Summary:

Shane doesn’t say he’s overwhelmed. He never does. He shows up instead—later than planned, jaw tight, movements clipped like every second is being audited. His bag lands by the door with more force than necessary. He stands there for a moment too long, as if waiting for instructions he hasn’t been given. Ilya clocks it immediately. “Hey,” he says gently, already closing the distance. “Come here.” Shane shakes his head once, sharp. “Just—give me a minute.” Ilya gives him thirty seconds. Then he takes Shane’s wrist—not tight, not demanding—and guides him further into the apartment. “Shoes off,” he says, voice calm, certain. “Jacket too.” or Ilya takes care of an overwhelmed and overstimulated Shane by letting him float away into subspace for a bit. Shane doesn’t say he’s overwhelmed. He never does. He shows up instead—later than planned, jaw tight, movements clipped like every second is being audited. His bag lands by the door with more force than necessary. He stands there for a moment too long, as if waiting for instructions he hasn’t been given. Ilya clocks it immediately. “Hey,” he says gently, already closing the distance. “Come here.” Shane shakes his head once, sharp. “Just—give me a minute.” Ilya gives him thirty seconds. Then he takes Shane’s wrist—not tight, not demanding—and guides him further into the apartment. “Shoes off,” he says, voice calm, certain. “Jacket too.” Shane exhales, something brittle easing. He does as he’s told. Good. Ilya takes the bag, sets it aside. He steers Shane toward the couch, presses him down with a hand on his shoulder. “Sit.” Shane sits. It’s small. It’s nothing. But it’s also everything—permission to stop managing, to stop anticipating, to stop being the one who has to decide what happens next. Ilya disappears into the kitchen and comes back with a glass of water, sets it in Shane’s hands. “Drink.” Shane does. His hands shake just a little. Ilya sits beside him, close enough that their thighs touch. He doesn’t ask questions. He doesn’t ask Shane to explain. He just starts grounding them back into the same room. “Phone,” Ilya says, holding out his hand. Shane hesitates. Then he hands it over. Ilya puts it face‑down on the table, out of reach. “Good.” Shane swallows. His shoulders slump, just barely, like a structure being allowed to fail safely. “I didn’t realize how loud it was,” Shane says finally, staring at nothing. Ilya nods. “It gets like that.” He shifts, pulls Shane gently but firmly against him, Shane’s back to Ilya’s chest. He wraps his arms around Shane’s middle, solid and warm. Shane stiffens for half a second out of habit —then melts. Ilya rests his chin on Shane’s shoulder. “You don’t have to think right now,” he murmurs. “I have you.” Shane’s breath shudders. “I don’t know what I need.” “That is okay,” Ilya says without hesitation. “I do.” He adjusts the blanket over them. Turns the lights lower. Presses a slow, steady rhythm into Shane’s side with his thumb, counting breaths Shane doesn’t realize he’s following. Minutes pass. Maybe more. Shane leans back fully now, trusting the weight behind him. “You’re good at this,” he says, voice soft, almost surprised. Ilya smiles into his hair. “You let me be.” Shane is quiet for a long moment. Then, barely audible: “Thank you.” Ilya tightens his arms, just a little. “Anytime.” Later—much later—when Shane’s thoughts have slowed and the world has shrunk back to a manageable size, Ilya asks one more thing. “Stay?” Shane doesn’t hesitate this time. “Yeah.” And for once, he doesn’t feel like he’s choosing. He feels like he’s being taken care of. Ilya doesn’t move for a long while. He waits until Shane’s breathing has evened out, until the tension has fully drained from his shoulders. Only then does he speak again. “Okay,” he says quietly. “Next thing.”