He stood there in the mirror, pulling at his waistline. He'd look, then turn, silently staring at his stomach before turning again, trying to suck it in this time.
Simon had been worried something like this would happen.
"Si, where are you baby?" He heard his wife call, hearing her feet padding down the hallway.
He scrambled to pull his shirt back on over his head, wedging it on and around his shoulders, only able to get it halfway before Y/N pushed open the door to their bedroom.
"There you are." She hummed, walking over to him.
When she reached him she leaned on his chest, pressing her stomach to his and wrapping her arms around his waist, melting into him. This was one of her favorite things, just standing with him.
And normally it was his too.
But this time he went ridged underneath her hands, spine ramrod straight. He tried to pull in his stomach, praying that she wouldn't notice his odd behavior. Praying that she wouldn't notice anything.
Unfortunately for him, his wife noticed everything about him.
"Simon," she pulled back slowly, just enough that she could see his face but still held him in her arms. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, dove." He cleared his throat, avoiding her eyes. "Why do you ask?"
She eyed him suspiciously, then sank back into the hug, watching him in the mirror. "Okay."
He exhaled, glad that she was gonna drop it. At least, that's what he thought.
She slowly unwrapped her arms, sliding her hands to meet his soft sides. Simon tensed back up, reaching to grab her hands and gently put them back around him.
"What're you doing baby?" She asked, closely observing his expression.
"Just really love hugging you, 'sall." He murmured into her hair, still avoiding her eyes.
Y/N pulled away again, cradling his face in one hand and running her fingers through his hair with the other. Simon sighed, closing his eyes and sinking into her touch.
"Well I'm flattered Si," she whispered, "But I know that's not quite the whole reason."
He froze, still not opening his eyes.
"Talk to me," she pressed a kiss to his cheek, "Let me carry this with you."
Simon could feel his resolve melting away with every time her hands ran through his hair. Maybe he would share this with her, as embarrassing as it may be. His sweet wife had never been the type to make fun of him.
He opened his eyes and stood up straight, keeping his arms wrapped around her but watching himself closely in the mirror.
"Do you, uh-" he cleared his throat. "Do you think I've gotten too soft since retiring?"
She tilted her head up at him, "What do you mean?"
Simon pulled away from her fully and gestured to his gut.
"Look at me, when we got together I was damn near bloody chiselled, and now," he took to squishing his stomach, then turning to look at her.
"Look how tight my pants are now." He pulled at the waistband. "I can barely get 'em zipped anymore."
Simon plopped himself onto the edge of the bed, putting his elbows on his knees and staring at her feet.
"Guess I'm just worried I'm not quite the man you fell in love with anymore."
It was silent in the room for a few moments, the only reason he knew she hadn't left was because he'd been watching her feet. He could feel something welling up in his chest, fear, sadness, and resignation.
An ugly combination.
But slowly, her feet started moving. And soon enough, his wife was standing right in front of him.
"You're right Simon, you aren't quite the same man I fell in love with."
His head snapped up, the same time he felt a crack in his chest, but before he could get a word out she had his face cradled in her palms.
"And I'm not quite the same woman you fell in love with. That's what happens when you spend years of your life with someone." Y/N gazed down at him with such adoration that he could feel her love radiating into his chest.
"And yes love, you are much softer than you were at first, and I'm mighty proud of that."
His head tilted in confusion.
"I've worked real hard at getting you nice and plump." She squeezed his side. "Now that you're able to relax, I wanted to make sure that you were eating enough. Have to keep my husband nice and full."
Simon blinked at her. "Dove, are you telling me that you've been fattening me up on purpose?"
She blushes violently, glancing away from him as her ears burned. "That's not the point, Simon."
He stood up in front of her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "I think that's very much the point, sweet wife." He chuckled to himself. "Here I was worried you wouldn't be attracted to me anymore, when this had been your sneaky little scheme all along."
She shook her head, burying her face into his chest. "I can't help that I like you soft." She murmured. "Means that you finally feel safe. And besides," she pulled back and looked at him directly.
"You don't mind that I'm soft, do you?"
Simon scoffed immediately, like the very notion was preposterous. "Absolutely not." He grasped her waist, squeezing appreciatively. "I love my wife with some softness on her. Just gives me more to love."
Y/N hummed with a smile, burying her face back into his chest. "And I love you Simon, no matter how soft you are."
a/n
As a plus size girly who loves a soft man, this is definitely a very niche oneshot
