Work Text:
It was late, but the night was calm, Lilia sitting on the plush sofa by the warm fireplace inside your home, reading a poorly written romance he'd picked up that morning. He flipped the page, humming in amusement at a particularly melodramatic scene, when the soft creak of the stairs caught his attention. He didn't need to look up; he knew who it was. He could recognize his partner's footsteps easily, but still, he turned his head, a preemptivly teasing smile on his face as his gaze landed on you, who looked tired, having been caring for silver while he was out, cleaning, cooking, and doing house chores all day, you had just gotten silver down a little while ago.
He'd assumed you'd gone to bed, and the sight of you so exhausted, the almost nervous expression on your face as your hands gripped the stair rail tightly, it made his heart ache, his ear twitching involuntarily but his expression remaining unchanged, his gaze locked on you.
"Darling?"
He kept his voice light, slightly questioning; he didn't want to upset you immediately and make you not want to speak to him. He recognized that expression, and he knew how closed off you were, even now.
Your lips pursed as you stepped down, stopping at the bottom of the stairs silently, visibly tense.
He bit back a sigh, He knew you struggled with insecurity and anxiety, but he intended to try as hard as he could to get you to trust him.
He just shook his head when you didn't respond, carefully setting the book down and crossing his legs, one over the other, his smile softening as he folded his hands in his lap.
"Dearest, are you going to tell me what's wrong? You're worrying me, you know, just standing there like that"
His voice was teasing, but his brows pinched slightly as he waited for you to come over, or speak. You were nervous often, and it was normally nothing, but he didn't like seeing you so upset. seeing you go quiet and lock yourself away from him, wanting to ask for comfort, to tell him what was wrong, but not being able to. He didn't like it, he might go as far as to say he hated it, but there wasn't much he could do besides be there for you as much as you'd allow.
Finally, you moved, walking over slowly, around the sofa, carefully sitting beside him, pulling your legs up with you and leaning into him, laying your head on his shoulder.
He let out another sigh, a bit longer, fond, like his smile as he moved his hand up, beginning to gently run his hand over your hair. He was fine with you not speaking; you just didn't sometimes. It was something you shared.
Sometimes words don't help, and the best comfort is just to be close to one another. He leaned over, pressing a soft kiss to your head.
He let his eyes fall shut, feeling you relax into him, the glowing fire warming you as you let yourselves relax into each other, your hand slowly moving to intertwine with his, squeezing it softly, a silent thank you.
You stayed like that for who knows how long, basking in each other, and the warmth of the fireplace, before you
Finally shifted, letting out a deep sigh as you buried your face in his shoulder. His eyes cracked open, flickering down to his you as you stared at the fire, he could tell you were feeling better, that alone eased his heart. He waited, saying nothing; he didn't want to disrupt the comforting quiet that had fallen over you. He would wait for you to speak.
And eventually, your whispered voice broke the long silence, a whisper, but not tense like it had been before.
"..lilia..?"
Lilia opened his eyes fully, gazing down at you as his smile widened. He kept his voice quiet, matching yours.
"Yes, darling?"
You squirmed a bit, holding onto his hand tighter.
"... I love you..."
His expression fell to something softer, his heart twisting in his chest as he pulled you closer. Your voice, the way you'd asked it, almost like a question, hesitant, he knew the silent "do you still love me, too?" Hidden beneath your words, and it made his chest ache, that no matter how many times he repeated it, you always seemed to doubt him. always asking again, months, weeks, sometimes just days later. He pressed another chaste kiss to your head, letting it linger, letting his voice be soft, trying to make you believe by letting his heart slip into his voice, letting you hear the emotions he normally kept so distant.
"I love you too, my darling..."
Your arms snaked around his waist as you buried your face in his chest, clinging to him, wanting to squeeze every ounce of adoration and affection you could into him, it made a small chuckle slip past Lilia's lips as He ran his hand through your hair, finding your suddenly clingy behavior endearing.
He gently kissed your forehead, leaning back on the sofa, his head resting on the end, bringing you down with him so you lay on top of him. He spoke softly, his tone affectionate and teasing, but careful not to upset you.
".. someone's clingy tonight... Was I gone too long, dear..?"
You let out a indignant whine, holding onto him tighter, mild irritation displayed on your face at his ever presant teasing. You went quiet for a moment, staring up at his annoying smile through your lashes, before you let out a hushed mumble into his chest.
"..shut up... I just... Need you right now..."
Your voice trailed off as you spoke, your tone turning from annoyed to almost desperate, fragile, letting your need for him slip through into your voice, pleading with him to just be gentle with your emotions tonight.
His heart melted at your mumbled words, tilting his head to the side to try and get a better look at you, his hand moving to cup your cheek as he lifted your face, just so he could see your eyes clearly.
"..of course, love... You have me..."
A small blush crept up your cheeks as you stared back at him, before letting out a long sigh and shuffling up to be at eye level with him, pressing your forehead to his, staring at his bright red eyes, the glint of his fangs, the heat of his breath against your face and the feeling of his skin pressed against yours, the distraction of it all making a thought better kept inside your head slip past your lips.
"....it's hard to believe your really mine..."
Lilia paused, as if wanting to tease you further before deciding against it, instead nuzzling his nose against yours as you settled in against him.
"..yours alone, my love..."