The apartment was quiet when they returned.
Ethan kicked off his shoes immediately, stretching with a satisfied groan. "That was good. Exhausting, but good."
"Your friends are great." Gabriel hung up his jacket, loosening his collar. "Charlie's protective of you."
"He's annoying about it." Ethan moved behind him, arms wrapping around his waist. "But yeah. He cares."
Gabriel's hands covered his. "I'm glad you have people like that."
"Now I have you too." Ethan pressed his face against Gabriel's back. "Best of both worlds."
They stood like that for a moment, swaying slightly, the day's energy slowly bleeding away into comfortable tiredness.
"Shower?" Gabriel asked.
"Read my mind."
Steam filled the bathroom quickly, turning everything soft and warm.
They undressed without ceremony, familiar now with the routine, the comfort of being completely unselfconscious around each other.
