she can hear the light jingle of keys at the front door from bed, a tiny bell in her brain telling her someone's here, someone expected, someone safe, she listens in alert, living alone her guard is up to even the anticipated small noise
then the creak of a step on the wooden boards and a final confirmation of her safety and comfort for the night; her cat, Juice, chirping at the familiar legs she's tangling into
his voice is a bit sharper than either would've liked, coming out a bit raspy, the alcohol making his often smooth voice a bit out of control. despite herself she smiles, she hates drunk people, but she loves him, and the latter feeling wins in taking over
"hi Juju... hi gal, oh- fuck- oi!
shhhh, go on now, hi, hi"
a tough choice presented to her; open her eyes and witness the warm exchange of purrs by her life companions, or keep them closed and hope to dream of the scene.
it's too late to decide when she hears his footsteps approaching, with a care that can only come from tipsyness, he trips over some forgotten shoe in the middle of the tiny room, "ack- jesus-"
she finally snorts at him "shhhh sleeping here"
this makes her laugh "don't shush me! you're the one making noise"
"i know i know, go on, back to sleep"
soft, comfortable silence fills the darkened room, ocassionally interrupted by a chuckle or the rustling of his clothes as he takes them off
"jeez Anto put them on the chair at least, they'll be full of cat hair. you have to send them back this time?"
"I.... don't even know" his weight familiar next to her now
"well pick them up, you'll be all pissy tomorrow if Juice sleeps on them"
"I'll be all pissy anyway"
"oh yeah? drank that much?" in the dark he can hear her voice slipping through the smile on her lips, soft and enveloping, lulling him into relaxation after a night of noise and flashes, her fingers parting soft tufts of waxed hair
"nah... yeah" they both laugh
"still can't outdrink your dad?"
"not in a million years, not if I wanted you to take me in tonight anyway."
"yep, I would've left you cold out there in the staircase if you were too sloppy drunk" his hair almost fluffy now as she runs patient fingers through it
"how's 'old da' by the way?"
"healthy as a horse. ever as funny. says hi"
"okay, no, but- sht don't laugh, he asked about you, made us order a round of that mezcal you taught him to drink"
"don't call my father that!"
"I didn't! I meant you! idiot..." her fingers now tracing his face too, moving up and down on his skin as they laugh sleepily
"absolutely, my wee champion"
"it's not a sport like, hardly a 'champion'"
"oh so you didn't have to beat the other nominees in a life or death match for your little statue? buu, what even happens at the iftas then if not carnage"
"where do you even get that from" his dimple smile under her soft fingertips now
"did Cillian Murphy say 'hi' too?"
"aye, sure thing, sends his best, wants you over for tea and all"
"good" his soft laughter making the small bed bounce
"I'm happy. You deserve right about everything-"
"leave my house right now" their warm faces touch as they give soft and sloppy kisses to each other's faces through their laughter, it feels easy, right, like every small decision made in order to keep together has
their bodies drawn together, fitting against each other carelessly, an elbow poking a rib, a shoulder too sharp against a collarbone, a small kiss landing on an open eye, hair getting in the way, through smiles and warm breaths
"hey" her breath hovering above his cheek "I'm terribly proud of you"
"you told me this morning, in case i didn't win"
"YOU said you weren't going to win"
"guess they like me more than i like mys-" her mouth on hers a clear instruction to shut up, both their lips turning to smirks before they part
"you give a speech or just another joke about your mustache"
"you know i had to talk about the moustache- Don't roll your eyes at me"
"cause you roll your whole head you'll get a cervical injury one of these days"
"i'll give you that blowjob if you never avoid deep questions with moustache talk again"
"you'll- HEY! what's that supposed to mean?" he laughs, defenceless "you'll give me that blowjob cause I won an award"
"you didn't even bring the little statue for me to touch!"
"okay, well, you'll give me a blowjob cause you love me then"
"ohohoooo don't go there" his weight pressing on her a bit more, his chapped lips sucking and tasting hers
"hmmmh... i won't. tomorrow maybe, yeah?"
his soft nod against their kiss, he won't press, of course he won't, would never.
still, she presses against him, feeling him through the double layer of soft fabric, making him inhale sharply
"no just... say when I guess? thought you didn't want to-"
she laughs softly, breath cooling the wetness on his lips "is just too much effort with my mouth and you deserve a good one. that's why, tomorrow... what"
he is laughing as he kisses her jaw, teeth against the bone
her hand slips into the fabric, touching him finally, hot, heavy
"i am too... my good boy" that makes him chuckle and fist her hair a little "ouch... you brute" no heat behind her words, there's admiration, love, but no heat. she kisses his jaw now, up to his ear, leaving little wet kisses up and down "want you. can i have you? please? can i have you inside?" her voice a breathy whisper against his ear, the one inflexion in her tone of voice that she knows makes him weak
his hand makes its way from it's home at her waist to the smooth hollow next to her hip bone, fingers sneaking down, tracing the memorised map of her, stopping right where he knows she'll-
for a moment he forgets sleepiness, exhaustion, hurry, as his long fingers slide inside her, almost massaging, purposeful as they pleasure her, in and out, in and out, lacking rythm as her hand around his length distracts him, each seeking more pleasure with their hand than their sex, longing to make the other cry, gasp, die a little.
her mouth gapes open against his cheek, his meeting her in what's barely a kiss, their lips, their tongues dry from excitement sticky against each other.
when his hand speeds up -fingers curled inside her, palm massaging every oversensitive spot around her entrance- she whines and finally pushes his boxers down and away, her own panties following before he wraps her thigh over his side
he looks in her eyes through every inch he slides in, taking in the wide pupils, the lashes as her eyes squeeze shut, the small crease of her brow as she reaches her limit for the night, not able to take any more in. the small crease he smooths over with his thumb, her eyes blinking open again, smiling at him softly
her hips moving against his, waves against the shore, squeezing him with every move
a soft chuckle where there should've been a moan "you're all sleepy"
"aye, fuck, longest day, give us a second"
she kisses his cheek, smiles
"for what, you got somewhere to be?"
"then sleep" her hips softly stilling when he's as deep as they could get it tonight "is that good?"
he nods, kissing her face "will you manage to make time for next week? gotta take my big shiny award home-ahh fuck" her laugh makes her squeeze him just right
"thought your dad would be taking it back with him"
"i meant you- JESUS stop that!" this time her little squeeze is on purpose
"that one's for being smart.... yeah I'll go back home with you" a kiss to his temple "good night now"
finally, he lets the darkness envelop him, his eyes still conjuring the lights, flashes, the cameras and interviewers, all that attention he secretly loves and that intimidates her so. he relishes in this fragile and perfect balance, the fizzling party and noise followed up by the sweet comfort of her, in her tiny flat, her quiet little nest
even the burning fire in his stomach finding solace inside her, soft and wet
he allows himself to go to sleep. what a fucking night.