Work Text:
It had been one of those long days for Tom. The kind where nothing seemed to go right. He had spent hours at work, trying to keep everything in check and at peace. He had to deal with a mix of crazy people and even crazier situations. By the time the evening rolled around, he was physically exhausted, and his mind felt like it was running on empty.
Tom made his way back to the house, his shoulders slumped with tiredness. As he pushed the door open, the familiar scent of sweets and warmth greeted him. Aiden, who had been lounging on the couch with his phone, glanced up, his eyes immediately softening when he saw the state Tom was in.
"Hey, Babe," Aiden greeted him, setting the phone down on the table. "You alright?" Tom didn’t answer right away. Instead, he just sighed and slid his bag off his shoulders, rubbing his temples. "It’s been... a day," he muttered, his voice showing just how tired he was.
Aiden's heart tugged at the sight of his friend, no, his boyfriend. He had to get used to that. Tom looked so drained. He stood up, taking a couple of steps toward Tom with a soft, reassuring smile.
"You know, you don't have to go through this alone, or anything alone really," Aiden said gently, his voice laced with concern. "Come here." He opened his arms, offering the comforting embrace that Tom had come to rely on.
Tom hesitated for a moment, but the exhaustion in his body overruled his pride. He stepped forward, letting Aiden pull him into a warm, tight hug. Aiden's arms wrapped around Tom's waist, and he felt a little of the tension start to melt away.
"Just let it all out," Aiden murmured, rubbing his back soothingly while his face was basically buried in Tom's chest. "You don’t have to be strong all the time, Tom."
Tom buried his face in Aiden’s shoulder, the warmth and safety of the hug making him feel like he could finally let go of all the weight he’d been carrying. For a moment, everything else faded into the background, just feeling the steady beat of Aiden’s heart and hearing the soft rustle of the trees outside.
Aiden, sensing how much Tom needed comfort, gently guided him over to the couch. "Let’s just relax for a bit, okay?" he said softly, sitting down and pulling Tom to sit beside him. "You’ve done enough for today. You deserve a break."
Tom nodded, his face flushed with a mix of relief and happiness. "I... I just don’t know how you do it," he whispered. "You always seem so ..something, and then theres... me. Just Me? I feel like I’m barely holding it together sometimes."
Aiden chuckled softly, brushing a strand of Tom’s hair from his forehead. "You’re stronger than you think," he said, his voice tender. "But even strong people need someone to lean on." Tom met his eyes, those warm, hazel eyes that always made him feel like everything would be okay. "Thanks, Aiden," he said quietly, leaning into him.
With a gentle smile, Aiden wrapped his arm around Tom’s shoulders, pulling him closer. "Anytime, babe; Anytime."
Tom let out a contented sigh, his body relaxing as Aiden’s warmth wrapped around him like a soft blanket. They stayed like that for a while, Aiden gently running his fingers through Tom’s hair and occasionally pressing a soft kiss to his cheek.
The room was quiet, save for the faint sound of the wind rustling the trees outside and the occasional soft murmur of happiness from Tom. Aiden could feel his heart swell at the closeness, knowing that this was exactly what Tom needed, someone to be there for him, no questions asked.
Eventually, Tom’s breath evened out, his exhaustion finally catching up with him as he curled up against Aiden or more so around Aiden, his head practically resting on his boyfriend's head. Aiden smiled softly, happy to just be there with him in the quiet.
"You’re safe here, Tom," Aiden whispered, his voice barely audible, as if speaking the words just for them. "I’ll always be here."
Tom’s hand found its way into Aiden’s, and he squeezed it gently, a silent promise in return. For the first time all day, Tom felt at peace. Aiden’s presence was enough to make everything seem right in the world. And for that moment, that simple moment of cuddling, Tom allowed himself to rest. Because with Aiden, he knew he didn’t have to face anything alone.