Work Text:
"Michael." Fiona peered over his shoulder at the variety of vegetables spread over her counter. "What are you doing?"
"Cooking." Michael didn't look at her, but she could hear his smile.
"Why?"
"Because I'm good at it." Michael turned and reached past her, grabbing one of the bags he'd brought in earlier. He rustled around inside it until he emerged with a small bag of spices. Opening it, he wafted it under her nose and she sniffed appreciatively.
"What is that?"
"A surprise." He smiled at her, a true smile, with genuine warmth and humor, and her heart sped up slightly.
"For me?"
"It is your apartment."
"True." Fiona moved to the other side of the counter and dragged over a stool. She climbed onto the seat, hooking her legs around the spokes, and leaned forward to rest her chin on her hand. "It is. What's the occasion?"
"Do I need an occasion?"
"The last time you cooked for me, you disappeared." There was no heat in her words, but Michael stilled.
"I know." He cleared his throat. "I was hoping to replace that memory with a new one."
"You can't run away this time." Fiona commented as Michael picked up a knife and began chopping vegetables. "The Feds won't like it."
"I didn't like it last time." Michael didn't look at her, instead concentrating on his tasks. For a moment the only noise in the kitchen was the sound of steady chopping as he sliced carrots.
"But you didn't think we would work then either." Fiona's voice was flat.
"Fi." Michael stopped. "Don't. Please."
"What are you doing here, Michael? Cooking me dinner?"
Michael set the knife down on the cutting block and moved to stand in front of her. "Fiona, I don't know if I can give you what you want. But I wish I could." He was staring at her earnestly, searching her eyes for some signs of understanding. "I can't change who I am, but if I could…" He trailed off.
"Michael." Fiona reached over and trailed her fingers down his cheek. "You wouldn't change even if you could."
He caught her hand and smiled at her sadly. "No."
"It's one of the things that makes you who you are. I wouldn't change that." She dropped her hand and lifted one shoulder in a shrug. "Even if it does annoy me to no end."
He smiled again, another real smile. "I shall do my best not to annoy you tonight."
"You'll have to cook me a very good meal." Fiona whispered, leaning forward so that she was almost kissing him. "Very good."
"Hmm. Luckily, I am a good cook." Michael ducked out of her reach and she smiled.
"You do have excellent knife skills."
He laughed. "You should see what I do with a dish that's en flambé."
"I shudder at the thought," Fiona settled down again. "Maybe you can show me later." She packed as much heat into her smile as she could manage and had the satisfaction of seeing his eyes dilate.
When Michael turned back to the food, Fiona hopped off the stool and went to pour herself a glass of wine. "This is terribly romantic."
"Uh huh."
"It's a grand gesture, even." She bit her lip to keep from laughing when he shot her a dirty look. Making him squirm was one of her favorite pastimes. If she could manage it while they were both fully dressed, she awarded herself bonus points.
"Michael." He turned, and popped a carrot stick in her mouth.
"Eat this and be quiet, Fiona."
She munched on it obediently. "Delectable."
"It was just a carrot, Fiona."
"It was a delectable carrot." She swallowed. "And I've learned to make the most of what I've got, Michael."
He stilled again, looking at her carefully. "You're willing to settle for carrots when there is a four star dinner available?"
"It's amazing that you manage to think so much of yourself at the same time as you think so little of yourself." She smirked at him, swirling the wine in her glass. When Michael kept watching her, clearly waiting for more of a response, she sighed. "I'm not settling, Michael. I can't change what I want either, but for now, I can be happy with what I've got."
"And tomorrow?"
"I've never been the kind of girl to borrow problems from the future." Fiona set down her wine glass. "Can you put this dinner on hold for a while?"
Michael nodded. "If you want."
"I do want." She moved against him, suddenly fierce and he grabbed her partially in self defense. "I want you."
"Fiona, I've wanted you since the moment I saw you." Michael finally dipped his head to kiss her. Fiona wrapped her arms around his chest and pulled him close. She could feel his heart beat against her shoulder.
For the moment, it was beating in time to hers.