DorkFish 3- Alls Fair in True Love and War

CheckMate, MotherFucker!

8:31 P.M.

“Popcorn?”

“Fine.”

‘Fine?’ Misha threw his overcoat onto the back of the couch as he watched Jared stomp off to his bedroom to change. ‘More like fuck you.’

Nonetheless, he rummaged through the pantry until he found the popping corn, tossed a handful of kernels into a pot, splashed in some sunflower oil, crashed on a lid, and slammed it on the stove to cook.

Rather than babysit the kettle while it popped away, he paced between the kitchen and the living room, ripping off his suit jacket and landing it on top of his coat. Then he unfastened the holster with the Para Ordnance and added both to the pile, followed by the mew grey tie and the tailored black shirt, and after so many hours in such confining clothes he stretched in delicious liberation. While it wasn’t his signature fitted black tee and dark wash jeans, he was comfy enough in just the white cotton undershirt that fit like a second skin and his spiffy black dress pants.

By the time he poured himself a glass of Dalmore and fixed a Shirley for Jared, the explosions in the pot on the stove had slowed almost to stopping, signifying the popcorn was done. He grabbed a large bowl, tossed in a good measure of salt with the fresh corn, shook it all up, and voila! Jared’s favorite homemade all-natural snack was ready for prime time.

He snagged a hot salty kernel and smiled briefly in bliss. Even he had to admit this healthy vegan version was way better than the fake microwave shit.

Killing the lights in the kitchen, Misha took the popcorn and their drinks into the peacefully lamplit living room, set them on the coffee table, and took a seat on his couch to wait. He’d just begun rummaging through his wallet of DVDs when he heard the bedroom door open, he looked up to find Jared looking infinitely more comfortable in a soft grey hoodie and jeans, barefoot.

Misha forced himself to go back to rifling through his case of discs lest Jared catch him staring. “I made you a drink,” he said casually, indicating the red-hued, cherry-studded sparkler on the coffee table in front of him.

Without a word, Jared stepped to take up the condensing glass and he downed half of the sweet, icy concoction in one go.

“You make the best fucking Shirleys, Misha,” he said and parked himself on the far end of the couch.

“You’re welcome,” he replied. “I hope the popcorn holds up to the same standard.”

“Is this really your first time making it?”

“Yes, but I’ve certainly watched you enough times to know how it’s done.”

Misha heard the leather shift beneath him, out of the corner of his eye he saw Jared snatch a few kernels from the bowl.

“Oh yes,” Jared said after a couple of seconds. “This passes muster.”

“Good. Now what do you want to watch?”

“I picked last time.”

“Pretty sure I did.”

“Nope,” Jared insisted. “Wanted on New Year’s was all me.”

“That’s right,” he said. “How about 300: Rise of An Empire?”

“Such a good movie. Not what I’m in the mood for.”

“Original 300 then?”

“You got epic battles of antiquity on the brain tonight or something?” Jared said as he scooched up the couch to sit beside Misha while he flipped through Jared’s DVD wallet.