Alone Together

18: Soup

We've reached the 2k mark!!! Whoop whoop!! *does a lil dance* thanks everyone!

You: But Artemis, you just type up so many chap-

*feeds you an onion* hush little one

"...it is...?" Ryou asked into the phone, listening to the voice on the other end. "No, no, it's okay. I'm sure I could manage....thank you for letting me know."
And then he hung up.

Mariku hovered behind him, catching Ryou off guard when he turned around.
"Bloody—!" Ryou jumped.

Grinning, Mariku asked, "Who was that?"

"One of the complex owners. Something happened to the heater, so we'll have to go without it tonight."

Backing Ryou into the wall a bit more gently than he did with the bookshelf, he tilted his chin upward and purred, "I know a way we can keep warm..."

"...soup?"

Mariku leaned forward and kissed Ryou's cheek, not thinking about what he was doing. "You're too innocent for this world."

Ryou's face, neck, and ears burned strawberry red.

Mariku kissed his face again, but held his lips there longer. "You're adorable."

He thinks I'm adorable!

When he saw Ryou's smile, he picked him up and sat him on the counter. "I think..." Mariku twirled a piece of Ryou's hair in his fingers. "...you like it when I flirt with you."

Ryou shrugged, still blushing. "...guilty as charged."

"Seriously?" Mariku found himself surprised that Ryou didn't deny it. "Why's that?"

"I guess...I guess it's because I felt very unappreciated and invisible for a bit too long." He shifted and dropped down from the countertop. "Of course, you're quite touchy, but it's kind of nice to know someone can see me and...I don't know...care about my existence."

"Oh." Mariku said, not thinking that he would feel the slightest hint of pity for him.

It felt wrong to tell him that it was a mistake when he first met him, and it was bit too late to back out, so he feels like it's just something to do for shits and giggles. But if he could sleep with him, that'd be cool too.
So he kept his rude mouth shut for the first time in...ever.

"Anyways, I was thinking, because of our conditions, I'll just make soup." Ryou laughed and added, "It's from a can, so don't worry about my cooking."

Mariku wrinkled his nose. "You know, you're not supposed to stop doing something just because someone doesn't like it."

"But you know I can't cook. It's kind of rude to feed you something you don't like the taste of."

"That's not the point. You need to improve on it. Or just accept that you suck and rub it in people's faces."

Ryou raised his eyebrow at him. "Isn't that not what you want? Do you want me to cook you something you won't like?"

"All I'm saying is that if I were you," Mariku snatched an apple from the fridge and took a bite. "That it wouldn't matter to me."

"Okay, Mariku." Ryou muttered, smiling."So, do I make soup instead of microwave it?"

"Do whatever your squishy heart desires."