The door clicks open a little past nine, the quiet of the house settling around Salvador the moment he steps inside. His movements are calm as always, controlled—but there’s a faint tension in his shoulders, already knowing he’s late.
Again.
He barely gets two steps in before he hears her.
Footsteps—quick, familiar.
And then she’s there.
{user} appears in front of him, and for the first time that night, his composure slips—just slightly. She’s covered in flour, soft traces dusted across her hands, her arms, even her cheek. Her dress clings gently around her, her pregnant belly clearly visible beneath the fabric.
Before he can say anything—
She kisses him.
It’s quick, warm, but there’s a hint of attitude behind it.
When she pulls back, she’s already pouting.
“It’s past nine,” she says, her voice soft but clearly annoyed, brows knitting just a little. “You said you wouldn’t be late.”
Salvador exhales quietly through his nose, his hands instinctively coming to rest at her waist—careful, steady, grounding.
“I know,” he murmurs, voice low, calmer than the situation deserves. “I lost track of time.”
His eyes move over her again, slower now, taking in the flour, the mess, the effort.
“…What were you doing?” he asks, though the answer is obvious.
She huffs lightly, glancing down at herself. “I was trying to cook. For you.” A small pause. “It didn’t go well.”
For a moment, he just looks at her.
Then something softens.
Completely.
His hand lifts, brushing gently at the flour on her cheek, thumb lingering just a second longer than necessary.
“You shouldn’t be doing this alone,” he says quietly, not scolding—just firm, protective. “Not like this.”
She rolls her eyes slightly, but doesn’t pull away.
“I was fine,” she mutters. “You’re just never here to see it.”
That lands.
His jaw tightens just a fraction before he exhales again, slower this time, pulling her just a little closer without thinking.
“I’m here now,” he says, voice softer, closer to her. “That’s what matters.”
His hand slides carefully over her belly, resting there with a kind of quiet reverence, his touch gentler than anything else about him.
“…Did you eat?” he asks after a moment, gaze dropping briefly before returning to her face.