I don't have time to do another fic, so here's a long fluffy domestic Waterbae mini fic thing feat. Herm's gran.
Herm woke with his alarm feeling well rested. Over the course of the past six months, his waking time had shifted: first 5:30, then 6:00, then 6:25-which had been an idiotic compromise on 6:30-and now 7. Herman couldn't remember the last time he was reliably getting eight hours of restful sleep. Probably not since he was a baby. And maybe not even then.
So much had changed in six months. He was no longer rushing around, caring for cats and his grandmother and himself before work. He could wake slowly, focus on himself, before caring for others.
"I'll never be! Your beast of burden!"
And that was the difference, he thought, hearing Chad's questionable but enthusiastic singing voice carrying up the stairs. And what a difference it was.
Chad hadn't officially moved in, but about three months ago he had slept over and then just...never left.
Well that wasn't exactly true. Andrea still came by on Wednesdays and Fridays and sometimes Saturdays, and on those days Agnes insisted that he and Chad vacate the premises.
"You deserve some time to yourselves," she would say. And lest she elaborate on this vague directive, he would agree.
But outside of those days, if Herm was here, Chad was here. At first Herm resisted his attempts to take on some of Herm's jobs. He could do them himself. But then, after a while of them doing things together, finishing jobs that would take him an hour alone in ten minutes, he agreed that maybe it was helping, to have a second set of hands.
And then a month ago Chad went to visit his sister and niece and came back with a huge queen sized bed.
"Help me with this," he'd said. "Make sure I don't squish a cat."
Herm just stood there in shock as Chad carried it up to Herm's room and replaced his old double mattress and box spring.
"What? What is that?" he asked.
Chad smiled. "It's a bed, built for people over 6 feet tall." Then he'd given him a little kiss on the head and carried the old bed outside.
And so now this was what Herm came down to, already showered and dressed; Chad singing along with Agnes' music while he cooked and cleaned and fed cats and made their lunches.
"Morning," Herm said, announcing himself to the otherwise occupied room. Both of them looked his way, smiling.
"Good morning," Chad said, hurrying over. He kissed him chastely then pulled out his chair. It was so over the top that half the time Herm couldn't help but wonder if Chad was teasing him. But no, he actually seemed to love this; being domestic, caring for others.
"Morning sweetheart!" Agnes said. "I saved the crossword for you. Some good animal clues on there today."
Chad placed a plate in front of him and a steaming mug of tea. "Gonna shower." He kissed them both on the head and hurried up the stairs.
Herm watched his gran watch Chad leave. "He's wonderful," she said.
Her smiled faltered slightly. "I don't want to be a burden."
"What? You aren't–not–you are not. I love being here with you!"
"But Hermy, is this how you want to start a relationship? This is the honeymoon stage! You should be having romantic dates and going at it like rabbits!"
"Gran!" Herm pressed his hands into his face as he went bright red. She just tittered to herself.
"Well it's true. Young love is special. It's fleeting."
"We aren't that young," he argued. "And we have plenty of time to...be romantic."
"I would like to visit some of them," she said. "The nursing homes. I'll have Andrea take me on Saturday. Don't argue," she added as he tried to object. "It's my life Hermy."
A few days later Chad placed two acai bowls on the table and sat across from Agnes. He watched as she appraised her breakfast.
"Wow, it's so pretty, I don't even want to eat it! Hah, yes I do." And she tucked in at once. Chad chuckled and played with his bowl.
"Uh, you know I just want Herm to be happy, like, that's my main concern, in our relationship. That he's happy."
"Of course, sweetheart. You are an amazing partner! A real man."
"Well, thank you. But, I hope I'm not being disrespectful here, but uh, he's not happy, about the home. He's pretty upset."
Agnes considered him. He half expected her to tell him to shove it.
"I like being here, with you," he continued. "Both of you. This is how things work in my culture. The younger generation cares for the older generation. And had things been different, I would have done exactly what Herm is doing for my own grandparents. You're not a burden."
"That's very nice dear. But there comes a time when young people need to move on and live their lives."
"This is his life. You are his life. You were his best friend. Probably still are. Not that I'm jealous, or anything," he joked, managing to get a smile from her. "It'll break his heart, if you go. And mine-no really!" he added when she shook her head in disbelief. "My life is so much better, being here. I swear. Please don't leave."
Agnes blinked rapidly, pushing her glasses up her nose. "Well, yes, you've always been rather pushy, haven't you?"
She frowned slightly, appraising him with those magnified, glassy blue eyes. "Fine. Fine fine, fine, we'll scrap the home. But maybe some classes or a club. Something I can do with people my own age."
Chad grinned. "Oh, so we're boring, got it."
Agnes laughed and poked him with her spoon handle. "You are a rascal."
