Author's note: (If you haven't read the first part, 'RSASS and Shine', I recommend you do so first. Otherwise, a lot of the details spread throughout this story won't make much sense.)
welp - here's the sequel, it will contain multiple chapters, unlike 'RSASS and Shine'. Expect /copious/ amounts of fluff and sex. Maybe some fluffy animals and random appearances. Also, I'm the worst when it comes to MW references. This chapter is rated teen, but it's going up to mature in the next one. Big time.
Also, thanks to everyone who has reviewed my stories and favorited them! Means a lot! :3 Hope you enjoy.
Things in Soap's life hadn't changed much. There was still work that needed to be done at the coffee shop, idiot friends to deal with, a cat to feed, and a boyfriend to spend time with and kiss whenever he wanted to.
Oh, wait. Maybe things had changed. A lot.
And damn, it was good.
Love had impacted Soap's life in ways he never thought possible. Every day seemed brighter and beautiful. It was like living in one those overrated romantic comedies that Ghost would never openly admit to watching, and waking up in Price's arms was definitely the best way to start the day.
RSASS and Shine was doing great. Excellent, actually. The addition of teas to the menu had brought in sudden uprising in customers, making him and his two best friends, Ghost and Roach, busier than ever before, and when those two weren't busy with spontaneous make-out sessions in the middle of shifts, they actually did their bloody jobs and served some customers. Not that Soap was blaming Roach for that one, that was completely on his boyfriend's shoulders. Simon goddamn Riley. A sneaking suspicion settled in Soap that some of the younger customers came in just to watch them make out, perhaps they should consider charging for that or leave out a special tip jar.
It was a struggle in the very beginning for Soap to get a hang of the whole tea mixing process. Much to his reluctant admittance, he was new to the tea thing. A "herbal virgin", as Ghost referred to him. His friend was nearly sporting a bruised arm for that one if it wasn't for Roach ushering him out of the room with a more than suggestive smile and tug on the front of the man's jeans. What would he do without that guy? Fuck. He shuddered at the thought of life before Roach came along to tame the self proclaimed, 'wild Riley', of course he still was wild and annoying as ever, but at least Roach could shut him up before it became too much.
But the tea. An unknown enemy. Coffee, obviously, and plain water are staples in Soap's diet, as was the occasional lager or shot of whiskey. Tea though? He'd never even taken a drink of the stuff. Meaning, Ghost wasn't too far off with the "herbal virgin" comment. Bastard. Oh well, at least he had his more than helpful boyfriend, who happened to be an expert on the subject, to lend him a hand. Mostly with the tea. Sort of.
One week after Price and Soap officially got together, post the snowy confession, not just of feelings, but of Price not even liking coffee in the first place, and the weak-knee inducing kiss that most likely will remain the best moment in his life for a long while, Soap tried his best at making tea. After all, he had made a guarantee to his..favorite customer.
Before taking on the high priority mission known only as 'Operation: Boil and Brew', Price and him went shopping at the market close to their homes for tea together. It was the simplest and most delightfully domestic thing, but doing that ordinary and everyday task made Soap unbelievably overjoyed, though he contained it to the best of his abilities. He couldn't wait to do this with him forever. It became obvious to himself that he was as sentimental and sappy as Ghost always said, he couldn't deny it at this point, nor could he find himself wanting to. Everything was so new and exciting being with Price, yet it felt like they'd been together for years, as if they always were in each other's life..it was that comfortable, that natural.
Inside the market, Price pushed the cart while Soap walked as close to him as possible, his hands drifted to Price's back, longing to go lower, but he resisted, given the fact that they were in very public eye. Normally Soap wouldn't give a damn, hell, not even a quarter of a damn, but still, not the best idea to grab ass in the middle of the produce section, he settled on resting his palm just above it instead, hooking a few fingers into Price's belt loop.
"Don't think I haven't noticed your hand getting lower this entire time." Price said, shooting a smirk in his direction as they past a display of Hobnobs, Soap was unable to resist sneaking a package off the shelf and placing it in the cart with a sheepish look.
Soap grinned, but didn't remove his hand, and instead, snaked it up to Price's hip. "And here I thought I was being subtle."
"Subtle, right. If that's what you were going for, I suggest you work on it." Price said dryly, a smile in his eyes.
"Work on it, as in...putting my hands on you in public more often? In a slightly discreet matter, of course."
"You can be as indiscreet with me as you'd like." Price responded, his smirk was getting out of hand, but that's the one Soap loved, always had from that first day they met, when they were just Soap and 141, and always would. An older woman carted past them at the exact moment Price spoke and gave them both a look, dirty and on the verge of sneering, her eyes slit. Soap returned the snobbish expression and moved his hand lower again, laughing quietly as the lady sped up with her rickety cart to get out of their sight, Price joined in with a deep, throaty chuckle, only making Soap's laughter level increase.
"Ah, maybe we should work on what kind of PDA is OK.." Soap said, looking over at Price after his laughter died down with a crooked, half-smile.
Price shrugged and gave him a wink. "Didn't bother me."
Soap nodded in agreement, at least they weren't making out in the biscuits and crisps aisle, that, he would leave to Ghost and Roach..as much as the idea was tempting.
They turned to an aisle, teas of all varieties covered the shelves, top to bottom. What kind of store had an entire aisle dedicated to tea? The colors blurred in his mind, scattering in his vision like a kaleidoscope of the leafy sort. "Um, wow." Soap said as he looked across all the rows, mouth gaped open. He drifted from the side of the cart to walk towards the mass display, fingers touching the front of several boxes.
"Suppose it is a little intimidating." Price said with a lift of his shoulders and moved next to Soap, placing an arm around his waist.
"A little? Price, this is like..a whole new level of mass hysteria I am facing in my head." Soap picked up a box and read the label. "'White tea with ginger and honey'?" He glanced over to Price, his brows lifted, lines creased in his forehead. "I thought there was only green tea and black tea? Why the bloody hell is there so many different kinds?"
Price seemed more than amused by Soap's fretting, but hid it to the best of his abilities. "There's black tea, green tea, white tea, yellow tea, herbal tea, oolong tea. Even more than that."
Soap's eyes widened with each new type of tea. "Oolong? What in the world is that?"
"It's sort of like a black tea, kind of earthy, really rich taste."
Soap crinkled his nose and pulled up his top lip in disgust. "OK, since when does something 'earthy' sound like it'd taste good?"
Price chuckled and kissed Soap's cheek, the younger man flushed subtly in response, never really over the sweet gestures. "It is..an acquired taste. Never said it was my favorite."
"What is then? I'll have to make it the 141 special." Soap said with a smile, nudging into the other man's side.
Price zoned out on the smile for a second, before he turned his head back to the shelves, his thumb absentmindedly rubbing circles on Soap's waist.
"Call me predictable, but Earl Grey is always the best." Price picked up a box from the shelf and tossed it in the cart. "But...Scottish Breakfast Tea is pretty good too." He glanced sideways at Soap.
"Please, I know you're only saying that because you like Scottish men." Still, Soap plucked a box of Scottish Breakfast Tea off the shelf and put it in the cart, feeling exceptionally un-Scottish haven't not tried the stuff before.
"Got me there, I do like Scottish men." He nodded once, then smiled cheekily over to Soap. "Love one of them, though." Price pulled him closer.
Aw, fuck. Apparently Price was going for a new record, see how many times he could make Soap feel like he could literally swoon in one day. He was two for two now.
Soap laughed off the comment, even though his insides were turning to goo. "I, uh, hear there's a Scot who's pretty crazy about you too." Soap affirmed, Price responded by lowering his hand, now positioned directly above his ass. The younger man swallowed hard and shot a look in Price's direction. "And you implied that I was trying to get fresh in the market, but here you are, sweet talking me and getting handsy." Price's smile only grew, Soap shook his head with a laugh and turned his attention back to the shelves and not on the rough palm on his lower back, even though he now knew exactly how those hands feel on his unclothed body, and the flashes of images filling his mind were thoroughly distracting. They certainly were making up for all those weeks of slow building sexual tension.
They walked down the aisle together towards the more..unique varieties, Soap paused at one. "Watermelon tea..? What the shite. Who drinks watermelon tea?" Soap plucked the box off the shelf and shook it, the plastic lined packets on the inside clacked around, he brought it closer to his nose and sniffed. It was strong enough to smell through the box..and it smelt pretty damn good, like warm summer days and picnics. Soap inwardly mocked his damn near pretentious sounding description.
"I wouldn't knock that stuff, that would be mate Gaz's favorite. Believe it or not, it was pretty good, odd as it sounds."
Soap remembered a conversation they had not too long ago and arched a brow. "What is it with Gaz and watermelons? I recall you telling me about shooting up his watermelon after losing a contest."
"I never should have told you that..." Price muttered under his breath. "You'll never forget that, will you?"
"Nope. Seriously, what about Gaz and watermelons?" Soap asked again.
"Mm, he's a..connoisseur of the fruit. To say the least."
"Ah, ok. The least is all you need to say, I never heard of a watermelon enthusiast. You know, I can't wait to met this friend of yours."
"You might regret that, he's a cheeky bastard." Price warned.
"Hah, you have met Ghost, right? No one could be worse than him." Soap said with a smirk.
"Now that you bring it up, the two of them would probably hit it off wonderfully." Price's eyes darted about, looking a bit worried.
"Oh dear god, forget I said anything." Soap pressed a chaste kiss to Price's mouth and propped his hands on his hips. "Let's round up some more tea and head out, eh?"
Soap made a feeble attempt to pay for the items himself, but Price cut him off with a short laugh and a wave of his hand to which Soap responded with a resigned sigh and pout. It seemed he couldn't always get his way with Price, at least not when it came to purchasing things, he remembered how hard it had been to refuse a large tip and offer to pay for a coffee. Price was ever the gentleman..but Soap knew there was something decidedly more mischievous and naughty hidden under that chivalrous demeanor. He knew it now. While they waited in line, Soap stood next to Price, they both watched box after box being wrung up and Soap wondered if he'd ever be able to sneakingly pay for dinner one evening, a smile tugged at the edge of his lips, highly doubting it. A date. That reminded him, they hadn't even had a real, out on the town, date yet. Hm.
They finished up the shopping trip, leaving the store with a cart full of dozens of tea varieties, most Soap felt like he'd never understand. This was going to be a long evening.
Arms full of overloaded grocery bags, they climbed steps to Price's house. It was a small place on the outside, quaint and very homey looking, white with dark brown trimmings.
Price did an impressive balancing act with his share of bags and unlocked the front door, lightly kicking it open and dipping his head in the direction of it for Soap to enter first. Of course.
"Did you, uh, just breach your front door?" Soap looked over at him, amused smile on his played on his lips.
Price rolled his shoulders and gave a short nod, he was practically smoldering Soap with his eyes. "Depends..did it impress you?" Price answered with a gruff tone, further making Soap suppress a open swoon.
"Aye, sure did. Seems you're still full of surprises." Soap said with a laugh and stepped inside before stopping to turn around and face Price. "I'm serious, dunno if I'll ever get used to someone opening the door for me..."
"I can't help myself.." Price said with an upturn of his lips, voice low and gravely making Soap exhale a bit louder than he intended..almost like a happy sigh.
"One day, I'll get the door for you." Soap promised with a wink before he turned back around to enter the house, Price following directly behind him.
"We'll see about that." Of course he was smirking. When was he not?
Soap moved through the main hallway and gazed about the house, still trying to memorize every detail. It felt comforting being here, like it was already home. He wanted to kick off his boots and splay himself out on the couch, lay on Price, if it weren't for other matters. The inside of Price's place was surprisingly modern, in contrast to its worn, but charming exterior. Well, at least the kitchen was. The two of them walked down the hall and turned into the kitchen. You could tell by the shiny new appliances, chocolate maple cabinets, and dark granite counter that Price loved his kitchen. A lot. A bonafide foodie his boyfriend was indeed. His boyfriend. Damn, it felt good to know that was a fact.
Soap couldn't even take a guess at what half of the appliances in that kitchen did. One of them looked like a torture device, but Price assured him that it was simply a pasta making machine. He'd trusted Price, so he'd have to take his word for it.
They dumped the grocery bags on the counter and began to empty them. Each new box that found its way into Soap's hand increased his anxiety, he bit at his bottom lip.
"You know, you don't have to do this." Price told him. He noticed the nervous vibes rolling off the younger man, so he placed a hand on Soap's lower back and began doing gentle stroking motions for a few seconds before returning back to unpacking.
"A little late for that, don't you think?" Soap asked, arching his scarred brow. "If I stopped now, you'd have enough tea to pass down to our future grandchildren. And by grandchildren I mean cats, of course. Hellraiser's kittens. And theirs. Shite..maybe even further along than that." Soap mumbled quickly, too engrossed in his worry to realize he voiced a very private thought, out loud.
Price, however, did notice, and stopped unloading the bags altogether to stare over at Soap.
"Besides..I want to do this. I think it would be good for the shop, we need to bring in some new customers.." Soap carried on, tossing the last box on the counter top. Finally, he turned his head and met Price's stare. He knew it would probably take some time to be able to figure out what every look in Price's eyes meant..but right now they were a little shiny and the corner of his mouth was turned up, it was a soft expression and a fond looking one, but something must be behind the glowing of his eyes. Soap let out a airy laugh. "Um..why're staring at me like that?" He asked.
Price snapped out of the daze and coughed. "Just thinking how fantastic your arse looks in those pants of yours. There's a reason why I insist you go through the door first, not only for chivalrous reasons." Price said with smirk.
Soap rolled his eyes and scoffed a laugh, tapping his finger on a box in front of him. "Oh, I believe that...A+ subject changing, you're good at it." He retorted sarcastically.
"Whether you choose to believe me or not is your prerogative." Price looked away from Soap and examined the large collection of boxes before them. He let out a whistle. "Do you think it was necessary for us to buy this much, Soap?"
"Hey, I offered to pay. Three times, in fact. At least for the biscuits..." Soap said, scratching at the back of his neck, suddenly feeling a little guilty.
Price frowned and draped an arm around Soap's waist. "It's not that, at all..it's the fact that you claim to have no experience with tea making and yet you want to jump right into it with 30 or so varieties. You could take it slower, ease into it."
Soap leaned into Price's arm and ran a hand through his mohawk. "Been there, done that." Soap mumbled, remembering how long it took for the two of them to get together. "And what can I say, I'm an ambitious man. And maybe a little mad."
"That you are." Price agreed, a fond smile crossed his mouth.
"You know you love it." Soap rested a hand on Price's hip and kissed him soundly on the lips, trying not to linger too long. He pulled away but kept his hand in place. "OK, so I need my apron, helps me focus, and..that pot thing." Soap stated, finding his favorite camo apron on the edge of the counter and looping the neck strap over his head and tying it.
"Sorry, what?" Price looked utterly baffled, adjusting the hat atop his head.
"Can't think of the bloody name..." Soap made a few hand motions in the air to try and convey the object. "The thing that boils the water." He said with a snap of his fingers.
"A tea kettle. It's a tea kettle, Soap." Price corrected, blinking at him.
"Fuck. This is already starting out wonderfully." Soap crossed his arms and let out a frustrated sigh.
Price gave him an encouraging smile. "If it helps, I believe in you. I know you can do it."
The man's words blossomed a new burst of confidence in him.
"It does."
"Good." Price squeezed him closer again and brushed his nose into Soap's cheek. "I'll retrieve the 'thing that boils water'." His voice was low, hitting Soap's ears in the most delicious way, unfairly distracting him from getting peeved at Price's light jib.
Price removed his arm from Soap and grabbed the silver tea kettle from the stove top, he began to walk to the sink to fill it up but Soap quickly intercepted, taking the kettle from his hands.
"Ah, I've got this, Price."
Soap, as much as he knew he would regret it, tried to usher Price out of the kitchen so he could give his best attempt at tea making. Alone.
"Soap..tea is my thing. If I didn't teach military history, I could very well instruct in the art of tea. Tea leaves, tea drinks, tea cookies. Tea." Price protested while Soap filled the pot and placed it on the burner, setting the heat to medium.
"Which is exactly why I have to figure this out on my own. I can't rely on my boyfriend to help me with everything. Fixing my door, buying me journals.."
"Giving you some bloody pointers with brewing tea is hardly everything. And besides..I want to help you, love."
That was the first time Price said the term of endearment, right there in the middle of his kitchen. Soap can still remember how strongly his heart thudded in his chest and how warm the word made him feel on the inside, spreading from his heart and filling the rest of him with a feeling like no other.
"What was that?" Soap asked quietly, abandoning the kettle to face Price who was leaned on the counter behind him. "And don't even try to change the subject." He added before it was too late.
"It slipped out. If it made you uncomfortable, then.." Price began.
Soap couldn't believe he was seeing Price..nervous once again. He previously assumed it was rare to impossible to see the older, confidant man like that, but it seems he was just as capable of it as everyone else and Soap cherished that little fact.
Soap shook his head and walked over to Price, taking his hands in his own and pressing a kiss to the man's left knuckle. "Say it again."
"Love?" Price repeated, smoother this time, drawn out.
"Bloody hell." Soap sighed out a quiet noise of approval and kissed Price fully on the lips, wrapping his arms around his neck. The older man's hands found their way to Soap's face, cupping it on either side, holding their lips together.
Soap pulled away slightly breathless a few, long moments later and asked, "Does this mean I should start calling you baby or darling? Because I'm ok with that..something I thought I'd never say, I must confess."
"Soap didn't you once admit you were a hopeless romantic?" Price said while he lifted a hand and fixed a stray piece of Soap's mohawk before flicking his eyes back to meet the the other man's stare.
"I did. What's your point?"
"That you can't tell me you don't say those sappy bloody names."
"Fine, I do. Never admitted it aloud before, I meant. And you never answered my question."
Price chuckled and replied, "I'm partial to love, but either of those options are fine."
"You're only partial to 'love' because you're a charming, English bastard." Soap kissed said bastard once more and reluctantly pulled away.
"Mm..you might be right about that...love."
"Come on, now you're doing it on purpose."
"You may have noticed I can tease a bit.."
"Price...darling..I've had sex with you, I know you're a sodding tease all too well. Or, alternatively, not well enough."
"We could improve your knowledge on this subject..if you'd like."
Enter sexy professor mode again. Damn.
"You bet your arse I would." Soap murmured and made the move to meet Price half-way for another heated kiss, but his gaze fell on the large supply of boxes on the counter and was swiftly reminded of his mission. "Tea." Was all Soap said. The word was enough for Price to ease his face away from Soap's. There was a considerable gap between their faces now that caused a pout to flash on the younger man's mouth, but he had a job to do. There was always time for this later. Plenty of it, yet, never enough.
"Bollocks, and here I'm supposed to be the focused professor."
"Exactly. Come on, Pri..you need to stop distracting me with your ruggedly handsome good looks and impossibly raspy voice. How am I ever to complete this mission if you've got your hands all over me?" Soap accused him jokingly, although it was his hands that were actually moving across Price's back, feeling the ridges of muscle, coaxing the other man closer.
"Right, like this is all my doing."
"It is." Soap confirmed with a nod, causing a smirking grin to show up on Price's features.
The older man removed his hands and leaned against the counter, arms crossed against his dark green button up shirt clad chest. "Get to work then, Soap." He said with a wave of his hand.
He never looked more like a commanding professor captain than in this very moment, Soap swallowed hard. This was going to be a challenge. Not the tea making, but the not getting Price to fuck him on the grey stoned floor of the kitchen part.
10 minutes later, under the scrutinizing eyes of Price, he completed a cup of tea.
"Ok...try this." Soap pushed the mug of Earl Grey towards Price.
Price lifted the cup to his mouth and took a sip, his nose crinkled up, but he quickly recovered. The silence lasted 5 heart beats.
"...You - uh? You gonna say something?" Soap asked, trying not to read into the facial cues on Price's face too much.
"That's...fine."
Soap eyed him, brow raised and mouth pressed in a thin line. "Come on, Price. I need constructive criticism here. Tell me what's good, what's bad, what needs changing. All that. This is why you stayed, remember?" That and seeing Price's face was good for his moral. Right.
Price sighed. "It's bitter. Very." He managed to say, swallowing down the harsh liquid.
"Shite, I never should have tried to make your favorite...I'm hopeless, aren't I?" Soap muttered, reaching for the package of Hobnobs, opening it, and began to slowly chew on one, he was a stress eater, if Price didn't take this package from him, he'd eat the entire thing in one sitting - or nervous pacing in the kitchen.
"No. You've never made tea before, that's all. Earl Grey is a tricky one. You don't want to over brew it, the taste can be a little overpowering that way. A good Earl Grey needs a three minute steep, not a second over." Price instructed, doing ridiculous hand gestures in the process.
"And you didn't tell me this because?" Soap asked, mouth full of biscuit, feeling slightly exasperated.
"Because you told me you wanted to do this on your own, remember?"
"Fair enough. Alright, let me give it another go." Soap slapped his hands together to shake off the crumbs. "This time, I'll blow your mind." He guaranteed, pressing a kiss to his lips. He was silently thankful that Price wasn't like Ghost, he knew his friend would make countless sexual jokes at that one, although he must be similar to him..since he was thinking it all the whole time he said it. The look in Price's eyes suggested that he knew exactly what that sentence implied.
Price rubbed a comforting hand down Soap's back. "Soap...why don't you try make up your own special blend instead of doing something typical? Creativity is where you shine, love. You turned a basic, flat espresso into something layered and complex..vanilla, your famous Scottish Cream..it's huge in Hereford. All because of your ideas, your creations." Price encouraged, another kiss was left on the side of the younger man's face, so was a hand, stroking down the side of his stubbled cheek.
Soap pondered for a moment, Price had a point, he never had been good with restrictions or following directions, too boring. He couldn't fight the smile that crossed his mouth, his boyfriend knew him well, even better than himself sometimes.
"Aye, but I'm not sure if mum's Scottish cream recipe would work here...vanilla-butterscotch and almond-cream with tea? Mmm, I can work magic with beverages, but not that much. Anyways, you're on point..I need to think of something all my own instead of reading box directions..that might've been why I wrecked that first cup."
"I wouldn't say wrecked..." Price mumbled, picking at the dog tag on Soap's neck, not looking the younger man in the eyes.
"Priiice." Soap drawled with a huff of breath, his booted foot tapping on the tile floor.
Price simply laughed in response and ran a hand through the other man's mohawk, taking care not to mess up the specially styled locks. "Go on, get those creative juices flowing. I'll be over there, being a boring professor with my paperwork, not disturbing you." His eyebrows rose in amusement with the last words.
"Boring professor, uh huh, sure." Soap said, rolling his eyes and pecking Price one last time on the lips, giving a nod to the stool at the kitchen bar. "Ok then, we both have a jobs here. Good luck with the test grading.."
"Good luck with the mad scientist experimenting."
"So what, you're the boring professor and I'm the mad scientist?"
"Pretty good pairing, I think."
"Too right."
Price gave him one last encouraging smile and headed off to the bar table, both of them parting with small chuckles at the silly nicknames. Soap didn't know where Price got the idea in his head that he's a boring professor, he shook his head at the impossible notation, Price was more like a charming, sexy, funny, sweet, caring, damn motivating captain of his heart. Boring was the last thing that came to mind, Ghost would beg to differ though, calling them both 'boring old farts'. If he only knew what they got up to in private..thankfully he doesn't.
Now in a renewed state-of-mind, he returned to the counter toppled with boxes a gave them a good look over, analyzing flavor combinations in his mind. Creative...creative. Hm. Vanilla-caramel with passion fruit? Not that out of the box. Price apparently favored the more simple brews, Earl Grey straight up, peach tea, black tea with a wedge of lemon. Looks like it was time to break out the ol' MacTavish mix up and get him into something...new.
That was what inspired him.
Two experimental brews later, Soap perfected a cup of black tea fused with raspberry-blueberry, hint of cherry and mint, feeling more natural in his own element of making creative combos.
Soap called Price over, eager to show him his creation, "Ok, prepare yourself for our love in a cup." Soap announced proudly, placing the cup in the other man's hands.
Price arched a brow, a playful grin on the edge of his lips, "'Our love in a cup'? Is that to be the official name?"
"Might need to work on that one..just give me a little time to think it over." Soap replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "Still was the inspiration though, our love."
"Well, let's see what the tea equivalent of our love tastes like." Price took a drink, as soon as the liquid hit his tongue, his eyebrows snapped up. "Hmm..now that's good. Bloody fantastic. I...actually can taste...the love." Price sipped it again, humming into the mug.
"M9tea11."
"M9tea11? Bloody hell, where do you come up with these names?"
"'Our love in a cup' doesn't fit our shop's theme exactly, so what is something that signifies it pretty well? M1911. We both love that gun, and when I was drawing it at work that day..we had the first, date-like conversation. Fits, I think." Soap said with a shrug.
A warm smile spread across Price's face, glowing all his features. "It's perfect." He words suggesting he meant more than just the tea.
Soap beamed at the compliment, now the two of them like balls of goddamn sunshine, his hands proudly propped on his hips. "Told you I could do it, make a good cuppa."
"You're a fast learner."
"Or stubborn to succeed. I can't handle not being good at something, unless it repairing shite. I've accepted long ago that I'm hopeless with that." Soap admitted with a self-deprecating smile. Price laughed lightly and shook his head at that one. "But hey, at least I have you to help with that." Soap added with a wave of his hand in the man's direction. Truthfully, he would be thoroughly screwed without Price's repairing expertise..that damn door.
"Oh, now you want my help." Price remarked dryly from his position, leaned against the counter by the stove, the mug was lowered from his lips.
"If it involves tools in your hands and you down on your knees, than I'm more than willing to accept that sort of help. Anytime." Soap quipped, a wolfish grin flashed on his features. Price cast a look in his direction that easily translated as, 'you'll be the one down on your knees soon enough', and continued drinking the tea, baiting his time.
Soap cleared his throat, feeling hot from the look, and pulled his journal from his pants pocket. Quickly, he sketched out the way Price's lip cringed up at the bitter taste of his first failed cup, biting back the huge, cheeky smile from falling on his mouth. It was easily the fastest thing he'd ever drawn, he ripped it out and balled it up, tossing the sketch at Price's chest, it nearly ended up landing in the man's half empty mug. The look on Price's face when he smoothed out the wrinkled paper was, well, priceless. That little incident resulted in Price yanking Soap into his bedroom, pushing him down on the mattress, untying the apron and pulling off his shirt in one go, the two of them retiring from tea making for the rest of the evening. Exactly where Soap had planned to end up since the very beginning of this whole thing.
Mission completed.