Chapter Text
The soft hum of the air conditioner engine filled Xeno’s office, and beside that, the sound of faint scratching of Xeno's pen against paper could also be heard in the room. Currently, the room is surrounded by the warm glow of the afternoon sun, the sun's golden rays spilling through the large windows and casting light across the polished floor. Xeno sat at his chair behind the wide mahogany desk, his brow furrowed in concentration as he wrote notes on his half-finished project manuscript. The faint scent of coffee beside him spread in the air, which is solid evidence of his countless hours working just to finish his work in time.
Across the room, Stanley slouched on the plush leather couch, his long legs stretched out in front of him, while his fingers tapped idly on his phone screen, the faint glow reflecting in his tired eyes. He didn't say anything much since he arrived, even though the silence between them was comfortable, if not a little unusual, because sometimes Stanley teases Xeno for working too much. Xeno finally looked up from his work, his sharp gaze landing on his best friend, Stanley’s face was unreadable, his usual mischievous grin replaced by a distant expression which Xeno had rarely seen during the decade they had been friends.
“Stan?” Xeno called, his voice finally cut through the silence of the room. “You’re spacing out again. Are you even sleeping properly these days?” He added as he set down his pen, the soft clink of it against the desk drawing Stanley’s attention.
Stanley blinked, as if he was pulled from a trance, and turned to look at Xeno. “Huh? I’m fine,” he said, his voice casual but lacking its usual energy. “I'm just a little tired since I just arrived back here this morning from the barracks. The travel drained me so much. He returned to scrolling through his phone, his thumb swiping absently across the screen.
Xeno frowned, but his curiosity was piqued at Stanley's action, so he pushed his chair back and stood up, then walked across the room to sit beside Stanley on the couch, which made the leather creak softly under his weight. “You’re awfully absorbed with that phone of yours,” he remarked, leaning closer to peer at Stanley's phone screen. “Is there something keeping you entertained there?”
Stanley’s eyes immediately widened in panic, and he quickly turned off the phone, shoving it into his pocket. “It’s nothing,” he said, a little too quickly. “Just watching some videos on Y**T*b*.” He leaned back against the couch, his posture relaxed, but the tension in his shoulders made him look like he was hiding something.
Xeno studied him for a moment, his brilliant mind already piecing together the inconsistencies in Stanley’s behavior, but he decided not to push the topic... for now. Instead, he leaned back as well, letting out a soft hum. “Alright, if you say so,” he said, though his tone made it clear he wasn’t entirely convinced by Stanley's answer.
The silence stretched between them, comfortable yet a little awkward, and then finally, Xeno broke it. “By the way, I’ll be gone for a while starting tomorrow. You’ll have the house to yourself for a bit.”
Stanley raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. “Why? Is there some conference that needs you?”
“Yeah,” Xeno replied, pulling out his tablet to double-check his schedule. “It’s a week-long event, maybe shorter if things wrap up early. So, try not to smoke too much while I’m gone. I don’t want the house smelling like an ashtray when I get back.”
Stanley chuckled, a hint of his usual mischief returning. “Hmm, I can’t promise you that. How long did you say you’ll be gone again? I didn't quite catch it.”
“A week,” Xeno repeated, scrolling through his reports. “Maybe less, depending on how things go.” He glanced at Stanley, his expression softening. “Are you going to be okay on your own?”
Stanley shrugged, his nonchalant demeanor back in full force. “Of course I am, I'm not a child anymore. By the way, are you heading home tonight, or are you going straight to your conference location?”
“I’ll stop by to grab my suitcase later,” Xeno said, setting his tablet aside. “But I’ll be leaving right after. So…” He paused, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Can you cook dinner for me? I missed your cooking since you stayed the whole month in the military barracks. I want to eat something you cook before I leave because I’ll miss your cooking while I’m gone.”
Stanley laughed, “Yeah, yeah, sure. I’ll whip something up.” He stood, stretching his arms above his head. “I’ll head to the grocery store now and grab some ingredients. Anything specific you want?”
“Surprise me,” Xeno said, his smile widening. “You’re the best, Stan. See you later.”
“See ya,” Stanley replied, giving a casual wave as he headed for the door. The sound of his footsteps faded down the hallway, leaving Xeno alone in the office once more.
As soon as the door clicked shut, the gentle smile on Xeno’s face vanished, replaced by his usual cool, detached expression. He let out a quiet sigh, running a hand through his hair as he returned to his desk. The warmth that had briefly softened his features was gone, leaving behind the sharp, calculating demeanor he reserved for the rest of the world, except Stanley, and his close acquaintances.
He picked up his pen, tapping it impatiently against the desk as he glanced at the stack of unfinished reports, the thought of the upcoming conference filled him with irritation. A week of dealing with overeager and useless colleagues, endless small talk, and people who couldn’t keep up with his train of thought, it was exhausting just thinking about it. The only person who didn’t drain him was Stanley, and now he even needs to leave him for a while when he just came back home because of that conference.
Stanley walked into the grocery store, the cool air hitting his face as soon as the automatic doors slid open, he then grabbed a small cart and walked around the store while tossing in stuff he knew Xeno would like, he grab multiple ingredients to make a homemade cheeseburger and burrito, a couple of energy drinks, and ingredients that he saw online so he can cook something that Xeno can eat on his way to his conference. Stanley grew to love cooking when he started living with Xeno because the latter can only cook basic food, which doesn't suit Stanley's palate, that's why he decided to study cooking different dishes.
After paying at the counter, he headed back to his house, the plastic bags swinging at his sides. The drive wasn’t that long, and as soon as he entered the house, he walked towards the kitchen, before he gently placed the groceries on the kitchen counter. He prepare some dishes, including braised pork, stuffed bell peppers, and a homemade cheeseburger for Xeno, while for Stanley, was a homemade burrito, he put it on the fridge for a while to manirate the spices on the meat since it's still early to cook it or else it will be already cold when Xeno comes home.
Stanley then decided that it was the proper time to take a bath and clean his body after a long day, he then walked toward the second floor of their house to go to the bathroom. Stanley took off his clothes and threw them in the laundry basket, he opened the faucet of the bathtub to fill it with water, then he stood under the shower to scrub dirt away from his body and massage his hair with a flower-scented shampoo and conditioner. After the bathtub is filled with warm water, Stanley slowly submerges himself, he sighs in relief as the warm water soaks his body. He leaned back against the polished tub, then he grabbed his phone and scrolled mindlessly through social media. Then, out of habit, he opened an app, a locked one, a smile tugged his lips as he skimmed through the notification tab.
He spent almost 5 minutes inside the bathtub before stepping out. As he walked to get his towel, he caught his reflection in the foggy mirror, and suddenly an idea entered his mind. He propped his phone up above his head, tilting his head slightly to the side so half his face was hidden. He stuck out his pink tongue lewdly, one arm teasingly propped up his plump chest, which covered up his nipples, while the other hand angled the shot to show off his curves without giving too much away. At 180 cm, he was taller than most guys who did this kind of thing, but his body was soft in all the right places, plump chest, slim waist, round hips, and thighs that definitely got anyone's attention.
After a quick check to make sure nothing in the background could give him up to his viewers, he then posted it on P*tr**n. The compliments rolled in almost instantly, and some tips were also added to his account. Stanley likes to post his body pictures online, according to him, it makes his confidence go up, the viewers comments makes him proud of the work he put up on making his body look good, and the money he receives from it is just a bonus, even though sometimes, no most of the time the money he receives from it is enough to cover up his expensive living expenses.
He smiled, then put his phone down and dried off his hair, before putting on some comfy clothes, and flopped onto the couch in the living room. Now all he had to do was wait an hour to cook the food and wait for Xeno to get home.
As the clock struck seven, the front door creaked open, and Xeno walked inside looking like he'd been through a warzone, his usually elegant dress shirt wrinkled, one of his chokers undone, and even his elegantly styled silver hair slightly tousled from running his hands through it too many times. With a tired grunt, he tossed his coat onto the couch where it landed half-on, half-off, then yanked at his tie until the knot came loose.
Stanley looked up from where he had been sitting after he finished cooking, one eyebrow raised at Xeno's disheveled state. "You look more stressed than usual, Xeno," he teased, as he stood from the couch and stretched out his limbs like a cat before walking into the kitchen. The rich smell of grilled meat and toasted buns followed him as he put the food on the plates.
Xeno collapsed into his usual seat at the dinner table, rubbing at the tension between his eyebrows. "Got too much work after you left earlier," he grumbled, propping his chin in his hand. His eyes tracked every Stanley's movements as the other man moved around the kitchen with ease. "My superiors know I'm leaving for a conference tonight, but they still dumped a pile of paperwork on me." Yet a small, smug smirk tugged at his lips. "Luckily, with how great I am, I finished it fast."
Stanley hummed as he slid a plate across the table, a juicy burger stacked high with all the fixings, with a whole piece of stuffed bell pepper, and braised pork on the side, steam still rising from it. "Why not take a vacation after this conference? You need a break," he suggested, taking the seat opposite Xeno with his own set of food, which is the same, but instead of a burger, he has a burrito.
"You really think I'll let them ruin the task I worked hard for months for the sake of taking a rest?" Xeno said before taking his first big bite of dinner because of stress. His shoulders visibly relaxed as the flavors hit his tongue. "Damn, this is good, Stan," he said around a mouthful. "You're the best."
"Is that so?" Stanley chuckled, biting into his own burrito with considerably more restraint.
Xeno swallowed and stared at Stanley with one of his reserved, genuine looks. "I wish my coworkers were like you, Stan, reliable and perfect, not a bunch of disappointments."
Stanley hid his face dramatically with one hand. "What flattering words, Doctor. You're making my heart skip a beat," he teased with an exaggerated wink.
"I mean it, Stan," Xeno said seriously as he stares at Stanley's eyes.
Stanley just smiled in response, and they fell into their usual comfortable silence as they ate, the only sounds the occasional satisfied hum and the clink of glasses and utensils.
Later, Stanley leaned against the doorframe of Xeno's bedroom, watching as his friend meticulously folded shirts and arranged them in his suitcase, the bedroom light casting shadows across Xeno's young features as he worked.
"Should I drive you to the airport?" Stanley asked, pushing himself off the doorframe.
Xeno glanced at his watch and shook his head. "That'd be nice, but it's already 8:30." He zipped the suitcase shut. "You should rest instead, I don't want you ruining that elegant face of yours because I kept you up too late."
Stanley rolled his eyes. "The airport's only an hour away. I'll be home by 11 if there's no traffic."
"If there's no traffic," Xeno emphasized, lifting the suitcase off the bed with a grunt, "which is impossible, Stan." He brushed past Stanley into the hallway. "I'll just ask one of my coworkers heading to the conference with me to pick me up here."
Stanley followed him downstairs, putting on his best pout, just to tease Xeno because the latter seems not to like it when he does it. "Fine, if you say so."
"Stop that, Stan," Xeno sighed, dropping his suitcase by the door before collapsing onto the couch.
Stanley's laughter filled the room. "Okay, okay. Doesn't work on you at all."
Xeno just hummed in response, already pulling out his phone to text his coworker. Stanley plopped down beside him, leaning forward to grab the remote. His hand landed on Xeno's thigh for balance as he reached for it to watch the television, and he felt that Xeno's leg muscles were a little firmer than before. "Seems like you're still working out, even when I don't nag you about it anymore, Xe," he remarked casually before pulling back.
Xeno set his phone aside with a small shrug. "I don't mind working out twice or thrice a week. I just hate getting sweaty, and I don't want my body turning to mush from sitting all day at work."
"Talk the guy that I had to convince before for a whole month just to join me at the gym," Stanley countered, playfully poking Xeno's cheek.
Xeno caught his wrist with surprising speed. "Because last time you dragged me, you made me try pilates." His nose wrinkled at the memory. "My whole body hurt for a week after that 30-minute session. I'm not as flexible as you, Stan."
Stanley grinned, not even trying to free his captured wrist. "Your body just isn't used to it. Pilates keeps you lean without wearing you out too much." He batted his eyelashes dramatically to once again tease the latter but hoping Xeno would agree. "When you get back, let's work out together."
Xeno released his wrist with an exasperated sigh. "You know that won't work on me, Stan."
Stanley just sighed and turned his attention to flipping through channels, letting the comfortable silence settle between them again.
After 25 minutes had passed, the sudden blare of a car horn outside made them both jump, Xeno then stood up, grabbing his suitcase, and said. "My coworker's here."
Stanley followed him to the door. "Have a safe trip, Xeno."
"I will." Xeno paused in the doorway, looking back at Stanley. "Rest properly while I'm gone, no staying up too late, and don't smoke too much."
"Yes, yes, wifey," Stanley joked, grinning when Xeno just sighed in resignation.
"See you in a week," Xeno called over his shoulder as he headed to the waiting car.
Stanley waved at Xeno before he leaned against the doorframe, watching until the car's taillights disappeared around the corner. The house suddenly felt too quiet without Xeno's presence once again, with one last look at the empty street, Stanley closed the door and headed back inside.
He gave the silent living room one last glance before turning off the television, which turned the space into quiet darkness. The stairs creaked as he dragged himself up to his bedroom, the events of the evening finally catching up with him.
With an exaggerated groan, Stanley face-planted onto his bed, the cool sheets colliding against his skin. He lay there for a moment, limbs splayed like a starfish, before rolling onto his back, his gaze drifted absently to the closet door left slightly ajar with a black fabric peeking out, then to his phone charging on the nightstand.
The device lit up as he unlocked it, immediately flooding the screen with notifications from his private app. Dozens of new comments blinked up at him, some praising his body in innocent remarks, while others complimented him with borderline sexual phrases. Stanley couldn't help but smirk as he scrolled through them, occasionally tapping out quick replies while lying on his stomach, feet kicking idly in the air behind him, which was a habit since he was young.
After responding to his patrons, he propped himself up on his elbows, considering the angle. With ease, he tugged at the neckline of his shirt, exposing a teasing small part of collarbone, chest, and pink nipples, with a slight arch of his back, he adjust the phone's angle to keep his face out of frame, and - click.
The preview popped up, and Stanley's lips curled in satisfaction. Perfect. He uploaded it after blurring the background with a caption of 'Goodnight, darling~', and once again, watch as the likes started rolling in almost immediately. He tossed his phone carelessly onto the pillow beside him, and he stretched out with a contented sigh, arms reaching above his head until his joints gave a satisfying pop.
"Alright," he murmured to the empty room, "time to sleep."
Morning came far too quickly, Stanley was pulled from his peaceful sleep by the insistent blare of a car horn right outside his window. He groaned, burying his face deeper into his pillow as if that might make the noise stop, but when the honking continued, he reluctantly dragged himself up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he stumbled toward the window.
With one hand still clutching the curtain for balance, Stanley squinted against the morning light. And there, leaning casually against a ridiculously expensive-looking, no a freaking expensive car, was Ryusui. The young man's face lit up the moment he spotted Stanley in the window.
"Good morning, Stanley!!" Ryusui called up, voice far too energetic for this ungodly hour. He flicked his fingers in that signature gesture of his, the morning sun glinting off his rings. "Let's go to the port to start the piloting lesson immediately!!"
Stanley sighed, resting his forehead against the cool windowpane for a brief moment of resignation. Sometimes, he really need to learn how to say no to this kid.