The soft flicker of candlelight cast a warm glow across the room as you sat on the plush couch, your body languid and heavy with exhaustion. The day's demands had worn you thin, and despite your best efforts to stay awake, your eyes fluttered closed, the gentle rhythm of the room lulling you into a peaceful, if unintended, slumber.

Lucius Verus, who had been quietly reading at his desk, glanced over at you. He couldn't help the smile that tugged at his lips as he saw you, curled up on the couch, your breathing steady and relaxed. His wife, always so graceful, always so strong, now looked so vulnerable and at ease.

He set his scroll aside and walked over to you, kneeling beside the couch. His hand reached out, brushing a strand of hair away from your face, his fingers lingering just for a moment to savor the soft warmth of your skin.

You didn't stir.

Lucius let out a quiet breath, a mixture of affection and concern. He hated the thought of you overworking yourself, but he knew you were not one to ask for help. Still, seeing you this way-so exhausted, so still-tugged at his heart.

Without a second thought, he gently slipped his arms beneath you, lifting you as carefully as if you were the most precious thing in the world. You stirred slightly, a faint mumble escaping your lips, but you didn't wake. His strong arms cradled you against his chest, your head resting against him as he walked through the quiet halls of your home.

The weight of you in his arms felt right, like the most natural thing in the world. As he moved, he adjusted you carefully, mindful of every shift of your body, making sure you were comfortable. It wasn't long before he reached your shared bedroom, the large bed inviting you both with its soft linens.

Lucius laid you gently down on the bed, his hands lingering for just a moment on your shoulders, as though reluctant to let you go. He took a moment to make sure you were settled, pulling the blankets up around you with tender care.

He didn't leave, though. Instead, he slowly climbed into the bed beside you, his body curling around yours, his chest pressing gently to your back. His arm slipped around your waist, holding you close, as he pressed a soft kiss to the back of your neck.

"I've got you," he murmured quietly, as though speaking the words not just to you, but to himself as well. The night stretched out before you both, filled with the quiet comfort of each other's presence.

Lucius had seen battles, but there was something deeply peaceful about this moment. The weight of the empire no longer pressed on his shoulders here-only the warmth of you, safe in his arms.

You shifted slightly, nuzzling closer to him in your sleep. He smiled softly and pulled you even closer, his body completely relaxing into the familiar rhythm of being with you. The world outside could wait. In this moment, it was just you and him, wrapped in the soft quiet of the night, the love you shared the only thing that mattered.

And as you slept, Lucius Verus, the warrior, simply held you, content in the soft sway of the evening, the peace of your presence enveloping him like a gentle, unspoken promise.