Work Text:
The sun shone brightly over the city of Thune, it cast a warm glow inside the café as Viv threw open the wide double doors. Legends & Lattes was open for the day.
Tandri had already found her spot behind the counter, working in companionable, comfortable silence alongside Viv as they got through the morning rush. People came and went, regulars alike. The café held such a warm and nice feeling to it, you couldn’t help but feel safe. And no matter how shitty your mood was, you left those four walls feeling brighter, happier.
That was the true magic of the café, its essence .
Thimble worked away in the kitchen, churning out the decadent pastries that had captured the hearts, and stomachs, of the citizens of Thune. His pastries always sold out quickly, leading him to be stuck in the kitchen from opening to closing most days. Minus a few breaks of course.
As morning melted into afternoon and afternoon melted into evening the bodied aroma of coffee and treats swirled around Tandri and Viv. Cal came in to visit them at one point throughout the working day, paying for his drink and thimblet even though Viv has told him not to several times.
Closing time came eventually and the last of the diners along with Thimble left the café. Viv was elbow deep in dish soap as she was cleaning some of the last dishes of the day, and with seemingly nothing left to do at the moment Tandri strolled over to the focused orc. She leaned her hip onto the counter next to the sink as she crossed her arms over her chest.
This pulled Viv’s focus away from the dishes and onto her wife now standing beside her. A smile graced her features, wide enough for her lower fangs to be on display. “While you finish up, I’ll lock up and you can meet me upstairs?” she asked, already knowing what the other woman would say.
“Of course,” Viv said, leaning forward to plant a quick kiss on Tandri’s lips. At that she headed towards the door, locking up as she said she would, and ascended the stairs. The rooms looked a bit different then when Viv first furnished them. Instead of two beds in the respective rooms there was only one. What was once Tandri’s room was turned into a studio of sorts. It got a lot more use than either of them anticipated, the succubus found much more joy in painting and creating than she initially expected. It became a pastime. A hobby she would go to whenever she wanted. It just felt so right to her, each stroke of paint adding as a picture of great complexity and beauty formed right before her, from her hand. It was so rewarding. Viv seemed just as taken by it as she was, as most times she was painting Viv was in the room right along with her. Whether that meant she was in the corner, face stuffed in a book, or behind her with her strong arms wrapped around her waist watching her create. Whatever it may be, they were always in each other's orbits.
Tandri stood near the dresser, ridding herself of her clothes and dressing in a comfy set of nightclothes. She hummed to herself quietly as she pulled her hair into a bun. She found solace in her calm evenings and nights with her wife. This life they’ve built with each other, this what she lived for. Love like this always felt somewhat out of reach for her, but life just loved to prove people wrong, didn’t it.
She turned to the door as she heard Viv ascending the stairs towards their room. A smile still pulled at her lips, though sleepiness was evident in her eyes. Viv appreciated nights like this too.
She pulled the door shut behind her, but instead of making her way to the dresser she strode over to Tandri instead, pulling her in for a kiss. The shorter woman settled her hands on the orc’s broad shoulders, Viv’s arms going to her waist. Their lips moved in tandem, finally alone after a day of work.
Tandri was the first to pull away, pressing her forehead comfortingly against Viv’s. “Get dressed, I’ll be in bed” she muttered. Viv intertwined their fingers and kissed her knuckles, alas she let go and started towards the dresser.
She made herself comfortable on her side of the bed, eyeing Viv as she undressed. She’d never argue about the view, loving the way muscle lined every inch of Viv’s tall frame, loving the way it was all for her. Viv was far from oblivious as well, side eyeing Tandri with a smirk playing on her lips.
With both of them now under the blankets, lanterns all put out, Tandri found her place in Viv’s arms. She rested her head on the orc’s chest, one of her legs carelessly thrown over Viv’s. In the friendly night they lay, Viv dragging her fingertips up and down Tandri’s spine. A move she had quickly realized when they started dating put Tandri to sleep in the blink of an eye.
And without fail it worked every time. Viv could hear the succubus’ breathing slow, her tail ceasing movement. Though there was one last thing Tandri needed to do before she let herself succumb to sleep.
“I love you, Viv” she muttered against Viv’s chest, voice thick with sleep.
Viv tilted her head down slightly to press a kiss to Tandri’s hair. “I love you too,” she whispered against the inky locks, and with that sleep took them both.
The morning would come to whirl them back into that serene cyclic routine they have come to love so much. The life they built up from the ground, quite literally, and cherished so dearly.