Page 34 of Pistols and Plush Toys

“Is good?” Nikolai asked, sounding actually interested.

“Just needs a touch more garlic,” Elliot said, setting the dirty spoon aside to add more and remix. He pulled out another spoon to take a second taste. “Perfect.”

“I’m can try?” Nikolai asked, leaning forward.

It pulled a smile out of Elliot. “Yeah, of course.”

He grabbed another spoon from the drawer and scooped up a tasting of the dip, heart beating faster as he watched Nikolai slip the spoon into his mouth. He hoped the man liked it. Hoped, at least, he wouldn’t activelydislikeit. Elliot didn’t know if he’d be able to stomach Nikolai knocking the bowl of aïoli to the tiled floor of the kitchen and turning away with a scoff.

Though at least if Elliot was crouched down to clean up the wasted food, Nikolai wouldn’t be able to see any tears that might escape.

“Mmm,” Nikolai rumbled, and Elliot’s breath caught.

“You like it?” He asked tentatively.

“Yes,” Nikolai said decisively. “Is good. Tangy.”

Elliot licked his lips. “It’s even better with the fries.”

Nikolai nodded. “I am excited to try.”

Elliot felt himself beaming back. He knew it was stupid to be flattered by such a small thing. Stupid to be pleased that Nikolai liked the aïoli. It wasn’t like it was even complicated. There wasn’t very much at all to mess up.

But it had been so long since he’d gotten to make food for someone with any success. So long since he’d made something that someone actuallyliked. He hadn’t realized until he was standing in his kidnapper’s kitchen how much he missed it.

There was something wrong with him, to have this be one of his more pleasant experiences in recent memory.

That wiped the smile off his face.

“Something is wrong?” Nikolai asked.

“No,” Elliot said quickly, turning to check the timer on the oven. He’d need to flip the fries soon. “No, um, no this was really nice. Being able to cook. Thank you.”

Nikolai hummed, and out of the corner of his eye Elliot could see him crossing his arms, leaning back casually against the kitchen island. It made his biceps bulge in a way that made Elliot hurriedly turn to pick up the spatula.

“I am sorry I’m not thinking to ask sooner,” Nikolai said. “Boredom is… corrosive.”

It was a peculiar way to put it, but Nikolai wasn’t wrong. “Yeah,” Elliot said quietly, looking at the floor.

There was a long stretch of silence where both of them just sort of stood there. Then Nikolai shifted. “What else I’m can get you? So you’re less bored.”

Elliot’s thoughts went back immediately to the pen he’d been handed earlier to write the shopping list. He hadn’t been allowed to keep it, but just having something to write with so he could work on his puzzle book...

But Nikolai didn’t want him to have writing utensils, because they could be used as weapons. It would be silly to ask, just to be told no.

Something must have shown on his face though, because Nikolai opened his mouth again. “You think of something? Tell me.” Before he snapped, “No biting.”

Elliot hadn’t even realized he’d bitten his lip. “S-sorry.”

“No biting,” Nikolai said again. “You have something to say, you should say. Tell me.”

Elliot winced. “Maybe, um, a pen? Or pencil. Something I could write with.”

Nikolai tilted his head, regarding him. “What it is for?”

“I… I like puzzles,” Elliot admitted, flushing. “I have a puzzle book in my bag, but I don’t have anything to write with. Doing them in my head is… harder.”

“Ah,” Nikolai said. He scratched the side of his neck thoughtfully. “You have not tried to stab me, so you can have pen.”

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