You've Only Just Arrived (a Tom Hiddleston fan fiction)

Part 63

  Previously in YOJA: [forever and a moon ago] Tom has temporarily moved in with you. It makes sense while the pair of you are filming in the same state and is a happy distraction as time allows you to mentally rebuild. The passage of time, however, means that the holidays are approaching. Tom has apparently already found 'the perfect gift' - though he's hidden it from you. 

Your days blur together – some shorter, some longer – in a mad rush to get as much done locally before the holiday season begins. After the break for Thanksgiving the cast and crew will be mobile: location after location after location. Dinner for two tonight after a grueling day, but not the two you'd prefer. Tom is late as well, meaning you've only got to battle Bruce's preferences regarding the meal. Poor Bruce has been stuck with you all day, John with Tom. Richard, you suspect, is spending his day off side-eyeing his phone while trying to will it to ring. Getting the trio of bodyguards, and all other parties involved, to agree to the rotation had been a chore despite the uneventful span of time.

You're only half paying attention to the way Bruce is flipping through channels. The Late Show has aired, as well as The Late-Late Show. Even though the complex has increased their security Bruce is determined to wait until John drops Tom at home before he'll leave for the day.

As much as you'd like to be awake to greet Tom as he walks in the door tonight that doesn't seem like it's going to happen. You push aside the rewrites you've been studying, "Bruce. Your eyes aren't even open. Go and get some sleep."

He heaves out a sigh, lifting his head from where he's been cradling his chin in the palm of his hand so you can better see how he rolls his eyes as he faux-considers your request, "Hmmm. No. I'm waiting till they get here."

It's the answer you always get when you're feeling confident enough to voice the request. You know better than to ever try it with Richard. Still, the door has locks so it isn't exactly necessary for Bruce to stick around. Is this what normal is now? Always in the company of others? Always protected? You hope not.

"Come on. You're randomly pressing the channel button and watching the backs of your eyelids. I haven't absorbed a single word from these pages. At some point resting is unavoidable." You've been sleeping better lately, both a credit to the passage of time and working with your therapist. You wiggle your phone in Bruce's direction before situating yourself once more and beginning to type out a message, speaking as you do so. "Look. I'm letting them know that you're heading out and I'm going to sleep. And if Richard or John give you a hard time you can tell them the truth. I kicked you out."

You pause tapping out your group message to smile and wink at Bruce. He harrumphs in response, but does begin moving about in preparation for leaving. Odds are that he'll wait in his car outside –something you already feel slightly guilty over – but you'd rather that than have him sitting in your living room while you try to sleep. That seems a little beyond the job description.

As testament to how far you've progressed with your therapist, and true to her claim that time will help to right your world once more, you don't bolt upright upon hearing Tom arrive home. You groggily acknowledge his murmured greeting as the mattress shifts under his weight.

"Sorry, darling. I tried to be quiet." He looms over you for a moment to figure out where he wants to plant a quick kiss – your shoulder halfway to your neck – before the mattress shifts again as he settles down beside you. The scent of soap lingers. Evidently he washed before heading home from work. "Shhhh. Go back to sleep."

You roll to face him, not putting up much resistance to his softly spoken demand. In the morning you'll ask what caused his day to run so long. For now you're content to drift back into dreamland, aided by the comfort of knowing the man you love is safely home.