Simon approached the doorstep to his apartment with the distinct sense that the burden of the day's near disaster had taken a toll on him. His steps were slow and plodding, bearing the weight of exhaustion and lingering anxieties. The realization that his life could be taken away in the blink of an eye had begun to burrow into his psyche, instilling a newfound sense of the fragility of existence.

As he entered the apartment, the weight of the day's events only grew heavier. Taking a deep breath, he summoned all his willpower to overcome his fatigue and stumble his way over to where his partner was sat. their warm presence a ray of comfort in the otherwise cold apartment.

His knees would buckle, his body give out, as the once distant and reserved soldier now knelt before his lover. The mask he always wore, the bane of his identity, now lay discarded before the very person he had nearly lost forever that day.

The words were soft, sudden, and sincere.

"I'm sorry..."

He was apologizing, though even he was unsure of the reason why. Perhaps it was because of his constant absence, or the way he had closed off his emotions and kept his partner at an arm's length. Maybe it was simply because he realized that love is to be cherished and not taken for granted, brushing off his feelings when he should be cherishing them instead.

The man was often closed off, struggling to express his emotions, but in this moment, he seemed to be allowing himself to be vulnerable. As he bowed his head, placing a gentle trail of kisses upon his lover's calf, Simon savored the warmth against his lips, relishing the sweet taste of their skin and the reminder of just how precious they were, and how easily he could have lost them.