Chapter Text
*click*
The door opened.
Teetee stepped inside and shut the door behind him with another *click*.
He was late again. But what could he do? The company he was working in had recently undergone a huge loss, and everyone was overworked to the point of work making its way into their dreams, making them dread even the much-needed sleep.
Teetee, being the diligent worker that everyone relied on, was suffering the most.
Along with his usual workload, he was cursed with everyone else coming to him for help constantly. By the time he was done with helping everyone else and getting back to his own work, it’d be off time. Everyone would leave, leaving Teetee alone to catch up on his work and by the time he’d reach home it’d already be midnight.
Everyone had been following the same routine for 2 weeks.
Today was no different.
“Pip?” Teetee spoke.
No answer.
Teetee moved further inside and found Por curled up in a ball on the couch.
He had fallen asleep waiting for Teetee.
Again.
His own arms wrapped around him.
His knees drawn up to his chest, and his head resting on the armrest.
He looked impossibly small. As if even in his sleep, he was conscious of the space he occupied.
He seemed comfortable, but the knot between his eyebrows said otherwise.
Teetee bent down to his level and observed him for a while.
The mole underneath his left eye that Teetee adored, the perfect slope of his nose. The way his mouth was partly open giving way to air, in and out.
The way his hair fell messily over his forehead, where some strands seemed to stick because of the sweat beads which meant that he had been here for a while.
The guilt that followed was evident in the way his eyes left Por for a second, trying to focus on anything else that wasn’t Por.
His gaze found Por again and this time he used his fingers to trace along Por's features. His touch, feather light. Barely there. Before finally deciding to wake him.
“Pip”, he whispered, shaking Por's arm.
No reaction. As expected.
Por was a deep sleeper. And Teetee had to learn it the hard way when he had to drag Por out of the apartment because of a high magnitude earthquake.
Knowing there was no chance of Por waking up now, he plucked Por gently, one hand coming beneath Por's knees and the other supporting his back. Por's head tilted to the side and came to rest on Teetee’s shoulder.
The knot between his eyebrows finally began to loosen.
His face was back to the serenity it always held while he was sleeping besides Teetee.
Teetee made his way to their bedroom and gently placed Por on the bed.
Only then did he notice the tight hold of Por's hand on his shirt.
He gently removed his hand, finger by finger.
Por left out a noise that was somewhere between a whine and a sigh.
Teetee put Por's hand back on his stomach and went to the bathroom to freshen up and change out of his clothes.
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Por had rolled into a ball again when Teetee emerged from the bathroom.
Teetee slipped under the covers and enveloped Por's rolled up body completely.
The speed at which Por melted against Teetee was a threat to Usain Bolt.
His hands automatically came behind Teetee’s back as he tucked himself beneath his chin.
A sigh of relief left his lips unconsciously.
And Teetee let it happen.
His own hands cradled the back of Por's head and his waist.
Pulling Por flush against himself. The entire day’s tiredness, gone. Just like that. Like it always did every time he returned to him.
Back to his home.
Eventually Teetee’s breathing evened out, and he slipped into slumber joining Por.
Por's hand had found his shirt again, clutching at it tightly. Even unconsciously, he sought Teetee.
His anchor.
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The next morning arrived like it always did.
Without asking and always interrupting.
Por woke up first and found himself basically fused with Teetee.
He had stopped feeling surprised about it long ago. His body somehow found Teetee all the time.
He looked at Teetee. Really looked. After a grueling two weeks. Almost like he was trying to memorize his face because he knew Teetee’s work would steal him soon.
The even rhythmic breathing, making his chest fall up and down, right against Por's own cheek. The way his head was tilted downwards towards Por's own head, like how plants turn to the sun due to phototropism. Por was Teetee’s own, very personal sun.
Por traced his face with his fingertips. He went along and counted all the moles on his face. He had them memorized but nothing was wrong with counting again.
Teetee’s lips pressed shut, he breathed through his nose.
The exhaustion of the previous weeks was visible in the dark circles under his eyes. In the way the his eyebrows carried faint tension even while he was asleep. Por could’ve sworn Teetee had gotten thinner.
He rested his index finger where Teetee’s dimple usually existed. The other dimple buried in the pillow, but Por knew it was there.
God, he missed him so bad.
Even when he was right next to him.
Only if Por could keep Teetee locked up and be the sole receiver of his attention.
His rapacious intentions for Teetee’s affection showing Inadvertently .
But he knew that work was important as well. But Por missed him so much, it hurt.
After 3 years of marriage, one would think they could survive going a day without each other. But God bless Teetee and Por. They were still as smitten with each other as the first day they started dating. So naturally, Teetee’s work getting most of his attention left Por feeling neglected.
Just a teeny tiny bit, although he knew about the crisis that was holding Teetee back and how hard Teetee had to work, 2 weeks was just ridiculous.
Excluding the fact that he had stocked up on a month’s worth of kisses from Teetee upon hearing the news and clung to him every chance he had before work took him from right under his nose.
With all these thoughts running through his head, he hadn’t noticed the way his finger was digging into Teetee’s cheek with immense pressure, that teetee had to let out a wince.
Por’s eyes cleared up immediately and he withdrew his hand back. Teetee was looking back at him.
He had been looking back at him while Por was cooking curry in his head.
“Are you planning on digging a hole on my cheek princess?” he asked with a sheepish grin.
“No, you’ll get ugly like that and then I would have to leave you.” Por replied with a soft smile, his eyes carrying a hint of amusement.
“Would you really HAVE to leave me?” Teetee answered, looking like a kicked puppy.
Por didn’t have to answer. Both knew the answer.
Instead of answering Por moved upwards and pressed his lips directly onto Teetee’s in a quick peck.
Teetee’s face transformed immediately, his grin back in place. It was honestly remarkable how easy Teetee was to please.
He brought his lips to Por's forehead and left a kiss before asking the real question,
“So, what is churning in that head of yours?”
“Hm pip?”
“Just thinking about giving a resignation letter to your workplace on your behalf” Por replied with the most serious face ever.
“They’re keeping you from me for too long” he continued looking genuinely sad about the entire situation. His lips down turned.
Teetee broke into fond laughter.
His eyes crinkling at the corner, clearly happy with the answer.
Por's face transformed naturally too. His face softened and soon joined Teetee in with his own laughter.
Mornings like these were rare recently.
Not rare enough for them to mourn but rare enough for them to miss these moments occasionally.
The laughter died down slowly. Fading away, now replaced by warmth. Por ducked his head further into Teetee’s chest and nuzzled normally.
Teetee’s arms tightened around Por.
Just as they were about to get comfortable, Teetee’s alarm rang. Loud and annoying.
The groan Por let out upon hearing the alarm was nothing short of comical.
“Just 5 more minutes” he mumbled against Teetee’s chest, as he completely hugged Teetee again.
“5 more” Teetee replied, his voice raspy and with no intention of getting out anytime soon anyways.
But they had to get out soon.
Tomorrow is finally the long-awaited weekend; Por will get his fill for sure.
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After another day at work, Teetee thought his weekend would be spared.
Por was even more hopeful and certain that he would have Teetee all to himself today. But damn work.
Work, work, work and more work.
Por was now agitated; his husband had abandoned him right in the morning as he woke up to an empty bed.
What?
Ah! Teetee was probably making breakfast for Por.
“Finally,” he thought to himself.
All happy and giddy Por went to freshen up.
He then went to the kitchen expecting Teetee at the counter.
But there was no one there.
Huh? Wtf?
Por’s brain short circuited.
He’s not here?
Then his eyes drifted towards the study, soft murmurs could be heard from inside. The door slightly ajar.
Slowly dragging his feet, he made his way towards the study room.
He peeked inside through the half-opened door, and the sight made his entire mood sour.
Teetee was sitting on the table, files surrounding him, and he was in an online meeting.
The one day, Por thought, he’d have Teetee all to himself was now spoiled.
No one could blame Por right now if he decided to go Teetee’s office and give everyone a piece of his mind, it was his right. But he was rational enough to know not to do that.
Teetee was so immersed in his files and meeting, he didn’t even notice Por's presence looming outside the door.
Not until Por slammed his door shut with a loud thud and went back to their bedroom.
Teetee knew he was screwed. But he couldn’t leave the meeting immediately.
He just didn’t know how screwed he actually was.
Por on the other hand was now buried in his comforter which was doing nothing to comfort him. Tears threatened to spill over but he was not going to cry over such a trivial matter. He knew Teetee was busy, he knew about all the problems with the company, and the thing was he understood, but then why was he so disappointed?
He couldn’t fathom why. Alas! It was always himself whom he ceased to understand.
The tears he tried so dearly to hold in, fell regardless, without his permission.
And once that first spill of tears began, they didn’t stop spilling. He started sniffling, his cheeks and nose now red.
Por knew he was being unreasonable, but he wouldn’t think about that now.
He fell asleep shortly after.
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Teetee’s meeting lasted another hour.
He entered his bedroom cautiously.
He didn’t turn around; he stared at the door for a minute. He didn’t know how bad it was this time. Hearing no sound, he turned around.
And found Por in his default sleeping pose.
The curled-up ball.
But Por's head was in the sheet and his breathing heavy.
Teetee knelt slowly at Por's side of the bed trying to get a glimpse of Por’s face and when he did, he knew he was done.
Tear streaks had dried on Por's cheeks, his eyes swollen like he’d cried a good amount before exhaustion took him.
Teetee stared at him defenseless and knew he had to make it up to him somehow.
But all he could do was stare, Teetee knew how much he had neglected Por the past two weeks, but not intentionally. Never intentionally.
His work was not more important than Por, he understood that now, staring at Por's tear-stained face.
He gently cupped Por's face in his hands and began mapping him out.
“Pip”, he whispered gently,
No answer,
“Baby,” he tried again.
Por's eyes opened slowly, although it took some effort to open them because of how swollen they were, it felt like the tears had glued his eyelashes together.
Upon remembering the reason for those tears, his face transformed into a frown immediately. He glanced at Teetee before, very dramatically, turning to the other side completely and laid back down with a huff.
Teetee now understood how deep in the water he was.
Teetee climbed the bed from behind Por and hugged his waist tightly.
Por didn’t resist, but he didn’t melt either. And oh boy did that sting.
Teetee’s other hand rested uselessly against his own head.
He slowly started drawing soothing circles right at Por's belly.
Por still didn’t melt against him.
“Baby, I’m sorry” Teetee tried, his voice a low whimper, the one he used when he wanted something from Por.
But it didn’t work today. Por remained where he was. In his embrace but not quite there.
Teetee decided to come even closer. Por’s back now flush against Teetee’s chest, but he stayed motionless.
Yep, Teetee was done for.
This was worse than Por lashing out or sulking with a huge pout on his lips. Because then it meant that there was a way to coax Por out of it.
But this time it had hurt Por, and he had decided to go back into his own little cocoon.
Teetee started again,
“Pip, I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you woke up and I haven’t been paying enough attention to you but I’ve been super busy, you already know.”
“……” Por remained silent, either waiting for Teetee to continue or ignoring Teetee completely, but he didn’t know which one it was, so he continued.
“And this entire weekend, I was going to spend with you, I swear, but I got an urgent call in the morning and…..” Teetee rambled off reciting the events of his morning.
And as he was finally reaching the end of his speech, Por turned just a little.
Just a fraction, but it made Teetee feel triumph. Just as he was basking in the feeling of winning just a bit, his phone rang.
All his happiness crushed that very second.
Por turned back around completely,
“Go pick it up, your second wife must be calling,” he continued, referring his work to be the second wife.
Still not looking at Teetee.
Teetee was stunned into silence.
His mouth slightly agape.
How does one even recover from that big of a blow?
The phone continued ringing. Teetee seemed to have forgotten.
The call was probably important and Por told him to answer it.
Now Teetee was torn between answering the phone or staying right besides Por.
“Go”, Por said, just one word, upon seeing Teetee’s hesitation.
And dumbass Teetee went.
The word “go”, Teetee failed to realize, was his chance at redeeming himself.
Good luck to him for trying to get out of this one.
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