Lover's Day: Comfortable Romance
4+3 GW Sap for Fablespinner's Contest
by: Yuuki Miyaka
Part Two - Konnichiwa

We settle on an aioli, which - though it sounds exotic - is one of the simplest dishes I've ever learned to make. Like any truly good food, it never turns out the same way twice, but that could be because I've never learned an exact recipe for it. Instead, I had Quatre boil the water for the noodles while I cut the vegetables to go in it, starting with the onions. "Trowa, you're so incredible when it comes to knives," Quatre coos, and I grin inwardly, bowing slightly at the compliment. He always says that, and I always bow. It's tradition, and far be it from me to break tradition.

Moments later, with the onions sweating and the rest of the vegetables piled on the plate, I watch Quatre add the noodles to the water as I mix the chicken broth. Working beside him is comfortable, homey, even though most of the time I find him sitting at the kitchen bar watching me cook. Now is no different. "You know what I love about this?" he asks me, and I raise an inquiring eyebrow. "I love watching you. You're so graceful."

The compliment makes me blush, but he delights in doing that. In lieu of an answer, I turn to the range, stirring in some of the broth I prepared. I can feel his eyes on me, and a warmth spreads through my body at the mere idea of him watching me. With his current duties, I can't remember the last time we actually spent a lazy day at home. To me, it is the best gift I could give him for our lover's day. I think he agrees, too.

He lets me finish making our lunch in relative quiet, only asking a question here or murmuring a gentle comment there. I serve him, then myself, and we sit down to the gently spicy dish. Discussion flavors the meal even further as we delight in each other's company. The topics range from simple to complex, from flattery to rants, from the day's happenings to memories of the past, and we sit at the table long after the food is gone.

"Trowa?" he askes, after a while. I look at him, which is answer enough. "Why this? You're as busy as I am. You could've just picked up a gift or something on the way home last night."

"Because I'm as busy as you are, Imp." He grins at the affectionate name I gave him long ago. "Because we both need the relaxation today. And because, more than anything else, I miss being able to spend days cuddled with you." It never fails. That sunny smile spreads across his face at the thought. I love that smile. If I had a poetic bent in me, I could go on for hours about that alone.

When lunch is over I let him gather the dishes and slip them in the sink. Another tradition. We'll clean them tomorrow, because today is so special. And then he's guiding me out of the kitchen, herding me toward the music room. I know what he wants. He loves playing duets with me. Of course, I love it too.

* * * * *

As I mentioned before, I don't have a poetic bone in my body, but there's something about the music he creates, the music he pulls from me, that makes me wish I did. There's no real way to describe something that beautiful. And it IS that beautiful. He puts his entire heart into any piece he plays. I can hear it in there, pulsing with the beat and giving meaning to every liquid note.

The melody pours over my body, reminding me of the way we met, of the first time I ever heard him play. It is a joy to listen to, his music, and next to him I feel awkward, gauche. But he turns those entreating, enticing aqua eyes to me, and I melt. Anything he could ever ask of me, I would give him. Next to that, the music seems a small request. But it is what he wants, and so I lift the flute to my lips, letting my own heart guide me through a descant to his song.

It is hours, and mere minutes, before we finally lower our instruments, staring at each other in marvelous wonder. His music never fails to move me, and he says the same thing of mine. But that is the way our life is, our souls moving each other to gentleness, love.

I would not trade this day for anything or anyone. Moments like this - that is what we fought for, that is what we live for. And that is what we were willing to die for. I just never thought I'd get to experience it for myself.