These Simple Routines

Since Auguste moved in, Ivy has always looked forward to bedtime. When it's time for bed, Auguste gets sleepy and clingy, overwhelmed with the sensation of curling up for the night with someone he deeply loves, and Ivy feels like the luckiest woman in the world to be that person. Depending on fluke and sometimes season, Auguste will get up throughout the night or at odd hours, but he's always so cautious and considerate in moving silently, as not to disturb Ivy. And he likes to wake her in the mornings, having more luck than most people in doing so. He enjoys helping Ivy get ready, making sure she remembers to eat breakfast, something she struggles to do, and he even enjoys driving her to her college campus, getting happiness from every little interaction.

The bedroom door creaks open, casting golden light across Ivy, which causes her silvery blue eyes to flutter open, provoking a small smile to her face when she sees Auguste peek in. His face lights up when he sees her, broad mouth pressing into his charming little smile, the kind that makes Ivy’s heart feel lighter, where the corners of his mouth with their little creases pull upwards into his cheeks. Quickly but quietly, as not to disturb her, Auguste comes in, no longer hesitant as he used to be, and closes the door softly behind himself. Ivy settles back into bed, feeling safe in his company, and rolls onto her back, knowing what is going to happen next.

She has taken to getting into bed early these days, because with it is an associated perk of living with Auguste. When Auguste finds Ivy in bed but awake, he has a little ritual of comfort he goes through, and now in no way differs from the norm. Coming around to his side of the bed, Auguste carefully climbs atop it, and comes parallel to Ivy, then situating himself above her without touching or disturbing her, arms braced on either side of her body, waiting for her to smile at him before eagerly laying down on her, head in the crook of her neck. As Ivy brings her arms around Auguste, he lets out a low, comfortable noise, and sidles into her, feeling safe and happy, something he very much looks forward to at the end of a long day.

After so much time living with Ivy, he doesn't quite lower himself with the same steadiness, having come to realize the pressure of his slight weight is hardly consequential, and now greets her body more like a cat rolling on the ground for affection, though still he is careful in considering her - despite knowing, after asking several times, she doesn't mind at all.

"Hey, Auggie," Ivy speaks softly into Auguste's ear, to which he mumbles something unintelligible but deeply happy, and turns his head to kiss her on the cheek "Long day?"

Although previously fully awake, now that he is in bed with Ivy, Auguste starts slipping into a pleasant lethargy the way he does every night, always overtaken by the sleepy pleasure of simply laying in bed with someone he loves. He's always so cute to Ivy when groggy, the way he seeks out her closeness, even when fully asleep wrapping his arms around her when she rolls over, and his body heats makes him very soothing to be near to in winter. In the summer, he is far less cuddly, though for short periods of time he will snuggle in to her for as long as he can bear, and always seems remorseful when he has to pull away, quicker to overheat than most anyone, always having been very hot blooded.

"Long day," he finally says, muffled by his face still pressed against hers "Not a bad one."