10 Things That Improve

It becomes easier after that as if some unspoken agreement has been made between Delphine and Tiberius. He doesn’t force her to do things she doesn’t want to and she no longer tries to fight him or run away. He eats more meat that she could possibly stomach and she looks just like a prey eating her ‘bunny food’ as Tiberius calls it. It’s easy, Delphine decides, it’s easy to pretend he doesn’t still scare her, that she has no itch beneath her skin to disappear, and it’s easy to get excited every time the Opera and its changes are involved. Tiberius doesn’t touch Delphine as much, either, opting to keep his hands to himself as if in apology for attacking her the first time. She gets to decide on physical contact, if any, and that lifts a weight off her shoulders, too. Delphine gets to decide on her own outfits and her own scents via perfume and shower gels.

Tiberius grunts from behind his desk at the opera house, “Why the fuck are they charging me extra for the smooth siding?”

Delphine glances up from her notebook that’s filled with her original opera ideas and shrugs, “Maybe because they think you won’t notice. Most old money individuals don’t and simply throw their money around.”

“Tch,” he snaps his laptop closed and rubs at his eyes. “Shitty contractors. I’m done looking at this.”

Tiberius looks up at her then, green eyes deep but tired, “Let’s go out to dinner. I want to dress up fancy and watch people stutter trying to wait on us hand and foot.”

The grin he gives is malicious in nature and it sends a shiver down Delphine’s spine, but she figures it’s alright to concede this to him. Work on the Austerus has been going smoothly because he’s good at planning, at finding people to see their vision come true, and being diligent enough to look over everything before blindly approving. Delphine offers a small smile to him and nods, closing her notebook to stand up and stretch. Her approval, she can tell, instantly lifts Tiberius’ mood as his scent no longer screams frustration. He joins her in standing and stretching before leading the way out of the office and the building in general.

“At least everything else is running smoothly. The atrium is finished and they’ve restored and strengthened the foundation supports in the basement,” Delphine hums as they walk to his truck and she glances at the atrium which is a startling clean look to it compared to the rest of the building. “The flooring for the stage and theater should be done soon too. I think the time schedule for everything is perfect.”

Tiberius opens the door for her as she climbs in, he doesn’t respond until he’s seated in the driver’s side, “I suppose, but I’m done thinking about it.”

The drive home is silent and Delphine finds it somewhat jarring how easily she considers it home now. How much four months can change. She looks out the window as the scenery passes them by and rolls down the window a little to stick her face slightly out. The smell of honeysuckle and evergreen on the wind tickles her nose, but she loves it. She loves the passing thickets of trees and hills. She loves the chirp of birdsong in the morning and the chill of an ever present frost that permeates the town. Delphine turns to Tiberius and smiles at him, a smile full of genuine happiness.

His grip on the wheel tightens imperceptibly as he’s consumed with thoughts of her. Tiberius is weak for everything about Delphine. The way her eyes crease to the point of closing as she smiles, her single dimple on her left cheek, how her tongue peeks out of the corner of her lips when she’s concentrating, and even the unconscious humming she does while doing everyday tasks. Tiberius can’t help himself as he rests a hand on her thigh, but she doesn’t shy away, only places her own soft hand above his. Their fingers intertwine and he hopes this means she’s truly ready to accept him.