Judicial Temptations :: WRIOLLETTE

35 :: Time Together

Wriothesley had envisioned his time off work as a period of relaxation, catching up on some reading, and maybe even taking long naps with Neuvillette. But, much to his dismay, the reality was far from that. His chief had found a way to keep him busy: a large envelope full of paperwork arrived at their home within days of his forced leave. Apparently, no one could survive without him signing off on things.

So here he was, sitting on the floor by the coffee table in their shared living room, wading through documents. His boot-clad foot rested awkwardly to the side, while papers were strewn all around him. He was signing off requisition forms when he remembered something Neuvillette had made him promise after the last time he'd been overwhelmed by work—call for help instead of trying to shoulder it alone.

He set down his pen and raised his voice, "Neuvillette!"

A few moments later, Neuvillette appeared in the doorway, rubbing his eyes sleepily. His hair was slightly tousled, and he still had that early-morning grogginess about him.

"C'est tellement tôt. Qu'est-ce qui se passe?" he asked, voice low and hoarse with sleep. (It's so early. What's going on?)

"I need some help with these," Wriothesley said, gesturing to the paperwork around him. "Is that okay? Or do you want to go back to bed?"

Neuvillette blinked a few times, then shook his head gently. "No, I can help you." He paused, looking toward the kitchen. "But first, I'm making us tea."

"Thank you, honey!" Wriothesley called out as Neuvillette turned to walk away.

A quiet "De rien," floated back to him from the kitchen.

Neuvillette didn't usually drink tea—he much preferred water or, on rare occasions, mead. But today felt different. Perhaps it was the quiet morning, the peaceful hum of domesticity, or maybe just the desire to indulge in something new. He carefully selected a delicate blend with a soft floral aroma, but he made sure to brew it lightly. He always found the scent of tea beautiful, but the taste could be overwhelming if too strong. After some trial and error, he added just the right amount of water until the balance felt perfect—a faint sweetness with a hint of bitterness, just enough to make it interesting.

Soon, Neuvillette returned to the living room with two teacups in hand. He settled down cross-legged on the floor next to Wriothesley, placing the cups on the table between them.

Wriothesley raised an eyebrow as he picked up his cup. "No water today, huh?"

Neuvillette took a careful sip of his tea before responding. "Not today. I tried something new. It's light, almost like water but with a little more flavor. I think I might enjoy it this way."

Wriothesley smiled, making a mental note to remember exactly how Neuvillette liked his tea. "You'll have to show me how you make it like this. I want to get it right next time."

They worked through the paperwork together, the mundane tasks feeling lighter with Neuvillette's company. They skimmed through reports, checked off forms, and even read a few articles from *The Steambird* during breaks. The work went by faster than expected, and before they knew it, the last document had been signed, sealed, and stacked neatly on the table.

"Merci," Wriothesley said sincerely, leaning back against the couch. "You made that a lot easier."

Neuvillette smiled softly. "Anytime. Though I must admit, paperwork is much less tedious with you."

Wriothesley chuckled and began to stretch, preparing to stand up. He couldn't rely on his moon boot to push off the ground, so he used his arms to lift himself. Placing his hands behind him on the couch, he pressed down hard to hoist his body up. Neuvillette watched as Wriothesley's arms shook slightly with the effort, noticing how his brow furrowed with the strain.

Despite himself, Neuvillette found the sight oddly attractive. The way Wriothesley's muscles tensed, the raw power beneath his skin—it stirred something within him.

Once Wriothesley was finally seated on the couch, he lifted his shirt to check on the bruise on his abdomen. The dark purple mark spanned across his torso, a painful reminder of the gut punch he had taken during the mission. He gently traced his fingers over it, his touch light but curious.

Neuvillette couldn't tear his gaze away from the sight of Wriothesley's hand on his abs. The combination of the man's raw strength and the vulnerability of his injury was captivating. His eyes lingered a bit too long, drawn to the way Wriothesley's muscles flexed and the contrast of his skin against the dark bruise.

Before Wriothesley could notice Neuvillette's staring, Neuvillette quickly averted his gaze and cleared his throat. He shifted awkwardly on the floor, trying to compose himself.

Wriothesley glanced over at him, noticing the unusual behavior. "You okay, Neuv?" he asked with a hint of amusement in his voice.

Neuvillette nodded, though he didn't meet Wriothesley's eyes. "Oui, I'm fine," he mumbled, focusing a bit too hard on his empty teacup.

Wriothesley's laughter filled the room as he realized what had caught Neuvillette's attention. He pulled his shirt back down, covering his abdomen, though a playful smirk remained on his face. "You were staring, weren't you?"

Neuvillette's cheeks flushed a delicate shade of pink, and he still avoided Wriothesley's gaze. "I... was just concerned about your injury."

Wriothesley leaned back on the couch, propping himself up on one elbow so he could look down at Neuvillette, who was still sitting on the floor. His smirk widened, and his voice dropped to a teasing tone. "Sure, you were."

Neuvillette finally looked up at him, eyes narrowing slightly in mock indignation. "Don't flatter yourself too much, Wriothesley."

But before Neuvillette could say anything else, Wriothesley reached down, gently tilting Neuvillette's chin upward with his fingers. His touch was soft, but the intensity in his eyes was undeniable.

"You make it hard not to," Wriothesley murmured as he leaned in, capturing Neuvillette's lips in a passionate kiss.

Neuvillette melted into the kiss, his hands instinctively finding their place on Wriothesley's chest. The tension from earlier evaporated in an instant, replaced by the warmth of the moment. Wriothesley's hand slid to Neuvillette's cheek, deepening the kiss as their breathing synchronized, slow and steady.

When they finally broke apart, their foreheads rested together, and a soft silence settled between them. Neuvillette opened his eyes, finding Wriothesley's gaze waiting for him.

"I'm really glad you're here," Wriothesley whispered, his thumb gently stroking Neuvillette's cheek.

Neuvillette smiled, his voice barely above a whisper. "Me too."

And for a while, they stayed like that, simply enjoying the quiet intimacy of the morning, knowing that whatever challenges awaited them, they would face them together.