Just Off The Key || Lizrei

Chapter 4: Something Make My Chest Stir

A few days later, Rei came home from rehearsals fully expecting Liz to be in the apartment. Liz didn't really go anywhere, unless it was to walk Barnaby or to pick up take out, and Rei sort of liked having somebody to come home to. She really liked the fact that she was actually sleeping well at night, because Liz had been joining her, quietly and bashfully, with Pooh Bear at her side. Rei figured it was a solution that benefited them both, so it was the logical, practical thing to do.

When she walked through the door, her eyes landed on Liz sitting at the breakfast bar, stuffing what looked like freshly made peanut butter cookies in her mouth. Liz glanced in Rei's direction; now she frequently maintained eye contact, which Rei enjoyed, because really, who wouldn't?

She ruffled the blonde's choppy hair as she walked by and Liz ducked her head as she always did, trying to swallow her mouthful of cookie. She looked excited, and Rei waited expectantly with a smile on her face.

"Rei."

Rei laughed. "Yes, Liz?"

Liz seemed like she couldn't contain her smile. "I made you vegan celebratory peanut butter cookies."

Rei raised her eyebrows in surprise. The greatest lengths she had seen Liz go to for food preparation involved pouring milk on Froot Loops. Rei looked down at the plate. There were only four cookies left.

"So, you ate, what, like twelve, before I got home?"

Liz flushed but kept smiling. "Well, you were taking forever." She defended, shoving the plate in front of Rei. "And I'm just such an amazing baker, I couldn't resist."

Did Liz just make a joke? Did she just brag? Oh, good, Rei was rubbing off on her.

Rei scrunched up her nose and took a bite of one of the cookies. Holy mother of God, it tasted like an angel. Liz grinned at Rei's expression. Rei just tried to make her face look less orgasmic.

"Did you say these were celebratory cookies?" she asked. Liz nodded, her smile now open-mouthed and in full force. Rei studied her for a moment with a grin of her own. She knew Liz was waiting for her to ask, but she waited. She turned around, acting like she was going back to her room, and Liz made an unintelligible noise of protest.

Rei swung back around, an innocent expression on her face. Liz was biting her lip, and Rei couldn't take it anymore.

"What are we celebrating, Kim Elizabeth Jiwon?" Rei set the plate of cookies down. She tended to go a little overboard with celebrations and didn't want them to end up as Barnaby's dinner on the floor.

"I got a job."

Rei's face brightened even more. "You got a job?"

Liz laughed and nodded. "At that dog rescue, a few blocks away. I get to feed them and walk them and-"

Liz was cut off as Rei threw her arms around her. She stiffened a little at first, but Rei would not let anybody reject a Naoi Rei hug. Liz smelled like gummy bears.

"That's so great." She said into Liz's neck, then frowned and pulled away.

"Liz!"

Liz's smile faded a little bit, but she didn't get the chance to answer.

"You go out and get a job and I'm all proud and happy for you, and you leave me four cookies to celebrate with! This is not acceptable." Rei put her hands on her hips. She was not fucking kidding around here. Liz watched her, a little amused, a little scared.

"Um, we could make more..." She suggested quietly. Rei stared at her for a second, before jumping up and down and clapping her hands.

"Yes! That'll be even more fun! You can show me how you make them! God," Rei stopped jumping and took a breath. She felt eyes felt like they were tearing up; her body was just too dramatic for its own good. "I'm so proud of you."