Crepuscular Clocksmith

21. A New Nest

The rattling of the late subway scared Mingi, but he clung to Yunho during the ride home and was consoled by the grip Yunho's hand had on him. To distract the naga, he told him about the train taking the same route above ground and how beautiful the sight was. By the time they arrived, Yunho was exhausted from the long day, and Mingi was exhausted from all the new things he wanted to explore at the same time.

Yunho led him upstairs to his apartment and meekly unlocked his door. When he gestured inside, Mingi slithered in, drinking up his new surroundings. Subtly, Yunho put his shoes in order on their rack and straightened his scarf, which was flung over the clothing hook without a care in the world. After toeing off his dusty boots, he brought Mingi inside.

"I will clean up in the morning, so don't bother with the chaos. Ah watch your... slithering here, there's a threshold," Yunho gestured left and right, rambling too much and about too many things that wouldn't concern Mingi on his first late night here. With all the patience in the world, Mingi followed him. He chuckled at Yunho's anime figures, at the dried-out cactus on his bookshelf, and at the jumble of his sheets that, of course, he hadn't done in the morning.

"This will be your room over there. Once we cleaned my mess out, we can build your nest." Yunho yawned, feeling his body as if it weighed thrice his mass.

Mingi chuckled and followed him inside his bedroom.

"Let's just sleep tonight, Yunho. I can look around anytime."

Right. He lived here now.

Pride tickled in Yunho's chest and he grinned like an imp. When he tugged fresh clothes from his closet, he beckoned Mingi to get comfortable.

"I'll be back in a bit."

He slipped into the bathroom, willing his racing heartbeat to calm before it woke his sleepy brain. The warm water cascaded over his aching back, taking out its knots and strains. Usually, a shower after a day of work soothed Yunho's mind and made him sleepy. This time, however, his brain kept bouncing back and forth in his skull because he knew Mingi was next room. His gorgeous naga boyfriend, who could go wherever he wished and waited in Yunho's bed, of all places.

When Yunho returned after his shower, Mingi was still awake. He breathed in the scent of Yunho's shampoo that wafted with him upon entering. Rolled up on and around Yunho's bed, he found no place to fit everywhere and he had knocked a book to the ground, but the sight of him was adorable.

"Pleased?" Yunho asked as he ruffled his towel through his hair. Mingi looked at him with sleepy eyes, swathed in the comfort of his tail. A dip just big enough to fit a Yunho was left between his tail and the lean lines of his bare upper body.

"I never slept in a proper bed. It's so comfy," Mingi muttered, eyes drifting shut as Yunho gathered up Mingi's pullover and put it with his clothes for the wash. The domestic image made him giddy. Even better, Mingi could wear one of his sweaters in the morning.

Yunho slipped into bed with Mingi, and they wrapped around each other. By now, no fumbling was needed as it came so naturally to them. Tied up in a bundle of limbs, they rested their foreheads against each other on Yunho's pillow.

"We can get you a bed if you want one. It also makes for a good nest."

Mingi shook his head. His breath caressed Yunho's lips like a spring breeze.

"No, I like our pillow fort more. If I ever want to sleep in a bed, I will just sneak in here."

With an affectionate hug, Yunho cuddled him as close as he could.

"You are always welcome in my bed. It belongs to both of us now."

Gleeful, Mingi nuzzled into him.

"I like that."