Addicted

6

Will woke to the sun streaming through his cream colored curtains and the smell of breakfast drifting through the air. Honestly, it was the best feeling- wait. Breakfast? Will sat up slowly and swung his legs out of bed.  Was Nico cooking?
A minute later, he softly ran down the steps into the kitchen to see the younger boy in front of the stove.  He ran his fingers through his messy, uncombed hair and coughed a little to get his attention, opening a cabinet to get a glass.

Nico jumped. "God, you scared me. That's not safe, I'm working with a hot stove here!" He scolded without thinking, then looked up at who he was speaking to.  Will was dressed in a pair of light wash jeans and a cream colored sweater with a maroon stripe on the collar.  The blonde laughed a little. Nico cleared his throat. "Anyway, uh, good- good morning." He bit his lip and will sat down at the counter in front of him.  "What are you doing?" He asked, tilting his head. "I mean, I know you're cooking, but-"  Nico blushed lightly, but answered smoothly anyway.  "I got up early and figured this was the least I could do to thank you for letting me stay here.  You know, until I go back to school." He rubbed the back of his neck, which was heating up, and placed a plate in front of Will.

The last time Will had awoken peacefully to breakfast already made for him was when he was 6.  He was now 20, and he wanted to cry.  "Thank you, Nico.  I don't think you'll understand, but this means a lot."
"Sure." Nico smiled and shrugged. 
"Aren't you going to eat?"
"Nah. I snacked while I was cooking. You know. I was up pretty early, so." Will cocked his head.  "How early?"
"Not too early. Maybe 4." Will stood up. "Wow. Why? Couldn't sleep, or what? Or is that, like, normal for you?"  He leaned his cheek on his hand and slumped onto the countertop, still gazing at the shorter boy with interest.  Nico laughed.  "No, no.  I don't wake up early- I stay up late. So it's normal for me to be up at 5 am, but not because I want to refresh myself for a morning run." Now it was Will's turn to laugh.  "So what do you do during these late nights?" Nico raised an eyebrow and pulled his hood up. "What? Ok, ok, no. Lose the hood. Just- just take it off." Will stood up, balancing on his toes, and reached over the countertop, grabbing at his hood, but only managing to accidentally brush his fingers through  the tips of silky black hair before his hand slammed back down on the marble. "Oh, come on! I was just curious! Tell me!" Will picked up his fork and flicked a pea at Nico playfully.  "No. Nuh-uh, assolutemente no. That stuff is for me to know and you to find out."  He pushed his hood back just enough to let the light hit his face, but then hid it with his sleeves. Even through the fabric, though, Nico's smile was clear.  "Maybe one day, when you have the courage to spend night up with me, you'll see what exactly I do at 4 in the morning."  He teased, tapping the pea back towards Will and walking into the living room.  "But come on. I've answered your questions and I think it's only fair that I know the person who randomly took me home and recommended that I skip school to stay with him." He laughed, incredulous. "Wow. When I say it like that, it almost sounds weird."  Will's chair screeched as he pushed it out behind him and followed Nico to the other room.  "I thought what we were doing was perfectly normal. People don't do this all the time where you're from?"
"Shut up. I hate you."
"How do you feel about some ice cream right now? Place down the road has the best butter pecan."
"...Aaand I'm in."