MC taking care of Mal

A/N This is one of the commissioned shorts. A female MC who is in love with Milo and Mal, taking an evening to force Mal into being pampered. :)

“It’s not going to work.” My hands were shaking. In the dim light of the cabin, I could swear that my skin was turning into the washed out blue waves beyond, simply due to nerves. My tail was twitching and the horn I hid was aching. I didn’t think I had ever felt this nervous before.

“It is going to work. You just have to trust the process.” Milo hopped down from the rafters above, admiring his handiwork. I had asked him to come and help once I realized that in order to pull this off, I was going to need all hands on deck when it came to subterfuge.

“He’s going to figure it out,” I told Milo. There was a sort of calm resolve that had taken over. One that suggested I already expected us to be found out. As if Malcolm had eyes and ears everywhere. “More than likely, he is on his way here now with a giant bouquet of flowers or an entire catered meal. Or, I don’t know, a diamond.”

Milo leaned against one of the beams, crossing his arms in front of him. “You’re kind of cute when you’re all worked up, darlin’.” I felt my cheeks heat and the glow in the room became a bit brighter as my freckles chased the shadows. “Ya need to calm down a bit. Mal doesn’t suspect a thing. And he certainly wouldn’t bring you a diamond. He would be way more thoughtful than that and draw you a picture detailing every little bit about you that he finds beautiful.”

I slapped my hands to my face and groaned. I was supposed to be spoiling Malcolm today. I had been trying to for the last three months, but the man always evaded it. I would have dinner made for him after a long day, and he would come home with an elaborate desert, a bottle of wine, and then slow dance with me around the living room. I would rent a cabin get away, and he would contact the owner ahead of time and throw rose petals around the room and light dozens of candles. One for each month I had been his Lamplight. I would try to just make him sleep in and keep the house quiet, and he would wake me instead with breakfast in bed. Trying to take care of Malcolm Albright was one of the hardest tasks I had ever had the pleasure of navigating, but I was at the end of my rope.

“Aster,” Milo said gently. He had pushed away from the middle of the room now, coming over to place hands on my shoulder. “You’ve got this. I promise you, he doesn’t suspect. He thinks he is meeting me here because I’ve gone on a bender.”

My eyes widened. “What?”

Milo only laughed, leaning forward to press a kiss to my cheek. “I’m gonna head out. You two lovebirds don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

“Milo!”

“Talk to you tomorrow. I’ll water your houseplants.”  He slipped out the window because of course Milo couldn’t do anything normal.

“I don’t have any houseplants,” I called after him. But my voice was cut short as I heard footsteps rapidly approaching the front door. Cursing to myself, I ran towards the back of the room, hitting the button that was linked up to all the lights that had been strung in the rafters. They popped on right as the door opened.

Malcolm stood there for a moment, a look of pure confusion on his face. His hair was disheveled, lending to the fact that he had rushed out of the house.  His eyes were wide as he took in our surroundings. Beautiful hand stained planks made up the entirety of the small cabin, the grain of the wood lit up by the small lanterns strung up all around the room. Large leaf plants were potted in the corners, mingling with shoots of bamboo and sweet smelling iris.  Steam began to swirl in the room, scented with eucalyptus and just a touch of amber.  

“Surprise,” I told him, wringing my hands together.

Malcolm stepped into the room. “I– yes. This is a surprise.”

I realized then he didn’t know what to do with himself. Malcolm was so used to taking care of everyone else that when the spotlight was shined on him, he twisted it all around. It was a skill, really. The man could turn any moment into a reason to pamper his partner. Even if that moment was supposed to be dedicated to his own care.

“I thought it would be nice for us to have a little bit of a spa day,” I told him. “You had mentioned that you really liked that bathhouses in the bogs. But, you know, they're gone now, so I thought to myself, why not bring the bogs to you. Minus the smell, of course.”

Malcolm was still looking around the room, his eyes flicking to each corner.  Before he could somehow find a way to make this about me, I quickly walked over, circling behind him and wrapping my arms around his shoulders. There, I rested my head next to his, bending down, so our cheeks pressed together.

“Come on,” I whispered to him. “I got the water all warm for you.”

In the center of the room was a deep and sunken tub. It was dug out from the earth and lines with hardened clay. I had gone to several districts to get the right oil concoction to soothe aching muscles and spiraling thoughts.

“Lamplight,” he breathed, finally finding his voice. “You really shouldn’t have—”

I pressed a finger to his mouth. “You are going to let me spoil you today,” I told him firmly. “Because it is what I want.” It had been the only way I could think of to make Malcolm stop trying to focus on me. To tell him this was for me as much as it was for him. And really, if that was how I had to trick him, then so be it. I just hoped he fell for it.

Pressing his body back against mine, he took a deep breath. “You know, a bath does sound good.”

I grinned against the shell of his ear. “Then let me help you.” Slowly, I got my fingers beneath his shirt, pulling it up and over his head. He kicked his shoes off for me, allowing me to push down at his loose pants. They slid down his hips with ease, leaving him naked before me. I felt a warmth fill my belly at the sight of him. But as he reached for my robes, I had to bat him away. “Go get in the water,” I told him. “I can do this part.”

A frown that I couldn’t help but find adorable, twisted against his lips. But, to my surprise, he actually listened. As I disrobed, I heard him hiss as the heat hit his toes. I watched him from the corner of my eye as he settled down into the tub, sighing deeply at the sensation. Meanwhile, I was grabbing the large carafes of cold water I had prepared, and the small plate of berries that had been chilling.  Slipping into the water beside him, I poured him a clay mug of water.

Malcolm eyed me over the rim of the mug. “This is unfair, you know.”

“Oh?”

“We are partners. If I had known you were doing something this elaborate I would have–”

“Completely ignored your own needs in order to make sure the attention was off of you?” I leaned forward, giving him a quick peck on the lips. “I know.”  Then, scooting him forward, I maneuvered myself until I sat behind him, my legs bracketing his hips.  I felt that telling blush again when he moved our linked hands up to press a kiss to my knuckles.  I wasn’t going to let him win, however. “You deserve to be spoiled, you know.”

“There’s spoiling and then there’s this.” He looked around and for a moment, I held my breath. He was taking every inch of the place in, using his artistic eye to gaze across the room. “Is this an old fishing hut?”

I hummed a little. “I rented it for the evening and then had the tub installed. Brought in food, extra blankets for if you would like a nap, massage supplies. I even have your favorite dish heated in one of those little boxes you had enchanted last week.”

“You’ve thought of everything then.”

I squeezed him to me tighter, taking a nearby cloth and squeezing it out across his chest. The water droplets slowly traced their way down each scar before disappearing into the tub itself.  “Let me take care of you tonight,” I whispered to him.

“I’m not very good at that.” He laughed, but I could hear the strain in it.  I wondered what had happened that made it so hard for this man to relax.

“Malcolm, you’ve been taking care of everyone. I would say it's only been lately, but we both know it’s been all your life. And I think that’s what I love about you the most. You are selfless. But sometimes, you need to allow the people who love you to do the same.”

Twisting in my grip, he turned so that his hand could cup my cheek, thumb resting beneath my right horn.  “I’m bad at that,” he told me. “It’s my one weakness.”

“So humble,” I grinned. I rested my forehead against him, letting the steam waft up around us. “Can you try?” He nodded, closing his eyes and keeping close.  “Good. Because I have an entire evening of pampering coming your way. Just you and me until you are putty in my arms.”

He blinked at me, the water workings its magic. “I don’t think that will take much.” Then, leaning forward, he nuzzled the crook of my neck. “You’re perfect,” he whispered. “My Lamplight.”

“My Gatekeeper,” I whispered.