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Kevin had started the day late, the soft noise of raindrops against their window had lulled him into sleep until the late morning hours. He woke up to an empty bed and a note that said his partners were out to get some groceries.
The tour days really made him appreciate these quiet mornings even more. Kevin made some coffee and sat down by their kitchen window to eat some breakfast. The past days have felt like a blessing, he couldn't even tell when he last checked his schedule knowing that nothing was on there. And even more important, he finally had time to just reflect and think about everything that happened.
To think that just a little more over a year ago their future had looked completely different than it did now seemed surreal. They had taken the chance and somehow they got so much more than they bargained for. Kevin wasn't quite sure how or why, maybe it was a joke from the universe and the punchline still had to hit them.
They would survive. They always did as long as they had each other. He couldn’t help but chuckle out loud, low voice echoing in the empty kitchen. It sounded so dramatic, his life bound to two people he met when they were merely teenagers. Maybe he knew back then already or maybe he just realised over the past years, or maybe he had yet to understand that he wouldn’t have it any other way. They were a trio, as Axel liked to say it fair and simple. Nothing could change that. Not even a joke by the universe.
Kevin made his way upstairs again, closing the door to his office behind him and grabbing his guitar. He liked to relax in their free time, but he liked it even more to come up with new stuff. Their past year had been a roller coaster and each event seemed more crazy than the last. His mental list of ideas had become quite long.
The morning went by without him noticing, strumming melodies and pondering over lyrics he could talk about with the others another time. He liked to have a basis, give them something to work with. It wasn’t until later in the afternoon he got up again, knees making a rather unpleasant sound as he stood up and stretched himself.
The house was just as quiet as before, making him wonder if Axel and Jakob went somewhere else, only to find them in the living room. He couldn’t help but smile when he saw the pair on the couch. Axel had settled down with a book while Jakob was asleep. A whole couch and Jakob still laid right on top of the other, arms wrapped around Axel's waist, face pressed into his chest and legs completely intertwined.
“I see we won't need to invest in a weighted blanket anytime soon”, he joked quietly and laid down beside them, the wider part of the couch fitting all of them.
Axel looked up from his book with an amused smile, giving Jakob a glance before turning to Kevin. “Hello to you too”, he greeted Kevin with a kiss. “This one is pretty effective I have to say, although I haven't been able to go to the toilet for over an hour now. Might have to ask for a refund.”
Kevin chuckled and then looked down to Jakob again. He was completely knocked out, cheek squished against Axel's pullover in an adorable way that had Kevin's chest grow warm with fondness. “Won't find a cuter one, though.”
“Should have seen him earlier”, Axel commented with a soft smile and let his hand brush through Jakob's hair. “Came over here all sleepy and went for a hug without a word.”
He frowned. “Didn't you just go for groceries?”, he asked, wondering why Jakob was so tired.
“I don't think he slept that well. Was up before I even woke up”, Axel explained, slight concern layering his voice. “If he actually gets sick because of his joke, I swear, I will-”
“You would turn faster into an overprotective mother than his own”, Kevin interrupted before Axel could voice his thoughts. He had seen it in the past and would probably see it for the rest of their lives.
Kevin still remembered the first time he got sick so bad he was knocked out for over a week. Axel had come over almost every day causing Kevin's own mother to worry he would get sick as well. Jakob had to drag him home every time so Axel would get home at all. Kevin asked him once if he ever noticed just how concerned he grew, it was a few years ago and he remembered him going bright red and arguing that ‘someone had to take care’. They were younger back then, now he only got a glare from his partner.
“Despite”, Kevin continued. “It was over a week ago, I think we are fine.”
Axel laid his head on his shoulder with a sigh. “Probably.”
Then Jakob stirred slightly, eyes opening just enough for their gazes to meet. Kevin smiled, amused at Jakob's sleepy state. “Hello.”
“What were you doing?”, Jakob asked barely awake, not moving a bit from his position.
Kevin smiled softly and let his hand brush over Jakob's cheek. “Worked on some new melodies.”
Jakob hummed and then let go of Axel with one arm, only to wrap it around Kevin’s torso. “Great, so you can stay here now.”
Axel let out a laugh and only settled further against him. “I support this.”
He chuckled and let his hand rest on Jakob's arm, thumb brushing over the fabric. Kevin didn’t mind, he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
They spent their afternoon in silence, Jakob falling back to sleep, while Axel continued his book. Kevin indulged in their closeness, eyes occasionally closing or simply watching his partners. It seemed ridiculous, given he was seeing them more often than his own face and yet he hadn’t grown tired of the sight. He would always look for the small crease between Axel’s eyebrows when he was focused on something and smile about the way Jakob’s face scrunched up whenever he was laying face down.
They eventually did move on from their place on the couch, when Jakob went to the bathroom and Axel said he would take the dogs out for a quick walk. Kevin knew it was simply an excuse to stretch his legs. He moved to the kitchen and started to prepare dinner, cutting vegetables for the soup he wanted to make.
There was something therapeutic about cooking, humming melodies as he stirred the pot. He heard Axel come back, there was a shower going on and off, small taps of paws ran down the hallway, which he couldn’t help but smile about. He was too much in his own world to notice the company.
Kevin startled slightly when he felt a pair of arms wrap around him, recognising Jakob's sigh immediately as he pressed his head against Kevin's back.
“Dinner is almost finished”, he said and stirred the soup once more.
Jakob only replied with a hum, pressing closer against Kevin as if he tried to merge with him. There was a somewhat warm twist in his stomach, enjoying the closeness but unable to ignore the slight concern.
Kevin placed his free hand over Jakob's, thumb brushing softly over his knuckles. “You have been… quite clingy today.”
“Ah, sorry… I didn't-” He felt Jakob loosen his grip and immediately turned around to keep him by his side.
“No, I don't mind”, he said and then met Jakob’s big eyes looking up to him like a puppy. He took his exhausted face between his hands and then placed a kiss on his forehead, which Jakob seemed to melt under. “Are you alright?”
Jakob leaned against him. “Just feeling a bit under the weather.”
“That’s alright, the soup will be perfect to patch you up again”, Kevin reassured him, knowing that the right food could get his partner’s spirits up in no time. It was always strange to see Jakob get like this, his smile less like the summer sun and more like the few beams of sunlight on a rainy day like this. Still beautiful, but not the same.
Thankfully he never lost his character though. “There are other things that could patch me up as well”, Jakob said with a glint in his eyes and a smile curling around the corner of his lips.
Kevin hummed and leaned forward. “Hm… maybe something like this?”
He placed a kiss on his cheek, his forehead, the tip of his nose, along his jaw, before capturing his lips. They kissed slowly, soft pecks meeting a smile, followed by a gentle hum. If it wasn't for the clearing of a throat Kevin would have probably gotten lost in it.
“What was that rule of no distractions during cooking?”, Axel said, leaning against the door frame of the kitchen with his arms crossed and a smug expression on his face.
Kevin's eyes widened and he looked over to the soup. It was boiling now. Quickly he turned off the stove and took off the pot, Jakob leaving him space to take care of the rest. It's not like it was the first time this happened, cheeks growing hot at the fact that he let himself get distracted like that.
“Sorry”, Jakob said sheepishly and leaned against the kitchen counter, Axel walking over to them.
“Hm, I get it, the cook is quite irresistible”, Axel teased.
Kevin looked over to both of them, not believing that he got the short end of the stick this time. “Excuse me?”
“I have to agree, can't help but fall for him”, Jakob joined in, leaning his head against Axel's shoulder.
Their matching smiles made Kevin roll his eyes with affection. He was doomed when it came to these two. “Very funny, how about you two set the table instead”, he only said, knowing that if he enabled them now, he wouldn’t hear the end of it.
With a snicker Axel and Jakob moved on and got everything they needed. It was a quiet dinner, all of them indulged in the meal and their own thoughts. He was glad to see Jakob was at least eating properly. As long as that was still the case Kevin didn’t worry too much.
However, he did see the weariness on his partner's face. Kevin wondered if the stress and exhaustion from the tour caught up to him. Sometimes it felt like their bodies didn't realise just how much they did until they finally got to rest properly.
“You can go to bed, me and Axel will clean up”, he suggested when they were done. He knew Jakob would frown at that but Kevin couldn’t help himself.
“I always do the dishes”, he argued. “It's not much anyways.”
Jakob got up and took their plates as usual. Kevin looked over to Axel with a sigh, only to be met with an amused smile.
“And you call me an overprotective mother?”
He made a grimace, knowing he set himself up for that one. “Guess, I'm not immune either.”
It didn’t take long before Jakob was back again. “Don’t stay up too late”, he said softly, giving a kiss to both of them before heading out of the kitchen.
Kevin watched after Jakob just a moment longer, before Axel caught his attention. The other stood up and took his hand, nudging his head silently to follow him. Kevin raised his eyebrows and went after him.
“What is this going to be?”, he asked, slightly amused, turning off the kitchen lights in passing. Axel led them to the living room and pulled him onto the couch. Kevin didn’t protest much and watched Axel lean over him with a soft gaze.
“Shutting both our minds off”, he answered before pulling him into a kiss. He couldn’t help but smile up to him.
“Don’t tell me you got jealous earlier?”, Kevin teased.
Axel looked amused and continued to press kisses along his jaw. “We both know, I wouldn’t have interrupted if it wasn’t for the dinner.”
He hummed and then pulled Axel to him again to connect their lips. Axel cupped his face with both hands and tilted his head, deepening the kiss. After all these years Kevin’s heart shouldn’t skip a beat anymore, but he couldn’t stop the warm feeling in his stomach and the fluttering inside his chest.
There was something warm and comforting in each touch, something that grounded him and sparked excitement at the same time. A familiar shape that he was sure would always settle perfectly against him.
Eventually they settled next to each other, Kevin’s thumb mindlessly brushing over Axel’s knuckles. He was sure he would have fallen asleep if it wasn’t for Axel’s voice filling their living room.
“I saw you were quite productive today.” Kevin frowned for a moment, looking over to his partner for further explanation. “I saw the sheet music.”
He chuckled a little and then cocked his head in a teasing manner. “Been snooping around again, huh?”
“Excuse me, I live here”, he answered with a smile curling around his lips. “Also you can’t just mention new material and not expect me to get curious.”
Kevin rolled his eyes at that, knowing what he had written down was nothing more than a draft. “It’s not much, just a start.”
A scowl settled on his partner’s face. “Don’t say that, it’s more than enough.” Then he sat up and turned fully to Kevin again. Sometimes he forgot how serious Axel took these things. He never accepted a person belittling themselves even though he judged himself the most harshly. “You know we can work with anything.”
Kevin looked at him, expression turning soft at his seriousness. He couldn’t help but cup his face and kiss him. He was truly grateful to have them in his life. “I know. You two are the best.”
Axel gave him one last look before standing up, holding his hand out like earlier. “Let’s head to bed before you start reciting poems.”
He took his hand with a chuckle. “I just read some good ones yesterday. I think you would like them.”
After changing their clothes, Kevin settled next to Jakob who had wrapped himself in the blanket and was sound asleep. Or at least that was what he thought until he found an arm sneak around his waist, pulling him closer. His eyes fell onto his partner, who only nuzzled further against him, eyes still closed.
Kevin felt a wave of warmth coming over him, remembering the poem that compared this feeling to putting on a winter coat and scarf for the first time in a year. The warmth was familiar, you knew this coat and scarf, knew they would keep you warm for the winter. They carried a kind of safety you could settle in.
His eyes got drawn away from the little smile in the corner of Jakob’s lips when Axel came back from the bathroom, giving him an amused look at the scene. “This looks comfortable.”
Kevin knew exactly what was happening next. He watched Axel take off his glasses, turn off the light on the night stand and settle right next to him, mirroring Jakob and wrapping an arm around him while resting his head right underneath his chin. It was honestly impressive how they managed to fit together like this. Maybe it was just one of these things that fell into place naturally after knowing each other for years.
However it worked he wouldn’t change it for anything else in the world, eyes falling shut as he felt constant breaths next to him and radiating heat lulling him into sleep.