The house had been quiet all afternoon, the kind of quiet that made Ryan's mind wander too far. Max had long since given up trying to get him to focus, noticing the subtle tightness in his jaw and the twitch of his fingers every time he thought about Kia.
Then came the sound that made Ryan's heart skip a beat: the doorbell.
He froze, hand hovering over a pen, body tense. Excitement stirred beneath his carefully maintained nonchalance, but he refused to let it show. If anyone noticed, they would see just a hint of what he felt — a faint quickening in his chest, a subtle sharpening of his gaze.
The kids, oblivious to the tension, squealed in delight. "Someone's here! Someone's here!"
Ryan rose smoothly, his movements controlled, precise, masking the tiny rush of anticipation coursing through him. "Stay here," he said quietly to Max, whose mouth opened to protest but closed again. He moved toward the door, every step deliberate, face calm, cold — yet those who knew him would have seen the subtle light in his eyes, the almost imperceptible lift of his shoulders.
He opened the door.
Kia stood there, clothes slightly rumpled, hair just a little tousled, exhaustion written clearly on his face. And yet… his face brightened immediately the moment he saw them. Not a trace of effort to hide it — genuine warmth, pure and effortless.
Ryan's chest tightened. The pen forgotten on the table, his jaw twitched ever so slightly.
The kids were instantaneous. They ran forward, arms flailing, voices full of laughter. "Uncle Kia! Uncle Kia!" They ruffled his hair, tugged at his sleeves, and led him inside, chattering nonstop.
Kia's exhaustion didn't stop him from kneeling, lifting a small hand, hugging a child close, laughing softly at their antics. Ryan watched, calm exterior in place, but his chest tightened. Every small gesture, every shared laugh, chipped away at his control.
Finally, Kia turned to Ryan. His gaze caught Ryan's, scanning his face carefully. "Go upstairs and wash up," Ryan instructed firmly, voice colder than intended. "Dinner will be ready before you're done."
Kia's tired eyes met Ryan's. The coldness was still there, unmistakable, but so was something else — a hint of care, buried beneath the surface. Kia's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. "I'll tell the kids to close their eyes first," he said softly.
The children complied with giggles, covering their eyes as Kia said, "I have a surprise for you two, do not open it till tell you too."
Once the kids' eyes were closed, Kia approached Ryan. Without a word, he wrapped his arms around him. Ryan stiffened immediately, instinctively tensing, hands rising as though to push him away.
But Kia whispered softly into his ear, warm and gentle, so close it sent shivers down Ryan's spine:
"I'm just coming back from work… I'm tired. I just need a little care."
Ryan froze. The words, soft and quiet, melted some of the armor he wore so meticulously. His arms fell slowly, reluctantly, around Kia, letting himself be held. His chest pressed just lightly against Kia's, a tiny, dangerous surrender.
Kia stayed a moment longer, just enough to let Ryan's composure falter, then released him with a soft smile. He reached into his bag and pulled out chocolate, flashing Ryan another small, warm smile.
---
Chocolate for the Kids
"Open your eyes!" Kia called gently.
The children gasped and jumped up, squealing with delight as he handed them chocolate. Ryan watched, frozen in his spot, as the room filled with their laughter and excitement. Kia moved among them with ease, energy renewed despite his exhaustion, gentle and patient, dominant in presence yet soft in touch.
Ryan's chest tightened again. He remained still, still absorbing the scene, still shocked by the ease with which Kia commanded attention, softened hearts, and drew him in without force.
The kids were bouncing up and down, chocolate wrappers crumpled in small hands, laughter ringing through the house. Kia glanced once toward Ryan, catching his gaze, and in that look there was an unspoken acknowledgment: exhaustion could be hidden, pride could be maintained, but care, connection, and warmth were impossible to ignore.
Ryan remained rooted to the spot, silent, stunned, and yet somehow, quietly… happy.