#m.odern au m.arlontine ?? yeah lmao

[ladyimaginarium]

The sound of crickets chirping outside, Rosie's quiet snoring at the edge of her bed and the faint sound of whatever was playing on TV filled the atmosphere with a sense of peace that Clementine hasn't felt in weeks. Summer nights like this were cruel sometimes and the heat didn't make it better. Nothing was a bigger bitch than C-PTSD episodes at night, though, but Marlon is here, and he grounds her by holding her here with him in place, a cigarette in between his fingers as he exhales smoke away from her face. Clem breathes him all in, Marlborough reds, ashwood, the tide of ocean, the faint smell of his blood when he came to her house earlier that evenings because his mother's shitty boyfriend beat and kicked his ass out of his own house with his mother doing nothing, and with no one else home, she kept him here. Golden eyes flicker to the clock on her nightstand. 3:33. Her chin rests on his forehead while he buries his face in the crook of her neck.

Yet another week of exams was coming but right now that was the last thing on their minds. “Rebecca called me earlier today. Imma' babysit AJ in the afternoon while she and Alvin do their errands an' shit, then James wants to borrow me for another quick photoshoot and then get on Zoom to study with Aasim. You can come with if you want.” Clem offers, and Marlon chuckles lightheartedly. “Yeah. AJ'll wanna see Rosie, too, and we can't deny him that.”

Clem nods in agreement. Ah, yes, Rosie was a lovely service dog.

After a moment of silence, she murmurs, “I love you.” her voice is soft and hushed.

“I love you, too.”

And that was all they needed for tonight. Just each other.