Traipsing about in the petalburg woods at night was not Hazel’s idea of an idyllic evening. The forest was dark and unnerving, and he could get mud on his nice shoes. All superficial reasons, and not at all because the dark invited all manner of creepy creatures to sneak up on him. Hazel had only just recovered from a trek in search of the moth man, and now he had to potentially endure weird little lurchy goblin fellows?[break][break]

But what had initially been envisioned as an outing that humored his partner’s eclectic Pokémon preferences had quickly devolved into a matter of pride when it was suggested by Hugo Albrecht , that he could just wait by the tree line if he was so frightened. And he was not to be outdone, or taken for a scaredy cat.[break][break]

Even if Hazel was, in fact, exactly that.[break][break]

A considerable amount of grumbling and tripping over tree roots and startling at every little sound (maybe it was a chupacabra) or passing shadow (and teasing that he did not humor with the satisfaction of a reaction, thank you,) the gathering of grimmsnarl was uncovered—not that it took much given the size of the unsightly, disproportionate creatures.[break][break]

Hazel didn’t even really attempt to engage in combat with any as he looked over at his husband with a flattened expression. “I’m going to laugh in your face if I catch this and you do not, Darcy.” Rather, he simply tossed a ball out—aiming for a smaller impidimp instead. Not really anticipating success at all.[break][break]
qeYMumW1

[attr="class","ooc"] :3c [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-espeon"]

“As far as you know,” he grumbled back, though it was no more than a halfhearted joke. Hazel knew full well how good Hugo was at figuring him out. And honestly, if his husband had been unable to do so, then maybe that would call into question some aspects of their relationship. Hazel knew the other just as thoroughly–learning how to find him out had been something he’d done quickly. Granted, Hugo wasn’t the one who snuck out of bed to do late night work because he couldn’t leave it at the office.[break][break]

Most days, Hazel felt like he was built with the tenuous fragility of too thin glass. Too much pressure and he might fragment and crack. But the weight Hugo leaned on him was comforting in its contained heft. Solid and stable, pulling him back from the edge of becoming all consumed by the studying he couldn’t seem to leave alone. “Still…I had to try. Tired or not.” It was appreciated that his partner didn’t scold or reprimand him. Because no matter the means he went to in order to further his studies, it was for something. Ultimately selfish, maybe. But also out of a drive to not leave Hugo alone.[break][break]

At least that silent understanding still existed.[break][break]

His head turned inward toward Hugo’s neck, forehead pressing against the curve of his jaw. Another soft sigh shuddered from his lungs, and any lingering tension in his frame sagged away entirely. “I know I can,” he murmured, eyes fluttered shut as he sought out the warmth radiating from the other. “I didn’t want to wake you up. Your days are just as long.”[break][break]

It was true, but also slight avoidance. There was just so much he didn’t want to put on his partner. “Nico likes to tattle. Or maybe he just wanted to make some biscuits.” Hazel yawned then, and he knew his work was not continuing. Not tonight. Maybe not tomorrow, with how mentally worn out he felt on top of physically. Still, a smile graced his lips. “And how will you do that, love?”

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Hugo Albrecht | :3c [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-espeon"]

The door eased open, and Hazel only dimly acknowledged the creak of its hinges. He didn’t react until touch fell over his shoulders, sliding further with every passing second. Initially, he tensed, curling inward on himself in surprise before his body slumped back against Hugo with a stubborn, but relenting whine. “Looks like I’ve been caught,” he murmured, though he didn’t sound nearly as irritated by that fact as he might’ve been earlier.[break][break]

Lips drifted over his skin, and Hazel sighed quietly as his head lolled to the side. It wasn’t until his eyes fell shut that he realized how sore they were from squinting at his notes as he read them again and again for any sort of context clue he might’ve missed before. Tired, he was tired. But he couldn’t just leave it be.[break][break]

In his mind, there was too much at stake.[break][break]

Now that he’d been found out, though, Hazel couldn’t find in himself to grow angry with being halted. “I just wanted to go over everything a few more times,” he replied, limp and eyes still shut. His hands slipped away from his notepad littered with nearly incomprehensible shorthand. They snaked up to where Hugo’s rested against his chest to curl around them. His thumbs rubbed back and forth over knuckles, soft and slow.[break][break]

Now the flutter of guilt stirred in his stomach. Still— “My mind wouldn’t quiet down, I couldn’t sleep until I did.” It wasn’t the first time he’d used the excuse, but it wasn’t untrue. He would’ve tossed back and forth, only stilled if he’d woken Hugo to soothe him, and Hazel hadn’t wanted to do that.[break][break]

Only, he’d still managed to. Hazel tipped to the side enough to twist slightly in the drapery of his husband’s arms so that he could find Hugo’s mouth with his own. Heavy with exhaustion. It clung to him as much as the other did—dark crescent moons hung under his eyes, drooped his eyelids and loosened the rigidity he typically held himself with.[break][break]

Retreating a fraction, Hazel eyed Hugo with a dreary sort of tenderness that belied the fact that tonight, at least, he wouldn’t be exceptionally resistant. One hand lifted to brush through downy silver hair. “Sorry I woke you, darling.”

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Hugo Albrecht | :3c [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-espeon"]

It was only after he was certain that he could tell Hugo’s breathing had evened out into a slumbered pace that Hazel had slipped out of bed, well past midnight. He’d catch flack for it, he was sure. After all, it was a violation of the strict no work at home order they had in place—even if they were past the point of their off the clock interaction.[break][break]

But the key point here was that Hazel wouldn’t be caught.[break][break]

He just couldn’t leave it alone. He’d been on the cusp of something so fascinating when he’d had to halt his studies earlier. And all through the evening, even as he tried to be fully in the moment and rest, his mind kept wandering back to the potential of conduits. What might be possible. How favorable this would befor him if he found something worthy of presenting to his superiors at the Rocket headquarters.[break][break]

Hugo would argue that getting sleep was important, not just because it was a necessary evil that Hazel hated having to subject himself to, but because Hazel himself needed it. Maybe more than the average person. Certainly, he felt exhaustion cling heavy to his bones as he sat at his desk with no light save for the tiny desk lamp that didn’t cast enough glow to give him away. There was a cup of coffee he’d brewed to keep him peppy but it sat long gone cold and forgotten as he poured through his notes.[break][break]

It was frustrating, being weaker than others. That one night of little sleep could set him back so much. But that’s what he was doing this for, after all. To get better. To be more than better.[break][break]

Surely, his partner could empathize with that. But Hazel still didn’t want the lecture it might bring. No matter his wants, though, his attention was too absorbed. So much so that he did not notice his espeon, Nico, slipping away to pad back to their bedroom. Hopping up on the bed to paw Hugo in the face, and effectively tattle on Hazel’s infraction.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Hugo Albrecht | :3c [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-espeon"]