Work Text:
It was a quiet night, The roads were almost empty. The only other cars that passed Stanley by on the road were likely just those heading home from a late night shift, eager to get home from a long day. Stanley supposed he wouldn't be much different soon enough. Xeno had been working late the last few nights, and he hadn’t been sleeping enough. It was hardly safe for him to make his way home after so little rest, god forbid he get into an accident. So Stanley had dropped him off at work that morning and now, just after 11:30pm he was on his way to take him back home.
Most of the facility Xeno worked at was dark. Only a few sparse rooms have their lights on, only the most dedicated of the researchers remained. Or the ones who had fallen asleep at their desks, or both. As Stanley walked into the building, past the front desk and the night shift lady who had seen Stanley enough times to let him pass without question. He saw something he had been expecting. Xeno with his head down on the desk and his laptop with the report he had been working on displayed on the screen. Stanley carefully turned the laptop to face him. Saving the report before shutting the device down and packing it up to bring home with the man he had come here with
Once he had packed the laptop and any other necessary items, he finally approached the sleeping man. Stanley smiled at how peaceful Xeno looked, but as sweet as the sight was, they had to get going if they were going to be in bed before the sun rose. Stanley leaned in and gently kissed on the forehead. “Mornin’ Sleepyhead” he whispered
Xeno’s eyes opened slowly, and he looked up at Stanley
“Mm?”
Stanley pet his hair, watching as Xeno blinked the sleep out of his eyes
“Lost track of time?”
“Seems so. What Time is it?”
“Gettin’ Pretty close to midnight now”
Xeno nodded, sitting up and looking around, noticing how Stan had already packed up all his belongings
“Then I suppose we should make our way home?”
Stan let out a small chuckle
“Yeah, better to get your six hours at home rather than here”
Xeno stood up, grabbing his fiance's hand and letting himself be led out of the building and into the car. Xeno sat in the passenger seat and buckled the seatbelt. The lab that Xeno worked in was outside the city limits, Stanley had made the drive plenty of times. The drive was a peaceful one and on those busier days it was the only time they got to spend together.
Stanley knew what he had gotten into with Xenos career path. The two of them had known each other for a very long time. They had been inseparable since fifth grade, and through the rest of their childhood as other friends came and went, Xeno and Stanley had remained at each others side. The progression of their relationship felt natural and as it started to become something new and unfamiliar, neither one of them really felt scared. Sleepovers turned from two mattresses out on the floor to close embraces in one or the others bed. Walking to school side by side slowly enhanced by holding hands. And after school hangouts turning into dates at the mall. Stanley and Xeno had been in each others lives longer than they hadn’t and neither one of them could imagine being without the other.
Their respective jobs brought much separation. Stanley had enlisted in the marines shortly after high school and he was often out of the city on duty, often gone for weeks or months at a time. He always does his best to talk to Xeno during those times. He sent letters and called and video chatted with him when he could. He never wanted to worry him. Though despite all this he knew Xeno did worry, and that there was always a sense of relief when Stanley returned from deployment.
Xeno’s job, while much less risky than Stanleys, still brought some level of distance. The workload was high and often called for late nights and even the occasional overnight stay in the lab. Of course this wasn’t the same, the distance not as far and the danger level not even close to when Stanley was out on deployment. It still kept them apart and added to what was really the only challenge in their relationship. As a result Stanley had begun doing this, driving to the lab and bringing the love of his life back home. Even if it was such limited hours, the two of them would sleep in the same bed. Stanley would hold Xeno and feel at peace in his home. The sound of breathing would help Stanley feel like he was safe and that nothing could happen to either of them here.
As their drive back home began, music played quietly on the radio. Xeno stayed awake, likely not wanting to be woken again when they got back home. His eyes though showed just how tired he still was despite however long he had been asleep before Stanley had come to find him. Though his eyes seemed to be heavy and Satnley noticed how he struggled to keep himself awake.
“How long before you gotta be back at the lab?” Stanley asked
“Mm?” Xeno blinked himself back to attention and turned his head to look at his Fiance. “As soon as I can… In a perfect world probably within the next six hours”
“If you can’t keep yourself awake it wont matter how fast you’re back to the lab, you wont be able to accomplish anything”
Xeno didn’t respond, he could concede that Stanley was right as much as he didn’t want to admit it
“Tell ya what. Lets get some rest, however much we need” Stanley offered, leaving the ‘the rest you need’ unsaid “Then in the morning, we can take the day to recharge, grab lunch, watch some shitty reality tv”
“Stan I don't have time, There’s so much to do”
“They can wait one day. Better than killing off their greatest researcher”
Xeno paused again, but he didn’t fight it further. After all the idea of a day with his soon to be husband sounded nice… So he nodded, turning to look out the window again, watching the nighttime scenery behind him
Eventually the car pulled up in front of their shared home, Stanley parked and opened the door, getting out and watching as Xeno did the same, the two of them approached the door and entered the dark house. Stanley took Xenos hand and led him to their shared bedroom, the two of them undressed and climbed into the bed. On any other day the two of them may have done more, let touches linger and kisses drag on until neither one could control themselves and gave in to that chase of pleasure. Tonight however neither of them had the energy to muster. Xeno leaned in closer and let Stanley wrap his arms around him, head resting on the blond man’s chest. Sleep took them both over fast and they both fully relaxed in a way that they could only ever do in the others presence