Gunderkeen one-shots

Late Night Studies

Halfborn's POV:
I stared at the text in front of me, as I had for the three hours in the library. It was late and I had three lamps on in order to see.
"Ugh," I rubbed my beard, the PHD in ancient Icelandic was slow going, especially since my Icelandic was broken.
I heard the sound of bare feet behind me but ignored them.
"How's it going Oaf?" My red-headed girlfriend asks.
"It's going nowhere." I grumble, switching tasks and looking at my Icelandic dictionary, yes, there are dictionaries for everything in this hotel, even for cat lingo.
Mack slung her arms around my neck and nestled into my back.
"Couldn't sleep?" I ask, she shrugged against me.
"You need a break," she said, moving her head and looking over my shoulder. "Ancient Icelandic, really? Are you out of topics for your PHDs or something?"
"I don't need a break, I'm like half way through." I mutter, ignoring her last comment. To be honest, it was a dumb choice. However, I was bored and needed something to keep my attention for a few moths or years.
"Fine," she sighed and pulled up a chair next to me.
I eyed her, "you're going to help?" I ask skeptically.
"I know a bit of Icelandic, I can more so read and write it then speak it."
My eyebrows shot up.
"What?" She asked, "my mates and I would used it to write letters in code."
I studied her as she took the dictionary from my hands. Her hair was tied lazily into a sloppy bun, dark circles hung under her eyes. She seemed exhausted.
"You need sleep." I say, taking the book from her.
"I'm fine. Honestly I couldn't sleep if I wanted to okay." She picked up my so called PHD and squinted at my terrible hand writing.
We sat in silence for a bit, finally I snapped the book closed, packed up my work and picked up the half-asleep Mallory.
"Put me down, rag-doll." She mutters, weakly.
"Sorry, vixen. We're getting some sleep." She just hummed in response.
I walked us to my room, set down my work, laid Mallory down and collapsed next to her.
Wrapping my arms around her, I pulled Ms. Keen close and fell asleep. Ancient Icelandic words circling my head.