Work Text:
Solomon’s room was quiet save for the scratching of his pen on a page. He was making notes for another idea that came to him mid craft. Looking down at the paper, it was almost full of other things he’d written down that day. Motoko had said his handwriting was somehow both neat and really messy all at once. “Well, so long as you’re able to read it, that’s all that matters, hm?”
He stuck the pen into the fold of the journal and closed the pages to turn back to what he was in progress of. Once again, his bedroom furniture had been pushed up against the walls so he could make space for a magic circle he’d drawn on the floor boards, in chalk of course. Barbatos had scolded him for three hours last time he burned marks into the walls.
Reviewing his scrawls, he sighed for the thousandth time that night and rubbed some of it out, unsatisfied that it’d bind properly. Of course, magic circles were a bit old fashioned for him at this point, but he didn’t want to let it just fall completely out of style or practice. His phone chirped just as he was about to pick up the chalk again for more edits. It was a text from Motoko.
[Adorable Apprentice <3]: dinners ready
[Me]: Coming.
With a flick of his index finger, Solomon moved all his furniture back to its original place, smearing more of the circle, before promptly exiting his room. His door had been shut this entire time but as soon as he was out in the hallway, he could smell the savory aroma of Motoko’s cooking. His stomach grumbled immediately and he jauntily bounded out to the kitchen.
“Want me to set the table?” he asked as soon as he caught sight of his apprentice.
“Nah, I’ve already done it.” Motoko’s back was to him as they stood over the stove, ladling food into two bowls. “Didn’t wanna disturb your work since you seemed so focused.”
Solomon sat in his usual seat at the table, rolling up the sleeves of his sweater. “That’s nice, thanks, but I would have gladly put it on hold to help with dinner if you wanted.” Motoko placed the two bowls down, one in front of him, and shook their head. He looked down into the meal, Devildom-inspired katsu curry with udon. They pushed the pot of spices closer to him, knowing he liked things hot. As he adjusted his heat level, he took in a deep breath and let out a happy sigh. “I love your cooking.”
Motoko slurped and hmm’d. “It’s just simple stuff I made back home.” They sprinkled a little more spice onto their curry. “You’ve eaten my food thousands of times.”
Solomon took a huge bite of the crunchy shadow hog. “Yeah, and I never get sick of it!” Motoko smirked at him before reaching up and wiping the corner of his mouth with their thumb. A smear of sauce and fried crumbs came away and they licked it up.
They went back to slurping from their bowl. “Don’t tell Simeon or Luke that I didn’t make any veggies with our dinner. I just didn’t feel like going to the market after the long day I had with the Brothers.”
There was a half of a beat of silence as Solomon swallowed his mouthful before stating, “You should’ve told me you wanted vegetables. I could have gone to the market for you.” Motoko shrugged in response. As they continued to eat, he watched them with admiration, a smile creeping into his face.
Finally Motoko broke him out of his reverie. “You know I hate being stared at Solomon, stop it.”
He only laughed and responded with, “I’m sorry my adorable apprentice, I was just thinking.”
Noticing he’d barely touched his food, Motoko reached over and plucked some noodles from his bowl and held it to his mouth with their chopsticks. “You’re always thinking. What was it about this time?”
He joifully accepted the food. “Just that… it really feels like we’re a happily married couple.” Motoko had put their chopsticks in their mouth to lick up the rest of the sauce before pausing. “…Sorry, but it makes me euphoric to think that. We come home to each other, we have meals together, favors gladly offered with no ulterior motive.” Their face was blank, but he sensed no negativity from them. He reached for their free hand and they didn’t pull it away, a good sign. “I know you have said you’ve no interest in immortality, but I… would be exuberant to spend the rest of time with you by my side.” He punctuated that thought with a tender kiss to their knuckles.
Solomon’s stomach jolted unpleasantly as he felt them slip their hand out of his. Motoko put their chopsticks down and got out of their seat. He thought he’d annoyed them again with this topic and they’d leave, but instead they stood by his side and wrapped him up in a warm hug, one arm around his back and shoulders, the other under his chin so he could nestle his nose into their chest as they brought their face to the crown of his head. They smelled faintly of spices and heat, but under all of that, he could smell the faint floral perfumes of their soaps. Sure that he wasn’t being rejected, he wrapped his arms around their thighs, and buried further into their body.
Motoko gently raked their fingers against his scalp and murmured quietly, “I won’t change my mind, but while I’m here, let’s make the most of our time together.” They placed a soft kiss into his hair and it was enough to rack his entire body in goosebumps. He turned his head to look up into their face and captured their lips with his. Solomon felt his heart thruming; he could be human in their embrace.
“I won’t waste a single second.”