Chapter Text
Beth had officially moved in with Viv. They both felt excited, thrilled even, until Viv started slacking on the chores.
Beth was already in full swing before Viv even had the chance to process what she’d done wrong this time.
“You promised me, Viv. You looked me in the eye—seriously, like, full eye contact—and said, ‘Don’t worry Beth, I’ll take care of it.’ Those were your words. Word for word! And then I go into the kitchen this morning, you know, ready to have a coffee, maybe start the day like a normal human being—and what do I see? Hm? Do you know what I see?”
Viv leaned back on the sofa, arms stretched out over the top, her head tilted to the side as she watched her girlfriend pace the living room like a caged lion.
Beth didn’t wait for an answer. “A pile of dirty kit. Just sat there. Festering. Stinking. Mocking me. I could smell it before I even opened the door, Viv!”
Viv gave the smallest shrug. “It’s not that bad.”
Beth’s jaw dropped. “Not that bad? Not that—” she threw her hands up in exasperation “—you’ve clearly gone nose-blind or something because it’s disgusting! We’re going to end up banned from the flat, and you’ll be the one paying for fumigation.”
“Fumigation?” Viv echoed, her tone dry.
“Yes, fumigation!” Beth whirled on her, eyes blazing, blonde hair flying over her shoulders. “Do you even know what’s in those kits? Sweat. Mud. Grass stains. Your boots. Oh God, your boots are the worst—”
Viv pressed her lips together to keep from smiling, but Beth noticed anyway.
“Don’t!” Beth jabbed a finger at her. “Don’t you dare laugh at me right now. You do this on purpose. You sit there all calm and smug and make me feel like I’m the crazy one when I’m not! I’m not crazy!”
Viv raised her brows, her expression as composed as ever. “No, you’re not crazy. You’re very…” She paused, pretending to search for the word. “…passionate.”
Beth let out a sound somewhere between a groan and a growl. She spun on her heel and stomped toward the kitchen, muttering to herself. Viv could just make out fragments like, “Supposed to trust her,” and, “Not even about the washing, it’s about principles,” and, “Honestly, what kind of relationship is this?”
She came stomping back, throwing her arms in the air. “You don’t even care, do you? You’re just sitting there like it’s a comedy show!”
Viv leaned forward a little, resting her elbows on her knees. “Are you finished?”
Beth froze. “Finished? Finished?!”
And off she went again, voice rising a notch as she paced faster, the words tumbling out in a rapid-fire stream. She accused Viv of being forgetful, irresponsible, too laid-back, of thinking everything could be fixed with “one of your little smirks.” She worked herself up so much she almost tripped over her own feet in her fury.
Viv watched it all unfold with quiet fascination, her head tilted, like Beth was some rare and fiery creature she couldn’t take her eyes off.
Finally, when Beth stopped to catch her breath, Viv stood up.
Beth frowned. “What? You think walking away is going to solve this?”
But Viv didn’t walk away. Instead, she stepped right into Beth’s path, cupped her face gently with both hands, and kissed her.
Beth went rigid.
Viv’s lips pressed against hers firmly, cutting her tirade short, swallowing the next dozen angry words before they could spill.
Beth blinked up at her when she pulled back. “What was that—”
Another kiss. Slower this time, softer.
Beth let out a squeak of surprise, hands that had been waving about dropping uselessly at her sides.
And then Viv kissed her again.
This one lingered, deepening until Beth’s knees went weak and she had to clutch Viv’s shirt for balance. By the time Viv pulled away, Beth’s cheeks were flushed, her breathing uneven.
“Better?” Viv asked quietly.
Beth glared at her, but the fire in her eyes had dimmed. “You can’t just shut me up with kisses.”
Viv smiled faintly. “Seems like I can.”
Beth huffed, but the sound was half a laugh. “You’re impossible.”
Viv leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Mhm.”
Beth groaned, dropping her head against Viv’s shoulder, still clinging to her shirt. “You’re lucky you’re good at that. Otherwise I’d still be yelling.”
Viv chuckled, her hands rubbing soothing circles into Beth’s back. “I don’t mind the yelling. It’s cute.”
Beth gasped and pulled back, scandalised. “Cute?!”
Viv’s eyes glinted. “Very. You look like a tiny angry squirrel.”
Beth slapped her arm. “You are so not sleeping in my bed tonight.”
Viv leaned down, murmuring against her ear, “Bet I will.”
Beth shivered, and despite herself, she laughed.
Viv kissed her again, softer this time, before pulling back just enough to murmur, “Still mad?”
Beth sighed dramatically, pressing her forehead against Viv’s chest. “Yes. No. Ugh, I don’t know.”
“Mm. I’ll put the washing on.”
Beth mumbled into her shirt, “And my hoodie.”
“Your hoodie too.”
“And you’re giving me back scratches later.”
Viv smirked, pressing another kiss to her hair. “Deal.”
Beth groaned, half-exasperated, half-melting. “I hate how good you are at this.”
“Good at what?” Viv asked innocently.
Beth looked up, her glare ruined by the way her lips twitched. “At making me forgive you.”
Viv kissed her again. “Better now?”
Beth sighed. “Yeah… but I still want my hoodie washed.”
By the time the two of them made it into the bedroom, Beth was still carrying on.
She stormed in first, throwing her arms in the air. “Honestly, Viv, I should start charging you for the emotional labour. Do you know how exhausting it is to argue with someone who doesn’t even argue back? You just sit there with your—your face!”
Viv leaned against the doorway, folding her arms. “My face?”
“Yes! That smug, calm, annoying face like you’re watching me unravel and enjoying every second of it. It’s infuriating.”
Viv bit back a grin. “But very cute.”
Beth gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. “Don’t you dare! Don’t you dare call me cute right now. I’m furious!”
“You’re an angry squirrel.”
Beth’s jaw dropped. “Take that back.”
Viv shook her head, her smirk widening. “Nope. Angry squirrel. Tiny, fluffy, terrifying.”
Beth groaned, grabbing a pillow off the bed and throwing it at her. Viv caught it with ease and tossed it back, laughing softly when Beth huffed and crossed her arms.
“You’re unbearable.” Beth flopped back onto the bed, her hair spilling over the pillow. “And you don’t even feel guilty about the kit! Or the boots! Or—”
“—the fumigation?” Viv supplied, slipping onto the bed beside her.
Beth narrowed her eyes. “Exactly. You don’t even take me seriously.”
Viv reached out, brushing a strand of hair off Beth’s forehead. “I always take you seriously.”
Beth squinted, suspicious. “Then why are you smirking?”
“Because you’re cute when you’re mad.”
Beth groaned, burying her face in the pillow. “I’m breaking up with you.”
Viv laughed, lying down beside her, propping herself up on one elbow. “Mhm. You’re breaking up with me. While you’re in my bed, wearing my shirt, stealing my blanket.”
Beth peeked out from the pillow, cheeks pink. “That’s not the point.”
Viv leaned in, her lips brushing against Beth’s temple. “I think the point is that you like me too much to stay mad.”
Beth rolled her eyes, but she didn’t move away when Viv started tracing slow circles on her back.
After a moment, she muttered, “You’re going to have to make it up to me.”
Viv smiled against her hair. “Oh, yeah?”
“Back scratches. Long ones. None of your five-minutes-and-stop nonsense.”
“Done.”
“And cuddles.”
“Obviously.”
“And—” Beth hesitated, before adding in a quieter voice, “—you have to let me rant properly. No smirking. No kissing me mid-sentence. Just… let me get it out.”
Viv nodded seriously. “Okay. Next time I’ll sit there and let you finish.”
Beth eyed her suspiciously. “You mean it?”
Viv smirked. “Probably not.”
Beth shoved her shoulder, but she was laughing now, the anger completely gone.
Viv rolled onto her back, tugging Beth with her until the blonde was sprawled half on top of her. Beth grumbled something about being manhandled, but her head found Viv’s shoulder, her fingers curling into the fabric of her shirt.
“Better now?” Viv asked softly.
Beth sighed dramatically. “Barely. You’ve still got a lot of making up to do.”
Viv’s hand slid up her back, threading gently into her hair. “Guess I’ll just have to spend all night trying then.”
Beth tilted her head to look up at her, lips twitching. “All night?”
Viv kissed her nose. “All night.”
Beth let out a laugh, tucking her face back against Viv’s neck, her voice muffled but warm. “You’re ridiculous.”
“And you love it,” Viv murmured, kissing the top of her head.
Beth groaned, though there was no heat in it. “I do. Which is so annoying.”
Viv chuckled, tightening her arms around her until Beth melted fully into her chest, no more angry words, no more pacing—just warmth and quiet.
Beth mumbled something sleepily into her collarbone.
“What was that?” Viv asked.
Beth lifted her head just enough to whisper, “Angry squirrel’s still mad.”
Viv laughed so hard the bed shook, pulling her even closer.