Chapter Text
That loud voice and personality was one Ren adjusted to quickly. Without thinking really, Ryuji's brash nature is so much like that of the people back home. But this…
“I don't remember where your spice shelf cabinet thingy is so I put the uh??” The small sound of a plastic bottle turning in the blond's hand fills the café momentarily, “Pepper Flakes down by the right side of the sink!”
I could've sworn he used to talk less.
It's not that the way Ryuji has picked up the habit of narrating what he's doing isn't helpful or that Ren doesn't want to hear his voice - he can't get enough of it - but it's still weird. Back home his family, his community, tended to just walk around the topic of his being blind, save for his mother. But even then no one has ever taken the time to work with him rather than around him. The messy-haired boy is so used to people acting like he isn't blind at all and having to adjust to them that he's arguably more on edge cooking late at night with Ryuji than he's ever been in the metaverse killing shadows with him.
Focus Ren, nothing is wrong.
Except for the fact that he doesn't know whether to listen to Ryuji or to what's happening around him, as he's accustomed too. He's never had multiple options before.
Not to mention that he's allowed another person besides Sojiro himself into LeBlanc's kitchen, arguably his only real safe space ever since coming to Tokyo. It's Ryuji, but that doesn't make it any less terrifying.
Am I really this easily messed up?
Well having a major crush on the blondie doesn't help but Ren's too busy trying to make sure Ryuji doesn't ruin the curry while actively switching between listening to him and listening to what he's doing that for the moment the fact isn't at the forefront of his mind. A rarity since meeting the delinquent.
“Woah careful Ren!” He hadn't realized he tripped until the feeling of Ryuji's hand was already on his back, “You alright man?”
Oh stars
Ren stumbles quickly to his feet in front of the curry pot trying to stand up quicker than Ryuji can register that he's blushing, “Yes, thank you.”
Was that too calm? Can he tell I'm blushing?
Get it together.
A thought that crosses his mind too often to be healthy at this point.
He grounds himself with the smell of half-done curry — he should really add more Garlic Powder if he's barely picking up on it — and the sound of Ryuji picking up the knife he was just using to continue where he left off cutting onions. Notably though Ryuji doesn't seem to be sniffling nor can Ren hear anything besides that chopping sound coming from his area even when he passes behind him to return the earlier abandoned Pepper Flakes to the spice cabinet in turn for Garlic Powder.
Is he ok?
The chopping sound slows as Ren nears the curry pot once more, “Hey, what do I do when I'm done with this?” A subtly suppressed wince can be heard, sounds like he's not immune to the devastating effects of onion fumes after all.
“Just bring them over here, I'll set up the pan for you to place them in,” It's not common but sautéed onions really add to the flavor and it doesn't hurt if it gives Ryuji another reason to stay back here with him longer. Although every time the other moves it gives him just a tinge of anxiety, “Do you know how to sautée onions?”
A soft chuckle can be heard, becoming increasingly louder as Ryuji approaches the pan laid out beside the simmering pot on the stove, “Yea obviously! I cook with my mom all the time. I just haven't made curry before, you know?” That earns a small nod, “Oh and I'm throwing the onions into the pan now by the way.”
“You're right next to me, I can hear you.”
Including the confused scoff the blondie makes as he turns the heat on. “Well yea, wouldn't make sense for me to tell you what I'm doing if you couldn't.”
This idiot really doesn't know how to pick up on social cues huh?
The tiniest sound of what may be laughter escapes the otherwise stoic man, “I mean I can hear what you're doing. You don't have to narrate your actions to me.” He really should have stopped talking there but he can't help his own muttering sometimes, “I do just fine on my own.”
The sound of the wooden spoon constantly tossing and mixing the onions around stops, so does the sound of a second crackling fire on top of the one beneath the curry pot itself. Ren turns his head to face the boy next to him although he's not quite sure if he should look up or not to meet where Ryuji's eyes are bound to be staring at him if the sudden warm air is anything to go by.
When did he get so close I could feel him breathing? Stars alive back up!
A meager step back is about as far as Ren gets before the feeling of Ryuji's hand returns to him, on his left arm this time. “Just because you do fine on our own ain't mean you need to. Come on man,” is he smiling? “I like knowing I ain't gonna scare you as long as I tell you what I'm doing! Even if you already know most of the time.”
I hate this man.
Ren's laughter doesn't agree with that thought but Ryuji’s sure enforces the feeling because the ravennette really can't stand it when he's wrong. Or maybe he just hates admitting when the — he imagines beautiful — rowdy boy is right.
He lightly pushes Ryuji away as he starts to calm down, still smiling, “Oh shut up and get back to those onions. They won't cook themselves.” That line earns another huff of laughter.
“Alright alright! I'm turning the heat back on.”
Things quiet down for a while after that. It's nice doing something so domestic Ren decides, even if his anxiety doesn't go away until Ryuji is sitting down by the counter and out of his sacred kitchen space, waiting for a plate of what can only be described as the second-most delicious smelling curry Ren has ever made. Just behind Sojiro's recipe.
“You take forever.” Ren only hums in response to the second complaint in the span of what can't be more than thirty seconds. “How will you ever survive?”
Ryuji groans, the sound of his forearms sliding across the wood grain of the counter as he sinks down, “I'm going to die here actually. Curry-less.”
Curry-less and alone
Not a true statement considering Ren is here but a thought that makes him smile nonetheless. He can't help it if he's funnier in his head than out loud. Though he imagines if he wasn't blind, he would be much enjoying the look of confusion likely present on the others face to his own expression.
“Here, happy?” Ren places the plate of curry and rice before Ryuji's spot on the edge of the counter, it takes less than a second before he can hear him eating. “Didn't even wait for me,” a small huff finishes the statement.
“Mmfh…sorry…” A word spoken between bites. An empty apology, not that it matters.
With his own plate, the messy-haired man sits down beside his companion. Usually he'd sit across from him but considering the choice of the counter over a booth today this seemed more appropriate. It doesn't take long for either man to finish their plate, although it's hard not to take note of how much cleaner Ren's feels in comparison to Ryuji’s when he's washing them. The delinquent can protest all he wants but Ren has had enough of someone else in his kitchen for one day - if it can be called that.
I'll just make him pick up the tab when we go out.
…what?
His quiet demeanor helps when random thoughts of going out on a date with your totally straight best friend come up. He shakes his head as if to rid himself of the idea.
“I can't believe how stubborn you are sometimes,” A mix between a scoff and a scowl betrays the playful meaning behind Ryuji’s words.
Ren hums lightly, turning off the sink before fully responding, “You aren't a fan of my best quality?”
It's arguably his worst actually, maybe that's why when Ryuji says “I didn't say I didn't like it when you're stubborn,” his heart almost stops beating.
Ren even has to suppress a choking sound as Ryuji continues - keep it together
“It's just annoying th…Ren?” fuck.
“Yea?” It comes out absolutely shakier than intended.
“You alright, your face is all re-” He cuts himself off and it's silent for longer than Ren is used to Ryuji being quiet. He can almost hear the gears turning in the blond's head until- “You're blushing.”
Oh kill me now