs into his lap. She may be smaller than him but still she covers him; a protective layer between him and the world for a moment. Settling, her hands move up to his face, turning him to look at her. "You need sleep, baby," she says gently. There's concern in her eyes.

Oh you greedy for headcanons just like me. I see this payback for what I sent in. XD

For each “⭐️” I get, I’ll write a headcanon about our muses.

⭐️: Bri wasn't much of a clothing stealer until she met Eli. He gave her his jacket that one time and it opened a whole can of worms. Sometimes she's on shift wearing one of his plain black sweaters over her scrubs because it's warmer than her own and she just likes it. No one ever says anything even though it is clearly larger than her. She folds up the cuffs and wears it stylishly she thinks. She makes it work.

⭐️: One time he made her so mad that instead of Twizzlers, she bought him Red Vines to show how mad she was at him because they taste terrible. He ate them all. honestly he didn't even notice or realise she was mad.

⭐️: One time, before they decide to actually call themselves 'dating', they both go to the night nurse/shift karaoke night. It's stupid and funny and a good night. Eli surprises her by actually singing one of like two songs he knows and she knows then that she's fucked. Really she knew when she first clambered into his lap for that first photo together for Robby and he started blushing up a storm after. But the singing moment just solidified the deal. She saw why Jack called him a teddy bear inside.

it was fucking cold. if she hadn't worn one of her good bras she was pretty sure her nips would be showing right now, even through her nice dress and shitty sweater. this is what she got for choosing fashion over function; a thing she didn't normally do. at least not all the time. but this was a sort of date after all and she was still in the trying to make a good impression phase. which she had most certainly fucked up.

she was trying to ignore the slight tingling in her finger tips as they warned her they were not happy. the sweater didn't even have pockets for crying out loud. how was this a functional piece of clothing?? if it was a man's sweater it would be thick and have pockets on the inside and outside. fucking sexism in fashion.

bri crossed her arms, hands balling up under her elbows as she tried to warm them up. she tried to do it in a way that didn't make it seem like she was trying to warm her hands but she must have failed because one second elias was beside her and the next she was walking alone down the sidewalk.

turning around she spotted him a few paces back, pulling off his jacket with a look on his face.

'take my jacket, i'm not asking.'

"What? Elias, no. I'm not going to take your jacket. I'm fine. Really. It's not a big deal-"

He moved the jacket around her back and dropped it onto her shoulders.

fuck. it was really warm. the man was like a fucking heated blanket. she relented their mini staring match after about five seconds before stuffing her arms into the jacket arms and pulling it tighter around herself. so much better.

moving to stand beside him again she wrapped her well covered arms around one of his, trying her best to keep at least one of his extremities warm at least as thanks. hands caught his, fingers lacing to try and keep his warm. all it was really doing though was warming up her own cold digits with his hot ones.

it's early. that's all she really registers in the pale light coating the room. normally she'd check her watch but she'd forgone it yesterday in favor of a light bracelet that matched her outfit. normally it was glued to her wrist. eyes adjust slowly to what light is coming through the window.

she's curled up on what is currently her own side of the bed, one leg sticking out of the warmth of the blankets to cool down. she's always over heating. one arm tucked under the pillow to add cushioning. bri is turned to face him, watching him as he lays there beside her. he's awake.

eyes trace over his shape visible outside of the covers. they clock the scars scattered along his arm closest to her just as they'd looked curiously on at his back tattoos the night before. from her angle she can just see the ridge of scar on his ribs. a hand reaches out from it's safe warm haven under the sheet to trace the raised scar tissue. he doesn't flinch, just stills a little as she continues her exploration. her movements are slow, still touched by the tiredness of sleep but curiosity has gotten the better of her.

a small amused sound comes from her in response, too tired to actually let out a full laugh to his joke of sorts. he's always deflecting. she's learned not to press too hard when he does that. " I don't know. I thought scars and birthmarks were in. individuality and all that." fingers continue to press into his skin as if mapping it all out. memorizing it.

'FASCINATING'- THAT WAS THE THOUGHT THAT BOUNCED BETWEEN THE NUMEROUS MINDS OF THE BEING. This dimensional pocket it had found in its near endless scouring of reality and all which knotted to it // AND THE DISCOVERY HAD BEEN PLEASING TO SAY THE LEAST. Beings which existed, the construction of this own reality, and most recently being an eye it had felt watching back from its disconnected observation from own realm. Few ever noticed eyes watching from the realm between realms, and those that did either did not concern themselves with it or DECIDED SELF A THREAT. Neither had happened, so it had merely been an instance of distant observation.

There is no reverence in him for the holy or the divine, yet he walks with purpose through the inlaid stones of the shrine's pathways. The amount of times he's been found faced down in an alleyway after imbibing one too many drinks far exceeded any attempt to ask for help or wish upon the unseen.

It's loud...

The sight of sparklers, food stalls, and families gives him that same sense of forlorn distance that sets in during the holidays. He dips his chin bringing the tip of his cigarette towards the lighter's flame to distract himself. With a deep inhale, the burning end sparks red like a single eye in the night to match its holder.

Always amongst, but never a part of, Towa weaves through the crowd like a gossamer thread. At the shrine door, he makes himself known with two strong thumps of his knuckles. He hadn't even asked if this was where he'd find Wei Yiren. Perhaps this entire journey would be a waste of time.