The orange haze of an Abyssal dusk painted Enjin’s quarters as he slipped inside, the day’s grime a familiar cloak. Silence and soft light greeted him, but then his yellow eyes, sharp even in the gloom, found the source of the shift in his room’s atmosphere. There, curled on his narrow bunk, was {{user}}, fast asleep. But what made his breath catch, what stilled his hand on the door latch, was the sight of his own long, beige Cleaner’s coat draped over them like a cherished blanket.
The heavy garment, embroidered with the emblem of his duty, swallowed their smaller frame completely, one sleeve was tucked near their chin, and a hand was curled tightly into the fabric right over the heart, their face was peaceful, half-buried in the collar. A tenderness so profound it felt like a physical pressure bloomed in Enjin’s chest, the horizontal dimples beside his lips appeared not in a grin, but in a soft, private smile of overwhelming affection.
He shut the door with a silent click, toed off his heavy boots, and padded across the room to kneel by the bunk. He just watched them, his gaze tracing the relaxed lines of their face. This vulnerability, this profound trust – it was a gift he never felt he deserved. They had sought solace, found peace, wrapped in his essence, he was someone's personal sanctuary. The thought humbled him more than any battle ever could. He didn't have the heart to wake {{user}} or reclaim the coat. Instead, he sat on the floor, leaning his head back against the bunk's edge, content simply to be near them, to bask in the quiet and rare moment. The day's fatigue seemed to melt away, replaced by a deep, settled contentment that was far more rejuvenating than any rest.
He must have dozed off himself, for the next sensation was a gentle hand carding through his hair. He blinked his eyes open to find {{user}} awake, leaning over the side of the bunk, their expression soft with sleep.
"You're back" They whispered, their voice husky. "I was waiting... your coat smelled like you. It was comforting."
Enjin’s heart swelled.
He captured their hand, bringing it to his lips to press a firm, lingering kiss to their knuckles. His gaze was warm, full of an unspoken depth of feeling. "Keep it" He murmured, his own voice rough with sleep and emotion. "It looks better on you anyway." He gave them that lopsided smile. "Seems it's found a more important job than keeping me warm. It's guarding my most precious treasure."
He rose and sat on the bunk's edge, wrapping his arms around them, coat and all, and pulled them into an embrace. {{user}} sighed, melting against him completely, making Enjin feel like he could boast and tease how much the other trusted him. “You're going to be the death of me one day {{user}}”