Lydia went to her room.
Noah started stacking plates. Atlas was already at the sink, sleeves rolled up, water running.
Noah moved past him to reach the counter. Atlas shifted — just a bit too late. Their shoulders brushed.
Noah didn't step back. Neither did he.
Atlas rinsed a plate and handed it to him without looking. But his fingers lingered a second too long.
Noah took it, pretending not to notice, a faint smile ghosting over his face.
They didn't talk. Just moved around each other, quietly in sync — close enough that their sleeves kept touching.
When Noah reached for the next plate, his fingers grazed Atlas's wrist. This time, Atlas didn't move.
The sound of water filled the silence — steady, too steady.
Noah put the plate away, feeling the heat of the moment like steam in the air.
By the time they finished, the kitchen was spotless. And neither had said a word.
Atlas dried his hands. "Sunny needs a walk."
Noah's voice was softer than usual. "Yeah."
---
Outside, the air bit at Noah's face. Dark already. Cold enough to see his breath.
Atlas pulled his hood up. Noah did the same.
Sunny ran ahead, sniffing everything. A couple other dog walkers were scattered around the park.
They walked side by side. Not talking. Just following Sunny.
Noah's hands were in his pockets.
A couple passed them going the other direction. They smiled. Noah felt heat creep up his neck.
Atlas laughed. Out loud.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Please—" Noah tried to sound serious. Failed. "Behave."
Atlas laughed harder.
Sunny was running circles around a tree.
Noah shoved his hands deeper into his jacket pockets.
Then Atlas's hand was there. In Noah's pocket. Fingers threading through his.
Noah looked at him.
"Cold," Atlas said.
"You have your own jacket."
"This works better." Atlas squeezed his hand.
Noah's chest felt lighter suddenly.
Atlas pulled him closer. Just a step. Close enough that Noah caught his cologne mixed with the cold air.
Atlas's eyes dropped to his mouth.
Noah forgot how to breathe.
Atlas stepped back.
Noah exhaled shakily. Looked around. Nobody near them.
He grabbed Atlas's jacket and pulled him in.
The kiss wasn't gentle. It was relief and frustration and a month of missing someone all at once. Noah's other hand fisted in Atlas's hood.
When he pulled back, Atlas's face was flushed.
"You blush," Noah said. Breathless.
Atlas smiled. "You're terrible."
They kept walking. Hands still linked in Noah's pocket. Noah could feel Atlas's thumb moving against his palm. Slow circles. That old habit.
God, I missed this.
Sunny eventually got tired and they headed home.
---
Inside, they let Sunny into the living room. Luna was awake, eating from her bowl in the kitchen.
"You want something?" Noah asked. He was already moving toward the cabinet.
Atlas sat on the counter with Sunny in his lap. "Whatever."
Noah grinned. "Green tea."
"Absolutely not."
"Coffee?"
Atlas slid off the counter. Sunny jumped down. "I'll have yours."
Noah turned around. "What?"
Atlas was right there. Close. "Your coffee. I'll have that."
Noah's mouth went dry.
Atlas leaned in. His lips brushed Noah's neck, feather-light, then pressed there properly.
Noah's breath hitched.
Sunny put her paws on Noah's back. Stretched up and licked Atlas's chin.
They both started laughing.
"You're—" Noah couldn't get the words out. "Bad influence."
Atlas pulled back, still grinning. "Did I close her eyes?"
Noah shook his head.
Atlas set Sunny down. Then his hands were on Noah's waist, pulling him in until their bodies were flush. His hands moved over Noah's back. Slow. Deliberate. Mapping.
Noah kissed him. Soft at first. Testing.
Atlas's voice dropped. Right against his ear. "That's it?"
Noah's hand slid down to Atlas's hip. Gripped hard. His other hand pushed up under Atlas's shirt, fingers spreading over warm skin. "What do you want me to—"
Atlas kissed him before he could finish. Consuming. His hand came up to cup the back of Noah's head, holding him there.
Noah opened for him. The kiss deepened. Got messy. Graceless.
The coffee machine beeped somewhere in the background.
Neither of them heard it.
When they broke apart, Noah was breathing hard. "Bedroom."
Atlas nodded. Didn't say anything. Just took Noah's hand.
They took the stairs fast. Noah's hands were shaking when he locked the door.
Atlas backed him against the closet. Kissed him slower this time. Achingly slow. Like he was memorizing the shape of Noah's mouth.
Noah's fingers curled into Atlas's shirt.
Atlas pulled it off. Then reached for Noah's.
They fell onto the bed together. Atlas caught himself with one hand, the other already moving down Noah's side.
"I missed you," Noah said. The words came out rough. "So much."
Atlas's eyes went dark. He leaned down and kissed him. Tender enough to make Noah's chest ache. "I'm here."
Noah pulled him down fully. Felt Atlas's weight settle over him.
They took their time. Hands moving over familiar territory like they were learning it again. Noah traced the line of Atlas's spine. Atlas kissed down his neck, his collarbone, breathing hard against Noah's skin.
"Atlas—"
Atlas came back up. Kissed him deep. Noah wrapped his legs around his waist.
"I've got you," Atlas murmured against his mouth.
They moved together. Finding their rhythm again after so long. It wasn't smooth. Wasn't perfect. But it was real.
Noah's hands gripped Atlas's shoulders. Atlas's face was buried in his neck, breath hot and ragged.
At some point, Noah whispered "I love you" and Atlas made this broken sound and kissed him harder.
Time stopped mattering.
There was just this. Atlas's skin under his hands. The way he said Noah's name. The weight of him. The way everything else disappeared.
---
Later, they lay tangled together. Both flushed. Both breathing hard.
Atlas pulled Noah against him.
Noah watched the rise and fall of his chest. The way his eyes had gone soft. The way his hand moved through Noah's hair without thinking about it.
Neither spoke for a while.
Then Atlas looked at him. Really looked. "You're trouble."
Noah's hand moved over Atlas's chest. Lazy patterns.
Atlas's fingers found Noah's dimples. Traced them gently.
"I'm happy," Atlas said. His voice was quiet. Serious. "With you. Here."
Noah's throat got tight. He hadn't expected that.
"Me too." He looked into Atlas's eyes. Kissed him. Soft. Sweet. The kind of kiss that felt like a promise.
They were both smiling when they pulled apart.
After a while, Atlas asked, "Did you throw out my stuff?" He was grinning.
Noah laughed. "I was gonna ship it to your office. Forgot."
"Ship it—" Atlas laughed harder. "You forgot."
"Did you throw out mine?"
Atlas looked at him. "What do you think?"
"I don't know. You might've been mad enough."
Atlas rolled to face him fully. "No." He paused. "I didn't go back to the apartment after. Stayed on the boat."
Noah stared at him. "Why?"
"It reminded me of you."
Something cracked open in Noah's chest. "I slept on the couch for a while." He tried to smile. "Made me feel poor."
Atlas's expression went serious. "That's not funny."
Noah grinned. Teasing.
Atlas kissed him suddenly. Hard.
But when they pulled apart, Atlas didn't let go. His arms tightened around Noah. Pulled him closer.
Noah felt the shift. The way Atlas's breathing changed. The way his grip became almost desperate.
They lay there. Silent. Just holding each other.
Noah's grin faded. He pressed his face into Atlas's neck. Breathed him in.
Atlas's hand came up to cradle the back of Noah's head. His other arm wrapped around Noah's waist. Holding on.
Neither spoke.
The silence wasn't empty. It was full of all the nights they'd spent apart. All the times Noah had reached for someone who wasn't there. All the times Atlas had woken up alone on that boat.
Noah's fingers curled into Atlas's shirt.
Atlas's thumb moved slowly against the base of Noah's skull. Soothing. Anchoring.
Time passed. Could've been a minute. Could've been ten.
Finally, Noah lifted his head slightly. Kissed Atlas's shoulder. Then his neck. Gentle.
"Love," he murmured against Atlas's skin.
Atlas's breath caught. His arms tightened even more for a second before loosening.
He pulled back just enough to look at Noah. His eyes were too bright.
He didn't speak at first — like the word had knocked the air out of him.
Then, softly:
"Say it again."
Noah smiled. Soft. Real.
"Love."
Atlas closed his eyes. A small, trembling laugh escaped him — part relief, part disbelief.
He leaned forward, kissed Noah's forehead, and lingered there.
"We were gonna have coffee," Noah said quietly.
He glanced at the clock. "It's ten."
"Wanna play something?"
Atlas leaned close. Half his body covering Noah's. His hand sliding down Noah's side. "Is that a challenge?"
Noah smiled. "It was just a suggestion."
"What does the winner get?"
"You sound confident."
"I don't play games I'm gonna lose."
"Let's go, baby."
Atlas kissed him. Fierce. Possessive. Noah tried to say something about cheating but Atlas's mouth was on his and coherent thought became impossible.
When they finally broke apart, Atlas pulled him up by the hand.
They threw on sweatpants and t-shirts. Went downstairs.
Luna and Sunny were asleep in their beds in the living room.
Noah grabbed beers from the fridge. They sat close on the couch. Atlas's thigh pressed against his.
Noah started up Rocket League.
First round, Atlas won. He looked at Noah and winked.
Noah bit his lip. Stuck his tongue out slightly.
"You're gonna cheat when you start losing," Atlas said. Laughing.
Second round started.
Noah won at the last second. He leaned over and kissed Atlas's cheek. Let his lips linger. "Don't be sad."
Atlas laughed. Loud and unexpected.
Third round ended in a tie.
Atlas looked at him. Smiled slow.
Noah leaned back slightly, grin tugging at his lips.
"Careful, darling," he said. "You're losing."
Atlas froze for half a second — the word darling hit somewhere deep, unexpected.
Then a slow laugh broke out of him, genuine and warm.
"Not over yet," he said, voice rough with amusement.
He caught Noah by the collar, kissed him quick but thorough — just enough to leave him breathless.
"Now," he murmured against his mouth, "let's start."
"You just cheated."
"What cheat?" Atlas was laughing.
Noah slid his hand under Atlas's shirt. Moved it over his chest. Felt his heartbeat. "Like that."
Atlas caught his wrist. Gently. "No cheating." Still laughing.
They started the next round.
Noah won.
He threw his arms around Atlas. "I won!"
"I let you win." But Atlas was pulling him closer. Smiling into his hair.
"I won."
Atlas's hand came up to cup the back of Noah's head. They drank their beers. The only sound was Luna walking around the room. Her soft steps on the hardwood.
Noah picked her up. Stroked her fur.
Luna meowed. Like she was trying to say something.
Atlas kissed Noah's temple.
Luna jumped from Noah's lap to Atlas's. Started climbing up his chest.
They both watched. Barely breathing.
After a few tries, Luna made it to Atlas's shoulder. Sat there. Licked his face once. Leaned her head against his neck.
They looked at each other. Both stunned. Then smiled.
Sunny woke up and came over. Noah scooped her up.
"This is weird," Noah said. Laughing softly.
Atlas smiled. "Very weird."
Luna watched from Atlas's shoulder. Her whiskers brushed his face every few seconds.
"You're very serious," Atlas said. Looking Luna in the eye.
Luna yawned.
"She answered you," Noah said. Trying not to laugh.
They sat like that for a while. Noah's head on Atlas's shoulder. Atlas's head tilted toward his. Luna perched like she owned the place. Sunny warm in Noah's lap.
Eventually they headed upstairs. Brought Luna and Sunny with them.
Set them on the bed. Sunny fell asleep immediately.
Luna just watched them. Careful eyes tracking every movement.
Atlas pulled Noah close. Noah settled against him. Pressed his face into Atlas's neck.
Atlas kissed his hair. "I love you."
"I love you too." Noah kissed Atlas's collarbone. Then his neck. Felt Atlas's pulse under his lips.
Atlas's arms tightened around him.
After a long time, it felt as if peace and happiness had finally existed at the same time…