Welter stepped inside the apartment, a wave of exhaustion washing over him as he closed the heavy door and locked it secure against the outside world. He leaned his back against the frame, letting out a long sigh as he kicked off his heavy boots. Looking up, he saw Salme standing in the middle of the room, her expression a mix of relief and subtle worry.
"Did you stay here the whole time?" Welter asked, his voice a bit raspy from the cold surface air.
Salme nodded happily, crossing the room to greet him. "Yes! And honestly, I want to move in."
Welter looked completely surprised, his mind struggling to process the sudden leap after everything he had just been through in the tunnels. "So... does that mean we are officially together?"
Salme tilted her head, looking thoroughly confused by the question. "I thought we were already together?"
Now it was Welter's turn to look confused. He blinked, looking down at her. "Really? We never actually talked about it."
Salme shrugged with a warm, dimpled smile, brushing the topic aside for the moment. "Anyway, you must be completely exhausted, so I made a ton of food. You need to eat."
She didn't let him argue. Salme practically guided him to the table, where a massive, steaming spread of food was waiting. Welter hadn't realized just how starved he was until the smell hit him. They sat down together, and Salme happily chatted about her day while ensuring his plate was constantly piled high. Welter ate eagerly, the warmth of the meal finally chasing away the lingering chill from the wasteland above.
Once they finished, Salme didn't let him lounge around in his dirty gear. She practically dragged him toward the bathroom, nudging him into the hot shower to wash off all the grime, dust, and sweat from the surface.
When he finally stepped out, feeling human again, she ushered him straight to bed. After the grueling day he had faced—fighting hordes of Frost Ghouls, crashing APCs, and losing troops—Welter didn't protest at all.
He climbed into the warm sheets, collapsed against the pillows, and opened his arms. Salme smiled softly, crawling in next to him and cuddling up tightly against his chest. Welter pulled her close, burying his face in her hair. Feeling completely safe, warm, and happy in each other's arms, the stress of the system and the dangers of the world faded away as they both drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep.