𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 | 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘴

braid | nozel

word count: 1108

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He looked increasingly uncomfortable as he leaned on his desk. His paperwork was piling behind him and now his vice captain was being a distraction.

"Stay still." She reprimands, tugging on his bangs firmly, similar to how an owner would tug on a dog leash. He rolls his eyes.

"I can do this myself."

"Well, I wanted to be nice and braid for you."

He says nothing in return, only giving her a slightly tired scowl. Honestly, he didn't know why he agreed to letting her braid his bangs. He had been doing it for years for crying out loud; he didn't need her to take ages to do something he could do in a few minutes. The vice captain only stopped by to drop off some more work for the Silver Eagles captain, but she happened to arrive while he was beginning his morning braiding ritual. Upon seeing him, she insisted on trying to braid his hair to which he immediately, vehemently denies.

"Absolutely not. I am not a child who needs help in the morning." He snaps, turning away and pressing his fingers to his temple tiredly.

"Did I say you're a child, captain? I'm merely curious of your morning routine and wanted to see if I could help you." She chirps back.

Despite his irritation growing for the amount of time he was wasting this morning, he couldn't help but glance and begrudgingly admire her concentrated face while she tried attaching the cross. The braid itself was fine; a tad tight but nothing a little loosening couldn't fix. With her eyebrows furrowed, she looked just as serious when she was in battle. She even did the cute thing with her tongue where she sticks it out a little.

Nozel found it a little... endearing, if he had to admit to himself. His exhaustion from staying up late the past few weeks have finally caught up to him. He might be tired, but he's not tired enough to admit something like that.

"Ugh, I think I need to brush your hair a little bit. It's kind of hard trying to hook this cross with your hair all matted and tangled-"

"I can assure you my hair is not matted you insolent-"

"Where is your brush?" she interrupts, straightening herself out. He rolls his eyes, landing his stare at his mirror where his brush was located. She hums and grabs it, returning back to his desk. She leans closer and continues to hum as she begins to brush his bangs.

"You should brush your hair more often. Kind of seems like you've been neglecting some self care..." Her voice fades quietly as he starts to get lost in his thoughts.

It felt good.

It felt like how his mother used to brush his hair. His mother initially teased him for his braid, but she always brushed it and taught him how to braid it better. She would always hum as she gently brushed his hair. It was a special moment in his day back then.

If he closed his eyes, he could almost pretend it was like she was alive and well, brushing out his hair like she used to.

With the morning rays shining through his partially cracked window, it felt like time was starting to slow down. All he would focus on was the quiet humming from the woman in front of him and the calming sensation of his brush moving through his hair. His eyes started to slowly close with each stroke; his shoulders started to relax.

"Stay with me captain." She jokes, nudging him with her knee. "Have you been up late again? You know that's a stupid choice. Gotta be in good shape for emergencies, you know?" She places the brush next to him on his desk as she begins to separate the bangs into three sections.

"Don't chastise me like a child." Nozel's eyes slowly open, watching her move his hair back and forth. His words sounded much quieter than before, definitely lacking his usual snark. He mentally notes that her sections are uneven. She offers a soft grin before continuing while muttering, "again, never said you were a child".

Halfway down his braid, she pauses because Nozel was tiredly staring at her hands passing around sections of his hair, occasionally glancing at her with an exhausted, yet soft expression. She doesn't mention the eyebags.

"You okay captain?" She asks, nearing the end of the braid. The cross had a small ring on it and she manages to braid it into his hair. "Cat got your tongue?" She muses after his lack of a reply as she pulls on the strands to help loosen the hair.

Nozel opens his eyes again, but he retains the drained look on his face. He blankly stares at her. The past few weeks have taken him away from taking care of himself; forcing him to stay up late, neglect grooming, and other simple pleasures and habits he used to indulge himself with. Wordlessly, he grabs her hand and before she could say a word, he pulls her towards him and wrapped his arms around his vice captain.

Shocked, she freezes, but eventually snaps out of it to slowly place her hands around him as well. She carefully rubs his back and she slowly settled into his warmth. She rests her head gently on his chest. He had his chin on her head as he took many deep breaths.

They stayed like that for a few long moments.

"Nozel?"

The captain remains silent and for the first time this morning, she remains silent as well, letting him have this quiet moment to himself to enjoy.

After what felt like hours, he opens his mouth.

"No one has done that for me since... my mother..."

"Oh, Nozel, I'm sorry-"

"No. Thank you." He interjects as he lets go of their embrace, leaning back on his desk. He looked a little flustered with the way he is avoiding eye contact while hiding the twinge of pink dusting his porcelain skin. Flustered but definitely more awake and alert.

She couldn't hide the blush and small smile on her face upon hearing him express his gratitude. She pats his arm as she readies herself to salute and leave his office.

"Anytime, Nozel. Just tell me if you need me." She doesn't bother trying to hide her smile this time. She salutes and turns to walk to the door. Upon getting halfway through the door, she hears her captain call for her.

"Ah, next time, I'll show you how to do it better. You braid like a child."