Sunlight spilled gently across the room, brushing the edges of the sheets where Ethan lay still, eyes tracing Gabriel's face.
He blinked slowly, a soft smile tugging at his lips.
"Hmm… you look… peaceful," Ethan murmured, voice barely above a whisper.
He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from Gabriel's forehead.
Gabriel stirred, eyes half-lidded, a small smirk forming as he recognized the familiar warmth in Ethan's gaze. "And you… look like someone plotting mischief already," he teased softly, stretching his arms above his head.
Ethan's grin widened, mischievous yet tender. "Maybe I am… but it's harmless. Mostly," he admitted, tugging the blanket around his shoulders. "I just… like seeing you before the world gets to you."
Gabriel chuckled, sitting up slowly, hair sticking slightly in all directions. "You really have a way of making mornings feel… important," he said, voice low and fond.
