Chapter Text
The distant, muffled sound of an argument rising from the street below was what finally pulled Enjin from the depths of sleep. He groaned, the sound vibrating deep in his throat as he squinted against the slivers of light piercing through the blinds.
He shifted, turning his head to find you still anchored against his chest. Your breathing was slow and steady, face softened by the remains of sleep. His eyes traced the faint, darkening marks on the slope of your neck that disappeared under the blankets, and when he moved, he felt the sharp, lingering sting of scratches across his own back.
A slow smile of pure pride spread across his face. The memories of a few hours ago were still vivid, humming in his blood like a live wire.
Careful not to jar you awake just yet, he stretched his limbs with a lazy grace. He relished the friction of skin against skin, the lack of barriers between you. His hand slid beneath the warmth of the duvet, resting flat against the small of your back, and his thumb began to trace patterns against your skin.
He’d missed this, the frantic pace of his life didn't leave much room for stillness. Calls and brief check-ins were a poor substitute for having your body against his. He felt you stir then, twitching your features as you began to surface and your eyes fluttered open, blinking slowly until they found his.
“Morning…” Your voice was raspy and thick with sleep.
Enjin’s grin widened, his eyes softening as he took in your disheveled state. “Morning, have a good night?”
Instead of answering right away, you let out a hum and burrowed deeper into his side, your arms winding around his torso. You pressed a series of soft, lingering kisses against the warm skin of his chest, making him huff a quiet, content breath.
He reached up, his large hand tangling in your messy hair, smoothing the strands back as he looked at you with an intensity that bordered on reverence.
You stayed like that for a long moment, until you tried to shift, attempting to hook a leg over his. A sharp, localized ache shot through your muscles, and a pained little whine escaped your throat.
“Ugh… everything hurts.” You complained, looking up at him with a scowl of reproach.
Enjin didn't even try to look apologetic. He just propped himself up on one elbow, looking down at you with that insufferable, smug smirk playing on his lips. His gaze traveled over you, slow and deliberate, as if he were mentally cataloging every mark he’d left, his eyes dark with the suggestion that he wouldn’t mind starting all over again.
You reached out, giving his bicep a sharp, playful smack. “Don’t look so smug about it!”
“Hard not to." He chuckled, his voice dropping into that low, rumbling register that usually meant trouble. “You’re the one who told me not to hold back, remember?” His voice a low, gravelly vibration that sent a fresh shiver down your spine despite the soreness.
He leaned down, catching your lips in a slow, deep kiss that tasted of lingering sleep and a sudden, sharp spark of renewed hunger. It wasn't rushed. It was the kind of kiss that said he had all the time in the world, even if the rising sun suggested otherwise.
He eventually pulled back just an inch, his forehead resting against yours. “We’re still hitting that burger joint, right? I'm not letting you back out just because you're a little stiff.”
You laughed, the sound muffled against his chest as you swatted at his shoulder again. “I’m not backing out…”
“That’s the spirit." He chuckled, then stayed there for a moment longer, his hand tracing the line of your hip.
Eventually, with a heavy groan, Enjin finally began to disentangle himself from the mountain of blankets. The bed felt instantly colder the moment his heat left your side. You stayed curled up, propped on your elbows, watching as he stood up and stretched.
The morning light caught the hard lines of his back, highlighting the fresh, red marks your nails had left, almost imperceived with his tattoos.
He didn't seem to mind the sting, if anything, he wore them like a badge of honor. He scanned the floor for a moment before spotting his boxers discarded near the foot of the bed, scooping them up and stepping into them, his movements fluid and confident.
As he made his way toward the bedroom door, he felt your eyes on him, and he knew exactly what you were looking at. Just before stepping into the hallway, Enjin paused, glancing back over his shoulder, catching you admiring the view, his grin returning in full force as he noted the way your gaze lingered on the ink tracing down his spine.
“Take a picture, it lasts longer." He teased, his eyes dancing with mischief. “You want anything for breakfast, or are you just going to stare at my back all morning?”
“Coffee." You managed to say, your voice still a bit breathless as you pulled the duvet up to your chest. “I’m saving space for the burgers.”
“Coming up." He said, giving you a playful wink before disappearing into the hall. You listened to the rhythmic thud of his bare feet on the floor, until the sound faded.
In the kitchen, Enjin moved with ease, grinding the beans and waiting for the machine to hiss and warm up before sliding a mug into place.
Every time he stayed over, he felt genuine gratitude for the fact that you owned a proper coffee maker. It was a luxury he never took for granted, a world away from the bitter, chalky instant powder they choked down at the headquarters, the rich, earthy aroma began to fill the space.
He was halfway to the fridge, reaching for the milk, when a sharp chirp sliced through the domestic silence.
Enjin froze for a split second, his jaw tightening, and then turned his head toward the living room, his gaze landing on his gear piled near the sofa. There, clipped right next to Umbreaker, the comm-link was making that insistent, rhythmic sound.
With a low curse under his breath, he walked over and snatched the device, slinging it back around his neck where it belonged, clicking it on as he padded back toward the kitchen, his steps heavy with a growing annoyance.
"What?" He answered, his voice kept to a low, gravelly whisper. He was hyper-aware of the open bedroom door, doing his best not to let the conversation reach your ears. He looked into the fridge, pulling out the milk carton with one hand while the other hovered over the comm-link.
Gris’s voice crackled through the speaker. "Enjin, sorry to call at this hour, but you need to get back to base. A group of Raiders has been spotted on the outskirts of Gallow’s Reach, Akuta and Child have been tapped to go investigate."
Enjin closed his eyes for a moment, rubbing the bridge of his nose with his free hand. He couldn't believe the timing, cause it felt like the universe was personally offended by the idea of him having a peaceful morning.
"Can't you send Eager or one of the other squads?" He countered. "Akuta just wrapped a mission yesterday. The whole team isn't exactly in top condition."
He didn't mention that he personally didn’t want to leave, either. On the other end of the line, he heard Gris let out a long, heavy sigh.
"Eager headed out this morning to patrol the northern sectors. There isn't another team at the base right now."
Enjin let out a sharp, frustrated sound, and stared at the coffee dripping slowly into the mug, the steam rising in the morning light.
"Look, I know it’s a pain." Gris added, his tone sympathetic. "And I know it's your day off. But there’s nothing I can do."
Enjin gripped the edge of the counter, his knuckles turning white. He took a breath, forcing the frustration back down into that box, cause it really wasn’t Gris’ fault.
"Fine." He rasped, his eyes turning cold and focused. "Be there in an hour. Tell the rest of the team to get their gear prepped. I don't want to be waiting on them when I roll in."
After hearing the click of the comm-link going dead. Enjin stood frozen for a long moment, his hand still resting on the counter, eyes fixed on the steam rising from the coffee. He finished pouring the other cup, his movements tinted with irritation.
When he stepped back into the bedroom, the playful, smug from ten minutes ago was gone. He opened his mouth to speak, his brow furrowed as he searched for a way to break the news, but you beat him to it.
"I heard, Enjin." You said softly, sitting up against the headboard and pulling the duvet tight around your chest.
He let out a breath he seemed to have been holding, and walked over to the bed, handing you the coffee, then ran a hand over his hair. "I'm sorry." His voice dropping into a low, apologetic vibration. "Eager is out, and apparently, the Raiders don't believe in taking the day off."
He sat on the edge of the mattress, the weight of him causing you to slide slightly toward him. He looked down at his hands. "I know I said we had all day…"
You reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder, feeling the tight knots of tension in his muscles. You didn't give him a look of disappointment, cause you knew who Enjin was when you started this. You knew that being with a Cleaner meant sharing him with his duty.
"Don't apologize for doing what you do." You murmured, leaning forward to rest your forehead against his arm. "If I wanted a man with a nine-to-five and a predictable schedule, we wouldn’t be here. Just... come back in one piece, so we can actually eat those burgers eventually."
Enjin’s expression softened instantly as he turned toward you, wrapping his arms around you and pulling you into his lap, duvet and all. He buried his face in the crook of your neck, inhaling the scent of your skin as if he were trying to memorize it for the long hours ahead.
"I've got about thirty minutes." He whispered against your skin, his grip tightening just a fraction. "Thirty minutes before I have to put that damn coat on and head to the base."
He pulled back just enough to look you in the eyes, his thumb tracing the line of your jaw. "I’ll make it up to you. I’ll find the best damn spot in the city, and I’ll make sure nobody can find us for twenty-four hours straight. You have my word."
You smiled and leaned in to kiss him. It wasn't the fiery, hungry kiss of the night before, but gentler. You spent those final thirty minutes in a comfortable, heavy silence, tangled together under the sheets. Enjin kept his hand on your back, his thumb tracing slow circles against your spine as you both watched the sun climb higher through the blinds.
But eventually, the minutes bled away, and Enjin let out a final, resigned sigh. He gave you one last, lingering squeeze before finally pulling away to find his clothes scattered on the floor.
As he reached the door, Umbreaker in hand, he paused and looked back at you, now a t-shirt over your frame, leaning against the wall. The spark was back in his eyes, a flicker of his usual confidence returning to mask the annoyance.
"Save some of those chocolates for me." He called out, his voice regaining its usual smirk. "I’m going to need them when I get back."
"Stay safe, Enjin." You replied, watching him.
He bends down to kiss you, a chaste, loving touch before taking his umbrella. "Always am." He winked, and then the door clicked shut, leaving the apartment feeling far too quiet and much too cold again.