Work Text:
Corbeau opens the door to their apartment, throwing his jacket to the closest surface and kicking off his shoes before going to sit on the couch. Philippe enters in after him and moves his shoes and jacket from their tossed positions to their typical storage spaces.
“Welcome home, my loves!” Paxton calls as he moves toward the front of the apartment. Philippe takes off his shoes and jacket as well, putting his larger garments next to Corbeau’s, each one now neatly placed.
Philippe already knows about the mess that happened today, since he was at work with Corbeau, so he goes to the kitchen to cook up some food while Paxton stays with Corbeau. Philippe and Corbeau have an agreement to not talk about work to each other once they get home, because it is easy for the conversation to move from just talking to essentially working when they want to be relaxing.
Paxton grabs Corbeau’s hand. “How was work?”
Corbeau lets out a small huff about it, avoiding answering - he doesn't want to drag down Paxton’s good mood.
Unfortunately for his resistance, Paxton notices, and squeezes his hand. “We promised to tell each other when something brothers us, remember?” Corbeau’s lips purse, and Paxton loosens his grip. “And you gave me trouble for that last week, so I’m not letting you off easy, little mister.”
Corbeau sighs, and finally gives in, explaining the situation. It’s a lengthy conversation, but in short: Corbeau has spent weeks trying to make a deal between the Pokémon Research Lab and Quasartico Inc. If they would just work together, they would be able to accomplish so much good for Lumiose! But, unfortunately, it’s not working out, and the situation isn't very pretty to look at nor deal with. Today in particular was a rough day, and Corbeau is finally giving up on trying to make collaboration work between the two parties.
By the time their conversation is done, the two of them can start to smell the food Philippe is making - it must almost be done. “One moment, honey, I have to go set the table.”
Paxton does exactly that, but also plates the food, and gets them drinks so Philippe can give Corbeau a massage, releasing the tension in his shoulders and neck.
When Paxton gets back, Philippe rests his hands on Corbeau’s shoulders, and kisses him on the top of his head. “Once we’re done with our meal, let us take care of you, alright love?”
Corbeau silently nods, feeling tired from the massage and the day’s events.
They put on a documentary they knew Corbeau loved - one about the history of poisons, naturally. They sit, Paxton and Philippe on either side of him, and gently touch their legs against his under the table.
The food is warm in Corbeau’s mouth, and he realizes he was starving. When did he last eat? He pushes aside the thought as he tries to focus on Philippe’s cooking and the documentary for the rest of the meal.
~
Philippe clears the table and deals with the leftovers. Paxton turns to Corbeau. “Do you want to talk about it some more? Or may I distract you?”
Corbeau had struggled to focus on the food and documentary during dinner, as his mind kept drifting to work. “I don't want to think about it anymore.”
“Say no more!” Paxton grabs Corbeau and takes him to the bathroom.
Paxton plugs the tub and starts filling it up with warm water, then turns on a playlist that the three of them put together for when Corbeau has a tough day at work. They have a similar playlist for each of them.
Corbeau watches as the tub slowly fills, looking at the ripples forming from the stream.
When Paxton finishes setting up the mini speaker, he walks up to Corbeau from behind, and puts his hands gently onto Corbeau’s hips. “May I help you?” Corbeau pauses for a moment, then nods.
Paxton smiles and begins to carefully untuck Corbeau’s shirt. He kisses the back of Corbeau’s neck before walking around to undo the purple buttons. Paxton places gentle kisses on Corbeau’s cheek, then his forehead, and over to his other cheek, before he is done unbuttoning his shirt. Paxton carefully pulls it off Corbeau, and folds it onto the bathroom counter.
Paxton does the same with Corbeau’s pants and socks, and before reaching for Corbeau’s boxers, he asks again, “May I?”
“Please,” Corbeau whispers. Paxton takes off Corbeau’s boxers, piling them neatly with the rest of his clothes.
“Hey, rosebuds,” Philippe says, his deep voice as gentle as could be. “Is the prince ready for his bath?” He steps into the bathroom.
“Indeed he is!” Paxton says as he steps toward Philippe. “Would you take care of him for me? I have a few things I want to get ready for him.”
“Of course.” A smile creeps up Paxton’s face - he could always count on Philippe.
“Thank you, honey,” Paxton says with a peck on Philippe’s cheek, then turns back to Corbeau. “Don't worry, I won't leave you out.” Another kiss is planted on Corbeau’s cheek before Paxton leaves the room.
Paxton’s mind wanders as he walks into the bedroom. When was the last time Philippe had a vacation? Too long ago, Paxton decides. Tomorrow he’ll have to fix that - they all could use the break.
The water is almost done filling the tub when Philippe opens their cabinet and turns to Corbeau. “The usual?” Corbeau nods.
‘The usual’ definitely, most certainly, is not a purple, lavender-scented bubble bath… So, after Philippe finishes preparing the not-bubble-bath, he asks Corbeau, “May I help you?” as he rolls up his sleeves.
Corbeau gives a small “mhm.” Philippe immediately gets to work, gently picking him up and giving him a kiss on his forehead before setting him down into the water.
Splish. Philippe soaks a washcloth in the water before bringing it up to the back of Corbeau’s neck. Gently moving the warm cloth across Corbeau’s back, Philippe feels his tense shoulders relax and drop down until his touch.
As Philippe continues his gentle cleaning, Paxton is busy preparing the bedroom for his lovers. He works through a mental checklist of things which might help Corbeau. Opening the window so he can breathe fresh air after being stuck in the office all day; changing into pajamas so he can hug Corbeau without making him dirty from his outdoor clothes; hanging the bedsheets for fresh ones that still smell faintly like their laundry detergent (this task takes the longest, as the bed is very large and Paxton is not); making sure the temperature in the room is set to what Corbeau is most comfortable with; making fresh tea for the three of them; and asking his closest Fire-type Pokémon to heat up a tray on which royal purple towels and bathrobe laid.
Through the bathroom door, Paxton hears a muffled “All done, love?” as he brings their tea onto their bedside table.
Paxton comes into the bathroom holding the warmed fabric, and dries Corbeau off while Philippe unplugs the tub. They get their lover wrapped up in his bathrobe, and Philippe carries Corbeau into the bedroom, Paxton’s hand on his lower back.
They split to separate sides of the large bed so Paxton can pull the blankets back. Philippe places their lover into the center and Paxton follows, wrapping Corbeau into a tight hug.
Philippe had gotten warm while kneeling beside the heated bath, so he doesn't bother with putting on his pajamas after taking off his work clothes, and gets into the bed on the other side of Corbeau.
The final piece of the puzzle is complete as Philippe wraps his arm around both of them, curling his body around theirs, warming them up and shielding them from harm. Philippe and Paxton can feel the last tension in Corbeau’s body melt away as their bodies intertwine, arms and legs making their way between each other’s open spaces, physically connecting them. It locks Corbeau’s mind to stay fixated here, in the present, where all that matters is the three of them, their bodies’ scents mixed with lavender and fresh laundry.