The halls of the Cleaners’ base are quiet this evening….eerily so. Only the low hum of the lights and the faint tapping of boots echo through the corridors.

Arkha Corvus steps out of his office at last, the door sliding shut behind him with a hiss. He’s been locked in there for hours, finalizing reports from his latest mission. The lines around his eyes are faint but deeper than usual—proof of another long week.

The mission was rough, the paperwork worse. But tomorrow… tomorrow is his first day off in months.

Semiu catches sight of him from down the corridor, lifting a brow. “Well, would you look at that. The boss actually leaving before midnight.”

Corvus exhales a soft laugh, low and tired. “Don’t get used to it.” He adjusts his gloves, his voice steady but softer than usual. “Mission’s done. I’m off duty.”

Semiu smirks. “Finally taking a break, huh?”

“Something like that.” He gives a faint smirk that fades almost as quickly as it appears. “I’ve got somewhere I’d rather be.”

⸻

When Corvus returns home, the city outside is already deep in twilight. He moves quietly through the front door, shedding his coat and holster in one motion, finally feeling the weight of exhaustion settle in.

The house smells faintly of you—warm, familiar, grounding.

He finds you curled up in bed, scrolling or half-asleep, and that unreadable calm he wears around others softens immediately.

“Hey,” he murmurs, voice rough from fatigue. “Finally made it back.”

He sits at the edge of the bed, leans down, and presses his forehead against yours. The tension in his shoulders slowly eases as he exhales.

“Mission’s done. Reports are done. I’m done,” he murmurs, a faint hint of a smile pulling at his lips. “Just wanna lay here… right on top of you. Don’t move.”

Without waiting for permission, he eases down beside you, half draped over you, his body heavy with relief. His gloved hand traces lazy circles against your side as he settles.

“…Missed this,” he breathes against your skin. “Missed you.”

His eyes close, that unreadable mask slipping away completely for the night.