Vampix

Brendon stared at his phone. It had been 20 minutes since his alarm had gone off, and if he didn’t get up now, he wouldn’t have the time to get in his quick workout before work.

He looked down at his wife, Victoria, leg thrown over his hips, and her arm holding him close by his chest. A smile crept onto his face as he saw her bed hair, dyed red strands. Tattooed skin peeking out from his old Metallica shirt that she had claimed.

He sighed, gently trying to pull her arm off, but only receiving a groan in response as she pressed closer. „Baby,“ Brendon said softly, „I gotta get up.“ She shook her head and locked him further in with her legs, „Just 10 more minutes Bren.“

He cupped her cheek, smoothing over the soft skin there, „I wish Sweetheart, but I'm really going to be late if I don’t get up now. You know I got surgeries scheduled early today.“ Reluctantly she huffed out a 'fine‘ and let go of him.

Brendon, now finally able to, sat up and slid out of the bed, turning back once to place a soft kiss on his wife’s forehead and mutter a quick „I‘ll text you later,“ before pulling the blankets over her again and leaving their bedroom.

He made his way through their Victorian-style house. It wasn’t his choice, he used to live in a nice home, modernish with lots of old woodwork. When they engaged, Victoria started looking into other housing options and found her Victorian house of dreams, and Brendon did not care which house he lived in as long as he could see the smile and glee of joy in her eyes.

An hour later he had finished his workout in their small home gym, showered and changed into his scrubs, and was out the door.

What he forgot to pack was his lunch, or maybe he didn’t actually forget it and actually wanted to see his wife during lunch knowing she had her first appointment later that day. …. A couple of hours later Victoria was woken by two pairs of paws pressing into her chest. A small smile spread onto her lips before she even opened her eyes. Reaching out she pet the soft fur of one of their cats, slowly creaking one eye open she looked into green eyes, that stared right back at her.

“Hey there Callum,” Victoria murmured, scratching under his chin and receiving a loud purr in response. A moment later a second cat jumped onto the bed with a loud meow. “Yeah yeah, I’ll get you your food Salem,” she chuckled patting him on the head twice before getting up.

Putting on the silk rope Brendon had gotten her, she made her way down followed by two cats and joined by a third once downstairs in the kitchen. Going through the morning ritual of feeding the gremlins and opening the door for their back porch that Brendon had made cat-safe.

Once all that was done, she’d finally made it back upstairs and managed to look at her phone.

Bren<3: I accidentally forgot my lunch at home, mind bringing it over and eating lunch with me before you head into the studio?

Victoria huffed a laugh, shaking her head softly. She was well aware that he didn’t forget his lunch,it was on purpose like last time, but who was she to deny him? Seeing her husband in scrubs? Yeah, that was like a reward. Opening the chat she typed out a quick message.

Victoria: Of course you did. Your lunch break at 12 still standing?

Almost immediately the reply came.

Bren<3: kept my schedule clear just for you, sweets.

After that, she started a slow morning. Making breakfast for herself and sitting outside with the cats, watching them play and lazily bathe in the sun.

Eventually, Victoria went back inside to catch up on some of the chores. Well, there weren’t many left, Brendon hired a cleaner who shows up two days a week to clean the house, it definitely had taken some convincing from Brendon for Victoria to agree. Still, once he rationalised how big the house was and that they worked full-time it would be a relief for both of them. And now that she’d get used to it, Victoria didn’t want to miss it.

While folding the laundry Victoria went over the appointments she had planned later that day. And then it was already time to get ready. For tattoo sessions, she always focused on comfort rather than style. So low-rise black sweatpants, a cropped black shirt with a stretched-out neckline, the soft flesh of her stomach was showing, decorated with one of her favourite tattoos. A wolf in sheep's skin and a sheep in a wolf's skin. A couple of necklaces and bracelets and the outfit was complete.

Packing her usual stuff for the studio, and packing an extra bag with Brendon’s forgotten lunch, lunch for herself, and a sweet treat consisting of home-baked cinnamon buns for the both of them.

The drive to the hospital had already memorised itself into Victoria’s brain after all these years. Lucky for Brendon it was actually on her way to the studio.

Parking in the deck it was a home run from there on.

Orthopedics was on the fourth floor of the hospital, so one elevator ride later Victoria was walking towards the nurses' station.

“Hey Jessica,” Victoria greeted the charge nurse. The woman looked up and a smile spread across her face, “Oh hi there dear. Did Park forget his lunch again?” Jessica asked, putting the ‘forgot’ in air quotes.

She chuckled nodding, “Yeah, he did, obviously on the day I have late appointments. How’s your shift?”

“You know, Park’s intimidating the new residents and med students, but otherwise it’s been gracious,” Jessica said, nodding towards the hallway behind her, “Park’s in his office.”

“Thanks, have a wonderful easy shift and I’ll see you,” Victoria smiled and walked towards the breakroom to warm up their food.

Most of the staff had met her over the years in which Victoria and Park had been married, so they didn’t bat an eye when she walked into the breakroom to heat lunch.

With a warm lunch, she knocked on Brendon’s office door hearing his familiar voice through the wood. Stepping inside the office, Brendon had already cleared his desk and stood up to greet her.

“Hey Bren,” Victoria greeted, stepping onto her tiptoes to request a kiss. Brendon oh just so sweetly leaned down to fulfill his wife's wishes, “You got here alright?”

“Yep, no traffic, got my favourite parking spot and now I get to have lunch with my husband,” she said walking over to his desk and settling the dishes down.

“But I fear you're really getting old now, with how often you seem to forget your food,” Victoria said sarcastically, sitting down.

“Oh, you think so? Well blame me then for wanting to see my beautiful wife,” he laughed helping with arranging the leftovers from yesterday's dinner.

“So how’s your shift?” She asked after the first mouthful of his homemade lasagna.

Brendon hummed softly, “Alright, the surgery went well. New residents and med students aren’t too awful. How was your morning, Baby?”

Knowing Brendon that was high praise, he was very particular about his staff, only wanting the best, wanting to give the patients the best care they can get.

Brendon looked at her with all the softness and admiration he had, wondering, as he had done so often, how he got this lucky.

“Oh you know, nice and easy. I coddled the cats, did some laundry, I really missed you, the bed was getting cold,“ Victoria said, earning a full belly laugh from her husband. She leaned over to playfully smack his arm, „Don't you dare laugh at me, Brendon.“

„I'm sorry, Vic. I'll make sure to get you a heated blanket next time,“ he chuckled. „That's not the same, I like your body heat more, cuddling up to you,“ she said in thought, remembering back to countless nights in their shared bed.

Brendon raised his brows, pointing his fork at her, „You just want to warm your cold feet on my body. Mischievous little thing.“

Victoria gasped, pressing her hand to her chest, „My husband? Backstabbing me? I feel betrayed, I would never do such a thing,“ she said with false innocence.

„I‘m not backstabbing, I‘m just telling the truth, I feel it when you warm your feet on my legs,“ he defended himself.

She smirked at him, „And you happily let me.“ He shook his head, but not meaning it, „I‘ll always let you, my love.“

Soon, the lasagna was gone and they moved to the cinnamon buns. „Your baking is heavenly, honey,“ Brendon said, after his first bite.

„Thank you, Bren. I gotta make a patch for the floor again soon and for the ED you know they have hell down there,“ Victoria answered, knowing they always appreciated some home-made goods.

Brendon smiled, „You're way too good for this world.“

„You humble me,“ she laughed.

Once the last of their food was eaten, Victoria got up and walked around his desk. Urging Brendon to scoot back on his chair. „What are you doing?“ he asked, following her lead.

„We got a couple of minutes before I have to leave and your lunch break is over, and I suggest we use it to the fullest,“ she said, taking her place on his lap.

Running her fingers through his slicked-back hair, and down his neck to eventually settle on his shoulder blades. „Careful with the hair,“ Brendon warned playfully with a raised brow.

„Oh you know I hate it when your hair is slicked back like that. I like your curls more,“ she complained, leaning down to steal a kiss.

He happily delivered.

Leaning back a few inches he answered, „You know it's easier with the scrub cap.“

She let their noses brush, whispering, „I know but it doesn't mean I need to like it.“

This time Brendon leaned in to get another kiss, letting his hands wander over her body before settling on her waist and gently pressing into the softness of her flesh.

He could stay like that forever, all his senses consumed by her, smelling her perfume that hauntingly crept up on you, the taste of cinnamon and the gum she always chews on his tongue, the softness of her skin, the weight of her body leaning onto his, seeing the glint of metal and eyeliner when he looked at her face through lidded eyes.

And when he finally relaxed and settled into the embrace his pager went off.

He broke the kiss and groaned in annoyance, „Fuck me.“

Victoria smirked at him, „Don‘t tempt me.“

Reaching for his pager, he took a look at who was disturbing their time, „Fucking ED:“

„Ortho consult?“ Victoria asked, already getting off his lap and starting to pack up their stuff.

„Yeah, they can wait a couple of minutes, I‘m gonna bring you down on my way there,“ he said, helping her pack together.

„Do you mind grabbing groceries on your way home after shift? It's probably gonna be late at the studio today,“ Victoria asked. „Will do. Text me when you're done?“ he asked, holding the door open as they moved out of the office.

She grabbed his hand interlacing their fingers as they walked towards the elevator.

„Of course, you already know what's for dinner?“ she asked. Brendon hummed, „How do you feel about steak, with creamy garlic pasta and asparagus paired with a nice white wine?“

„Oh, you can read my mind, baby,“ she said, smiling up at him.

„Of course I do,“ he replied just as the elevator doors opened.

Stepping into the ED Chaos didn‘t phase Victoria much at this point. „Alright, be safe on your way and then I‘ll see you tonight,“ Brendon said, leaning down to give her one last kiss before parting.

„See you tonight,“ she answered, walking out.

…

Brendon was the first to return home. Just like he had promised, he'd gotten groceries and stopped at the flower shop to pick up a nice bouquet.

By the time Victoria texted that she was wrapping up and on her way home, he'd showered, prepped the steaks, cooked the pasta and the asparagus ready to reheat when they were ready to eat, fed the cats, and was on his way to draw a nice bath for his wife to enjoy when she was home.

Busying himself with laying out her pajamas for later, he heard their front door open.

„Bren, I'm home!“ Victoria's voice boomed through the house.

He heard her bustling around downstairs, greeting the cats. „I'm upstairs,“ he answered.

The bath now finally full he turned off the water and made his way downstairs to find his wife in the kitchen admiring the flowers.

She twirled around, „Aww you got me flowers Bren,“ jumping into his arms and kissing him on the cheek, „Thank you.“

He chuckled, hugging her back, „You are very welcome, Baby.“ Placing a kiss on the top of her head, „For the trouble you had with bringing me my lunch.“

She laughed at his words, „You are the sweetest Brendon.“ He smiled down at her, „Well it gets even better, dinner is nearly done only gotta fry the steaks, but first I got a nice and relaxing bath ready for you.“ He placed his hands on her waist, caressing her gently before turning her towards the stairs, leaning down he murmured, „Why don't you go ahead and I‘ll pour us a glass of wine and join you so you can tell me all about your day.“

Victoria smiled, turned her face to give him a small peck, and then headed upstairs to get into the bath.

Taking the wine from the wine fridge, he poured them both a small glass before dinner and then headed into the master bathroom.

Victoria had just settled into the bath, hair up in a clip so It wouldn‘t get wet.

The bathtub was a custom build. The original was too small to fit Brendon, but Victoria didn't want to go without a Victorian-style tub, so he had one custom built that would accommodate both of them. But tonight he sat down in a similar Victorian-style armchair placed in the corner after handing her, the glass of wine.

It was a familiar ritual at this point, one they did so often. And while Victoria told him about her day, her fellow artists at the studio, the clients, and the designs she had tattooed that day, Brendon once again wondered:

How did he get so lucky?