Chapter 13: Finding Comfort

The days after D and Amir started something new were full of quiet moments that D hadn't even realized he needed. For the first time in as long as he could remember, he wasn't just running from one threat to the next. He was learning how to slow down—how to let someone in, how to be present with Amir.

It started small. The way Amir would reach for his hand in the middle of a conversation, their fingers brushing almost unconsciously. The quiet mornings when D would wake up to find Amir already sitting beside him, their legs tangled in the blankets. The soft glances, the playful smiles, and the way their laughter would fill the space around them, pushing away the constant weight of the streets.

But it wasn't all easy. The world they lived in still had its claws in them, the looming threats of betrayal, the crew's survival, and their enemies waiting in the shadows. Even now, as D and Amir sat together in the safe house, a quiet hum of anxiety lingered in the air.

It was late afternoon when D found Amir in the kitchen, preparing something simple. Even the routine actions felt different now. Amir, always so calm and composed, had a relaxed energy about him that D couldn't help but gravitate toward. The way Amir moved—so confident, yet somehow still so tender—drove D crazy in the best way. He wanted to be close, to feel the warmth of his body next to his.

"Need help?" D asked, his voice a little too eager, and it made Amir laugh.

"I'm just making sandwiches, D. Not exactly a five-course meal," Amir teased, but there was warmth in his words. He looked up and smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "But you can sit with me."

Without hesitation, D slid into the chair at the kitchen table, leaning back and watching Amir work. His gaze never left Amir's face, admiring the way his jaw tensed with concentration and how his dark hair fell just slightly over his eyes. Everything about him was magnetic.

After a few moments, Amir turned, his hands resting on the counter as he met D's gaze. "You know, you've been extra clingy lately," Amir said with a raised eyebrow, but his tone was playful.

D couldn't help but smirk, knowing it was true. "I guess I like being around you. Is that a problem?"

Amir's grin widened, and he walked over to where D was sitting. Without a word, he reached down and pulled D into his arms, sitting down on his lap as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The sudden weight of Amir's body on him made D's heart skip a beat, but there was something comforting in it. Something right.

"No problem," Amir murmured, his lips brushing against D's ear. "I like you here, too."

D wrapped his arms around Amir's waist, pulling him even closer. The proximity was intoxicating, his heartbeat thumping in his chest as he let himself enjoy the moment. Amir's warmth felt like the safest place in the world.

"You always make everything feel easier," D admitted, his voice low as he buried his face in Amir's shoulder. He didn't care how vulnerable it made him sound. With Amir, it didn't feel like weakness. It felt like peace.

Amir chuckled, a soft, affectionate sound. "I'm just doing my job, D. I'm here for you. Always have been. But this? This is all you."

D smiled into Amir's neck, pressing a gentle kiss to his skin. The soft scent of Amir's cologne mixed with the lingering smell of the food they hadn't yet eaten, and D found himself getting lost in the feeling of having Amir so close. His hands slipped beneath the hem of Amir's shirt, feeling the warmth of his skin.

"I don't think I could do this without you," D murmured, the words slipping out before he could stop them. But it was the truth. He didn't want to do any of this without Amir.

Amir paused, his body stiffening for just a moment before he relaxed again. "You don't have to. I'm not going anywhere, D."

D pulled back slightly to look at Amir, his hands still resting on his waist. "I don't know what the hell I'm doing, but with you, I feel like maybe... maybe I'm doing something right for once."

Amir met D's gaze, his eyes dark with something unreadable, but there was a softness in them that made D's chest tighten. Slowly, he reached up to cup D's face, his thumb brushing over his jaw.

"You don't have to have all the answers," Amir said softly. "We're in this together. And together, we'll figure it out."

The words settled into D's heart, calming the storm of thoughts swirling in his head. It was easy to get lost in the chaos, to let the mission, the pressure, and the fear of losing everyone around him consume him. But with Amir, it was different. Amir was his anchor, the one person who made him feel like he could breathe again.

"Promise me," D said quietly, a seriousness in his tone, "you'll never leave me."

Amir smiled, his thumb still grazing D's cheek. "I promise."

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**Later that Evening:**

The night grew darker, and the two of them retreated to their room, finding comfort in the space they shared. Even though the world outside was full of danger and threats, here, it felt like they could be something more—something soft and real.

D, still feeling the warmth of their earlier moments together, pulled Amir into bed. Their bodies tangled in the sheets, limbs entwined as they shared small touches, soft kisses, and whispered words. The safe house felt more like home now—like something worth protecting, not just for survival, but for the love that was blooming between them.

Amir rested his head against D's chest, his arm draped across D's waist as they settled into the comfortable silence that came with being near each other. D's fingers absentmindedly traced patterns on Amir's back, the steady rhythm of his touch lulling them both into a peaceful sense of calm.

"I'm glad you're here," D murmured, his voice quiet but full of emotion.

Amir's lips curled into a small smile against D's skin. "I'm not going anywhere. Not now. Not ever."

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**End of Chapter 13.**