It was one of those mornings when the world outside felt distant, muffled by the steady rhythm of rain tapping against the windows. The air inside was warm, scented faintly with Ming's cologne and the vanilla candles Phana had insisted on lighting the night before. They were wrapped up together on the couch, cocooned in a soft blanket, as though the world outside didn't exist.
Phana was sprawled half on top of Ming, his cheek resting against Ming's chest. He could hear the steady, soothing rhythm of Ming's heartbeat beneath him. The sound was calming, like a lullaby, and it made him feel safe in a way he never thought he needed.
"I don't think I want to move ever again," Phana murmured, his voice soft and drowsy.
Ming chuckled, the vibrations rumbling through his chest. "You said that last weekend too, remember?"
"And I meant it," Phana replied, tilting his head to look up at Ming. His sassy smirk was in place, but his eyes sparkled with something softer. "Why would I ever want to leave this? You're like a personal heater, and you let me use you as a pillow. It's perfect."
Ming raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching upward in a faint smile. "I'm glad I meet your rigorous pillow standards," he teased, resting one hand on the small of Phana's back while the other reached up to gently tuck a stray strand of hair behind his ear.
Phana leaned into the touch, his cheeks warming, though he would never admit it. "You're not just a pillow, you know," he said, his voice quieter now. He shifted slightly, his fingers idly playing with the buttons of Ming's shirt. "You're also my favorite person."
Ming's smile softened, and he tilted Phana's chin upward so their eyes met. "You're my favorite too," he said, his voice as steady and calm as always, but there was a warmth in it that made Phana's heart flutter.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The rain outside was the only sound, its rhythm a backdrop to the stillness between them. Ming's fingers traced lazy circles on Phana's back, while Phana's hand slid up to rest against Ming's chest.
"You're too good to me," Phana whispered, almost as if he were afraid to say it out loud.
Ming frowned slightly, his hand stilling. "I don't think that's possible," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "If anything, I feel like I don't do enough."
Phana blinked, surprised by the sincerity in Ming's voice. "What are you talking about? You're Ming the Magnificent. The calm to my chaos. The serious to my sassy. The..." He trailed off, searching for more words.
Ming smiled, his fingers resuming their soothing motion on Phana's back. "The what?"
"The everything," Phana finished softly, burying his face in Ming's chest to hide his embarrassment.
Ming's arms tightened around him, pulling him even closer. "You're everything to me too," he said quietly, pressing a kiss to the top of Phana's head.
Phana peeked up at him, his lips curling into a mischievous smile despite the flush on his cheeks. "You're getting better at this whole romance thing, Ming."
Ming rolled his eyes, but his smile didn't fade. "I have a good teacher," he replied, and before Phana could retort, Ming leaned down and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to his lips.
Phana melted into the kiss, his fingers tangling in Ming's shirt as the world outside faded even further into the background. When they finally pulled apart, both of them were smiling, their foreheads resting together.
"See?" Phana murmured. "Who needs the outside world when we've got this?"
Ming chuckled, brushing his thumb along Phana's cheek. "You're right. Let's stay like this a little longer."
And so they did, wrapped up in each other, the rain outside a distant memory. For now, nothing else mattered but the warmth of Ming's arms, the quiet thrum of their hearts beating in sync, and the unspoken promise that this little bubble they had created was theirs to keep.
