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There was one thing that Connor understood about Will Halstead above all else, and that was to never let that man anywhere near the kitchen. He had no idea how Will had survived this long, considering he couldn’t even reheat his coffee without burning himself or the coffee. Even when they’d started dating, Connor had been blown away by the fact that Will’s fridge was completely bare except for some condiments and baking soda, except until he’d tried to make Connor breakfast. It had went just as well as one might expect, with scrambled eggs burnt to an ancient pan and a toaster catching fire. Since then, it had been Connor’s job, and his job alone, to keep them fed. He didn’t mind, because he loved making things, and he loved providing for Will. He loved the look of relief and joy that came across Will’s face when he bit down into something new and delicious. He’d existed on take out and sandwiches for so long that he was unaccustomed to something good .
They’d been together for a year and a half, having moving when Will’s roommate had turned out to be a little bit of a sociopath and he’d ran from the apartment with the bare minimum of belongings. Ever since, Connor had made sure Will ate, and slept, and took care of himself. That was his job, and he took extreme pride in it. He enjoyed watching Will flourish with the proper care, how he smiled brighter, and his eyes lit up. It was incredible to see, and he craved it.
So it was a bit strange to come home to their apartment smelling of cinnamon and cloves, and the sounds of stirring in the kitchen. Connor paused, considering what might be happening, who might have broken into their home, which of their friends with emergency keys had let themselves in. Then, he heard the quiet whistle tune he’d become so familiar with over the last months.
Will.
“Baby?” Connor called out.
“Oh! You’re home early!”
Will bustled out of the kitchen, one of Connor’s aprons tied around his waist to cover a pair of jeans and grey t-shirt that Connor wasn’t sure belonged to Will but instead came from his own closet. It looked nice on him, though. He could keep it.
“Baby, what’s going on?”
“Okay, don’t be mad, but I’ve been keeping a secret.”
Connor didn’t want to immediately doubt Will’s faithfulness, especially since Will was standing in front of him with such a bright interest in his eyes.
“What’d you do?” Connor asked gently.
“I’ve been taking cooking lessons when you’re at work late, and I’ve been learning how to cook. And, I’ve recently been baking in class a lot, and I made your favorite cookies. Those snickerdoodles?” Will bounced on the balls of his feet uneasily and he looked at Connor a little sheepishly. “Uhm, so, if you’d like to come inside?”
Connor took off his jacket and shoes, and then followed Will into the kitchen where there were cookies everywhere . Not just snickerdoodles, either. There are some oatmeal cookies and chocolate chip and different shaped sugar cookies with glossy pink icing. He couldn’t help himself from dropping his mouth open at the sight.
"You’re telling me you made this. With your own hands. And you’re still alive," Connor said.
Will snorted and said softly, “yeah, well, turns out I like baking a lot better than cooking because you can take your time measuring everything out and adding it slowly, double checking and – it's less stressful. It’s precise, but it’s not stressful, not for me.”
“I love it,” Connor said, moving to step up beside Will to press a kiss into his cheek. There was an unseen layer of sugar against his cheek and in his beard hair, and Connor licked it off his lips as it lingers. “Can I try one?”
“Oh! Yes! Please,” Will said, reaching out to grab one of the cooling snickerdoodles and holding it up for Connor to take. Instead, Connor leaned in and took a bite out of it while Will held the cookie. It was perfect, warm and soft, sweet with that kick of cinnamon, and Connor let out a satisfied groan at the taste. He opened his eyes, having closed them to truly enjoy the flavor profile of the cookie, and lifted his gaze to meet Will’s. “Good? You’re not mad?”
“Oh my god ,” he moaned. “This is the best surprise you’ve ever given me. This is incredible, come here.”
He pulled Will in for a kiss, letting the taste of Will’s mouth meld with the cookie against his tongue, and he was so happy. He amended what he knew about Will, placing at the very top of the list that Will Halstead was nothing if not capable and competent, and he could do anything that he wanted. Connor would be here no matter what, that’s what he knew even more than anything else, he would always be here for Will to come home to, to build surprises for, to make too many cookies for them to possibly eat, and to kiss sugar from his lips.