some fluff for you

The door to the apartment opened, then closed with a heavy, strained slam. Luka's head perked up from the couch, and a smile crossed his face. This was a time he always looked forward to, the twilight between when Emil's job ended and his own began. His mood didn't falter even as Emil, looking quite worn, flopped down beside him, face first into the sofa.

"Rough day?" Luka said, tone light as usual. Emil only responded with a slightly offended grunt, turning his head to peer up at Luka. His dark eyes were ringed with dark circles, as they often were, the results of long stressful hours and nights of hard studying. He'd always admired that about Emil. What a tenacious little man he was, holding so much discipline that Luka knew he would never have. His thoughts would sometimes flicker to what people back home would think, how so many of them were being out-achieved by a gypsy. It was more of an amusing thought than an offensive one; for all its problems, moving to this new country did help put things into perspective. Someone who many back home would see as a parasite and never give a second glance, Luka saw as someone worthy of love and respect, in many ways more than he himself deserved.

"Shh, it's alright," Luka cooed, "Sit up and take your shirt off. You don't have to say a word." Emil, knowing what was coming, sat up in the couch, tugging his shirt over his head and tossing it to the side. It was amazing how much time had changed Emil's body. Having known him for a number of years, Luka had seen him as a small boy, as an emaciated teenager, and now, finally, as someone truly healthy. Maybe even a little too much so. Emil's body was certainly soft, and Luka couldn't help himself, squeezing into his sides and smiling in delight as the skin underneath gave way easily. This earned him a sharp reprimanding from Emil, and with a laugh Luka finally got to business.

Luka turned Emil around, until he was facing his back. His pale hands moved up, fingertips grazing Emil's back on the way to his shoulders, brushing long, silky black hair out of the way as he went. It would be a lie to say that he wasn't taking his sweet time intentionally, staying quiet as he listened to Emil's breath hitch and grow heavier under his touches. When he felt that Emil had enough of the "torture", he started to knead his hands into Emil's shoulders. He'd done this before but every time he was still surprised by the thick knots of muscle underneath that the stress of the day had brought on. Still he diligently worked on until finally Emil's shoulders started to loosen, and he hummed happily as he listened to the sighs of contentment from Emil as he started to relax. Emil's dark eyes slipped closed, his breathing taking on a softer, more even pace.

Luka remembered how years ago he felt like days like this would never come. Life was very different back then, full of fear and uncertainty for both of them. They were left wandering, alone and without any sort of security. Both had been flailing, desperately trying to grasp onto something even resembling stability. But here they were. There was warmth here, there was safety. There was comfort as Luka's white hands worked, bringing his dear, hardworking friend relief. There was still struggle, but it was a struggle that this time brought promise instead of hopelessness. With the ground underneath their feet no longer threatening to give way, they could finally feel like they were stepping towards a new, promising life full of love instead of pain.

Soon Luka himself was lost to relaxation and remembering just as much as Emil was, and before he knew it he had put his arms around the smaller man, holding him close to his chest. He didn't say a word. He didn't have to. Soft nuzzles to Emil's dark neck and soft kisses to his cheek said all that needed to be said. He couldn't see Emil's face, but he could be sure that he was smiling. It was around the time when Luka was idly and very gently working the knots out of Emil's hair that he realized that he'd dozed off. Laughing softly, Luka leaned back on the sofa, Emil still in his arms, stroking his hair softly and letting him sleep off the rest of the day's stresses.