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Claude lets out a deep sigh.
He rests one hand on the wheel, leaning back against the seat and watches the sight in front of him in frustration.
The traffic seems to be never-ending today, moving at a snail’s pace, with hundreds of cars, trucks and motorcycles all crammed up on the highway.
Claude glances at his watch.
10:48 p.m.
He’s been here for almost an hour.
Claude just wants to go home as soon as possible. He’s had an extremely long day—he had spent sixteen hours on the flight back home from a business trip, another extra hour in the airport thanks to some luggage issues, he’s still wearing his office wear, which is becoming suffocating at this point, and currently, he’s stuck in a merciless traffic jam.
Claude is tired, and he just wants to flop on his bed and pass out. Preferably, for the next two days. Unfortunately for him, the universe apparently doesn’t share the same sentiment.
He sighs again and takes his hand through his hair. He had it cut recently and it’s much shorter now, lighter. It’s refreshing to feel the cold breeze on his neck.
Picking up his phone, Claude scrolls through some of the notifications. There’s a few messages from different people—some from his colleagues about work related stuff, a few of his friends asking if he was free for a game night, among other things.
He only opens one chat, though.
Clicking the familiar little icon of their group chat, he scrolls through the horde of texts that he’d missed out on. He can’t help the small smile gracing his lips as he reads the messages from the people closest to his heart.
Claude missed them.
The texts had stopped a while ago, right after Claude informed them that he had landed and was on the way back. He wonders what they’re currently doing—he had told them not to bother making dinner for him, that he would just order out.
Right now, all he wants to do is simply make it home, food or no food.
He shoots off a quick text and puts his phone back down, bringing his attention back to the traffic. Which moved barely an inch.
This was going to be a long night.
:::
By the time Claude actually makes it home and parks his car in the basement, it’s nearing midnight.
He quickly goes up the elevator, and it’s only until he’s halfway up to the apartment that realizes he left his jacket and tie back in the car. He had haphazardly thrown them off once he’s gotten out of the airport, the formal clothing too stifling for his liking.
Fuck it, Claude thinks, he’ll get it later tomorrow. He wants to lie down somewhere.
He opens the door and gets inside.
The lights are off, but there is a faint glow coming from the living room. Probably the TV, he thinks. Claude steps out his shoes and keeps his luggage to the side, striding down the hallway.
The sight that greets him makes his heart nearly melt.
The source of light turns out to be the television just as Claude had suspected. In front of the TV, three figures are passed out on top of the couch, tangled up with each other.
Shu sits in the middle of the couch, with Elira and Finana flagging him from both sides. Elira has her head resting against Shu’s shoulder, almost tucking into his neck, and she’s holding Finana’s hand. Meanwhile, the green-haired girl is lying her head on Shu’s lap, feet propped up on the armrest and Shu has one arm placed over Finana’s stomach while the other one is wrapped around Elira. The three of them seem to be peacefully snoring away in dreamland.
They make for such a positively adorable sight—Claude is tempted to take a picture.
And he’s just about to do that, walking as quietly as he can towards them, when Shu stirs from his spot. He’s always been a light sleeper.
Shu slowly blinks his eyes open, and Claude has the pleasure of seeing his boyfriend’s cute little face waking up.
“Claude…?”
His voice is slightly groggy from sleep.
Claude walks over and stands right in front of the couch. He leans in just close enough to whisper, “Hi, baby.”
Shu is still struggling to wake up. “Did you just get home?”
“Mm.” Claude hums.
“What time is it…?”
“It’s past midnight now.”
“Ah. Are you hungry? Do you want anything to eat?”
Honestly, food is the last thing on his mind right now.
“Maybe in a bit.”
Claude is leaning in before he even knows it—he can’t help it, it’s been two weeks—he holds onto the couch for support and nearly melts as their lips meet. Shu doesn’t even flinch, content to let himself be kissed as Claude guides them together languidly. He’s careful not to move so much as to prevent accidentally waking up the girls.
They pull apart after a while. Claude licks his lips.
“Welcome back,” Shu murmurs. He sounds a little breathy and Claude tries not to feel too satisfied about that.
“Glad to be back,” Claude says.
“Sorry we couldn’t make it to the airport. We did want to go, but there was so much to do with the con coming up and—” Shu apologizes.
“Don’t worry about it,” Claude shakes his head. “I told you guys, it’s alright.”
And really, it is. After all, they’re adults and they each had responsibilities and things to take care of. It’s only natural that they would not be able to make it to every little thing. That would be near impossible.
“Besides, it’s not the first time I’ve traveled.”
Shu gestures to the coffee table. “We were waiting for you, you know.”
It’s then that Claude sees the box of takeouts on the table along with a small cake decorated prettily. There’s a little card on the side and Claude can barely make out the words “Welcome back!” engraved on it. Elira mumbles something in her sleep. Finana is still out like a light.
He grins, heart feeling like it’s about to burst.
Fuck, he’s missed them so much.
“Thank you,” He whispers, voice thick. “I’m sorry I couldn’t make it in time.”
“It’s not your fault.” Shu reassures him. “Now, go change your clothes and eat. I’ll take the girls to bed and come join you.”
“No, let me help. I won’t take too long and you can stay with them.”
Claude presses another soft kiss to Shu and bends down to gently pick up Finana. He carries the smaller girl in bridal style and walks towards their shared bedroom. Shu follows him shortly after with Elira in his arms and they both tuck the girls into bed.
Shu tries to insist on going but Claude convinces him to stay in bed with their girlfriends. He takes a quick shower, changes into a comfortable T-shirt and sweats, and downs his food in record time.
When he comes back to the room, Shu isn’t there.
In the bathroom, then.
It’s around 1:00 a.m as Claude climbs into bed—finally—and lies down under the blankets. Moonlight shines in through the window, illuminating the room in a warm embrace.
Finana is the closest to him, and as he settles in, she turns towards him. Purple eyes blink open, squinting in the dark.
“Hey, you’re awake?” Claude says softly.
“Mmn,” Finana mumbles incoherently and closes her eyes again. She shifts towards him, tangling their legs together and slotting herself right under his chin. A perfect fit. He wraps his arms around her and gently rubs her back.
“We woke up while you were in the shower,” Elira’s soothing voice whispers, the mattress shifting as she moves. She yawned loudly. “And then we fell back asleep.”
Elira is on the other end of the bed, next to Finana.
“Hello to you too, sunshine.” Claude greets her. She smiles in response. Even doused in sleep, she looks beautiful as ever.
“Welcome back, pookie.” She says.
“Come here.” Claude lifts himself up a bit just as Elira moves closer like he asked.
He leans over, making sure not to jostle Finana too much and presses a kiss to Elira’s forehead. They both lie back down just as Shu comes out of the bathroom.
Shu climbs in and joins Claude on his side, the blond scooting over to make room. Shu settles behind Claude, laying an arm on his waist and leaving a soft kiss on his exposed neck.
Claude shivers. He’s still not used to that.
Finana shifts again in her position, and Elira moves in closer, cuddling up to the younger girl. Claude is forever grateful that they managed to get a bed that fit all four of them. Finana lifts her head and mumbles against Claude’s neck, “Welcome back, Claude~”
Claude kisses the top of Finana’s head and hugs her tighter.
He closes his eyes.
I’m home.