Tonight, Tonight, Tonight

by FactorialCubes

Summary:

Kaiser gets home late, and checks on his family.

Notes:

Okay so. Please understand that the intent of this fic is that it exists ambigiously in an au where after the events of episode 20... well some of them don't happen, and also arthur and kaiser get joui back. however because episode 20 goes different arthur got badly hurt (again). I have absolutely no intent of ever writing the au, but please understand my vision.
Technically speaking this could be set pre-opd while Joui is vanishing for days at a time to stalk Liz. But in my heart it is an au where fewer people die. Or actually no just different people die.
(My plan is starting opc tomorrow. Finished opd Saturday night. And was sad about it. Wouldn't change it for the world, the post-credits broke me in the best way as did seeing them use the complete form of the credits, but also I am sad about my boys and want them to hug.)

Tumblr note: just a tiny little fragment of a scene in an opd canon divergence, um, its just sleepy fluff. I'd be a bit careful if you haven't finished the series, tho. The ao3 tags are going to be infinitely more spoilery than the text lmao

It's a little before dawn that Kaiser stumbles back into the house, the only light in the house the one in the living room. Locking the door behind him he peeks inside, and sees Ivete asleep on the couch.

She is facing almost towards the door, as though waiting for him to come home.

Guilt swirls in his throat, but he knows better than to wake her. Instead, he pulls a black, skull and flame patterned blanket from the shelf, and lays it over her. Ivete stirs a little but does not wake, sure to complain about her back in the morning but warm and safe.

The others...

Kaiser should just go to his room. He doesn't, though, not even brushing his teeth before cracking open Arthur's door.

Joui's mattress is on the floor, empty. Kaiser is terrified for a moment - gone again, gone again, gone again - before he looks up and sees Joui curled around Arthur on the bed. He is snoring, while Arthur looks at him with one exhausted eye.

Caught.

Kaiser comes over to the bed, letting Arthur reach out, and take his hand. Rough fingers trace rougher scars, waiting.

"Hey," Kaiser offers, not sure what else to give.

"You're here?"

"I'm here. Just checking in before I go to bed, right?"

Arthur lets go of Kaiser's hand. He thinks that is the end, before the cover is lifted up.

And Kaiser... is weak.

He tosses his jacket on the floor, but otherwise just crawls into bed at Arthur's side. The blankets come back down, and an arm wraps around Kaiser, pulling him so close he can feel Arthur's breath on his neck, and it is just a little shift to feel Joui's against his hand.

Hesitantly, with the bravery only the small hours of the morning provide, he wraps his arms around the both of them.

"Good night, Cesar," Arthur whispers.

Kaiser does not comment on it. Cesar kisses the top of Joui's head, and then Arthur's, and pulls them both tight.

"We're okay," Arthur promises, somehow, despite everything. "Go to sleep; it's safe here."

"I know," except, he doesn't, it isn't, knowing he is loved in return only makes the need to keep them safe more dire; he pulls the pair close, keeps Arthur safe and secure and trapped between them, keeps his hand tight on Joui so he cannot run away again. "I know."

Notes:

#is this canon compliant? hell no#is this in character? eeeeee#but gdi I need some fluff#I thiiiiiink the latest spoiler is episode 17 actually in text#but do not rely on my thoughts of that