#rubberegobang

[thelostswede]

Ross tweeted about how he feels like he’s in a better place than last year, and Arin commented on it, being super supportive - My heart! <3

How could I resist drawing all them hugs!

[dontcareajot]

(In which Ross needs a goddamn nap and his boyfriends are there to help. Thank you for the prompt! Enjoy!)

Dan wanders into the kitchen area wearing a confused frown. He gives Arin a quick kiss on the cheek as he passes, Arin suspects mostly out of habit, and stretches up to reach the cereal. “Good morning,” he mutters, sounding distracted.

“What’s wrong?” Arin asks when it becomes clear that Dan isn’t going to divulge this information on his own. “We just got to the office, nothing catastrophic has happened yet, right?”

“What?” Dan says. Then, “No, no. Nothing bad. I don’t think. I just- Ross is-“

“Being weird?” Arin guesses. Dan hums his agreement. “Yeah, I noticed that, too. He’s never here this early.”

“And when I stopped by his office to say hey he kind of blew me off.”

Now it’s Arin’s turn to frown. “Huh. I mean, you were with him last night. Did you guys get into a fight?”

Dan throws his hands up. The cereal box he’s holding rattles. “No! That’s just it. Last night was great! He seemed fine.” He shakes his head as he reaches for a bowl. “Maybe I’m just reading into it. Maybe he’s just not a morning person.”

“We know he’s not a morning person,” Arin points out. He leans into Dan’s space to quickly steal his own kiss. “I’m sure that’s all it is. But if he keeps being weird, I’ll talk to him. Okay?”

“Okay,” Dan agrees, the beginnings of a smile creasing his face. “Thanks, babe.”

“No problem,” Arin says easily, and truth be told he doesn’t think much more about it for most of the day. He and Dan have a lot of recording to do before they go on tour. They only barely take a lunch break and it’s spent cramming food down their faces and pretend-arguing about which game to play next.

It’s not until dinner time that it occurs to Arin to check in on Ross. He finds him hunched over his desk, eyes flitting back and forth between a reference image and the drawing he’s working on. He doesn’t look up when Arin lets himself into his office. Doesn’t even acknowledge him until Arin puts a hand on his shoulder. Then he says, still entirely focused on his work, “’M busy.”

“I can see that,” Arin tells him gently. “But you’ve been at it for almost ten hours, man. It’s time for a break.”

“I had a-“ Ross cuts himself off with a startled noise. “Did you say ten hours? Fuck, man! I barely got anything done today.” He drops his face into his hands, rubs viciously at his eyes. He says, like he’s only just realizing, “Jesus Christ, I’m starving.”

Arin squeezes his shoulder and drops his hand. “Good. Me and Dan are about to head to dinner. You’re coming with.”

Ross opens his mouth, probably to protest, but Arin puts on his stern face and Ross thinks better of it. His shoulders slump. “Yeah, alright. Dinner.”

If Arin thought dragging Ross away would make him feel better, he starts to second guess himself about halfway through the meal. Dan was, of course, more than happy to have Ross along and he’s been making genuine attempts to get a smile out of him the entire dinner but Ross remains quiet, withdrawn, and Dan exchanges more than a few worried glances with Arin. There are dark circles under Ross’ eyes, like he hasn’t been sleeping well. Arin and Dan are aware of the stress he’s under but it seems like it’s really catching up to him today and, although the sense of peace at the dinner table is sort of a nice change, Arin finds himself wishing Ross would start bickering with Dan or start spouting bad puns. Anything would be better than the blank, lifeless look in his eyes.

When they stand to leave Arin curls an arm over Ross’ shoulders and that, finally, garners some small reaction. Ross leans heavily against him, wraps his arm around Arin’s midsection. He reaches for Dan on the other side, hand outstretched. Dan takes the offer, twines their fingers. Dan and Arin reach a mutual, silent decision, eyes meeting over Ross’ head, to take Ross home and make sure he gets some rest. Ross doesn’t bother asking where they’re going or why they aren’t going back to the office. In fact, he nearly dozes off on Dan’s shoulder during the ride, and when he realizes they’ve arrived at Arin’s house his only response is to make grabby hands and demand that Arin carry him inside.

Normally Arin would scoff and make him walk but this time he scoops Ross up in his arms. He deposits him safely on the couch where Dan is quick to take up residence beside him. Ross immediately curls into Dan’s side, like a cat seeking warmth. Dan giggles.

“Tired, buddy?” he asks, wrapping an arm around Ross and pulling him closer still. He buries a kiss in Ross’ hair.

Ross’ reply is muffled against the fabric of Dan’s t-shirt.

“What was that?” Dan prompts, running his fingers absently up and down Ross’ arm.

Ross turns his head so he can be heard. “I love you,” he repeats. “Both of you.”

Dan beams over at Arin. “Aw, he gets all mushy when he’s sleepy.”

“Shut up,” Ross mumbles. “Or I’ll take it back.”

Arin rolls his eyes but he’s grinning, too. He joins them on the couch, sinking down on Ross’ other side and grabbing the closest blanket to drape over the three of them. Ross links their arms and tugs persistently until Arin leans over to kiss him. Only then does Ross settle, eyes slipping shut.

“Don’t drool on me,” Dan whispers. He strokes Ross’ hair away from his eyes.

Ross lazily flips him off.

Arin loves them. He loves being with them. A snuggle pile on the couch wasn’t exactly how Arin had planned to spend his night but he’s not complaining. If one of his boys needs him, everything else can wait.

[more prompt fills]

[If you like what I do, please consider buying me a coffee!]