Work Text:
"I'm convinced you were a koala in a past life."
Reluctantly, you let go of your suffocating hold on Hourousha. You'd sprinted and pounced on your lover the moment you heard the doorknob jingle, and no amount of his grumbling could stop you. Part of you wanted to kidnap him straight to the bed for cuddles and further prove his point. Alas, you had bigger plans.
"Haha, sorry. I really missed you," you said sheepishly. Your well-practiced puppy dog eyes earned you a peck on the lips and a hand in your hair.
"Mm. Good to see you too." A soft smile graced his lips for a moment before he moved to head inside.
Skittering after him, you "If you're not too tired, could I show you something?" you asked.
He sighed. "Clearly kept yourself busy while I was gone. I suppose, so you don't have to bug me about it later."
His snark was about as threatening as a cat exposing its belly. You grinned and grabbed him by the hand, leading him into your apartment. "Did you have a good trip?"
"Yeah, it was fine…" Hourousha sniffed at the air. "Smells really sweet. Did you murder a unicorn in here?"
“Yup! Sacrificed, slaughtered and slapped together into a cake, just for you!” The giddy, nonchalant way you said that made him shiver just a little. Maybe he was rubbing off on you too much.
He lightly waved you away when you tried to pull out his chair at the dining table, which was already set with a pair of dessert forks and tea cups. The tea kettle went off just as he sat down and a slightly bitter smell filled the air, mingling with the lingering sweetness. You filled his cup then went to cut the cake. By the time you returned to the table, he’d already drained it.
You chuckled and rose once again to give him a second serving. “Am I getting better at making your tea?”
“I wouldn’t drink it if it wasn’t good.” He appraised the cake as you preened at his thinly veiled praise. “Ube?”
“No, the dead unicorn really brought out the purple color though. Eat up!”
You barely dodged his flick. He huffed and rolled his eyes, nevertheless carefully taking a bite of the cake. His pleased hum and the little twinkle in his eyes were all you needed.
“It’s very chewy, almost like mochi. But the tea offsets some of the sweetness.”
“Bingo! I took a crack at making a mochi cake for the first time. I was inspired by your squishy cheeks.”
One hand shot out to deter your menacing fingers while the other lifted the tea cup to his lips, hiding his smile.
The dessert banter went on for a while longer. Hourousha shared stories about his long journey, not realizing he’d almost single-handedly finished the cake and pot of tea you’d prepared. More than satisfied with your success, you eventually cleaned the dishes and he put them away. He regarded you once you’d finished, one eyebrow lifted.
“Am I free to move about the cabin now?” He was trying with the jokes. He really was.
“No, in fact!” His groan was nothing short of dramatic, and you couldn’t help but laugh.
Once you led him to the bath though, his complaining stopped. Especially when you gave him a cheeky smile and began taking off your clothes. “You must be sore after all that traveling. Let’s unwind together, hm?”
He looked like he was trying to come up with a rebuttal, but found none. Hourousha shrugged off his clothes while you began running the bath. You bent to reach for the bath salts, well aware of his eyes on you.
Lavender tickled your nose as you stepped into the steamy bath with Hourousha on your heels. He slipped behind you to let you rest in his lap. Sighing happily, you nuzzled your head against his shoulder, closing your eyes contentedly. You felt his muscles start to relax, and soon his arms were around you.
“Mmmh…I did miss you,” he whispered just loud enough for you to hear. Your heart raced, a delighted shudder running down your spine when he pressed his lips against your pulse. His breathy chuckle rumbled against your body. Arching your back slightly, you rubbed your legs together, brushing against his growing excitement. Hourousha let out a low growl, his hands raking over your body.
“I missed you too, so much…!” You leaned your head back, the fatigue you’d been holding at bay rushing to the surface as you surrendered your body to him. The touch you’d craved felt like fire combined with the hot water and you were melting, melting…
“Hey! Come on, wake up!”
You blinked back to awareness, looking confused for a moment. Then you saw his face.
It was impossible to hide the panic blooming in his eyes.
“I’m fine, I’m fine,” you said, the grogginess in your own voice feeling alien.
“What the fuck just happened? You looked like you were about to pass out.”
Groaning, you rubbed at your head. “Just felt good, that’s all. Please don’t worry.” The last thing you wanted to do was stress him.
Clearly, it was too late for that. “We’re getting out.” Hourousha left no room for argument and scooped you up in his arms, carrying you out of the tub and promptly wrapping you in a towel. Floors be damned, he carried you while soaking wet and naked.
Finally, he looked down and noticed the dark circles under your eyes. "Have you even slept?"
Uh oh. You laughed nervously. “Remember when I told you I’d help you grind for materials in that new game?”
Hourousha gave you a look that said he’d already decided your fate before you finished the answer. “Uh huh?”
"I…stayed up pretty late but I still didn't quite get enough, I’m sorry haha…and perfecting the cake and tea took a few tries…"
He sighed loudly. "Come on, o devout one," he grumbled. The scowl didn't reach his eyes.
The moniker made you flush like mad. It was no secret that you had a praise kink and he had a worship kink, but that was the last thing on his mind right now. He sat you down on the bed, then went to your dresser and grabbed your nightgown.
“Hourousha,” you said softly, “please don’t w–”
“Up.”
Instinctively, you lifted your arms up to let him slip the gown onto you.
“Good. Now get in bed.”
There was no reasoning with him. You pouted but obeyed, slipping under the covers. He took your towel and began rather aggressively drying himself off. “Why do you keep doing this?”
It was pointless, but you feigned ignorance anyway. “What do you mean?”
“This!” Hourousha threw his hands up. “Every time I’m away, you drive yourself to this point. I don’t need you to impress me. I don’t need you to take care of me. All I need is for you to stay safe. How do you still not realize that?”
He took deep breaths, trying to calm himself.
There was no good answer to that. "I just want to make you happy! And you were gone for so long that I just…"
"Just what?"
The implication hung heavy with the silence in the air. You bit your lip, wanting to crawl under the covers and hide. He didn’t allow you that luxury. Suddenly, he leaned over and hugged you.
"Don’t think for a moment that I'd ever break my promise to you. You better not, either."
He’d usually bonk you, but he hesitated and settled for ruffling your hair instead.
You blinked back your tears, seizing the rare opportunity and clinging to him. “I promise, I won’t. I’ll always be here to welcome you home, no matter how long you wander.”
He hummed, holding you a moment longer before he pulled back to murmur in your ear. “Good. And don’t worry, I’ll give you your reward when you feel better.”
Your blush returned tenfold. Hourousha smirked, moving to get dressed before pausing.
"...Actually. Why don't you come with me next time." It wasn’t a question, nor a demand. The soft, almost hesitant way he asked felt…vulnerable.
Your face lit up, and you nodded enthusiastically. “Yes! A thousand times yes! I’ll start planning soon as I wake up!”
“All right, all right, down,” he said, chuckling in spite of himself. “Get some sleep. I’ll join you shortly.”
That alone seemed to relax you, and you were soon fast asleep.
Hourousha put on his night clothes, then went to make sure you were really sleeping. He retrieved something from his pocket, a treasure from his travels, and slipped the turquoise necklace around your neck before settling in next to you. You’d wake in the morning and undoubtedly squeal far too loudly upon finding it. With a fond sigh, he kissed your cheek and closed his eyes, a whisper falling from his lips.
“I’m home.”