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Troy came home a bit of a mess. Abed didn’t mind though, he never did. Sometimes the world affected Troy more than he wanted it to. Abed understood.
Abed pulls the sob-worn man into a close hold.
“Long day, Troy?” He asks gently. Troy nods into his chest.
“All I wanted to do was have… I just wanted a normal day.” Troy manages. Abed’s brow twists, he tightens the hug.
“We can’t always have normal days. But I’m sorry it hurts so much all the time.” Abed says, consoling. Troy smiles smally.
-
In a few minutes, they’re in their respective jammies and brushing their teeth before bed. They both appreciate these little rituals they get to have together, it feels special.
Troy looks up at Abed as his mouth bones are being viciously scrubbed, beaming at the face he finds. Abed’s already looking at him like he runs the world.
When they finally make it to bed, they both linger a second longer than usual before separating. Troy can’t tell if it’s bravery or exhaustion, but he gets enough of something in him to tug on Abed’s dinosaur sleeve.
“Hey,” he breathes, the word knocked out of him. Abed looks at him. “Wanna cuddle?”
Abed blushes and hopes the lighting makes it invisible. It doesn’t.
Abed swallows, garnering himself enough to take Troy’s hand and lead him to the bottom bunk.
Troy hums contently as they settle under the weighed blanket, finding Abed’s hand in the process. Abed’s chest hurts a little.
He tries to close his eyes, but when he does, he feels breath on his nose. He opens his vision. Troy’s glittering eyes are boring into him. Some would call it creepy.
Without word, Troy pulls them in for the second hug of the night, not like Abed is counting or anything.
Troy sighs, flopping back with another tug to Abed’s clothes. He follows him.
Abed’s head finds its way to a prominent and strong chest, gentle fingers tracing circles into his tense shoulders.
“Thanks for looking out for me all the time, buddy,” Troy starts in a whisper. “How was your day?”
Abed aches for this. He wants every day to end with Troy holding him and asking about it.
He shuffles, a little bashful at the attention. “It was alright Troy. And you don’t have to thank me for caring about you.” He says, sounding more secure than he feels.
With that, Troy’s heart leaps as he gazes down at the man below him. Longer ends of hair twisting into loose curls, long eyelashes, long fingers, and long looks. Longing looks.
He always wanted to try this.
Troy beams as he closes his eyes, pressing the most delicate kiss ever to Abed’s hair.
His breath hitches, and he tenses for a moment, unsure of how to proceed. But then it sinks in that Troy, his Troy, did that. And he relaxes.
“I want you to know that I love you, buddy.” He murmurs into dark waves and curls.
Abed shivers. “I adore you, Troy.” He manages.
The hug becomes tighter, and they wonder if they’ll kiss how other people do.
But neither of them really want that all that often.
If there was anyone Troy would want to kiss, it would be Abed. But he can’t see himself doing it every day.
Now this? Holding him close and affirming his love? Pressing his lips to Abed’s hair, or skin? He could do that forever.
Abed never wants Troy to stop being this close to him.