𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐒 ❥︎ 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐲

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧

"What time do we have to be down there again,"

Wriothesley looked up. "In about an hour or so,"

"God, I'm so nervous,"

"Don't be,"

"Easier said than done,"

Your second day had gone smoothly so far. Yanfei set out some more technicalities of what you can and can't do and arranged the first mock trial down at the nearest courthouse for you both to practice.

The weather was cold, and the thermal layers you had closest to your skin weren't nearly enough to protect you from the icy air that nipped at you.

A hot cup of tea, sat next to you, carefully balanced out with some milk and sugar.

In this case, obviously you and Wriothesley would be acting as attorneys, and so it was fair, you'd both be arguing for the same sides.

There were 'witnesses' and 'barissters' and all the other relevant roles and even a 'jury' who were mainly just members of the public.

It was almost like the real thing.

But not.

The entire process wasn't complicated, and you had everything planned out to the minute.

All that was left was to actually proceed.

-

"Thank you, jury, for your service today. Court is adjorned,"

A sigh of relief left your mouth as the entire courtroom fell into applause.

You shook hands with the barrister and the witnesses and the judge before exiting the courtroom with a spring in your step.

"Oh my god, that went so good," you smiled, turning as you walked to face Wriothesley.

"Yeah, we did great. Good job," he let a relaxed smile tug at his lips.

"We should celebrate."

"What do you have in mind, Y/n?"

"You decide,"

"We could order sushi to eat back at the hotel?"

"Sounds like plan,"

-

As you walked back to the hotel, you quickly got lost in thought.

Maybe Wriothesley wasn't as bad as you'd thought?

But then again, maybe you were just playing nice for the sake of your careers, and the moment you stepped back in Fontaine, your attempts at keeping it together would unravel like a ball of yarn.

You both seemed to be making an effort at keeping civil, so you were just praying it stayed that way.

-

Eventually, the sushi was delivered right to your doorstep, and you and Wriothesley made small talk as you ate it.

However, you were soon interrupted by the sound of your phone ringing.

You very reluctantly picked it up.

"Hiii sweetie," your mother's voice squeaked from the other side.

"Hey..." You bit the inside of your cheek apprehensive about what was going to come out her mouth next.

"So, how's your work experience going? If you need advice, ask your brother he went to all of these during his time at university, and you know how you..."

And there she went.

Not even two minutes in, and your brother's name had already been brought up, and your mother had already begun pointing out your insecurities and flaws.

She meant well, but both she and your father had very high academic expectations, and considering how much pressure you already put on yourself, you avoided them during exam season and things like this.

Wriothesley seemed to be subtly listening intently as he slipped a hoodie on and unclasped the watch he had been wearing.

You finally hung up the phone after a veryyyy long lecture from your parents.

It made you feel many things.

Mainly a weird mix of anger and sadness, and you had to swallow the lump in your throat to avoid crying.

"Your parents sound like assholes." Wriothesley commented before sitting next to you on the edge of the bed.

You let out an awkward laugh, really fighting back the tears threatening to escape.

"Y/n," he spoke out gently.

You turned your head so you were facing him.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," you managed to get out.

"You're a bad liar. Try again,"

"I'm fine. I promise, it's not that big deal,"

"If it's not that big deal, then you should have no problem telling me Y/n,"

"It's nothing major like I said, just my parents giving me the same old shit I've heard a million times,"

He raised a brow. "What do you mean?"

"It's complicated? They want me to do so well and its getting to the point where its just so hard to fucking care,"

Wriothesley didn't stop to judge or criticise you, instead he listened.

He listened to you ramble for a whole 20 minutes. Sharing his own experiences every now and then.

And at the moment you realised.

You and Wriothesley actually have some things in common.

He wasn't some monstrous asshole who's only goal in life was to piss you off.

If anything it was the opposite.

"Feeling better?"

"Yeah, thanks for listening,"

"Of course. Now finish your sushi so I don't have to hear you complain an hour later about how hungry you are."

You playfully pinched his upper arm before popping another piece into your mouth.

-

The rest of the evening was spent doing absolutely nothing.

Aside from mindless scrolling on social media and sending voice notes to Navia and Furina.

It was honestly quite peaceful.

Wriothesley was down at the hotel gym so you had the place to yourself.

The hotel even came and brewed fresh cups of tea in front of you at the door.

You knew Wriothesley would not want to miss out on that and as he'd left his phone in the room, you decided to quickly make your way down there to notify him.

And as you walked through the gym doors, your eyes immediately layed on the bench in the corner.

Wriothesley was wearing nothing but black sweatpants and a black vest and bench pressing what seemed to be at least 300lbs.

At least.

Your jaw immediately dropped.

"Everything okay?" he asked, sitting up.

"Just fine. They brewed us fresh tea, come drink it before it goes cold,"

"Yes ma'am," he nodded, grabbing his towel and water bottle and joining you as you walked out the door and back to the elevator.

-

a/n: IM SCREAMING