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It hadn’t stopped raining all day. It was the kind of rain that Anthony particularly hated: the kind that penetrated everywhere, leaving him feeling perpetually damp.
It had been one of those days at the university. Even his students, who were usually so lively, hadn't been in a cheerful mood, mirroring the general gloomy atmosphere of the day. A collective lethargy hovered over the lecture theatre, making every question seem like an ordeal.
Anthony let out a long, weary sigh as he turned the key in the lock of their apartment.
A few moments later, when the door clicked shut behind him, replacing the sounds of the city with hushed silence, he shed his damp jacket and kicked off his wet shoes. Instantly, the unpleasant dampness was swallowed up by the familiar warmth of their sanctuary, along with the silent promise that everything he needed to forget about the day was just down the hall.
In fact, it was as if Asa had a radar calibrated specifically to detect Anthony’s state of mind. Even before Anthony could call out to him, Asa appeared in the hallway with a gentle, understanding smile. Without saying a word, he took Anthony’s damp bag, put it down next to his shoes and gently guided him out of the cool entryway and into the warmth of the living room.
"Bad day?" Asa asked in a soft voice.
""You have no idea," Anthony replied, leaning into the touch of Asa’s hands, which rested warmly on his shoulders as he guided him toward the living room.
Anthony’s eyes widened as he caught sight of what Asa had prepared.
A thick wool blanket was neatly folded on the armrest of the sofa where Anthony usually sat, on the wooden coffee table stood a steaming cup of Earl Grey and the soft lighting completed the cosy atmosphere that immediately comforted Anthony.
Asa guided Anthony towards the sofa and gently settled him there as if he were a fragile object. Then he placed the warm blanket over Anthony’s shoulders, carefully wrapping it around him until only his face and hands remained visible.
"Here,'"said Asa softly, gently removing Anthony's rain-speckled glasses from his nose. "Let me take care of this." Anthony closed his eyes for a moment, relishing the sudden luxury of doing nothing. The cold that had seeped into his bones throughout the day was already beginning to fade, driven away by the warmth of the apartment and his lover’s tender care.
A moment later, Asa returned from the kitchen with the glasses, which were now perfectly clean. He handed them back to Anthony, who put them back on. Asa then sat down right next to Anthony, pressing his hip against his and providing an extra source of warmth that made Anthony hum with contentment.
"So, how did your class on binary stars go?" Asa began.
Anthony gave a weary smile and took a small sip of scalding tea, letting the warmth spread pleasantly through his chest, before answering.
"To be honest, I don’t think they’ll learn much. The students’ concentration was practically zero, probably because my good mood was at the same level. If you don’t mind, I’d like to talk about something else. Tell me about your day."
Asa nodded and then launched into a story about a strange customer who had visited the bookshop: an eccentric elderly woman who had spent thirty minutes fervently arguing that one of their old French pastry cookbooks was actually a Cold War espionage manual. This had led to a rather heated discussion between her and Derek.
Anthony listened, even though the words themselves had begun to blend into a pleasant, lullaby-like hum. Instead of paying attention to Asa's words, he watched his lover, amused by the way he mimicked Derek's final and blunt dismissal of the old lady at the bookshop.
The sparkle in his eyes, the smile lighting up his face and his adorably upturned nose all radiated a warmth and familiarity that gently dispelled the memories of that dreadful day.
Asa was finishing his story, but Anthony couldn’t wait any longer. In the middle of a sentence and without warning, he reached out, slid the blanket aside and cupped Asa’s face in his hands, his thumbs brushing gently against the soft roundness of his cheekbones.
Asa stopped speaking immediately. His eyes widened slightly in surprise and a soft blush crept up his neck as he looked up at Anthony, completely caught off guard.
Before Asa could say anything, Anthony leaned in and kissed him.
Their lips met in a gentle kiss that mirrored the cozy atmosphere, tasting of bergamot, warm and sweet. Incredibly sweet.
When Anthony finally pulled back, he pressed his forehead against Asa’s, keeping his hands gently resting on either side of his lover's jaw.
Asa blinked, his breath catching for a moment as a tender and bewildered smile played at the corners of his lips.
"What was that for?" he asked softly, his voice slightly hoarse. "Not that I’m complaining, mind you."
Anthony smiled, his thumb tracing the line of Asa’s jaw. "Just because," he murmured.
"Just because?" Asa repeated, tilting his head slightly. Then, teasingly, he continued, "That’s a bit cryptic, Professor Crowley. Especially for an astrophysics professor. I must have done something to trigger that pleasant reaction."
"No," Anthony replied sincerely. "It’s simply because you are you, Asa."
"What does that even mean?" Asa asked, frowning.
"It means," Anthony said gently, "that barely ten minutes ago, you stepped out into the hallway and seamlessly read every unvoiced need I was carrying. You didn’t wait to be asked, you simply reached out and cared for me so lovingly that what had been a suffocating, heavy day was transformed into something tender and serene. That... that is entirely, unmistakably you. And it deserves all the kisses in the world. Especially mine."
Anthony pressed another soft kiss to the corner of Asa’s mouth and lingered there for a moment.
"I realise just how incredibly lucky I am, and I adore you for it. I adore you to the point of ridiculousness."
Asa, moved, let out a slight, embarrassed chuckle, as he always did when he received a compliment, then wrapped his arms firmly around Anthony’s waist to pull him closer and buried his face in the crook of his neck for a moment to hide his embarrassment.
"You’re such a softie when you’re tired. You know that, right?" Asa muttered against his lover's skin.
"Let’s be honest, my angel, I’m like that even when I’m not tired."
Anthony admitted, resting his chin on Asa’s shoulder.
"Let’s be honest," Asa replied, "I love that."
They both laughed softly.
They moved slowly towards each other until their bodies were entwined, and they found themselves snuggled up side by side on the cushions, wrapped in the thick, warm blanket.
Outside, the rain continued to fall steadily against the window. But nestled comfortably against each other in the soft cosiness of their home, they were oblivious to it and neither of them gave it a second thought.