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James pulled the door closed behind him and kicked off his shoes. Then he allowed himself a moment to close his eyes and just take a deep breath. Finally, he was home.
Most of the time, he loved his job. Being a minister, to James, was more than just a career he had chosen, it was his vocation. Always had been.
But on some days, it was hard regardless.
Today had been such a day. After all, nobody liked funerals, even less so when they were held for a person whose life had been cut far too short. No, James shook his head, trying not to think too much about it. Death was part of life, and though the service had been bad, and the tea even worse, he knew he had done his job well. It was some small consolation, to know that he had given comfort to those in need, at the most difficult of times.
Still, he was done with offering comfort for the day. All he wanted now was to receive some comfort, proper comfort. Preferably on the sofa. In his boyfriend's arms. Watching some silly show on the telly, eating pizza and cuddling the cats. Anything, really, other than reflecting on the fragility of life.
Quietly, James stepped into the living room. Frederick was sitting on the sofa, just like he had expected, and, scrolling on his phone while he scratched one of the cats behind her ears, didn't look up when James entered the room. Whether he hadn't noticed or didn't bother, James did not know. Neither did he care, as he walked up to the sofa from behind and sneakily wrapped his arms around the other man's neck, leaning down to look over his shoulder.
„Hey, whatcha doin'?“
„You're nosy,“ was all he received for an answer, but even though Frederick grumbled and refused to turn around to face him, he still leaned into the embrace, ever so slightly. „Thought that was your sister's moral failing, not yours.“
The hint of a smile tugged at the corner of James's mouth, as he hummed his assent: „Guess it's something I have in common with her then.“ He gave his boyfriend a quick peck on the cheek, before he walked around the sofa, careful not to step on Mayhem's bushy, tan-coloured tail poking out from underneath the piece of furniture. Letting out a content sigh, he plopped down next to Frederick, immediately nestling up against the other's shoulder. In a tone more tired than he meant to, he added: „And what would all my moral failings be, according to you?“
Still not looking up from his phone, Frederick let go of Havoc and put his arm around James instead, holding him close: „Too many to bother, take it from an expert.“ Finally, Frederick put his phone away and turned towards James, the hint of a smile in his eyes. „But I'll make sure to add it to the list. And,“ he added, his voice gentler than his words implied, „if you have to know, I'll indulge you. Not that it's interesting or anything. I was only looking to book a GUM appointment.“
„Huh? Already again? Time sure flies.“
It did, but as the passage of time was among the last things James wanted to think about right now, he pulled his own phone out and unlocked the screen. Havoc, meanwhile, appalled by the lack of attention from one owner, had wandered over to her other owner and had started to curl up in James's lap instead. Smiling, James started to stroke her soft, silky fur.
„Still, I wouldn't have thought that it's been two months already. Anyway,“ he said and opened his calendar, „if you haven't booked already, try for a timeslot with a free adjacent one, will you? Then we can drive together, that is, if you don't mind.“
„And why would you need an appointment?“ Frederick regarded his boyfriend with mock incredulity. „Anything you wanna tell me about? Your sex life sure must be interesting.“
James laughed. „Oh, it is. It definitely is. Not that there's anything to tell, I think you all know it already. You should. You've been there.“ Unwilling to move or even adjust his position, James merely turned his head a little and nuzzled Frederick's neck, lazily kissing the first bit of skin he could reach. „But it doesn't hurt, does it? Getting tested again, that is. I mean, yes, having blood drawn does hurt, technically, but there's no harm in it.“ He shrugged. „Also, it's only fair I do my part, I can't offload all the responsibility on you, can I?“
„Considering I'm also the only one fucking around...“
„Still. Better safe than sorry. It's not that I don't trust you, I do, you know that, but there are other ways, aren't there? To catch something, I mean. And you are always so diligent keeping me safe, so I should do my part to make sure you're safe.“ James's voice was barely above a murmur, his face still hidden in the crook of Frederick's neck and the words tickled against the sensitive skin.
Next to him, Frederick sighed contentedly, craning his neck to give James better access. „Not impossible, yeah. And if you insist.“ He allowed James to pepper his neck with kisses for a moment longer, before he pulled him into his lap, unceremoniously evicting the cat from the sofa in the process. „But that's not all, is it? Anything you want to talk about?“
„Nah.“ James shook his head and leaned down to kiss Frederick. It was true. He didn't want to talk about his day, at least not right now. Right now, he had everything he wanted, except, maybe, for one thing. He broke the kiss again, pulling away only slightly. „But... Do you think we could order pizza tonight?“