Honey?” Clover says as he pushes the door open. “Babe?”
As expected, Mint’s at the desk. The likelihood that he’s been like this—hunched over his work, head in his hands, mumbling vaguely to himself with only the desk lamp for light—for the last two hours at minimum is extremely high.
Honey. Mint.” Clover moves into the room until he’s standing right next to him, and even then Mint doesn’t move. “Hey.” He gently raps on the desk. “Babe.”
Mint jolts, finally, and snaps his head to look at him. “H- huh? Oh—Clover,” he says, letting out a sigh. “What’s up?”
It’s late, hon,” Clover says, running a soothing hand up and down Mint’s upper arm. “And I know you’ve been sitting here way too long.”
Mint snorts and rubs his eye. “I have not .”
It’s three AM.”
Mint pauses. “Okay,” he says. “I see your point. But”—he turns back to his work, scattering sheet music until he finds the one leaf he’s looking for—“this goddamn movement is driving me insane , Clover. I don’t know what it is but nothing I try works and I can’t figure out why and this is what Hell is I swear —”
Mint,” Clover cuts in. He takes him by the shoulders and looks him directly in the eyes. “Mint, you’re tired. Of course you’re not gonna figure out what’s wrong with it. You need to take a break.”
I’m not that tired.” Mint yawns. “Okay, fine, I’m tired.”
Clover chuckles. “I thought so,” he says. “Now come to bed. Herb and I’ve been missing you.”
Aww, I’ve missed you too,” Mint replies, his words slurring slightly.
Mint finally stands and shuts off the light, and then he and Clover walk hand in hand to the bedroom. Herb’s already asleep, of course, and they move quietly through the near darkness into the bed (Mint’s still wearing his pajamas, which is another indication that he’d spent too much time at that desk). Mint slips in first; Herb groans in his sleep at the disturbance, but he quickly curls into this new source of warmth, his head tucking under Mint’s chin. Clover comes in at Mint’s other side, pressing a line of warmth along his back, and drapes his arm over both of them. Mint sighs into the embrace. If that was Hell, then this is certainly Heaven. Sandwiched between two people he loves, their combined heat a soothing balm. The soft grip of sleep gently caressing them…
Clover?” Mint whispers.
Clover hums, the sound lethargic. “What is it, babe?”
Mint sighs again. “I just figured out what’s wrong with the movement.”