Page 78 of Pistols and Plush Toys

“I mean, it’s not—it’s not that bad,” Elliot said in a rush. “And I’d, um, I’d like to cook. If I can.” He could do more restingin his room, but he wanted todosomething. And Nikolai didn’t cook. This was something Elliot could offer him, something that even… even had value. Nikolai had liked it when Elliot had cooked those few times before.

It was something Elliot could do that wasn’t completely worthless.

“If you are wanting to cook, you should cook,” Nikolai said easily. Like it really was that simple. “Meredith had grocery delivered, but I don’t know what it is. I’m still have work, but you need something else, you tell me and we can order it.”

“I’ll be fine with making something from whatever you have,” Elliot said quickly. “I won’t have to bother you.”

“Is no bother,” Nikolai said firmly. “Is good for you, cooking. Makes you happy. Also maybe you eat better, when you make it. So you should have anything you need to cook what you want.”

Elliot stared at him, stunned. The utter kindness in those simple words rocked through him, leaving him breathless.

Nikolai continued, “I’m not in charge of grocery, that is Meredith. Since you are staying for now, you two should talk about it. Then you can order anything and not have to wait for me.”

Nikolai would let Elliot order whatever he wanted? To cook whatever he wanted? In his beautiful chef-grade kitchen? “Thank you,” Elliot rasped.

“I’m will give you Meredith’s number later, okay?” Nikolai said.

The idea of speaking to Meredith was intimidating, but if Elliot was going to be cooking… “Okay.”

“Make good food you like,” Nikolai said, smiling at him, so handsome andkindthat Elliot’s throat went dry.

“Okay,” he said again, stumbling back a step. “I’ll—I’ll let you know when lunch is ready.”

The smile got warmer. “Thank you,” Nikolai said. “Is something nice for me to look forward to.”

With that Nikolai returned to his laptop, somehow unaware of how his words and his smile left Elliot reeling.

Elliot managed to make himself head to the kitchen, head still spinning. Nikolai wanted Elliot to cook because it made Elliothappy.Not because it was something Elliot could do for Nikolai. Not because he was expecting Elliot to give him something back. Simply because it was something Elliot loved to do.

He went on autopilot to the refrigerator, looking through what groceries had been brought in, then doing the same for the freezer and the dry goods pantry. Of course he wanted to make somethinggood,but he wanted something healthy too. A meal that Nikolai would hopefully find tasty but that also would appease Meredith in her quest to make Nikolai eat more vegetables and less fried foods.

In the end, Elliot landed on making a simple soup for lunch. The groceries Nikolai had covered a lot of basics, but it was clear Meredith wasn’t used to buying for a wide variety of meals. Or maybe that was just how she bought groceries when she didn’t have the direction from an in-house chef. Actually, Elliot was surprised Nikolaihadchicken stock and fresh cabbage, but maybe that was wishful thinking on Meredith’s part.

He pulled all his ingredients out and set them on the counter before getting out a large pot and a cutting board. Then he went for the knives.

The knives!

He couldn’t read the maker’s mark on some of them–he would need his phone for that–but Elliot still reveled at their quality. The handles were hefty, the blades beautifully gleaming,and at the first clean cut through the thick cabbage, he almost gasped aloud.

Elliot found himself humming quietly as he chopped cabbage and carrots and onions, and he looked furtively around the empty kitchen when he realized what he was doing. He’d tried hard to kick the habit because Mattia said it was annoying but… but Mattia wasn’t here. Nikolai was working in the other room. Elliot’s humming wasn’t bothering anyone.

Trying not to overthink it, he let himself keep up the simple tune as he poured the chicken stock and vegetables and red lentils into the pot and turned on the heat.

As Elliot lovingly hand washed and dried the knives, putting them back before cleaning up the rest of the area, he started compiling a mental shopping list, meal ideas stacking up in his brain that could balance the nutrition Meredith wanted Nikolai to have with flavors that would make Nikolai interested in the food. It was its own fun sort of puzzle. And he was… he was looking forward to making food for Nikolai.

Elliot wanted to please him. This man who seemed so rough around the edges but who kept being shockingly kind.

At the forty minute mark, the food was done. Elliot pulled the toasted bread out of the oven, setting it on the stovetop before he turned down the heat on the soup pot.

He walked back through the house to the living room to find Nikolai, who was still frowning down at his laptop.

“Lunch is ready,” Elliot said, forcing himself to interrupt. “But I can keep it warm if you’re still busy—”

“I’m very ready,” Nikolai announced, setting the laptop aside. “Starving.” As he stood, his eyes crinkled in a smile. “I’m look forward to seeing what you make. Smells very good.”

Elliot flushed, suddenly overwarm, and quickly turned to lead them back toward the kitchen.

“Here, um, you can sit,” Elliot said, pointing to the table. “I’ll just—”

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