Somehow Roctis hadn't thought he'd end up looking forward to these quiet nights when his wife was away as eagerly as he did. Of course he'd always enjoyed them better than when she was around and he had to tiptoe on glass to make sure he didn't infuriate her in some manner, only to fail as she decided to pick something completely unforeseen to rant on for hours about. And he didn't think badly on her for her anger, not when it was never actually directed at him, but he did think badly of her. The threats she hung over his head were why he had married her and nothing more.
Setting down a cup in front of Edian, he smiled at how she wrinkled her nose upon smelling it- "It's a medicinal tea. For your stab wound."
"The stitches work just fine," she said, but still picked the cup up and sipped at it, "Fuck, it tastes worse than it smells. The hell did you put into this? Ignes' shit?"
She'd almost spilt the tea all over her borrowed pants and was now holding it to her bare chest with both her hands as if to absorb the warmth. It really wasn't that bad from what he remembered but she had a flair for dramatics. She knew very well Ignes wasn't a baby in need of diapers anymore.
"Why do you need to know that?" he asked with a chuckle, sitting down beside her on the settee, "You'll need to drink it all the same."
Her expression was one of tired annoyance but she sighed and gulped down the rest of the tea in one long go. Almost slamming the cup down on the coffee table, she seemed to think better of it midway and placed it down gently instead. Oh Edian. Every action of hers made Roctis want to sigh as he looked on affectionately.
Sometimes he wondered if he was going to be subject to eternal damnation for these days of unfaithfulness but even with the doubts that filled his heart, Edian chased away those clouds, making them part as they gave way to the shining sun. It wasn't as if his wife loved him, and though he hadn't come into the marriage planning this, he wouldn't stop it either. Even if he was damned, it would probably be for his actions as a General rather than the mutual disrespect within his marriage.
Hand on her cheek to tilt her face towards him, he kissed her forehead- "Good job on drinking it all, and thank you for not cracking the glass."
"You missed-" was her only response, and she kissed him.
Despite any initial impression one got from Edian's soft looks and wide brown Bambi eyes, or even from the gentle stuttering façade she put on around the Emperor and his husband, she was a wildly passionate woman. She was like a hurricane, or stormy seas, and Roctis was a fool who met her halfway despite being nothing more than a mortal man. What a relief then, that as a Kravei, he couldn't drown.
Her hands were still in his hair when they parted, and he pried them away gently with a sigh.
"It'll knot if it's a mess," he said, and then jokingly added on, "Must you and Ignes always hold on so tightly? I'll lose all my hair if it goes on like this."
Edian snorted and leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. Careful not to touch her left side or jolt her, Roctis put his arm around her shoulder and she shifted, making herself comfortable again. They sat in silence in the dimly lit living room, with even the only light from the fireplace threatening to go out from lack of wood feeding it. For a little while, all he thought was that he should have dealt with that before getting comfortable.
"Not that I'm not glad to have you all to myself tonight," Edian murmured, her voice a brilliant accompaniment to the quivering embers, "but where is Ignes anyway?"
"The Emperor wants Raskreia to make friends with people aside from Quispe, so he demanded that we send our children over for a few days. She's coming back the day after tomorrow."
Ignes being missing had made him lonely by the second day and so he appreciated Edian's visit even more. Urokai and Zarga had been pleasant to visit yesterday, especially with their own daughters still with them, but their laughter when they'd realised he'd actually done as the Emperor asked had been embarrassing. Unlike them, Roctis didn't have the wit or determination to go against his orders.
"Huh. And since I was away, I didn't know. Obviously, Azrael and Sarathiel sent their brats over so that's two: Ludis and Rozaria. And the Loyard brothers must be glad to be rid of Lusar for a while. There's Rajak of course," she mused, "but there's no way Uro would have parted with his daughters. Claudia and Rousare are both adults so they're not even options. Who else is there?"
"Krasis' son. Remember Karias? He brought him once when Quispe demanded to have him on a playdate to the Met," Roctis said, remembering how the twin princesses had clung to their cousin. He'd been forced to babysit the three when the Emperor had ended up executing the usual person out of rage. "Yali sent her son too."
Edian blinked in surprise, raising her head- "I know I've heard of Karias… but I've never seen him. And I definitely never head of Yali's kid. Did she pick one out of the trash or something? She's too timid to ask the labs to grow her one, much less find a man to fuck."
"I can't say anything about a lover," Roctis said, though he doubted that possibility as well, "Kei definitely looks like a Ru though. He even has some big scars over his face. Even if he isn't hers, he's probably from some other branching line."
"Guess it's not any of my damn business anyway-" Edian smiled as she closed her eyes and rested her head again- "Any chances the ice princess will really make a friend?"
"I don't know. Even if she does, I think her definition varies largely from ours." Even though Raskreia was only seven, she already seemed to have the makings of a predator from the way she treated her own sister like a fragile flower. Then again, Quispe had been announcing her plans to live her life far away from the Court since she'd been able to speak.
After a short burst of laughter, Edian spoke, "That's true. I'll have to pretend not to have returned for a few more days though. God forbid if someone tries to make me look after a toddler party."
Her words made him chuckle. It did sound rather tiring to deal with so many children at once. Not to mention-
"My wife will be away for the rest of the month."
Though it wasn't what Roctis had meant to do, Edian sat up, staring at him. Moving around wasn't good for her right now, not with the stitches she had dug his medical kit out for when she'd arrived covered in blood only an hour ago. Since she refused to go see an actual doctor, he at least wanted her to relax.
"I guess I'll heal up here then," she finally said, "Get to eat some actual food instead of whatever gourmet shit my aunt is into these days. Not for you, of course."
Roctis smiled at her agreement to his offer. It would be good to have her here. Not only because he worried about what inane things she might do on her own, but because Ignes loved her too. Also because… he loved her.
"Is your father not home?" Edian had mentioned that there was no meal she loved more than the ones her father cooked after all, and she did live with him. Her aunt and that side of the family lived elsewhere, even if it was nearby.
"No," she said, shaking her head and immediately grimacing, "Went off to float down the Nile."
Worry filled him and he held her hand, looking to her bandages. At least it didn't seem as if she was bleeding through it.
"Edian, are you sure you don't need a doctor? I can call one I know; she'll keep quiet no matter what."
"It's fine. You worry too much," Edian sighed, "Just get me a shirt or a blanket or something. It's getting a little cold with the fire so dead."
Roctis looked to the fireplace and then the window instinctively, and even though the curtains were drawn he knew it was already pitch black out. The only reason it wasn't as dark inside were the embers glowing in the fireplace. It was getting quite late so it was cold, and it being winter only made that worse.
"Why don't you go up to the bedroom instead? It's a good time to sleep," he said, standing up.
Looking like she wanted to protest, her eyes narrowed- "What about you?"
"I'll come up after washing the dishes-" Roctis picked up the cup on the table- "and checking on the locks."
Sighing, Edian got up, "Fine. Be quick. Please."
Watching her leave the room, he hurried his pace like she asked. It had almost been lonely, though he wasn't sure if that was from her or whether it had been his own emotions. When he'd checked every door, window, and possible hatch on the first floor of the house twice (since he never unlocked any on the second ever and Ignes wasn't here to have unlocked them), he made his way upstairs to his bedroom.
Edian had already turned the heater on, and she turned to look at him from the window she'd been peering out of at the heavy snow. As he closed the door behind him and undressed himself for bed, she pulled the curtains over it and slipped into bed wordlessly. Wrapping an arm around him when he joined her, she sighed.
"This can't be comfortable for you," Roctis murmured, shifting to try and make it better but she refused to budge, and so the silence grew, apart from the heavy hum of the heater.
Finally, she spoke, "I'm really happy."
It was strange, out of the blue, but he only stroked her hair, waiting for her to go on.
"I'm happy being here with you, and for even getting the chance to have you. About Ignes liking me, and my family liking you even if they don't know about any of this. And," Edian went quiet, struggling to speak, "I'm happy that the S-rank phone wreck only got me by the side. And even that there was only one in that crowd of heroes."
Roctis took a deep breath upon her words. The six years they'd spent like this had let him learn about how she spoke well enough. So even though the idea of it still wrecked him with fear because he was weak. Even though he couldn't face the world and do things directly like the other Generals, he asked-
"Perhaps… we can spend the time you're here thinking over how to get rid of my wife?"
Edian's smile was weak, but the intensity of her relief and happiness showed- "Have I ever told you how much I love your quick thinking? Or just that I love you?"
"Plenty," Roctis said, "More than I've said it."
"Then just say it more."
Edian cradled his cheek and he knew she was definitely in pain even though she didn't show it. But because she'd asked, because she deserved it, because he could feel the world trying to squeeze itself into his chest-
He kissed her, gently, and as she stared at him with her warm brown eyes, whispered, "I love you."
He said it to her constantly, creating a gentle murmur for her to drift off to sleep to. It was almost hypnotic, but it wasn't anything like hypnosis, simply because it was true that he loved her. So, for her, for their child, the sibling that Ignes had often complained of wanting, he pondered on the best way to kill his wife.