now the Hunting Winds are loose...

[silenttrainbaby]

The piece of paper - the waiver - fluttered from Grey's hand as he pushed his way into Rat's rooms. He looks for the other boy, finds him and comes over. His clothes are dirty, pieces of gravel still sticking to them, something still in his hair. His hands are dirty, but his cheeks are flushed and he kneels before where Rat reads, pressing his cheek to Rat's hand.

Comments

[plaguedrat]

It's an optimistic thought, though Rat doesn't know how such a thing would happen. But this here is theirs and so good and gratifying.

[silenttrainbaby]

There's no sense, for Grey at least, how much time passes before his stomach starts to tell him that he's hungry and he smiles, just a little.

[plaguedrat]

It's strange to him, the affection that Grey inspires. Maybe it's because the two of them have an understanding of how harsh the world can be and how much more valuable that makes the sweetness.

"Ever had pancakes?"

[silenttrainbaby]

He gets a shake of the head; Grey hasn't. What are they?

[plaguedrat]

He'll see.

Reluctantly, Rat extracts himself from the bed and dresses, heading into the kitchen.

[silenttrainbaby]

Pulling on a pair of boxers, Grey followed, padding along behind Rat. He perched at the edge of the counter as usual, watching.

[plaguedrat]

At some point, he'd assembled enough ingredients to make them from scratch. Rat doesn't know how he ended up doing that, but here he is, mixing batter without having to check measurements.

Soon enough, he's pouring batter into a pan.

[silenttrainbaby]

The sizzling and the actions draw Grey closer; he watches Rat over the shoulder. That smell - he likes that smell.

[plaguedrat]

With a flick of his wrist, Rat flips the pancake back on the raw side. Stirring the batter again, he nods towards the cabinet, silently asking Grey for plates.

[silenttrainbaby]

That's something Grey can do. He goes to the cabinet where he knows they are and pulls two out very carefully, bringing them over, sitting them on the counter nearby.

He doesn't go for silverware; that's still not a habit.

[plaguedrat]

Rat thanks him with a light touch to the wrist before sliding the first pancake onto the plate closest to Grey an then pouring more batter out for himself.

[silenttrainbaby]

It's steaming and light and fluffy and Grey bends down to look at it; it makes his mouth water so much that he has to swallow, hard. Oh yes. He thinks he will like pancakes.

[plaguedrat]

"You can put jam on them, or butter. Whatever you like," Rat says, pointing at the fridge.

This is easy, he realizes. Him and Grey. Cooking, reading. It still amazes him.

[silenttrainbaby]

So, Grey goes hunting in the fridge. SOmething called jam is pulled out. Something called butter. Each are smelled and investigated. But Grey will wait, however hard it is, until Rat is ready and can show him how to eat such things.

[plaguedrat]

He knows Grey is waiting and shakes his head, turning out more pancakes. "Go ahead and start."

[silenttrainbaby]

But -

Okay, okay. He rips the pancake in half and just takes a big bite and his love affair with bread products continues.

[plaguedrat]

Rat smiles and flips out the last pancake, boosting up on the counter next to Grey.

"They're best when they're warm."

[silenttrainbaby]

Already, Grey is eating the second half of his first one and his cheeks are chipmunked out.

[plaguedrat]

Rat prefers to spread jam onto his pancake and roll it up, taking a big bite. This is something he could get used to.

[silenttrainbaby]

Oh! Is that what you do with the butter and jam?! Oh. Grey nearly pouts. His pancake is gone and he didn't get to try that!

[plaguedrat]

Good thing there's a stack more. Rat tugs the other plate over and sets it between them. Two pancakes for each of them.

[silenttrainbaby]

Eyes alight, Grey did as Rat did and rolls his up with the butter and the jam and takes a bite.

There are few words for the bliss on his face.

[plaguedrat]

And Rat enjoys the look on his face almost as much, grinning.

"So. Pancakes and jam?"

[silenttrainbaby]

Yes! Grey nods fervently. Yes! He stuffs the rest of his pancake in his mouth and chews.

[plaguedrat]

Rat sighs out comfortably and leans sideways, head on Grey's shoulder. "This is good."