𝕮𝖔𝖇𝖎𝖊 𝕾𝖒𝖚𝖑𝖉𝖊𝖗𝖘 𝕴𝖒𝖆𝖌𝖎𝖓𝖊𝖘

Coming Home | R.S.

[Fluff]

You dragged yourself through the front door, the weight of the day pressing heavily on your chest. The warm glow of the apartment's lights should have been inviting, but tonight, it barely registered through the fog of exhaustion clouding your mind. Whether it was the endless barrage of tasks at work or that peculiar heaviness that some days carried, you weren't sure. All you knew was that you craved solace, a reprieve from the world's relentless demands.

Your bag slipped from your shoulder with a dull thud, and you toed off your shoes, leaving them in a careless heap by the door. The familiar scent of lavender—a soft, grounding note that always reminded you of her—lingered in the air as you made your way to the bedroom. There, curled up with a book in her hands, was Robin. Her dark hair tumbled over her shoulder, catching the golden glow of the bedside lamp. The moment her eyes lifted from the pages and settled on you, you felt the faintest flicker of comfort, as if just seeing her had already begun to lighten the load you carried.

"Hey," she greeted softly, closing her book and setting it on the nightstand without hesitation. Her brow knit in concern as she rose from the bed and crossed the room to you. "Rough day?"

You nodded, the tired attempt at a smile faltering on your lips. "One of those days," you murmured, your voice barely audible.

Robin's hand was on your cheek before you could say more, her thumb brushing tenderly along your jawline. "Come here," she whispered, and the warmth in her voice wrapped around you like a blanket. She tugged you gently forward, pulling you into a hug that dissolved your last threads of composure.

Her arms circled you tightly, her hands resting between your shoulder blades as she held you close. For a moment, you didn't move, didn't even breathe, afraid to shatter the fragile sense of security her embrace brought. But when she began to sway gently, her touch grounding you in the moment, you exhaled a shaky breath, letting your forehead fall to her shoulder.

"You don't have to say anything," she murmured into your hair, pressing a kiss to your temple. "Just let me take care of you."

Her words, so simple and unassuming, made your chest ache with gratitude. You clung to her, burying your face against the curve of her neck, and she responded with more warmth than you thought you deserved. Her fingers traced lazy circles along your back, and she pressed her cheek to the top of your head, her closeness melting the tension from your body.

After a while, she pulled back just enough to look at you, her deep, empathetic eyes scanning your face. "Let's get you comfy," she said softly, guiding you toward the bed. She didn't just pull the covers back—she patted the mattress invitingly, a small smile playing at the edges of her lips.

You sank down onto the bed with a sigh, feeling the weight of the day finally begin to release its hold on you. Robin slid in beside you, opening her arms once more. You didn't hesitate to curl into her, resting your head against her chest and letting her wrap you in her warmth.

Her hand found its way to your hair, her fingers threading through it in a slow, soothing motion. Each stroke felt like it was unraveling the knots in your mind, her touch whispering, You're safe here. When her lips brushed over the crown of your head, you felt a swell of emotion rise in your throat. It wasn't just relief—it was love, so steady and unshakable that it brought tears to the corners of your eyes.

She noticed, of course, because she always did. Robin tilted your chin up with gentle fingers, her thumb brushing away a stray tear that had escaped. "You don't have to be strong all the time," she said, her voice low and steady. "I've got you."

Those words, paired with the tenderness in her gaze, undid you completely. You sank back into her embrace, your hands clutching at her as though she were the only thing keeping you afloat. "Thank you," you whispered, the words raw and sincere.

"Always," she replied, her lips pressing a lingering kiss to your forehead.

For the rest of the evening, the world outside didn't exist. There was only the steady rhythm of her breathing, the gentle scrape of her nails against your scalp, and the soft hum of her voice as she murmured reassurances you couldn't fully process but felt deep in your soul. She kissed your cheeks, your temple, and the corner of your jaw, each touch like a quiet promise: I'm here. I'll always be here.

When your eyes finally grew heavy, she tightened her hold on you, her fingers continuing their soothing rhythm along your back. As sleep tugged at you, the last thing you felt was her lips against your hair and the comforting weight of her presence beside you, a safe harbor in a storm you no longer had to weather alone.

<3