#loool i finished this ficlet from a few weeks ago because i read over it and somehow managed to reign my arse in

[mskatesharma]

Anthony is lounging on the sofa, stretched out and content after a long day. He and Kate have no plans that evening, and he is looking forward to vegging out with some Netflix. He’s also hoping that he can convince her to order in, knows that they’ve both had long days at work, and the last thing Anthony wants to do is inspect the contents of the fridge and have to come up with a meal.

He feels lips press to his forehead, and Anthony closes his eyes as he breathes in his favourite scent of soap and lillies. He will never admit it to anyone other than Kate, but he adores forehead kisses, and the way they make you feel loved and adored all at once. Her lips linger, and Anthony revels in the warmth that spreads through him.

Kate removes her lips and Anthony opens his eyes, the curve of his mouth immediate as his vision is filled with Kate’s face, upside down as she looks at something on the other end of the sofa. Not that Anthony minds of course as he leans his head back a little further; from this vantage point and Kate’s current position bending over him, he has a fantastic view down the front of her loose T-shirt.

He’s just about to make a comment that’s sure to earn him a blush when Kate speaks first. “Are you wearing my socks?”

Anthony’s eyes immediately swivel down to his feet which are currently adorned with a pair of socks. Socks which he may or may not have taken from Kate’s drawer. “I don’t believe so, no.”

“Anthony.”

“Katherine.”

“Ant.”

“Kat.”

“Tony.”

“Katie.”

“Anton.”

“Kathy.”

“Anthony!” Her face has steadily got closer to his; her nose is practically touching his forehead. “Those are my socks!”

“Hmm, I must ask for proof Ms Sharma.” Before he’s even finished speaking, Kate makes a move towards his feet. Just as she rounds the corner of the armrest, Anthony snags an arm around her waist and pulls her on top of him. Her squeals are music to his ears, and he leans his head up to bury his nose in her hair.

“Anthony!”

“This is much better.”

“Ugh, let me go!” She wriggles against him, but Anthony just holds tighter. “And take my socks off! Why are you even wearing them?”

“Stop wriggling. And I think you’ll find these are my socks. They were gifted to me.” Kate manages to wrestle an arm free, and slides it under her back and pinches Anthony’s stomach. “Ow.” He holds her tighter still, trapping her arm in an awkward position.

“UGGHH.” Anthony revels in the struggle. “And you let me have them because you didn’t like them!” Anthony supposes that Kate is correct; he had received the socks at Christmas in the Bridgerton family Secret Santa, no doubt by a sibling determined to piss him off.

It’s not that they’re novelty socks, in fact, Anthony appreciates a good novelty sock. It’s just that this particular pair is covered in corgis, and while Anthony used to have no particular thoughts regarding corgis, that changed when Kate had been introduced to his life; Kate and her dog Newton.

His siblings had taken to exclusively referring to Anthony as corgi dad, or Newton’s Papa. It had started before he and Kate had even began dating, when Newton had run off during a walk, and it had ended with Anthony somehow dumped in the Serpentine. Anthony had been positive that the dog had done it on purpose. He can still picture Kate trying her hardest not to laugh at the picture he’s sure he made, and failing miserably, while trying to tell him that Newton was just effusive about life. He hadn’t been convinced, especially when a soggy Newton had trotted over and shaken out his fur right in front of him.

“I think they happen to look rather fetching, wouldn’t you agree?” He wiggles his toes for effect.

“Hmm no, I wouldn’t. Take. Them. Off.”

“Don’t think I will.”

“Anthony, your fat feet are going to stretch them out!” He loosens his grip just enough to flip them over, Kate’s face smooshed against the pillow his head has just been resting on. He smooths her hair out of the way and lays a kiss on the back of her neck. Kate awkwardly swats at him in response. “Anthony!”

“Fat feet? I think you know that my feet are in proportion to the rest of my body, thank you.”

Her breaths are heavy from the slight exertion, and her voice muffled by the cushion. “Well they’re still going to stretch the socks. Your toe is going to poke a hole through them! Take them off.” She tries to arch her back in an effort to dislodge him, but Anthony simply drops his hips a little more. He leans down to her ear.

“Stop struggling Kate.”

“Get off me then.”

“Only when you admit these are my socks.”

“You don’t even like them!”

“I think seeing them on your cute feet has made me jealous, and I realised what I’ve been missing out on.” He hears her scoff. “Maybe I should have been leaning into this whole corgi dad thing the whole time?”

“So should I get you a cap, to go along with the shirt?”

“Absolutely! I would like to have a matching set.” Kate stops struggling at his words. “I think it’s beyond time I accept Newton’s place in my life.”

“What are you up to?”

“I’m not up to anything.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“So untrusting Ms Sharma. Has anyone ever told you that?”

“Where you’re concerned, one can’t be too suspicious.” He leans down to kiss her neck again, and is momentarily distracted by lillies. Kate must sense this.

With a move that Anthony will put down to the regular pilates, Kate somehow manages to turn herself over while also ensuring Anthony falls off the sofa. She peers down at him, an undignified heap on the floor, victoriously.

There’s a low growl in his throat at the look on her face. How is he supposed to resist the provocation that is her expression; as though she has utterly bested him and is reveling in her triumph.

“The absolute most I am willing to say is that I may have taken these socks from your designated drawer.”

“So you do admit you pilfered them then?!”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You just said you took them from my drawer.”

“I didn’t say they were your socks though.”

“Anthony!”

“I would be willing to give them back, but I want something in exchange.”

“You are in no position to be asking for things. You stole my socks.”

“You know they’re mine-”

“And you let me have them.”

“HOWEVER, I would be willing to cede possession to you for one thing.”

Her eyes narrow. “Ugh, what would that be?”

“Move in with me.”

“Anthony-” He knows what’s coming, it’s been a sore in their relationship for a few weeks now. He understands her concerns; how she doesn’t want to move too fast because they haven’t even been dating for a year yet, how she’s worried that people at work will talk and say she only gets the cases she does because she’s sleeping with the boss’s best friend.

He also knows that deep down, she’s worried that at some point, Anthony will turn around and tell her it’s all been a mistake. And while Anthony would love to show her the contents of the small jewellery box he has hidden in a hollowed out tax manual, he figures getting her to move in with him would be the best place to start. He takes her hand in his.

“Look I know what you’re going to say, but, would it be really that bad?” Her expression softens, and Anthony loves how his heart clenches. “I just...I just really miss you when you’re not here. I know we spend most nights together anyway, I just wish, it was more than that. I want all your stuff mixed in with mine. I want it to be every night, and I hate it when I go to sleep or wake up those times you’re back at your flat, instead of in my bed with me. I’m even willing to get Newton that ridiculous dog bed that Colin found. I want to share my life with you, I mean everything, and I just, I want to be near you all the time.”

He can see the tears welling in her eyes, and feels his own prick in response. “What I was going to say before you so wonderfully interrupted, was my tenancy is up in two months, and I don’t think I want to renew it. Because you see, my boyfriend has been bugging me to just move in with him, and my excuses have been half-hearted at best. I’ve been silly, because really, if I think about it properly for more than a second, then I want all those things too.”

He notices her eyes overflow, and then he’s off the floor and laying Kate back on the sofa, covering her body with his as he kisses away the tears.

“I love you so much.”

“I love you too, so much.” He’s about to lean down and kiss her like he’s been wanting to since he stole a look down her top, but she stops him with a finger to his lips.

“We will resume our conversation regarding the stolen property currently residing on your feet after our interlude here. I hope you didn’t think sweet words and the relationship milestone would cause me to forget?” Her eyebrow is raised and a thrill shoots up Anthony’s spine.

His smirk is automatic, and from the way she mirrors his expression, he knows she’s enjoying this too. “Of course not. I look forward to your desired retribution."