[ They were growing into men, not just lanky teenagers. Booker had kept up his boxing and it showed in his shoulders. Nicky was lean still but not weak. ]
Thanks. [ He reached over and rubbed his hand against Nicky's back before he went to the kitchen.
Somewhere in the middle of his homework Joe came home with paint stains on his shirt and his big, slightly awkward art folder under his arm.
He stopped by Booker first and gave him a kiss before he went to the kitchen and gave Nicky one. Then he disappeared into the bathroom to clean up.
Booker leaned back in his chair to watch Joe get ready for that shower. ]
[Definitely not weak. He'd had to start rebuying all of his gear, but as soon as he'd found a job that had paid semi-decent and offered him all the hours he could want, he'd started fencing again.
By the time Joe came home and kissed them both, the small apartment was started to smell really nice. Nicky had been working at the stove for a while and by the time Booker leaned back to spy on their stripping lover, Nicky was adding his homemade curry paste to the pot and filling the apartment with even more smells.]
[ The hot water wouldn't last that long so Joe wouldn't take forever.
Booker started to pack up his books. Twenty minutes wasn't a lot of time really and he wouldn't finish the last bit in time so he figured he could pack it up for now.
Then it was into the kitchen to grab some dishes and set the table. Joe would have to do dishes tonight. ]
Do you have your usual shift tomorrow?
[ Everything was so painfully domestic Booker could barely contain the random bursts of happiness. ]
[Booker wasn't the only one. Nicky had found that domestic life suited him very well. He loved being the first one home most days, loved the small acts of kindness that were his unique way of expressing his love for the two men he shared his life with.
Joe and Booker, they were vocal with their affection. Nicky was quiet. His love was shown with fresh laundry in dresser drawers, with dinner on the table, and with lunches packed in the fridge from the leftovers.]
Oh, can you take the rice, too? Be sure to set it on a hot pad, though. Don't want to burn the table.
Yeah, I do. Open to 3. Want me to bring you a fix before your last class?
[ But after he had put out the plates and silverware he went back to the kitchen for the hot pad before he got the rice.
Booker made an excellent assistant in the kitchen but he could only cook the simplest of meals on his own. ]
I'm never going to say no if you want to stop by.
[ Speculation about his love life and living arraignment kept his former dorm mates busy gossiping. They were always fascinated when Nicky or Joe showed up on campus to see him. ]
[He smirked. The burn had a prominent place of honor on their table as far as Nicky was concerned. He teased and grumped about it..but his lovers had more than once found him nursing a mug of tea and trailing his fingers around the rough circle, lost in thought and unable to sleep.
He kept finding excuses to not replace it.]
You just enjoy people assuming that you have a harem of attractive men at your whim.
I don’t know if two men counts as a harem but that’s basically what it is.
[ Booker was absolutely certain that Joe and Nicky would be there when he needed them. No matter what time or what reason.
He had talked with his therapist about fears of jealousy or doubt but it hadn’t happened yet. She assured him with open communication and honesty it wouldn’t. ]
Two incredibly attractive men always there for me.
[ Joe came up behind Booker and pulled him into a hug. He agreed. They were always there for each other. He asked about dinner next, curious what smelled so good. ]
Exactly. Always here for you. Just as you both are here for me and we're always there for Joe.
[He smiled over his shoulder at the two men, then gestured for Joe to come take over at the stove.]
Yellow curry with chicken. Please keep stirring it? I feel like at least putting on a shirt before dinner would be a good idea. It's supposed to thicken.
[And once Joe had dinner, Nicky made a point to stop by Booker to kiss him before heading towards their dresser.]
I don’t know. I think he’s dressed for dinner. Wouldn’t you agree, Joe?
[ They both thought a shirtless Nicky was totally fine for dinner though they also didn’t make any move to stop him.
Booker brushed his fingers down Nicky’s arm as they kissed.
He chatted with Joe while they waited for the curry to thicken talking about professors and classes and other students. Joe was thriving at art school. ]
[He smirked a little, knowing full well that they both just wanted to keep him shirtless. He had no desire to accidentally drop hot curry and rice onto bare skin, however. He pulled on one of Booker's old, well worn t-shirts and called that good enough.]
Good, I'm glad your project is coming together. Andy was worried that their visit was going to distract you.
[He took the spatula back and nudged Joe with his hip until the man retreated back to Booker, laughing. After a moment, Nicky grabbed another hot pad and killed the heat to the burner.]
Watch out, hot pan...
[And then the curry was next to the rice and Nicky was looking pleased with himself.]
Settling into his chair, he held out his glass for Joe to fill, murmuring a quiet 'thank you' before smirking over at Booker.]
It isn't, don't worry. It's yellow curry, not red or green.
[And it wasn't. There was just enough heat to tingle the tongue, but over all it was very flavorful, but very mild. Nicky had the first bite of his and nodded, looking very pleased with himself.]
[ Joe teased him warmly for being afraid of a little heat so Booker kicked him gently under the table. They settled in to eat together, conversation flowing quietly between bites of food.
Who would live in a dorm and eat from a cafeteria when this was an option? Booker felt peace settle over him and his growing stress with school fade away.
Yeah, he wanted this for the rest of his life. Booker would fight to keep it. ]
Do we want to do something this weekend or are you two busy?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Thanks. [ He reached over and rubbed his hand against Nicky's back before he went to the kitchen.
Somewhere in the middle of his homework Joe came home with paint stains on his shirt and his big, slightly awkward art folder under his arm.
He stopped by Booker first and gave him a kiss before he went to the kitchen and gave Nicky one. Then he disappeared into the bathroom to clean up.
Booker leaned back in his chair to watch Joe get ready for that shower. ]
no subject
By the time Joe came home and kissed them both, the small apartment was started to smell really nice. Nicky had been working at the stove for a while and by the time Booker leaned back to spy on their stripping lover, Nicky was adding his homemade curry paste to the pot and filling the apartment with even more smells.]
Dinner in twenty, Joe.
no subject
Booker started to pack up his books. Twenty minutes wasn't a lot of time really and he wouldn't finish the last bit in time so he figured he could pack it up for now.
Then it was into the kitchen to grab some dishes and set the table. Joe would have to do dishes tonight. ]
Do you have your usual shift tomorrow?
[ Everything was so painfully domestic Booker could barely contain the random bursts of happiness. ]
no subject
Joe and Booker, they were vocal with their affection. Nicky was quiet. His love was shown with fresh laundry in dresser drawers, with dinner on the table, and with lunches packed in the fridge from the leftovers.]
Oh, can you take the rice, too? Be sure to set it on a hot pad, though. Don't want to burn the table.
Yeah, I do. Open to 3. Want me to bring you a fix before your last class?
no subject
[ But after he had put out the plates and silverware he went back to the kitchen for the hot pad before he got the rice.
Booker made an excellent assistant in the kitchen but he could only cook the simplest of meals on his own. ]
I'm never going to say no if you want to stop by.
[ Speculation about his love life and living arraignment kept his former dorm mates busy gossiping. They were always fascinated when Nicky or Joe showed up on campus to see him. ]
no subject
He kept finding excuses to not replace it.]
You just enjoy people assuming that you have a harem of attractive men at your whim.
no subject
[ Booker was absolutely certain that Joe and Nicky would be there when he needed them. No matter what time or what reason.
He had talked with his therapist about fears of jealousy or doubt but it hadn’t happened yet. She assured him with open communication and honesty it wouldn’t. ]
Two incredibly attractive men always there for me.
[ Joe came up behind Booker and pulled him into a hug. He agreed. They were always there for each other. He asked about dinner next, curious what smelled so good. ]
no subject
[He smiled over his shoulder at the two men, then gestured for Joe to come take over at the stove.]
Yellow curry with chicken. Please keep stirring it? I feel like at least putting on a shirt before dinner would be a good idea. It's supposed to thicken.
[And once Joe had dinner, Nicky made a point to stop by Booker to kiss him before heading towards their dresser.]
no subject
[ They both thought a shirtless Nicky was totally fine for dinner though they also didn’t make any move to stop him.
Booker brushed his fingers down Nicky’s arm as they kissed.
He chatted with Joe while they waited for the curry to thicken talking about professors and classes and other students. Joe was thriving at art school. ]
no subject
Good, I'm glad your project is coming together. Andy was worried that their visit was going to distract you.
[He took the spatula back and nudged Joe with his hip until the man retreated back to Booker, laughing. After a moment, Nicky grabbed another hot pad and killed the heat to the burner.]
Watch out, hot pan...
[And then the curry was next to the rice and Nicky was looking pleased with himself.]
no subject
Joe grabbed some ice tea from the fridge and they all gathered around the table. ]
Looks good. Please tell me it’s not super spicy?
[ Booker was something of a wimp about spicy food. He would eat it but boy was it rough. ]
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Settling into his chair, he held out his glass for Joe to fill, murmuring a quiet 'thank you' before smirking over at Booker.]
It isn't, don't worry. It's yellow curry, not red or green.
[And it wasn't. There was just enough heat to tingle the tongue, but over all it was very flavorful, but very mild. Nicky had the first bite of his and nodded, looking very pleased with himself.]
no subject
Who would live in a dorm and eat from a cafeteria when this was an option? Booker felt peace settle over him and his growing stress with school fade away.
Yeah, he wanted this for the rest of his life. Booker would fight to keep it. ]
Do we want to do something this weekend or are you two busy?