He trudged over to the factory, tightly wrapping his labcoat around him to hold in the warmth against the cold night air. He hadn’t yet prepared for winter there and only had his thin white labcoat to keep him warm.

He opened the factory door with a tired creak and immediately softened at the sight.

Xephos was slumped over, leaning against a marble wall, surrounded by a mess of colorful wires. His chest rose and fell gently in pace with his bioluminescence that brightened and dimmed with each inhale and exhale.

The scientist shook his head and smiled fondly, kneeling next to the sleeping alien.

“Xeph... Xephos... wake up...” Lalna murmured as he gently shook Xephos’ shoulder. Xephos stirred, muttering something in his native language that Lalna couldn’t decipher. The spaceman finally blinked awake, his azure blue eyes glowing brightly in the dim lighting of the factory.

“Lalna?” He asked sleepily as he slowly gained awareness of his surroundings.

“You fell asleep in the factory, Xeph,” Lalna chastised quietly.

That woke Xephos up.

“Oh, sugar! I didn’t mean to- I-!” Xephos began to say before Lalna shushed him.

“No, no, it’s almost two in the morning. It’s time for bed,” Lalna explained.

“But-“ Xephos was interrupted as Lalna scooped him up. Years of carrying heavy machinery made Xephos’ lanky form easy to hold. The spaceman yelped slightly in surprise but didn’t protest the warmth of the scientist, wrapping his skinny arms around Lalna’s neck and subconsciously burying his head into the crook of his neck.

Lalna blushed at the action and carried Xephos back to the shed and set him on his bed. He clumsily began to try and take off his boots and Lalna sighed, resorting to assisting the exhausted man.

“I can do it myself.” Xephos grumbled in protest but Lalna rolled his eyes.

“Just let me help you, spaceman. Your fingers are like lead right now,” Lalna grabbed Xeph’s freezing hand and tried to move the stiff joints, proving his point.

Xephos huffed but didn’t protest as Lalna started helping him with his shoes again. He smirked at the light blue blush that dusted the alien’s cheeks but didn’t say anything. He helped him tug off his signature maroon jacket, folding it neatly over a chair.

He figured Xephos would be able to get into bed from here, and began pushing their beds together.

“Wh-what are you doing?” Xephos stammered as Lalna crawled into bed next to him.

“Making sure you don’t sneak out of bed after I’m asleep to keep working.” Lalna quipped.

Xephos opened his mouth to protest and Lalna narrowed his eyes. “Again.”

The spaceman clicked his jaw shut before he grumbled incoherently and laid down next to the scientist.

Lalna chuckled and gently wrapped his arms around the alien’s slim waist. Xephos sighed with a soft smile, and looked up at him with glowing eyes. The blue blush on his cheeks had returned and he quickly snuggled into Lalna’s chest to hide it.

Lalna felt heat rise to his face and gathered his confidence, pressing a quick kiss to Xephos’ silky brown locks.