The food experiments

X

Snake stood up and waited for Otacon to do the same before attempting to sprint towards the kitchen. It wasn't really too much of a distance, but the race was more about being able to avoid all the dogs moving around rather than how fast you could move. Snake knew he had an overwhelming advantage, given that he had lived several years with his dogs, so he pretended to get distracted and constantly checked on him.
Otacon wasn't still used to all of these zigzags he had to do, so he almost fell. Lucky for him, David caught him.

—Was I really supposed to worry about my cake? -he joked.

—Snake!

Snake smirked and led him to the prize in question.

—I'll let you have one slice more than me, that's how nice I am.

—I cooked this, have you forgotten? —he complained.

—A lose is a lose, Otacon. You did it for me, anyway.

Hal wasn't completely pleased with how it had turned out, so he took a bit of the whipped cream covering the cake and smudged it over David's face, proudly smiling. Dave stared at him dead in the eye, his face mortifyingly serious.

—You're gonna regret that if you don't take it off.

Despite his expression he was speaking in a playful manner, so he slowly put his hands on Otacon's sides and threatened to tickle him if he didn't.
Otacon let go a high-pitched grunt and followed his orders, after which he gave him a peck on the tip of the nose. Snake took advantage of it to turn it into a kiss.
He thought of congratulating him —he hadn't turn red and shaky, even if he had aimed for the nose—, but immediately discarded it. He hoped Otacon would notice by himself and would feel better.
He decided he had fooled around long enough, getting a couple of plates and spoons out. He put a slice on each plate and gave them to Hal, who went back to the coach, and left them on the table. He received his glass, filled with juice, and waited for Snake to sit down before he started to eat.

_____

Hal had been reading comments for a while - there were several advices for him to follow regarding his romantic issues. The thing is, after what had happened earlier, it didn't feel that much necessary to do anything in particular after all... But even then, he made the effort to go through all of them and update everyone on his progress, making sure to let them know he was deeply thankful.
Otacon had been brave this time. Not exactly in what he'd have hoped, but still. He had managed to pull his courage through and ask about what was troubling him... and even kissed his nose, without any anxious feeling!

He stretched his body and left his bedroom. Miku had been sitting in front of his door since he had entered, meaning she was overly joyous to see him again. She wasn't satisfied enough with just some loving pets, as she ran in circles around him a few times before she sprinted her way to get her leash, and back.

—You want walkies? —he asked, wondering whether it was better to go with her secretly or take the whole crew out.

She barked.

Otacon had already experienced both situations and both had enough pros and cons to force him to ask Snake what to do. He walked to his bedroom - his door was open. David was organizing his photographs based on themes.

—Snake —he called him—, I need to ask you something... Do you think it's OK to go walkies with Miku alone?

—Why wouldn't it? —he asked, looking at him.

—Uh... Reasons... Which I'd rather not share...

—...

—...

—You want me to distract the others...?

—Please, do!

Snake left the room quickly putting a coat on, and called his dogs while going outside. Otacon hurried up, putting the leash on her collar before running through the other door. The mission was successfully completed!

Miku looked at him with glowy eyes, happy to be able to walk by his side with no other distraction. She behaved herself as much as she would've if she had been with David - she needed to make sure Hal would convince himself doing this more often would be nice.
It was a nice day - the snow was starting to melt and it wasn't as harshly cold as other days. He was, as usual, wearing Snake's coat, but he thought he could've brought his own this time instead.
They visited Alina, who invited them to eat together as they didn't have clients at the time. Her daughter brought a cute little metallic plate for Miku, who ate the warm home-made meal as politely as it was dogly possible.

—So how are things around there, young man? —Alina asked him.

—It's been good. S-... —he almost said "Snake"—. So many things have happened lately! David and I have been kind of busy...

—David's your friend with the harsh eyes, yes?

—I... Yeah. Well... I guess... Um... Nevermind.

—What is it, honey?

—You remember that thread I did with my love issues...?

—David is...?

—Yes. I mean, no... Uh... Kind of...?

—You have a mess in that head of yours, don't you? —she smirked—. How's that going? I haven't checked the forum lately.

—Well, I'd say we've been clear with... Our interest towards the other. It's mutual, actually. But it's... Confusing. I thought you were supposed to do or say certain things, but David doesn't follow any of that, and when I do I make a fool of myself. You know why he told you I was learning to cook? I owe him a dinner, I still have no idea what I should prepare, whether I should decorate the house, how I can do that with 50 dogs who always take advantage of me...

—You have 50 dogs? —she repeated loud enough for her daughter to hear, surprised.

—You have 50 dogs too?! —she added, shocked.

—What? No! David does! I... I live with him, for the time being...

—Oh, he does look like a dog person... —Alina concluded—. But back to the issue, haven't you just said he doesn't follow your expectations? Don't you think he might not be interested in what you have in mind for the dinner?

—He most definitely wouldn't, but I have no clue of what to do instead...

—What do you think he would do?

—He? I don't think he'd put any thoughts to it.

—Then why should you?

—Because-...! —he stopped to think—. I don't know! I want to make it memorable for him... But in a romantic way, somehow. I think he'd be pleased if I just served him a military ration and a pack of cigarettes, but that's not romantic at all! It definetly isn't memorable either!

—What does he consider romantic, then?

—Um... Sunsets...? I don't know... He's not the most expressive guy on Earth, you see. I feel he might not even think about romance at all. He just does things and somehow it feels romantic. He has an unexplainable charm...

—You're so in love... —she whispered with a warm smile.

—... —he moved his eyes away, blushing.

—Don't worry, I'll help you figure it out.