Few people knew how the Cleaners operated. Most were aware that they had a boss, few knew who that might be. To the Cleaners he was someone to count on, someone to whom they owned a lot, or just someone they could believe in. To you, he was all that and more.

If few people knew who the boss of the Cleaners were, then you could count on one hand who knew about yours and Corvus' relationship. It wasn't that you two were hiding it, at least not while on HQ, it was just how you two were, private. It was just easy to miss it if one wasn't paying attention to the details. Details that for the both of you were obvious.

It was one afternoon during a meeting that Semiu and Enjin understood what the “details” were. They both were aware of your relationship with Corvus. You were beside him as he recruited both of them and even before that. You were an extension of Corvus power and his goals, and all cleaners knew to respect that. So though they never pried, they knew that you were not only his greatest supporter, but his partner as well. It was also why it was so stifling seeing you two disagreeing on something.

While discussing a few strategies for the next mission, you and Corvus' strategies and ideas seemed to clash a bit, something that practically never happened. Both of your tones were civil. Each argument was solid, and though the small disagreement had startled Semiu and Enjin at first, it resolved itself quickly enough.

“-That's why I must disagree with you.” Corvus said at the end of his reasoning, his always present easy going tone clear to Enjin's ears.

All present in the room turn to you as you nod your head once before answering him with a calm voice of your own. “Very well then, we are in disagreement. Since this matter seems to be settled, you'll have to excuse me.” You rise from your chair and walk out of the office room carrying some of the paperwork you brought with you.

Enjin stretches his arms above his head, and Semiu gets up to gather her own papers, both getting ready to leave. They are both surprised when Corvus talks again.

“I am sorry you two had to witness such a vicious argument.”

Confusion freezes them in place.

“Oh… Was that a fight?” Enjin says, looking back at the door where you had so calmly left not long ago.

“Are you kidding me?” Corvus answers, the uncharacteristic slang feels foreign coming from him, but his tone is still the same. “They said ‘you'll have to excuse me’ instead of ‘please excuse me’. Might as well have spit in my face. You two are dismissed”

It is a blur to the veteran cleaners how they got outside of the office, both extremely confused by the altercation. Enjin takes longer to recover, but Semiu quickly wanders. If that was a “‘vicious argument” as Corvus put it, maybe every time he asked you if you were well, it might as well have been a declaration.

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the moonlight shining through your window was what snapped you out of your work-induced exhaustion. face lain on the desk, hands resting under your chin, back aching from the uncomfortable position. you had taken on a commission that was much more work than you expected, keeping you awake much longer than you’d hoped.

qifrey tapping your shoulder, looking over you with a worried expression was what really woke you up. his face nearly met yours as his eyes burned into you with concern, squeezing your shoulder as you rise, miserable, from your nap.

“easy,” he coaxes as you rise urgently from your chair, your legs almost failing from the sudden movement. “you need to rest. it’ll still be here in the morning.” qifrey pushes, his hands holding yours tightly. “don’t overwork yourself.”

“i know, love,” you reply hastily, rubbing your eyes to shake the sleep out of them. “but i need to finish this.”

qifrey pauses, his lips pursing into a thin line. he watches your face, taking in the sunken skin of yours eyes complimented by a bruise-purple, the flush of your cheeks threatening sickness. “this isn’t about the work.”

you snort. “not really.” heaving a deep sigh, you try to sit back down; only for qifrey to pull you close to his chest to prevent you from reaching the chair. he plants a kiss on the crown of your head, muttering into your scalp.

“i know you don’t want my help,” qifrey digs, “but taking a moment to rest will only benefit you.”

‘that’s the problem,’ your brain counters, ‘if i rest now, i won’t accomplish anything. and i need to. i need to prove im not a worthless witch.’

“.. you wouldn’t understand,” your voice wavers slightly, your stern tone betrayed by the yawn that sneaks up on you, “.. i need to finish this.”

“you’re right. i don’t understand,” qifrey replies swiftly, and you yelp as he picks you up into a bridal carry. “but i understand that you need a certain amount of sleep to function.” your body doesn’t get the message, exhausted limbs seeping into qifrey’s hold despite your best wishes.

he carries you away from the desk and onto your shared bed, laying you gently on top of the covers. he gently undoes your robe, pausing as your skin is bared. “may i?”

you nod, head dipping as exhaustion teeters into your body. qifrey gently removes your clothes, letting them fall into a pile on the floor. for good measure, he picks you back up again and lifts the covers, letting them fall over you as your body treacherously relaxes onto the mattress.

“goodnight, my love,” qifrey whispers, pressing a gentle kiss to your forehead. he winks out the candles, undoing his own robes so he can climb into bed with you.

almost as an afterthought, qifrey teases; “if i feel you getting up to go work before the sun rises, i won’t make you tea for a week.”

“… you wouldn’t,” you reply with no real bite to it, the soft blanket and safety of being near qifrey making your eyelids heavy. he laughs, breathy, and lays his arms over your torso. “don’t underestimate my commitment.”