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Firebrand’s eye was met with subtle morning light as it gently peeked through the curtains. He opened it, fluttering his soft eyelashes, only for his gaze to be beat back by the sun.
The curtains were silky and pale, woven of cheap fabric and lazily attached to a metal rod above. They were orange in the morning light. Firebrand studied them for a moment, before his attention was captured by sudden motion at his side.
Leaning forward, as his chest poked out of the blankets, Firebrand curled his body around Zuka’s sleeping form. His husband was warm, and he soaked in the heat.
As Zuka slept, his chest softly rose and fell. Firebrand listened to the soft snores that quietly escaped parted lips– nobody could stand that sound but him. He couldn’t sleep without it.
Zuka was always the first to fall asleep. He was a tired man, and Firebrand was the one to wake him in the morning. The god on the other hand, was plagued by his racing mind each night before they slept. He had many thoughts, many foolish and many very real. He felt it was stupid to have such a frenzied mind with such a peaceful home life. Just a bit.
In the present, Firebrand wrapped his arms around Zuka’s body. He pulled himself close to his love, arms strewn around his hips and set beneath his chest. He leaned in to him, lips lovingly scoring Zuka’s jawline with soft kisses, and set his breath under Zuka’s earlobe.
“Zuka..” Was all that escaped Firebrand’s tired body. A quiet whisper planted against Zuka’s skin, one that nobody heard, not even the god himself.
“Zuka..” He tried again, more firmly this time. He called his name directly into his ear, and with that, Zuka’s snoring hitched and he awoke.
Firebrand relaxed, setting his shoulders down and pressing the underside of his chin against the matted mess of Zuka’s white hair. Needily, he clutched at Zuka’s waistline, his arms wrapping hungrily around his stomach.
“Good morning..” Zuka murmured. His deep voice was honey. Firebrand longed for its sweet touch, a single breath against his hot skin, and as he continued to speak, Zuka’s voice rumbled like a purr against Firebrand’s body.
“Aren’t you up nice and early..”
“Am I?” Firebrand blinked as he continued to bury his face in Zuka’s soft head of hair.
“It’s only six, sweetheart..”
Firebrand exhaled a simple breath of air. He would never get enough of Zuka’s pet names– not when they were spoken against his tongue.
“I didn’t realise..” Firebrand paused. “I awoke when the sun rose, honey.”
“Have you been having trouble sleeping again?”
Firebrand paused, a lump forming in his throat.
“I don’t know..” He murmured, his voice shrill.
Zuka sighed and began to turn onto his side. Firebrand’s breath hitched in his throat as he did, and soon, they faced each other, side by side in Zuka’s cozy bed.
Firebrand set himself back down against the pillow and let its coolness wash over him. Shyly, he brushed a few locks of hair from his face, and looked up to meet Zuka’s gaze.
His husband sat against the pillow, propped up by a wide elbow. Firebrand studied his arm. The muscle that was once there had shrunk, but his biceps were still prominent.
Firebrand had observed every change. It was all he could do as time in his lazy life passed him by.
“Hi..” He murmured softly.