Baby Tonight
Disclaimer! I am dyslexic. My writing isn't perfect so please, don't have high expectations for my grammar. Not proofread bc it's 1:26am and I'm tired.
A/N- This story is gender neutral so don't mind the picture. My work is written with a black reader in mind, but anyone is welcome to read. No use of Y/N or a given name.
Victory Tour 1984.
You and Marlon have been married for a couple years now and your relationship has taken a toll due to the Victory Tour.
-
You can't even be mad at him.
He's trying his best.
He's calling and making time when he can. But when he finally gets home, he's too exhausted to do anything. Can you blame him though?
He's been working day after day without a break. Rehearsals, interviews, and performances from that taken up so much of his time. This tour has began to make you wonder if you would even see him until the tour was over.
The sound of the front door opening pulls you away from your thoughts.
"Baby? I'm home!"
You glance toward the hallway.
Marlon appears a moment later, taking slow and heavy steps into the living room. His shoulders sag underneath his jacket and his eyes are half-lidded. Still, he smiles when he see you. He leans down, pressing a tired kiss to your forehead before collapsing onto the couch next to you.
"How you doing?" He asks, draping an arm behind your shoulders. "Was everything okay. while I was gone?"
"I've been okay," You turn towards him, taking in the dark circles under his eyes. "I should be asking about you though."
Marlon lets out a quiet chuckles.
"What makes you say that?"
You take a good look at him. His eyes are struggling to stay focused on yours, blinking slowly as if he hadn't been sleeping enough.
"You look... rough, Marlon."
You turn back to the book you were reading before you had gotten lost in thought.
After a few minutes, you couldn't help but realize you hadn't eaten anything while waiting for Marlon's return.
"Hey Mar, what would you like to eat—"
All you had gotten was a snore in response.
He had fallen asleep on you, with his head tilted back.
You can't help but miss him, and he was right there.
-
It was already the next day.
Marlon had promised to take you out for dinner as compensation for falling asleep on you. You hoped that he'll at least catch up on enough sleep to make conversation.
Dressed up nicely in a black fitted outfit, your arm locked with Marlon's as you wait at the front.
"Reservations for the Jacksons'?" A petite woman had said from the front desk.
"Yes, that would be us."
"Okay, follow me to your table."
After walking for a few seconds you arrive at your table.
"If anything, you can always call over a waiter. Have a nice dinner!"
He pulls out your seat for you like he always does and pushes you in, then takes his own seat. For the first time in a while, Marlon actually looked like he had enough sleep. Not completely. He still had his dark circles obviously, they weren't going to disappear overnight. But he definitely looked better. He finally seemed more like himself.
"You look absolutely gorgeous, Mrs./Mr. Jackson."
You jokingly rolled your eyes.
"You always say that."
"Yeah," He said proudly. "And you always love it, don't you?"
A grin slowly makes its across his face when he catches you trying not to smile.
"There it is!"
"What?"
"That smile. It never fails to make me fall in love more."
You shook your head and reached for the menu.
"You are ridiculous, you know that?"
"Yeah, and you married me anyway."
For once life felt normal.
Just you and your husband.
-
The waiter had arrived with your meals and set them down and tells you to enjoy. Once she had left, the conversation picked back up again.
You began talking about your week, just a family dinner that you and your cousin had to prep for. She had gotten lost in the plaza looking for a store with decorations for an hour.
He laughed and nodded along perfectly. He even smiled whenever you both made eye contact.
"And then she called me and said 'I don't even think I'm supposed to be at this store'."
"Sounds like something she would say," Marlon shaking his head as he laughed.
"I know right?"
You took a sip from your glass before continuing the story.
"She ended up finding the right store eventually."
"Who did?"
You paused.
"My cousin."
He blinked, looking confused.
"Oh."
"You know, the cousin I had just spent the last 5 minutes talking about?"
His face dropped immediately. The realization had hit you both at the same time. He wasn't listening. It wasn't that he didn't want to or didn't care. He was just tired.
"Baby, i'm sorry." He apologized while rubbing his hand over his forehead.
"No, it's okay."
You knew very well it wasn't but not entirely. Thats why you couldn't even be angry at him. He wasn't purposely ignoring you. He was trying his best, in fact, trying so hard that it hurt to watch. It only added to ache that you already had in your chest. Too bad you had spoken a little too soon about his sleep schedule. You couldn't help it though, you were hoping he would at least pay attention to what you were saying.
"I know you're tired, Marlon."
"I know."
"I know you're busy."
"I know."
"And I know none of it's on purpose."
He clasped his hands together and looked down at the table. He really didn't want to argue, not tonight, not at this restaurant, and especially not when you looked that good.
"I just miss you." You had confessed quietly and your hands reached for his.
He eyes searched for yours, not expecting you to say the opposite of what he thought you would say.
"Marlon... when was the last time you actually had a full night of sleep?"
This man is so fine yall.