"Shit, works for me. I'll make the boys(™️) can make that work too"

He chuckles, coming up next to her as he watches her cook. It didn't matter what she was doing, he always adored watching her do it, and this was no exception.

"Y'know, it's kinda funny you say that. They were asking when I was gonna bring you around again."

He followed her into the kitchen, watching those hips sway ~all~ the way in.

"We should plan a dinner, or a brunch or something. I think they'd love to catch up."

"Aw, man..."

He feigned a pout, but his lips quickly turned up and into a smile. He -could- go for some actual food, delicious as she was.

"I would -kill- for some waffles and bacon right now."

"Oh, of course. Why else would you ~possibly~ want me to join you?"

He teased, standing up beside her and tapping her behind. as they headed to the bathroom

It was the best he had ever looked, by far.

"Yeah...yeah it's -gotta- be this one."

He smiled as he looked over her sketches. She always made him and the guys look larger than life, like they were superheroes. And in these? He might as well be Superman.

All of them spoke to him in a different way, but eventually he settled on one with him front and center.

+

What kinda work we talking?

What do I gotta do to touch that?

Good fucking ~lord~

"God...better is an understatement."

He looked down, soft green eyes meeting hers with a smile.

"You never fail to...help me release all of my tension."

A chuckle left his lips. She knew exactly what he meant.

He chuckled against her lips for a brief moment. As his arms wrapped around her waist, he returned the kiss in full, walking them over to her couch, which was decidedly -not- in the kitchen.

Dinner indeed would wait.

He took a deep breath in, inhaling her scent, and the scent of the kitchen. Immediately, it felt like home. -She- felt like home.

"It's...honestly? It doesn't fucking matter right now. All I want to do is eat some pie, and kiss you. I wanna kiss you like right now."

"Honey, I'm hooooome!"

It barely took him 15 minutes to get to her place. He would have sped there anyway, but knowing there was pie waiting for him? That was icing on the...pie?

Sure enough, when he got there, the door was already opened, and he wasted no time getting out of his car and striding into her abode.

+

Immediately, his face lit up. The speed with which he pulled his phone from his pocket threatened to launch it away, but he kept his grip. And then he saw what she was asking, and his smile somehow got even wider.

📲: I'm on my way. What kind of pies are they?

Today had been -long-. Between angry customers, annoying coworkers, and how much his ankles hurt, he was ready to be -done- with the day. Until, of course, he heard his lover's text tone.

+

"I mean, fair enough. Still, you're -always- welcome in my house, darlin~"

"Do you -really- have to ask?"

Not sure why I even asked. You're so right.

"I can tell."

He chuckles, not-so-subtly flexing his forearm against her grip.

Exactly, yeah.

"I have absolutely zero intentions of even trying."

He chuckled, pulling her closer as his free hand reached for the remote.

"Any requests?"

"God...we have been tearing up their operation a lot, haven't we?"

He leaned a bit closer, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head. He was warm, just as he always was. Warm and comforting.

"I'm...I'm sorry I wasn't there to back you up, Rina."

One of his arms laid around her shoulders, a soft sigh leaving his lips as he casts a concerned look in her direction.

"Who was it this time? Ninjas? Enemy mercs? The Gnomes?"

Subtle, you are not.

( Offering his hand. And by extension his forearm. )

"As wonderful as that sounds..."

He stood up from the floor not long after her. Soft steps pressed against the hardwood as he stepped over to join her at the table.

"...it also sounds like you could use a day in. What happened?"

What kind of cult?

🎸: Let's freshen up.

Fair enough. I was just trying to make better sense of what you said.

"Jaysus. Can ya say 'overbuilt'?"