The Light in My Darkness ||Ominis Gaunt X OC||

Chapter 12

Ominis stirred first, the gentle weight of Charlotte's body nestled against his was a comforting presence. The sheets tangled around them as he trailed his fingers along to the delicate curves of her arm. Her heartbeat was steady, her breaths even and quiet as she shifted closer to his body.

The morning light was just starting to peek through their curtains. Ominis could feel the warmth on his cheek as he laid beside his wife.

He brushed a thumb along her jawline, feeling the softness of her skin and the faint pulse beneath her ear. His fingers brush along her plaited hair, tracing the woven texture.

He'd never felt braids before. The intricate pattern was smooth and silky against his fingertips. His brows furrowed at the small ribbons tied to the end. How is that holding all her hair together?

Absent-mindedly, he fiddled with the soft ribbon, tugging at one of the loops. When he realized he had pulled it undone and the ribbon was loose in his hand, he let out a low grunt in surprise as he sat up.

Shit. Did he just ruin her hair?

The hair immediately loosened, spilling out of its woven structure. He hesitated, fumbling to gather the strands, trying to twist them back together the way he remembered. But the hair slipped between his fingers, too soft and unwilling to cooperate. No matter how he tried to weave the sections again, they refused to hold their shape, falling apart each time he thought he had it. The once neat braid became a cascade of loose hair, silky and wild.

Charlotte stirred beneath him, stretching out beneath his bent frame. A soft breath of surprise leaves her, presumably at the fact that he is looming above her, with her hair in his hands.

She sat up, another noise of confusion as she felt the loose strands of hair on one half of her head.

Ominis can feel her gaze on him and launches into an apology.

“I'm so sorry, Charlotte! I was just feeling it and the ribbon- it just came undone. I didn't mean to mess it up.” He holds out his hand to show the ribbon, as if that would prove himself.

Breathy laughter fills the air at his fumbling and he stills. Her fingers wrap around his.

“It's alright, Minnie. I'm undoing them.” She pulls away and he hears rustling as she unties the other ribbon. She places it in his hand as well.

“Minnie?” He tips his head to the side, closing his fist on the ribbons.

“Yes, you have Birdie.” She traces on his other palm.

“Why Minnie?”

“Why Birdie?” She asks back.

Ominis didn't have a good explanation, other than Sebastian's description of her in second year. He latched on to that as it was the only thing he had to go off of for how she looked. So it stuck.

That was good enough for Charlotte as she grabbed a piece of parchment from the night stand.

“Ominis is so formal. For moments like this, when it’s just us, I wanted something that felt softer- something that fits how I feel when I’m close to you.” She brushes her fingers against his cheek. “Minnie feels like a little song, sweet and simple. It’s warm, just like you.”

Ominis feels his heart swell at her words, and a soft smile spreads across his lips. He tilts his head into her hand, his fingers brushing over hers as if memorizing every curve and motion.

“Minnie,” he repeats, letting the name roll off his tongue like a quiet sigh, savoring its simplicity and warmth. “It’s perfect, just like you.” His voice is low, almost reverent. “I love it.” He brings her hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles tenderly. “And I love that it’s something only you and I share. It makes me feel… closer to you.”