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The lab always smelled faintly of ozone and burnt sugar.
Liron Lockheart noticed it the second he slipped in through the half-open window, boots barely making a sound as he landed. He straightened, brushed glass dust off his gloves, and sighed through his nose.
“Eli..,” he murmured fondly, already knowing what he’d find.
Sure enough, in the center of the lab, surrounded by softly humming machinery, half-assembled inventions, and scattered papers. Elias Delborne was slumped over his workbench. His goggles were crooked, teal curls stuck to his forehead with sweat, lab coat hanging off one shoulder like it had given up trying to stay on him hours ago.
There was a pen still clutched in his hand.
Liron’s expression immediately softened.
“Mi amor…” he whispered, padding closer. “You promised you’d rest.”
Elias stirred at the sound of Liron’s voice, blinking blearily as if pulling himself up from the bottom of a very deep pool. He looked up, eyes unfocused at first, then brightened with unmistakable affection.
“Ah,” he said, smile lazy and sweet. “My favorite criminal hallucination.”
Liron snorted. “Wow. That’s how you greet your worried boyfriend?”
“Well,” Elias hummed, voice slow, “if you are real, then I’m very lucky.”
Liron reached out, gently prying the pen from Elias’s fingers before it could clatter to the floor. He cupped Elias’s cheek instead, thumb brushing under his eye where dark circles had settled in far too comfortably.
“You’re real tired,” Liron said softly. “Like… scary tired.”
Elias leaned into the touch immediately, eyes fluttering closed. “Mmm. That just means I was productive.”
“That means you were irresponsible,” Liron corrected, fond but firm. “Again.”
Elias smiled wider. “You love me anyway.”
Liron huffed a quiet laugh. “Unfortunately.”
He guided Elias carefully away from the bench, looping an arm around his waist when Elias swayed a little too much for comfort. Liron adjusted easily, thief’s balance compensating for scientist’s complete lack of it.
“Easy there, corazón,” he murmured. “You’re gonna faceplant into your own invention.”
“That would be ironic,” Elias mumbled. “Killed by my own genius.”
“Don’t joke about that,” Liron said, sharper than he meant to, but the worry was obvious.
Elias cracked one eye open. “Oh,” he said softly. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you, mi amor.”
That did it. Liron’s irritation melted instantly.
“Just...come on,” he sighed. “Sit. Drink water. Be a human being for five minutes.”
Elias allowed himself to be guided to the small couch shoved against the far wall, clearly added to the lab at Liron’s insistence. Liron grabbed a bottle of water from the mini-fridge, popping the cap and holding it out.
“Drink,” he said.
Elias obeyed, taking slow sips while Liron crouched in front of him, watching like a hawk.
“You’re staring,” Elias noted, amused.
“You look like shit,” Liron replied affectionately. “Gorgeous shit, but still.”
Elias laughed, weak but genuine. “Flattery will get you everywhere.”
“It’s not flattery if it’s true,” Liron said. “Eres demasiado bonito para tu propio bien.”
Elias’s cheeks warmed instantly. “You’re doing that on purpose.”
“Doing what?”
“Making my heart malfunction,” Elias said, pressing a hand to his chest dramatically. “Very dangerous for a man who hasn’t slept.”
Liron rolled his eyes but smiled, brushing Elias’s hair back with gentle fingers. “You overworked yourself again,” he said quietly. “How long has it been?”
Elias hesitated.
Liron raised a brow.
“…Two days,” Elias admitted. “Maybe a little more.”
“Elias.”
“I was close,” he rushed to add. “I almost had a breakthrough with the crysta-”
Liron leaned in and kissed him.
It was soft, brief, and very deliberate, just enough to shut him up.
“No lab talk,” Liron said when he pulled back. “You’re off duty.”
Elias blinked, stunned, then smiled so sweetly it nearly broke Liron’s heart.
“You’re very bossy for a thief,” Elias said.
“And you’re very bad at taking care of yourself for a genius,” Liron shot back. “We balance each other.”
He stood and grabbed a blanket, draping it around Elias’s shoulders. Elias immediately curled into it like it was the best thing he’d ever experienced.
“Oh wow,” he murmured. “This is incredible.”
“It’s a blanket.”
“It’s warm,” Elias said reverently. “And it smells like you.”
Liron paused.
“…Okay, that was unfair,” he muttered, cheeks warming as he sat beside him.
Elias leaned over, resting his head on Liron’s shoulder without hesitation. Liron adjusted automatically, one arm wrapping around Elias, the other brushing slow circles against his back.
“You don’t have to stay,” Elias said quietly. “I know you’re busy stealing priceless artifacts or whatever.”
Liron scoffed. “Please. I cancelled a heist for you once.”
Elias looked up. “Once?”
“Twice,” Liron corrected. “Don’t push it.”
Elias laughed softly, then yawned, big and unguarded. His body relaxed further into Liron’s hold, tension finally bleeding away.
“Thank you,” Elias murmured. “For coming. For caring.”
Liron pressed his forehead to Elias’s hair. “Always,” he said. “Someone’s gotta make sure you don’t work yourself into an early grave.”
Elias hummed. “Good thing I have such a capable caretaker.”
“Damn right,” Liron said, smirking. “Soy tu ladrón personal y tu enfermero.”
“Very multi-talented,” Elias murmured, eyes already drifting shut. “Mi amor…”
The words were soft. Safe.
Liron’s chest ached in the best way.
“Sleep, hermoso,” he whispered. “I’ve got you.”
...