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Gilmore is in the process of standing from his desk to close up shop when he hears a customer come in, the bell to his store dinging clearly.
He presses his lips together. Today has already left him behind schedule, and technically, Gilmore’s Glorious Goods closed three minutes ago. A customer is, for the first time, the last thing he wants.
Still, it’d be bad for business to turn away someone with coin.
Plastering a wide grin on his face, Gilmore peeks out of his office and into the main store. “Welcome, wonderful customer, to Gilmore’s Glori—” he cuts himself of as his eyes land on the forms of Vax and Keyleth, sheepishly hesitating by the entrance. “Oh, thank the gods. I did not want to deal with more customers today.”
Vax smiles, pulling Keyleth further inside. They’re still in adventuring gear, messy with dirt and sweat, but they don’t look injured, much to Gilmore’s relief. He can deny it all he wants, but his beloveds getting hurt always pushes him into a bit of a panic. “Who says we’re not here to buy, Shaun?” Vax asks. It doesn’t go unnoticed that an exhaustion hides behind his playful tone. Their latest adventure, which they’re back from a day early, must have taken a lot of energy.
“Call it a boyfriend’s intuition,” Gilmore chuckles, pulling him in for a kiss. Vax melts under the attention.
“It’s bad business to send a customer away empty-handed,” Keyleth quips. “Also, hi Gil.”
Without fully leaving Vax’s embrace, Gilmore holds out an arm so Keyleth can press herself into his side, almost dumping her weight on him. It’s alright; his back can take a bit of discomfort. “You two are much more than customers.”
“Well, we do require a bit of attention. Do you have any in stock?” Vax hums, nuzzling his face into Gilmore’s neck.
“I certainly do, my dears.” With a bit of magic, he turns the sign for his store around to display the ‘closed’ side.
“Can you squeeze us in somewhere, then? I know you have a busy schedule.” Vax presses a kiss to his shoulder along with the words.
Gilmore laughs. “Believe me, you are a welcome distraction from all my work. Come, let’s get you into something more comfortable.” He moves to guide them upstairs, causing Keyleth to startle awake. She’d begun to doze off leaning against him.
“Huhwazit?” she mumbles, rubbing her bleary vision away. “M’tired.”
“I can see that,” Gilmore agrees, kissing her vibrant red hair, tangled and frizzy from hard work. She smiles, returning the favor with a blind press of her lips to his forehead.
Vax chuckles. He’s more awake, if only slightly. “We’re going to bed, Kiki.”
“M’kay,” she agrees, stumbling in the direction of the stairs that lead into the apartment section of Gilmore’s store. Vax doesn’t let her get far, swooping the druid off her feet so he can cradle her to his chest and carry her the rest of the way. Gilmore can tell he almost throws his back out with the act, but he has no right to criticize when he does that very thing, occasionally.
Together, they make their way to their shared apartment. Vax is quick to drop Keyleth on the bed and then collapse in after her, a long groan leaving him. “Gods, I’ve missed your bed, Shaun.”
Keyleth makes a noise of agreement, burrowing under the heaps of blankets.
“It’s missed you, too,” Gilmore says. “As have I.”
Vax smiles, shimmying further into the warm covers. “Mh hm. Always miss you. Come here.”
“Let’s get you out of this armor, first,” Gilmore hums, undoing Vax’s many buckles and buttons and clasps and why the fuck does he need so many things? The half-elf tries to help where he can, but his tired, clumsy fingers hinder more than assist. “Let me take care of you, little bird.”
And Vax lets him, too tired to really do anything else. In a few minutes, Gilmore has wrapped him in a fuzzy robe and properly tucked the sheets up to cover all of him.
Then he moves onto Keyleth, already fast asleep. At least she doesn’t wear so much armor. It’s easy to work her out of her dirty, sweat-soaked dress and into some pajamas. She barely even stirs as he does it.
“Now will you join us?” Vax hums, surprising Gilmore. He hadn’t realised the rogue was still awake.
He grins, shirking off his robes and throwing on a sleep shirt. “Of course. Would you like to tell me about whatever’s got you so exhausted?”
Vax scoots aside to let Gilmore into the bed, settling into his usual position of spooning his body around Keyleth’s. She makes a happy little hum. “Tomorrow. Big story. You’ll love it. Sleep, now.”
Laughing, Gilmore tucks Vax in his embrace. “Alright, pretty bird. Get some rest.”
In just seconds, Vax has done just that, and Gilmore follows not long after him.