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Roy is in his kitchen. Cooking. Moving around like he belongs there, like it’s his own goddamn kitchen. But it’s not. It’s Jason’s, and Jason can’t stop staring.
Roy moves from the stove to one of the cupboards to grab some spices, not double checking he’d grabbed the right ones. He could’ve not cared what he grabbed, just reached for the containers randomly. Or … Or he could be so familiar, so at home, that he knew exactly where the spices where that he wanted. It twists something in Jason’s chest, to see him at ease like that, in Jason’s space.
Roy hasn’t noticed him yet. Or, at least, hasn’t acknowledged him yet. (Maybe Jason’s hiding a little, enjoying watching Roy from the shadows of the hallway.)
He hums to himself as he stirs whatever’s on the stove, then moves over to the counter to start chopping up vegetables. He selects a knife, almost without looking. Reaching automatically, for the one Jason usually hands him when they cook together. Jason doesn’t want to think about the implications of his heart skipping a beat at Roy looking so at home in his (home) safe house, but thinking about it would only remind him of how much he loves his best friend and just how deeply in love he is with said best friend.
Jason likes Roy being so comfortable in his apartment. It settles something in him, to see Roy humming at the counter and bopping his head to a song he can’t hear as he cooks food in Jason’s kitchen.
Jason continues watching as Roy grabs the dishes, never second guessing the cupboards where the plates are, the drawer where the cutlery is, he just knows. Jason didn’t know he knew, he didn’t think Roy had been in the kitchen often enough to memorize that. He hasn’t even had this safe house that long. Not in the grand scheme of things.
(Is this what it feels like to be completely and utterly known? To have someone know you inside and out, for them to burrow so fiercely and wholly into your life that they move around your kitchen like it’s their own and you don't want this feeling to end? It feels a bit like …)
But apparently, Roy had been in there enough to memorize where the cheese grater is. Jason doesn’t think Roy’s ever seen him pull the cheese grater out of that cupboard. (The one in the corner, by the sink. Seemingly against all logic with the blender and the pots Jason uses when he’s doing science experiments that don’t count as cooking. There is a reason Jason keeps it there, he doesn’t think Roy knows the reason … but apparently he knows Jason well enough to know where he keeps it.)
He silently approaches, having watched from the shadows long enough, and is greeted by Roy’s blindingly sunny smile when he looks up and sees him.
“Good morning, Jaybird,” Roy says, stirring a bowl of eggs.
Jason doesn’t have words this morning, but he nods in acknowledgement as he sits at the counter.
Roy smiles gently, understanding and accepting immediately, always. “Thought I’d make you breakfast, return the favour. You’ve made me more meals than I can count.”
Jason makes a noise of disapproval, admonishing him, If you fed yourself well, I wouldn’t have to.
Roy laughs softly, knowing what Jason was saying. “Well” –he looks up at Jason through his lashes– “maybe you just like feeding me,” he teases in a soft voice.
Jason scoffs. (They both know he doesn’t mean it.)
It’s mostly silent after that. Roy goes back to cooking, Jason continues watching him. The pan sizzles, the spoon knocks against the side of the bowl as Roy stirs, and the smell of delicious food wafts throughout the apartment, and Jason loves Roy with every beat on his heart.
When the food is ready, Roy serves them both and sits next to Jason at the counter. He motions for Jason to eat.
With an amused huff, he takes a bite.
“How is it? I know you’re the cook of the two of us, but I can do ok and your lessons have been paying off but I’m still not sure if it’s gonna be up to your standards-”
“Roy,” Jason says quietly.
“-and I just want you to know how much you mean to me because you do-”
“Roy,” he tries again, slightly louder.
“-you mean a lot to me and I just want to make sure-”
Jason gives up on talking and puts a finger over Roy’s mouth.
Roy pauses and clears his throat. “Yeah, Jaybird?”
“I love you too.”
Roy blinks at him. “Oh.” He nods. “Good to know.”
“And it’s very good. Thank you.”
Roy breaks out into a small (but still infinitely bright) smile. “Ok, good. My pleasure.”
It’s Jason’s turn to nod and he takes another bite. After a second, Roy joins him in eating.
It’s as they’re cleaning up and doing the dishes together that Roy speaks up again, “I love you, Jason.”
Jason bumps his hip against Roy. I know.
“You love me,” Roy says, a statement, not a question.
Jason brushes his hand against Roy’s back as he puts a plate away. I do.
“Good, that’s good.” They finish the dishes in silence and all Jason can think about is how he loves Roy and Roy loves him and knows where the cheese grater is and that the garlic is next to the seasoning salt which is next to the thyme and this feeling feels a lot like home.