‘I’m telling you, it’s a cop-out,’ Gwaine reiterated, slamming the car door shut and following Mithian up the stairs to her flat.
‘What’s a cop-out?’ asked Mithian, slotting their key into the lock.
‘Being ill the moment I actually start to relax. Just proves that I should be working all the time.’
Mithian shot them a look as they shut the door behind him. ‘It does not prove that,’ they said, unwinding her scarf and kicking off her shoes. Gwaine followed suit, standing in the hallway in a pair of fluffy socks. ‘If anything,’ she continued, taking Gwaine by the shoulders and steering them into the living room, ‘it proves that you should have taken a proper break sooner.’
‘I’m staying away from YouTube,’ Gwaine muttered, throwing himself on the sofa without waiting for an invitation.
As Mithian draped her coat on the back of a chair by the radiator, they rolled their eyes. ‘Gwaine, you can watch as much YouTube as you want now. If you even think about doing any kind of work, Lance and I will pin you to that sofa.’
‘There are better ways of asking for a threesome, Mith.’ Gwaine tugged the throw from the back of the sofa and curled up beneath it. ‘Threats don’t tend to work with me.’
‘In my experience, I beg to differ,’ came a rich voice.
When Gwaine turned their head, Lancelot was standing in the kitchen doorway with his hands in the pocket of his apron. An equally rich scent had followed him into the threshold and Gwaine felt their nose clear slightly at the warmth. ‘Perhaps they work with you, hon. But Mith’s been threatening me for far too long for it to carry any sort of sexual appeal.’
Across the room, Mithian stripped off one of her socks and tossed it at Gwaine. ‘Don’t be rude when you’re a guest in this house.’
Gwaine stared at her. ‘I’m sorry, do you want me to find you sexually appealing?’
‘I’d like you to show me a little respect.’
Grinning, Lancelot approached the sofa and rested a warm hand on Gwaine’s head. ‘I told you that you should have gone home at a reasonable time this week.’
‘Yeah, but those apples weren’t going to press themselves.’
‘No, I was going to press them right in front of you and make you fall a little more in love with me,’ Lancelot warmly replied, grin broadening at Mithian’s laugh. ‘How are you doing?’
Gwaine closed their eyes as Lancelot’s hand began to move in circles in their hair. ‘Could be worse.’
‘It could be worse, yes.’ Mithian’s voice had gotten closer. ‘But I said they could stay with us for a few days, just so they don’t have to worry about cooking and things.’
‘She insisted,’ murmured Gwaine, opening his eyes.
‘I’m sure they did,’ Lancelot said, dropping a kiss to the top of Gwaine’s head before doing the same on Mithian’s temple. ‘Kettle’s just boiled, do you want a Lemsip or something, Gwaine?’
‘I’ll reimburse you,’ Gwaine quietly said, nestling against Mithian as they sat down beside them. ‘Lemsip is fucking expensive.’
Lancelot’s laugh rang through the room like a lullaby. ‘Don’t worry about that. We’re here to take care of you.’
Mithian’s arm had snaked around Gwaine’s body and they kissed his temple. ‘That we are. Take a nap if you want, hon, and rest. You need it.’
Nodding mutely, Gwaine closed their eyes and focused on the rhythm of Mithian’s fingers through their hair and Lancelot’s humming from the kitchen. Things were definitely not as bad as they could be, but at least he had good friends regardless.