The first time Grell makes Will a cup of tea, he can almost taste the disappointment hanging in the air. He reaches into the cupboard for a small tin of tea bags, and sets the kettle gently on the stove. Will wrinkles his nose and sighs.
"I thought you had good taste, Sutcliff. In fact, I was lead to believe that you were meticulous in your obsessions."
Grell haughtily lifts his chin and softly snorts, lifting the tea bags out of the cups far too soon, and adding milk. Will sighs again.
"Sugar?" Grell offers. Will shrugs as the redhead places the cup gently on the table.
Grell watches eagerly as Will takes a sip. He almost spits it all over the pristinely polished table.
"You call this tea?" He says, simply, quirking an eyebrow. Grell pouts and clutches a hand to his chest, feigning hurt. Will rolls his eyes and stands, picking up his coat from the back of the chair.
The redhead looks puzzled.
"And where, may I ask, do you think you're going?" He asks, hand dramatically on hip. Will takes his wrist and pulls him lightly through the door.
"To teach you to make a proper cup of tea."
###
They arrive at Will's flat in record time. Will heads straight to the kitchen, filling the kettle and placing it on the stove.
"My goodness, can it not wait?" Grell whines, kicking his shoes off and heading for the settee.
"Sutcliff, adequate tea-making skills are imperative." The corners of Will's mouth twitch slightly. Grell watches as he reaches into the cupboard and retrieves an intricately patterned porcelain teapot from the top shelf. He also fetches an old and battered looking tin from the shelf above the worktop.
"Loose leaves are crucial. No good ever comes from those silly little bags." He says, as Grell stands beside him looking bored.
"But they're quicker." Grell grumbles. Will glares at him, and drops two generous spoons of tea leaves into the pot. The redhead moves closer, intent on drawing Will's attention away from the inane tea. He's unsuccessful.
When the kettle whistles, Will pours it over the leaves in the pot. Grell rolls his eyes.
"And now what?" He slurs lazily. Will steps closer to Grell and smiles.
"And now we wait for the tea to steep." He says. Grell pouts.
"As much as I love you, Will darling, this must be one of the dreariest things I've ever done."
"Don't call me darling." They wait a few moments in silence, and as Grell opens his mouth to complain again, but Will holds up a hand to silence him before straining the tea into two cups. He hands one to Grell, who takes a sip and nods appreciatively.
"It's good." He says. Will smirks.
"See?" Will pauses and tips the rest down the sink, rinsing the pot out with water. He places it back on the counter and hands Grell the tin of tea leaves. "Now you."
Grell rolls his eyes and complains loudly until he feels Will step closer to him. He can feel breath on the back of his neck, and a hand closes over his, guiding him through all the steps. It's unnecessary, but Grell doesn't complain, instead taking in a deep lungful of Will's scent and allows himself to be lead.
When the tea is made, Will nods briskly and steps back, content. He replaces the tin among the many others on the shelf, and sighs. They sit for a while, sipping tea in silence.
Grell stands up awkwardly after some time, mumbling about how it's getting late and he has to go. Will stares. Eventually, as the redhead reaches the door, he feels a hand on his shoulder and turns around. Will hovers awkwardly in the hall, opening and closing his mouth like a fish, trying to get words out. They stay unmoving for a second too long, not meeting each other's eyes.
When Will presses his lips to Grell's, he tastes like earl grey.
Grell smirks slyly and tells Will that he prefers masala chai.