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Nick grumbled to himself when he felt movement on the bed, disturbing his peaceful sleep. The bed here was more comfortable than the one on the ship, and he was enjoying melting into the sheets. If only the bundle of warmth he had been holding against his chest hadn't left him. He rolled over and pulled the blanket up to try to recapture some of that warmth before it faded away.
A snapping sound had Nick startle awake, senses on high alert at the unexpected noise. His eyes flew open to meet an unamused glare.
"Wake up, pet," Salen said. "We have things to do that aren't lazing about all day."
"Sorry, sir." Nick sat up, wincing as his joints cracked when he stretched. "What time is it?"
"0610. You overslept."
"Overslept? Aren't we on leave, sir? What do we need to be up for?" Nick fought back a yawn, but couldn't resist the urge. It was too early for this.
"I have no idea how you treat your leave on Earth, but here, planetary leave does not mean we are free from duty." Salen's lip curled in disgust when he mentioned Earth. “Now hurry up. We are going to be late.”
Nick sighed, but slid out of bed to get himself ready. Despite how quick Nick was moving, Salen’s eyes burned into his back the entire time. Even with Nick “sleeping in”, he knew that they wouldn’t be late. Salen always prepared to be there at least fifteen minutes early.
It wasn’t even anything interesting. Another boring meeting with another admiral and a scattering of other individuals of various ranks dragged on all morning while Nick had to kneel by Salen’s feet. He had been looking forward to spending a relaxing morning doing… anything, really. Something besides more of what they did every day.
Every bone in Nick’s body felt like it cracked when he was finally able to rise and heel behind Salen. The annoyance was clear in the tight lines of Salen’s shoulder, the slight twitch to his eye when he barked at Nick to follow.
“Where are we headed next, sir?” Nick asked, keeping his voice quiet as they passed other groups of people.
“We have to make a stop for food first, and then you have the afternoon free. I have a few things I need to take care of at home.”
Nick couldn’t show the relief he felt, but it helped his steps feel lighter. It would have been nicer to spend the afternoon with Salen, but some free time unburdened by expectations sounded like heaven. They took public transport as close as it would get them before walking the rest of the short distance. Nick only grumbled a bit to himself how much more efficient Mars public transport system was. He had been surprised that someone with Salen’s rank didn’t have something more private, but with how well-designed it was, he could understand why it wasn’t worth it for Salen to keep anything around for his brief time on the planet.
Everything about the place screamed practical. The sign above the entrance only stated “Food”. No fun name, no indication of anything more specific, just right to the point. Salen strode inside with full confidence, and Nick wondered how many times the other man had been here. He tried to picture a younger Salen walking into this store and drew a blank. Salen had never shown Nick any photos of his childhood, and it was hard to imagine him existing as a kid. Nick took in the stark, clean aisles that were all neatly labeled. It wasn’t all too different from home, though it was much smaller than the sprawling supermarkets he was used to.
As he followed Salen, he began to realize why it was so compact. There was exactly one brand of everything. Or, well, one type of everything. Every label clearly stated what it was, no pictures, no flourish. He had expected this in the military with all the ship’s rations being basic and to the point, but everything? It was sad. And it made a lot of sense why Salen was the way he was.
In the dry goods aisle, Salen made his way past something that had Nick stopping. Flour. It was such a simple thing, but it hit him like a truck. He found himself frozen, not realizing how long it had been until he heard Salen huffing.
“Pet? Is something the matter?”
Nick looked at him, and the tightness around Salen’s eyes spoke of his concern. It had Nick feeling warm and guilty at the same time. “Can we get a few extra things?”
Salen looked like he wanted to say no, but he looked at Nick, and the slightest softening of his face already had Nick cheering with victory. “Fine. A few things. But be quick about it.”
Even though it had been years, it was easy for Nick to recall the handful of ingredients he would need back at Salen’s home. Our home? Nick pushed the thought down, focusing instead on his excitement. He wondered if Salen would help, or if he would only be annoyed about the inevitable mess the kitchen would become. Salen scrutinized everything Nick put on the checkout counter, but didn’t say anything as they were scanned.
Nick was buzzing with excitement the entire way back. Salen scolded him twice for bouncing in place when they had to stop and other people were around, staring at the odd duo. It was just so hard not to feel eager to try something he used to be able to do without thought. Joining the military and now his new position as Salen’s pet had kept him from thinking much of it, but now that he was going to have the chance, his fingers twitched to the point that he nearly dropped the bags containing their food.
He shooed Salen out of the kitchen with all the politeness he could manage. “I can put everything away. You should spend your time doing something more important. You said you had work to do?”
Salen eyed Nick with suspicion, but he nodded. “Do avoid destroying my kitchen. We will be very hungry without it.”
“Your faith in me knows no bounds.” In private, Nick felt the courage to tease him, and it was worth it to see Salen’s eyes roll as he turned to leave.
Getting everything put away took longer than he would have liked, with Nick still having to check where everything went. The cupboards were meticulous in their organization, and Nick wasn't going to risk messing up Salen's system. He collected everything he would need for his project. It would have been nice to have an apron or something, but he couldn't find one anywhere.
Nick’s hands were steady as he measured out each ingredient. Everything had to be perfect if it was for Salen. The man was so specific about everything being just so, and Nick wanted his efforts to match that. Salen deserved the best.
As though his thoughts had summoned him, Salen walked back into the kitchen and leaned against the counter, his eyes tracking Nick’s every movement. Nick couldn’t help but feel scrutinized, and he stumbled when he went to add the flour to the mixing bowl, dusting flour across the counter.
“What are you doing?” Salen asked.
“I’m making bread,” Nick said, glancing over. Salen looked at ease for once, a strand of hair falling into his face. “My grandmother loved making bread, and I used to make it with her every week.”
Salen hummed thoughtfully, his eyes never leaving Nick's face. "I have never had homemade bread before. Is there a point to it, or is this for enjoyment?”
“It tastes better and it’s fun. You’ll see when I’m finished how much better it is.”
Salen's lips lifted the slightest amount at the corners, and he brushed his hair out of his eyes. "And what if I do not like it?"
Nick raised an eyebrow. "I'll just have to keep making it until you do."
The response had a look of surprise flit across Salen’s face before he returned to his usual, well-controlled expression. “I suppose we shall see.”
Nick went back to measuring out the ingredients and began kneading the dough with practiced hands. Occasionally, he would glance over at Salen, who was still watching him with intense interest. As he worked the dough, he couldn’t help but think about Salen's reaction to the bread. He wanted to impress the man, to show him that he was capable of making something as perfect as he was. Nothing was better than earning one of Salen’s rare smiles.
He placed the dough in the bowl and covered it. "And now we wait."
"For what?"
"The dough has to rise. It will double in size, and then we can do the next step." Nick started to wipe everything down, knowing Salen would grumble if he found even the smallest speck left behind later.
"There is a new documentary out that I thought you might enjoy. I can play it if you would like to come sit while I complete my work."
The silent plea hovered between them. The small kitchen suddenly felt miles apart, even though only a dozen steps separated them. Nick walked forward to bridge the gap, their shoulders brushing as he walked past. "That sounds wonderful."
Salen would never admit it, but Nick could see the relief spread through him. They spent so much time together that even their brief moments apart weighed on them. And yet, Salen continued to keep up the stoicism that he carried at all times, no matter who was around.
It was something that Nick couldn't help but feel drawn to. He had always found the man’s need for perfection and control attractive, even when it drove him crazy. Nick's own nature was far from perfect, but Salen made him want to strive for it. And at the same time, he wanted nothing more than the chance to mess up that perfect exterior and see what Salen would be like when he let go.
It was only a dream. For now, he would be content with what they had. Salen put on the documentary he mentioned, a deep dive into the construction of the SDF fleet, and Nick settled down to watch. He sat comfortably on a cushion Salen had pointed to and leaned against Salen's leg. Salen combed through Nick's hair with one hand while still managing to type quickly using the other.
They sat in silence for the duration, Nick half dozing, half watching the images flick across the screen. As it drew to an end, Nick stretched and yawned. "I should check on the dough. It might be ready by now."
"I will come with you," Salen said, pulling his hand back.
"You don't have to -"
"I know I do not have to do anything." The small huff from Salen almost made Nick laugh, but he bit it back, trying not to ruin the moment.
Back in the kitchen, Nick smiled when he saw the bowl. "Perfect. Now, I'm going to cut it in half and shape it."
"How much bread do you imagine us eating?" Salen raised an eyebrow.
Nick shrugged. "I didn't know how to adjust the recipe for less people. We can always give it away. You have neighbors."
Salen blinked. "I suppose I do have neighbors, though I am unfamiliar with them."
"Oh. Well, we will figure it out."
Nick cut the dough into two halves, setting one to the side. Salen drifted closer, almost crowding into Nick's space. Nick started to shape it as he remembered, and almost jumped when Salen spoke up.
"May I try?"
"I - sure. I can walk you through the other half. See, you fold it in thirds, like this. Fold the top half down, then the bottom half up. Then you'll press the edges together with the heel of your palm. Yes, just like that. Now roll it in a log shape."
Salen was great at following instructions, though his dough ended up a tad lopsided. He looked so offended at the imperfection. "I should begin again."
"It's fine. It will still bake well. You did good," Nick reassured. "Now we wrap them, and they need to rise again."
"Again? This takes far too long. How can you enjoy this?"
"Not everything needs to be quick or efficient. Some things are worth taking the time for." Nick smiled. He remembered his grandmother saying something similar to a much younger Nick, whining at how long it was taking. "Patience."
If there was one thing Salen hated to be told to do, it was wait. Nick could feel the impatience radiating off him the entire time they tried to keep busy. His leg bounced while trying to work, and the quick drumming of keys was slowed to a crawl as Salen's distraction even carried to his work. Nick managed to slip out alone to put it in the oven once it was ready, though Salen had looked like he wanted to say something about Nick going alone.
Salen jumped up first when the timer went off, the buzzing impatience sending him striding to the kitchen with speed that Nick struggled to match after sitting on the ground for so long. Nick walked into the kitchen to have oven mitts shoved into his hands.
"You couldn't wait a few more seconds, sir?"
Salen glared. "You walk too slow. The bread will burn."
"An extra five seconds wasn't going to change anything," Nick chuckled. He bent down to check the bread, and hummed when he saw how it looked. He slid the tray out and set it on the counter. "See? It looks great."
Salen eyed the loaves. "Which one did I make?"
"That one. You can't even tell it was off at all."
Salen puffed up, looking pleased at Nick's assessment. "Yes well, we should try it. I am curious to see the fruit of this effort."
"You are supposed to let it rest…" Nick could tell from Salen's glare he wasn't winning that point. "Alright. The bread knife, if you please?"
Salen handed him the knife, watching like a hawk while Nick cut several slices.
"Now, it's nothing fancy, but everything tastes better when you make it yourself." Nick offered a piece to Salen.
It was quiet while Salen ate the bread, an impossible to read look on his face. Nick shifted, the anxiety hitting him. If Salen said this was a waste of time, he wasn't sure how he would take it. All he wanted was a small hint of approval. He couldn't even bring himself to try it himself while he waited for the verdict.
Once he had finished eating the slice, Salen nodded slowly. "It was… better than I expected. I suppose I can see why you find this a valuable use of your time."
Nick beamed. "I'm glad you think so, sir."
Salen looked at him, the soft gaze lifting his face into the closest thing to a smile he had. It made Nick's heart sing.
"You did a good job, pet."
"We did it together. You did roll the second dough."
The pleased look on Salen's face was worth everything. Salen looked back at the bread. "We did, didn't we?"
"Should we return to work now, sir?"
"I think we have other things to spend our afternoon doing. After all, I think your hard work deserves a reward."
Nick grinned. "To bed?"
"To bed."