Work Text:
After I got home today I was so exhausted. Stayed up too late on my phone by accident and it took forever to fall asleep after that. Turns out that blue light stuff is a real thing.
Usually, I'm happy to see Mar whenever they appear. It's always at the right moment, whether that's late afternoon to watch the sunset in their conservatory, or in the early evening to wind down and chat in one of the many cosy alcoves of that maze of a house of theirs.
But today they turned up a lot later, around 9pm, and I didn't ask why or anything—they made it clear very early on, soon after we just met, that there's nothing worth sharing about themself. Or, nothing they seem to want to share, anyway. And that's fine by me, it's just how they are, I guess. Maybe they're just a very private person.
It spooked the heck out of me, them appearing behind me without a sound, as they usually do. I asked if they wanted to do something, maybe not go anywhere since it was too late for that, but— they just shook their head with a polite smile. Right, of course. Tonight's about me, as always.
So I explained how my day went, and what I was planning to do now. Wind down for the evening, watch a show maybe. Then wonder if they were going to show up at all today. "This is the latest you've appeared, by the way." I commented. "Something come up?"
They told me it's nothing to worry about, and something about how our sense of time is very attention-based and emotionally driven, so it feels especially late to me because of how tired I am. Which. I guess they're right. Never a straight answer with this guy— thing— creature? With Mar, that's for sure.
They kind of implied they weren't planning on taking me to their house right now, which is a bit of a shame since I've never seen it at night, and instead we headed upstairs to my room. They got comfy on my bed and waited while I got stuff done in the bathroom, and changed into my PJs. When I came back I noticed Mar had changed clothes too, into something more comfortable.
I set my laptop up on the chest of drawers by my bed—its designated spot for evening showtime. Dimmed the lights to a calm orange glow, got the tab open in my browser to watch the show, and rearranged the blankets to get more cosy. Mar sat beside me, watching with—what they believed was—well-disguised interest. They didn't take their gaze off the screen, and that told me all I needed to know.
I was a bit nervous at first—when watching a show I like with someone else, I've always felt like I'm being watched or judged for my reactions. I feel like I can't even smile when my favourite character comes on screen, my attention instead always laser-focused on acting 'normal'. And I can't stop wondering what the other person's thinking. Are they pretending to like it? Do they find it boring? What will they think of me, now that they know I like this stuff?
But it's different with Mar. I could tell they got instantly absorbed in the show, and it was kinda funny seeing them so focused on something like this. And in some way, I just know they wouldn't think of me differently after this. I still had butterflies in my stomach for a bit, but then as the show went on that feeling eased, and I began to enjoy it as much as I usually do. It is a really good show.
And I smiled so wide when I heard my favourite character enter the scene. Even if Mar did notice my very normal reactions, they'd never say anything. If anything, they'd just be happy to see me so overjoyed by something.
"This was so nice! Maybe you can visit late again sometime, and we can watch something else?" I asked. Mar agreed—this will happen again. They didn't ask about the show or anything, not even for context from the 7 seasons they've missed out on. But they did ask what about it made me so happy. I explained that I love the story arcs, the pacing, how well-written the characters are. And I was a bit shy to admit which one was my favourite, but I think Mar just found it cute.
Now I'm kinda hoping they come by late tomorrow so we can do this again, but it's supposed to be nice weather... maybe I can take them out somewhere. The park has so many cherry blossoms currently—I know they'd love that.