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Alfred and Ludwig stepped out of the shower, but Ludwig first, always Ludwig first. Their collective four feet slapped mutely on the plush rug set near the tub. They both shrugged their underwear on after a brief toweling off, until they were dry enough to not spread any water.
But they weren’t focusing on the slap of their red feet or the dampness of their bodies, they were only focused on eachother.
Yes, Alfred was focused on the gold of Ludwig’s hair, and the way it dripped into its eyes when it was wet and down. The way the light fragmented out of the window and peeked out of the curtain caused Ludwig’s lemon hair to shine. The same light would've beamed into Ludwig's eyes, like a flashlight shining through blue ice, if he had not tilted his icy eyes away from it. Alfred loved showering with Ludwig like this, because between getting soap in his eyes (Ludwig helped him wash it out), and getting to be close to Ludwig throughout it, he loved the whole experience.
And Ludwig was focused on how Alfred was staring at him. His eyes filled with adorable adoration, and his eyes a lovely blue from how the light was touching them. He decided right then that he would love to brush Alfred’s hair, dry it and touch it. His handsome boy did not care how messy his hair was (to an extent of course), so Ludwig wanted to tame it for the night. Neat and tidy hair would look good on Alfred, but of course Ludwig, embarrassingly enough, he always thought Alfred looked stunning.
“Alfred?” Ludwig murmured attentively. He was getting all blushy after being stared at in such a way, red splotched the skin of his pale cheeks. “Let me brush your hair?”
After a quick little shake of his general body, Alfred looked up and grinned, “Of course Luddy!”.
He remarked to himself on how despite the man’s sharp exterior and tightness in the workplace, Ludwig was a wonderfully caring partner, who often cared for Alfred better than Alfred did for himself.
Alfred plopped on the toilet seat after opening the door a crack to let all the humidity out. The humid smog in the room was thick but each individual layer was like a thin blanket in itself.
He watched as Ludwig picked the brush from its resting space on an organized shelf, before looking over at him and offering a small crescent of a smile.
This was also the time to notice that neither of them were fully dressed, just still only in underwear. They both acknowledged this fact by taking it in with their eyes, Alfred's broad shoulders and Ludwig’s chiseled torso. It was nice being able to admire someone not just in a sexual way, but in a way that you feel grateful that you have free range of the other person's body because they allow it.
Ludwig pulled Alfred into his lap like a plushie fallen off the bed late at night and nuzzled into his hair. It wasn't like Ludwig didn't do this, but it wasn’t common, and it was always with Alfred that Ludwig completely melted with. He cooed to Ludwig in return.
“Oh, sweetie.” Alfred whispered, something meant to comfort his beloved. He too, changed when alone with Ludwig, they changed each other.
“Sorry, I'll start brushing, I know you want to get to bed soon.” Ludwig faltered, which was promptly stopped by a peck on the lips and a soft hand rubbing his nape.
Their warmth felt good together, gold and gold melded and inseparable. Alfred whispered Ludwig's name in his ear, he liked Ludwig to hear that it was him that he loved and wanted. Alfred also just liked saying his name, and he always loved pronouncing V’s. A brush in his hair always felt good, especially when it wasn't himself but Ludwig brushing.
Ludwig loved watching Alfred’s eyelids drip and eyelashes flutter as he worked the brush through his strands. The only struggle in the special moment was him debating if he should give Alfred a kiss. If yes, how long? But Ludwig just focused on brushing perfectly, for his handsome boy deserved the absolute best, even if Alfred was a major pain sometimes.
He kept brushing Alfred's hair, and they stayed together throughout the process. Every deep breath one took the other felt. It was all too soon until Alfred got restless and Ludwig had brushed his whole scalp four times over. They separated like puzzle pieces regrettably coming undone. But they would have to separate if they were ever to relax more later. It would be seconds until they were together in the bedroom.
The hasty trip to the bedroom consisted of many fumbled steps as controlling both your lips and legs, especially when there are distractions, can prove to be difficult. The kisses were sloppy kisses of admiration and only really existed in the moment between bathroom and bedroom.
Of course the bedroom was sterile and neatly organized (mostly Ludwig's side), but soon the room was veiled in shadow as one of them (it didn't matter who) flicked the switch.
Alfred made a quick decision to throw Ludwig as best he could onto the bed, and to crawl on top of him. It wasn't going to escalate, and this was a normal part of their almost daily routine.
The throwing on bed was expected each night, but whoever did the throwing depended on whoever got to it first. Ludwig had been distracted, so he got tossed (he didn’t mind).
He took his time to nuzzle the other, Alfred thought that Ludwig always smelled like his hair gel a little bit at all times.
“You're going to mess up your hair.” Ludwig broke the silence with his mock annoyance.
“I would've messed it up anyways, you know how I sleep, I know you sometimes watch me!” He didn’t tell Ludwig that he still smelled like hair gel. Ludwig got embarrassed but Alfred honestly didn't mind.
“I don’t watch you sleep, I am just a light sleeper and you wake me up when you thrash about. So can I take a few moments to stare at the foul creature that woke me up?”
Alfred promptly shut him up with growl, which Ludwig just laughed at. His laughter jostled Alfred who was still on his chest, now stroking his pecs.
Ludwig blushed.
“Okay handsome let's get to bed.” He heaved himself up and pushed Alfred off himself. Alfred protested with a frown, but he couldn't sleep sitting up.
“Wait, I need to pee— again.”
Ludwig looked at him with a completely straight face that seemed mildly disappointed (not surprised), but Alfred just grinned. Once Alfred was out of the room, Ludwig secretly smiled to himself about his silly little boy.
He didn’t turn over and go to sleep just yet, because Alfred would protest if he fell asleep not holding him, but he did take a deep breath and close his eyes.
In the distance Alfred hummed a tune to a popular song he had told Ludwig earlier that was stuck in his head.
Both of them were happy, and soon they would both be asleep.