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Being cared for hurt more than the blocks of rock pressing against his ribcage still now and then. Love seeping through the smallest acts of service, no condition or expectation, not even realisation of the moment before taking action, curled around his heart and pulled on his arteries harsher than the nightmares polluting his brain for years. Naib’s cheeks against his back and curled up hand against his torso this morning gave him such relief, such freedom to breathe that he couldn’t find it in himself to take a single gasp in, to enjoy a warmth and a chill and a sun and a wind he never deserved to be blessed with. Naib, sleeping soundly behind him, so willing and ready to share his life with Norton that he didn’t need to think, didn’t need to be conscious to comfort him, to hold him as if he knew in his sleep that Norton needed an anchor to connect back to reality, to the home he now had.
And when he escaped such spring he could only suffocate in, Naib didn’t hesitate to wake up on instinct and follow him into the bathroom, now sitting on the counter and pouting subconsciously with his mind running slow, if his eyes drooping excessively was anything to say for his sleepiness. His hands held a razor and a brush he softened up after a scoff of annoyance to his carelessness. It’s not lack of care, Norton could argue, but he didn’t know what else to call his disposition without naming things that should not be crossing his mind anyway, so he stayed silent and leaned into his husband’s personal space against the resistance of his mind not welcoming him in his lover’s presence.
Given the awareness level of Naib and the sharpness of the razor, perhaps Norton should’ve been too alarmed to close his eyes and relax, but care for himself as he concluded was not his strongest aspect.
He focused on Naib’s breath hitting his face, warming up his chin all the way down to his chest with every puff.
Somehow, in this cramped bathroom it was easier to bask in the light of the sun. He didn’t know if it was the shower that loosened the ties around his chest or the time that dispersed the shadows of his nightmares in his head, or if it was Naib’s kiss on his cheek as he entered the bathroom to a butt-naked Norton standing in the middle of the room with seemingly no idea where they put the towels that pulled his brain back to Earth. Maybe, it was simply the reappearance of Naib in time to echo his promise of spending a lifetime with Norton.
Ease seeped deeper into his body making him feel lighter and free of his nightmares of suffocation. He hummed a melody of long forgotten origins and quickly dipped his head to push a kiss onto where he thought Naib’s cheek was. Pulling back with his eyes still closed, one side of his lips quirked up at the profanities spilling from the other’s mouth.
Now fully awake, Naib’s jabs with words harsher than with the razor in his hands, “You’re too brave pissing me off for someone who’s entire face is in my hands.”
As he let out a chuckle, he opened his eyes and watched Naib rip off some paper towel to wipe off the soap Norton just got on him. Naib sent him a glare and got back to work on his face with no trace of the pout from earlier, but with a slight dip in his eyebrow.
He looked so beautiful like this, focused and a little pissed off, paying full attention to the most mundane task of his day. Norton didn’t even ask for his help, or initiate the act for himself, yet here Naib was, starting his husband’s day with a little ray of help, with a little touch of care and love, looking especially cute with his swollen face and absorbed, wide open eyes. Neither of them would dare or think to call the other adorable most of the time, that was just not the kind of presentation either served for himself, but Norton couldn’t help but think Naib was the most adorable husband of all time when he felt the other’s legs rub against his as gently as his gaze swept across his face.
When finished, Naib kept his position and waited for Norton to wash his face.
“What’s your schedule for today?”
Norton peeked over his towel with a puzzled look. “What day is it?”
“...Wednesday.”
“...Oh.” Norton gulped. “...I’m free today.”
He didn’t dodge the punch coming his way. He laughed at the betrayal on Naib’s face and rubbed his arm after throwing the towel away.
“You woke us up at ass o’clock just to not have anything important to do? No work to get to? Do you know what time it is you fucking-”
“Sorry sorry sorry, I know, I’m sorry,” Norton murmured against Naib’s hair through his laugh as he pulled Naib into his arms. “But to be fair,” Naib shot him an impressed look. “I didn’t intend to wake you up.”
“Fuck kinda excuse is that,” Naib rolled his eyes. He didn’t push it further. Norton had a feeling Naib could guess why he woke up this early.
Norton stilled as he felt the towel around his hips loosen and fall. Naib pushed him back into the shower and started removing his own clothes. “Time for my morning shower then.”
Norton felt that he should be frightened by the fire in Naib’s eyes, but he knew his husband enough to liken it to that of a playful lion rather than a hungry one.