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I. The Morning
Yuu’s morning usually begins the same way.
Their cat would meow and paw at their face, brimming blue eyes peering at them for his breakfast. Grim was a starving cat, and Yuu suspected his stray-turned-pet contained a black hole. Grim was always hungry, no matter what Yuu did.
But Yuu couldn’t help but indulge all the same.
Sleepily, Yuu raised their arm and scritched Grim’s ear, earning a pleased purr and a nudge into their hand, as Yuu hummed a greeting.
Can’t keep Grim waiting. I don’t want him getting too loud since Malleus had a nightmare last night, they thought, shimming out of bed and shuffling into slippers with Grim eagerly following along.
The heater had already warmed the little house since it was the turning of the seasons. Malleus’ door was still closed when Yuu walked past it. He must still be resting from last night’s discomfort.
Malleus didn’t often dream, but when he did, it was often a mix of confusion and discomfort that led to the other staying up for hours, before Yuu came into the picture and became his roommate and friend.
I should make him tea. Chamomile should be good for him, and it is my turn to cook breakfast for the weekend, they reasoned with themselves, going down the stairs to the kitchen to feed Grim, who had long since hurried to his empty food bowl and stared intensely at Yuu.
Feeding Grim his tuna can of the morning and scratching his head again, Yuu straightened up and set about washing their hands to make breakfast, which would be omelets this morning. Was Yuu spoiling their friend? Just a little; Yuu couldn’t help but spoil Malleus after all the excellent progress made.
Besides, not that Malleus doesn’t spoil in return; when Yuu had told him that Grim would be a part of their little house, he immediately set on reading what he could about cat care and ordered supplies to the house.
The taller man was always in tune with what Yuu mentioned, remembering it for later and producing it in some way for them. Whether it was food, clothing, books– Malleus struggled with showing how he properly felt, but Yuu always understood the meaning.
By the time the food smells got stronger, Yuu heard the sounds of a door opening and the floor creaking from upstairs. Malleus, of course, was drawn to the smell of egg dishes. Seeing how a nearly seven-foot-tall man came at the smell of omelets was cute.
“... Good morning, my friend.” Malleus greeted them when he got down to the main floor. Yuu turned their head to smile at Malleus, motioning with the spatula to the fridge.
“Ah, drinks. I see. Orange juice for us?” A shake of the head. “For me?” Another quicker shake of the head. “For you. I see.”
The quiet relapsed, the sounds of cooking and Grim’s little bell jingling being the sounds between. Malleus set the table while Yuu prepared the omelets on their plates, coming to the table and handing Malleus his plate.
“Thank you, Yuu. I’m sorry for keeping you up when you had work last night,” Malleus's lips turned down, eyes shifting from their face to his plate. Shyness. A display of sadness. He’s slowly getting better at showing how he feels on his face. Maybe today’s an ice cream day, Yuu thought, before putting down their fork.
“It’s okay Malleus. Bad dreams happen sometimes. And hey, at least this wasn’t like the first time I heard you have a nightmare,” they signed, “You just said some stuff. And then just asked me to hold your hand until you slept, in case you don’t remember.”
Malleus’ bad dreams were worse when they were first getting used to each other. Though Malleus was apologetic when he was consciously aware, those previous times, Malleus looked at Yuu and called for someone else– a friend that Malleus used to have, who turned out to be someone who hurt him.
Said man grimaced, speaking while his hands moved, signing in response, “That is no excuse for your long night. You already have worked at the university, and then you worked last night for an event. It was grossly a shame on me–”
Yuu made a time-out motion, raising their eyebrows at Malleus who paused amid his self-degradation talk. Then, they made a show at taking a deep breathe, watching expectantly as Malleus copied after them. “You can not control how you dream. That is ridiculous and you know that expressing yourself is what we’re helping you work on. I’m not upset, Malleus. Okay?”
“I cannot control how I dream,” Malleus repeated, “You… are not upset at me expressing that. I apologize. I did not mean to tangent.”
“I forgive you. You’re my friend, of course, I want to help you when you need the help,” Yuu smiled again, smaller this time, as they picked up their fork and ate, watching as Malleus ate as well, and filling the silence with his day before.
II. The Afternoon
Chores were always a fun thing to watch Malleus do.
Not that Yuu left Malleus to do all the work, but it was fascinating watching the Draconia CEO heir, famed for his exploits of handling an architecture company that had reached international heights… Mop the floors with intensity like he was handling a project deadline.
Yuu cleared their throat loudly to get Malleus’ attention, “You look like you’re going to start asking for financial documents from our floor,” they signed once the other looked up, getting the taller man to huff, “I do not want gross floors. Isn’t it good to be determined to clean?”
“It is. I mean, when you don’t look like the floor is withholding important business information,” they snicker and it causes only the huff to turn into a pout, “Am I supposed to look like anything else?”
“We could make it fun, you know?” they gesture to their chore, which was dish cleaning and washing. They did admittedly have a build-up, both of them too busy to work on them throughout the week, and when it came time to do them after breakfast, Yuu realized that they were in desperate need of a clean.
“Is chores meant to be fun? I always had the distinct notion that they were, well, a chore.” He asked, pausing mopping to look up at them curiously. “Well, yeah but we can make it fun! We can do a chore war!”
Malleus frowned, “That does not sound fun, but I shall hear your reasoning.” Yuu grinned, “We have a chore war, and whoever completes the most chores, gets a prize plus bragging rights! It’s what I did with my parents.”
“A prize, you say?” Now he looked intrigued, “What is the prize? Ice cream?” Malleus’ ice cream fixation was very notorious in their house. If it was ice cream, yes, Malleus would likely do everything on their list.
“Well, maybe not ice cream. How about we do whatever the winner wants until dinner time?” They propose, looking at him with anticipation. Malleus seemed to be thinking it over, “... Anything?” Yuu nodded, “Anything you’d like.”
Malleus’ eyes narrowed, “I accept your battle terms. May the best man win.”
Yuu snickered quietly, “No tripping each other or using Grim.”
“Of course not. I can use other tactics to win,” Malleus stated seriously, which Yuu would be intimidated by… If Malleus didn't just start mopping with more vigor. Oh, this was going to make their sides burn if Yuu kept watching.
Since Malleus was mopping and Yuu was washing dishes, that left with a couple of other chores; vacuuming the carpeted floors, cleaning the bathrooms, dusting, and laundry. Yuu already rationalized that since they were in the kitchen, they could grab the dust rag and cleaner so that they could properly wipe their tables and counters, as well as their shelves.
Of course, the chore war turned out to be more like an intense race to do the chore, but also keep tabs on the other person. Plenty of times they, Malleus more than Yuu, checked on each other to see where the other's progress was going.
Having a two-story house meant that there was a fair amount of movement, and hurried motions to get the chores completed. Malleus’ tactics were determination and quick motions, but coming from a rather rich family with people to do the work for him, it made him slightly slowed down since he did want to genuinely do his work.
“I have mopped, cleaned our bathroom, took out the trash, begun the laundry, and put away the dishes you cleaned,” Malleus tallied, looking rather proud of himself. Yuu nodded, giving a little clap before doing their tally, “I washed the dishes, dusted and wiped our tables and shelves, cleaned the windows, put away the laundry, and cleaned Grim’s litter box.”
“Hm. It appears… we are tied.” Malleus mused. Yuu also nodded, “I didn’t expect a tie. We could tidy our rooms for a tiebreaker, but I know we both aren’t that messy.” Malleus put fingers to his chin, “We could do an activity together if you would like. I don’t mind us simply doing that.”
“Okay, I don’t mind!” Yuu beamed, “What should we do?”
“If you don’t mind, I would like to see where your creativity takes you when I play. You create wonderful scenery and I haven’t played my violin in some time, yet. I have a new piece I would like to try,” Malleus suggested.
Drawing and playing music; they often did that together, whether Malleus played to give Yuu drawing inspiration or he played to express emotion, or Yuu drew on what they felt and gave Malleus the art to see if he could translate it into music.
It was a way to combine their talents that made for a pleasant home.
“I don’t mind at all,” they signed, smiling, “I’ll go grab my sketchbook and meet you in the living room.”
And thus started their afternoon, of sunlight streaming in, Grim playing with his toys, and Malleus’ bow stringing along the violin in a slow, melodic piece that Yuu drew images for, crafting a scenery of a peaceful cottage in a field, full of flowers and light.
III. The Evening
“I was thinking,” Yuu signed when they were relaxing in the living room, “Maybe today is an ice cream day?”
Malleus paused in his music writing, having heard Yuu clear their throat to see what they wanted to say. His eyes brightened at the prospect of ice cream, “An ice cream day? So soon? We haven’t had dinner yet.”
Yuu momentarily scritched Grim’s chin, the gray cat cuddled on their lap and half asleep, tail lazily swaying. The cat had practically done nothing except eat and play around, yet was acting as though that was exhausting. I spoil him too much.
“I wanted to check out that place that Sebek mentioned before. He said you all went there together and the food was delicious,” Yuu explained, watching the brightness turn to understanding, and Malleus nodded, “Yes. Sebek loved their menu. And so did– everyone else.”
Yuu nodded, not minding the awkward phrasing. It was still a touchy subject, something that Malleus worked on and struggled with. Closure was strange, and days felt difficult.
Yuu scooped Grim up, guiding the cat around their shoulders for Grim to laze against like a scarf. “Wanna walk? Shouldn’t be too bad.”
“Allow me to grab my coat and put the sheet music away, and we will be off,” Malleus collected the sheet music and set to clean his area.
Briar Hallow was a quaint little area, something that Malleficia and Malleus’ therapist looked for him to settle into; it was a nice area that had necessities, a good Wi-Fi connection for Malleus to work from home, was a good healthy distance from home and to his therapist, and he could drive to the office if need be.
Malleficia wanted her grandson to feel comfortable, and it was a kind gesture, but Yuu felt as though she was desperately trying to do things to make him happy. But Malleus never needed any grandiose kind gestures as reparations for what he’d endured, all he needed was friends. A healthy routine. Something to keep him going from that darkness that he suffered from.
Yuu walked side by side with Malleus, the taller man looking at the trees around them, and humming faintly. Grim meowed at certain passersby who smiled and cooed at Grim, causing Yuu to smile at them in response before continuing walking.
Mostro Lounge was a cafe chain that opened up in this area, and though their menu was extensive, with certain items pricer than others, Malleus never failed to pick the same things to go.
For Malleus, his order was relatively simple; a meat dish with a side salad, no drink, and a rather… fanciful ice cream flavor, depending on their specialties. For Yuu, it was normally whatever they felt like having, and today was a pasta day. In addition, they also got ice cream.
Since Grim isn’t officially any sort of service animal, Yuu waited outside for Malleus to order and pay, waiting with a buzzer. “Did you manage to set up a meeting with your friends by the way? You mentioned earlier that you wanted to see them again,” Yuu asked off-handedly. The raven-haired man nodded, hands moving with his response, “Yes, I did. They’re both happy to see me again, I think. It has been a while since our last meeting, so I hope they will be excited to see me as well.”
“Sebek is very loud. I know he doesn’t mean it but I don’t want Grim to be scared,” they signed, and Malleus hummed, “I am sure Sebek will not mind being told to lower his voice. He knows to mind his volume better now.”
This time, it was who Yuu hummed, getting Grim to come off of their shoulders and into their arms. The gray cat purred at being bundled up closely. “A spoiled little creature. Perhaps we ought to make sure you do not become too, I believe the word is, chonky.”
Yuu stifled a laugh, but their lips tugged into a smile, “Hey, he’s not chonky! He’s just cute and fluffy.” Malleus’ lips quirked a little, turning his cool facade a little warmer. “Yes. Cute and fluffy. But he needs more walks.”
Yuu softly huffed, “Then take him on your night walks, Mister.”
The buzzer buzzed in Malleus’ hand, prompting him to hurry inside for their orders. Two bags, one for their meal, the other for their desserts, which Yuu was sure Malleus would’ve rather have dessert first since ice cream was his favorite food.
(Yuu was convinced that Malleus would’ve eaten ice cream daily if he could. Malleus had pouted once when Yuu told him that the ice cream flavors he usually goes for were out, and he proceeded to sulk sadly until he heard the ice cream truck, not 20 minutes later.)
The walk back wasn’t as quiet, with Yuu taking the chance to discuss future events at their side job as a photographer. Of course, while Yuu mainly worked at the university for research, they indulged in the hobby of photography. Malleus only agreed to be in the photos in the last couple of months, so now their house had pictures of the pair and their friends on the walls.
The taller man, after unlocking the door, set to put the ice cream in the freezer and set up their plates. Yuu set Grim down who immediately ran to the food bowls and meowed, pawing at the dish as though to say, “More food, human!”
… No, actually, Grim is saying that.
“I will put everything out, feel free to tend to Grim’s neverending hunger,” Malleus quipped, making Yuu laugh soundlessly, and set about to feeding the gray cat. Seeing to it that the perpetually hungry cat had his dinner, Yuu went back to the table to see that Malleus indeed, put everything on plates, and was still in the kitchen, possibly looking for drinks.
Speaking of which, Malleus turned his head to look at them, just to ask that very question, “What would you like, my friend?” Yuu signed, “Whatever you’re having. I’m not picky.”
Malleus nodded, and reached into the fridge to grab their drinks; a type of Cola drink. He grabbed two and walked to the table, handing Yuu’s drink to them before sitting down himself.
“Did you get anything in the mail today?” You signed, and Malleus shook his head, “Aside from our usual mail, no. My father will be seeing me this week, so I think whatever gift he has for me, will be in person.”
That’s right, Raverne did say that he would be trying for more personal visits than touch and go, ever since he realized what happened to his only child. Yuu and Raverne met each other, and Yuu was stunned to see their headmaster appear. Likewise, so was Raverne to see a student living with his son.
When Malleus explained the situation of them being roommates, with Malleus properly learning independence and Yuu genuinely wanting to be a good friend, Raverne softened, happily greeting Yuu, but still doting on the cool and calm Malleus.
Still, despite the strides made, Yuu hoped that Raverne wouldn’t intervene with Malleus’ strides for closure, in his way. Malleus never told those involved in the incident, that the wounds were still terrible, but Malleus felt as though going to that place and spending the lotted time would bring him that peace. Yuu trusted Malleus’ judgment.
But it felt like others did not trust Malleus’ judgment, because they did not know if he had any anymore–
“My friend? You are not eating,” Came the softly concerned voice, and Yuu looked up, seeing green eyes staring at him, food on his fork paused halfway to his mouth. “Sorry, Malleus. Overthinking again.” They quickly signed back, taking their fork and biting into the slightly cooled food.
“Please, do not worry too much about my father. If I can understand him, surely he can understand me.” There he goes, somehow reading Yuu’s face and at least getting a feel for how they were thinking. It was a very odd way of how he was so accurately able. Maybe Lilia did teach him how to read people too well.
“I’m just worried about how he treats you. Your grandmother already frets, and so do your friends. I don’t want him to suddenly start treating you like you’re too delicate. I know you hate that.” They admitted, before really focusing on eating, hearing Malleus hum, “I won’t allow it for long. I allow it now because it is only natural that they worry. Soon, I will tell them that while their worry is kind, I do not need it. I am, taking it slow, as it is right now.”
Their dinner lulled into a switch of topics; plans for the week and next weekend, it was Yuu’s turn to decide next weekend's plans, and Yuu wanted to go to a seaside market for a little festival celebration. Yuu was going to bring Ace and Deuce, two friends from school to come with them, and had offered if Malleus wanted to bring anyone.
Malleus agreed to reach out to them if they had any time this weekend, and hopefully, it could be a fun, friendly experience for them all.
Once dinner was officially done, it was time for dessert, Malleus’ favorite time. Their ice cream had decently chilled in the time it took them to eat dinner, so the pair grabbed their spoons and respective ice creams and set off for the balcony, sitting outside to enjoy the sunset.
Today was a good day. It was a great morning of reassurances and warm conversation, their afternoon a fun mix of Malleus intensely cleaning and getting drafted into a “chore war” with Yuu, and now, the calm of the evening. Their view of the backyard into the treeline was a beautiful thing to see. The sun, settled behind them, casting a warm and bright glow as it made its descent.
Grim padded out with them, jumping onto Yuu’s lap and settling down, closing his eyes. Yuu took a small bite of their ice cream, noting that the flavor was a nice chocolate, with small brownie pieces.
Unable to resist, Yuu took a larger bite, before looking at Malleus, noting that the other was glancing out at the scenery, his gaze lost, but his hand still working to feed himself the ice cream (same kind as Yuu’s) at a deliberately slow pace.
There was a calmness to his face. Malleus was always calm, his face not giving any hint of how he truly felt, but his eyes always did. But this calmness, the look in his eyes… Yuu could see that this was a true calmness, a relaxed Malleus enjoying the sunset and ice cream. His body wasn’t tense, he didn’t look like he was forcing himself to appear a certain way.
A soft breeze blew. The soft chiming of their wind chimes echoed, and Yuu caught sight of scars, the jaggedness around Malleus’ forehead. These scars were around his entire head. Sometimes, Malleus touched them. Mostly, though, he kept his hair down to avoid seeing them. He hated looking at them.
Lately, the taller man started to leave it alone, to try and do new things. Styling his hair in new ways that he never did before.
Here, sitting in the sunset with their friend, Yuu found themselves comforted by a thought, and a would-be belief for him, a goal that he would soon obtain. The scars around his head, one day, eventually won't even be a thought anymore, if they just keep this good routine.