I've seen your requests are open so can I requests Hugo with a crybaby s/o?
Like they're very sensitive and when they feel any type of intense emotion whether it'd be anger or sadness they'll cry? They hate being sensitive so they try their best to suppress it or atleast hide it.
Ok that's it I hope you have a wonderful day/night
allow me to shield your delicate heart.
. . . synopsis: emotionally sensitive!reader gets fired from their job and they struggle to suppress/cope with their sadness and anger from hugo.
. . . wc: 5.7k
. . . notes: might be ooc, established relationship, reader's ex-boss sucks, reader avoids hugo for a bit, hugo suspects early on & you're semi oblivious to it, angst w/ comfort, reader cries a lot, mild usage of foul language.
. . . response: AIHFFE hi anon!! tysm for your request I really enjoyed it?!?! like this really really itched the writing part of my brain and i have YOUUU to thank!! asjndoasdn i love your brain!! apologies that this took so long to complete,,, even if i had the plot set in stone the moment I caught wind of your request!! I was overthinking it a lot if i'm being honest 😵💫 I hope you have an amazing day/night wherever you are though!! :D
In your opinion, being sensitive is a double edged sword.
On one hand, you’re able to empathize with others incredibly well. The ability to exhibit a judgement free, natural compassion that draws people in like lost sailors to a light house is not unheard of, but never unwelcome. To mirror people’s emotions and feel it as your own on a deeper level is an ability not many people possess, but look for in others and appreciate when they’re the recipient of your neverending compassion.
It’s considered a weakness. Especially in an apocalyptic ridden world where it’s a dog eat dog world— you couldn’t afford to show a lick of vulnerability, not before someone could weaponize it against you.
Subdue the very thing others love about you.
Today served as a test for such an opinion.
It all happened so quickly: You remember clocking in, headed towards your once decorated cubicle with the intent to begin your shift. However… What greeted you instead were a pile of corrugated boxes, piled up neatly on your small desk.
But before you could grant yourself the luxury to think of potential hypotheses, the sound of your boss saying your name, voice cold that left no room for confusion. You snap your head towards him. Agitated.
Perhaps he can answer my questions?
You don’t remember doing anything out of the ordinary, you followed the rules— leaving on time, finishing up and organizing the files as necessary, and to top it all off?? Staying at the building for the night to finish up those pesky reports due freakishly early in the morning!
You don’t recall ever causing issues at your workplace, not enough to warrant your things being packed up. There were hardly any issues.
Though it seemed your boss thought otherwise.
Those were the cold words that left you paralyzed. Eyes wide, tears threatening to spill from your lower lids with your hands shaking at your sides. There, you were face to face with your now ex-boss. Who made a show of throwing sheets of hard work at your grief-stricken face, his face twisted with a condemnation that’ll surely haunt you in the back of your mind.
It took everything within you to not break down in front of him, so much so that the act of flinching never registered. Papers fluttered and twisted back and forth around your trembling form— like shards of glass aimed directly at the tender parts of your heart.
Your tongue sat still within your dry mouth. Deathly afraid to ask as to why he made this harsh decision so suddenly, to plead for answers you knew very well he won’t give. Afraid of coming off as desperate and dense.
Not even an advance notice?
And yet, there wasn’t much you could do but to take it. To stand idle, paralyzed as your boss made an obvious spectacle of your misery for the crowd of employees to see. Watching you with hands covering their mouths, scandalized, staring with bated breath. Like a pack of eager hyenas, ready to rip you to shreds like an injured giselle if you showed any signs of falling apart.
That rotten memory replayed in your mind over and over like a broken record player, still tormenting you for what you were worth even if it happened hours ago. It didn’t matter if you sat alone at Yum Cha Sin, sipping on scorching tea meant to soothe whatever troubles lay dormant in your mind. A herbal tea you once relied on whenever life grew demanding did nothing to temper the sorrow and indignance curling beneath your gut.
Tea slips past your throat through suppressed shaky breaths— muscles tight as a defense mechanism, refusing to fall on their knees and allow sadness to break through. The warm sensations did nothing to ease the constricting feeling within your throat, it only exacerbated it with how you clutched harshly at the curved handle of the glass tea cup. Eyes stinging, burning with the desire to let the dam break and crumble.
But no, not here, not now.
Perhaps it was time to head back to the manor.
There were still some chores you had planned on finishing… planned on finishing when you got home from work today, that is.
But the walk home wasn’t any better.
The heavy weight in your chest threatening to drown you in the sea of your own misery was enough to stop you dead in your tracks.
Exhausted, you keep your head down, facing the concrete ground for a weak attempt of finding solace. The hustle and bustle of Failume Heights is nothing but a distant memory, your shoulders trembling with each hiccup that left your shaky lips, heavy with suppressed emotion.
Make it stop. You think to yourself. Stay strong for a little longer. Taking deep breaths in an attempt to calm yourself to the best of your abilities, to continue suppressing your emotions instead of allowing yourself the comfort of letting it out.
Tears push up against your waterline, begging to be let free. Save for a sneaky tear or two slipping through the cracks of the dam you forcefully brought up— fueled by your inner dislike towards the delicateness of your heart. Shallow breaths leave your lips with each step you take, dragging your feet towards the cable car ahead.
A staff member perks up upon your arrival, worry swirling in their eyes before squashing it. Your sorrow was palpable, enough for the staff member to stutter a bit before greeting you. Wanting to set their role aside and ask what’s wrong, yet they’re not one to pry. They clear their throat, sporting that customer service smile.
“Welcome!” They greet, gesturing to the cable car with an open palm. “A solo ride I presume?”
You ignore the cable car staff’s bubbly pleasantries, far too exhausted to keep up with the peppiness in their actions. Sufficing with a single nod, straight to the point. “Mhm.” You muster the courage to hum, entering the cable car with stiff movements without looking back, leaving the staff member a bit taken aback. Flustered at the lack of small talk they were used to.
You didn’t bother turning on the lights, the early evening sun sifting through the silk curtains served as sufficient lighting. You let your tired eyes wander, never staying in an area for too long— looking for any semblance of life other than yourself.
Right. You sigh. Mildly relieved. No one’s home.
Despite sharing a home with Hugo, you’re well-aware of your beloved’s odd working hours— Always out and about, taking from the elites and giving back to the less unfortunate with Vivian and Robin without a schedule in mind.
You’re used to sleeping on an empty bed yet waking up to a shared one in the early morning, or you wait for him at the dinner table only for him to never arrive; every morning though, you see him eating last night’s dinner.
His late arrivals bothered you a bit, sure, but you never held it against him. You know he tries his absolute best to come home to you whenever he can, even if it pains you each time you come home and he isn’t there to greet you.
But with him being absent as of right now? You’re glad he didn’t have the opportunity to greet you. He won’t come home till the dead of night anyways.
No need to worry about him seeing you look like an absolute mess.
You settle into the familiarity of the high-end kitchen, elbows propped on the edge of the counter with your cheek pressed up against your palm. Basking in the golden light pooling around you near the sink with quiet melancholy, its warm rays wrapping around you like a gentle embrace. As if the sun was whispering to you:
The ache behind your eyes stirred up again, as though roused awake by the warmth the sun can only bestow upon those who needed it most. Tears you thought were long gone, once left behind at Failume Heights and to never arise no matter what, came crashing back down on you like a sudden asteroid— rapid fire and unwanted.
You fail to stifle back a whimper, eyes blurry with tears dropping onto the metal sink. “W-Why— now?!” You choke out, your voice wavering with how your throat began to constrict again. Like a ball of needles taking refuge at the base of your throat, preventing you from ever voicing your hurt.
Only then could you stare at the polished metal, cringing at the wet sensation coating your flushed cheeks, chest heaving with barely stifled whimpers.
You weren’t sure if you’re crying because you got fired.
Or if you’re crying because you finally gave yourself the chance to.
It didn’t matter the cause, all that you cared about is suppressing it again.
Clearing your mucus coated throat, sniffling to push back the evidence of your misery in fear of anyone finding out. You lift the faucet, taking a sponge before coating it in dish soap, scrubbing away at the dirty plates.
Surely this’ll distract me in the meantime.
Seconds blurred into minutes, still scrubbing away with no intent on stopping. Even if the dirty plates within the sink began to lessen, the same can’t be said for the endless supply of tears making its rounds. Each back and forth motions on the dirty dishes felt lackluster, almost mechanical in their movements.
You pause for a moment, staring down at the water slowly filling up a dirty bowl without much thought, treating it as if it were the most important thing in the world. Nothing’s working. You push the faucet down, stray water droplets tinkling into the dirty bowl. A wobbly sigh leaves your lips, blinking slowly to finally allow yourself the liberty to feel freely.
Just for a little bit. You think to yourself, drying your hands against the hand towel. Sounds of tears tapping against the metal flooring of the sink echoes across the kitchen, mixed with the faint sounds of shallow breathing filling the room. No one’s home, no one can hear me anyways.
It’s better this way. To cry safely in the comfort of your desolate home, where no one can reach you and notice how your vulnerability shatters you. No one has to know how easily you crumble under the smallest amount of pressure, no one has to know how easy it is to make you cry.
Unfortunately for you, it seems life had other plans stored for you. You weren’t given much time to wallow in your own misery openly, for you heard the sound of the front door closing. The click clack of polished dress shoes nearing their way towards the kitchen.
Hugo comes home early out of all days??
Despite irritation bubbling within you, you didn’t dwell on it for much longer. You clear your throat softly, soft enough so he doesn’t catch onto the way the rough sound wobbled, wiping your tears away with the back of your hand hastily. Act normal, act normal, act normal—
You feel a pair of familiar lithe arms wrap around your waist, causing your body to tense immediately. The action so noticeable it sowed the seed of suspicion within Hugo’s weary mind:
Hm, something’s gone awry.
He knows his lover like the back of his hand, knowing how much you love whenever he greets you with his arms wrapped around you from behind in a loose hold.
Whenever he does greet you like this, you always make sure to plant a loving kiss on top of his head before resuming your usual activities, allowing him the luxury to simply… hold you. To bask in the rare moments of domesticity, to relish in your warmth as he recharged from reigning terror upon the elites of New Eridu.
Not once have you… tensed up like this before. It’s eyebrow raising for him though he stifled it in the meantime. He didn’t want you to know he caught onto your strange behavior.
For now, he’ll play along. He’ll play the clueless boyfriend if it means you’ll spill the beans on your own terms… eventually. Sighing softly, he slots his chest against your stiff back. Loosening his hold around you, offering you an easy out. His golden bangs tickle the side of your neck as Hugo rests his forehead on your shoulder.
“Good evening, my love.” He purrs, his voice thick with a sleepiness that would’ve made you melt if it weren’t for your current mood. “My apologies for the sudden arrival, Vivian was insisting on completing our—” He pauses, a deep rumble of amusement leaves his lips.
”Mm, I mean… her mission on her own tonight, no doubt because her beloved Phaethon are involved.” You nod stiffly. “I wouldn’t put it past her if she wanted some alone time with her idols…”
“Not that I mind, of course.” He sighs, gazing at you through his long lashes. “Naturally, one would seize any opportunity given to spend time with their beloved, thieves are no different from the sappy bunch~”
What do you say?
A simple silence settled between the two of you, save for the sounds of Hugo’s elegant attire rustling each time he shifts, mixed with your labored breathing filling the air. You exhale slowly, standing still in hopes Hugo wouldn’t notice how quiet you’ve been for the past few seconds.
Your hand shoots out, grabbing a filled mug before swilling it in the sink. A sad and suspicious deterrent.
“How.. uh, nice!” Your voice audibly cracks, tensing even further. Shoot shoot… that wasn’t supposed to happen?!? You clear your throat obnoxiously, trying to drown out whatever suspicions Hugo could start having.
As if he wasn’t suspicious from the very beginning.
“…My voice is acting up.” You try to reason. “You know… Pollen season?? Where my throat gets kinda… Weird? Teensy bit weird…?”
Hugo hums against your shoulder, playing along with your little ruse. You nod stiffly, trying to blink away stray tears bunching up at the corner of your eyes. Ignoring the ache building up behind your eyes once again.
“Right, right.” He sighs against your shoulder, fluttering his eyes closed. Not wanting to trigger your desire to flee by accidentally pinning you with his sharp gaze alone.
“I understand, darling. Wouldn’t want you to tire your throat out now.” The last thing the phantom thief wants is for you to shut the outside world out, to quickly retreat back into your shell and freeze up— refusing to soak in an ounce of support from those that care about you.
For now, he’ll gladly play the waiting game if it means you open up to him. He just hopes you give in early so you’d be put out of your misery. “Do know I’m more than happy to aid you in any way I can, be it spending a fortune in JC Pharmacy if it means soothing your allergy symptoms.”
“Or better yet… a shopping spree? Anything to put my darling at ease, allergy season is no joke you know~” He circles his gloved thumb against the curve of your waist, a comforting act that causes your throat to constrict yet again. “Trust me, my card is at your disposal~.”
You weren't sure how long you could keep this charade up anymore.
It was slightly easier to put a brave front in public, to keep your head down and only respond when prompted. If someone asks for directions? Easy! Quickly wipe those tears away and excuse it with something like “Dust got in my eyes” and lead them to the right direction.
Any distraction would’ve sufficed.
But with how Hugo was holding you loosely, so sweetly, as if afraid of overwhelming you with his usual theatrical bravado? With how he kept his teasing comments to a minimum, as if he knew something was slightly off with you? God, it hit right where it hurt. It made you want to ditch your ruse and to crumble in his safe embrace—
You blink rapidly, all in a poor attempt to usher your tears back into their rightful places, your lips setting into a tight line, forcing your sobs to mellow out on their own. “Uh… mhm…” Your voice wavers again, a traitorous whimper leaves your lips. Prompting Hugo’s pierced ears to perk up involuntarily.
You sniffle abruptly. “Sorry.” You break away from his loose embrace, Hugo’s eyes widen momentarily. “Just…” You run your fingers through your hair in a last ditch attempt to soothe yourself.
Hugo kept silent, watching your erratic movements with a mild frown, disliking how you’re slowly destroying yourself in front of him.
You kept your back turned towards him, a strategic way of saving face. “I-I'm looking for something.” You whisper in between weak, stifled sobs. The words thick with unspoken weight. Hands feeling up the authentic leather couch aimlessly, ignoring how your vision began to blur once more, or how your tears began to spill without restraint.
This is embarrassing.
“For what?” He asks, already making his way towards you. “I don’t recall you ever losing something.” As soon as he’s behind you, he rests a gentle hand on top of your trembling shoulder, causing you to freeze momentarily.
Oh no.
He definitely knows, there's no way he didn't.
“Darling…” He whispers, squeezing your shoulder lightly. His face scrunching up with worry. “Please… allow me,” He ushers you to sit on the couch, watching as you turn your head away from him, refusing to let him see you at your most vulnerable.
He couldn’t lie and say your actions didn’t hurt.
“It’s—…” You hiccup, your hurt painfully obvious with how your voice cracked. “…Nothing’s wrong! Seriously… nothing—” You breathe in, sniffling loudly. Not ever wanting to meet your boyfriend’s gaze for you’re afraid of giving in and showing how weak you are. “…Nothing.” You say lamely, turning your head to face ahead, though you averted your gaze— seeking solace in the marble floor rather than your boyfriend.
The two of you sat in the living room in silence, save for your weak sobs filling the air, mixed with your sniffling and coughs. Once you have calmed down enough to where your breathing seemed to stabilize a bit, Hugo speaks up. His voice taking on a softer tone, afraid of scaring you away if he acted too rashly.
“It’s not… nothing if you’re shaking under my hand,” He rubs your shoulder in comforting circles, not missing the way you leaned into his touch.
He sighs, using his restraint to not pull you in a tight embrace, to shelter your tear-stricken face in the crook of his neck, to shield you from anything that led you to your breaking point.
But no.
He had to wait it out, not until you came to him willingly. He resorts to placing his hand on top of your trembling fist in the meantime. “Nor is it nothing if you’re unwilling to meet my gaze, my love.”
You gulp. Your hands shake as they rest on your thighs, nails digging into your palms painfully. He has a point, and that’s what made it difficult to shoo him away. To shrug him off with one of your puny excuses in hopes he’d leave you be, to let you rot away with you being the only witness of your self-destruction.
Knowing Hugo, he wouldn’t let up no matter how hard you tried. You knew how unyielding he becomes when he finds a lead that confirms his suspicions, even if he was being incredibly gentle with you, it was hard to miss the careful assertiveness in his actions.
Perhaps you can let loose around him… a little.
You nod. The action mechanical in its movements before turning to face him, albeit reluctantly. There, you were face to face with his heterochromatic gaze the first time this entire evening, pools of crimson and silver stare right back at you, alongside… Patience? Compassion? Whatever it was, it was the very thing that destroyed what was left of your weakening composure.
You break completely, lunging yourself at him as you sob freely, arms wrapped around his waist, a soft ‘oomph’ leaving his lips.
Thanks to his quick reflexes he was able to catch you in his arms, his arms wrapping around your waist. His other hand switches between patting and caressing the back of your head in gentle motions.
“(Name)…”
The way he says your name in that tender, hushed voice of his?? That same voice he used whenever it was just the two of you behind closed doors?
Does he know how it made you feel???
It made your sobbing 10x worse. If that was a good or bad thing you weren’t sure, all you knew was how any little thing he did— sweet or not, made you want to crumble and sob till you fell asleep.
You hid your tear-stricken face on his shoulder, tears mixing with snot staining his expensive suit.
Not that he minds.
“It’s been horrible! Okay? Just plain out horrible!” You lament, your voice muffled and nasally with how you smushed your face against his shoulder. “I—… Gosh.. I don’t even know—.. D–don’t know where to start.”
Hugo nods his head slowly, pressing a comforting kiss on the crown of your head, letting out a soothing, melodic hum in acknowledgment. “It—.. It all began when I entered work this morning and—…” You croak in-between sobs, shaky breaths tangling with weak sobs, your hold around him tightening once more in an attempt of anchoring yourself.
My, you were stronger than you look. But then again…
If it weren’t for your current distressed state, he would’ve made a teasing comment that would’ve left you mildly flustered, perhaps even a bit miffed. But no, he’ll save it for when you’re able to look at him and smile wholeheartedly again.
You whine, disgruntled at your own sensitivity. “Sorry…” - “Shh… Shh… No need for apologies, my love.” He murmurs lowly, pressing another reassuring kiss on the same spot.
Reassured by his understanding, you continue. “…I— I got fired…” Now that caught Hugo’s attention. You knew he wanted to say more with how you heard him stammer lightly before biting his tongue. “…No explanation from my boss— well, now ex-boss.” You suck in a harsh breath. Your sobs mellowing out for the time being. “He only said “you’re fired” without any prior explanation… not a single advance notice on my desk.”
“Hm.” He swallows his displeasure.
“It was all so… overwhelming.” You shiver, tears welling up again. “Having everyone’s eyes on me, being the recipient of my ex-boss’ ire? It felt like I was under a magnifying glass, like they were waiting for me to… I— I don’t know? Mess up so they can point and capitalize on my vulnerability?”
“And since this morning and on?” You slump further in his secure embrace, not missing how Hugo’s jaw seemed to tighten. Or how the air around you shifted. “…I’ve been moping around Failume Heights, trying to distract myself with anything I could get my hands on, anything but confronting my sadness and anger.”
“Nothing worked. All I ever wanted was to not cry at… at every. Mild. Inconvenience.” You wipe your new tears lethargically. Your past sobbing sessions, as fleeting as they were, began to take a toll on you. “And I guess that moment alone served as my breaking point, all the pent up anger and sadness I suppressed for who knows how long finally caught up to me and…”
You sigh deeply, pausing for a brief moment before continuing. “…That’s all… Really.”
You sniffle, your voice raspy. “I didn’t want to tell anyone about it either… not because I don’t trust you,” You remain silent for a moment, trying to find the words that best explain your personal predicament. “I just… you know, don’t like when people see me cry, or see me at my most vulnerable. Not when I cry at every little thing.”
Hugo didn’t know what to say.
Well… he did know. He has a lot to say about your ex-boss, though his language would be rather… unbecoming at this very moment given the fragility of this situation, so he knew he had to tread with tremendous care. Once you stop talking, he pulls away from your hold— not to get up and walk away from it all, no.
Instead, he reaches for your tear-stained cheeks, cupping your tear-stricken face in his hands gently, swiping his thumbs on the apple of your cheeks. Taking in the puffiness of your eyes, observing the irritation settling in those eyes that deserve to cry tears of joy— not sadness.
He exhales. Contemplating. “While it pains me that you have to hide your hurt from me,” He sighs, offering a weak smile. “To think you’ve been shouldering this all on your own… It only puts into perspective just how strong you truly are, and it breaks my heart you don’t see it that way.” He squeezes your cheeks lightly, gazing at you with unbridled tenderness that makes you want to cry all over again.
“Crying at every “little” thing doesn’t make you weak, my love. It only serves to shed light on your humanity, a reminder that you haven’t been corrupted with the cynicism New Eridu broadcasts on the daily.”
You try to deliver a weak retort, only for it to be squashed as soon as he shushes you with a slow, reverent kiss to your hairline, melting whatever retort you had at the tip of your tongue. Your breathing slows under his calming presence. “And to be honest… we all need a reminder that it’s okay to break too.”
“Your sensitivity is what makes you you,” He whispers against your hairline like a soft plea, sincerity dripping off of every word. “Don’t subdue the very thing that reminds you and others of your humanity.”
Hugo pauses, observing the way your teary eyes widen slightly. He smiles softly, as though realizing that his words were shifting your perspective, just a little bit. Good, you’re slowly seeing what I’m seeing. “…It won’t be easy, pulling you out of the darkness you’ve grown accustomed to, it’s no easy feat. That, I’m aware of.”
“So… please,” He leans down, catching your stray tears with slow, tender kisses. Each kiss demonstrates a devotion the phantom thief reserves for those he deems worthy. To be treated with such grace, so gently, with a patience you never give to yourself?
It breaks your heart.
“Let me be your respite.”
“I don’t want you to “shield” me from your vulnerabilities.” He leans away to gaze into your eyes once more, conveying the seriousness of what he has to say. “I want to shield you from the darkness that threatens to extinguish your light. I want you to be able to breathe freely without feeling like you have to suppress it in fear of inconveniencing the world.”
“Everything about you is shining, darling. Allow me to cherish and preserve the light within your heart— your light that motivates others to continue breathing.“
You stammer, clearly at a loss for words. You never thought of your sensitivity in that way before, not in a pure, positive light. Sure, it had its perks— but those perks only proved to be useful when other people were thrown into the mix. Rarely does it ever benefit you. For you, it served as an inconvenience, an obstacle preventing you from showing the world that nothing could shatter you no matter what life throws at you.
It was mind-boggling to say the least.
Your disbelief seems to have eased the tension in the air for a bit, for how Hugo’s shoulders relaxed at the way your tears lessened for the time being.
“It’s quite alright if my words don’t heal the hurt you’ve been harboring,” He pauses for a moment, his eyes softening further under your teary-eyed gaze. “It’s a deep wound only time and patience can mend, and if that’s the case… then…” He swallows. “Allow me to make the healing process a bit bearable, let my actions show the fullest extent of my unwavering support, if that’s alright with you my darling~”
You giggle, a wet and shaky one but a giggle nonetheless. “Mhm.. Of course. I believe you wholeheartedly… I never seen my sensitivity in that light before.” He nods patiently. “I must admit… After hearing your perspective, it shifted mine a bit. Of course, it doesn’t undo the hurt I've been hiding since forever… It—”
You sigh, watching Hugo with a tiny sparkle of happiness. Slowly creeping its way back into your gaze. “However.. It makes me realize that I have people who won’t shun me for something I can’t control, and that in itself is enough to comfort me whenever I feel down.”
His gaze softens, reaching over to plant a reverent kiss on your puffy eyelids. “By all means,” he whispers. “Take all the time you need, I’ll always stand right beside you— be it in light or in darkness, I’m always here. You won’t get rid of me that easily~”
You place your hands on top of his shoulders, the sensation of dried tears and mucus settling under your palms making your face scrunch up in disgust. “Ah..” You gulp. Guilt constricting you.
You forgot you left a snotty mess on his suit… an expensive one no less, probably worth more than your entire lifetime. “I’m sorry Hugo.. I didn’t mean to make a mess of your attire—”
A series of soft shushing sounds leave his lips, pressing his gloved pointer finger against your lips. “Ah ah ah, not this again~”
You furrow your brows. “I know what you’re going to say… and to that I say?” He leans closer, a light smirk gracing his lips as he watches your flushed cheeks burn— clearly not from your past crying sessions. “Mm.. I don’t care if you mess up my gorgeous suit.” He states confidently, making a show of tapping his stained clothed shoulder, his expression keeping a suaveness that cannot be bought.
He pulls his hands away from your face, his body still angled towards you. “You worry over the smallest things sometimes… It's adorable, really.” He sighs dramatically, spreading his fingers and placing them over his chest whilst resting the back of his other hand on his forehead— playing a distressed maiden. “You’re acting as though I don’t have plenty of the same suit in my closet! How ridiculous.”
He chuckles, reveling in your weak attempts of masking your embarrassment… and your amusement. It was hard to stifle your laughter whenever Hugo acts in his usual theatrical ways. “Mm, but seriously,” He starts, letting a moment of silence settle in between you two, allowing the light-hearted atmosphere to shift into something slightly serious, dropping his theatrical persona like a drop of a hat.
“I’d much rather you make a mess of my suit if it means you leave feeling better, I can always buy a replacement without an issue.” He sighs, flicking away imaginable dust from his dirtied clothed shoulder nonchalantly.
“You though?” He scoffs lightly, as if the idea of finding his beloved replaceable was a crime in itself— a crime he wouldn’t dare commit. “You’re irreplaceable. What makes you think my suit holds a candle to you? Hm?”
You freeze for a moment, blinking slowly, trying to wrap your head around his words. They were… comforting to say the least. Comforting enough to temper your guilt. “I… I guess you’re right.” You sniffle, biting your inner cheek slightly. Hugo nods, reaching out to smooth any flyaways on your head quietly. “You truly do have a way with words… it makes me wonder how you always know what to say.”
“It’s an art I’ve learned to master at an early age,” He states simply before resting his hand on his side. Smiling. “It’s nothing noteworthy.”
“Though…” His voice lowers into a whisper, eyes narrowing as he thinks back to the very thing that led you to your breaking point: your ex-boss. “…Yes?” You watch your boyfriend intently, squinting, trying to gauge his current mood. Since the moment you’ve revealed that little detail that led you down this miserable spiral? He’s been itching to do something about it.
Whether you agree for how he plans on sowing the seeds of justice towards you ex-boss is something he doesn’t plan on concerning himself with. He’ll call it justice when he’s left thoroughly satisfied with the outcome. “Nevermind,” He replies simply, his smile, paired with his saccharine voice did nothing to squash your suspicions. “I answered my own question, no need to worry~”
“Worry not, those worry lines do you no good— not when it comes to me~” He sighs, lounging against the couch like he had nothing to lose, still masking his contempt towards that poor excuse of an individual.
He wraps his arm around your shoulders, pulling you close to his side, prompting you to rest your head on his shoulder. “Focus on resting, I’m sure you’ve exhausted yourself enough as is.”
He glances at you from the corner of his eye, his gaze already softening with how you yawned. How endearing. “Lean on me for as long as you want, I don’t plan on moving an inch anytime soon.”
As you began to doze off, your expression relaxing the more you allowed yourself to let go, Hugo holds you closer to his chest. Your face pressing up to the crook of his neck, though, he kept his gaze fixed ahead. His mind already conjuring up different ways to show that pretentious bastard a lesson.
Firing you was one thing, firing you in front of a crowd was disrespectful absolutely, but not having the decency to leave an advance notice?
The audacity was enough to grind Hugo's gears.
I’ll text Vivian the details later. For now? He’ll gladly play the sentinel that’ll shield the delicateness of your heart.
a/n: this one took me SO long to write for and it was because i started off in reader's perspective !! i'm used to writing in the character's pov first rather than reader's... so if it reads awkward then now you know </3
ngl this may be semi self-indulgent (minus the getting fired) since I'm emotionally sensitive too so i GET ITTTT !!! the water works never ends and it sucks !! + the crying when angry/feeling any intense emotion is so real (i'm not gonna lie gng i teared up as i was writing this HEHJELLO?!?!?!) (I don't think listening to sad songs in order to get into the mood was helping </3)
p.s: why are my angsty ones always so long
i think the reason why this oneshot in particular took me so long to write is because me, as a writer, I don't know what to say when someone's sad </3 knowing what to do is very different from knowing what to say ok!!
Knowing Hugo ?? he'd probably comfort using both words AND actions, so yeah,, couldn't weasel my way out of this one by only comforting through actions instead of words </3 this oneshot CHALLENEGED ME!!! if i'm being completely honest !! still had fun writing it though :)
