Orbiting You
Qifrey fell hard, harder than he could’ve ever anticipated
Female reader, slight manga spoilers, mostly for Qifrey’s character, established relationship
Qifrey didn’t realize he was falling for you until he was face first in the dirt. He thought it would be a gradual shift, like when a stream creates a canyon. Instead, he awoke one morning and it was as if his entire world turned on its axis, now orbiting you instead of a dying star. It wasn’t entirely noticeable when he first opened his eyes, disappointed when your side of the bed had grown cold. Setting his glasses into place, sliding out of bed, and finding his slippers to search for you in what he thought would be a quiet atelier. As he approached the kitchen, laughter sprung off the walls, the sound fastening his heartbeat. When he eased the door open, there you were, eyes crinkled with a giant smile plastered on your face, and he swore the sun shining through the window cast a heavenly glow over your form. You and the girls were covered in flour, even the brush bug was jumping around in the white powder strewn across the mahogany.
“Shhh, we don’t want to wake him yet,” You lifted a pointer finger to your lips, trying to conceal even your own giggles.
“It seems it’s too late for that,” He walked through the door, eyeing the mess.
“Master Qifrey,” Coco squeaked, “We were just trying to make breakfast.”
“Without magic,” You pursed your lips.
“Now why would you want to do such a dreadful thing,” He tried to avoid the powder on the floor—which was practically impossible—before ending up at your side, wrapping an arm around your waist—as he couldn’t bear to be apart from you any longer.
“We thought it would be fun,” Tetia giggled.
“We’ll clean up the mess right away,” Coco said, grabbing Riche’s arm to go find the broom.
“How about,” Qifrey grabbed the ends of their robes, “You clean it with magic.”
“Yes, Master Qifrey.” The girls nodded, running to grab their pens and pads.
He pulled you into his side, “How did this happen?” He laughed, kissing the top of your head.
“Coco and Tetia were fighting over the bag of flour and split it in two.” You giggled, melting into his touch.
You turned to face him, standing on the tips of your toes to wrap your arms around his neck, mouth mere inches from his own, “We wanted to make you breakfast.”
“I imagine that would’ve been easier if you’d used a spell,” He wrapped his arms around your waist and pulled you in close, connecting his lips to yours.
“Ick,” Agott gagged when she walked in the room.
You laughed as your lips parted, “Good morning Agott, Coco tried to wake you.”
“With the look of this mess, I’m glad I stayed asleep,” She grabbed a fruit from the counter and went back to her room.
Then there was you showing the girls a new spell at the river nearby. He didn’t much care for the water, but when you’d asked him to come along, who was he to deny you. Besides, he was a witch, he didn’t have to get wet if he didn’t want to. And how he hated getting wet, but you, you loved the water, and watching as the magic teaching turned into fun, the way you giggled as you splashed water onto the girls. You took off your shoes, jumping into the river, and falling onto your butt, but that didn’t stop your experience, pulling the girls into the river with you until even Agott was giggling with glee. You laughed and stood, hair soaked, water dripping down the sides of your face and yet the smile never left it. He had never thought water was more beautiful than in this moment, covering the body of the woman he loved. And maybe it was in that moment that he realized he loved you. He had never experienced anything quite like the feeling in his gut right now, the fluttering and almost nauseating sensation floating around in his belly. Even when you traversed out of the river, coming his way with your soaking clothes, ringing your hair out, and plopping yourself directly into his lap. You smiled as you kissed his cheek, water from your body soaking through his robes and somehow he didn’t have a care in the world. He could dry himself off at the atelier, but he would never miss out on the opportunity to hold you, so he wrapped his arms around your waist and pulled you impossibly closer.
But no, the moment he knew he loved you is when he sought out comfort, something he had never dared to allow himself the privilege. It had been some time since one of his notorious headaches plagued him, and when they did he typically found himself a dark, solemn place to hide and wait out the pain. Except this time, he craved you. Your touch. Your voice. Your mere presence. So instead of shielding himself away, he took a deep breath, and went in search of you. The hallway was a dizzying feat, and when he heard quiet snickering it almost made him turn back, almost. But when he turned the corner into the living room, you sat in front of the fire, Coco curled into your side, quietly chatting with Olruggio. Luckily, when his old friend saw the displeased look on his face, he made quick work of ushering Coco off to bed. Qifrey made a mental note to thank him for that later. Your face softened as you noticed your lover enter the room, extending your arms for him. He practically collapsed into them, shielding his face in your chest. He needn’t say a word. He had informed you only once of the headaches that plagued him due to his past, but you never bore witness to one. The way his face creased, his eyes barely able to stay open, even his movements were sluggish.
“Should I get you some medicine?” You went to stand, but his arms tightened around your waist.
“My love,” He mumbled out, “Please stay.”
“I’m here,” You squeezed his form, pulling him closer to you before gently tangling your hands in his hair, “Is this alright?” You asked as you softly scraped your fingertips across his scalp, anything to try and dull the ache.
He merely hummed, leaning into your touch. You laid your head atop his, listening to the quiet crackle of the fire, hoping that your presence alone would ease your lover's pain.
Qifrey had never been in love, wasn’t quite sure what it even felt like. But if this right here, held in the embrace of the person you trusted with your most vulnerable moments, was what it meant to be in love, then he had fallen for you so deeply, no amount of magic would be enough to pull him back up.
A/N: I was in my feels so hard writing this. I just wanna hold him and give him the love he deserves. Yes I know I’m not done with the manga and I have been told it’ll break my heart.
*Please do not repost, copy, or use any of my works to feed your AI*
