Chapter Text
It had been a few months since A.B.A. and Paracelsus had their discussion on meeting each other halfway, half a year to be exact. They’ve had more time to actually talk now that A.B.A.’s improved on avoiding her constant anxiety spirals. They no longer start as easily with small questions and such, which Paracelsus hated to see her suffer with. The spirals would now only come at a monthly rate, a massive improvement on A.B.A’s part; Paracelsus was very proud of her.
As of late though, A.B.A. caught a new monthly habit.
Staring.
His wife’s fixated staring started a few weeks after their heart-to-heart. Although the ogling was a normal behavior now, due to his color change, the intent in her eyes was strangely… different.
They would catch the light around them and make it seem as though she had a galaxy full of glistening stars in her seafoam-colored eyes.
Deep down, he loved it.
He loved it so fucking much.
It made him feel… nice… and cared for, he would never admit it out loud. Even if he liked it he also knew there was something else behind her eyes.
The axe had taken a mental note that when he would catch her gaze, she’d excuse herself to the next room over, hear the closing of a door, some movement in whatever room she was in, and after a few moments she would come back to him in her usual demeanor, or at least, mannerisms that resembled it. She seemed to always be on the brink of cracking a smile, maybe even saying something too. Paracelsus saw how the corners of her mouth visibly twitched as she held back whatever she was trying to conceal from him, her darling husband.
The staring ceased around the final days of the week when Paracelsus found himself attentively watching A.B.A. as she ate some fruit under a tree they took a resting stop at. The temporary shelter was not too far from their home, but A.B.A. could not find the strength within herself to wait another moment to eat at least one item they bought from the farmers market they passed by earlier that day.
Paracelsus attempted to encourage her, saying that she could make it, but his efforts were in vain. She placed him down on the ground with her as she dug through the bag of fruits and meal ingredients, Paracelsus bent his shaft to watch her hands part and search for the right snack. He did find it rather endearing that she tried to offer him something to eat, but he declined, as he always does.
He reminded A.B.A. that he would need a blood bag instead of normal food. She then nodded at him before sinking her teeth into a beautifully deep crimson-colored apple. Paracelsus had picked it for her..... He liked the color.
He watched her thoughtlessly before remembering his inquiry.
Paracelsus was afraid to question A.B.A’s recurring behavior, mostly because he assumed if he mentioned it she would spiral, but he couldn’t take it anymore.
He couldn’t handle the lack of affection this time, she would merely observe and survey him for some strange reason. Never touching him affectionately afterward. This time was different.
VERY different.
He got used to her gliding her fingers across his bow and down his shaft whenever she found herself in need of entertainment, that being watching Paracelsus tremble and squirm from her touch knowing fully well that he doesn’t feel much unless it’s from her and her alone.
For nearly an entire week, she hadn’t laid her hands on him in that manner. No bow grabbing. No picking him up and laying down with him. No strap pulling for cuddles. No gentle kisses on his forehead.
Part of him was relieved that she had ceased her affectionate behavior, but the rest of him longed for its return. He yearned for the feeling of her digits gently gliding up and down his shaft, tugging at his collar to get him as close to her body as physically possible. He wanted to feel her gently pressing her fingers into every little dent and scratch that he gained from their numerous fights together, as she told him that every mark would serve as a reminder that he is forever hers, and hers alone.
He felt a strange weight in his body, if he had a human body, it would have been in his chest.
Throwing a bit of caution out the window, he decided he would finally ask A.B.A. why she had been acting the way she had.
“Uhm. A.B.A…?”
The homunculus quickly swallowed the last bit of apple she had in her mouth and fixed all of her attention on her beloved husband, her lips forming a smile that started small before growing bigger due to her still getting used to the blue color he had become. She absolutely adored the color…
She absolutely adored him.
“Yes, my darling?” Her tone was endearing and gentle, with a bit of trembling in her voice as usual.
“I had a query that I would like the answer to.”
The weapon glanced away and paused for a moment before realizing if he waited a second longer his loving wife would begin to grasp and tug at him anxiously, frantically, so he continued.
“I was wondering- why have you been looking at me more…” he paused again to search for the right word, looking up at the branches above them as if the answer was right there before giving up and landing on a broader term, letting out a small stammer before speaking again. “Lovingly as of late? Not that I mind it, of course, but it’s been more noticeable. And, this seems to happen every month…”
His wife squirmed anxiously, her hands intertwined with one another, twirling her thumbs around as she listened to her husband's question, the smile on her face curled into an even bigger one. She got up before responding to him, grabbing the strap of this collar.
“Well… I guess I’m not very great at concealing my excitement…” She lifted him onto her back, pushing out a barely audible yelp from her husband. “I got you a gift my darling! I’ll show you what it is when we get home.”
A.B.A. happily carried Paracelsus to their bedroom and placed him at the foot of their bed. She made sure he wasn't able to see her as she looked through the drawer of their nightstand. Paracelsus slowly tried to bend and turn his bow and shaft to see what she was looking for. As if she could feel Paracelsus trying to catch a glimpse, she giggled and told him to not peek.
Paracelsus, respecting her orders, turned back around facing away from his wife. He held back a smile as he extended his bow arms to try to cover his eyes. He patiently waited for her, feeling a mix of dread and excitement. Even though he didn't have a clue as to what his wife could have possibly gotten him, he still wanted to know.
After what felt like forever, Paracelsus felt A.B.A.'s arms slowly wrap around him. The sudden tender contact after days without it made him shiver with excitement and relief. Had he truly craved her touch this badly? He hadn't reacted this way before.... had he? He didn't react like this when she had picked him up earlier... so why did this feel so... different...?
"Okay! You can open your eyes now, my darling!"
Paracelsus quickly uncovered his eyes to see what his wife was holding in front of him. It was a blue microfiber cloth and a... bottle of …. Polish?
“A.B.A...Is that..."
The homunculus nodded her head eagerly against where his bow and collar meet, warranting another shiver from Paracelsus. She snickered and giggled while happily swaying her hips from side to side she elaborated, "I thought about doing this for you on our anniversary but- I guess we can do it now! We can come up with a different gift for you in a few weeks."
Paracelsus looked down at his wife's hands blankly for a few moments before a faintly deep blue blush bloomed across his face. He felt… light in some sort of way. And… warm…?
The weapon did not reply at all. His head was reeling with overlapping thoughts, it was so overwhelmingly loud in his head. "What is this feeling!? I want her closer! Why do I want this?! It’s not like it's unpleasant or even uncomfortable, it's quite the opposite. This feeling... it’s so..."
Unnatural.
The feeling was unnatural. But, whatever it was, it made him want to smother her the way she would smother him.
”Paracelsus?… Darling?… Is something the matter?”
A.B.A. noticed that her husband was strangely silent so she tilted her head over to look at his face. She was pleasantly surprised to see his expression. His eyes slowly meet hers. The corners of his mouth twitched, vaguely reminiscent of when hers would. A.B.A. couldn’t help but let out a sigh of joy as she kissed his bow, causing her husband to let out another startled noise.
"You don't have to say anythin-''
A.B.A. didn't even get through her sentence before Paracelsus leaned back onto her. This was also an unnatural behavior for him... A.B.A. found it adorable and kissed his bow, carefully kissing around his mouth. Even though she says they're married, she hasn't ever kissed him on the mouth. She has gotten close to doing it before but she always trembled nervously at the thought of their lips meeting, so she's never properly kissed him.
After A.B.A. was finished peppering her husband's bow with pecks, she opened and unsealed the polish. Paracelsus's eyes were fixed on her hands. He hadn't ever really looked at them closely till now. They were so... small... They looked like they would be soft. He subconsciously reached out his bow arms and accidentally brushed the tip of it against the bandages that hung from her wrist. A.B.A. looked down at him swiftly, blinking at him with a bewildered expression on her face until she let out a giddy sigh and lent him one of her pinky fingers to hold onto.
Paracelsus held her finger between his arms, lightly stroking it with one. His face was a faintly dark blue still. All he could think about at that moment was the fact that he would finally feel his wife's hands on him after so long. His body was practically aching for the feeling of her palms and fingers... Was that why he had reached out to her..?
Wait. He never seeks out her touch so forwardly.
He always made sure it was subtle...
What was wrong with him?
A.B.A. had enough of the polish on the cloth for it to pool a little. She carefully sealed the bottle and set it off to the side. She backed into the middle of the bed while guiding Paracelsus farther up on the bed until his bow was on her lap.
Although A.B.A. was fairly thin, she still had some plushness to her thighs, surprisingly that is. He sunk his head deeper into her lap. Another subconscious motion.
A.B.A's heart fluttered a bit at the feeling, her face flushed but she didn't want to ruin the moment so she kept her mouth shut as she slowly began to bring the cloth to his head. Paracelsus forgot to brace for the feeling as he was too focused on her hands. Once the cold white liquid made contact with his blue-colored brass he shivered and let out a sharp squall before lifting his head off of her lap. A.B.A. briskly pulled her hand away from him, frantically darting her eyes all over his face to see if she had somehow hurt him, even though she hadn't.
"Oh! Dear, I'm so sorry! I didn't tell you that I was going to apply it!"
Paracelsus closed his eyes and gave his wife a nervous smile.
"It's okay A.B.A., I'm alright..."
He slowly rested his head back onto her lap and tried to shift a bit higher. A.B.A. took a few moments to relax again and she placed the cloth on his head again. She made sure to get an even coating of the polish on the front part of his bow. Paracelsus would let out satisfied coos every so often which caused A.B.A. to giggle and sigh happily in response to his enjoyment.
Eventually, A.B.A. finished polishing his face and moved onto the sides of his bow. She noticed that when she would get closer to Paracelsus's bow arms, his eyebrows would curl up a bit and his mouth would twitch into a faint smile. Sometimes he would let out small squeals and joyful whimpers. A.B.A. paused for a moment once she finished getting near the areas where his leather sheath was. She put down the cloth and slowly slid her hands over to unbuckle and unzip him from the leather that covered his body.
There it was again.
The warm feeling.
The tingling.
Paracelsus shook with anticipation as he felt his wife's hands slowly go farther and farther down his body. She had to get on top of him at some point to reach the bottom buckles and the end of the zipper, her arms obviously didn't reach that far down his shaft after all. Paracelsus shut his eyes and bent his shaft at the feeling of her hands prying open the leather and exposing his previously concealed brass. One of her hands rested near where his blade met his shaft.
Oh fuck.
Oh shit.
He's feeling it again.
But it's more intense now.
Oh no.
Thankfully for Paracelsus, A.B.A. quickly got off of him and the bed to gently place the leather tube and leashes on the floor. Paracelsus tried to control his breathing before his wife put her attention back to him. His eyes slowly opened after noticing his wife hadn't come back onto the bed. He bent upwards and looked around... Where did she go?
After a few seconds, A.B.A. came into the room with a second towel. This time it was dampened with water. Paracelsus wanted to ask her why she had this towel before he looked down at his bare shaft. It was dirty.
Of course.
"I can't exactly polish over all of that filth darling. Bear with me for a few minutes as I clean you up dear."
Paracelsus gave her a blink for confirmation as she came closer to the bed. She slowly straddled herself on top of him, making sure to not accidentally nick her legs against his blade. He had a good view of her from this position. He could see how her thighs would pudge around his shaft as she slowly moved the towel up and down against it, cleaning him with such tenderness and care. Her hair gracefully fell over her shoulders and cascaded in ways that made her look so…
So…
“I can feel you staring at me, my love. Is there something on your mind?” A.B.A. lifted her head enough to look at her beloved, a slightly smug expression on her face.
“...I…”
What was he even going to say? He wasn’t even thinking.
Oh god.
What is he going to even tell her?
“I…I really appreciate you doing this for me, A.B.A.” His words were the truth, yes, but they didn’t feel like it to the axe. He knew he wanted to say more. He needed to say more. But… he couldn’t bring himself to say anything.
“Oh… i-is that all…?” A.B.A.’s eyes lost a bit of their sparkle, her voice came out so soft that Paracelsus nearly couldn't hear her. She was expecting more from him.
Shit.
Now he HAD to say something.
“W-well… uhm..” He looked at her face. Oh no. She’s gonna cry.
“I-It’s hard for me to find the words when I’m already so lost in your eyes, A.B.A.”
Where the hell did that come from?!
It didn’t matter now since the homunculus flushed a deep crimson at the declaration her husband made.
Oh, Paracelsus was definitely getting all of the attention he had been wanting.
A.B.A. let out a flustered, happy squeal before tossing her arms around her husband, interlocking her legs around his shaft at the same time.
At that moment, Paracelsus felt something bubbling within him. It had to come out… it had to-
“Pffftt- BAHAHAHAHAHH! AHAHAHAH!”
A laugh.
A genuine laugh.
Not a bloodthirsty laugh.
A laugh born from pure bliss.
It felt… good.
A.B.A. continued to smother Paracelsus with kisses and pecks all over his newly polished bow. She couldn’t contain her joy either, letting out her own giggles and hardy bubbly laughs filled the room with his.
After a few minutes, they were able to recollect themselves and they looked at each other through half-lidded eyes and mirrored smiles. How long had it been since they were this happy?...
Had they ever had a stressless moment like this before…?
A.B.A. picked up the moist towel she held before and held it up to show the weapon underneath her. “We’re not done yet darling, we can continue after I'm done, okay?”