Work Text:
“I think I need to quit smoking.”
Even as she said it, Masumi took another drag from her cigarette, making a smoke circle in the limited airspace of her apartment bedroom.
“Why?” Isabella asked. Her tone was blunt, but without judgment. Rich with an earnest curiosity.
“It’s not healthy,” Masumi said, once again putting the cig against her lips and inhaling another round of smoke.
Isabella scoffed at her response. “That is hardly a problem for you, mia bella.” Masumi shot her a firm look, but Isabella just shrugged. “What? I promised you I would tell the truth more. That’s the truth.”
“It’s not about me… Second-hand smoke can’t be good for you,” Masumi said. “It’s just another way I’m killing you slowly.”
Isabela shook her head at that, reaching out and grabbing her girlfriend’s free hand. “As far as I’m concerned, mia bella, I am lucky for every moment we have together.”
Masumi hummed, putting the cigarette out and placing her other hand on top of Isabella’s. “You’re not just saying that?” she asked, hating how her voice cracked with nerves as she spoke. Afraid of what lingered beneath the ache in her chest.
“I am not. I don’t lie to you, mia bella. Not like this. Not anymore.”
Masumi nodded, slowly reaching for her pack of cigs… and then dropping her hand all the same.
“I still want to quit,” she declared. “Maybe for you. Maybe for me. Maybe for my others.”
Isabella nodded, stroking her hand slowly. “We can do that too,” she declared. “Slowly. One step at a time.”
Masumi nodded, lowering her free hand to rest on top of Isabela’s.
For a long time, Masumi was terrified that her girlfriend would leave her. She didn’t know how close that Isabela had come to it, but she wasn’t a complete idiot. She knew that something was wrong, even if she couldn’t tell what.
Now that she knew she was with her for real, she felt like they had all the time in the world.
“Love you.”
“Love you too.”