Work Text:
Greg came home to a warmly lit house. He loved the days Mycroft made it home before him. While today wasn’t really an exception to that, he still frowned. Mycroft wasn’t meant to be home at this hour today. There was some kind of work function this evening and Greg had assumed his partner wouldn’t be home for dinner.
Greg disposed of his outer layers. Hat, scarf and heavy winter coat in the closet and when his frozen fingers had detangled his laces, the boots followed suit. He would have to remember to wear his gloves tomorrow. Walking into the warmth of the living room he called out. “My?”
The answer came promptly. “In the kitchen.”
“You’re home early.” Greg stated while walking deeper in the house.
Only a noncommittal hum came as a response. Greg paused in the door to the kitchen to watch his partner work. Mycroft had his back to the door and was busy cooking. By the looks of it, he was making a simple pasta dish.
Eying his partners backside appreciatively, Greg asked “Not that I’m not happy to see you, because I am, but why are you here?”
“What does it look like Gregory? I’m cooking.” Mycroft said it so matter of factly and without looking back, that Greg couldn’t help but crack a smile. Mycroft could be so Mycroft at times.
“You know I didn’t mean here in the kitchen. I meant at home at this hour, while there was something work related planned.” Greg stepped inside the kitchen and went closer to his partner. He slid his arms around Mycroft’s waist and rested his chin on his shoulder. From here he had a wonderful view of the dinner Mycroft was preparing. Pasta pesto it seemed.
He felt Mycroft’s answer vibrate against his chest. “I hate work Christmas parties.”
“The work function you talked about is a Christmas party? Why didn’t you tell me? You made it sound like a boring networking event.”
“You would have insisted on going together.” Mycroft sighed.
Greg turned Mycroft around in his arms to be able to look at him. “I would not. Not if you really didn’t want to go. Although the food and drinks are always wonderful at your work dos. Why did you tell me at all then? You could’ve told me nothing and I would be none the wiser.”
Meeting his eyes Mycroft replied. “I don’t like lying to you and I wasn’t sure I could get out of it.” Mycroft seemed shy about his answer. “Only this afternoon I was able to fabricate a reason to not attend.”
Touched by his partner not wanting to outright lie, he ignored the fact that Mycroft had in fact lied by omission. “Hey, you can tell me anything. You do know that, yeah? I won’t force you to do things you won’t like. You can just tell me to shove off or whatever when necessary.”
With a scandalized look Mycroft said “I will never tell you to shove off Gregory. Never!”
“Come here then.” Greg pulled Mycroft in closer and took him in a warm hug. “I’ll gladly stay home with you while you skip important work Christmas parties.”