Author's Note: Okay! So I actually started writing this fic in small installments several years ago when I still wrote on a roleplay blog on Tumblr. Last year I posted the first chapter because I liked the prose enough to archive it over here. I finally started moving the rest of what I'd written onto here a few days ago because of a request to continue this story. I took the rest of what I'd written and edited it into three additional chapters. This is getting an early update because A) I feel like it and B) Chapter Four needs a little reworking and I don't know how long that'll take because writing's gotten a lot harder for me this past year thanks to the pandemic.
With that out of the way, comments are great motivation and I appreciate them.
Mai answers the door dressed in a flowy, sheer black gown that barely covers her hips. Raphael isn't sure whether to feel underdressed or not–that depends on whether this is how Mai normally dresses for bed, or if she'd slipped into the garment for tonight's purposes. But given how uncompromising she seems otherwise around him, he has to doubt that she was doing this to impress him. Besides, it's not as if if he'll find out unless she tells him–he isn't going to ask and he doesn't doubt that if he does, Mai would would roll her eyes at him and make some biting comment about the male gender.
Then again, looking at her fully made up face, he has to wonder. Raphael doesn't know much about makeup, but he knows women generally don't sleep in it, and he's certain Mai didn't get into bed with hers on before she gave up on trying to sleep and then called him. Did she start applying her lipstick before she called him over, knowing that he would come? Was it to impress him? Raphael almosts laughs at the notion. The woman who doesn't even bother to leave his bed before lighting up a cigarette would not care about impressing him. Mai's appearance isn't for him, Raphael realizes, but for her only. He's never seen Mai in anything but her best. Why start changing that now?
Mai gives him a once-over, her dark pink lips curving slightly downward in disapproval. "Sweatpants," she murmurs.
"It's what I sleep in," Raphael replies dryly. "Did you expect me to get changed? It's three in the morning."
"Hmmm…" Mai hums, her violet gaze slowly traveling back up, lingering over his torso. She takes a step back, saying, "Well, might as well come in."
Not waiting for him, Mai pivots and breezes towards her bedroom, blonde hair whipping around her neck. "Boots off at the door," she commands as she crosses the threshold. "And don't forget to lock it."
"May I use your shower?"
Mai moves her head languidly to look at him, exhaling slowly. She looks comfortable, one arm draped over her stomach, the other supporting the back of her head, eyes half-lidded like she's close to sleep. Seeing her splayed out like this, sheet draped over her curves, and what looks like a hickey along her collarbone, he wants to take a picture and save it for himself, but he knows better than to ask.
"Mm," she replies, flicking her hand at him dismissively. "Go ahead. I like seeing you walk off like this."
He dips his head at her, doing his best to hold back his smirk. "Any towels in there?"
"What am I, an animal?"
"Hm," he chuckles. "Thank you, Mai."
She doesn't answer as he exits the bed.
Once he has a warm stream of water going, Raphael steps in, pleased that Mai's showerhead was the removable kind. It's nice to not have to stoop to get his hair clean for once, like in the hotel.
He stands there, standing against the stream, his eyes glazing over as the front of his body gets wet, tension melting away from his muscles in the warm water. He could easily fall asleep after this.
He perks up when he hears the door open, breaking him out of his trance. "Mai?" he calls out.
He doesn't get an answer for a couple of minutes, until he sees the shower curtain being pulled open, revealing Mai, naked as he'd left her, but sans makeup. Saying nothing, she steps in with him, and Raphael relaxes. He reaches for the shower head so he can wet his hair but he jumps when he feels arms wrap around his torso and a head rest against his back.
"Mmmm. You're so…solid… Warm… Real…"
Raphael blinks, confused until he remembers their conversation about their personal troubles sleeping. Something to do with nightmares. It makes him wonder about Mai's intentions behind inviting him over tonight.
But he isn't going to assume.
Raphael exhales, staring dully at the wall for a few moments before turning around so he can face her and get his back wet. Mai keeps her arms encircled around him, but leaves him with enough room to turn, subtly repositioning herself. She looks up at him and he looks down at her.
Neither says anything.
Mai sighs in her sleep, catching Raphael's attention.
After a few silent, tense moments of staring at each other, Raphael leans down and lays his mouth on hers. Mai lets out a sound–something caught between a moan and a whine–as she kisses him back, running the tips of her nails along his dripping back, a softer touch than what he's used to from her.
He turns his head, shifting his gaze from the ceiling to Mai's sleeping form.
He places his hands on her waist and pulls her even closer, until there's no space between their water slicked bodies. Mai's hands travel until she's holding his face in her hands. She pulls back abruptly, panting, gazing up at him dazedly.
"I–I don't have it in me for a round two," she explains preemptively.
"That's just as well. I'm tired and don't do shower sex."
Raphael gazes at her, reaching to adjust the strap to her night gown, shifting the strip of black satin back onto her shoulder gently enough not to disturb her sleep.
When they've calmed down, they go back to taking a shower. Mai offers to wash his back and he lets her. Her movements are slow, exploratory.
Raphael exhales quietly, shifting his position to lie on his side like Mai has.
"You can stay the night," she says, tucking the plush towel into place around her. She blinks, her expression snapping to one of cool detachedness, her nose pointed up haughtily. "But–but don't get any ideas! I-it's late and you keep going on about how tired you are! You can leave in the morning."
Toweling his hair dry, Raphael gives her a sidelong glance and chuckles softly. "Thank you, Mai."
He closes his eyes, knowing he'll have to leave once he wakes up.