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1.
It’s dark when Jiyan gets home. Night has fallen hours ago, lulling Jinzhou and her citizens to sleep. Except for patrollers or young adults out late partying, there’s barely any soul wandering the streets.
Which is why as he closes the door behind him and sees light in the living room, Jiyan is quite surprised. Tip toeing to not disturb whoever is still awake, he comes across a sight that melts his heart.
Aalto is sprawled all over the couch, clothes and hair astray, one hand falling off and almost touching the floor. His other one is wrapped around Encore’s little figure, the little girl snoring softly, already away in her own dreams. They’re both in matching pyjamas, and Jiyan can’t help but snap a picture to keep for himself.
He’s still debating on whether he should wake them up or not when Aalto stirs, his hand touches the floor as he does, and Jiyan can see the exact moment he becomes alert.
Chuckling quietly at the way amber eyes are squinting at him, Jiyan brings one hand up to caress his partner’s cheek.
“What are you doing out so late, love?”
Aalto hums, nuzzling his face into Jiyan’s palm, “wanted to wait for you, Encore insisted.”
“Well, here I am.”
“I can see that,” he stretches his neck, wincing slightly as it pops, and starts to stand up, “can you tuck Encore into bed? I’ll turn off the lights.”
Jiyan does just that.
He’s carefully adjusting her in his hold when Aalto calls out to him, cupping his face before pulling him into a gentle kiss. Their lips are soft against each other’s, Jiyan can smell the shampoo they share from his hair, tastes their go-to tea on his tongue, and he smiles when Aalto whispers against his lips.
“Welcome home, Jiyan.”
2.
Aalto tries to hide his laughter as he looks at the sight from afar. Two midnight rangers scratching their heads as they try to discern the rare experience they’ve both just had. The experience of witnessing Jiyan’s smile as he sees Aalto visits, of course.
“What’s so funny?” Jiyan asks from his place beside him.
“Oh, no,” Aalto just makes a dismissive gesture with his hand, “it’s nothing, don’t worry about it.”
His lover eyes him suspiciously, “I really hope you’re not laughing because you’ve secretly done something to my lunch.”
“I would never!” Aalto squawks indignantly, “don’t be mean , why would I make you food AND hand-delivery it just to poison you instead?”
“I’m joking, I'm joking,” Jiyan kisses his cheeks placatingly, “I’m glad that you haven’t, it would be a shame to let your cooking go to waste.”
Aalto pouts, but it’s hard to stay angry at Jiyan, harder so when he has on a tiny indulgence smile as he enjoys his food, so Aalto just surges forward to give his mouth a peck instead.
3.
He blinks blearily as he wakes up, eyes taking a moment to adjust to the harsh white light. When Aalto finally comes to himself, he can hear the continuous beeping of a machine and the sound of someone snoring softly. Stirring to try and see where he is, he is met with a sleeping Jiyan, head propped up by his arm on the bedside table, behind him is–
Ah.
So that’s why everything is so white.
Aalto remembers now. He was fighting off a few tacit discords when he tripped, falling onto something hard enough and sharp enough to send explosive pain all over his body. He must’ve lost control of his Resonance Energy, because that’s the last of anything he can recall.
There’s a warmth spreading through him at the sight of Jiyan, that he stayed watching over Aalto despite his busy schedule. But his brow is furrowed as he shifts minutely from his place, back hunched over seemingly uncomfortably on the desk, and that won’t do.
Aalto reaches over, fingers trailing softly against his face, silently watches as Jiyan wakes up from the contact.
It took him a few moments to reorient himself, but when he finally realises what woke him up Jiyan’s back goes straight in surprise. If he isn’t feeling like he could sleep for a decade, Aalto would be laughing at his dumbfounded face.
But he’s tired, so he just smiles weakly instead.
“G’morning, handsome.”
Jiyan huffs, but his shoulders fall from relief, “drink some water first.”
Aalto obeys, and contends himself to little sips while the other man fuses over him. When he’s finally reassured that his boyfriend isn’t on the verge of dying, he plops back down his seat with a tired sigh. Jiyan intertwines their hands and brings Aalto’s pulse point up to his lips, feeling it beat with each passing second.
“Don’t scare me like that ever again.”
4.
Aalto eyes shine under the candlelight.
They’ve been here for a while now, slowly swaying to the beat of some New Federation song he put up. Jiyan hands are around Aalto’s waist, while Aalto wraps his around Jiyan’s neck, one hand massaging his scalp. It’s less of a dance and more of them holding each other close, moving occasionally to the tune, but the low light and lack of distance is enough to spread warmth all over Jiyan’s body.
He’s quietly admiring how the light bounces off Aalto’s skin when he speaks up, tone hushed and voice dropped low.
“Do you want to move this to the bedroom?”
Jiyan hums. He tilts his lover’s head up before leaning down for a slow, purposeful kiss. Nibbles on his bottom lip and holds him close and as he does so. He traces Aalto’s jaw with his finger, hands tightening on his waist as he pulls him closer and closer and closer, until the only thing separating their bodies is the thin layer of clothes.
He flicks his tongue and feels heat pools inside when Aalto moans into his mouth. Licking his lips as he pulls back, Jiyan smiles.
“Let’s go, then.”
5.
He watches Aalto stretch leisurely as he gets off their bed, morning sun shining gold over his abs and muscles and the way they flex when he moves. Jiyan can still feel their warmth on his lips.
“ Stopppppp,” Aalto whines, wind-chime laughter ringing across the air as Jiyan peppers kisses across his stomach, “you’re tickling me– Jiyan!”
Jiyan can’t help the smugness radiating off himself when he looks up and sees Aalto all flustered, pretty pink blush dusting his face down to his neck, panting and smiling so sweetly Jiyan can get drunk on it. He wants to kiss him, and that must’ve shown on his face because Aalto yelps and does a x-cross over his mouth.
“No kissing before brushing our teeth!”
Jiyan huffs at the memory and follows Aalto into the bathroom.
Whatever, they have the entire day to themselves.