Work Text:
As the sun slowly set over Linkon City, the whole area sparkled with a golden hue. For those quiet moments just before the sun disappeared below the horizon, the glass skyscrapers reflected iridescent beams for miles around. It was a beautiful sight that Maya might have enjoyed more on another day. She heaved a sigh as she exited the Unicorn Base. Stretching her arms above her head, she felt something give a satisfying pop in her shoulders. It had been a long week of hunts and nonstop reports that she was glad to be done with. The stress of the week was a palpable sensation weighing on her. Her eyes felt dry from pouring over documents with less than enough sleep. She couldn’t wait to head home to crash in a pile of plushies.
“Those eye bags are looking impressive.”
Leaning on a luxury car Maya could only dream of owning, the leader of the N109 Zone was giving her a once over. A stranger might think Sylus was aloof but Maya could see the concern for what it was.
“I haven’t been able to sleep well lately. And when I can, its on days I had a late night. It doesn’t even count at that point,” she sighed.
Sylus wordlessly stood to spread his arms to her. Maya wasn’t entirely sure what he was up to so she stared at him in confusion. “What are you doing?”
“Kitten. What do you think these muscles are for?” he asked in exasperation while gesturing at his pecs. “Sleep on this ample chest. You will fall asleep in record time.”
“Pfft-” Maya snorted even as she stepped into his arms. Once she had thought his stature intimidating but now it was endlessly comforting to be surrounded by him. “Is that why you bulked up?” she craned her neck to see his face peering down at her with absolute sincerity.
“Is there any other reason?”
“You’re silly,” she giggled. It was admittedly a nice spot to wind down in. She could feel her tight muscles relaxing as she melted into his chest. Her eyes slipped closed when he gently began to card his fingers through her hair.
“Does your chest have room for more?” she murmured. “I can think of a few others whose sleep has been out of wack lately.”
Xavier needed no help sleeping. He would absolutely fall asleep standing up if you let him. Rafayel and Zayne on the other hand? They needed divine intervention to get a good night’s rest. At least Zayne had a reason, what with his nightmares. The painter just refused to stop working.
“Mn, I have room for all my wives.” He crouched to hoist her into his arms. The car was literally right there but he’d never pass up a chance to pick her up. Her legs automatically hooked around his waist. At this point settling into his embrace was as easy as breathing.
“Don’t let them hear you say that.” It was a joke that started after Maya had put bows in the boy’s hair for the heck of it. They were very “bonita” even if they didn’t like the nickname. Maya savored the short trip to the car as she thought of their cute pouting faces. She hung on a moment longer even after Sylus unlocked her door.
“I’d like to see that little fish fight me,” Sylus boasted as he set her down.
While they drove off Maya started texting the others about a meet up. “This calls for a sleepover and that means snacks!”
It was easy for the two to agree that Rafayel’s would be the best place for their impromptu get together. He had the largest space available next to Sylus. There was also a conveniently placed 7-Eleven right in the path to the painter’s. The plan was just meant to be.
In a rare chance of fate, Zayne was free to get out of work at a normal time so he met up with them at the store for a snack run. Maya was wholly unsurprised that he picked up two packs of macaroons. As much as the good doctor nagged about health, he still had a sweet tooth. Xavier was already in the store with an assortment of treats poking out of his basket.
“I can cover the cost. Don’t hold back on anything you want.” Sylus was never one to discourage their spending. He saw the way Maya was weighing the snack options against each other like the answer would diffuse a bomb. But why pick just one? He’d buy her the store if she asked. But Maya wanted to be the generous one today.
“No, you did it last time! I wanna do it!” She wanted to spoil her partners too!
Zayne stepped forward between them, his hand already reaching for his wallet. “Actually, I do believe it’s my turn.”
Ignoring their banter, Xavier quietly paid for everyone’s picks.
“Ahhh! Xavier, you got it before me!” Maya whined.
“How sneaky.” Sylus laughed as he ruffled Xavier’s hair.
“It’s alright,” Xavier assured. “It wasn’t that much and it’s for everyone to share.”
With the snack haul completed, they set off to drive to Rafayel’s house. The painter was the only one who hadn’t answered the group chat so they doubted he knew they were on the way. They figured he had to be lost in the sauce of a project to have missed their messages. Normally he was the first one to answer. When Zayne and Sylus parked outside, the lights of the house were dim with mood lighting.
Punching in the door code, Sylus threw open the front door like it was another one of his own properties. In the most obnoxious tone possible Maya called, “Darling! We’re home!”
Rafayel glared at them from where he was sprawled on his couch. “Why are you in my house?” he rasped. When was the last time he drank water?
Sauntering over, Sylus loomed over the couch to smirk at him. “Aren’t you excited to see us, little fish?”
“No. Not at all,” Rafayel pouted. He turned his head away to avoid looking at his partner’s smug face. Whatever he was working on must not be going well.
Maya held up her shopping bag as a peace offering. “We brought snacks.”
The presence of a bribe changed his tone. “I’ll allow the intrusion.”
Taking it as permission, Sylus scooped him into his arms. Rafayel momentarily hung limply like a ragdoll before reciprocating the hug. With the way Sylus’ eyes crinkled in delight, Maya couldn’t help but wonder how much of his work out routine was based around picking them all up. It had to be because he even unconsciously started to sway Rafayel like a child who just picked up an unwilling cat.
Zayne shook his head in distaste at where Rafayel had been napping. On the cushions was a mess of art pencils, brushes, and abandoned sketches. “If you won’t sleep on a bed, at least sleep on a flat surface. You will get back problems sleeping on brushes.” The doctor set about setting the supplies back where they went, in various cups and cubbies around the studio room.
“My back is amazing. Actually,” Rafayel corrected. His legs hung limply, completely trusting Sylus to not drop him as he sulked.
“Your back cracks worse than Maya’s on exam days.” Zayne corrected.
Xavier nodded sagely. “Its like a sad rice crispy.”
“Hey-!” Maya and Rafayel both protested in unison.
“The audacity. I’m appalled at the nerve you all have,” Rafayel scoffed in mock disgust. “What’s everyone doing here? Its not often we can all gather like this.”
“Its for a sleepover!” Maya cheered. “We text you on the way over. We figured you were working since you didn’t answer.”
“I wasn’t just working, I was battling,” Rafayel clarified with a dramatically serious look. “It was a fight for my life that I barely escaped from.”
“What happened?”
“I was trying to paint a whale shark but I couldn’t mix the right shade of purple! I tried every combination but it's not the one I need!” he cried. “I spent so long on it and it doesn’t even matter. The vibe is completely ruined now.”
Maya wracked her brain to remember what a whale shark looked like. “Are whale sharks purple..?”
“They are!” Rafayel insisted with a dramatic point. “At a certain depth, in a certain light!”
Xavier dug a package out of their massive snack bag and held it up in offering. “Do you want melon bread for your struggles?”
He stared him in distaste, like the possibility of denying snacks would even be an option. “.....Yes I want a melon bread.”
A cuddle session with snacks perked up the painter. They all took the chance to catch up on what they had been up to since they last saw each other. After everyone got settled in, Sylus and Zayne started on dinner. It was to be a lazy night so they made some miso eggplant with beef over rice. Maya and Rafayel made sure to distract Xavier with Kitty Kart Racing to keep him from trying to help out in the kitchen. Magical star shakers or no, his cooking was still.
Catastrophic.
When dinner was served, they all melted into the comforting flavors. Maya was glad for the impromptu gathering. The good company lifted Rafayel’s mood out of the trench it had sunken into and had made her own stress feel farther away.
At the end of the night, they all piled into Rafayel’s enormous bed. Maya often wondered why rich people felt the need to have such oversized furniture. Sylus also had a bed the size of Jingzhou. Once, she had asked if he and the twins were up late playing Kitty Cards in it. He had given her the most disappointed stare. His face said disgust, but she knew that he enjoyed their games. Whatever the reason, it came in handy when they all gathered like this. Sylus had settled in with Rafayel clinging to his waist. On his other side, Zayne curled into his shoulder with one hand buried in the doctor’s hair. When his nightmares became known to the rest of the group, it was unanimously decided that he be put in the middle for maximum cuddle time. The rhythmic motion of Sylus petting their hair had already lulled them to sleep.
Maya was sitting up for a last minute game session. In her tired state she had forgotten about her daily quests and was determined to finish them before sleeping. She wouldn’t let her streak go to waste! Xavier was laid out with his head pillowed on her lap, looking serene and unbothered by the soft sound effects.
One might think he was already asleep, but anyone with a keen eye could tell this was not the case. Sylus peered at him for a moment before asking, “How come you never sleep on my lap?” He was curious but only half joking.
Maya laughed without looking up. Was he really so determined to have all of them sleep on him?
“Your legs are definitely unmatched,” Xavier agreed. Then he suddenly nuzzled into her legs with all the passion of a needy cat. “But these thighs are all I need.”
Color pooled in Maya’s cheeks at this man’s shameless behavior. He had said it with so much conviction, she almost thought he said something important. “Listen here-”
“Those thighs are poetry in motion,” Rafayel drowsily murmured.
Maya couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Don’t wake up for something like this-!”
Even Zayne had a small smile as he softly sighed, “Truly one of a kind.”
Maya wanted to smack the shit eating grin off Sylus’ face. “They are quite priceless,” he purred.
“Shut! Up!” She hurled a pillow at his head but he caught it with a ghostly tendril of his evol. The sight of him peeking out from behind it only irked her more. “Everyone shut up and go to sleep!”
“But kitten-” Sylus sweetly drawled.
“No!” Dailies abandoned, Maya tossed her phone onto the night stand and turned the lamp off. She squirmed around until Xavier moved off her long enough to lie down properly. She purposely faced the edge of the bed to sulk in embarrassment but didn’t protest Xavier embracing her from behind.
Of course they all were quietly snickering. They would never pass up a chance to tease her. But she was sure to get them back later! “Good night, sweetheart.”
“…Good night.”
“We love you!” Rafayel crowed with gusto, completely awake now.
Even as she was pouting, Maya couldn’t help the love in her heart for her boys. She rolled her eyes but still found herself smiling in the end. “I love you too.”
One by one, they all submitted to the call of sleep, eager to see how they’d spend the day together tomorrow. Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow. These sort of nonchalant days were something they hoped never ended.