Work Text:
"One meal coming up!" Pocket had smiled that rare, charming quirk of his lips that Rox has never seen in the headlines. Despite his fame and obvious charisma, Pocket didn't smile as genuinely in pictures as he smiles now, flattered at the prospect that Rox wanted to spend more time with him and share a meal. It made her own smile widen, which was uncommon on her part.
Eyes crinkling and cheeks just a little warm, Rox offered Pocket his appropriate space to start cooking while she watched from the sidelines. It had actually surprised her at first to find out that Pocket liked to cook for himself. She's come across so many celebrities that didn't even lift a finger for themselves.
As if reading her thoughts, Pocket begins to ramble as he rummages through the pantry for ingredients? Rox will have to admit that she doesn't cook often... Coffee and coffee, mhmm.
"I have a big family. Used to cook for my sisters while my parents were away on business trips and whatnot." Pocket says with a tone of fondness, reminiscing in the silence that follows. Rox is thoroughly intrigued by this knowledge, as Pocket had been secretive about his private life around the media.
He continues, "I uh, liked to cook for them. Kinda got me depressed when they got older and started insisting on doing things for themselves, y'know?"
Rox hums an affirmative but soon shakes her head when Pocket looks at her curiously. She's a little embarrassed when she says, "I was an only child. Got spoiled when I was younger, then had to look out for myself."
Pocket makes an 'ah' sound as he turns back to his task, which Rox notices is him putting a pot of water to boil. She quickly looks around for what that might be for when Pocket pulls out a packet of pasta from seemingly thin air.
"Can't imagine that." The baseball star laughs, which relieves some of the unwanted tension from Rox's shoulders. She could be awkward too sometimes, but she's thankful for Pocket's understanding.
"So how's that meal coming up?" Rox tries for a change in subject, to which Pocket takes to quickly. She can see he's smiling smugly.
"Just getting the sauce together. Ya like Alfredo?" He offers tentatively, probably wondering if he should've asked Rox for her preferences before cooking. The journalist laughs, "That's perfect."
Obviously content with her answer, Pocket wastes no time getting everything ready and plated. Soon Rox has a steaming plate of pasta pushed in front of her and Pocket leaning against the worktable in anticipation. Amused by this Rox takes her time, twirling the pasta in the spoon with her fork before raising the pasta to her mouth.
She pauses every so often while chewing, which obviously affects Pocket as he wrings his hands together. He's nervously awaiting her verdict as she lowers her utensils and hums in contemplation. Rox then twirls more pasta onto her fork and saviours the second bite with a pleased hum.
"Your sisters were lucky."
"I- damn straight they were!" Pocket huffs, chest puffing with pride and finally setting down his own plate to eat with Rox. Rox thinks they should do this more often.