Kaiba wakes with a start.
The bed is cold.
Just like it had been all those years ago.
For a moment, ice steals over his heart. There's no way this could happen again, not after all they'd gone through to make it work this time. But then, he begins to hear a faint sizzling, and muted humming. A rich, sweet yet savory scent hangs in the air.
Groaning, he unfurls himself from the bed, stumbles to the bedroom door, and flings it open—
To find Joey, standing at the stove in the kitchen, wearing an apron.
Wearing only an apron.
"Wellllll, if it isn't Mr. Morning Person!"
There's a tease of a chuckle in Joey's voice. It's well-known between them that Kaiba is not a morning person. That's what started their whole mess years ago. And indeed, it takes Kaiba a moment to process the scene before him. But once he does, he crosses to Joey and wraps him up in an embrace from behind, burying his face in the warm crook of Joey's neck. He lingers there, breathing in his scent. "You know, when I woke up and you were gone, for a second, I…"
"What, you thought I left again? In my own house?" There's no reproach in Joey's tone; only that warm chuckle. "I just wanted to make you breakfast." Joey turns in the embrace to face him. Places his warm hands on Kaiba's cheeks. Stares at him with those warm amber eyes. "I'm sorry Seto. I'm here. I promise. I'm not going anywhere."
The world fades away, leaving only this warmth. Joey has always been warmth. Radiating from the fierce sun of his heart. Beaming out of him in that smile that Kaiba has never been able to resist, despite his best efforts, and even now is pulling him closer, closer…
pop!
"Yeeaaaagh!"
Kaiba stumbles backward as Joey jumps. Catching himself against the refrigerator, he manages to right both of them. Joey immediately spins around.
"Shit, shit, shit, aw shit it's burning!"
As Kaiba watches, he turns the flame down on the stove and quickly slides what looks like bread off of the griddle onto a separate plate. "Okay, that one's mine," Kaiba hears him mutter under his breath, before reaching back to rub at a red spot on his buttock. "Aw man, splatter got me right in the ass."
"You want me to kiss it better?" Kaiba reaches for him, but his hands are playfully swatted away.
"No you just get out of my kitchen. This is your fault for distracting me." Joey gestures to the living room. "Go get comfy or something. It'll be ready in a minute."
Curiosity gets the better of him, and Kaiba does wander into the living area. Truth be told, he'd not taken much notice of it the night before. It's simple, but…warm, somehow. Like all things Joey. Soft morning light filters in through the sheer curtains. The couch that had been too short to hold him is a cozy buckwheat color. Stacks of paper and a red pen grace the end table beside it. A couple of guitars rest on stands in the corner, next to a decently-sized television. There's a picture of Joey's sister on one side of the TV stand, and one of Joey with Yugi and company on the other side. Mounted on the wall above the TV is Joey's old duel disk, and a small display shelf with his deck of duel monsters cards.
"My god, you still have this thing?"
"That thing and I have some good memories together!"
"I can get you a better one."
"Don't you dare touch that!"
Kaiba feels his heart swell. There's something touching about the fact that this tech of his—however outdated—is meaningful to Joey. That something he created is so tangibly important to the man he loves.
The man he loves. More and more every day.
Another yelp from the kitchen. Kaiba turns from the living room and makes his way back to the kitchen table. "Do you need help or something?"
"No, no, it's all good. Just relax and let Chef Joey take care of you."
Kaiba sits down at the table as Joey busies himself on the other side of the counter. "I'm not gonna get food poisoning, am I?"
"Hey now. I resent the implication that I would be the one to give you food poisoning. Have you ever once so much as boiled water for yourself outside of school?"
Silence.
"Yeah, that's what I thought, rich boy."
None of their words have any bite. It's an easy banter, made lighter by the twinkle in Joey's eyes, and the smile that Kaiba can feel playing at the corners of his mouth.
"You know, I could've ordered us breakfast."
"I know, I know." Joey comes out from behind the counter, balancing plates and condiments. "But like I said, I wanted to do this." Carefully, he sets everything down, and slides into the chair next to Kaiba. Their knees touch under the circular table.
"Allow me to present the one and only all-American traditional ham and cheese omelet and french toast! Wiiith a little Joey twist."
Kaiba picks up a fork. He can't resist saying, "The twist is food poisoning." It earns him a teasing swat on the arm.
"Just eat it."
Kaiba does, and is surprised by how much he enjoys it. The eggs are fluffy, folded perfectly around the filling, and the french toast has something of a brightness to it that he can't quite place.
"The twist is orange zest in the batter," Joey offers, as if reading his mind. "Well, whaddya think?"
It's not a five-star meal, of course, but it's made by Joey's hands. And for that, he can't help but love it.
"I think…I'd like to do this more often."
Joey's face breaks out into his signature sunlight smile. He grabs Kaiba's free hand and laces their fingers together. "I'd like that too. I'd really, really like that too." He takes a breath. "You know, I've been…kinda nervous, about having you over here. I know it's nothing fancy."
Kaiba sets his fork down and turns to face Joey fully. He leans forward, reaching out to gently caress his cheek. "It's a part of you. And I love you, Joey. All of you. Don't ever think that I don't."
Joey's smile turns to blush, turns to almost tears. "I love you too, Seto." He leans forward as well, pulling Kaiba in closer until their lips meet, soft and warm and intense all at once.
The kiss tastes like sweet orange citrus.