Work Text:
Dunk lays out the ingredients for his latest experiment on the island countertop. He wants to make something fun for Navori. Something colorful and balanced. Sweet but not too sweet. A combination that will fit many customer's palettes.
A flash of perfect teeth and soft crinkled eyes cuts across his vision and his smiles to himself.
Yeah, this new snack will be perfect for his tastes too.
He sets out the mixing bowl and gloves and grabs the powered matcha out of the cabinet.
Truth be told, many of his desserts are created with his lover in mind.
Joong doesn't have much of a sweet tooth, so Dunk has found himself thinking of ways to make mochi's and cakes that can still appeal to him. He loves watching Joong's face light up in delight when he tastes a new recipe and realizes it was made for him.
It's one of the best feelings in the world.
And it's that feeling he's seeking now as he washes strawberries in the sink before laying them out on the cutting board. He's not sure if this will work, but he's going to keep trying until he finds a good match for the matcha.
He has a system when it comes to baking when he's alone, so he runs almost on autopilot as he chops the strawberries and measures the sugar, matcha and rice flour together. He's so lost in it that he almost misses the sound of the door unlocking and opening.
There's only one person who would come into his condo without calling first.
"I didn't expect you tonight." He calls out as Joong comes into view, Chanel bag hanging off one shoulder and a bag of takeout in his other hand.
"Sorry I didn't call. I just got done with the photo shoot a little bit earlier than I expected and I was hungry and missed you, so…" He shrugs and hangs his bag on the barstool and sets the takeout on the counter next to the fridge. "But if I'm interrupting your creative process I can go see my family—"
Dunk stops what he's doing and turns around to face him. "You're not interrupting anything. I'm glad you came."
Joong's face changes from hesitant to mischievous in an instant. "Oh? Did someone miss me?"
Dunk rolls his eyes and goes back to his task. "What do you think?"
He senses Joong looming behind him before familiar arms wrap around his middle and a chin hooks over his shoulder. "I think teerak missed me so much he's creating a new dessert."
Dunk wants to scoff and tell him not to be too full of himself, but he can't because…
"I'm right aren't I?" Joong chuckles, and then lips press against Dunk's temple.
Dunk weakly defends himself, even though there's really no point when the bowl is green and the scent of matcha is in the air. "Not everything I do is about you, you know."
"I know, but this is." He says, stepping back and letting go of his waist. "And I can't wait to try it."
Dunk misses his warmth as soon as it's gone, but he refuses to say so. He can't get distracted by Joong right now. He needs to finish this matcha and strawberry dessert and if he lets Joong keep touching him they'll end up in the bedroom, or if he's not careful, they won't even make it out of the kitchen.
Dunk pours the coconut milk into the mixing bowl and hears the tell tale click of Joong's camera.
He glances up and sees Joong leaning against the island and taking a photo of him.
"Like what you see?" Dunk jokes, he knows he has flour and cornstartch all over his apron, on the sleeve of his shirt and probably on his face too.
Joong lowers the camera a bit, looking serious as he replies, "I always like what I see when I'm looking at you."
Dunk's face warms without his consent as Joong comes around the island and raises the camera again. He takes a few photos and Dunk tries to ignore him. He can hear him and even feel him moving behind him and next to him. It's quiet, the only sound between them being the shutter going off and faint tinks of Dunk meticulously mixing before he dusts the counter with cornstarch and begins rolling the mixture out into balls. He tries not to pay attention to the fact that Joong is breathing on the back of his neck, but when Joong leans in and takes a picture of Dunk's hand picking up the strawberries, he can't help but ask, "Isn't taking pictures of me baking a bit boring?"
Considering the lock box of NSFW Polaroids Joong has of Dunk, he can't really see what his boyfriend would get out of pictures as innocent as this. Not when they've had so much fun taking photos in various positions all over this very condo.
"You're my muse, Dunk." He says simply, looking up over the camera lens. "Nothing you do is boring."
Dunk's chest feels tight and he can hardly breathe at the admittance. "Your muse, huh?"
"Mmm. Even like this, with your dirty apron and your hair a mess, you inspire me." Joong tells him and then clicks another photo, this time of Dunk's face.
The way he says it, so soft and assured, makes Dunk want to drop what he's doing. The way Joong is looking at him, like he hung the damn moon makes him want to forget his baking.
It makes him want give a confession of his own—that Joong is the inspiration, the muse to Dunk's creative process too— that Joong has him writing poems in the margins of his recipe notes, that he's thinking of publishing one at a Navori pop up...
But before he can utter a word Joong is gently placing the camera onto the counter and stepping into Dunk's space.
"I'm serious," Joong insists, as if Dunk didn't believe him. "You're always amazing to watch, but especially when you're here in your element. I love watching you when you're baking or cooking. And I love watching you when we're alone in this space that is ours, where there's no expectations and no pressure. When it's just you and me…" He reaches up and rubs his thumb over Dunk's lower lip before leaning in and stealing a soft chaste kiss . "Yeah, these are the times you inspire me the most."
It's ridiculous really, the way Joong still makes Dunk's heart race like this even after being together for over a year. "Laying it on a bit thick aren't you?" Dunk coughs, trying to mask the way he's trembling from holding himself back. "You don't have to butter me up. I was planning on giving you attention when I was done."
Joong smirks, like he knows what he's doing to him and is enjoying it, and steps back again. "Ah, well, you know how impatient I am."
Yeah, understatement of the year.
"I thought you were hungry." Dunk reminds him and tries to refocus on his mochi. "Why don't you eat your food while I finish this." He realizes his mistake as soon as the words leave his mouth and he tries to stop Joong from opening his. "Don't you da—"
Too late.
Joong is already pulling him away from the counter without care to his own clothing as he presses their bodies together. "I'd rather eat you." He smiles starts peppering kisses across Dunk's cheeks and lips.
Dunk allows the attention for a few moments, even laughing a bit at his boyfriend's antics, but he knows if he lets it go much longer he'll never finish the treats meant for the love of his life, so he takes the opportunity to pull away when Joong's stomach rumbles beneath his hand.
"Alright. Seriously, I can hear your stomach growling, Joong." Dunk says, pushing him towards the take out bags. "Go eat. I promise we'll continue this later."
Joong pouts and huffs a bit in annoyance but finally relents. "Fine, I'll leave you alone, but you better keep your word."
"I always do." Dunk replies with a grin. "And if you're patient enough for me to get these done, I'll even pose for you later."
That perks his boyfriend right up. "Deal!" He exclaims, and then sits at the table before taking a bite of Som Tam and grabbing some sticky rice.
Dunk can feel his eyes burning holes in him from where he's working…
… and if Dunk rushes and makes a few mochi's more lopsided and uneven that others so he can hurry and get cleaned up before Joong is finished eating? Well, he knows his boyfriend won't mention it if he knows what's good for him.