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They were coming back home from the fort, with the things they used at the market and two bags, each carrying one: Cookie with flour and King-Lu with millet for chickens.
"We should set aside a handful or two for porridge for dinner," Cookie was thinking out loud, "and maybe, make pancakes? We have enough flour to spare."
"The last time I ate pancakes was so long ago I'm not sure if it was real," King-Lu sighed dreamily.
They put everything on its place, and King_Lu stretched.
"Just a second, I'll get the eggs."
Cookie grabbed some millet and followed him silently.
"There's nothing yet," King-Lu grunted when he saw him.
"It's fine, I'll make the pancakes tomorrow for breakfast, then," Cookie shrugged and chuckled at King-Lu's wincing. "They'll be ready before you wake up."
King-Lu pretended he didn't get the hint and, with a sigh, leaned against the corner of the shack.
"Let me show you something," Cookie grinned. "A friend taught me this trick when I was a kid. I promise, it's funnier than my jokes."
He picked up one of the chickens, moved it around to show that its head stayed fixed in one place, and laughed quietly.
"This is so silly."
He crouched to put the chicken back.
"I love you," King-Lu suddenly said.
Cookie turned to him so quickly he almost fell on the ground.
"W-what?"
King-Lu straightened up and offered Cookie his hand to help him get up.
"I told you that yesterday," he said, a little baffled. "Are you surprised? Why?"
"I don't know," Cookie mumbled, accepting the help and rising. "I was afraid it was in the heat of the moment."
"No. And why wouldn't I, anyway?"
Cookie shrugged awkwardly, his wide-open eyes glistening, not with tears but intensity of the emotion.
"Did you," King-Lu cocked his head, instantly terrified by a new thought, "said it the heat of the moment?"
"No, no! Of course not!"
They still had their hands one in another, and Cookie gripped King-Lu's as hard as he could as if trying to make his words more convincing.
King-Lu stepped forward so they were very close to each other, cupped Cookie's face and kissed him.
Cookie leaned into the contact, deepened the kiss until they had no air.
"I love you," he gasped, pulling away. "So much."
King-Lu put his arms around him and gently stroked his back.
"Oh Cookie," he sighed, overwhelmed by feelings. "To see this childlike wonder on your face... I'd give..." he trailed off.
Cookie couldn't see his face, and would have probably missed the expression on it anyway, yet it was more complicated than King-Lu wanted it to be.
But he only hugged Cookie tighter.