Chapter Text
A Nice Bench
Morag was reading.
There was a particularly nice bench in the throne area of the palace.
It was a dark Gormotti wood furnish with a red felt covering in parts. The padding was old, probably needed to be refurnished. It had been around since she was a little kid.
“… What in the bloody hell did that bastard think he was doin’?!”
Nia walked by, ranting about something.
The benefit of this old bench was that since it was in the throne room, technically only those of the Imperial family could use it. When Morag was young she would often find Brighid just sitting here enjoying a nice book.
Like she was now.
“… I swear I do something and it’s like a bloody circus!!”
“Mmhmm…” Morag flipped a page.
The Special Inquisitor was enjoying a rare moment off duty. She’d been off helping with a joint mission with an Urayan official for the past few weeks. It was part diplomatic, part monster extermination. The Urayan official had made it something of a challenge, trying to outdo her when it came to monster extermination. It was a bit foolish, as she was a member of the team that made it to the top of the World Tree.
Long story short, the diplomatic part of the mission went off without a hitch. The challenge portion?
Morag smirked.
She wasn’t the best Driver in the Empire for nothing.
“… Its bloody mad!! I just wanted to get through!!”
Another page was flipped.
The Special Inquisitor had just gotten back, taking the moment to grab a book and come up to this lovely bench, intent to take a calm moment to relax.
“Eeerrgh!!” Nia jumped, having stopped her pacing in front of the Ardainian, ears perked and fists at her sides.
Glancing up from her book, Morag could see Nia frowning down at her.
Light brown eyes blinked.
Gold eyes glared.
“Are you even listening to me?!”
Her ears were fuzzed, her little fists were shaking at her sides, and her shoulders were up…
But it was the pout that did it in for Morag.
“Hmhm…” a beautiful smile rose on the Inquisitor’s lips, all because of Nia’s adorable pout.
The small Gormotti woman really was cute when she was angry.
One of those cream colored grey ears flicked, showing Nia’s annoyance. Though there was a small blush…
Dark brows rose as Morag looked up at the adorably pouting Gormotti woman. She closed her book, keeping her place with her finger, as she crossed her legs and looked at Nia.
“Grrmmmhhh,” gold eyes went to the side, the blush increasing.
Raising a black brow, Morag reached over and patted the lovely bench next to her.
“Care to join me?”
Nia crossed her arms, looking to the side fully as the pout increased, “Why should I?”
Sly light brown eyes looked at the Gormotti woman, patting the seat next to her again, “It’s comfortable.”
“You weren’t listening to me…” more pouting.
Morag held out her hand, looking amused, “Join me.”
Nia growled, looking away, turning, pouting some more…
The Inquisitor still held out her hand, letting the little Gormotti woman be herself.
Nia did a full circuit, turning around the other way still groaning…
Only to fall forward and put her face in Morag’s lap.
“Hmhm…” Morag chuckled in her throat, smirking slightly as she reached up and pet back Nia’s ears, “Well…”
Another groan, but without removing her head from the Ardainian woman’s lap, she moved her body to be parallel with the bench. Curling up on it and laying her head down flat.
“Better?”
The Gormotti woman just growled, keeping her eyes closed and nuzzling into the uniform pants.
Morag just chuckled again, moving one hand to hold up her book, propping her elbow in the armrest so she could read easily while petting Nia’s ears with her other.
Nia was grunting and growling… only for a few minutes… then changed it to pleased, almost purring.
A pleased gentle smile sat on Morag’s lips as she continued reading, flipping the page while her lover nuzzled and purred in her lap.
This was a nice bench.