His baby was a mess of nerves. 

Ash did his best to calm his Ruru down each day before and after work, and to make sure that he was eating breakfast, as well as coming to sit with him at lunch, but...

He's not saying it, but I can hear his thoughts. 

Even his dragon was getting upset, but it didn't understand. He couldn't just tell the poor guy that he was hearing everything he was struggling with. Ru was his love and his man, but he also clearly wasn't ready to discuss what was bothering him yet, and he had to respect that, even if it stressed him out, too. 

There were also some things he'd caught from the man's exhausted mind that had him really wanting to ask some things, but again, it wasn't his place to intrude just because he could hear more than what he was willing to share right then. 

Even in the short few weeks that they'd known each other, he'd grown quite a bit as a person without even realizing it. The first time he'd let Ru know that he could hear his thoughts was when the man wanted to jerk off in the shower at his mother's resort. 

It hadn't been his proudest moment. 

No more mistakes now. 

He'd already made dinner and brought it over so that they could eat while watching a quiet movie, if Ru was okay with it. They usually ate at the table but he had found two tray stands behind the couch and wiped them off in the hopes that they could have a relaxing dinner together snuggling on the couch. 

So, the moment his boyfriend walked through the front door Ash was ready and waiting with a big smile and two little chicken pot pies, fresh iced tea, and a big piece of warm fudge to split for dessert. 

Ru looked exhausted, again, but Ash was ready to brighten his love's day!

His man seemed to notice his enthusiasm, too, because the moment he stepped inside and locked the door, his bag was on the floor, along with his suitcoat and keys. Not two seconds later and his shoes were off, and four seconds after that he was sinking into Ash's arms as he met him halfway.  

"Welcome home, sweetheart," he whispered as he pressed several kisses to his love's neck and cheek. 

Ru eagerly welcomed his affection and began returning it within moments. He was clearly very tired, and his movements were quite sluggish because of it, but Ash gladly worked with him until they were both panting quietly with soft, swollen lips.   

"Would Ruru like to join me for dinner first, or maybe a shower or bath?" he asked, not unwilling to put the food away until his love was ready to eat it. 

He could immediately hear his man's thoughts begin to worry because he'd likely already seen the food sitting by the couch, ready for them to eat. 

His stomach hurts from stress...

Reaching up, Ash gently settled a hand on either side of his man's face and leaned in to press a kiss to his nose. 

"Ruru, your happiness is my happiness. I made dinner if you'd like to eat, but I can just as easily put it away for later. What would you like to do?" 

Bath...

"Let's have a bath first, okay?" he said, using what he could hear just a little bit. 

Ru heaved a tired sigh in response, then smiled. 

"That sounds perfect." 

With having gotten the go ahead, Ash hurried to the bathroom and got everything ready just the way his man liked it. He dimmed the lights, got the water running warm, but not too hot, and added just the right amount of lavender and mint bath soap.

Once that was going, he hurried from the room and quickly put their dinner away, then returned just in time.

As the tub finished filling, he heard Ru walk in, making Ash stand up and turn around just in time to get the most beautiful view. 

His Ruru was standing just inside the open doorway with a dark red towel clutched gently against his chest. He nervously looked to the side, and the blush Ash could see, even within the darkened room...

So beautiful. 

He noticed that Ru was also acting a little shy, even though he was completely naked besides the towel... that wasn't even covering any important bits. 

Ash didn't dare poke fun at him, though. He'd learned in the past few days that his love got a little shy when he was really tired. Especially if he got circles beneath his eyes or anything on him was out of place. Even a little bruise from bumping his leg made him nervous. 

Without hesitation Ash stepped forward and wrapped him in a strong hug. 

"My man is so beautiful." 

The hum of stress he'd been hearing from Ru over the past few days slowly subsided as they simply stood there in the darkness. 

He waited until his love had calmed down most of the way before releasing him and taking a step back, then to the side. 

"Let's have a nice soak together." 

Ru finally looked up and met his eyes at that moment, then smiled softly as he nodded his agreement. The towel was soon folded and hung up, then they were both stepping forward. 

Ash carefully helped Ru into the tub, but when the man didn't sit down, he lifted an eyebrow, confused. 

"U-um... would it be okay if I sat in your lap this time?" he asked, making Ash's heart thump hard against his chest. 

He had absolutely no problem with that! 

"Of course!" he said cheerfully as he quickly but carefully climbed into the tub, then sat down against the back. 

His man was soon in his lap, and so fucking cute! 

Ru had quickly curled up against him as much as he could, ignoring the warm water in favor of affection. 

So adorable. 

Once Ru had settled where he wished to be, Ash reached to the side and grabbed a clean washcloth, then dipped it into the warm water and began gently rubbing his love's back. 

A content humming sound came and went as Ru got used to the rhythm, clearly enjoying the attention as he rested his head against Ash's shoulder. 

"I love you, babe," Ash eventually whispered as he leaned down to press a kiss to his man's forehead. 

He was so handsome, but also such a smart man and hard worker. 

So beautiful. I've got the best boyfriend. 

Ash began to snuggle his man and pepper kisses just about everywhere he could reach. He wanted to help him relax, and he knew that jerking off wasn't Ru's first, or second, choice for such things. Not that he didn't get horny sometimes, like when he was on vacation, but his libido wasn't nearly as high as his own. 

Ruru eventually began laughing lightly from all the attention, and even tucked his head to try and evade the worst of the onslaught!

"No getting away from me that easily," Ash teased playfully as he focused partially on what he was doing, and partially on what he was feeling. 

He made absolute sure that his love really was enjoying his attention completely and there wasn't an ounce of stress written on his face or his thoughts. 

By the time he decided to take a break Ru had his arms around his neck and was panting in between little bits of dissipating laughter. 

As they both calmed down and simply enjoyed each other's company, Ash couldn't help but hug his man a little closer, then tuck his face into his warm neck before blowing out a tiny puff of steam. 

I want this man. 

He let his arms tighten the slightest bit farther, loving the feeling of his Ru pressed so firmly against him. 

"I put in my two week notice today..." 

Blinking out of his daze, Ash turned his head slightly, brushing his nose against Ru's hair. 

He put in... his notice? 

When he felt Ru's arms loosen from around his neck Ash gently relaxed his own hold, too, allowing his man to lean back until he was straddling his lap. The little nervous blush he noticed on his face made Ash all the more excited. 

"Two weeks?" he eventually said, needing confirmation that his love was finally going to get out of that hellish job. 

Ruru's nervous smile slowly changed into something adorable as he beamed at him in the dim room. 

"Mm, two weeks!" 

The amount of weight that fell from Ash's shoulders at that moment felt incredible. He wanted to begin celebrating with his man immediately, but knew that Ru likely had other things he wanted to say. 

"That's fantastic, I'm proud of you." 

Ru blinked, looking a little stunned for a moment before his smile quickly came back and a blush painted his cheeks again. 

"It's been so many years since someone has said that to me," Ru said, chuckling a little as his words died off into silence. 

Ash felt his next words suddenly get stuck in his throat. His mum had said that she was proud of him just last week. Then again, three weeks before that. 

Has my Ruru really not been praised in so long? 

Now suddenly determined, Ash reached forward and gently but firmly grasped either side of his man's beautiful face, then leaned forward to whisper. 

"You are amazing, and gorgeous, and smart, and I am so proud of you!" 

The look on Ru's face after he'd finished speaking was so damn cute he just wanted to scoop him up and kiss him forever!

"Y-you look like you're about to eat me," Ru stuttered out as he averted his eyes at the same time his tongue slipped from between his lips to lick them gently. 

Just the sight of that tongue mixed with the fact that his Ru was wet and naked right on top of him...

His stomach growled loudly. 

Ru clearly heard and returned his gaze to his. 

"W-we should go eat. You're hungry..." he said, trying to make his voice not sound so quiet. 

I want to eat you. 

He really did. 

He wanted to pin him down and ravish him until steam was rising from his body and his man was moaning loudly beneath him. 

Ash nearly got lost in his imagination when he suddenly noticed Ru's face reddening as he quickly looked away. 

Had he just heard...? 

Mortified, Ash stuttered out a mumbled mess of nonsensical apologies! It took him nearly ten seconds before he was able to push aside his panic and get his mouth to put together real sentences, though. 

"I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to send those thoughts to you!" 

Dammit, he felt like an asshole... and double dammit, he was about to cry now because of how uncomfortable Ru must be feeling after having heard all of that. 

Except, when his man moved a few moments later, it was to actually lean forward and wrap him in a hug instead of climb out of the water and get away from him. 

Huh? 

"I was just a little surprised, Ashy. I'm not upset with you at all," Ru finally said, making Ash blink back his tears, confused but relieved at the same time. 

"You're not mad? I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable and I really don't mind being bottom," Ash said, apologizing again. 

 "I'm really not mad, I promise. I've actually been thinking about that for a while," Ru said as he released him, then slowly stood up and stepped out of the tub. 

Once he had his balance he reached over, offering a hand to him. 

"I actually don't think I would mind being under you in such a way. Though I think I might need to inch my way into that situation as opposed to what you did," he said, ending his words with a blush and a light bit of laughter. 

Ash was still processing what his Ru had just said as he stepped out of the tub with his help, so when Ru began drying his body off for him, Ash jumped a little. 

"You okay, love?" 

Ash immediately nodded as he watched Ru kneel down in front of him to dry his legs. That was evidently not the only thing the man was planning to do because, before his mind could even go that far south, Ru had his mouth around his length!

The sensation, along with his man's skills didn't have him lasting long at all. 

Three minutes... if that. 

He was beyond embarrassed. 

"Let's go eat, Ashy," Ru said as he got up and rinsed his mouth out, then stole a kiss before walking out and straight towards the kitchen. 

Ash was about to apologize for his poor performance, but when Ru didn't even mention it, at all, he awkwardly followed after him and was rewarded with another kiss after Ru finished putting the pot pies in the oven to warm up. 

Is it really okay that I didn't last longer? 

Ru turned around after adding some ice to the glasses of tea he'd taken from the fridge, then set the cups to the side. 

"Ash, I'm more than happy with you. This isn't a frat house and we don't have college or high school kids judging your sexual abilities, and you're not trying to impress anyone but me. Do you know what will impress me far more than your stamina when my mouth is around your dick?" he asked, making Ash's face burn as he awkwardly shook his head. 

Ru stepped forward and wrapped his arms nonchalantly around Ash's bare waist. 

"Your cooking, your work ethic, and your ability to groom yourself well. You want to know the time I was most proud of you recently?" Ru asked, making Ash quickly nod as he reached forward to wrap his love in a loose hug. 

"It was when you dressed up in that suit for me and came to my work." 

That...? 

Ru grinned and leaned forward for a quick kiss, then leaned back. 

"That, babe. I'm a crow, and my inner animal was absolutely overjoyed that you put so much effort into dressing up for us. If he'd been able to get out, he would have paraded you in front of every single person just to make sure that they knew you were the most gorgeous man in the world and that you were absolutely, unreservedly, taken," Ru said, making Ash's heart beat go a little wild. 

 It took Ash a few moments to process his words, because honestly, he was still quite young and having only been a few years out of high school, the habits he'd learned while there, even if he didn't participate in most, were still rooted in his mind. 

"I-I'll dress up more. If Ruru and Rucrow like it, I'll dress up for you and take good care of myself! I'll cook a lot, too!" he said, making his Ru smile and lift a hand up to pat his messy hair. 

"Good, and I'll gladly help you take care of yourself, and I'd love to learn how to cook more once we move."

Once we move. 

He'd put in his two weeks...

"We... you, you're moving in two weeks," he stated, his mind finally catch up with what the man had said earlier. 

Ru gave a light chuckle and nodded. 

"I hope you don't mind hosting me, or I can get a—" Ash didn't give him a chance to continue as he quickly pulled him against him for a super tight hug! 

"You're staying with me! Mum already loves you and I love you and you're totally staying with me!" 

His words got another chuckle from his love as the timer went off on the oven, forcing them to break apart. 

"Alright, I will gladly accept your hospitality," Ru said as he reached for the oven mitt, only for it to be stolen by Ash. 

"Go get dressed, hun. You're shivering a little. I got this." 

Ru hesitated for only a moment before he nodded and walked off, giving Ash a beautiful view of his naked body that he didn't waste a single second of. 

As soon as his man was out of sight, however, he quickly got the bubbling pot pies out of the oven and onto the little table trays by the couch, then added the tea and the slice of fudge he'd made earlier. 

By the time his man returned, fully clothed in a set of soft pajamas with little fire-breathing dragons on them, Ash was waiting on the couch with a movie just starting quietly on the TV. 

He was just about to ask if it was okay to eat there when Ru hurried over and climbed right into his lap, then settled down with a content smile on his face. 

The rest of the night went absolutely perfectly. They both ate quietly, only talking every once in a while as they let the movie take the majority of their attention. 

His love ate the most he had in days, and they both shared the big piece of fudge before Ru finally drifted off, snuggled comfortably against his chest. 

It was a good night. 

It was an amazing night.