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The thought of marriage always sent Nathan into a cold sweat. The implied emotional intimacy, the commitment. Maybe that's why his relationships never stuck.
And in a way, maybe that was why he was so drawn to Sykkuno. Sykkuno was always ready to roll with the punches, ready to play this game or that, so easy to convince to try something out for fun. Or at least come along for the ride.
So when he found out that Sykkuno was also on the "never going to get married" train, he was relieved. Validated, even.
Here Nathan was, with boat-loads of sexual and relationship experience, uninterested in marriage and all its foibles. And there was Sykkuno, with minimal if any relationship experience, also rejecting the institution of marriage. It was basically fate that they were friends.
"Wouldn't it be weird to live together with one person your entire life? Just 24/7? You'd get tired of them, right?" Nathan said, chopping through a bunch of carrots, onion, and bell pepper.
Sykkuno glanced at him, shrugging. "Not really," he said. "As long as you're friends, I mean. I don't mind living with friends." He stood at the sink with the water running, washing rice in a bowl before pouring the excess water down the sink drain. "Like, that's the entire concept of roommates, isn't it?"
Nathan stumbled over his words, flustered. "But that's... Okay, okay, you got me with that. It's just that marriage is so... It's just not for me." He shook his head, sweeping the vegetable bits directly into the pot on the gas stove, careful not to let them fall into the spaces between the grates.
"Yeah," Sykkuno said, after a little bit. "Me either." And then he made a small frown. "Are we supposed to cut up the tomato before we put it in the rice, or..."
"Here, uh, let me—" Nathan took over and took the tomatoes from Sykkuno, and started washing them in the sink. Nathan felt the tickle of Sykkuno's hair as he briefly rested his forehead in the space between Nathan's shoulder blades.
"Tired?" Nathan asked, fondness coloring his tone with warmth.
"A little. Was up late," Sykkuno said.
"Go to bed early tonight. Or you can nap," Nathan offered. "My bed is mostly clean. Just push the crap off."
Sykkuno laughed, and Nathan could feel his warm breath moving the thin material of his shirt. "Do we need to play Yu-Gi-Oh again so you can clean your room?"
"No!" Nathan said, mock-offended.
Sykkuno laughed and continued to lean against Nathan and even though Nathan was already done with the sink, he didn't move. He just let Syk rest on him, and as his breathing evened out, Nathan felt the rise and fall of his chest match his.