Work Text:
When Chandlo gets home from his trip to the gym with a detour on the way back to pick up some snacks from the store, he finds Snorpy still sitting at his desk, pouring over his work. Chandlo stares at his boyfriend from the doorway, concerned that Snorpy may not have even moved in over two hours.
“Ah, Chandlo, you’re back,” Snorpy says, glancing over his shoulder to shoot him a quick smile, before returning to his studies.
“Snorp-dawg, have you been studying this entire time?” Chandlo asks, putting down the shopping bag on the counter. He wanders into the study, watching his boyfriend hunch over his desk in a position that can’t be good for his back. “You’re supposed to take breaks.”
“I…” Snorpy trails off. For a moment, Chandlo wonders if he might get defensive, but instead his boyfriend sighs. “I know that. I’m sorry, Chandlo. I got a bit… engrossed in my work,” he says, being open with Chandlo in a way that never would have happened before everything that occurred on Snaktooth Island. That place messed them both up a fair bit, but it also changed them for the better.
“That’s okay, man,” Chandlo says, peering over Snorpy’s shoulder at his work. Even though Chandlo reads a fair number of books these days, Snorpy’s textbooks still look like they’re written in a foreign language to him. His boyfriend is so smart… although Snorpy could certainly be better at taking care of himself. “But I think you should take a break now.”
“You know what… that sounds like a good idea,” Snorpy says, turning his head to smile at him. Chandlo takes the chance to lean down and smooch his boyfriend on the cheek, delighted when Snorpy blushes. When Snorpy tries to straighten up, he grimaces and lets out a groan. “Ow!”
“Snorpy?” Chandlo says, startled. “Are you okay, man?”
“I’m fine, Chandlo. Don’t worry.” Snorpy groans as he places a hand on his back. “I think I’ve got cramp…”
Knowing exactly how painful cramp can be, Chandlo grimaces. “That sucks, bro.” And then something occurs to him, and he smiles. “Oh, I’ve got an idea. Come with me, Snorp-dawg.”
He holds out a paw, smiling reassuringly as Snorpy spins his chair around and eases himself to his feet. Snorpy glances at him, briefly making eye contact (his boyfriend doesn’t make a lot of eye contact because it makes him feel uncomfortable, so Chandlo is perfectly okay with the limited eye contact from Snorpy) before taking Chandlo’s paw in his own.
Chandlo leads Snorpy into the living room and gestures for him to lie face down on the couch.
“Why? What are you planning?” Snorpy asks, eyeing him curiously.
He knows that whilst plenty of people like surprises, Snorpy is not one of those people. His boyfriend likes to know exactly what he gets himself into, so he can prepare himself for what is coming. So, Chandlo says, “I wanna give you a massage. I bet the muscles in your back are all stiff.”
Snorpy adjusts his shoulders, a hiss of pain escaping him. “Yes, I suppose they probably are. Thank you, Chandlo. A massage sounds lovely.”
As Snorpy lies on his tummy on the couch, Chandlo beams, stretching his wrists. “Ready when you are, bro.”
Chuckling, Snorpy says, “I’m ready.”
As Chandlo digs his paws into Snorpy’s back, carefully massaging the knots in his stiff muscles, he smiles when his boyfriend seems to melt into the touch, finally relaxing. And knowing that Snorpy relaxes because of something Chandlo does makes him even happier, just so glad to help his wonderful boyfriend in any way he can.