Work Text:
Chevreuse awoke suddenly, darting upright. Wiping drool from her mouth, she looked around to gather her bearings.
She was in her office. She looked down at the paperwork in front of her, lamenting for only a moment at the small makeup smudge that had appeared on the semi-important document. No matter, she could always have Clorande print another one.
Speaking of Clorande - Chevreuse had just registered that Clorande was sitting calmly, unassumingly, in the chair in front of her desk, looking studiously down at her work tablet.
“Clorande! Was I, um, you know…” she didn’t want to acknowledge the unprofessionalism in that she’d fallen asleep, but it felt best to address the elephant in the room.
“You called me in here to ask my opinion regarding a very pressing work issue. I let the rest of the office know that we would be in a closed door meeting for a bit and to not be disturbed,” she said factually.
“And… just how long have we been in this meeting?”
“About a half hour.” She closed whatever she was working on, seemingly deciding that she’d given Chevreuse enough time to compose herself. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m just fine,” she assured her with a confidence that she didn’t quite feel. Clorande must have noticed that she’d fallen asleep at her desk and afforded her the opportunity to save face to her employees. That was incredibly kind of her, but she never should have fallen asleep to begin with. Yes, she’d been feeling a bit under the weather the last couple of days, but it was fine. She was fine. Just fine.
Or at least, that’s what she told Chiori, who was back home in Inazuma, wondering why they hadn’t video-called as much as usual. If she heard how sick Chevreuse sounded (because she wasn’t actually sick - Chevreuse did not get sick), she knew she’d hop a plane and fly half way across the world to take care of her. That’s just who Chiori was. She may seem cold and blunt to most, but she cares so much, and as much as she loved her for it, Chevreuse just didn’t want to worry her. It was just the sniffles. The Captain of the Maison Gardiennage branch could handle some sniffles...
Trying and failing to hide her coughing by covering her face with the crook of her arm, Clorande reached down to a bag at her feet and pulled out a fresh bag of cough drops. Chevreuse took them gratefully and popped one in her mouth.
Once her coughing had subsided, she took a sip of her tea - ugh, it’s gone cold - as Clorande spoke. “So, how are things with Chiori?” She spoke hesitantly, and she had been Chevreuse’s assistant (well, now consultant because she was just too capable) for long enough that Chevreuse heard what she really meant. Does Chiori know you’re sick?
Somehow, Chiori had struck up a friendship with Clorande the last time she was here with her in Fontaine. Well, not “somehow” - she was more convinced by the day that she never met a stranger. She and Clorande had kept in touch, evidently - and truthfully, Chevreuse didn’t mind. She loved that Chiori cared about who she cared about.
“Can’t wait for me to be back with her next week, but she’s well.” In response, Clorande quirked a brow as if to say, well, at least one of you is. For someone typically so stoic, she sure was trying to communicate a lot with her face.
However, Chevreuse had little to no energy as it was, so deciphering her nonverbal cues wasn’t something she very much wanted to do. “I’ll be fine. I can take care of myself. Always have,” Chevreuse adamantly said. The validity of her statement may have been degraded by her having to grab a tissue to dab her nose in the middle of her sentence, but whatever.
“I understand, boss,” Clorande said with her usual composure. “But I also know that you’ve been a lot happier since you’ve been in a relationship with Chiori. And I know Navia always takes the best care of me when I'm sick. Makes me feel better much faster.”
Chevreuse had only met Navia once at an office party, but she seemed to make a pretty good girlfriend. Maybe Clorande was right…
No. She couldn’t bother Chiori like that. She had a life too, and she wasn’t about to call her across the country just to hand her tissues. She would be fine.
“I’m sure she’ll… she’ll… *achoo!* dote on me fully when … ah.. *achoo!* she comes back to Fontaine next week,” Damn sneezes.
“I’m sure you’re right. Well,” Clorande said as she stood and turned to head back to her desk, “please just let me know if I can be of any more assistance to you.”
“I will. Thank you.”
When she closed the door behind her, Chevreuse looked at the time on her watch. Only eight in the morning. She usually stayed and worked until about seven in the night most days… so she better hop to it and find some sort of groove to get her through.
Just get through today, she thought to herself as she smushed her cheek in her hand, trying to focus on whatever kind of report it was that was before her. You can do this. Just some sniffles. No big deal.
——
Chiori never interrupted her sessions with personal matters, but when she saw Clorande’s name on her phone, she cashed in on some of the kindness she had given this long-term client of hers. Assuring her that she would still get her new measurements after, she stepped outside to take the call.
“Clorande, hi. Is everything alright?” She never called Chiori. Her thoughts immediately went to her girlfriend.
“Hello. Well, yes and no. Nothing urgent,” she said in a hushed tone. “Cheveruse is feeling a bit under the weather, and I know it’s not my place to meddle, but I was wondering if you had been informed.”
She thought Chevreuse sounded a little nasally on the phone last night. Come to think of it, they hadn’t video-called at all, really. She’d been texting a lot more than usual. “Actually, no. She had a bit of a runny nose when she left, but I just thought it was because she got that new proposal from a client and was over exerting herself.” Chiori made a mental note to ask Chevreuse about that later
“Hmm. I had reason to think so.” Chiori could hear typing on the other end of the phone. “If I were to say, book a flight for you, hypothetically, to come care for your girlfriend since you’re the only one she would allow to care for her, could you say, perhaps, that you could fit it into your schedule? I’m afraid she won’t take my hints that she needs to go home and rest. And unfortunately, I’m a bit too low on the echelon here to be giving her orders. But you,” she said matter of factly, “I have ample reason that she would be unable to refuse you.”
Chevreuse knew good and well that she would have flown to her of her own volition had she known she was more than a little sick. “Thank you for letting me know, Clorande. Go ahead and book it and text me the details, please. I’ll make it happen.”
One day Chevreuse would learn that she would drop the world for the chance to love her thoroughly. Chiori was determined to prove that to her, one day at a time. She had spent most of her life taking care of herself - but no more, especially when she didn’t have to.
“Wonderful. There’s a flight that leaves in an hour and a half. I understand that might be pushing it for you, but -“
“I’m heading to the airport now. Chevreuse made sure to have everything I could need on hand at her apartment anyway, so I won’t have to go home and pack.” Chiori said while she smiled to herself. Always prepared, that woman was…
“Excellent. Thank you. I’ll be glad to see her under your care,” she said with noticeable relief riddled in her tone.
“Thank you for calling me. She’s lucky to have you.” Chiori quipped back finger, hovering above the end call button
“Of course. A car will be waiting for you when you arrive to bring you to the office. Safe travels.” A quiet click ended the call.
Looks like she would have to cash in on a little more kindness today, what with rescheduling her afternoon - maybe some phone or video sessions for the next few days - but Chevreuse was more than worth it.
——
“Hey, Cloraaande?” When did they make the print on these cough syrup bottles so little?
“Yes, boss?” She hurried into her office, looking a bit alarmed. Only then did Chevreuse realize she may have whined her name - just a little. Oops. It was almost 6:00pm, and frankly, she was feeling a little worse for wear.
“Can you read me the correct dosage, please? My eyes seem to be a bit… blurry.”
Clorande took it from her, studied the bottle for a moment, and poured some liquid into the small cup. Without a word, but with a concerned glance, she handed it to her.
She downed it like a shot. “Thank you. I should be good for the day if you want to head home,” Chevreuse told her as she chased the disgusting liquid down with some more tea.
“Actually, I have a few things to catch up on. I’ll be leaving shortly, but I’ll let you know when I do.” She nervously looked down at her phone. Wait, when did Clorande ever use her cell phone at work? Oh well, it’s not like she had enough energy to question it anyway.
She walked out of her office, glancing again down at the phone. “Thanks,” Chevreuse halfheartedly mumbled as she sighed. Just a few more things, then she would follow suit. Maybe if she just rested her eyes, just for a minute. That would help her be more productive, right?
She laid her head down on the desk, making a mental note to give herself two minutes. Okay, maybe five. Seven tops.
An undetermined amount of time later, she raised her head up at the sound of her favorite person speaking her name in the most pitying tone. “Chevreuse. Sweetheart, you should have called me.”
She snatched the cough syrup bottle up from the desk and squinted at it. What the hell do they put in this stuff these days? She was seeing things. Have mercy, maybe she did need to go home.
Shaking her head around to bring some coherency back to her mind, she smelled Chiori’s familiar perfume - she wasn’t sure what was in it, but it was just so very Chiori. Floral but fruity, like a picnic on a summer day.
She felt Chiori’s hand on her cheek. “Am I tripping out right now? Or are you actually here?”
Chiori leaned down and planted a sweet kiss on her lips. “Here. Now come on, I’m taking you home.”
——
“You shouldn’t have come,” Chevreuse said as she snuggled into Chiori’s arms a little closer on the elevator ride up to her apartment. “I’m really mad at you, actually,” she said softly as she wrapped her arms around Chiori a little tighter. “Furious, in fact.” She sighed the last little bit as the elevator dinged.
Chiori had only stayed at Chevreuse’s apartment a few times since they’d been together, but the sheer expanse of it never seemed to not intimidate her just a little. Clean and crisp, everything in a certain place - a stark contrast to Chiori’s cozy atmosphere she created in her home. Blue, black, white, and gray dominated the decor, but this time, she noticed a little red in certain places. Not much - a red blanket across the gray sofa, a red picture frame holding a picture of the two of them on a bookshelf, and a red candle on the coffee table. Chevreuse had mentioned a few weeks ago that the color reminded her of Chiori, so to see her add specific reminders of her to her home - well, it made her feel loved.
“Yeah, yeah,” Chiori said as she half dragged her to the couch. “Your clinging makes that really convincing.” She’d never seen Chevreuse quite like this before, and her nurturing instinct had been kicked into high gear. Attempting to lead her down gently, Chevreuse decided that flopping would be more appropriate. Truly, it looked like the poor woman was about to pass out. “Why don’t you take a nap while I fix you something to eat?”
“Not hungry…,” she murmured with her face smashed into a pillow. “Plus there’s nothing here anyway. I eat out and order in, mostly.”
“Oh, my dear,” Chiori said as she combed her fingers through Chevreuse’s hair. “Don’t doubt my ways.” Actually, Clorande had one of Chevreuse’s interns go buy a few groceries and deliver them to her apartment per Chiori’s request.
Chevreuse didn’t respond though, because she had evidently already dozed off. Soft fingers through her hair were one of her weaknesses, and Chiori just might’ve taken advantage of that.
Ever so gently, she took off her shoes, jewelry, and the few bobby pins she knew she strategically hid in her hair for maximum volume. She tucked her in with the blanket and made her way to the kitchen.
The apartment was a mostly open floor plan, so she tried to be as quiet as possible as she worked to prepare her mother’s chicken noodle soup. It made her feel better every time she was sick, and she doubted that Chevreuse had been eating well the past few days.
As the soup began to simmer, she cleaned up her small mess and went back to the couch to check on Chevreuse. She was snoring slightly, which was new - her nose must be pretty stuffy, then. Carefully, she raised her up to place another pillow behind her head. Before she could move away, Chevreuse reached out in her sleep and cradled one of Chiori’s arms to her chest. Her need for comfort wasn’t so obviously expressed when she was conscious, so Chiori left it there until she couldn’t wait any longer to stir the soup.
After finding some bowls, Chiori found a serving tray and brought everything in - soup, crackers, juice, and some hot tea, along with some cold medicine.
Grazing her thumb across Chevreuse’s cheek to rouse her from her slumber, she whispered close to her ear. “Hey, Chevreuse. Sweetheart, I need you to eat something.”
In response, Chevreuse said nothing, but lethargically reached for Chiori’s hand to tuck it under her own cheek. She might not be fully awake, but she was awake enough to hear what she was saying. She tried again. “I made you some soup. Can you sit up for me?” Unthinkingly, Chiori’s free hand made its home in combing its way through Chevreuse’s hair again.
Rookie mistake. Still keeping her right hand anchored between her cheek and the pillow, Chevreuse grabbed her left hand and held it to her other cheek. Now holding Chevreuse’s face (clearly not against her will, but against her intent), she watched the corners of her girlfriend’s lips turn up ever so slightly as she murmured a soft “no.”
Chiori knew she had two options here: she could use her physical strength to pull Chevreuse up into a sitting position, or she could use her strength of persuasion to make Chevreuse want to sit up on her own.
Seeking the path of least resistance, she chose the latter. Leaning her face down to Chevreuse’s, she made her sudden closeness known with a soft bump of her nose to hers. “Hey you, down there,” she whispered. “I bet you your favorite kind of kiss that you won’t sit up and eat this soup.”
She was well aware that Chevreuse had a hard time turning down a challenge. And a challenge with the particular kind of payout she was offering? Irresistible.
Chevreuse cracked open one of her eyes just enough to glare. Chiori stayed where she was, her lips a tantalizing tease away. With an exasperated huff, Chevreuse allowed herself to be pulled into a sitting position. Staying true to her word, Chiori rewarded her completely. Her girlfriend was a sucker for the type of kiss that Chiori loved to give best - one that started slow and soft, but then deepened as Chiori poured her love into it. Even though Chevreuse didn’t respond as energetically as usual, her drowsy smile communicated her pleasure.
Still in her form fitting work clothes, Chiori knew she couldn’t really be comfortable. “Now, don’t get the wrong idea, ma’am,” she said as she took off the sweatshirt she traveled in . “But I’m going to swap your shirt for mine.” She also was well aware of how much Chevreuse loved to wear her shirts - how cozy it made her feel. She had on a tank top underneath it, so she would be just fine. She purposefully unbuttoned Chevreuse’s blouse and slipped it off her shoulders.
She didn’t protest in the slightest, but instead lifted her arms as a grumpy child might have when being dressed for the first day of school. Her head lolled around a bit and her eyes remained mostly closed, and without too much thought, Chiori kissed her again as she wrapped her own shirt around her. Before putting her arms through, and keeping her eyes respectfully closed, she reached around her and unhooked her bra. No one who is feeling the least bit sick should have to wear one of those.
Kissing her while putting clothes on her felt rather strange, but Chevreuse drank it in needily, her own hands latching on to Chiori’s tank top to hold her in place. She kissed her until she’d slipped the soft red sweatshirt one. Lastly, reaching under the blanket, she unzipped Chevreuse’s pants and slid them down her legs. She’s never said it in so many words, but Chiori had learned that while she would say that going around without pants was “improper,” she really did prefer it sometimes.
Breaking their kiss to tug her pants from around her ankles, she looked up to find Chevreuse much more alert. Knowing that a kiss from her could hold this revitalizing effect made Chiori’s stomach do a backflip. She settled herself on the couch next to her, reaching for the tray of food. “When was the last time you took medicine?”
“Um… yes.” Chevreuse replied with her brow furrowed, head falling onto Chiori’s shoulder.
“Not exactly the answer I was looking for,” Chiori said with a fond laugh. “I could give Clorande a call, then, and ask her…?”
Scrunching her nose up in thought, Chevreuse said, “5ish. I think. Yeah. 5:45? Cough medicine. Cherry. Awful.”
Handing her some pills and a glass of juice, Chiori couldn’t help but laugh again at how cute it was that she was earnestly trying to remember as many details as possible. “Take these.”
Without hesitation, she lethargically lifted the pills and glass to her mouth. The trust involved in taking medicine without question gave Chiori’s heart the warmest glow. Placing the bowl of soup in her lap, she put the spoon directly into her hand. Chevreuse looked at it questioningly as if she were thinking, now what do you do for a living, sir? And how might you serve me today?
It seemed as if Chevreuse was quickly approaching a state of delirium from being so exhausted. Really, how hard had she pushed herself the past few days?
Chiori reached for the remote to turn on Chevreuse’s favorite show. Scrolling through the list of episodes remembering one of her girlfriend’s favorites. She turned it on, and after seeing which episode it was, Chevreuse turned to Chiori as if she’d found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. “I love you so much,” she said almost a little weepily.
“And I love you, my dear,” she said as she put Chevreuse’s spoon down into her soup.
Testing her, Chiori raised a cracker to Chevreuse’s lips - with a small stink eye, she accepted. Now, every three bites, she had Chevreuse trained to open her mouth to be fed another.
By the time the credits rolled their familiar tune, Chevreuse had successfully eaten most of her soup and was on the brink of passing out again. Before she could, Chiori took her bowl and wrapped her arms around her to pick her up from the couch. “Mmm,” Chevreuse groaned as her head nuzzled into Chiori’s neck. “I can walk.”
“Yeah, but why walk when you don’t have to?” Once Chiori found the right angle for the best leverage, she lifted Chevreuse into her arms bridle style and made her way for the bedroom. She somehow managed to pull the comforter back and tuck Chevreuse inside.
“Good night, love.” She placed a soft kiss on her forehead. “I’ll join you shortly.
With what appeared to be her last bit of energy, Chevreuse pulled Chiori back down by the back of her neck. “Not shortly. Now,” she whimpered imploringly.
Considering the mess she left in the living room, the shower she really needed to take, and the few texts she needed to return, she decided that they could wait. “Anything for you.”
She slid off her own pants and slipped into bed next to her, smiling at the way Chevreuse pulled herself into her, desperate to be held. Wrapping her arms around her snugly, she counted her blessings and held close to her the one who rose to the top of that list.
———
Over the next few days, Chevreuse learned more by the day that it was okay for her to be cared for. She allowed Chiori to dote on her between her video counseling sessions and phone calls, deciding that maybe being cared for wasn’t such an awful thing to need after all.
Two days after Chiori arrived, she had Clorande bring by some of her work to catch up on. While she started rifling through her paperwork, she overheard a whispered conversation between Chiori and Clorande in the kitchen. She couldn’t make it out entirely, but she did catch phrases like “only essential work,” “much better,” and a few “thank yous.” As Chiori showed Clorande to the door, they shared a meaningful look that seemed to communicate a mutual care for Chevreuse’s wellbeing.
By day four, Chevreuse was feeling almost completely better. She still had a bit of a sore throat, but that was to be expected. However, after Chiori had brought her breakfast in bed that morning, she began to notice that Chiori had picked up a bit of a sniffle herself. “Are you feeling alright?”
“Yeah! Just a little tired I guess. Someone is an aggressive cuddler when she’s sick, but I’m not naming any names here,” she said with a wink and a smirk. Chevreuse playfully shoved her in response.
As the day went on, Chiori’s sniffle had progressed to a cough. At Chevreuse’s questioning glance up from her paperwork splayed out across the table, Chiori shrugged. “Just a little frog in my throat, all good.”
By the time they ordered a pizza for dinner, Chiori left most of hers untouched. As she watched the tv with glazed eyes, Chevreuse decided to ask her again. “You sure you’re feeling okay?”
“Ye- yea-“ achoo! “Um…” sniff. “Yeah, maybe not,” with a sheepish smile. “I’m good though.”
“Oh no, don’t you even start,” Chevreuse said as she took Chiori’s face in her hands. She kissed her firmly - not in a dominant way, but more so adamantly. She smiled triumphantly. “Now it’s my turn to take care of you.”