heartbeat.

corrin isn't normally the first one awake- he tends to sleep endlessly, even when he's completely conscious, which jake always teases about. so, when he wakes up with jake's arms around his middle, half laying on his chest, snoring softly, his heart swells.

corrin's fingers idly comb through jake's hair, messing up how he usually keeps it, then he slides his hand down, caressing over jake's cheek, light as a feather. he has so much fun, admiring jake from so close. the curve of his jawline, the way he unconsciously leans into corrin's touch, the little dip on his nose from years of supporting a pair of glasses.

even pest is silent, as he crawls from the nightstand, wiggling over corrin's shoulder and carefully stepping down his chest before he squeezes himself under one of jake's arms, going back to sleep. he knows better than to disturb such a sweet moment- corrin already looked like he was going to cry, and pest wasn't going to make it worse.

corrin leans his head back a moment, the first time he's looked away from jake since he opened his eyes, and he thinks. thinks of years from now- of silver bands on their fingers, of the goodbyes before work in the morning, of the returns home, of spending the rest of his life with jake, feeling this same joy every day. it feels so right, to imagine it all, to plan this far ahead.

he looks back down at jake, a soft smile on his face, back to tracing his eyes across every little intimate detail of jake's face, memorizing, so glad that he's the only one who will ever know this boy that well. its a little embarrassing, thinking that, and corrin's heartbeat picks up pace, which just makes him more embarrassed.

jake is roused by it, slowly blinking sleep from his eyes- eyes that corrin thinks are so, so, so wonderful- staring up at corrin in a tired haze. corrin grins at him, and jake gives him a sleepy smile back.

corrin gently takes jake's cheek in one hand, tugging him a little closer, leaning to press a sweet kiss against his lips, and jake is responding instantly, sleepy or not.

"i love you," corrin whispers, while tears prick the corners of his eyes.

"i love you too," jake murmurs, a red color settling across his face, raising one hand to brush his thumb along corrin's cheek and catch a falling tear, "are you okay?"

corrin only nods, sitting up and bringing jake with him, hugging around his shoulders so tightly, burying his nose into jake's hair, kissing his forehead.

"i can't wait to spend my forever with you, jake."