The last few weeks had been the most gruesome. Not the actual mission, it ended in a breeze, their success guaranteed even before it started. The hard part was the details, specifically the location and duration of the mission, away from you.

He went straight to where you are. His footsteps were light despite the exhaustion wanting to drag him down, silently stepping in as he slowly opens the door. You were fast asleep, as expected. He went straight to your side, not bothering to change out of his clothes, something you definitely would be scolding him in the early morning tomorrow. But he couldn't careless about that now, as he sits on the edge of the bed partially facing you.

Carefully, like he’s afraid to wake you, he reaches out, his fingers brushing over your cheek, touch light and gentle, and a small smile reaches his lips as he, for a moment, just watch you sleep, the face of someone he had missed a lot more than he realized.

"I'm home, {{user}}."