They looked so tired. It had been a long day and it reflected on the tight lines of their face. She said so, stroking her hand down their cheek.

"Hmph," they responded, grumpily. "I know what you're doing."

She wasn't doing anything, really. At least not intentionally. But she knew what they meant.

"I was just saying that you look tired, love. " she soothed. "You should relax." She smiled. "Not a command, I promise."

They arched their eyebrow. "Just a suggestion?" they asked warily.

Well, yes technically. But not in the way they meant.

"Would that be so bad?" she asked lightly, testing the waters.

They looked down.

"No," they admitted. "Would be nice. But I'm worried it wouldn't work. And I don't know if I can be very good for you today."

That broke her heart. "You're already so good for me, right now. You don't need to do anything, ok? I promise I'm not trying to hypnotize you."

They sighed and dropped their shoulders, relaxing into her caress. "You're using the voice," they said in faint almost-protest.

She tried not to let a flash of irritation affect her tone.

"This is just my regular voice, hun."

She understood them, though. This was a long-term issue in their relationship - where they would want something and fight against that want at the same time. She knew it was hard for them to have needs that weren't about pleasing someone else- now, often, pleasing her.

She wasn't going to be their proxy in this internal fight, though. She'd take herself out of it.

"Fine," she said, gently. "I'll won't talk. But you still need to relax, ok?"

They nodded.

In response, she maneuvered them into a position in her lap where she could cuddle them more freely. She started slowly, lightly petting their hair. Then she moved her hands to gently stroke their arms.

She noticed their breathing getting deeper and more steady.

She started humming to herself, absently. Her mind wandered to dinner plans. Did they still have fish in the fridge? Her hands continued to move as she thought, absently giving comfort.

A sound brought her back to the room. She checked in on her partner, wondering if hey had fallen asleep against her.

Their eyes were closed but- they didn't seem to be sleeping.

She recognized their expression.

It was too attentive for sleep.

She shifted. "Hey hun?" she asked, cautiously.

"Yes ma'am?" came back the voice underneath her. It sounded like they were talking from a million miles away.

She chuckled to herself and kissed them on the forehead.

"OK, fine," she said, her voice lightly teasing. "You win. Apparently. Now - what am I going to do with you?"