Okay, this is my first time doing an exchange or anything like that with @usuknetwork , so I hope my person really likes it!
This is for @katryusha and I went with the prompt for fluff between het!UsUk. I really hope you enjoy it and I have no problem redoing this if you don’t like it. But I’m hoping you will. Anyway, please enjoy this short little fic.
Eliza’s Haircut
Eliza looked her new haircut over in the mirror of her bathroom. She took in the bob that curled slightly under her ears and the bangs that fell to the bottom edge of her eyebrows. If she was being completely honest with herself, she rather liked the new look. It was much easier to manage than her hair used to be and it framed her face better, not to mention it helped downplay how large her eyebrows actually were.
There was only one problem, really. Her boyfriend, Alfred, may not be too ecstatic about it. Well, it was his fault she had cut her hair like this in the first place. She may or may not have overheard a conversation he’d been having with a certain frog. They’d been talking about some silent film star with a signature bob and Alfred had mentioned loving the way bobs looked. Apparently, Eliza had been saving this little fact for when she was drunk enough to make sudden decisions and sober enough to be able to ask a hairstylist for this new bob without raising any questions.
Despite knowing that Alfred liked bobs, she wasn’t sure if he would like her bob. He’d always said how he loved running his fingers through her long hair. They’d sometimes laze the day away with her reading and him stroking her hair lovingly. Eliza sighed and stood up straight, determined to seem confident with this new look when Alfred finally got home.
She shut off the lights in the bathroom and went to the living room of their shared apartment. Eliza looked over the books on the shelves and grabbed a worn copy of the first Harry Potter book, smiling softly at the feel of the paper cover. She sits on the couch and turns on a lamp, starting to read the book as she crosses her legs.
Alfred smiled softly at the sight before him. Eliza on the couch with a book over her face, fast asleep and snoring softly even though she’d deny it for as long as they lived. He gently removes the book and puts it back on the shelf. He turns back to Eliza and blinks, noticing her definitely shorter hair. He furrows his eyebrows slightly and shakes his head, deciding he can ask her about it in the morning.
He gently picks her up from the couch, balancing her in one arm while he turns off the light, and heads for their room. Eliza shifts in his arms, starting to wake up from being jostled around. “…Alfred?” she mumbles.
Alfred smiles softly as he carries her into their bedroom and gently sets her down on the bed. “Yeah, babe. I’m sorry I got home late,” he whispers, climbing into the bed next to her. Eliza rubs her eyes and turns so she’s facing Alfred.
“Well, I suppose it’s alright. It’s not like I was staying up waiting for you,” she says. Alfred chuckles, knowing that’s just her passive aggressive way of saying she was worried. He sits against the pillows and pulls Eliza into his lap with her back against his chest. She practically squawks in surprise, blushing slightly when Alfred laughs.
“I’m sorry for worrying you,” he murmurs, resting his head on hers. He glances down at Eliza and smiles softly. “You cut your hair. What happened?”
Eliza stays quiet for a moment, wondering if she should tell him the actual truth or make something up. She sighs and figures telling the truth is for the best, recalling how Alfred always could tell when she was lying. “I heard you and that bloody frog talking about some silent film star. You said you liked bobs, so I drunkenly decided to cut my hair,” she explains.
Alfred manages to keep a straight face for all of two seconds before he bursts into laughter. Eliza huffs and crosses her arms, focusing all of her attention on one corner of the room. Was that dust and dirt? Oh, that corner was going to get a thorough cleaning later. Alfred glances down at her and calms down enough to kiss the top of her head. “Sorry, babe. It’s just, I didn’t think you’d been listening to that conversation,” he says.
“Why wouldn’t I? You seemed rather passionate about the topic,” Eliza says, looking up at him accusingly. Honestly, how dare he laugh at her right now! She had done this for him, admittedly in a drunken state, but it was still for him. All of which meant it was completely and utterly his fault.
“I was only saying all of that so I could get out of the conversation. You know the only way to end any sort of conversation with Francis is to agree until there’s nothing left to say,” he explains. Alfred watches as Eliza’s face flushes from embarrassment at her own misunderstanding.
“Do you mean this was bothering me for no bloody reason?!” she demands. Eliza frowns and leans her head back, looking up at Alfred. “Does that also mean you don’t like the bob?” she adds.
Alfred thinks for a few long moments, mostly just to tease Eliza and make her grow impatient. “I’m going to miss your long hair, but this looks pretty cute on you too,” he finally says, grinning happily. He ruffles her hair lovingly, laughing when she swats his hand away.
Eliza is silent for a moment before craning her head around to kiss his cheek. “Thank you, Alfred. I love you, truly,” she says, resting her head on his shoulder. Alfred grins and presses a loving kiss to her lips for a few seconds before pulling away. Eliza smiles softly and lets her eyes close again, still tired from being woken up earlier by Alfred carrying her. She falls asleep a few moments later, feeling safe in Alfred’s arms.
“I love you too, baby. Sweet dreams,” Alfred whispers, leaning back against the headboard and closing his eyes. He shifts a little and nuzzles into Eliza’s hair, falling asleep with his lover in his arms.
