Chapter Text
“You take my hand in your hand from you flowers grow
And you understand with every seed you sow you make this cold world beautiful”
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It was late when at last they had both finally arrived at the Tavern they were to take over as their cover ‘Whisky Business”, later enough that the few street lights in the area made the ride to the place extremely hard to navigate. Thankfully both had good enough low light vision to ensure they arrived safely though the exhaustion from traveling was set deep in their bones.
The Tavern in question was and had been closed for a few years for renovations but the previous owners lived out of a small two room section in the back of the main floor. Only using the kitchen part of the actual Tavern. The two rooms upstairs that were once a cheap option for those traveling who didn"t mind sharing were part of the sections closed for renovations.
The large wood porch creaked as the pair hobbled across the weathered boards to the front door. The old screen door which was probably white once was missing an entire panel and as Gigi let go of her luggage to open it the springs and metal complained loudly and with every movement. The sound like a small animal dying a slow and horrible death shot through them both and Cecilia muttered something in German under her breath. Gigi was too tired to ask what it meant.
Using the keys provided to them, Gigi got the front door unlocked and quickly noted the large slab of wood stuck a bit.
As they stepped inside, Cecilia felt around the walls for the light switch but was surprised when flicking the one she found did nothing. “Huh?”
Suddenly a cone of light broke through the pitch blackness but it was only strong enough to allow them to see a few feet ahead. Gigi held her phone up, annoyingly the light didn’t show her more but it was enough for now.
“This place it"s sorta off grid, remember? We have to work out turning on the generator and stuff.”
Cecilia groaned as she shut and locked the door behind her. “Do we have to do that now? We’ve been on planes and in taxi’s for two days.”
“As long as we can find our way around to the back I don’t think so. But it is going to get cold tonight so we should figure that out.” Gigi was sure to add as she grabbed her luggage again.
Given that she was the one with a light source out, Gigi led the way and together with a bit of bumbling around and cursing they eventually made it through the taverns main area, around the serving counter and to the large door that led to the back section. This door was also locked and after dropping the keys and swearing under her breath Gigi had to leave her luggage and it nearly tipped over and fell in her tired clumsy haste. Thankfully Cecilia caught it and dug her own phone out so she could hold a light source as well.
The back area seemed colder, draftier and as they walked Gigi couldn’t help notice how narrow the hallway was or how creepy the walls looked having clear markings where pictures once hung. If she wasn’t so tired and the hall wasn’t so short she would have let her fear take over and started whining. Thankfully in only a handful of steps they were able to confirm that the bedroom was to the left, and the small living area was to the right. Both rooms were fairly bare but the previous owners had left a few wool blankets stacked on the old mattress. Unfortunately that seemed to be everything in the room and given the draft Gigi thought it wise they spend their time in the living room where there was a fire place at least. Cecilia agreed and together they grabbed the blankets and carried them over.
While Cecilia tried to make the huge antique looking sofa comfortable, Gigi noticed the old metal log holder next to the fireplace thankfully seemed decently stocked. Finding matches was a whole other ordeal.
Once there was a fire going, the pair wordlessly changed into more comfortable clothing. The exhaustion and history of having to do this many times before on missions prevented any sort of bashfulness but Gigi did notice Cecilia pause for a second as she removed her fake wedding ring and placed it on the ornate coffee table. She chose to leave it alone, but made sure to make a mental note of this being the third time she notices Cecilia acting a little funny about the ring. She removed her own as well, mostly for convenience as Gigi didn’t want her tail being invisible to cause any sort of mishaps or accidents.
“Thank god we’re both kind of short and old furniture is so huge. Which side do you want?” Cecilia asked as she lifted the layers of blankets. Thankfully the fireplace was already doing its job.
“The right. It’s closer to the logs so if we start to feel it getting cold I can get up and toss more in easier.”
Gigi walked towards the right side of the sofa only for Cecilia to cut her off. “Wh-”
“In that case I’ll take this side and handle the fireplace. I can wake myself up every few hours to make sure it’s still going and you can just help me wind my key in the morning to make up for the lost sleep.” Cecilia stated matter-of-factually as she tucked herself in.
Gigi shrugged, “Sure.” She had no energy to argue.
When she tucked herself in, Gigi felt her entire body sink into the sofa and for a moment she panicked. “Whoa!”
“Hm?”
“You really sink in this thing! Its like, eating me alive…I kinda like it.”
“Why did you say it like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like it was some sort of….kink thing.”
Gigi smiled and tangled her legs up with Cecilia’s under the blankets. She even made sure to sit up a little so Cecilia could see her wiggle her eyebrows from the other side of the sofa.
“Maybe it is! Maybe it’s just been a long time since I’ve been eaten-”
“-Gigi!” Cecilia kicked her tail under the blankets, her face flushing lightly.
“Oww! You hate meeee!”
“Shut up and sleep you stupid-stupid…ugh! I"m too tired to think of anything good!”
“Ha I win!”
“Sleep!” Cecilia kicked Gigi again, this time lighter and Gigi giggled but pushed their banter no further. She was exhausted after all.
A gentle shaking was the first thing Gigi felt, next a soft calling of her name, and finally a wonderful smell.
Cecilia’s voice rose from the whisper as she shook a bit harder. “Gigi, come on, wake up. You don’t want breakfast to get cold do you?”
“Mnwhh?” Gigi grumbled as she rolled over. She had been curled up, out cold and facing the back of the sofa.
Above her stood Cecilia, in a light mint sundress with a simple pattern of tiny leaves scattered across the fabric. The warm spring sun spilled down the hallway and cascaded along all the antique wood surfaces bathing her in an amber glow that for a moment stole all the words and breath from Gigi Murin.
Cecilia smiled and let out a soft giggle. “If you keep your mouth wide open like that you’re going to catch flies. Especially with that morning breath.”
That snapped Gigi out of whatever had taken her in that brief moment and she smiled.
“Damn I just opened my eyes and you"re already roasting me? Geez let me wake up first.”
That was when she noticed the coffee table they had both all but ignored last night in front of her was full of food.
”Wh…”
“I got tired of sitting around so after napping for a few hours I wound myself up, put some firewood in the chimney and got up to do stuff.” Cecilia started. Gigi didn’t bother correcting her wrong use of the word chimney instead of fireplace. “I unpacked us both and explored a little bit. When it was a more normal time-I think like 6am? I found the generator and water tank-pump-thing and used the printed instructions to get them going. Since I had to go get benzin for that I went for a long long long walk into the village that"s closer and checked out some of the early shops. I got a bicycle for myself with a cute little basket and rode it back with some groceries and the benzi-er gasoline for the generator. And then I made breakfast!”
Cecilia explained excitedly while motioning at the table full of food. Two freshly baked buns with butter knives set beside them, two small containers of cream cheese of different flavors, a small plate of thinly sliced meats and cheese, and another small plate of thinly sliced cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes. A cup of tea and a mug of coffee sat steaming closest to the sofa.
Gigi sat up, not caring that her hair looked like a rats nest at the moment. “Whoa? You did all that?”
Cecilia sat next to her and casually reached for her bun and knife.”Well yeah. There was nothing in the house and since I’m a lot more durable it only made sense I get the more urgent things your squishy body needs or you die.” She giggled as she started to make a little sandwich.
With a bit of wonder, Gigi reached over to grab her bun and knife. She paused while staring at the mug meant for her.
“You even made me coffee…”
Cecilia was just about to grab a few cherry tomatoes when Gigi spoke. Instead she turned and wrinkled her nose at her.
“I’m such a good wife. Taking care of my husband"s disgusting habits.”
Gigi crackled as she grabbed her mug. “So I’m the husband then?”
“Aren"t you always the one assigning yourself ‘husband’ instead of just the other wife?”
“You"re right. It"s very gender of me.”
Cecilia giggled. “What does that even mean?”
Gigi smiled. “You’ll understand when you"re older.”
“Gigi, I"m ancient.”
“Then it"s time to get with the times grandma!”
Cecilia throw a cherry tomato at her, Gigi caught it in her mouth like a dog.