ׂᘒ synopsis: spending the night with your very sweet, very indulgent girlfriend ellie.
ׂᘒ content warnings: fluff, domestic romance, physical intimacy, non explicit, modern au, gf!ellie x reader, literally nothing going on cause my heart cannot handle angst
You didn’t even realize how late it had gotten until you felt Ellie’s leg drape over yours, her arms holding you close, and the soft hum of her breathing in your ear. You’d been on the couch for hours, half-watching a terrible sci-fi movie she insisted was “cult-classic gold” while she tried to explain the entire lore of some alien planet you couldn’t even begin to follow. Her hands never really left yours, though—sometimes she’d squeeze your fingers gently, sometimes she’d twine them through yours like she was anchoring herself there, and sometimes she’d nudge your knee with hers just to make sure you were paying attention.
She leaned closer, voice low near your ear. “You’re not following this at all, are you.”
You smiled without looking away from the screen. “I’m trying.”
“No, you’re not,” she quips, a quiet laugh in her voice. “You got that look. The ‘I’m pretending but I have no idea what’s happening’ look.”
You turn your head slightly. “I do not.”
“You do,” she insists, nudging her knee against yours. “They just introduced, like, three factions and you didn’t react at all. That’s suspicious.”
Her grip on your hand tightens for a second, like she was grounding herself there, then loosens again. She doesn’t let go. She never really did when you were like this—quiet, comfortable, half-lost in each other.
After a minute, you feel her looking at you. Not subtly, either. Just openly, like she’d forgotten to pretend otherwise.
“You’re staring,” you murmur.
“Yeah,” she replies shamelessly, not even bothering to deny it.
You huff softly. “You’re supposed to be watching the movie.”
“I’ve seen it,” she answers swiftly.
“You’re making me watch it.”
“Exactly. I’m reliving it through you.”
You finally turn to look at her, and she’s already smiling, small and crooked, eyes soft in that way she only got when she was with you.
“What?” you match her smile, unable to help yourself.
She shrugs, like it’s not a big deal. “Nothing. You just… look nice.”
You roll your eyes, but you feel the warmth creep up anyway. “Els I’m literally in my pajamas and have no makeup on.”
“I know,” she hums. “Even more beautiful.”
You nudge her nose with yours gently. “You’re such a sap.”
She leans into the contact immediately. “Only with you.”
That landed softly between you.
The movie kept playing, some dramatic chase scene flashing across the screen, but Ellie’s attention stayed on you. After a bit, she shifted again, stretching her legs out and tugging you with her until you were both half-laying across the couch, tangled in the blanket.
“You’re stealing all the space,” you huff.
“You’re welcome to leave,” she replies.
“You’re literally holding my hand.”
She tightens her grip instinctively. “…okay, well. You can stay.”
You laugh softly.
A while later, she reaches over blindly for the bowl of snacks on the table, grabbing something she concocted in the kitchen a day before from a random cookbook, and held it up to your mouth without looking. “Here.”
You blinked. “What is it?”
“Not sure.”
“That’s reassuring.”
“It’s probably fine.”
You take it anyway, smiling around the mouthful of food even though it tasted terrible. “You’re too confident.”
She glances at you. “Did you die?”
“Not yet.”
“See? I’m basically a professional.”
You shake your head and she grins, clearly pleased with herself. Then she rests her head against your shoulder, a quiet sigh slipping out of her like she hadn’t meant to make it.
“You tired?” you ask, brushing her hair back gently.
“Mm. Just… comfortable.”
Her fingers absentmindedly trace over the back of your hand, slow and lazy. “I like this,” she adds after a moment.
“This?” you said.
“Yeah. Just… us together. Doing nothing.” She pauses, then adds, quieter, “You make doing nothing kinda nice.”
You turn your head slightly so it rests against hers. “You’re doing most of the nothing.”
“Hey,” she mutters. “I’m contributing emotionally.”
You laugh under your breath. “Oh, obviously.”
She nudges you again, then settles back in, her weight relaxing fully against you. The room felt warm, quiet except for the low hum of the TV. Outside, distant traffic drifts through the window.
After a minute, she speaks again, voice low as if she had fallen asleep. “You good?''
“Mhm,” you mumble, relaxed. “You?”
“Yeah.” She squeezes your hand once. “Just… don’t move.”
“I wasn’t planning to.”
“Good,” she murmurs.
And she stays there, half-dozing, half-listening to your breathing, like the whole point of the night had just been ending up like this—close and completely content not to be anywhere else.
a/n: hmm I’m not the biggest fan of this but I wanted to post it anyway since I promised, but if you have any constructive criticism feel free to lay it on me (takeeee oooonnn meeee)
Hey, listen. Obviously you shouldn't spend the money. I'm not telling you what to do. But really you're trying so hard and it all seems so hopeless. Wouldn't that thing you've got your eye on make it feel a little better? Good Morning!!!
