Seventeen Moments [Imagines]

Title: A recipe for Us

The evening began with a simple idea: a casual at-home dinner date with Vernon. You both had a busy week, and the thought of a quiet night in, away from the usual hustle, sounded perfect. Vernon had suggested it himself, saying it would be fun to cook together, something you hadn't done in a while.

The plan was simple: each of you would make your favorite comfort food, and then you'd enjoy a relaxed dinner at home. But knowing Vernon, you knew it wouldn't stay simple for long.

You arrived at his apartment with a few grocery bags, filled with ingredients for your favorite dish. As you stepped inside, you noticed the cozy atmosphere he had created. The soft glow of fairy lights lit up the kitchen, and there was already music playing in the background, a playlist filled with Vernon's favorite chill tunes. He greeted you with a warm smile, his eyes lighting up as he saw you. He took the bags from your hands, placing them on the counter before pulling you into a quick hug.

"Ready to get cooking?" he asked, his voice full of excitement.

"Absolutely," you replied, smiling up at him. "But don't think I'm going to go easy on you just because it's a date."

Vernon chuckled, a playful glint in his eyes. "Oh, I wouldn't expect anything less. Let's see who's the better cook tonight."

You both got to work, setting out your ingredients and preparing your respective dishes. Vernon had decided to make his go-to comfort food, a hearty mac and cheese with a twist-he added some secret spices and ingredients that he swore made it the best. You, on the other hand, were making your favorite dish, something you had perfected over the years; Spaghetti Carabonara.

As you chopped vegetables and measured out spices, Vernon turned the music up slightly, nodding his head to the beat. He moved around the kitchen with ease, his natural rhythm showing in the way he worked. Every now and then, he'd glance over at you, making sure to throw in a little teasing comment.

"Are you sure that's enough garlic?" he asked, peeking over your shoulder as you sautéed some vegetables.

You rolled your eyes, but couldn't help the smile that tugged at your lips. "I know what I'm doing, Vernon. Just focus on your mac and cheese."

He laughed, backing off with his hands raised in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. I'm just saying, my dish is going to be pretty hard to beat."

You shook your head, amused by his confidence. Vernon was always like this-charming, a little competitive, but never in a way that made you feel less than. In fact, it was one of the things you loved most about him. He had a way of making everything fun, even something as simple as cooking dinner.

As you both continued to work, the kitchen filled with the delicious smells of your dishes. The music played on, and soon enough, you found yourselves singing along to some of the songs.

You laughed as you tried to keep up with the lyrics, your voices blending together in a way that made you feel completely at ease.

"Okay, this smells amazing," Vernon said, leaning over the pot of mac and cheese. "I think I've outdone myself this time."

You glanced over at his dish, and you had to admit, it did look good. The cheese was perfectly melted, and the aroma was enough to make your mouth water. But you weren't about to let him win that easily.

"Don't get too cocky," you teased, giving your dish one final stir. "I think mine's going to give you a run for your money."

Vernon grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "We'll see about that."

Finally, both dishes were ready, and you set them out on the table. Vernon took a step back, crossing his arms as he surveyed the spread. "Alright, let's taste test. And remember, no bias."

You laughed, taking a seat and grabbing a fork. "No bias, got it."

You both dug in, starting with Vernon's mac and cheese. It was every bit as good as it smelled-creamy, rich, with just the right amount of seasoning. You could tell he had put a lot of thought into the recipe, and you nodded in approval as you took another bite.

"This is really good, Vernon," you admitted, unable to hide your appreciation.

He flashed you a grin. "Thanks. Now, let's see how yours turned out."

You watched as he took a bite of your dish, his expression thoughtful as he chewed. After a moment, he looked up at you, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Okay, I'll admit it. Yours is amazing too."

You both laughed, the competition melting away as you continued to eat. The conversation flowed easily, as it always did with Vernon. You talked about everything and nothing-your week, the latest shows you'd been watching, random thoughts that popped into your head. Every now and then, he'd throw in a joke or a witty comment that made you laugh out loud, and you'd respond with your own playful banter.

As the meal went on, you both started to slow down, the food filling you up in the best way possible. Vernon leaned back in his chair, a satisfied smile on his face. "Alright, I guess it's a tie," he said, finally conceding.

You raised an eyebrow. "Really? No more trash talk?"

He chuckled. "Nope. You've earned my respect. But... I do have one more trick up my sleeve."

You tilted your head in curiosity. "Oh? What's that?"

Vernon stood up, heading over to the fridge. He opened it with a flourish, pulling out a small, covered dish that you hadn't noticed before. With a grin, he set it down in front of you and lifted the lid, revealing a beautifully arranged dessert-a layered parfait with fresh berries and whipped cream.

"Ta-da!" he exclaimed, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Guess I win after all."

You couldn't help but laugh, shaking your head in disbelief. "You sneaky little-when did you make this?"

He shrugged, looking far too pleased with himself. "Earlier today. Thought I'd surprise you."

You smiled, touched by the gesture. "Well, I have to admit, this might just push you over the edge."

He sat back down, handing you a spoon. "Only one way to find out."

You both dug into the dessert, the sweet flavors mingling perfectly with the lingering taste of the dinner you'd just had.

This was exactly what you had needed-a night filled with laughter, good food, and Vernon's endearing presence.

As you finished the dessert, Vernon leaned back in his chair, his eyes soft as he looked at you. "You know, this was perfect," he said quietly.

You smiled, reaching across the table to take his hand. "Yeah, it really was."

He squeezed your hand gently, his thumb brushing over your knuckles. "We should do this more often. Just the two of us, cooking, hanging out... no pressure, no distractions."

You nodded, your heart swelling with affection for him. "I'd like that."

Vernon smiled, his gaze warm and steady as he held your hand. "Then it's a date."

The competition had ended, but the connection between you felt stronger than ever. And as you sat there, the empty dessert dish between you, you knew that this simple, at-home dinner date had turned into something truly special.

And in that moment, you couldn't imagine being anywhere else but right there, with him.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Phew, another imagine done! Vernon, oh my gosh! I had so much fun writing this one. What do you think? It was a bit challenging for me, though-took me four days to finish! Let me know your thoughts!

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