Our Contract of Distrust

-- 3 --

It's morning. I feel rather drained. It's muggy but the rain's still holding out.

I stare across the table at Feodor as I sip my tea.

"Don't." He says.

"Don't what?"

"Stare at me like that."

"Why?"

"Why?! It's creepy! Why are you even staring at me?"

I shrug. Because I'm trying to figure you out.

"I won't be home for dinner, don't wait up." He says.

"Okay."

"Do you even care?"

"Should I?"

His reply is delayed a moment. "No. And I don't care about you either."

I know that without him telling me.

I remember his hand sliding onto my waist. Was he taunting me? Poking fun at my ignorance?

I take another sip of tea. The tea in his house is too bitter; I'll make sure to bring some of my own.

Feodor rises from the table and takes his crumb-speckled plate to the sink.

But then, it's still tea. I take another sip. Maybe an extra quarter spoonful of sugar next time would suffice.

I eat half a piece of toast and conclude I'm not hungry.

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It's an uneventful day at the factory. More idle talk in whispered voices. Stolen glances. Useless pondering.

The world revolves as usual.

The world's revolting as usual.

____________________________

It's dark. It grew dark early today.

I've eaten, showered, brushed my teeth, brushed my hair.

I sit in the guest bed and stare vacantly at the wall. Another unfamiliar wall. Dark green, an unusual wall colour. But I don't mind it. The other walls in the room are cream coloured. So I suppose it's a feature wall. But then it doesn't seem like a feature wall. It's half covered by a half-filled bookshelf.

The rain softly resounds as it splatters on the rooftop. It's a soothing noise. Like it's washing my cares away as it falls to the ground.

If only it were that simple.

For a while I imagine it is. I curl up inside the guest bed and push all pestering thoughts from my mind. I focus on the rain. On the gentle, soothing sound; the sound that drowns out all others. And I drift peacefully to sleep.

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I'm woken by something nudging my shoulder. There's a murmur I don't understand. I roll over, squinting into the sudden light.

"What are you doing sleeping in here?" Feodor asks.

I stare at him, dazed for a moment before clarity returns.

"You told me not to wait up for you."

"I know." He grumbles. "But still, why are you-?" He doesn't finish. "Come on."

"Huh?"

"To the other bed."

My expression poses the question, 'Why?'

"Just come, won't you?"

But I'm already comfortable. I think, still squinting, unwilling to move.

"Fine." He complains. "Shuffle over."

"Why?"

"Why?! So I can get in the bl-" He stops himself from swearing. Grumbling. "Make room for me."

"You're going to sleep in here?"

"Yes, I am!" He says in exasperation.

I'm still drowsy. "Why?"

"Because we're married, dolt!"

I obediently shuffle over, displeased at having to forfeit some of the warmed sheet.

Being married means sharing a bed. I was sure there was more to it than that.

He climbs under the sheets. I wonder whether I ought to turn my back to him again. But he hasn't turned his back yet.

Rather, he shuffles a little closer to me.

"I don't like being cold." He says, as though making an excuse for the close proximity. It probably is an excuse. I'm too tired to know. Too tired to care. My eyelids are shutting down.

"How was your day?" He asks. I don't understand why. My mind is shutting down.

"Yeah, fine." I mutter. Then I'm swept away from reality.

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*Author's Note*

This chapter's a little on the short side, but it's leading up to a reveal (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ

At any rate, hopefully it provided a little insight into the characters and you guys enjoyed it all the same

どうも, Doom