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The drive back from No Man’s Land was quiet. Gris was obviously irritated and Enjin was too exhausted to bicker. He would always be amazed by how patient Gris was. He wasn’t very forgiving, Enjin was scolded a lot, but he wasn’t one to actually punish. Grins had never been one to do that.
The supporter held Enjin’s hand over the center console, but that was it. Just some contact to keep them both grounded. Enjin’s eyes were closed. He wasn’t asleep, but he hoped he would be by the time they pulled up to HQ. He wanted an excuse for Gris to carry him. He liked when he did that.
“Do I need to take you to Eishia?” Gris asked quietly.
“No,” Enjin replied. “I think I just tweaked my ankle bad.”
“I’m taking you to her anyway.” Often, Enjin had a tendency to downplay his injuries. He would rather people worry about the kids being hurt over him. Enjin could take care of himself.
“I know,” Enjin sighed.
Mono’s tires rumbled over HQ’s parking lot. Gris got out of the jeep, walking around and opening the door for Enjin. He, very unnecessarily, held out his arm in a gesture for Enjin to get out of the car.
Enjin just stared out the door at him. He didn’t want to walk (courtesy of his ankle), and he had the strongest man employed by the cleaners standing in front of him.
“I am not carrying you,” Gris stated.
“But I hurt my ankle,” Enjin replied. “You don’t want me to get more hurt, right?”
“I don’t, but you’re also a grown man who is more than capable of getting out of a car and walking without hurting himself even more,” Gris scolded. He was successful in his point.
With a groan of dissatisfaction, Enjin got out of the jeep. He took Enjin’s hand to help him into headquarters.
Eishia’s examination revealed that on top of Enjin having a sprained ankle, he’d also gotten a bruised rib from whatever trash beast he was fighting. Gris’ irritation came to a peak. To control himself from squeezing Enjin’s head off, he left the room to go back out to his car. Gris gathered Enjin’s full-mask and Umbreaker, then went back in through the main entrance.
“What did he do this time?” Semiu called from her desk.
Gris’ shoulders sagged. He set the things down at the bottom of the stairs and went to sit behind Semiu’s desk with her. The extra chair was a little too small for him, but he managed.
“You’re acting like he committed a crime,” Semiu chuckled.
“He didn’t tell me he was going out to No Man’s Land,” Gris informed, his forehead hitting the desk.
“Did he get hurt?” Semiu asked.
“Mhm, a sprained ankle and a bruised rib,” Gris grumbled.
Semiu reached out and patted the back of Gris’ head. “You knew what you were getting yourself into when you married him, right?”
“Yeah,” Gris sighed.
“You go take his stuff upstairs.” Semiu did care for both Enjin and Gris, as she did for the whole of the cleaners, but she let them know they were dumbasses when they were acting like ones.
Gris stood up and trudged toward the stairs. He picked up Umbreaker and the full-mask and took them upstairs to Enjin’s room.
Enjin’s room was as tidy as it could be when he was as busy as he was. A few articles of clothing were strewn around the floor, and he hadn’t cleaned out the ashtray on his windowsill. Gris took it upon himself to clean it up before he was contacted about Enjin. He slept there most nights anyway.
In the middle of folding his laundry, Gris’ choker scratched.
“Hi, Enjin,” Gris greeted.
“Eishia says I’m good to go,” Enjin stated.
“That’s good to hear. Are you going to come upstairs?” Gris asked.
“I was just about to say that you should come get me,” Enjin hummed.
Gris scoffed. “I’ve already done enough. You can walk to your bedroom.”
His choker scratched out and the room became silent again. Gris put Enjin’s clothes away, then went to change out of his uniform. The door opened as he took off his jacket.
“You’re here and you’re already undressing for me,” Enjin joked. He had his coat gathered up in his arms and he closed the door with his foot.
Gris discarded his jacket into the hamper and turned to Enjin. “Are you feeling okay?”
“Now I’m just sore,” Enjin sighed. He walked up to Gris and leaned on him. “And I was already sore, but now I’m more sore. And achy. I’m also achy now.”
“Oh you poor thing,” Gris chuckled. He crouched down and hooked his hands under Enjin’s thighs.
Enjin was well aware this was the closest thing he was getting to any action tonight. Gris treating him all soft and nice. He leaned his head on Gris’ shoulder and let all the tension in his body be released. Gris stood in the middle of the bedroom and just held him. He thought it was a little childish, but it was what Enjin needed after the day that he’d had.
“Do you still have the energy to take a shower?” Gris asked.
Enjin shook his head. “Can’t we just go to bed?”
“Mn, you’re stinky. I don’t want to sleep with a stinky man,” Gris replied. He turned his head and kissed Enjin’s temple.
“That’s just my clothes,” Enjin deflected. He hooked one arm around Gris’ neck. “I just need to change.
“You’re going to get upset if I put you down,” Gris said in a matter-of-fact tone.
“No I won’t,” Enjun argued.
Gris hummed. He knew that Enjin was lying. Regardless, the giver’s feet met the floor. He went to his dresser and got his pajamas. Gris finished changing as Enjin started. The former got in the bed while he waited for the other.
“I can’t go on missions for a while,” Enjin started. “Semiu came and chewed me out.”
“Good,” Gris replied. “Did she get the boss on your case?”
“Through my choker, yeah,” Enjin grumbled. He seemed to be more upset about not going on missions over having the boss scold him.
Gris grunted. He stared at the ceiling, not wanting to stare and make things awkward. The mattress dipped beside him and there was a firm presence beside him. Enjin’s head rested on his shoulder, and his hand on Gris’ chest.
“I’m not excited to be taking time off,” Enjin murmured.
“How about I ask the boss for a day or two off?” Gris suggested.
“That sounds nice,” Enjin replied.
“And if it gets approved, we can go to canvas town and you can get that tattoo you really want,” Gris continued. His left hand slowly stroked the back of Enjin’s head. “And we can visit that restaurant you really like and I’ll pay for it…”
Enjin sighed deeply as Gris trailed off. All those ideas were exactly what he would want to do on a day off. He quietly shifted so he could kiss Gris. “You’re a top notch husband.”
“Thank you,” Gris smiled. He kissed Enjin, then Enjin’s forehead, and shifted himself to go to sleep.