CHAPTER 568: OPEN UP

Xavier had imagined this scene a few times.

Maybe he would surprise Luca while he was busy at work.

Or he would come home while Luca was sleeping, and when he woke up, he would realize Xavier was back.

He just never pictured coming back to be greeted by falling spare parts and his little chipmunk in tears.

Because the moment his little wife lunged at him, the entrance to the makeshift hideout nearly collapsed.

Crash!

"Whoa there."

He caught Luca mid-pounce, falling back onto the floor as scattered screws, half-built stabilizer panels, and a precarious stack of spare joints wobbled dangerously above them. Twisting quickly, Xavier shielded Luca’s head from a protruding gear shaft, his own back taking the brunt of the landing.

When he finally checked that nothing else was about to drop on them, Xavier looked up—only to be met with a tear-streaked face staring down at him. Luca’s eyes were wide, shimmering, and so full of joy and undisguised longing that Xavier felt the breath leave his chest.

"Hi," Xavier said quietly, reaching up to wipe a tear from the corner of Luca’s eye.

Luca’s face scrunched, and he dazedly and hesitantly touched Xavier’s cheek like he was making sure he was real.

Then, without warning, Xavier felt Luca’s spiritual energy wrapping around him.

"Luca."

"!!!"

The sound of his name snapped Luca out of his daze. He blinked, suddenly realizing he was straddling Xavier.

"Oh no! Sorry!" Luca scrambled to get off, but before he could move away, Xavier’s arm held him steady.

"You’re leaving already? Do I not get a hug?" Xavier tilted his head slightly, even from the floor.

Luca’s eyes widened, his cheeks flushing as Xavier’s other hand came up to cup his face.

"W-wait!" the cornered chipmunk stammered, caught easily by the wolf’s arm.

"Luca... earlier, you said you were going to check on the machine. But then you were inside... and now there are no more hugs?"

"That’s because I didn’t want to cry!" Luca blurted, his mouth trembling as his innocent lie was exposed.

"Then it’s not because you hate me?"

"Hate you?! How can I—! Oh, but you also lied!"

"Hmm. I did?"

"Yes! You didn’t tell me you were back already! I didn’t get to greet you!"

"Ahhh, I’m sorry. I should’ve come straight after getting here, but after coming from uncharted planets, we had to do a bit of quarantine before we were allowed to go."

"What?! Then is everyone alright?!"

"Yeah. Just standard procedure when the planetary conditions aren’t mapped out."

"But more importantly, sorry for not telling you... I wanted to surprise you." Xavier’s voice softened as his fingers gently brushed over Luca’s ear, then threaded into his hair.

"Have you been eating well? How come you’ve gotten thinner while I was away?" His other arm circled around Luca’s waist, and he frowned slightly at the difference he felt.

"Oh wait—no! Hngh!"

"?"

"What’s wrong?" Xavier asked, starting to sit up at Luca’s sudden reaction.

"No, it’s nothing!"

"Luca, what do you mean nothing when your face looks like that?"

Before Xavier could press further, Luca suddenly hugged him tightly, burying his flushed face into his chest.

Xavier raised an eyebrow, but there was little he could do against his wife clinging to him like this.

Well, there was one thing he could do—tease him. Because while to others it might not have seemed like a long time apart, to Xavier, who had grown used to this warmth, it had been far too long. The cold, damp places he’d been couldn’t compare.

In one swift motion, Xavier scooped the startled Luca up, securing him with his arms and fastening Luca’s legs around his waist.

"???"

"Huh? Where are we going?" The bewildered little chipmunk blinked up at him.

"A little inspection."

"Yeah," Xavier murmured, voice dropping low, "I want to know if you’ve been good while I’m away."

Luca froze.

Inspect... what?

What if he didn’t pass?

Before he could protest, Xavier carried him back into the hideout, brushing past dangling cables and half-finished parts.

"Wait— I didn’t tidy inside!"

"That’s alright," Xavier said without even glancing at the mess. "I’m not here to inspect that..."

Luca blinked, suspicion and surprise mixing in his voice. "Then what—?"

"I’m here to inspect this."

The words came just before his back hit the wall, Xavier’s solid frame pressing him there.

"Open your mouth, Luca."

"Mmph—!"

Luca’s legs were already wrapped around him when the kiss landed. His breath hitched as Xavier’s lips sealed over his, firm and unyielding, one arm braced against the wall to keep him locked in place.

The kiss started as a shock, his mind going blank, his fingers curling against Xavier’s shoulders. But somewhere between the warmth of that mouth and the deep pull of his scent, Luca’s body forgot to question the inspection. His eyes fluttered, his chest rising faster with each passing second, even as they separated.

Xavier’s free hand rose to his mouth, his thumb sweeping over the curve of Luca’s lips as if memorizing them all over again. His gaze was dark and unwavering.

"Haaa... Xavier..." Luca’s voice trembled out between breaths.

"I have missed you so much..." Xavier’s words rumbled against his lips, his hand sliding along Luca’s side before pressing himself in closer, their bodies aligning in a way that made Luca’s pulse race.

That jolted something in him. Luca’s hands fisted into Xavier’s lapel and yanked him forward, closing the gap in a sudden, fervent kiss.

This one burned hotter. Xavier’s hand slid to cradle the back of Luca’s neck, tilting his head just enough to deepen the kiss, while Luca clung tighter, pulling him in as though even the smallest space between them was too much.

When they finally broke apart for air, Luca was flushed and breathing hard, his eyes glassy. Xavier kissed the corners of those damp eyes, his own breaths ragged.

Luca moved in again, pressing a gentler kiss to his lips. "I missed you too..."

They stayed close, trading soft, lingering kisses, their breaths mingling.

"Did you really?" Xavier teased, brushing his mouth along Luca’s jaw.

Luca nodded earnestly, as if his life depended on it.

But then Xavier’s tone shifted, low and knowing. "So... did you wear this for me?" His hand slid deliberately to Luca’s waist.

"!!!"

"Wait—this one—!" Luca stammered, realizing what must have been revealed from his position.

He didn’t get the chance to explain. Xavier’s fingers pressed lightly over the fabric again, and Luca’s breath caught so sharply it was almost a gasp. His body shivered at the contact.

Oh no!