Work Text:
waaaaaaa I want a hug
Slamming the front door shut, you immediately dropped your bag and collapsed onto the couch. Sinking into the soft cushions, you took heavy, unsteady breaths as you tried to hold yourself together just for a few more seconds. You had a huge pile of overdue work, and the amount was only steadily growing larger as the days passed by in a blur. The stress constantly hung over you, a crushing weight that had claws around your lungs, squeezing tight and making breathing easily impossible. The rational part of you knew you should just concentrate and finish it all, but…A big part of you also didn’t even want to attempt to start, demotivated by the overwhelming amount you had to complete. Deep down, you knew this problem was ridiculous- weeks of stress over something that could be finished in a few days of hard work. You just…couldn’t bring yourself to do it, and you hated yourself for it. Laziness, some would call it. The stress was taking a huge toll on your mental and physical health, and it was certainly showing.
Your house was a mess, papers and whatnot strewn all over the floor, and you weren’t properly taking care of yourself at all. You were quite literally a wreck right now, and it grew clearer with each passing day. Stress was eating at you slowly, consuming and overtaking, until it was all you could think about. It dragged at your performance in everything else, because you barely did anything these days except to curl up and rot in bed, closing your eyes and attempting to forget everything. It affected your social life, too. You found yourself sleeping less and less each night, which led to thinning patience and unhappy moods. Talking to others felt difficult, and you were easily upset by the smallest issues, growing frustrated and wanting to lash out at something. You wondered if anyone noticed the subtle changes. You wanted someone, anyone to see and realize, and yet..it would be best if no one did. You probably weren’t ready to talk about it yet, though you weren’t sure if you ever would be.
Really, there was only one idiot in the world you felt you could confide in…your dear partner, 1x1x1x1. Talking to them eased the weight on resting heavy on your chest, allowing you to just breathe easier for once. The only problem? They had been out and would be for the entire week, according to them. So really, you were just left with yourself and your scrambled thoughts for the rest of the week. 1x did send messages daily, which was sweet of him, really. It made you feel a bit better knowing that he cared so much, though your responses had became shorter and more dull, as you continued spiraling into the worries of everything you had to do.
Mustering up the remaining energy you had left, you dragged yourself up the stairs and into your bedroom. Pulling out some pajamas, you changed into some more comfortable clothing, haphazardly throwing the other ones over your shoulder. At this point, you were really too exhausted to care about the mess on the floor. Crashing on the bed, you stared at the ceiling blankly before turning to look at your phone with a sigh. 1x had left some new messages, asking if you were taking care of yourself and eating okay. If only he knew…
You opted not to respond for now, not knowing what to say and tired beyond your mind to come up with a vague lie. You buried your face in a pillow, trying not to cry and so desperately wishing he was here to comfort you. Falling asleep, you later woke up to realize the room had turned dark, the weak autumn sunlight no longer peeking through the windows. You blearily checked the time on your phone, realizing it was 7pm. You also failed to notice the new messages sent by 1x, expressing his concern and asking once again if you were okay. You knew you should respond, should get up and eat dinner, should do anything but continue rotting in bed.
Anyways, you chose the last option and fell back asleep. When you woke up the second time, around 2 hours later, it was to the ring of a doorbell. Your houses doorbell. You figured it was just some random delivery, and decided to wait until they left and would get it later. The ringing continued, insistent.
Perhaps it was a worried neighbor making sure for 1x that you weren’t dead yet. After a while, the ringing finally stopped, and you sunk back into bed with a sigh.
…Only to freeze as you heard the sound of a door, your front door, slowly creaking open.
No one should be opening the door-Was someone breaking in-?
Going stone still, you strained to hear anything downstairs, footsteps, the floor creaking, anything. …And then you snapped to reality and bolted up, quietly darting across the room to close and lock your door. You prayed whoever it was, they would just take something and leave, unaware of the panicking resident upstairs. Your heart stopped as the footsteps approached the staircase, fumbling with your phone to call the police, before a familiar voice cut through the silence.
“…Are you there? Please don’t tell me you got kidnapped..”
…Was that 1x..?
The footsteps came up the stairs, pausing at your locked bedroom door.
Then- keys sliding in, turning to unlock the door, which was then slowly pushed open.
You sat there, frozen on the bed, still not fully realizing what was happening. The door swung open, to reveal a very disheveled and worried 1x, wildly gazing around the room before landing on your silent figure. You could see the mixture of emotions slamming into him at once, worry and relief and some anger flickering through his eyes as the two of you just stared at eachother, him in quiet relief, and you were still processing what just occurred. And then-
“You didn’t answer my messages…do you know how worried I was, you could’ve been-“
He cuts himself off, immediately taking in the mess of your bedroom, your messed up hair and eyebags, every small or big thing that was wrong right now.
“Are you oka…no, you’re obviously not. What’s..?”
His puzzled look, one you find unfairly adorable despite the situation, morphs into deep worry as you shake a bit.
He immediately darts over to you on the bed, wrapping one arm around you, cupping your cheek with the other hand. You desperately hold yourself together, swallowing down your intense feelings as you mumble in a quiet rasp in response.
“I…I just missed you alot, really..”
1x huffs, a fond smile forming a bit, before composing themselves.
“Your sweet words flatter me, but we both know that isn’t even a quarter of what’s wrong. You look horrible. And a wreck. And skinny.”
Some tears slip down your face, and 1x reverently brushes them gently away with his thumb, sighing.
“Don’t cry…please. You…don’t have to tell me what’s wrong-just let me take care of you. You look like you need lots of it.”
At those words, you let go a bit and bury your face into the crook of his neck, crying.
“I can’t do anything right-I can’t even do ANYTHING, and I’m so damn tired and sick, I can’t-“
You sob quietly, breaking off as 1x shifts and holds you closer against him, lightly rubbing your back and gently resting his chin on your head, a comforting weight. He gently tangles his fingers in your hair, stroking it and brushing it and doing everything that made you feel better. Normally, you would’ve teased him for being so uncharacteristically sweet, but you just accepted the comforting gesture gratefully. You really wanted someone to take care of you right now and hum soothing words and cuddle you, and you were immensely happy that 1x was here now.
1x holds you for a few minutes longer, before gently pulling away. You let out a quiet, mournful noise that 1x painfully chooses to ignore, in favor of taking care of your physical needs first. He grumbles softly, lightly tugging that damn scarf you keep wrapped around your neck to get your attention.
“Have you been showering and eating three meals daily, at least..?”
You glance away, too ashamed of yourself to reply, too tired to lie anymore. 1x already knew the answer anyways, anyone could tell. Huffing out a somewhat frustrated breath, he carefully picks you up, cradling you against him as he carries you bridal style to the bathroom. Lightly setting you down on the countertop, 1x flicks on the lights and turns on the bath, the hot water beginning to cause the room to steam. 1x prepares the tub, pausing as he notices you still sitting there, perched on the countertop. After a few seconds, he speaks.
“Aren’t you going to take off those clothes and get in? Water isn’t free, you know…”, he adds with a small smile, hoping silently to ease your mood a bit.
You quietly whine in response, indicating you want 1x to do it for you. He obliges with a huff, muttering.
“Such a spoiled princess…you know that..? You really just want someone to take care of you, hm?”
He finishes undressing you, carefully carrying you over to the warm bath, and lowering you in with a quiet plop.
He doesn’t get in himself, wanting to stay dry for now. He carelessly tosses in some scented bath bombs, which doesn’t go unnoticed by you. Upon your questioning look, he mumbles, face heating up a bit.
“I…recall you mentioning you’ve always wanted to try them. So…”
He stumbles over his words a bit, slightly embarrassed by admitting he went out of his way to get you some. He instead doesn’t finish his sentence, letting it trail off into comfortable silence, distracting himself by beginning to wash your hair. 1x pumps some shampoo on his hand, before shifting as close as possible while sitting outside the bathtub, and gently massages your hair. He keeps at this for some time, untangling any knots, and making sure every strand of hair is cleaned.
He notices how you seem to relax a bit as he continues, your muscles loosening as you took in the comfortable and warm environment, breathing in the scents of the bath bombs- mango and watermelon, and whatever other tropical fruits. After a bit, 1x gently nudges you.
“Close your eyes. I’m going to wash out the soap, okay?”
You obediently listen, feeling the warm water pour down your head, cascading down around you. He rinses out any last traces of shampoo, before grabbing a towel to dry your face, and then your hair.
“I’d wash the rest of your body as well, but…you look like you’d fall asleep the second I did. Maybe tomorrow, when you actually get some decent sleep for once.”
He picks you out of the tub, water dripping down everywhere before he uses a larger towel to dry your body, tightly wrapping it around you like a burrito.
He carries your bundled body back to the bedroom, fully drying your body and gently slipping your pajamas back onto your much cleaner and fresher body.
1x then grabs the blowdryer, blowing your hair until it’s soft, fluffy, and dry again. He gently runs his hands through your now clean and silky hair, humming softly.
Checking the time, 1x realized it was roughly 10pm now. He glances down at you, once again taking in how you seem thinner.
“..Hey.”
You look up, glancing back at him with exhausted affection.
“Hi..”
“I know it’s a bit late, but you look as if in desperate need of food. And even if you don’t want to, so am I. Just…eat what you can, I’ll eat alongside you. No arguments, princess, you get those privileges back when you stop torturing yourself like this.”
Falling silent (not that you said much to begin with anyways), you nod and 1x picks you up for what’s probably the fourth time now, this time brining you downstairs to the dining room, which was also right by the kitchen.
1x sets you down on a dining chair, facing toward the kitchen so you could watch him cook. He rummages through the fridge, muttering, before seeming to come to a decision, pulling out noodles and something else you can’t see. He starts boiling some water, cutting up small vegetables in the meantime. Already bored of sitting and waiting in a chair, you stand up and quietly creep over to him, watching as he hums a quiet song while cooking. How annoyingly cute.
When he safely stores away the knife to grab a stirring utensil, you make your move.
Wrapping your arms tightly around him from behind, you rest your chin on his shoulder. Letting your hands wander to settle on his waist, 1x lets out a loud and undignified yelp, too concentrated on making food to notice you sneaking up on him.
“What are you-! gah-“
When you let out that soft, but genuine laugh, he stills, instantly forgetting about his scare at hearing you make that happy sound.
Peeking curiously over his shoulder, you see the mystery item, revealed to be miso paste.
“Ah…are you making..?”
1x grumbles softly, nodding.
“It was supposed to be a surprise…but yes, Udon noodles IN Miso Soup, though…for someone who enjoys eating them as separate dishes, it’s a wonder that you’ve never tried them together..”
He adds the miso paste and noodles into the boiling water, tossing in some seaweed and tofu in afterwards, stirring the pot. You both stand there, enjoying each others contact for a while, before 1x gently pushes you off him.
“Back to the chair, I need to pour out the noodles and soup, preferably without either of us burned.”
He brings over two steaming bowls of the noodles in miso soup, setting one of them down in front of you.
He sets the other down, before leaving to get some utensils, and then takes a seat right next to you, legs close enough to brush together occasionally. With that, the two of you eat a late night dinner together in the dimmed soft ceiling light.
1x finishes considerably faster than you, setting down his empty bowl and noticing you were barely halfway, eating rather slower than usual.
After about five seconds of watching you pick at the food, he sighs and takes your utensils gently out of your hands, using the spoon to scoop up some soup and noodles, before nudging at your mouth with it.
“Open.”
You’re about to complain, before 1x gives you the most innocently pleading look ever, and you eventually give in, accepting the food from his hand.
He feeds you more spoonfuls, murmuring quiet praises as you accept each one. Before you know it, the bowl is essentially empty. 1x gently dabs at your mouth with a napkin, before getting up to quickly wash the dishes. When he’s done, he pads over back to you, scooping you up back into his arms.
“C’mere. Let’s go back to bed and then we can cuddle and whatever stupid happy things you want to do.”
He carries you back upstairs, glancing down at you every few seconds.
1x pushes the bedroom door open with his foot, depositing you on the bed, before immediately crashing down onto it beside you with a soft flump.
He instantly tugs you over against him, embracing you warmly in bed, legs tangled together. You could feel the soft and steady thump of his heartbeat, as his chest was pressed close against your back. You turn, shifting around to face him and nuzzle into his chest, melting into the warm and safe feeling of him and the blankets around you. You felt clean, comfortable and unworried for a first time in a while. It was…nice.
Dozing off against him, you sleepily mumble one last thing.
“Thanks for this…love you.”
1x only lets out a soft chuckle on top of your head, pressing a sweet kiss to it.
As you sink into a cozy and peaceful sleep, you hear him whisper.
“Love ya too…I’ll always take care of you whenever you need it”.