Guarded by waters [wriolette]

Chapter 13: To Drown in You

Notes:

I've had a bit of writer's block that killed the creative flow for a bit, but I managed to coax it back after listening to some spooky podcasts.
As for a health update, I'm still sick, but I've been improving. The downside of that is that I will probably be going on holiday soon since it's easter so updates will be coming out every week. Wahh!
Anyway, we're putting a little bit of spice on the rotisserie chicken with this update, but only a little bit.
Please enjoy!

_,.~''~.,__,.~''~.,__,.~''~.,__,.~''~.,__,.~''~.,_

Neuvillette lays awake that night for some time.

Turning over many things in his mind. Pondering how well he can protect Wriothesley once their plan and bait are fully laid. Pondering if all this will only hurt Wriothesley's already harmed heart. Pondering, pondering, pondering until he cannot stand the sound of his own inner voice and decides it should be drowned for the night or else sleep will not find the Dragon.

Neuvillette leaves his bed and his room. Wriothesley had not joined him, in the bed or the bath, the Alpha had something else he wished to do tonight. Neuvillette's bare feet pad silently down the hall, peering into the guest room once he reaches the door. It is dark within, and Wriothesley is not there. Neuvillette continues on.

The Alpha is not too far turns out. Neuvillette finds him in the study the next door down. Bowed over the typewriter with only a single candle to light the words Wriothesley seems to be staring daggers at. There are already discarded copies of whatever the Alpha seems to be tapping away at occupying the wastebasket next to the desk.

Neuvillette gently traces his claws over Wriothesley's shoulders as he comes to stand behind the Alpha. Pressing a kiss to his Chosen's temple as he leans over Wriothesley. Sharp eyes slide over the current document inside the typewriter.

"Your witness statement," Neuvillette comments quietly, gently scratching Wriothesley's shoulders.

Wriothesley makes an annoyed huff, snatches his current work in progress out of the typewriter, and crunches it in his hands into a ball. Said ball promptly ends up in the wastebasket. Neuvillette rubs his Alpha's shoulders and leans down further to kiss the frustrated Wriothesley's cheek. The Alpha just tiredly leans back into Neuvillette, nuzzling back into the Omega.

"There will be time tomorrow," Neuvillette whispers gently into Wriothesley's ear before he presses a kiss right behind it.

He almost tells Wriothesley to come to bed, to sleep, but how could he recommend such action when he himself cannot abide by that same advice? Neuvillette isn't too sure what he wants to do. All he knows is that he wants Wriothesley. To be near him, to soothe him.

To touch and kiss his Chosen.

"Wriothesley," Neuvillette sighs his mate's name as he wraps his arms around the Alpha. It's the closest thing to a prayer he'll ever utter. "Mon Ange. Come sit with me."

Neuvillette pulls away to allow Wriothesley to stand from the desk, offering his hand to the Alpha. There's a chaise in Neuvillette's study, should the urge to lounge and read ever strike him. Neuvillette leads Wriothesley to it, and sits, patting the space on the seat next to him. Wriothesley joins him, looking a little perplexed. He probably expected to have been led to bed.

"I can't sleep," Neuvillette admits, shuffling closer so he and Wriothesley are nearly nose to nose, "My mind won't quiet no matter what I seem to try."

"Mine too," Wriothesley responds after a moment, and it's all he says.

Neuvillette is just touched that Wriothesley chooses to speak with him at all. It means that Wriothesley is becoming comfortable enough around him to speak when he feels like it. Neuvillette cups Wriothesley's cheek, and traces that scar under his eye with his thumb. The fact this scar is just one of many infuriates Neuvillette. How dare someone have done this to his Chosen.