it wasn't an uncommon thing for the end of the day to come and for cid to feel entirely exhausted, even if he'd barely left the hideout. there was never a truly quiet day around here honestly, plenty things going on to keep him on his toes, to keep him busy. errands to run, plans to make, the odd bit of sparring and training here and there.

never let it be said that cid lived a quiet life.

it'd been one of those rare, somewhat calm days where while cid had allowed himself to take some time off from leading the front lines, as it were, but somewhere in the small print had agreed to be the errand boy for the day.

he'd been on the go since early morn, hadn't seen nor heard of calderon since a little later than that, though suspected that he was likely playing a similar role of hideaway parent. now it was much, much later in the day, close enough to the later hours that cid felt comfortable to turn in for the night and rest from his day.

the only competition he had in the category was cid. and, on most days, cal would be generous enough to say they were tied. but today? the dominant of leviathan would just say they’re both tired.

cal hadn’t seen his heart much, only in passing when their respective tasks allowed them to cross paths. a quick glance. a brief brush of fingers in passing. none of it was enough, and the ache of quiet yearning followed calderon all day. roommates with the similar drone of exhaustion that had settled in his spine by dusk. and when it finally came time to follow that drowsy pull to the comforts of their bed, cid was still no where to be found.

cal would wait for him. sleepily with eyes half mast, he would wait for him; however, he was not surprised to find that he *had* drifted off, stirred awake by the warm presence of rumbling thunder. he hadn’t even gotten around to fully untying his hair or undoing his tunic, both a mess of looseness just waiting to be undone.

all six feet and four inches of cal shifts to tuck himself into cid. nose to neck. an arm thrown over broad chest and a long leg to follow suit. impossibly close but never enough.

@wreathedserpent SENT : worried [ … ]﹕ receiver  is  worried  about  sender  &  approaches  them  about  it .

cid was no stranger to concern and worry, these were stressful times for everyone. everyone was on edge, constantly ready for a fight or the news of one or of it's aftermath.

he also wasn't a complete stranger to looks of worry aimed directly and specifically at himself, and at this point in their relationship, the warden of thunder is all to familiar of that particular look on calder's face.

he's alone in his study, initially, working on blueprints for elaborate and complex machines while he plotted their next move, pointedly ignoring how terrible he felt. he should be resting, tarja insisted, glared at him when she caught him sneaking away to work. cid just gave her his most innocent of smiles as he slinked away. thought that the end of it, but now he see's that he was wrong and that she'd called in the big guns, so to speak.

not until now, anyways. not until returning to land. not until hearing word of the hideaway and the ambitions of those who ran it. not until cid.

“when we’re finished here, you mean.” while they had been exchanging words, the taller man had rounded the other’s desk. honey eyes scanned sketches and scribbled notes while gloved fingers find the back of cid’s neck, kneading gently. “we will finish this together. i’ll shoulder some of the work, and when we’re done, then you’ll rest.” the part where calder crawls into bed behind him is left unsaid. “if that’s alright with you.” it is much like calder to be commanding one moment and easy the next, gentle smile pulling up on handsome features.

the kneading fingers at cid’s nape found home some place else, cupped warm and solid against the side of the older’s neck. calder’s thumb is moved slightly to brush the underside of a rugged jaw affectionately.