F Is For 'Fussy'
The table arrangement was different from what Seto was used to. He had grown up with silver spoons and antique china, and even when he wasn't being formal he ate off of fine dinnerware. Right now, what sat in front of him was a plain white mug, pewter silverware, and a plate with a printed pattern of chibi Scottish folds on it. He stared at the plate blankly. Something abut reminded him of his beginnings. In Russia, his plates were oddly similar. If he didn't have his choice of his favorite Silver the Dinosaur plate, the plates were often printed with cats. His mother loved cats, and even her one set of fine china was printed with them.
"Almost done!" Ryo said from the other side of the room, his back facing Seto. Seto felt oddly claustrophobic in Bakura's apartment. Never had he been in a house where the kitchen was so small that the microwave needed to be place atop the refrigerator, which was also miniscule at best. He was amazed to watch Bakura work in there, chopping onions on a tiny cutting board and pushing them into the pan which was on top of the stove, possibly the single largest appliance in the entire house. Then again, after a few moments, Seto found himself admiring Ryo's backside more than his cooking. He always wore jeans that fit perfectly in that area. Seto didn't mind that at all.
Ryo came around the counter, pan and spoon in hand, "Here we are. Have you had this before?" He tilted the pan, sliding some ground, bright red meat with bits of onion and capers in it. It looked familiar, at least the now mushy meat did in color.
Seto tilted his head, "Um… Corned… beef?" He had definitely had that before, his Jewish-German mother loved that sort of food.
"Corned beef hash." He smiled as he served himself, placing the pan between them as he sat down, "It's delicious. I used to have it everyday when I was with my father. Maybe that's because it was the only thing he could cook without burning something, but still." He laughed, "Dig in." He began to eat himself, taking a healthy fork-full and sticking it in his mouth.
Seto looked down at his plate. It was hardly aesthetically pleasing. It looked like some sort of demented mash potato with alien eggs in it. He cautiously lifted his fork, taking a small bit and putting it in his mouth. It tasted very salty. Almost one-noted in its saltiness, in fact. The capers did nothing to help the taste. They maybe gave a slight tang to it, but nothing more, and the onions had sunken into the background. He blinked t the plate, then looked at Ryo, "You… Ate this?"
Bakura looked up from his plate, "Yes. Is there something wrong with it?"
"It's…. Salty."
"Well of course, that's what it's supposed to be. It helped the food keep for longer in the olden days." Bakura explained.
Yes, well, the olden days are long gone. How can he stomach this? Seto thought to himself as he looked at the plate, choosing to hold his tongue. Ryo, however, could almost read Seto's mind by looking at his face.
Seto looked back up when he heard Ryo chuckle, "You know… You're like a fussy child when you do that."
"Wh-What?" Seto fumbled, "Fussy?"
"Look at your face! You're obviously don't want to eat it. I used to make the same face when I was a child. I was too polite to deny food." Ryo chuckled again.
Seto gained a faint blush, "I-I'm not fussy! I'm just not used to British cooking, is all. I've grown up with much more… mellow flavors. Nothing as salty as this."
"Do you want it or not?"
"Huh?" Seto blinked again.
"I said, 'Do you want it or not?' It's okay if you don't. I can refrigerate it. It'll keep, and keep, and keep." Ryo smiled.
"No natural food should last for so long, you know this, right? I feel a bit uncomfortable with the level of sodium in your diet." Seto made a face at the food.
"Oh, so now you're a nutritionist?" Ryo furrowed a brow, his smile changing to a smirk.
"I apparently know more about healthy food than you, so yes. From now on, I think I'll have you on a diet. This can't be healthy."
Ryo pursed his lips, "Look at me. Do I look unhealthy?"
"Is this similar to the 'Do I look fat question'?"
"Oh thank you very much. Now I think I look fat." Ryo frowned.
Seto popped up, waving his hand defensively, "N-No! I mean! Wait! Uhm… Ugh… Okay, bad phrasing. I only meant that I'm not sure you'd like the answer either way."
"I can take your answers any day, Mr. Kaiba." Ryo replied sternly
"Alright! Alright… You look healthy. In fact, you look radiant. I'm just… worried about your body. I want you to be healthy." Seto sank a bit, becoming oddly sheepish.
Bakura looked at him, surprised at how he reacted. It was like a puppy reacting to an owner who had just scorned it. He had never seen Seto like that before. He stood up, closing his eyes and walking around the table. He bent down, lifting Seto's head with his hand. Seto looked at him, his eyes widening a bit. Bakura smiled, then leaned in and kissed Seto gently on the lips, pulling back for a moment to say, "I'm glad you worry about me. I'll try to eat healthier, then." He smiled before kissing again.