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The day had felt longer than most. A mix of their system shutting down, July Fourth, and a new attending to take over for his sabbatical made Robby exhausted. Driving home had been an effort to keep his eyes open. Mixed with not wearing his helmet, any one of his coworkers would chew him out for how he acted. His keys jingle in his hands as he shoves his sunglasses up. The turn of the door and he expects to be greeted to lights off and throwing nuggets in his fryer just so he can eat something before passing out. He can have home-cooked meals starting tomorrow.
Except the lights are on. There’s soft music playing and someone’s petering around in his kitchen. A soft smile grows on his face before he realizes it’s there. He already knows who he’ll find. It’s no wonder Dennis made it to his house before him. Robby had gotten caught in a meeting just before he’d been able to leave. Al-Hashimi still wanted to talk about the things she wanted to change about the department. All of it rubbed him the wrong way. It had taken a lot of effort to get to his position. He didn’t like the idea of anyone coming in and mucking around in his stall.
“Dancing,” Robby says as greeting. He drops his bag in one of the kitchen chairs. “After the day we had you’re dancing in my kitchen?” Dennis laughs as he shuts of the stove top. It’s still gas powered despite so much of the kitchen being upgraded. He watches Dennis move the fish over. His boyfriend is still in his scrubs and smells of the ED. He hadn’t even taken the time to shower before starting on dinner. The rice cooker’s timer reads fifteen minutes. Dennis’ smile makes Robby pull him into a hug.
“You know me,” Dennis says into Robby’s chest as he wraps his arms around his waist, “Always moving.” Robby hums. He presses a kiss to the top of Dennis’ head as the younger man makes them sway together. Robby doesn’t mean to lean on Dennis, but it happens naturally. Thankfully, he doesn’t buckle under the added weight. He only shifts to accommodate the extra bulk and keeps swaying.
“Wear your helmet?” Dennis asks. Robby stiffens and Dennis sighs. It’s an ongoing thing. Probably the reason Jack didn’t say anything earlier. He knew Dennis would get to it. It’s like his best friend and partner have decided to gang up on him and make sure he’s being safe. It itches under Robby’s skin as much as it soothes him. It lets him know there’s someone (two people, at least) who care about him while the corners of his mind nag him about why.
“Sorry,” Robby says. A kiss to Dennis’ forehead as if it’s enough of an apology.
“I don’t want to see you in the Pitt during your sabbatical,” Dennis says. He looks up at Robby with those eyes. The ones that make Robby go all soft and melt and he can’t help but kiss Dennis. Falls into it like it’s the one sure thing in this world. With everything happening, Robby knows it is. “I’m serious, Mike.” Robby winces.
“I know,” he says, “I know. I’ll use my car, okay?”
“Hm.” Dennis hides his face against Robby’s neck. He has to go on his tiptoes to do so. It’s Robby’s turn to take the weight. They stay like that until the song ends and Robby tells Dennis to shower. He makes sure the food stays warm until Dennis comes back.
They eat in silence and their legs tangle together under the table. Dennis has the day off tomorrow and Robby hopes that means he’ll stay the night. It’s already fairly late. He probably won’t even have to ask. Dennis stays the night more and more often. Most of the time, they end up falling asleep in each others arms, worn out from the day. Now, Robby eats slow so he can just watch Dennis. See the way the light dusts over his hair and how he looks so warm. His cheeks are rosy and the bags under his eyes are less prominent. Robby reaches forward just to brush his thumb against the skin. Dennis gives him a smile.
When they finish, Dennis tells Robby it’s his turn to shower and he’ll take care of the cleanup. Robby tries to protest, says he should clean since Dennis cooked, but it just earns him getting swatted on the ass with a rolled up towel. Robby laughs as he leaves the room.
It’s a good thing he’s not alone. Robby accepts it begrudgingly. He knows if he were alone, all his thoughts would consume him. It’s why he takes as little time in the shower as he can. If he stays under the hot stream for too long, he starts self-flagellating. His brain picks ar everything he did wrong and everything he could have done differently. Another bid for control.
By the time he gets out, Dennis just finished cleaning the kitchen and has a bowl of popcorn. Robby frowns at the snack as he plops on the couch. Dennis joins him.
“I don’t have popcorn,” he says.
“You don’t!” Dennis says. Robby’s smile comes back. “I brought some form mine and Trin’s.” Robby hums. Before he can grab the remote, Dennis has it and is shifting, then pulling at Robby. He smiles wider as he goes along with whatever Dennis is planning. He groans when it ends with him laid over Dennis, head against his chest, and stretched along the couch. He can’t help the way he sinks into the hold.
The popcorn bowl ends up on his back, but Robby doesn’t care. His eyes are already closed as Dennis flicks through the streaming services and puts something on. Robby doesn’t bother to open his eyes as the opening credits start. A hand slides into his hair and Robby groans at the feeling. He’ll be regretting falling asleep like this in the morning. With Dennis under him and the soft feeling of his nails against his scalp, Robby can’t find it in him to care.