"Sunbeam", Baccano! NaNoWriMo response
Today I saw the sun for the first time in... four days or so. *turns to dust* My work hours kind of suck right now. The sky is only beginning to lighten when I get to work (but the sun hasn't risen over the horizon yet), and the sun sets before my shift ends. I'd eat lunch outside just to force myself into the sun's presence, but it's way too cold to do that right now. ^^; Next week, though, I'll be exchanging this evil for an even greater one: three shifts starting at 6am. I'm going to have to wake up at 4:30 to get there on time. O-O
I think I was really depressed with the lack of sunlight, because I couldn't write at all the last couple of days, but now I seem to be fine. I'm just a little mad now that I'm almost falling behind on NaNoWriMo now. >-< I'm going to have to write quickly because more writer's block is likely just around the corner. *sigh*
Anyway, this is a response to the request made by supardupar's friend, Cheyral. Just like with black humor, I am also pwned by fluff bunnies. ...I must be bipolar. XD
Character(s)/Pairing: FiroxEnnis
Genre: Fluff?
Rating: Don't care xDDD.
Prompt: She always wakes up an hour before him.
Title: Sunbeam
Pairing: Firo/Ennis
Genre: Fluff/Angst
Rating: G
Warning: The cuteness kills; general cavity warning.
Wordcount: 2342
Total Progress: 39544/50000 = 79.09% complete
Ennis had habitually rose before the sun since the day she had been created, waking as the sky began to lighten on the eastern horizon in the moments before the sun appeared. It seemed to be written in her genes, as it didn't matter how tired she was or how little sleep she had gotten the night before, because her eyes always snapped open at the same time, regardless, and in the event of continued exhaustion, she had no choice but to wait until the afternoon for additional rest, as she found going back to sleep nearly impossible in the morning hours on most occasions. She knew that many people suffered from a foggy mind and sluggish movement upon first waking in the morning, but that had never been something she had to deal with, because she was already fully awake and prepared for anything even before her eyes finished opening.
Firo wouldn't wake for another hour, when the sun rose high enough to shine in through his bedroom window and warm his face, so she would often spend the time on personal reflection as she went through her morning routine. In direct opposition to the days of forced efficiency, Ennis began every day with an unnecessarily long shower, or sometimes a bath, never having to worry about using up all the hot water because Firo preferred to shower in the evening as part of his nightly routine. She savored every moment, the warm water washing away more of her guilt and regret with every passing day, promising a time where she would find it completely fine to live in nothing but perfect happiness. She only turned off the water once she was satisfied that she could make it through the day at peace with herself. She hated succumbing to depression, but what was even worse was Firo's empathetic reaction to it, which just drove her deeper into despair. In the end, it simply took too much time away from what should have been happy moments, so Ennis was always sure to use this hour of opportunity to lay any anxieties to rest before Firo had the chance to learn of them.
After finally leaving the shower, wrapping herself comfortably in her new bathrobe, cleansed in body and soul, it was usually then that Ennis began to feel the predictable pangs of hunger, but she wouldn't have breakfast without Firo. Instead, she would temporarily sate her appetite with an apple, banana, or whatever fruit they happened to have at the time along with a glass of water as she skimmed through the morning paper, which was always waiting for her on the doorstep without fail. She read all the headlines, but skipped the articles filled with nothing but the darkest edges of humanity, of which she had already had her fill, but was careful to read through anything that could affect her or Firo in some way, even if the contents were distressing. There was hardly ever any good news in New York, so Ennis usually spent most of her time lingering in sports and entertainment, the sections that Firo always flipped to first while they ate together. At first, she read those pages just to keep up with his inevitable conversation, feeling that she should at least know what he was talking about, but soon enough she began to pull some personal enjoyment out of reading the columns, especially when one of her favored teams did well or when an interesting film or play was reviewed. She was hesitant to ask Firo to accompany her to games and theaters, but he was observant enough to pick up on her downplayed excitement as they discussed the articles, never missing a single opportunity to take her anywhere, even though he sometimes didn't seem as interested as she was in what they'd gone out to see.
Once she was through with the paper, she would go back upstairs to get dressed, which was much more difficult than it sounded after having her personal wardrobe expand exponentially since November of last year. After seeing her small collection and realizing how much more returning that missing button had mattered than he'd thought, he frequently took her out shopping for new clothes. Though she was still somewhat uncomfortable in anything other than the casual suits she'd worn since creation, determined to make a change, she made sincere efforts to wear the outfits Firo bought her, mostly when he took her places where the dress code was either more or less formal than the suits allowed for; cheap, comfortable, and easily cleaned shirts and trousers for ball games where there was always the danger of having drinks and food spilled on her by some of the more excitable fans, no matter what extent Firo went to in his attempts to shield her; expensive and extravagant gowns and dresses for their rare trips to restaurants frequented by higher society--though they were her least favorite things to wear and Firo was just as uncomfortable in a tuxedo, he was required to attend certain functions where the Camorra was involved, even though they both tended to dislike the atmosphere, Ennis still went with him every time, knowing that the boredom involved was much easier to handle than the loneliness of an evening apart. It just so happened that the choice was made easy for her that morning, as Firo had bought her a new informal set just yesterday to replace one of her old ones that had begun to fall apart at the seams. Wearing it so soon would definitely make Firo smile, causing her own levels of happiness to rise in response, even when she believed there was no way the warmth in her heart could possibly expand. Looking at herself in the dressing mirror in her new clothes was already enough to invite tender feelings of anticipation.
It was still a few minutes before he would wake up, so Ennis quickly finished dressing and intended to go back downstairs to get the kitchen ready for him--he had claimed most of the household chores, convinced that she needed a long vacation after being forced to submit to an existence of slavery for so long, but that didn't mean she wasn't happy to help where she could--but an unexpected sound from his room drew her attention and halted her stride. It sounded like he was speaking, but the tone was much different than what she was used to, like the mutterings of a person who didn't realize that they were speaking aloud. Hesitant to enter his room without permission, Ennis knocked lightly on his door and called out his name, but all she heard in response was more of the same, and realized that he was talking in his sleep, but something about his barely audible voice bothered her. She opened the door slowly just in case she was wrong with her assumption, yet as she quickly scanned the room, just as she expected, Firo was still asleep, though he was halfway off the bed due to his agitated shifting, caught in the clutches of an early morning nightmare. She rushed to his side to make sure he didn't fall to the floor, and in her haste to push him back into a less alarming position, accidentally pressed one hand against his exposed stomach, shocking herself with the unexpected warmth against her palm. Embarrassed by the contact and again for looking, Ennis pulled his shirt back down once she managed to roll him back onto the bed as he continued to struggle clumsily against whatever he was fighting in his dreams. For the first time, Ennis noticed how much he was sweating, and pulled her handkerchief out of her pocket to wipe it away and hopefully make him more comfortable. Drying his face didn't have much of an effect, however, and seeing him like that made her feel awful, and she began to wonder whether or not she should wake him up when she got a much better idea.
Quickly folding her handkerchief and pushing it back inside her pocket, Ennis briefly paused to consider what Firo would think of it, but set the thought aside. After everything he had done for her, whatever small comfort she could offer him would never be enough, though it was a good start. Closing her eyes and lightly running her right hand through his hair, she thought of all the happiest moments they'd spent together; her first taste of ice cream and chocolate, going to the amusement park and riding all the attractions until they'd both gotten sick to their stomachs, and the times he would wrap his arms around her and say nothing as he held her for several minutes at a time. She sent him all the gratitude and affection she could muster from deep inside, and the only thing holding back her tears were her eyelids. On the bed below her, Firo finally settled with a small sigh, dreaming of happier things.
Ennis pulled her hand away the moment she felt the sunlight hit the back of her palm, wiping the moisture from her eyes before Firo woke up and became concerned. Her haste was unnecessary, however, as she heard the loud hiss of Firo taking a deep breath through his nose, the first step in his waking, just as she finished clearing away all evidence of her tears. She was able to watch the rest of the progress from his initial stretches to the opening of his eyes, and witnessed his initial confusion when his ears were immediately flooded by his watering eyes. Blinking repeatedly and running his forearm across his face before looking up, it took him a little time to realize that Ennis was standing over him. "Morning," he said, more than a little surprised to see her there--she'd never come into his room unannounced before. "Is something wrong?"
"You were having a bad dream," Ennis answered him as he sat up and yawned. Curious, she asked, "Do you remember anything about it?" not sure if she'd rather he forgot it or not, not wanting to be the only one to consciously savor the shocking intimacy of the knowledge she'd shared, but at the same time, reluctant to have him relive whatever terrible nightmare he had experienced.
Firo had been in the process of pulling himself out of bed, but stopped when his feet touched the floor, sitting on the edge of his mattress as he sorted through the strange and distorted memories, some of which he was certain were not his own. The dream had been an awful mix of his greatest fears and insecurities along with some of the hopeless moments of the dead he carried within, but the horror was unexpectedly interrupted by an outside force, and the more he thought about it, the more he remembered about it, and the more he understood what had happened. Instead of answering her question, his eyes snapped up to meet hers, and the apprehensive look in response to his awareness was all he needed to confirm his suspicions. He put her fears to rest by softening his expression and smiling as he stood.
If Ennis hadn't already known he realized and remembered everything, she would have been absolutely sure when Firo stepped forward and took her gently in his arms, deliberately re-enacting the several silent embraces they'd shared in the past. His hands trailed up her spine but stopped short of her head to tenderly rub away the stress gathered in her neck and shoulders, and Ennis was quick to reciprocate, finding several knots in his back as a result of the sleeping posture she'd discovered him in. Ennis was in much better condition, so Firo finished her massage quickly, settling his arms around her waist as she continued working on him as he practically melted against her.
"Mmm," Firo murmured, in quiet contentment. "Eggs, flour, milk, sugar, baking powder," he recited, comparing the list to his mental inventory and finding everything accounted for. "I'm making pancakes."
"Pancakes," Ennis repeated in a whisper, beginning to crave her favorite breakfast food the moment he said the word. Firo knew exactly how she would react to mentioning it. Leaving the knots half undone to finish off later, Ennis pulled away from his loosened arms and said, "I should let you get dressed."
Firo's eyes followed her as she stepped back to leave the room, but when he didn't say anything, Ennis offered him a smile before turning around and taking hold of the handle to close the door behind her to give him some privacy.
However, Firo wasn't quite ready to have her leave yet. "Ennis," he said, when all he could see past the closing door was her face, and walked over, reaching through the crack and gently tapping her on the nose, giving him just enough time to transmit a single thought. "Always," he added vocally with a shy smile as he eased the door the rest of the way closed, as Ennis was simply too taken by surprise to pull it the rest of the way to the frame.
Ennis was no stranger to the concept, but thinking about it was difficult, as she had too little to compare and too much to contrast. There were times she didn't even believe she was capable of it, but just the same, the affection he had shared with her was very similar to what she felt for him at times, and so very different from the affection and friendship she shared with Isaac and Miria. She still needed time to sort everything out, but if nothing else, they had plenty of time, and Firo, after waiting so long already, was more than willing to continue to anticipate her answer with his unending patience.
Dropping her hand from the doorknob, hearing the sounds of shifting fabric beyond the door, Ennis continued on down the hall and descended the stairs, running the words and emotion through her head again and again, wanting to etch it into her memory forever and feel it always.
I love you.
I think I was really depressed with the lack of sunlight, because I couldn't write at all the last couple of days, but now I seem to be fine. I'm just a little mad now that I'm almost falling behind on NaNoWriMo now. >-< I'm going to have to write quickly because more writer's block is likely just around the corner. *sigh*
Anyway, this is a response to the request made by supardupar's friend, Cheyral. Just like with black humor, I am also pwned by fluff bunnies. ...I must be bipolar. XD
Character(s)/Pairing: FiroxEnnis
Genre: Fluff?
Rating: Don't care xDDD.
Prompt: She always wakes up an hour before him.
Title: Sunbeam
Pairing: Firo/Ennis
Genre: Fluff/Angst
Rating: G
Warning: The cuteness kills; general cavity warning.
Wordcount: 2342
Total Progress: 39544/50000 = 79.09% complete
Ennis had habitually rose before the sun since the day she had been created, waking as the sky began to lighten on the eastern horizon in the moments before the sun appeared. It seemed to be written in her genes, as it didn't matter how tired she was or how little sleep she had gotten the night before, because her eyes always snapped open at the same time, regardless, and in the event of continued exhaustion, she had no choice but to wait until the afternoon for additional rest, as she found going back to sleep nearly impossible in the morning hours on most occasions. She knew that many people suffered from a foggy mind and sluggish movement upon first waking in the morning, but that had never been something she had to deal with, because she was already fully awake and prepared for anything even before her eyes finished opening.
Firo wouldn't wake for another hour, when the sun rose high enough to shine in through his bedroom window and warm his face, so she would often spend the time on personal reflection as she went through her morning routine. In direct opposition to the days of forced efficiency, Ennis began every day with an unnecessarily long shower, or sometimes a bath, never having to worry about using up all the hot water because Firo preferred to shower in the evening as part of his nightly routine. She savored every moment, the warm water washing away more of her guilt and regret with every passing day, promising a time where she would find it completely fine to live in nothing but perfect happiness. She only turned off the water once she was satisfied that she could make it through the day at peace with herself. She hated succumbing to depression, but what was even worse was Firo's empathetic reaction to it, which just drove her deeper into despair. In the end, it simply took too much time away from what should have been happy moments, so Ennis was always sure to use this hour of opportunity to lay any anxieties to rest before Firo had the chance to learn of them.
After finally leaving the shower, wrapping herself comfortably in her new bathrobe, cleansed in body and soul, it was usually then that Ennis began to feel the predictable pangs of hunger, but she wouldn't have breakfast without Firo. Instead, she would temporarily sate her appetite with an apple, banana, or whatever fruit they happened to have at the time along with a glass of water as she skimmed through the morning paper, which was always waiting for her on the doorstep without fail. She read all the headlines, but skipped the articles filled with nothing but the darkest edges of humanity, of which she had already had her fill, but was careful to read through anything that could affect her or Firo in some way, even if the contents were distressing. There was hardly ever any good news in New York, so Ennis usually spent most of her time lingering in sports and entertainment, the sections that Firo always flipped to first while they ate together. At first, she read those pages just to keep up with his inevitable conversation, feeling that she should at least know what he was talking about, but soon enough she began to pull some personal enjoyment out of reading the columns, especially when one of her favored teams did well or when an interesting film or play was reviewed. She was hesitant to ask Firo to accompany her to games and theaters, but he was observant enough to pick up on her downplayed excitement as they discussed the articles, never missing a single opportunity to take her anywhere, even though he sometimes didn't seem as interested as she was in what they'd gone out to see.
Once she was through with the paper, she would go back upstairs to get dressed, which was much more difficult than it sounded after having her personal wardrobe expand exponentially since November of last year. After seeing her small collection and realizing how much more returning that missing button had mattered than he'd thought, he frequently took her out shopping for new clothes. Though she was still somewhat uncomfortable in anything other than the casual suits she'd worn since creation, determined to make a change, she made sincere efforts to wear the outfits Firo bought her, mostly when he took her places where the dress code was either more or less formal than the suits allowed for; cheap, comfortable, and easily cleaned shirts and trousers for ball games where there was always the danger of having drinks and food spilled on her by some of the more excitable fans, no matter what extent Firo went to in his attempts to shield her; expensive and extravagant gowns and dresses for their rare trips to restaurants frequented by higher society--though they were her least favorite things to wear and Firo was just as uncomfortable in a tuxedo, he was required to attend certain functions where the Camorra was involved, even though they both tended to dislike the atmosphere, Ennis still went with him every time, knowing that the boredom involved was much easier to handle than the loneliness of an evening apart. It just so happened that the choice was made easy for her that morning, as Firo had bought her a new informal set just yesterday to replace one of her old ones that had begun to fall apart at the seams. Wearing it so soon would definitely make Firo smile, causing her own levels of happiness to rise in response, even when she believed there was no way the warmth in her heart could possibly expand. Looking at herself in the dressing mirror in her new clothes was already enough to invite tender feelings of anticipation.
It was still a few minutes before he would wake up, so Ennis quickly finished dressing and intended to go back downstairs to get the kitchen ready for him--he had claimed most of the household chores, convinced that she needed a long vacation after being forced to submit to an existence of slavery for so long, but that didn't mean she wasn't happy to help where she could--but an unexpected sound from his room drew her attention and halted her stride. It sounded like he was speaking, but the tone was much different than what she was used to, like the mutterings of a person who didn't realize that they were speaking aloud. Hesitant to enter his room without permission, Ennis knocked lightly on his door and called out his name, but all she heard in response was more of the same, and realized that he was talking in his sleep, but something about his barely audible voice bothered her. She opened the door slowly just in case she was wrong with her assumption, yet as she quickly scanned the room, just as she expected, Firo was still asleep, though he was halfway off the bed due to his agitated shifting, caught in the clutches of an early morning nightmare. She rushed to his side to make sure he didn't fall to the floor, and in her haste to push him back into a less alarming position, accidentally pressed one hand against his exposed stomach, shocking herself with the unexpected warmth against her palm. Embarrassed by the contact and again for looking, Ennis pulled his shirt back down once she managed to roll him back onto the bed as he continued to struggle clumsily against whatever he was fighting in his dreams. For the first time, Ennis noticed how much he was sweating, and pulled her handkerchief out of her pocket to wipe it away and hopefully make him more comfortable. Drying his face didn't have much of an effect, however, and seeing him like that made her feel awful, and she began to wonder whether or not she should wake him up when she got a much better idea.
Quickly folding her handkerchief and pushing it back inside her pocket, Ennis briefly paused to consider what Firo would think of it, but set the thought aside. After everything he had done for her, whatever small comfort she could offer him would never be enough, though it was a good start. Closing her eyes and lightly running her right hand through his hair, she thought of all the happiest moments they'd spent together; her first taste of ice cream and chocolate, going to the amusement park and riding all the attractions until they'd both gotten sick to their stomachs, and the times he would wrap his arms around her and say nothing as he held her for several minutes at a time. She sent him all the gratitude and affection she could muster from deep inside, and the only thing holding back her tears were her eyelids. On the bed below her, Firo finally settled with a small sigh, dreaming of happier things.
Ennis pulled her hand away the moment she felt the sunlight hit the back of her palm, wiping the moisture from her eyes before Firo woke up and became concerned. Her haste was unnecessary, however, as she heard the loud hiss of Firo taking a deep breath through his nose, the first step in his waking, just as she finished clearing away all evidence of her tears. She was able to watch the rest of the progress from his initial stretches to the opening of his eyes, and witnessed his initial confusion when his ears were immediately flooded by his watering eyes. Blinking repeatedly and running his forearm across his face before looking up, it took him a little time to realize that Ennis was standing over him. "Morning," he said, more than a little surprised to see her there--she'd never come into his room unannounced before. "Is something wrong?"
"You were having a bad dream," Ennis answered him as he sat up and yawned. Curious, she asked, "Do you remember anything about it?" not sure if she'd rather he forgot it or not, not wanting to be the only one to consciously savor the shocking intimacy of the knowledge she'd shared, but at the same time, reluctant to have him relive whatever terrible nightmare he had experienced.
Firo had been in the process of pulling himself out of bed, but stopped when his feet touched the floor, sitting on the edge of his mattress as he sorted through the strange and distorted memories, some of which he was certain were not his own. The dream had been an awful mix of his greatest fears and insecurities along with some of the hopeless moments of the dead he carried within, but the horror was unexpectedly interrupted by an outside force, and the more he thought about it, the more he remembered about it, and the more he understood what had happened. Instead of answering her question, his eyes snapped up to meet hers, and the apprehensive look in response to his awareness was all he needed to confirm his suspicions. He put her fears to rest by softening his expression and smiling as he stood.
If Ennis hadn't already known he realized and remembered everything, she would have been absolutely sure when Firo stepped forward and took her gently in his arms, deliberately re-enacting the several silent embraces they'd shared in the past. His hands trailed up her spine but stopped short of her head to tenderly rub away the stress gathered in her neck and shoulders, and Ennis was quick to reciprocate, finding several knots in his back as a result of the sleeping posture she'd discovered him in. Ennis was in much better condition, so Firo finished her massage quickly, settling his arms around her waist as she continued working on him as he practically melted against her.
"Mmm," Firo murmured, in quiet contentment. "Eggs, flour, milk, sugar, baking powder," he recited, comparing the list to his mental inventory and finding everything accounted for. "I'm making pancakes."
"Pancakes," Ennis repeated in a whisper, beginning to crave her favorite breakfast food the moment he said the word. Firo knew exactly how she would react to mentioning it. Leaving the knots half undone to finish off later, Ennis pulled away from his loosened arms and said, "I should let you get dressed."
Firo's eyes followed her as she stepped back to leave the room, but when he didn't say anything, Ennis offered him a smile before turning around and taking hold of the handle to close the door behind her to give him some privacy.
However, Firo wasn't quite ready to have her leave yet. "Ennis," he said, when all he could see past the closing door was her face, and walked over, reaching through the crack and gently tapping her on the nose, giving him just enough time to transmit a single thought. "Always," he added vocally with a shy smile as he eased the door the rest of the way closed, as Ennis was simply too taken by surprise to pull it the rest of the way to the frame.
Ennis was no stranger to the concept, but thinking about it was difficult, as she had too little to compare and too much to contrast. There were times she didn't even believe she was capable of it, but just the same, the affection he had shared with her was very similar to what she felt for him at times, and so very different from the affection and friendship she shared with Isaac and Miria. She still needed time to sort everything out, but if nothing else, they had plenty of time, and Firo, after waiting so long already, was more than willing to continue to anticipate her answer with his unending patience.
Dropping her hand from the doorknob, hearing the sounds of shifting fabric beyond the door, Ennis continued on down the hall and descended the stairs, running the words and emotion through her head again and again, wanting to etch it into her memory forever and feel it always.
I love you.