Work Text:
“Steven!”
He jolts awake, sitting up with a truncheon in his hand. “What, what is it, what’s— mmph!”
Marc kisses him hard, holding him close and Steven’s eyes fly open.
Marc breaks the kiss and holds his face, with a knee on the bed for support. He’s smiling. “You cleaned up!”
It feels like he’s lagging. He drops the truncheon; it disappears before it hits the bed. “Huh?”
Marc points wildly at the floor. “Look!”
The floor is spotless, finally free of books, clothes, and wrappers. He’d woken up earlier than the sun this morning, and with Marc snoring next to him, he decided to finally deliver on his promise to tidy up. The books in the shelves lining the perimeter— dusted and polished— are straightened and pressed all the way back. His desk is organized. The windows are smudge-free. The dishes are clean in the dishwasher.
Steven rubs his eyes with the sleeve of his sweater, blinking away the remaining moonlight. “Yeah, a little. I woke up a bit antsy. What’s wrong, Marc?”
“Wrong? Nothing!” Marc tugs Steven from under the covers by the arms.
Steven kicks at the tangled covers. “Wait, wait, no, Marc. Marc!” He manages to get his feet over the side of the bed and stumbles into Marc. The wood floor is cold on his bare feet.
Marc hugs him tight, rocking side to side. It feels like his lungs are being squeezed like a python. “Thank you.”
“Okay,” Steven mumbles into Marc’s shirt as he pats Marc’s back. Might as well enjoy the hug. “Glad you like it, love.”
“It’s amazing. Look!”
Marc pulls away suddenly enough that Steven stumbles again, then yelps as Marc spins him around a few times and catches him.
“Okay, okay, I get it.” He pats Marc’s shoulder. “M’going back to sleep, okay?” He turns and shuffles back to bed, feet creaking on the old wood.
Then he’s swept off his feet.
He gives up, going slack in Marc’s arms and tucking his head in the crook of Marc’s shoulder with a little sigh.
Marc lowers him into the warm spot he was curled in before, and pulls the covers over him. Straightening them from where they were kicked around. Then he kisses Steven's cheek twice. “You’re the best, sweetheart.”
He yawns and pulls his pillow closer. “I know.”
“I love you.”
“Love you too.”