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It's nearly midnight when Koga's phone rings.
He answers on the second ring, stroking his thumb along Leon's muzzle in apology for disturbing him. "Hello?"
"Koga."
"Rei," Koga says, not missing the way Rei's voice is more hoarse than usual, his usual nighttime charm absent. "You okay? It's pretty late."
Rei's noncommittal hum tells Koga all he needs to know. "I will be home soon. I apologise for making you stay up so late, dear."
"Nah, don't sweat it. I needed t' work on these lyrics some more anyway." Truth be told, he's barely gotten anything done all night. The song isn't urgent or anything, just a little something he's been working on as a side project, but he would like to finish it sooner rather than later.
"Do your best," Rei says. "I'll see you soon, yes?"
"Yeah. Take care."
Once his phone is off and on the table again, Koga gently moves Leon from his lap so he can stand up. After living with Rei for two years, Koga's become accustomed to helping him through the aftermath of a bad day. He switches the TV off, then makes his way to the front door to unlock the bolt. He sets Rei's slippers out for easier access, then pads into the kitchen and pours himself a glass of water.
Koga pauses as he's about to leave, gaze caught on the photo stuck on the fridge from his birthday last year. He'd spent the day with his former classmates, who'd brought him to a puppy café then to a surprise party that Ritsu had spoiled for him when he accidentally hit 'reply all' on an email meant only for Yuzuru.
The photo is of him and almost everyone he's ever cared about, laughing and smiling and just having fun. It's brighter than anything a younger Koga ever could've pictured having in his future; it still warms his heart almost a year later.
After the party, Rei, Kaoru and Adonis had taken him out to a private room in a yakiniku restaurant for dinner. Kaoru got Adonis drunk and cry-laughed as Adonis mumbled his way through a profession of love to a thoroughly confused Souma over the phone, as a tipsy Rei poked and prodded at Koga's face, telling him repeatedly how cute he is and how lucky anyone would be to kiss him.
When Koga had responded by dragging Rei to the bathroom and kissing him stupid, the way he'd looked up at Koga afterwards in pure joy made him truly thankful for life. It's something he's definitely not going to be forgetting any time soon.
There are a few more photos scattered across the fridge: Koga making one of those stupid hand-heart things with Anzu because he couldn't bring himself to say no to her, Rei and Adonis giving the camera matching thumbs up, a sleeping Kaoru between them with drawings all over his face. There's one tucked away behind a flier for a Knights concert of Koga and Ritsu passed out on top of each other that both had demanded be deleted, but of course, Rei stubbornly ignored them and printed it off.
Koga's absolute favourite is the one stuck right in the center of it all. It's from his and Rei's first anniversary; Rei had dragged him to the beach, insisting that it would be a nice walk for Leon and that the sunset was guaranteed to be gorgeous from there.
Thankfully there hadn't been many others around, and they walked and laughed and splashed each other with salty water until Rei grew weary. So they stopped to watch the sun dip below the waves, Leon taking his place between the two of them.
Before they left, Rei suggested they take a photo together to remember the occasion. But of course, Leon decided to jump up at Rei just as Koga took the photo, resulting in a photo where Koga is wearing his nicest smile and Rei is mid-fall, reaching out for Koga to attempt to steady himself.
He had failed, unfortunately, falling flat on his ass on the sand. Koga had taken one look at him and burst into laughter, delighting in the way Rei's cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink. They took another proper photo, but Koga chose to stick the failed one up. He thinks it's cute.
Smiling to himself, Koga heads to the bathroom, fiddling around with the temperature of the water in the shower until it's just the way Rei likes it.
It's as Koga's laying out Rei's pajamas on the bed that he hears the front door open. He stays put, smoothing out the creases on the silk button-up top. Koga's wearing a matching set; Shu bought it for them last year for Christmas, along with a few other trinkets from Paris. They're the damn comfiest pajamas Koga's ever owned.
It isn't long before there are footsteps behind him, accompanied by a familiar yawn. Koga turns around, wordlessly opening his arms. Rei practically falls into Koga's embrace, breathing him in. "I'm home."
Koga holds him tight. "Welcome home."
"Missed you."
"Missed ya too." Koga rubs his hands up and down Rei's back soothingly. "Rough day?"
Rei exhales, his cool breath tickling the skin on Koga's neck. "Everything is fine now that I'm with you."
"Yer so cheesy sometimes, yanno."
"That's because I love you more than anything, my darling."
"Yeah, yeah, me too." Koga presses a kiss to his cold cheek. "Have ya eaten anythin'?"
"Not since lunch."
"Rei," Koga says, in that tone reserved for whenever things like this happen. "You know what I'm gonna say."
His boyfriend nuzzles his face further into Koga's neck. "I'm sorry. There was so much going on that it slipped my mind to stop somewhere for dinner."
"Go take a shower, and I'll make ya a quick somethin'."
Rei pulls away from the hug, hesitancy showing all over his face. "There's no need for you to do that. It's past midnight, after all. How about we simply make ourselves comfortable in bed?"
Koga frowns. "Shower, food, then bed."
The sigh that escapes Rei's lips is so exaggerated that one would Koga asked him to whip up a full course meal, not take care of himself. "Alright. If it's to appease you, my dear, I would carry the weight of the world on my back."
"Enough with the poetics, off ya go." Koga pulls him down for a quick peck on the lips before pushing him in the direction of the bathroom. "Be careful, ya hear me?"
Rei nods without looking back, closing the bathroom door behind him. Admittedly, Koga would've liked to stay in that embrace forever. He doesn't care that Rei's skin is almost always cold to the touch; he'd share his warmth with him even if the world was plunged into an eternal winter.
While Rei showers, Koga prepares him a bowl of warm tomato soup, humming some song he can't remember the name of under his breath. Barely ten minutes later he's back in their bedroom, fiddling with the hairdryer as Rei twirls his spoon around in his soup.
"I made that for ya to eat." Koga sits at the foot of their bed, gesturing to the space between his legs. Rei sits obediently, finally raising the spoon to his mouth. "See, it wasn't that hard, was it? Good boy."
Rei mumbles something under his breath that Koga doesn't quite catch. Koga grins as he runs a hand through Rei's damp hair, switching the hairdryer on and getting to work. When Koga's almost finished, Leon graces the room with his presence, giving Rei a sleepy lick hello before making himself at home on the bed beside Koga.
"Want me t' tie it up for ya?" Koga asks once he's finished, combing his fingers through now-soft strands one last time.
"Leave it down." Rei turns to Koga, showing off his empty bowl. "Are you happy now?"
"Very." Koga takes the bowl into the kitchen, dumping it in the sink to be washed tomorrow. He has more important things to attend to right now. "C'mon, let's brush our teeth then we can get in bed."
He helps Rei stand up, leading him by the hand to the bathroom. Occasionally, Rei likes to make silly faces at Koga in the mirror in an attempt to make him laugh, claiming that Koga's laugh is the greatest melody he's ever heard. But tonight he simply brushes his teeth, shoulder pressed against Koga's as he stands at his side.
Eventually they make their way back into the bedroom, switching the lights off and closing the door. Koga kicks his slippers off before climbing into bed, pulling the covers back so Rei can join him. They're careful to not disturb Leon, who remains fast asleep at the foot of the bed.
Rei makes himself cosy beside Koga, resting his head on his shoulder and throwing an arm over him. Koga wraps his arms around him, pressing a lazy kiss to his forehead. "So? What happened today?"
"Mm, the morning was fairly slow. I met up with Hibiki-kun for lunch, then Kaoru-kun and I's photoshoot ran long," Rei sighs. "The train broke down for a while on the way home, and I wanted to call you to pass the time but my phone was almost dead. A child was crying across the carriage from me, and I felt awful about it, but I wished they could've been quieter."
"I get it," Koga says, because he does. "'m sorry I wasn't there."
"It isn't your fault." Rei presses himself closer. "You're here now, and that is what matters."
God, Koga would do anything for him. "Yeah. I've got ya."
For a while, the room is silent save for their quiet breathing. Koga thinks Rei's fallen asleep, until he hears a quiet, "Koga?"
"Hm?"
"I love you."
Koga closes his eyes. "Love ya too."