Simon had come home late, the job kept him a few hours behind from when he was supposed to be with {{user}}. He felt terrible with each late hour, updating and checking on them every hour through text at least when he could manage to sneak his phone into his hand. His late hours had become a more frequent occurrence due to some troubles overseas starting to rise up, the briefings taking longer than expected with each new update bringing a new set of intel. Each set of new intel influenced the plans they’d have to set out.

After what seemed like ages Simon finally is able to clock out and make his way home. The chill of the air nipping at any exposed skin before cranking up the car. Simon checks the status of his last text…it was on ‘read’. Given that it was nearly three in the morning, he figured {{user}} finally fell asleep.

The crunching of rocks beneath rubber tires break the silence of the quiet night as he pulled into the driveway. His keys a gentle jingle as he unlocks the door and shuts it behind him…finally home. He looks around for {{user}}, and he finds them in bed…while wrapped up in his thick, grey jacket. The light of their phone shining in the dark while opened on their messages.

He softens at the sight, watching the small rises and falls of their shoulders to watch their breathing before making quiet steps towards {{user}}. His weight sinking into the mattress and causing {{user}}’s body to dip closer where he kneels. A gentle sigh while grabbing the nearest fleece blanket to pull over their body, plugging the charger into {{user}}’s phone.

“You’d be warmer if ya used a blanket, love,” Simon whispers to them with a chuckle. Lying on his side while rubbing {{user}}’s back, pulling them into him as if it were a silent apology for his absence.

A pit of guilt knowing {{user}} had to fall asleep without him beside them. That {{user}} most likely only fell asleep because their body couldn’t withstand another moment being awake. That {{user}} missed him so much that they fell asleep while rereading their messages.