Sevika works hard for you and Zaun. Sometimes, though, she needs a reminder to take better care of herself.
cw: femme!reader, fluff, 10% hurt 90% comfort
You left work early with an extra, flighty bounce in your step. The normally congested streets of the Lanes weren't as crowded this early afternoon and you thanked Janna for it. No street vendors yelled their latest sales. No massive lines at the food stalls. Great for you as you grabbed a hearty lunch made perfect for a quick delivery.
The Last Drop closed at four in the morning as per usual, so you slipped through the back entrance and down the hall to front of house. The cleanup crew polished tables and mopped the floor while a small group of Silco's goons lounged around out of their way. Ran waved at you from the opposite corner of the bar, and you greeted them back. Gustove, tattooed mountain of a man that he was, leaned against the staircase. It took him longer than he'd admit to notice your presence, but once he did, his small, dark eyes focused on the bag in your hand.
"Toll for the staircase?" he rumbled.
"It can be if that makes you a troll. Or you could just move and go fuck yourself."
"Hehe. Startin' to see why you two like each other. Boss was upstairs talkin' to Big Boss. She might be in her office now, though."
You thanked him and ascended the staircase. Silco's office was still lit, but the door was shut. No voices crept past so you assumed he was alone. Sevika's office was at the end of the short hall. Before you knocked, you pressed your ear to the door.
A trademark string of sailor's curses breached the barrier. Then a light thud. And another salvo of swears followed by a loud huff. She was upset. Then again, when wasn't she after dealing with Silco's stringent demands? What would it be this time? Deal gone wrong? Incorrect shipment manifest? Fresh meat out of line?
You rapped on the door and the response was immediate.
"If it's not important, shove it up your ass and fuck off!"
You croaked out your best impression of a mindless baritone goon, attempting horribly to keep a laugh at bay. "Sorry, boss, I'll come back later."
"What theâbaby, that you?" She sighed. "Come in. Please."
You laughed and entered Sevika's office, locking the door behind you.
Sevika's cherry desk was nearly empty, neater and tidier than usual. You expected an unruly pile of shipping manifests dating back months strewn about and stained with coffee, whiskey, or cigar ashes. But no, it was just her ash tray, writing utensils, and a few sheets of paper cradled in her bronze hand.
Sevika relaxed back in her chair, legs spread wide. Her frown lines softened as you perched on the corner of her desk closest to her and set the bag in front of her.
Her brow raised. "You brought me food?"
"Well... A little birdy stopped by and told me you might be stuck here for a while." You smiled at the exasperated "fucking Ran" that slipped out of her mouth. "And you're not exactly the best at stepping away sometimes. Didn't want you to go hungry."
Sevika set the papers down and beckoned you forward. You accepted, and she pulled you on to her lap to wrap thick arms around you. When you settled your head at her chest, she hugged you closer and hummed. "And it smells like my favorite, too..."
"One of your favorites. You do have a lot of favorites, Vika."
You gazed at her, and she flashed you a quick and vulnerable smile, one that exposed the shallow gap between her front teeth that you fell in love with. In seconds, you closed the distance, but Sevika beat you to the kissâa slow and sensual claiming of your lips that tasted of longing and love.
She dragged her lips across your cheek and held you there. Held you.
"I don't deserve you," she murmured.
Her words blended together like the shame of uttering them clearly would ruin her stern and stoic reputation. It was nonsense, of course, both the assumed thought and her words.
She inhaled deeply. Hugged you a little tighter. Her jaw shifted against your cheek, a sure sign she had trouble voicing her thoughts. Sevika was never one to mince words, but even that level of confidence wasn't maintainable one hundred percent of the time. Being vulnerable wasn't her forte, and neither was yours pulling that vulnerability out of people. And yet you both made the effort because it was worth it in your eyes.
"You keep... doing these things," she started. "Getting me food or making me breakfast. Reminding me to take breaks. Waking me up when I need to be. I... dunno, I just... I like it. It's just... I'm still getting used to it."
The sincerity in her voice kept you silent. Getting Sevika to open up took months and months of effort, so you wouldn't squander the opportunity to hear her out now, not when she's made so much progress. But everything she mentioned was true. You did cook extra eggs and sausages and toast for her before you left for work. You did graze her scalp to pull her from slumber to start her late work days when you returned from yours. You did remind her to drink water and stretch and get some food in her when she'd forgotten. You did it all and you'd do it a thousand, thousand more times because, well...
"Sev. I do it because I want to. I like doing those things for you. I like taking care of you." You felt her lips widen against your cheek for a split second. "But you take care of me, too, you know? I love when you walk me home from this place and keep me close at your side. Love that you come up with ideas for our dates. Love that you let me rant about my shitty days at work. Love that you... Love that you...let me in..."
Sevika breathed, long and hard. Her lips parted in what you assumed was a rebuttal or protest. You gave her time and eventually she got there.
"Yeah, but it's not the same."
"No, you're not getting out of this. Answer me," you chided gently.
"You do a lot for me. A lot. Feels like no matter what I do, it'd never be enough to match."
You pulled away to look at her, take in the beauty of cloudy, gray eyes. Sevika was, by all means, a confident womanâin style, dress, demeanor, and outlook. In that moment, in that pocket of space existing between you two, shielded from the outside world, it wavered.
"Sevika." You didn't miss the fleeting glance away when you used her full name. "It's not a competition, my sweet bear. Sure, there are some days where I feel like I'm not doing enough to help. But you do so much. Not just for me but for Zaun too."
Sevika scoffed bitterly. "I'm not as good as you think I am."
"Don't change the subject." You cupped her cheek and pulled her in for a kiss to match her previous one. She softened. "Everything you do means the world to me. I mean that. Okay?"
Her jaw clenched, and she blinked in rapid succession. A flash of weakness and vulnerability shone before your eyes, shadowed by insecurity. Zaun was a rough place where the dogs who exposed their bellies ran the risk of being gutted. With that and her...history, it made logical sense to guard her feelings. While Sevika hated expressing them, you found her all the more endearing when she did open up.
Whatever tension existed between you melted and you were both left stripped naked and bare for the other to embrace. To consume. To love. Your foreheads grazed for a moment. Burned with the intensity of the mid-day sun. Because that's what you were to the other. The biggest and brightest star in the skyâwarmth and passion and pain and love, all wrapped up in an imperfect ball with a gravitational pull unmatched by anyone else. And neither of you would have traded it for the world.
You kissed Sevika once more, and with one deep breath, she regained her resolve and nodded. Pulled away.
"Come on," you said, leaving Sevika's lap. "Eat. Before you forget and get even grumpier."
She shot you a teasing glance as she pulled the bag of food towards her. Any trace of grump or vulnerability left her entirely as her eyes sparkled at the dish contained within.
Golden rice nearly overflowed the container, complemented by hearty chunks of perfectly cooked mutton. Off to the side was another container that Sevika opened to reveal a light mixture of vegetables, spices, and yogurt. The visual simplicity belied the aromatic and flavorful complexity of the entire dish.
"Mierda, cariño, I haven't had this in months. Extra meat, too? And you got it spicy, didn't you?"
"Just the way you like it."
Sevika pushed her papers to the side and patted her thigh for you to return. "C'mere. Eat some. I'll walk you back home when we're done."
You pursed your lips. "And you say you don't deserve me."
Sevika's face brightened like a chemtech bulb went off in her head. The dots connected and for the first time, it was like she truly understood exactly how much sheâand her actionsâmeant everything and more to you.
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