Dear Roommate Please Stop Being Hot [BL]-Chapter 256: Home, Finally Home.

The plane touched down with a gentle thud, wheels meeting runway, the cabin filling with that collective exhale of travelers arriving.

Luca blinked awake—he’d dozed off somewhere over the ocean, head resting against Noel’s shoulder.

"We’re here," Noel said softly, pulling out the shared earbud.

"Already?"

"You slept through the last hour."

"You should’ve woken me."

"You looked comfortable." Noel was already gathering their things, efficient even half-asleep.

The usual chaos followed—waiting for the seatbelt sign to turn off, passengers standing too early, the slow shuffle toward the exit.

Baggage claim. Customs. The long walk through the terminal that always felt longer when you were tired.

By the time they caught a taxi outside, the sky was deepening into early evening—that in-between time where day hadn’t quite surrendered to night.

The drive home was quiet. Familiar streets replacing Tokyo’s organized chaos.

Their city welcoming them back with traffic and billboards and the particular rhythm they’d grown up with.

When the taxi finally pulled up outside their apartment building, Luca felt something settle in his chest.

Relief, maybe. Or just exhaustion.

They hauled their suitcases up the stairs—the elevator was broken again, of course—and Noel fumbled with the keys at their door.

The apartment greeted them with silence and the faint smell of the vanilla candle Noel always left burning before trips.

And then, from somewhere in the living room, a plaintive meow.

"Luca Jr.!" Noel dropped his suitcase immediately, crouching down as a gray tabby cat emerged from behind the balcony, tail high, walking with that particular feline indignation reserved for absent owners.

The cat meowed again, louder this time, rubbing against Noel’s legs.

"I know, I know," Noel said, scooping him up. "I missed you too, buddy."

Luca dragged his suitcase inside, closing the door behind them.

He headed straight for the couch, collapsing onto it with a deep sigh.

Home. Finally.

"Did you miss me?" Noel was saying to the cat, carrying him toward the kitchen. "Were you lonely? Did a certain someone not take care of you properly?"

Luca smiled into the couch cushion.

"I bet he didn’t even talk to you," Noel continued, his voice carrying that teasing tone he reserved for when he was pretending to be serious. "Just fed you and left, right? No conversation. No quality time."

The cat meowed, as if agreeing.

"I knew it," Noel said dramatically. "Luca, you hear that? He’s filing a complaint."

"I’m sure he is," Luca called back, not moving.

From the kitchen came the sound of the cat food container opening, kibble hitting the bowl, water running.

"There you go," Noel murmured. "Proper meal. From someone who actually cares."

Luca could picture it....Noel crouched by the food bowls, scratching behind the cat ears, completely absorbed in the cat’s return.

If only the cat could talk.

If only Noel knew that every night he’d been in Japan, Luca had sat on this same couch, Luca Jr. curled beside him, and talked to the cat like a complete idiot.

Did you miss him too? Yeah, me too. He’s probably working too hard right now. You know how he gets.

But Luca wasn’t about to admit that.

He heard the kitchen faucet run, then Noel washing his hands. Footsteps approaching.

"You’re not falling asleep on the couch," Noel said, standing over him.

"Not sleeping. Resting."

"Luca."

"Five more minutes."

"You’ll feel better if you shower."

"I’ll feel better if I stay right here."

"Luca." Noel’s voice was softer now, coaxing. "Come on. Quick shower, then we’ll order dinner, then you can collapse properly."

Luca groaned, dramatic and drawn-out, but he pushed himself up. "Fine. But only because you asked nicely."

"Again, I didn’t ask nicely."

"You never do."

Noel shook his head, but he was smiling—that small, private smile that Luca had learned to recognize, the one that meant Noel was pleased even when he was pretending to be exasperated.

The shower did help. Hot water washing away the airplane feeling, the recycled air, the accumulated exhaustion of travel.

By the time Luca emerged, dressed in soft sweatpants and an old t-shirt, Noel was already scrolling through a food delivery app on his phone, the cat draped across his lap like a furry scarf.

"What do you want?" Noel asked, not looking up.

"Whatever you’re getting."

"That’s not helpful."

"I trust your judgment."

"You’re just too tired to decide."

"That too."

Noel rolled his eyes but kept scrolling. "Thai sound good?"

"Perfect."

A few taps, a confirmation screen, and dinner was ordered. Twenty-five minutes, the app promised.

They settled on the couch together—Noel at one end, Luca at the other, the cat eventually abandoning Noel to curl up directly between them, purring like a small motor.

"Traitor," Noel muttered, but he was scratching the cat’s head.

"He missed both of us," Luca said.

"Apparently he missed you more."

"I have that effect on people."

"And cats, apparently."

They sat in comfortable silence, the apartment settling around them.

Outside, their neighborhood continued its evening routine—distant traffic, someone’s television through the walls, the sound of footsteps in the hallway.

It felt surreal, being back. Like the weekend in Japan had been a dream, something separate from regular life.

But Noel was here, solid and real beside him.

And Luca’s phone had text messages from his mother—photos of Yuki and Aiko, a simple *Safe travels* that made his chest feel warm.

Not a dream. Real. All of it.

The food arrived exactly on time. They ate at the small dining table, the cat supervising from his perch on the windowsill.

Pad Thai and spring rolls and that particular comfort that came from familiar food in your own space.

"Back to work tomorrow," Noel said, twirling noodles around his fork.

"Don’t remind me."

"Only two weeks left of internship, then finals."

"Really don’t remind me."

Noel smiled. "We’ll survive."

"You’ll survive," Luca corrected. "You’re the one who actually studies."

"You study."

"Under duress."

"Still counts."

They finished dinner slowly, cleaned up together—Noel washing, Luca drying, a rhythm they’d fallen into without discussion months ago.

By the time they finally made it to bed, it was past eleven, exhaustion settling into their bones.

Luca fell asleep almost immediately, the familiar comfort of their own mattress, their own space, pulling him under.

Beside him, Noel’s breathing evened out, one hand still loosely holding Luca’s beneath the covers.

Home.

Morning arrived too early, Luca’s alarm cutting through sleep like a knife.

He groaned, reaching blindly to silence it.

Beside him, Noel was already awake—of course he was—scrolling through his phone.

"Morning," Noel said, not looking up.

"It’s not morning. It’s still night."

"It’s seven-thirty."

"Exactly. Night."

Noel set his phone down, turning to look at him. "We have to be at work by nine."

"I know."

"Which means you need to get up now."

"I’m aware of the timeline."

"Luca."

"I’m getting up." He didn’t move.

Noel sighed, throwing back the covers on his side. "I’m showering first. If you’re not up by the time I’m done, I’m using all the hot water."

"You wouldn’t."

"Try me."

He wouldn’t. Luca knew he wouldn’t.

With great effort, he dragged himself out of bed, shuffling toward the kitchen for coffee while Noel disappeared into the bathroom.

By the time Noel emerged—dressed in dark slacks and a crisp button-down, hair styled, looking unfairly put-together for seven-forty-five in the morning—Luca had managed coffee and was contemplating breakfast.

"Your turn," Noel said, heading to the kitchen to steal Luca’s coffee mug.

"That’s mine."

"You can make another one." Noel took a sip, made a face. "How much sugar did you put in this?"

"The correct amount."

"This is basically candy."

"Don’t drink it then."

Noel took another sip anyway.

Luca showered quickly, dressed in the business casual that had become routine—dark jeans, a nice shirt, the blazer Noel had convinced him to buy that actually did make him look more professional.

They ate a quick breakfast—toast and fruit, nothing elaborate—and were out the door by eight-thirty.

The walk to the office was familiar, comfortable.

Ten minutes through their neighborhood, past the coffee shop that was always crowded, the convenience store where they grabbed snacks on late nights, the intersection where the crosswalk took forever.

Morning air was cool, refreshing after the warmth of the apartment.

Other people were heading to work too—the collective Monday morning energy of a city waking up.

They didn’t talk much. Didn’t need to.

Noel’s hand brushed against his occasionally as they walked, a brief contact that felt intentional.

The office building appeared ahead—glass and steel, modern and imposing in the way corporate buildings always were.

They entered through the main lobby, security nodding them through, the familiar smell of coffee and recycled air greeting them.

The elevator was already crowded—other employees heading to their floors, everyone in that Tuesday morning daze of not quite being awake yet.

Luca and Noel squeezed in, standing close, Luca’s shoulder pressed against Noel’s arm.

The elevator climbed. Second floor, someone got off. Third floor—

"This is me," Luca said quietly.

"See you at lunch?" Noel asked.

"Yeah."

Their fingers brushed one more time, deliberate, then Luca stepped out into the third floor corridor.

The elevator doors closed behind him, carrying Noel up to the fourth floor.

Luca took a breath, adjusted his bag, and headed toward his department.

The office was already active—people at their desks, the coffee machine in constant use, the low hum of conversation and keyboard clicks.

He’d barely made it three steps inside when someone crashed into him.

"Luca!" Bella threw her arms around him in an enthusiastic hug. "You’re back!"

"Hey, Bella—"

"Mr. Romantic couldn’t even last a week, huh?" She pulled back, grinning widely. "Had to follow Noel to Japan? That’s so—"

"Bella," Luca said, glancing around. "Not so loud—"

But it was too late.

Wei Chen looked up from his desk, eyebrows raised. "Wait, what?"

Liam, slouched in his chair looking half-asleep as usual, suddenly perked up. "You and Noel?"

"Are dating?" Wei Chen finished, standing up now.

Across the room, Camila caught his eye. She was smiling—that knowing, gentle smile that said *I already knew, don’t worry*—but she didn’t say anything.

Luca sighed. "Yeah. We’re together."

"How long?" Wei Chen demanded.

"Why didn’t you tell us?" Liam added, looking genuinely hurt.

"I’m sorry," Luca said, holding up his hands. "I wasn’t trying to hide it, exactly. It’s just... work you know. And complicated. And I didn’t know how to bring it up."

"You literally flew to another country for him," Bella said, still beaming. "That’s not complicated, that’s romantic."

"It was a work trip—"

"That you crashed," Wei Chen pointed out.

"Okay, yes, technically—"

"Love makes people do crazy things," Camila said from her desk, finally joining the conversation. Her tone was warm, teasing. "Can’t blame him."

"See?" Bella nudged him. "Love. It’s love."

Luca’s face felt warm. "Can we maybe not—"

"Oh, we’re definitely talking about this," Wei Chen said, grinning now. "You and Noel. How did that even happen? When? Give us details."

"Later," Luca promised. "I just got back, I need coffee, and I’m pretty sure Georgia’s going to kill me for disappearing—"

"Speaking of," a voice said from behind him.

Luca turned. Georgia stood in the doorway of her office, arms crossed, expression somewhere between amused and exasperated.

"Luca," she said slowly. "Welcome back."

"Hi, Georgia. I can explain—"

"Oh, I’m sure you can." She gestured toward her office. "Everyone else, back to work. Luca, my office. Now."

The team made various sympathetic noises as Luca followed Georgia inside.

She closed the door, then turned to face him, expression softening slightly.

"You’re not actually in trouble," she said. "But running off to Japan unannounced? Really?"

"I know. I’m sorry. It was impulsive."

"And romantic, apparently."

"You heard that?"

"Everyone heard that. Bella’s not exactly subtle." Georgia moved to her desk, pulling up something on her computer. "Look, I get it. But next time, at least give me a heads-up, okay? Even just a text."

"I will. I promise."

"Good." She glanced at him, a small smile appearing. "I’m glad you’re happy, though. Noel’s good for you."

"Yeah," Luca said quietly. "He really is."

"Alright." Georgia pulled up a document, spinning her monitor so he could see. "Now, about your workload. Since you took an unscheduled vacation, I’m afraid I’ll have to give you extra projects to make up for it."

Luca’s eyes widened at the list on screen. "Georgia, that’s—"

"Payback," she said sweetly. "Welcome home, Luca. Now get to work."

He left her office to find the entire team watching him.

"Well?" Bella asked immediately.

"She’s giving me double the work."

"Ouch," Liam said.

"Worth it though, right?" Wei Chen grinned. "For love?"

Luca thought about the weekend—meeting his mother, his siblings, Noel beside him through all of it.

The flight home. Coming back to their apartment, their life, their routine.

"Yeah," he said, smiling despite the workload waiting for him. "Definitely worth it."

"Told you," Bella said. "Love makes everything worth it."

And maybe, Luca thought as he settled at his desk, coffee in hand, his team already teasing him about lunch plans and demanding details about Japan—maybe she was right.