The pan hissed dangerously, but it didn't bother Eren much. He simply gripped the handle tighter and used his free hand to grip a pair of tongs; flipping the meat to its other side. The splattering grease stung his arms painfully as it popped and bubbled. Lashing out at him. The burns didn't hurt that bad, he was just glad that his apron was protecting his shirt. It was one of his favorites, a black dress shirt, unbuttoned tastefully, without a wrinkle.

A door knob jiggled beside him, keys jangling, but Eren honed in his focus. They had guests coming in half the hour. He couldn't afford to get distracted, oh, he should pause for a moment to tell Lilith however. The door creaked open, revealing the blonde hair woman. The frown on her lips, which was deep, but slowly turning back up into a blissful smile at being home.

"Mistress, do you mind stopping in the kitchen for a moment?" He heard a small sound, probably Lilith agreeing, before he saw her stumble in. A foot in one hand while she tried to hop and retie one of the intricate knots on her knee-high boots. How she hopped on six inch spikes, he'd no clue, but she damn well tried. Eren turned the meat to a simmer before dropping to on knee in front of her. Lilith smiled at him and offered him her shoe. Putting the boot on his shoulder, carefully as not to hurt him with the spike as she let him fix the knot. Tying just the way he had in the morning. She was always so rough with her walking, getting her spikes stuck in the knots when she tried to uncross her legs. Eren shook his head, a fond smile, though it was a little skewed, on his face. But with good will. Though getting objectified was a little strange, if it weren't Lilith he would have been squirming in his seat. But it was Lilith. A whole different case. He found his mind wondering a bit, what would happen if that man from the club forced him to his knees? Put a boot on his shoulder, dictating yet kind eyes-

Fuck no. Stop. Wait, the guests Lilith.

"What did you call me here for again my darling?" Eren got off his knees fluidly, his arms stung and his back bent a little strangely, but it wasn't hard to shift right back into his previous task of cooking.

"One, I put Ridley in charge just to warn you in case she hits a customer for bad mouthing her girlfriend again. Two, get cleaned up, we have guests coming over in twenty-five minutes. Business." Lilith raised an eyebrow at him as she took a seat at the table.

"You never invite those home, what circumstances?"

"Good first impression and he wanted to speak with you. A tourist tried to man-handle me and the guy basically told him to fuck off. I thought he deserved to have his matter resolved as soon as possible. What better way to speak with you and let me show gratitude than with dinner at our house?" A light of admiration went off in her eyes, the man had protected her dear Eren. That was definitely something she was happy to hear, and then she registered guy and Eren could just see her thoughts turning as he rolled his eyes. Lilith waggled her eyebrows. Eren gave a teasing frown, tapping her forehead in a mock scolding.

"Collared my mistress, out of the gutter with you." Lilith groaned.

"All the good ones are collared! That's what happened to the last one I was interested in too!" Eren chuckled.

"She didn't even swing your way mistress; it wouldn't have worked out. Even if her being a switch and you being a dom didn't clash already." Lilith grumbled, she knew it was true, switches needed their sub and their dom headspace to thrive, and Lilith wasn't any part sub. Just like Eren wasn't any part dom. He supposed the relationship, should she have been even bi, might have worked. It would have had its bumps, but it could be stable. He'd seen people work it out.

"I know," Lilith lamented, dramatically falling on the table. "A doomed love from the start! Oh, woe is me!" Eren chuckled, turning his attention to dinner, checking it again. Fine, just need some time to cook. Eren leaned against the stove, continuing the conversation.

"Nice Shakespearian influence. But I believe the whole line is 'Woe am I and woe is me.' If I remember my Shakespeare correctly. Or was that one Hamlet? Eh, I flunked theatre arts anyway." Lilith burst out laughing, holding onto her stomach.

"You always mention flunking when you say school courses, how many classes did you fail that badly?" Eren hummed.

"I think the easier question is how many classes didn't I pass with the minimal grade requirement?"

"Okay, what did you pass without the shittiest grade possible?" Eren replied easily.

"French." He was always good at school, but back in high school. His situation was grim and a bit hopeless. Schoolwork wasn't a priority. He practically flung college out the window. It wasn't worth thinking about a hopeless dream. He'd passed high school by the skin of his teeth and was running a fully functioning business. Him and Lilith were fine without a degree for now. Lilith's eyes lit up at the new information.

"No way! Say something, c'mon!" Eren paused, thinking of what he could say… oh, that'd be fun.

"C'est drôle, tu ne comprenez pas ce que je dis tu?" Eren's brow furrowed, was it comprenez? No, he used tu so it was most likely comprenes. The exact conjugation was a little lost on him after years of not looking through his French books and such, but it was enough to convey his message to Lilith. Who grinned widely.

"Oh me god, what did you sayyy?" Me? Lilith and he weird quirks. Still, Eren gave a wobbly smirk.

"Something along the lines 'it's funny, you don't know what I'm saying, do you?" Lilith scowled at him and playfully hit his upper arm. Her fingers lingering on the small pink spot she left on his exposed skin. Her nails scratching it lightly before she pulled away. She didn't know how dangerous her nails were sometimes, but Eren didn't mind.

"You're a meanie." Eren chuckled, not denying it at all. He was being a dick and he knew it. But it was amusing to she her riled up. Especially when she was pouting at him like a child who didn't get the toy they wanted. Then his thoughts were broken by the chiming of their doorbell. Eren mused.

"Huh, our guests are punctual, aren't they?" Lilith squealed.

"Stall for me! I still need to clean myself up! I'm a mess after dealing with the MPs again. I have to brush my hair, and my teeth! What about my make-up. Oh my god why wasn't I thinking!?" Eren put a hand on her shoulder to calm her down.

"Go get cleaned up, I've got this." Lilith smiled at him in relief. Kissing his cheek before rushing up the stairs.

"You're the man Er-bear!"

"I'm the man." The loud clicks of her heels hitting the stairs and the creaking of a door was all he could see or hear of her anymore as he put a cover on the pan. No need for a messy stove top. Now, he couldn't keep the guests waiting.

Gliding, he strode over to the door, opening it fluidly. His expression was blank, but a little more friendly than normal. Home was a comfortable environment, but he was still stiff, reserved. Rigid and on guard. No one would ever see him as Lilith did. It just, didn't seem possible. They'd been through so much together… oh well. Those were thoughts for another time.

Eren looked the guests up and down, they were in casual wear, looking a nice sort of relaxed. The one with the gunmetal eyes was leaning against the much taller male decided him. His partner was Eren's guessed. This male was one Eren had to look up to see himself, blonde hair and blue eyes. He was older and muscular. It reminded Eren of a buffed up Armin almost. Eren opened the door a little wider and bowed his head a bit.

"Welcome gentlemen. Won't you please come in?"