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There were few things in the world more stressful to deal with than a long, dull, boring, and all at the same time, somehow difficult day at work.

It was possible, of course, for a work day to be every bit as boring as it was difficult. Sometimes, the work wasn't mentally taxing, but was very physically difficult, or, the exact opposite could be true. Other days, people just didn't have the energy they needed to push through the day, no matter how many times they reminded themselves that they simply needed to.

So much depended on finishing out the work week that, even when Friday came around and most people were expecting to party, Kraton just didn't have it in him to do it. He would often skip the bar rush, skip out on happy hour, and make his way right home from a long day on the job, finding he scarcely had the energy to drink, and didn't want to spend his money on a temporary solution to a permanent problem.

The delicate hue of blue that was normally so visible in Kraton's fur was dulled, as if the pressures of the world were trying to force him to embrace the gray that was more prominent underneath. His job was almost literally sucking the life out of him, to the point that when he reached his front door, he hardly had the strength or willpower to grasp the doorknob and turn it open.

One of the few reasons he had to carry on was waiting just on the other side of the door, wearing a bright, wide smile at the return of their lover. "Good evening, baby! How was work this afternoon?"

The voice was almost too happy to be real, but there was nothing fake about it. It came from Loghan, a wolf covered in pristine, white fur, dotted with the kindest of eyes...the one who Kraton was lucky enough to call his own.

That day, however, even the sweetness of the voice, like sugar silk brushing across Kraton's ears, wasn't quite enough to make him smile. "Terrible. I seriously don't know how much longer I can put up with that place."

"It couldn't have been that bad..." Loghan tried to protest, seeing just how much of a struggle it was for Kraton to close the door behind him. Even the steps across the soft, plush grip of the carpet seemed to be an ordeal for Kraton, who'd truly let his workplace beat him down into a dark, desolate mindset, on that he couldn't seem to escape from.

It wasn't within Kraton to argue about the logistics of how bad his afternoon had really been. The longer he sat, dwelling on those thoughts, the worse the experience became in his memory, and yet, that seemed to be all that he had the energy to do. He dropped his things by the door and made his way over to the loveseat on the far wall of the living room, tempted to just curl up and drift off to an uneasy sleep there, if not for the influence of Loghan hovering over him.

The pattern was beginning to scare the pristine, white wolf. It wasn't as if he hadn't noticed just how downtrodden Kraton was after work most days, and sometimes, he even had to remind the gray wolf to even eat his dinner before he went to sleep. It was reaching a level that Loghan might consider desperation, but he truly wasn't sure how to solve it. Cooking Kraton's favorite meals wasn't doing the trick, and even in the bedroom, it seemed like he couldn't get his mate to simply release the emotional buildup and problems in a more sensual fashion.

"Kraton..."

"It's a lot worse than you think, Loghan."

"I know it is, sweetheart, but that doesn't mean you have to bring it home with you, y'know," Loghan pointed out.

Kraton merely scoffed at the thought and kicked his legs up onto the loveseat, despite knowing that Loghan didn't care to see paws on the cushions. "It's not exactly so easy to leave it there, Loghan...especially when I know it'll be there waiting for me either way, on Monday."

Loghan took in a deep, full breath and let out a long, desperate sigh, but he managed to swallow back a quick case of the shakes. He needed to be supportive, knowing that a sweet and caring Kraton was still hiding under all of that frustration.

"Relax, baby."

"Huh?"

Loghan slowly waltzed over to the loveseat and crawled up onto the end of it, setting Kraton's footpaws in his lap and holding them close. His own skillful paws began to work the stress right out of them, massaging over the balls of Kraton's feet and across the heel, as tender thumbs worked through straining, tightened muscles that refused to relax, until touched. "I know it's hard, baby, but you need to learn to look at the positives in life, again...and when you're around me, that's all you need to think about."

Kraton wanted to try and argue, but his mate had perhaps the most skillful paws of anyone he'd ever met, and just as his own footpaws went limp, he felt Loghan crawling across his own body, allowing his paws to glide across tight, tender thighs and up along abdominal muscles that finally came undone, relaxing as Kraton let out a gasp of air that he'd been holding onto for what felt like weeks. "L-Loghan, I..."

"I mean it, Kraton. No buts," Loghan cut him off, knowing he might still try to protest. The white wolf rested his paws upon Kraton's shoulders and gave them a quick, gentle rub, resting atop of the larger gray wolf and making sure that anywhere he could feel tension, he'd work it right out of the muscles, before he leaned over to press a tiny, delicate kiss upon Kraton's lips. "Now, come on. I've got your favorite meal waiting in the kitchen, and I don't want it to get cold, darling."

Just from the massage, Kraton was regaining that subtle glow of blue that seemed to naturally shine through his fur, and the kiss solidified it, as Kraton finally did what he should of when he walked in the door, and released his stresses of the week. Somehow, even if it took some time, Loghan always seemed to know how to bring him out of a funk, and even if it was a soft, gentle kiss, Loghan refused to break it until he felt Kraton sitting upright, a sign that he was finally going to get up off of the couch and try again.

"I...I'm sorry, Loghan," he replied in a quiet, somber tone, his lips still so close to Loghan's that he could feel the tender, soft flesh feathering against the lips of his lover, even as he spoke. "You're right, after all..."

"Course I am," Loghan said with a quiet, playful giggled. "Now are you gonna get into the kitchen and eat, or do I have to carry you?"

"I mean, that would be awfully nice of y-

"Kraton..."

"Okay, okay, I'm going!" the gray wolf chuckled as he pressed a soft kiss upon Loghan's forehead and actually lifted the white wolf, carrying him into the kitchen instead. "But this had better be good..."

"Yiiiip! Loghan gasped and squealed in surprise as he was literally carried off to the kitchen, his apron drooping over Kraton's shoulder as they walked. "It'll be the best you've ever had, Kraton...I guarantee it."

"As long as it's with you," Kraton thought aloud, much to the delight of Loghan, "I'm sure it will be."