Prompt: Baking/Warm (2021)

Takano Masamune liked to think that he was pretty good at cooking. He could whip up a meal pretty quickly using whatever nonsense he found in his cupboards and it always turned out at least decent. When he really put in the effort he dare say he could even make delicious meals.

Onodera Ritsu on the other hand hated cooking. Not only was he constantly terrified of undercooking any proteins involved (raw chicken was the bane of his existence. He always ended up making it too dry or just slightly burnt out of fear of it being a little pink in the middle) but he also hadn't quite wrapped his head around balancing spices. He always put too much or too little of stuff. Recipes were never clear enough! They always said a 'pinch' of this or a 'sprinkle' of that, like that was supposed to mean something to Ritsu!

Now, baking on the other hand...

Ritsu didn't bake often, but he certainly enjoyed it more than cooking. You didn't have to keep an eye on a pot to make sure nothing boiled over, there were clear cut measurements and instructions to be followed, and dessert is always more fun than dinner anyway!

Masamune did not hold the same sentiment. When it came to baking, one wrong measurement and the whole thing was a disaster! Cooking was more lenient, so long as you didn't burn anything (as Ritsu tended to do). Plus, he wasn't huge on sweets and the less sugary baked goods, like bread for example, took way too much effort to make in his opinion. He could get bread at the store for cheaper and his arms wouldn't be sore from kneading.

However, there was one aspect both men liked about the different styles of food making and that was watching the other do it.

Even if Ritsu denied Masamune's offers to come over to dinner, he still found himself at his boss' apartment more often than he'd like to. Once in Masamune's kitchen Ritsu would always offer to help cook just to be polite, but knew it would be rejected. After sitting down (Ritsu secretly feeling relieved that he didn't have to help) a weird, warm sense of what Ritsu could only describe as "domestic homelife" would fill the kitchen. The sounds of stirring, boiling, and the gradually building smell of whatever meal Masamune was preparing that night would bloom throughout the apartment to create a peaceful illusion of something Ritsu was too afraid to put a name on. Ritsu tried not to think too hard about it otherwise it would shatter.

There was something...charming about watching Masamune cook that Ritsu couldn't quite put his finger on. Masamune was focused, like he was with everything he did, but somehow also casual. Like he was confident and knew what he was doing. Then again, he always acts like he knows what he's doing, Ritsu would often think as he tried not to roll his eyes.

Sometimes Ritsu dared to daydream what it would be like to come home everyday and let Masamune cook for him, not that he would dare let Masamune know that, especially since Masamune had already offered and Ritsu knew he was dead serious. If Ritsu ever dared to crack open even an inch and share the slightest vulnerability then Masamune would undoubtedly take complete advantage of such an opportunity, like he always does.

To be fair, Masamune didn't get many opportunities, so of course he had to take advantage of them when he could. Like the first and only time he'd seen Ritsu bake.

Masamune had shoved his way into Ritsu's apartment with some flimsy work excuse despite Ritsu's protesting.

"At least let me finish up in the kitchen first." Ritsu huffed once he realized that Masamune wasn't going anywhere.

Masamune raised an eyebrow. "What are you making?" He asked, instinctively trying to crane his neck to get a peek into the kitchen.

"Cookies." Ritsu mumbled, annoyed at being interrupted.

"Why?"

"I just felt like it." Ritsu snipped. Did he need a reason to bake cookies in his own home?

"I didn't take you for a baker. I didn't take you for a person who does anything in the kitchen, really." Considering Ritsu's track record of malnourishment, Masamune thought that was a fair statement, though it seemed Ritsu disagreed.

"If you're gonna be rude then you can show yourself out." Ritsu huffed before making a show of turning his back to Masamune and going back to the kitchen.

Masamune rolled his eyes and trailed behind him, standing in the doorway of the kitchen to watch as Ritsu went back to the two separate bowls he had: one for wet ingredients and one for dry. Ritsu double checked that the oven was preheated before he got back to work on the mixing.

Ritsu tried to ignore Masamune and pretend like he wasn't there as he slowly combined the two bowls and mixed until he got a dough, however it was difficult to do so considering how Masamune was staring.

"What?" Ritsu finally snapped as he started to line a baking sheet with little balls of cookie dough.

Masamune bit back a smile as he realized that Ritsu had no idea how cute he was: flour all over his shirt, dough sticking to his hands, and so unbelievably serious and determined about making a batch of cookies. Even with something like this, he's determined to do his best, Masamune thought.

"I just love you, is all." Masamune said, calm and collected in appearance despite inwardly feeling nothing but a shining adoration.

Ritsu almost dropped the tray. "You-!" He cut himself off with a sound of frustration and shook his head before starting his sentence again. "You can't just say things like that!" Ritsu managed to get the tray in the oven without losing any dough to the floor. He also didn't burn himself which was a major plus!

"Can I try one when they're done?" Masamune asked, electing to ignore Ritsu's protest of his affections.

"No."

Masamune frowned. "Why not?"

"You don't even like sweets that much, so why would I waste one on you?" Ritsu asked as he started the process of cleaning everything up.

"I'll like it if you're the one who made it."

Ritsu paused his movements altogether before emphatically shaking his head. "I-I'll never understand how you can say things like that with a straight face!"

"So, can I try one?" Masamune repeated.

Ritsu considered the question for a moment instead of outright denying, which was a good sign, Masamune hoped.

"If you help me clean up." Ritsu finally decided.

Masamune left his spot in the doorway to assist Ritsu in cleaning up the measuring cups, spoons, bowls, etc, that had been used in the process of making the cookies. He had to bite back the comments he wanted to make of how it felt like they were a married couple cleaning up together lest he risk losing the opportunity to try something Ritsu baked.

I learned something new about him today, Masamune thought idly as he watched Ritsu wipe down his countertop. He was glad Ritsu wasn't looking at him so he wouldn't see how he was smiling like a total idiot.

In the end, both Ritsu and Masamune were right about the cookies: Masamune still wasn't a huge fan of sweets, but he was a fan of sweets made by Ritsu.