August 25 – Day 2: cooking/rest
Disclaimer: I don't own Junjou Romantica. All characters are the property of Shungiku Nakamura. No profit is made from the writing of this story.
Akihiko bit back a curse as the hot pan clattered noisily onto the stove. Giving his oven mitts a dark look, he threw them off onto the counter. Black smoke wafted up from the pan, giving testimony to the state of tonight's dinner. Running a hand through his hair in frustration, he spared a glance at the clock. Almost time for Misaki to be home from work. He gave his creation a withering look and sighed in disgust. There was no way in hell that was edible. The older man could almost envision his lover's reaction. Green eyes twitched with disgusted awe in his mind's eye. It was best just to go ahead and give it a decent burial right now before the younger man came home and discovered it.
Just then he heard the front door open and Misaki announce that he was home. Thinking quickly, he positioned himself in front of the stove, hoping to hide his disastrous culinary experience. Acting nonchalant, he watched as Misaki walked into the kitchen. The younger man had a weird expression on his face. "Something wrong, Misaki?"
Misaki's nose twitched as the odor hit it. Whatever he was smelling had been thoroughly charcoaled. Green eyes spotted a recipe book open on the counter and he knew then what had happened. Resisting the urge to smile, he propped his hip against the counter. "What are you hiding, Usagi-san? I could smell it from the moment I entered the apartment. I'm surprised the fire alarm didn't go off."
Knowing he couldn't lie to Misaki, Akihiko took a step back from the stove. He had to marvel at how Misaki refrained from laughing when he saw the charcoal looking lump sitting ceremoniously on the stove. Although the younger man did have to cover his mouth briefly and Akihiko could see his shoulders shaking.
Moving closer to the sacrificial offering, Misaki poked at it with a finger, eyes widening comically when a section broke off and crumbled to the pan in a flutter of ashes. Giving Akihiko a look, he managed to ask, "Usagi-san, just what was this supposed to be?"
"I was trying to follow a recipe in one of your cookbooks for a chicken dish. I may have misjudged how long to cook it."
"I'll agree with you on that. What on earth made you decide to try cooking dinner? It's not something you usually do."
Akihiko looked away for a minute before answering. "You've been busy with work and school, so I wanted to try and do something for you. And I ended up botching that royally."
Misaki smiled at his lover. Walking over to where he stood, he hugged the older man. "Thank you, Usagi-san. That means a lot to me that you were thinking of me and wanting to help." Glancing back at their "dinner", he shuddered. "But please, leave the cooking to me, okay?"
"With pleasure." Akihiko replied.