Work Text:
John loves to cook. He's always cooking. It's basically his way of expressing himself, even if he doesn't look like it. He cooks whenever he's stressed, or angry, or when he's sad for some reason. But this time, it's more like he's frustrated. After a mission, something went wrong and they almost failed at the task they were given, he was angry, and when he's angry, he cooks something.
This time it wasn't really cooking, it was more baking. John was making banana bread because he overheard Bob telling Yelena that he was craving some bread. Of course, John would never admit that he decided on making banana bread just because Bob said so.
He was getting everything ready to make the banana bread. Putting on his apron, which had one of those "Kiss the Cook!" tropes. Ava got it for him because she thought it was funny.
When everything was set, all his utensils and ingredients being all down on the table, Bob walked in the kitchen holding his nintendo switch because he was playing animal crossing. He looked up from his console and saw John mixing.
"Oh hey," Bob said. "What are you making?" he asked.
John looked up from the bowl. "I'm making banana bread." He looked back down to the mixture, trying to keep himself calm.
“Baking calms me down after a stressful mission.”
"You don't look like the type who would do that."
"What's that supposed to mean?" John asked, already annoyed.
"Nothing! I meant nothing!"
"Good."
There was some silence before Bob spoke again.
"Wait, you said banana bread?" he asked and John nodded, already cracking some eggs. “I was actually craving some” Bob said happily.
"I know” John accidentally let that out. His cheeks flushing when he realized what he had just said, God, why did he say that out loud?
"What?"
“Nothing, forget it”
“Okay?-”
Ten seconds of complete silence. John felt self-embarrassed while Bob felt giddy, because he couldn’t ignore what John had just said. John was making banana bread because he overheard Bob mention that he was making banana bread. And that was kind of cute. Bob smiled to himself, smiling a little bit like he was proud. He quickly stopped when he realized what he was doing.
“Do you need help?” Bob asked, putting down his Nintendo, turning it off.
John hesitated, but then nodded. “Sure.”
Bob smiled and nodded, grabbing an apron. This one was completely blank; it was John’s old apron.
While baking, they stayed mostly silent, not much talking, just small comments here and there. Then Bob asked a question, an interesting one:
“How come you don’t kick me out of the kitchen?”
“What?”
“You don’t let anyone else in the kitchen but me. Why’s that?”
John didn’t give an answer at first, the blush on his cheeks deepening.
Bob smiled at that, moving closer to John. “You also never shout at me like you do to the others.”
Again, John didn’t say anything, but he was blushing even more now. A bit. Bob moved closer again and putting his hand over John’s, he leaned over and whispered:
“You thought I wouldn’t notice how different you treat me compared to everyone else? How cute.” Bob said in a teasing tone.
John looked at Bob, his cheeks were a complete shock of red.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Sure you don’t, Walker.”
Bob took Walker in his arms and sat him on the table, placing one of his hands on John’s thigh. The other, he used it to cup John’s face.
“Bob—”
“Shh. It’s okay, Johnny. I know you love this as much as I do.”
"...Screw it, come here."
Their lips met in a heated kiss. All those repressed feelings John has had for Bob that he didn’t quite know where to put, there, are now out. There was no need for a heartfelt declaration of love, just one kiss that said everything.
The banana bread was in the oven. They had to take it out in 20 minutes, which meant 20 minutes of having a little bit of fun.
But you know what they say… “Time flies by when you’re having fun,” and so, before they even noticed, the alarm clock of the oven sounded.
They pulled away from each other, panting.
“Well, the fun ended,” Bob said.
John was still regaining his breath. “...Yeah... yeah it did...”
Bob kissed John’s cheek and moved away to take the banana bread out of the oven. When he kneeled down, John definitely looked at Bob’s ass, he couldn’t help it.
“You like that, huh?” Bob asked.
“Shut up.”
John leaned against the counter, watching Bob place the golden loaf of banana bread on a cooling rack. The smell filled the kitchen—warm, sweet, and comforting.
Bob turned to him with a smirk. “You gonna keep staring at me, or do you want a slice?”
John rolled his eyes but smiled. “Depends. Is it going to taste as good as you look bending over?”
Bob snorted. “Flirting already? I thought I wore you out.”
“You wish.”
Bob grabbed a knife and started slicing the bread. He handed a piece to John, who took it with a quiet *thanks*. They both bit into their slices at the same time, then froze.
John blinked. “...This is actually really good.”
Bob gave a dramatic gasp. “Did you just compliment your own baking?”
John grumbled, cheeks tinting pink again. “Yes, I did… but I suppose you helped a little”
“Only a little?”
John glanced over at him, then back down at his slice. “Fine, maybe a bit more than a little”
Bob laughed, full and warm, and bumped his shoulder against John’s. “That’s more like it.”
John didn't answer right away. He just looked at Bob for a long moment—then leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to the corner of his mouth.
“I suppose we can call it a team effort” he said simply.
They finished their banana bread in comfortable silence. No more teasing, no more pretending. Just soft smiles, warm crumbs, and two idiots finally on the same page.
Outside, the world kept turning. Missions would come and go. But in this moment, in their kitchen, it was just them—and that was more than enough.