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Herm felt familiar weight lean fully into his side. He adjusted easily, wrapping an arm around his husband’s waist.
Aaron’s head came to rest somewhere beneath Herm’s arm, awkwardly tucked against his ribs. It wasn’t exactly a comfortable angle, but Herm doubted Aaron was awake enough to care. Besides, it beat falling asleep on the grubby table.
Herm had come to the conclusion hours ago that nightclubs were significantly less fun when sober.
He had known that already. But after being forced into a dance circle he most definitely didn’t want to be in, and then getting hit on by intoxicated women who didn’t catch onto the fact he didn't play for that side, the point had been really driven home again tonight.
Herm had spent the first twenty-something years of his life convinced he was straight. Then he met Aaron. He likes to think it was his prime. Aaron disagrees.
They'd met through Denny, who'd gone to high school with Aaron. Looking back, Herm still wasn't entirely sure why Denny introduced them in the first place, considering how hard he'd worked to keep them from dating afterwards. Aaron had been twenty-two at the time. Denny had always taken looking after Aaron a little too seriously.
Which was probably why, even today, Herm still trusted Denny with Aaron more than almost anybody else.
Herm met Kevin a good seven or so years later, a little after Denny had, of course. It would be another few years before Herm convinced Aaron to join the show, and the rest from there is history.
He wouldn’t do a single thing differently if he had the chance.
Herm hadn’t touched a drink all night, partly because somebody had to keep Denny and Kevin from accidentally joining a pyramid scheme in the bathroom, but mostly because Aaron had been tired before they’d even gotten here. Herm already knew he’d end up driving them home.
Their booth sat shoved in the corner of the club, close enough to the dance floor for the bass to vibrate through the seats, but far enough away that nobody interrupted their little bubble of peace.
At some point, the table had become a mess. Kevin’s tequila sunrise, Denny’s vodka Red Bull, and Aaron’s classic lime margarita all sat lukewarm on the table, crowded by the first few rounds they’d already finished.
Whatever regret Herm had about not drinking with them disappeared the second Kevin somehow ended up on the dance floor singing Party in the U.S.A. with a group of college girls. He was acting like a white woman and it was truly more hilarious to watch.
Herm’s eye found where Zane stood across the room. He looked about ready to lose it.
Herm couldn’t blame him. Zane had every right to Irish goodbye hours ago, but instead, he’d volunteered himself designated driver after one look at Kevin and Denny’s sorry asses.
Herm was thankful for that, really. He was sure the amount of anxiety Aaron had given him tonight would probably take ten years off his life. He’d spent most of the evening watching him like a hawk to stop him from doing something stupid. Not because Aaron was stupid, but because Denny had turned into the devil on his shoulder the second they walked into the club.
One more drink, bro.
C’mon, live a little.
You’re fine.
And Aaron, unfortunately, had never liked saying no to Denny.
Just then, Herm felt movement against his chest. A familiar someone pressed his face further into Herm’s side like he was trying to disappear there entirely.
Herm rubbed his back in sympathy. “You alive?”
Aaron made a noise that sounded vaguely like a yes. Or maybe a complaint. Hard to tell.
Before Herm could figure it out, Kevin reappeared. Loudly. Fucking louder than the animals in Africa.
“I’m not drunk,” he announced, unprompted, to absolutely nobody who asked. He nearly fell out of the adjacent seat trying to throw himself toward the wall.
“Yeah, sureee you’re not. It only took you twenty fucking minutes to listen to me and come over here.” Zane rolled his eyes, stopping in front of the table.
He added, “Can you watch him for a sec, please? I gotta go find little Den Den.”
Herm snorted. “You is wildin’, Zane. You know he’d kill you if he heard you say that?”
“That’s exactly why I said it,” Zane replied, already backing away. “Don’t let him escape.”
Herm was just surprised Kevin still had the energy to look offended. Herm wasn’t the one who’d spent the night bouncing between what felt like hundreds of strangers, yet somehow he still looked more tired.
Herm also had no idea where Kevin’s jacket had gone.
“Y’all’s is actually so dramatic,” he complained, pointing around the booth one person at a time.
Herm almost said something back before Kevin’s attention drifted somewhere over Herm’s shoulder. His whole face brightened.
“Hold up,” he perked up. The booth squeaked as he sat up in his seat. “Is this Cupid Shuffle playing?”
Oh, absolutely fucking not.
Herm adjusted his arm around Aaron before he slipped any lower. The movement against his side had gotten heavier over the last half hour, Aaron practically folded into him at this point. If Kevin disappeared to dance again, Herm genuinely didn’t think Aaron would notice.
Not that Herm planned on letting that happen. Zane already trusted him to keep Kevin in one place, and honestly, Herm didn’t feel like spending another twenty minutes watching Zane drag his drunk ass back over here anyway.
“Don’t you dare.” Herm cut in, eyes widening, before Kevin could decide to stand up. It was time to go home, to bed.
“Oh c’mon. You’re just mad you’re still sober, Herm!” a distinct voice called.
Let Herm guess…
Small? 5'8" perhaps?
Denny dropped into the booth next to Kevin like he’d never disappeared in the first place. And Herm had lost sight of him over three hours ago. The man in question had a drink in hand, looking entirely too pleased with himself. Next to him, Zane looked significantly more annoyed than before.
“Time to leave, children,” Zane feigned a smile. “The club's about to close and I think we’ve had enough fun for one night.”
Kevin looked far from happy at that. Denny rolled his eyes.
“But those girls looooved me.” Kevin defended dramatically with a hand to his heart, as if it was splitting into two.
“Nobody said they didn’t.” Zane humored. “And wouldn’t you just love to go home to your warm bed? Maybe take a shower…” Herm’s pretty sure the last part wasn’t meant for anyone to hear.
Denny ignored the conversation completely, his full attention was on Aaron. He leaned over slightly, grin still there like he hadn’t spent the entire night making Herm’s life harder.
“You with us, A-boogie?” He poked Aaron’s arm. “One more drink and you’ll wake back up.”
Herm fixed Denny with an amused look that said Are you serious right now?
Denny didn't even try to look guilty. The mischievous smirk never left his face, even when he took the last sip from the cup he was nursing.
“Bro,” Denny complained, glancing back toward Aaron. “He’s fine.”
Aaron, probably from all the new racket that had settled in at their table, chose this moment to lift his head up. He groaned, followed by an audible yawn.
“M never lettin’ you give me alcohol again, Denny…” he trailed off.
Denny’s face softened as he released a full-body chuckle. “You sure bout that? Not one more drink? For me?”
“Denzel.” Herm warned. “No more for him.” Herm raised his eyebrows like he was daring Denny to argue.
Denny looked unconvinced but let it go, turning his focus to Kevin instead, who was currently swaying to whatever song had come on. Herm would totally record this right now if he hadn’t already gotten enough blackmail videos to last a lifetime. He'd definitely post them to TikTok tomorrow.
Denny had to duck to narrowly avoid Kevin’s flailing arms. He looked like a fish. What the actual hell was he doing?
Kevin, fully unaware of the problem he was creating, kept jerking around to the beat like his body physically wouldn’t sit still. At some point he’d started mouthing the lyrics too, one arm occasionally shooting out in whatever direction felt right at the time. Herm decided he was never letting Kevin near alcohol again.
Zane watched the performance for a second, lips pressing together like he was trying very hard not to encourage whatever this was. Unfortunately, the amusement still slipped through.
“Alright,” he said eventually, reaching for Kevin’s belongings, jacket still nowhere in sight. “Pack it up, Kiana.”
Kevin’s head snapped over, like a wild animal. “You just hate seeing me happy. You- you Buffet Man.”
The corner of Zane's mouth twitched. “I hate chasing you around this club.” Zane tossed his own jacket at him. “Put your arm through the hole and let’s go.”
Kevin looked curiously down at the jacket for a second before finally shoving an arm through. It was wrong somehow, but technically on.
Denny stared at him for maybe half a second before his face scrunched.
“Brother,” he started slowly, “why are you dressed like Zane?”
Kevin frowned, glancing down at the jacket before looking back at Zane with sudden suspicion. His hand tugged lightly at the sleeve like he was only just now processing what exactly got thrown at him.
“Wait…” he muttered. “This is your jacket.”
Zane looked entirely too unsurprised by the realization. “Yep.”
Kevin looked back down at himself, confusion settling in for a second before his face twisted, taking the form of a whiny baby. “Then where the fuck is my jacket?”
Denny let out a cackle. “Kev, you lost that shit hours ago.”
“Don’t say that,” Kevin shot back, sounding genuinely emotional now. “That jacket was expensive.”
Zane finally gave up trying to keep a straight face, reaching over to pat Kevin once on the shoulder. “That sounds like tomorrow’s problem.” Zane decided. “Right now, everybody up.”
“C’mon,” Herm murmured quietly, hand hovering near Aaron’s arm. “Up.”
He gently assisted Aaron in finally getting upright, though the second Aaron stood, most of his weight found its way right back to Herm.
Aaron grimaced slightly, blinking hard as he steadied himself. “Woah.”
Aaron looked like he didn’t know for a moment where they were. As if any of them were gonna forget tonight.
Herm steadied him without really thinking about it, hand finding the curve of his waist automatically. Honestly, he’d expected this. Aaron had been fading for hours.
“Damn,” Denny snickered quietly. “I might’ve gotten you a lil’ too fucked up.”
Aaron didn’t even open his eyes. “You think?”
Denny bumped Aaron’s elbow in apology.
“Alright,” Zane cut in before the conversation could continue. “This way.”
Zane led the way, past the last stragglers that were still partying it up thirty minutes before closing time. Kevin looked about ready to make a run for it, but Denny kept distracting him every few steps, randomly insisting he had something on his face.
When the cool air hit, a nice contrast to the muggy atmosphere inside, it was time to part ways.
Herm squeezed Zane’s shoulder in farewell and smoothly dapped Denny up. Kevin’s adrenaline had comedically vanished the second they reached Zane’s car. He looked about five minutes away from passing out.
He watched Aaron and Denny share a goodbye hug, Denny initiated. Herm always knew Denny would show up to their home in the morning. He always did after long nights like this. He swore Denny spent more time in his own home than he did himself.
Once Zane drove off to get the drunkards home, it felt as if the world had slowed down.
Maybe it was the abrupt lack of noise. Or maybe it was the fact Aaron had gone strangely still next to him. Either way, the night became a whole lot less chaotic.
Herm glanced down. He tried to hide his smile.
Aaron stood there looking halfway asleep, arms folded loosely against himself while blinking incredibly slow. His hair was slightly messed up from spending the last forty-five minutes tucked against Herm, shirt slightly crooked, and looked cold despite the warmer weather.
The second Herm stepped toward their car, Aaron trailed after him like a baby duckling.
Herm's much larger hand found Aaron's impulsively, holding it long enough to warm cold fingers before reaching the car.
Admittedly, Herm found it a little ridiculous how much he liked this version of Aaron. Not the drinking part. Definitely not the drinking part. He adored Aaron’s 1000% energetic, goofy self, but he also lived for these sleepy moments. The ones where Aaron softened somehow and looked at Herm like he had all the answers.
Aaron stopped once they reached the passenger side, staring blankly at the car door for longer than necessary.
Herm waited patiently.
Aaron just kept on staring.
“Baby,” Herm started carefully. “You good?”
Aaron hummed once before finally looking over at him.
“…Door.” His teeth lightly snagged on his lower lip.
“Yeah,” Herm muttered, already reaching for the handle. “I got it. I got you.”
Aaron mumbled a quiet thank you that was barely coherent before climbing in with significantly less coordination than usual. Herm made sure to check all limbs were safely secured before shutting the door.
In the car, the first thing Herm did was blast warm air on Aaron’s side. He always ran cold, even on a warm night like this one. They’d always laugh when Herm would go to bed shirtless and Aaron would be cozied up in an oversized hoodie, no matter the season.
He'd just started the car when he had to pause.
“Aaron?” Herm called looking over. “Seatbelt.”
Unluckily for Herm, it appeared Aaron was out cold. So he took it upon himself to buckle him in.
He shook his head with fond exasperation, closing the space to press a kiss to Aaron’s forehead before pulling into reverse.
The drive home was quiet. The type of quiet Herm had grown to love over the years. No music. No needed conversation just to fill the space. Just the low hum of the heater and Aaron sleeping safely beside him.
Aaron hadn’t made a single peep. Somewhere between the parking lot and the first red light, his head had tipped awkwardly toward the window, while he slept through every turn Herm made.
Honestly, Herm wasn’t totally sure how he managed to fall asleep that fast. But then again, Aaron had always been good at sleeping anywhere. Cars. Couches. Set. Once, somehow, an airport floor.
Herm reached over at the next stoplight, adjusting the heater up another notch. You can’t blame him for being a little worried. Half the time, Aaron didn’t even notice he was freezing until he was already shivering.
Looking out the windows, the city looked different this late. More peaceful, like it was going at a different pace. Most people were home already, streetlights stretching across mostly empty roads while the occasional car passed every few miles. Secretly, Herm didn’t mind drives like this. Especially not when they ended at home.
Aaron’s cheek was smushing lightly against the seat now, hair somehow messier than before, seatbelt slightly twisted from the way he’d slumped over. Jesus Christ.
Herm looked back at the road before he could start smiling like an idiot again.
The rest of the drive passed in the same steady manner. He briefly wondered how Zane was surviving a car ride with Denny and Kevin.
Before long, desolate roads bled into their neighborhood. The porch light Aaron forgot to turn off half the time still glowed softly by the front door. There was something comforting about seeing it waiting for them.
He threw the car in park and turned toward the passenger seat.
Aaron was still absolutely gone, not aware they were this close to finally getting some shut eye in their bed.
“Baby,” Herm murmured, reaching over to brush some hair back. The car had gone so still it felt like the rest of the world had disappeared. “We’re home.”
Aaron barely reacted, face scrunching for a second before settling again.
Well, what else did Herm expect? It’s Aaron.
“Aaron,” he tried again, gentler this time. “C’mon. Bedtime.”
That got a reaction, at least. Aaron’s eyes opened slowly, blinking a few times as he grasped for any awareness at damn near two in the morning.
“...We’re here?”
“Yeah,” Herm whispered. “Time to go in.”
Aaron stared at him for another beat that Herm almost thought meant he was about to fall back asleep, before Aaron sluggishly nodded like he was still catching up.
Herm exited first, circling around to the passenger side before Aaron had the chance to fully knock back out. Which, honestly, felt increasingly likely.
“C’mon,” Herm said after opening the door. “You gotta stand for me.”
Aaron looked up at him. After a second, he reached out naturally, and Herm took the hand without thinking, steadying him as he climbed out of the car.
Aaron didn’t even hesitate. He just lifted his arms a little, like this wasn’t even remotely out of the ordinary for them.
Herm let out a quiet breath through his nose before stepping closer.
“You are unbelievable,” he muttered, though there wasn’t much bite behind it. There never was.
Aaron didn’t argue or even really react. Just lifted his arms a little higher like Herm was taking too long.
Herm shook his head, bending sore knees to slip an arm beneath Aaron’s legs and the other around his back. He lifted him with an ease that made it clear this wasn’t their first time doing this.
Aaron shifted once against him before settling, head dropping instinctively toward Herm’s shoulder.
Opening the door became a new struggle. He cautiously attempted balancing the weight in his arms and the keys in the bottom of his pocket.
“Darlin’, you mind bein’ useful for like ten seconds?” Herm teased.
It didn’t shock Herm when Aaron barely moved. If anything, he just came closer. He obviously wasn’t going to help.
After a little more fumbling than Herm deemed necessary, he finally got the door unlocked.
Once stepping inside, warmth hit them both.
Along with the comfort of home wrapping around them came the soft padding of paws drawing closer.
“Wassup, Little Man?” Herm greeted under his breath, downwards at their dog.
Their dog, Tick, shortened for ‘Tickle’, looped around Herm’s legs twice before quickly realizing Aaron wasn’t walking himself tonight. His tail picked up speed immediately.
“Yeah,” Herm agreed, hiking Aaron up slightly in his arms. “Let's get him to bed.”
Tick gave a small huff before trotting up the stairs like he already knew where they were headed. Honestly, smart dog. He knew this wasn’t the first time Aaron had gotten carried inside. Probably wouldn’t be the last either.
Herm kicked his shoes off near the door before making his way further inside, careful not to jostle Aaron too much. Not that it seemed to matter. He’d gone completely limp against him, face half tucked into Herm’s shoulder.
“Honey,” Herm tried, quieter than before, glancing down briefly. “You gotta wake up for like… two more minutes.”
Aaron made the faintest noise against his shoulder that sounded vaguely annoyed.
“Yeah, I know,” Herm replied automatically. “Life’s hard.”
By the time they reached the bedroom, Tick had already claimed half the bed, which felt a little unfair considering Aaron was smaller than him.
“Move,” Herm said, nudging lightly at the edge of the mattress with his knee. “You contribute nothing around here.”
Tick ignored him.
Everyone liked to think Aaron was the physical touch one in the relationship, and during the day? Sure. But nighttime was a different story. Herm slept better with an arm wrapped around him, and if Aaron somehow rolled too far away in the middle of the night, Herm always ended up pulling him back without even waking up.
The king-size mattress had mostly been for Herm’s height. Aaron just happened to get lost in it.
Aaron barely stirred when Herm sat beside him to pull his shoes off, only shifting enough to make the process mildly inconvenient. He ended up lying across the bed, shirt bunched awkwardly beneath him while Tick settled near his legs.
“You make everything harder than it needs to be,” Herm muttered, putting Aaron’s sneakers off to the side.
Aaron cracked one eye open. “No I don’t.”
Herm huffed out a laugh through his nose.
“Mhm. Is that right?”
He pushed himself back up from the bed. “Lemme grab you somethin’ warmer to sleep in before you start complainin’ you’re cold.”
Herm had barely made it a step before something caught lightly against the back of his hoodie.
He turned around again.
Aaron’s fingers curled loosely into the fabric.
“Don’t go,” he mumbled, words still heavy with exhaustion.
Herm looked at him for a second, torn, before glancing toward the dresser.
“Baby, I’m right here.”
Aaron’s eyes dropped to Herm’s hoodie instead.
“…Can’t I just have yours?”
That shut Herm up fast.
“Yeah,” he answered after a second, already reaching to pull it over his head. “Yeah, alright.”
Getting Aaron changed became a whole ordeal. Aaron stopped helping halfway through, one sleeve disappeared entirely, looking like Kevin earlier.
By the time Herm finally got the hoodie on properly, Aaron looked appreciably warmer already, sleeves dwarfing his hands.
“Better?” Herm asked, looking him over.
Aaron nodded once before reaching a hand for him, bunching a little of Herm's shirt in his fist.
“C’mere,” Aaron insisted.
Herm moved closer. As if he was ever going to pretend otherwise.
Aaron leaned forward with clear intention, aiming for Herm’s mouth. Somewhere between being exhausted and very drunk, the height difference won.
Herm felt the kiss land against his chin.
Aaron frowned immediately. “You’re too tall.”
Herm stared at him for a second before the corner of his mouth gave in.
“I’m too tall?” he repeated.
Aaron nodded again, entirely serious about it.
Herm let out a quiet laugh, reaching up to brush some messy hair back from Aaron’s face. “That’s never been a problem for you before, baby.”
Aaron's expression soured, clearly disagreeing.
“Come lower, then.” Aaron tilted his chin up stubbornly.
That earned another laugh from Herm.
“You’re bossy for somebody who can barely keep his eyes open.”
Still, Herm leaned down enough for Aaron to press a much more successful kiss somewhere near the corner of his mouth. Satisfied with himself, Aaron immediately looked sleepier for it.
His eyes already started drifting shut again. Mission accomplished.
“Alright,” Herm muttered, nudging lightly at Aaron’s shoulder. “I’ll be right back.”
Aaron made a noise that sounded remarkably close to a protest, but didn’t stop him this time.
The kitchen light stayed off while Herm grabbed a glass of water and the bottle of painkillers from the cabinet. Aaron would most likely have a headache in the morning.
He set both down on Aaron’s nightstand, right beside the charger Aaron never plugged in himself and the ridiculous little frog figurine Denny had won him at some boardwalk game years ago. Aaron claimed it looked ugly. Denny claimed it looked like him. He refused to get rid of it anyway.
When Herm looked back to the bed, Aaron had somehow migrated further away from where he was previously, halfway asleep in Herm’s hoodie.
“Feelin’ good, baby?” Herm pulled his shirt over his head and took his pants off before tossing them someplace he’d deal with tomorrow.
Aaron’s head had already started slipping off his pillow. He wasn’t used to sleeping on anything but Herm’s arm or chest. Years later, Herm still believed that gave Aaron all the neck support he needed.
“Your hoodies are always better.”
Herm felt himself melt a little. God help him.
He slipped into bed, and the second the mattress shifted, Aaron moved closer on pure habit.
Herm barely had time to settle before instinct kicked in, one arm wrapping around Aaron’s waist while pulling him in until there wasn’t much space left between them at all.
Somewhere in the middle of the giant mattress, they ended up exactly where they always did.
Tick turned around twice at the foot of the bed before finally plopping down.
Aaron drew closer, face burrowing sleepily into Herm's bare chest, their legs tangling beneath the blankets.
“Love you, Herm,” he mumbled, words half buried.
Herm smiled into the dark before pressing a final kiss to the top of Aaron’s head.
“I love you more.”
Herm stared at the ceiling for another moment, hand moving absentmindedly against Aaron’s back while the night settled around them.
He could already imagine how the rest of the weekend would go.
At some point before noon, Denny would let himself into the house without knocking. Him and Aaron would turn on a classic movie and cuddle into the couch, while forcing Herm to make breakfast for them both. They’d say Herm’s not familiar with a kitchen cause ‘he sleeps outside.’
Denny would almost definitely bring one of those disgusting hangover drinks - lemon, coconut water, and ginger - he swore fixed everything and make Aaron finish at least half of it. Probably while saying something wildly contradictory like, See? This is why you gotta listen to me more.
As if he wasn’t the entire reason Aaron would nag Herm all day with a pounding headache, demanding attention.
And somehow, he knew the three of them would end up in the kitchen later, joking around about Kevin always losing things, and Denny most likely having found his jacket for him in some way (logically, Herm assumed it was probably just in their car), and the whole time stealing bites of whatever Herm ended up making for breakfast.
Images of Aaron giggling, swallowed whole by Herm’s hoodie and Denny entirely too comfortable in a house that was his in all ways but technicality flashed in front of Herm’s eyes.
He’s lived this before. It wasn’t a guess. He knew that was how tomorrow would go.
Herm reached up to smooth back a few strands of hair that had fallen into Aaron’s face, thumb lingering there for a second longer than necessary.
It may have taken marriage, a dog, tears of heartbreak and joy alike to get here, but they still had a lot more time to go.
Right now, though, the world felt wonderfully small. The gentle hand curled loosely against his side was enough to cause his eyes to finally close.
Aaron had trusted him with the rest.
Herm couldn't think of anything he'd rather have.