Phana wasn't much of a cook, but he loved the idea of it. Ming, on the other hand, was a natural in the kitchen—methodical, patient, and effortlessly skilled. It was a rainy Sunday morning, and Phana had decided to surprise Ming with breakfast. Or at least, he'd tried.
When Ming walked into the kitchen, the first thing he noticed was the mess. Bowls were scattered across the counter, a trail of flour dusted the floor, and something unidentifiable was burning on the pan. In the middle of it all stood Phana, holding a whisk like it was a weapon, with smudges of batter on his cheek and a look of utter concentration on his face.
"Phana," Ming said slowly, crossing his arms as he leaned against the doorway.
Phana jumped, nearly dropping the whisk. "Ming! You're not supposed to be here yet!"
Ming raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching as he fought back a smile. "What exactly are you doing?"
"Making breakfast," Phana replied, puffing up his chest. "I thought I'd give you a break for once."
Ming's gaze swept over the chaotic scene, and he couldn't help the chuckle that escaped. "A break? Or a heart attack?"
Phana pouted, his sass coming to the forefront. "Excuse you! This is a perfectly fine breakfast in the making."
Ming walked over, wrapping an arm around Phana's waist and pulling him away from the stove just as a piece of toast popped out of the toaster, slightly charred. "Let me guess," Ming said, inspecting the stovetop disaster. "Pancakes?"
"They're pancakes," Phana said defensively, "but they have personality. They're not supposed to look perfect."
Ming picked up a lumpy, misshapen pancake from the plate and studied it like it was a foreign object. "Personality is one way to describe it," he teased.
Phana huffed, crossing his arms. "Fine. Laugh all you want. But I'm doing this for you, you know."
Ming softened instantly, setting the pancake down and turning to face Phana. "You're right. I'm sorry," he said, brushing a smudge of flour from Phana's cheek with his thumb. "Thank you for trying."
Phana's pout melted into a shy smile. "You're welcome. Even if it's a disaster, it's the thought that counts, right?"
Ming chuckled, leaning down to press a quick kiss to Phana's lips. "It is. But why don't we make breakfast together? You're good at stirring and fliping."
Phana brightened at the suggestion, grabbing a fresh bowl and eagerly handing it to Ming. "Deal. But only if you promise not to take over completely."
Ming smirked. "No promises."
