Work Text:
Rust closed the door as quietly as he could as he stepped in.
He wasn’t sure what time it was, other than it was, since he had left his phone at home, but he knew it was late. His protests usually went late.
He grabbed some sweatpants and a worn t-shirt and was headed for the bathroom when he noticed Zero’s door was ajar.
He perked up at the noise of someone moving around in the room- Zero, obviously. He’ll say hi to them after he’s out of the shower.
He took a hot shower and pulled on his clothes as he stepped out and was standing outside Zero’s door, quietly pushing it open to see them fiddling with a large comforter with their back to him.
“Hey.”
They jumped and turned around quickly before relaxing. “Oh. Hi!” They smiled. “When did you get back?”
“About half an hour ago. Got the sweat washed off of me already.”
“How’d the protest go?”
“Alright, all things considered. Calmer compared to some of the ones I’ve dealt with.” He looked at the pile of blankets next to Zero’s bed. “Lotta those.”
Zero nodded. “Almost done with em.” They continued.
Rust’s gaze shifted to their bed, piled with blankets and comforters. “So what’s your goal here?”
Zero laid out one last blanket over the bed. “Nest!” They practically leapt into the mound of blankets and rolled back over to face Rust as they reached their arms in his direction. “Join me join me!”
He didn’t need to be told twice and clambered in, immediately clinging onto Zero like a lifeline. Zero pulled a few of the softest blankets they owned up and over them and wrapped their tail around their bodies as a gentle way to keep them together.
Fuck, that was comfy.
It was blissful and peaceful and warm and every other ooey-gooey thing Rust had been feeling for the past few weeks. He looked back up at them and leaned in for a kiss, which they eagerly returned. His eyes slid shut as he heard a soft tearing noise, and then felt a mandible affectionately prodding at his jaw.
He pulled away and buried his face in the crook of Zero’s neck with a tired yet contented sigh. Zero closed their arms around Rust’s torso and rested their chin on his head as their mouth folded back up, seamlessly melding with their screen as if it was never there.
“Only ever done this alone,” they whispered. “Usually if I, uh, haven’t had the best day.”
“Did something happen today?”
“Just brainworms. Nothing you need to worry about.”
Rust didn’t completely believe them but shrugged it off- no reason to press about it right now. He gently took Zero’s hand and lazily pressed a kiss in their palm.
“I love you…”
He pressed another kiss on their wrist.
“I love you so much.”
Zero’s breath caught in their throat.
Holy shit.
It was all insane to them. They had been in love with him for years, but they never actually thought they’d ever be a thing.
Yet here they are, bundled together and exchanging gentle kisses in earnest and Zero somehow finds themselves falling even deeper in love.
“Hey, Rust?”
No response.
They shifted to get a better look at him and…
Oh.
He fell asleep.
They were stuck for the foreseeable future. Not like they minded though- it was cozy, after all, and they were so, so tired. Zero fully relaxed against the pillows as they tightened their grip on their boyfriend. They planted one last kiss on his collarbone before they closed their eyes and let the gentle rise and fall of Rust’s breaths lull them to sleep.