|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 3:53 pm
His friend? He wondered if he meant the not!boyfriend boyfriend. Kazuo's head bobbed as he agreed and shoulders shrugged. "I miss her all of the time. It's just... I can call her sometimes. The time difference is a big thing, so it's hard to pin her location down." He gave a laugh at that and moved to start the miso soup after the cabbage was shredded and put into small ceramic bowls.
Well, first he flipped the cutlet and made sure he didn't burn it, then he started to prepare the miso soup. He was lucky this meal was quick to make, honestly.
"Why... isn't your mom talking to you?"
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 4:52 pm
Evan sighed heavily and then just shrugged. "Because I'm a perpetual disappointment who failed every single one of their expectations, and they haven't been able to look me in the eye since sixth grade, mostly. To be honest, it's probably dad, who is a royal d**k and hates me. He's an a*****e. Everything has to be his way exactly," Evan rolled his eyes and seemed to be very animated while talking about the situation. "And God forbid you not want to go into business. I wanted to go to culinary school forever and they were just, like, so unsupportive. But I mean—I hate school. I've hated it for years. I begged them to let me drop out, but nooooo—Dad calls me a quitter and yells at me for having no ambition. Like—what the hell, your kid comes home crying every day after school, and you're just gonna say 'Hey, son, suck it up, you're upsetting your mother'? So—I mean, yeah, of course there was some friction. And there was that time I got really messed up and they caught me having sex in their bed, but."
He was quiet for a second and bit down on his lower lip. He had been incredibly animated, and then suddenly just clammed up.
And was turning red.
And it wasn't exactly clear if it was because he had talked himself red in the face, or because he had gotten too caught up in the moment.
He cleared his throat and said in a much quieter, much meeker voice, "Uh. We just don't get along and, uh. They just thought it was for the best if I wasn't a part of that family anymore. Uh. Yeah."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 4:59 pm
The movements of cooking had slowed once Evan got really into the meat of his relationship with his parents. Kazuo's heart went out to the boy and he quickly finished the meal up before moving over to him and just stood there in front of him.
"...Can I hug you?" He asked. Random hugging wasn't a thing where he was from, so it was better to ask permission. Honestly Evan looked like he could use a good hug and a good cry. If he wanted it, Kazuo would grant him that and act like all was right in the world, or lend a sympathetic ear. If there was one thing he was good at, it was reading the atmosphere. Most people of Japan were. You were taught to do it from an extremely young age.
"You can cry."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 5:07 pm
Evan's brows knit and he seemed a bit surprised by the offer. "Y-you…what? I know I can cry," he snapped, seeming a bit defensive. It seemed to be something that just slipped out, and it was clear he hadn't meant it; his expression changed immediately and he apologized. "—I mean, I'm sorry, yeah, I—I know, I cry all the time, I just. I didn't mean to lay all that out, I didn't…I meant to come here and not—and not ruin everything. I'm sorry, that wasn't—this isn't—how I wanted today to go."
He couldn't look Kazuo in the eyes and had cross his arms over his chest and directed his gaze to the floor. He was chewing on the inside of his cheek and holding his breath and it looked like he was trying to just disappear. He did a good job of staying absolutely still.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 5:30 pm
So ... no on the hug. Kazuo stepped back a bit and then just toyed with his fingers and winced a little at the tone. He hadn't meant to offend him at all. The smaller man ducked his head and he just pushed a hand through his bangs before heading back to the kitchen to wash his hands and shifted to make the plates and bowls of the meal.
"Don't worry about it," he murmured as he brought things to the table. The smile he slipped on his face was an easy one to do. It was natural for him to ignore negative emotions when the other party wasn't willing to share.
"Come and eat. It's all ready."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 6:01 pm
Evan just looked embarrassed and ashamed and kept his posture while Kazuo finished. He looked guilty, and he felt the same. Slowly, he managed to pry himself form the wall and take the seat that was offered to him. "…I'm sorry," he said again.
Not worrying about it was just something he couldn't bring himself to do.
"…I really…Ah, man."
He didn't seem to have any confidence in his words and seemed to be clamming up. He was forcing himself to talk, even though he was no longer in his comfort zone. "…I get weird with public displays of affection or any of that stuff. I used to get yelled at. But I like…hugs. And all that dumb stuff. You know. Hand holding, and cuddling and stupid things. It's just hard to find people that I trust to, like, get that close to me. But."
He looked at the food.
"…I know it doesn't make up for me messing up the mood, but I…I trust you. I just. Wanted you to know that," he mumbled, not looking up.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 7:25 pm
"It's fine, Evan. You don't have to explain. I understand. Really." He gave the other a soft expression and just let his brows knit a little more. "The mood can always pick up again. We haven't even eaten yet. Any interaction with people isn't always going to be happy. Like the ocean, moods come in waves. So think nothing of it. I mean it." He gave a noise and moved to pour them both some water, figuring if anything else Evan would be thirsty.
Finally he settled back down and just shrugged again. "In Japan, we're not big on public affection. It is saved for indoors unless you are drunk or just uncaring. Most people won't say anything, did you know that? Because we do not want to make people uncomfortable. I don't want to make you uncomfortable, and so.." He folded his hands together and bowed. "Itadakimasu!"
And with that, he took a sip of the soup first and hummed. It was good! ..if he did say so himself.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 7:35 pm
Evan swallowed and then nodded. He was shaken, and wished he didn't seem so awkwardly and shaky. "You're so understanding," he said, clearing his throat. "…I'm so used to people being sarcastic that I, uhm. I forgot how to recognize when someone was actually trying to be nice."
He laughed, awkwardly—trying very hard to shed any remaining emotions. "I'll, uhm. Have to work on that."
He swallowed, and then helped himself to a tasting of the soup—and paused.
Maybe he was just unstable because he was hungry, because he really didn’t realize how hungry he was until the burst of flavors exploded on his tongue. Evan couldn’t even find anything to complain about, and just sighed, contentedly. "…It's been such a long time since I enjoyed something someone else cooked for me."
…Actually, to be honest, he really couldn’t even remember the last time someone cooked for him.
"This is really good."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 7:44 pm
The compliment from someone in a kitchen made the man duck his head and then shook it, holding out a hand. "No, no! It's just a simple meal. It takes no time at all. It's nothing fancy." Kazuo's cheeks were red and he laughed a bit before just focusing on the meal now. Such an awkward time. Compliments over this wasn't something he was used to, either.
"I'll be out tonight.. So I might stop by and see you if you're at work? Is that okay?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 7:58 pm
Evan blinked; he was still enjoying the soup when he nodded. "Oh—yeah, absolutely. Drop by and I'll get you some dinner, or you can just come in to warm up. I'd love some visitors, but uhm."
He swallowed. "Just watch out for any uhm. Other people. There are some jerks that like to run around. Sometimes they try to come in and bug me, so I don't want you to get in trouble or anything. Like. I want you to be safe. I don't know if I could handle two people I cared about just going missing or—or getting hurt or something."
He swallowed once more. "I don't have enough friends to lose any, and I like you guys too much to be okay with you getting hurt."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 8:03 pm
"Mm, don't worry. I'll be sure to come at a dead time." He beamed at the other and sort of swung his feet as he ate, the chairs being too tall. It had to be tall because his boyfriend was almost two whole feet taller than him.
His comment about friends made Kazuo's stomach fluttery and he gave a flush and a laugh before wiggling his toes a bit. "I don't want to lose you either, so I'm going to be watching over you and others very carefully." He wasn't as strong as most, and he's very much into flight over fight, but he couldn't save anyone by running away all the time.
With a more determined look on his face, Kazuo ate his meal in a content sort of companionable silence, glancing up at Evan now and then.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2016 9:55 pm
Evan just smiled at the male; he was not in the best of moods, but he was determined not to let that ruin this.
This was nice.
It was a break from the ordinary, and it was a chance to spend some quality time with someone who really cared for him—and to stop thinking, stop worrying about Zack. Even if only for a little while.
He intended to make the best of it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
