Work Text:
Alina observed Homura out of the corner of her eye while she flipped through her sketchbook.
The girl had been quiet the whole time, her gaze slightly unfocused as Alina showed her the sketches she had created in her previous timelines. There was something in her eyes that Alina really didn't like.
Eventually, she stopped, and placed the sketchbook on the bedside, face-down. Homura blinked, as if coming out of a trance, looking at Alina with a confused expression.
Alina turned her body to properly face Homura, giving her a searching look. Homura shrunk back at the intensity on her face, wanting to avert her eyes, but finding herself unable to look away from Alina's imploring gaze.
"A-Alina?" She stammered out, looking utterly cowed.
"What's the matter, my tela preziosa?" Alina's stare was unflinching.
"Huh?" Homura replied, visibly confused.
"Ever since we started looking through these," she gestured with her hand to the book, "you have been spaced out, and you look upset. Do you dislike Alina's art?"
Homura's eyes widened in horror, and she shook her head immediately, her long hair flicking around from the force of the movement. "What!? No! Of course not," Homura cried out, gripping Alina's right hand tightly, and trying to convey with her eyes how deeply false that idea was. "I love your art!"
Alina raised her free hand and caressed Homura's face gently, watching the girl deflate under the touch. Homura nuzzled into the contact, her eyes slipping closed for a moment. When she opened them again, Alina leaned in, and Homura very happily met her for a kiss.
When they separated, Alina smiled at her softly, rubbing her thumb over Homura's cheek. "Then what is it, my tela preziosa? Why did you look like you had gone a million miles away?"
Homura glanced away, looking ashamed. "It's stupid."
Alina tugged the girl closer until she was practically sitting in her lap. She pressed a kiss to her neck, and revelled in Homura's shiver.
"It's not stupida if it's bothering you," Alina countered swiftly, pausing only to scatter a few more kisses across her jaw and neck. "Now, tell Alina what il problema is."
Homura was silent for a little while, and Alina sat patiently, waiting for Homura to gather her thoughts.
Finally, Homura let out a long breath, and pressed her forehead against Alina's shoulder.
"Promise you won't get upset?"
Alina sighed quietly. If she knew anything about Homura, that meant she was about to say something self-deprecating. "I promessa."
"It's not your art. It's just... the subject." Alina's grip tightened, but she didn't interrupt, even as her mind screamed that she needed to insist there was no better subject for her art than Homura until she believed it.
Homura took a deep breath and started to speak again.
"That version of me... I don't like thinking about it. Back then, I was weak, timid, and wasn't even able to get through a single day of school without everything crashing down on me. Not to mention that I needed Madoka to come and save me after I walked right into a witch's labyrinth. I just couldn't do anything right back then." Homura paused again, taking a moment to just breathe, before she continued. "After Oriko, I never wanted anyone to see that version of me again, and yet, all of you, except Kirika, saw it. It was scary. It felt like having a dirty secret exposed."
Homura then raised her head, looking into Alina's piercing eyes. "But what was really rattling, was seeing all those sketches of the version of me I wanted to bury, so blatantly drawn with unwavering dedication and care. I feel no less love in those sketches than I do in the ones you draw of my current self."
"Of course you don't," Alina breathed, looking at Homura with such deep-seated adoration that it made heat crawl into her cheeks and down her neck, "No matter what, with any and every version there is, Alina will love you to the ends of this damn Earth, my bellissima tela preziosa."
Feeling tears gather in her eyes, Homura surged forwards, smashing her lips against Alina, who immediately manoeuvred them down on the bed, with Homura underneath her.
Homura wrapped her arms tightly around Alina's neck, not letting her go anywhere when the first kiss ended. Alina grinned widely and then dived in for another kiss, this one much deeper. Homura opened her mouth when Alina nipped gently at her bottom lip, allowing the artist entry to explore with her tongue.
When they parted this time, both girls were panting heavily. Once she caught her breath, Alina leaned in to press a kiss to her cheek. "Not to mention," she said, her voice taking on a teasing quality that made Homura freeze, "you were just so carina."
Homura squeaked, and flushed even redder than she had already been. She tried to turn her head away, but Alina gripped her chin firmly.
"Don't look away from me, my tela preziosa." Alina purred, eyes sparkling with a playful amusement.
Homura swallowed down an embarrassing whine, and pulled Alina back in for another kiss to make her stupid, annoying, beautiful, sexy girlfriend shut up. If Alina noticed her tactic, well, she didn't protest, so Homura counted it as a win.
Pulling away, Alina smirked. "You're still just as adorabile," she giggled, and Homura groaned, half-heatedly shoving Alina's shoulders. She squeaked again when Alina suddenly grabbed her by the waist and flipped them so Homura was now lying on top. Alina looked completely unbothered by Homura's extra height and weight, and pushed her head down so it was resting against her chest.
Homura fully relaxed, letting herself be held by her girlfriend. She would never get tired of being held in Alina's secure arms.
Alina kissed the top of her head, running her fingers through Homura's thick, silky locks, and simply listening to the pleased sighs she let out.
Eventually the silence was broken by Homura's quiet voice.
"I love you, Alina."
Alina pulled her ever closer, warmth filling her chest.
"I love you too, my tela preziosa."