Sean jerked upright to the sound of something metal ringing across the ground loudly. For a moment, Sean was completely confused on where he was. He had been in a car the last time he checked. Only now he was laying across a couch in a living room. On the flat screen TV, an anime he didn't recognize played on low volume. It appeared to be a cooking academy anime. Some guy was making food for a girl who looked to be the prep school type. Looking around toward where he had heard the noise, he heard Nate grumble out in the kitchen. "Son of a bitch. Why was that there." Sean pushed the blanket that had been laid over him off, stumbling out to the kitchen to get a better look at what happened. Leaning against the wall, Sean sleepily peeked in to see Nate pick up a metal pan off the floor. Nate moved to the sink to clean it and Sean smirked to himself. All the cabinets were open and Nate seemed to be in the midst of inspiration. 

Crossing his arms, he watched Nate without drawing attention to himself. Nate hadn't noticed him yet. The longer Sean watched him the more his heart ached. He used to watch Mark cook in the kitchen. Watching Mark cook had been so relaxing. Mark would take his time and calculate every little detail. Then he'd catch him staring and would call him in to taste test something. Which always lead to them kissing or him being pressed back against the fridge. Watching Nate was like watching a hurricane and a tornado tango. After cleaning the dish, he began dashing around the kitchen to snatch bowls from the cabinets to drop on the Island counter. Nate didn't seem to have a plan, he was just pulling out what he thought he'd need. Sean shook his head, but didn't interrupt him. The way Nate's white headband draped down his shoulders, really appealed to him.

He always had a thing for Asians and right now, Nate looked even more Asian than he already was. It really brought out his deep brown eyes and his dimples when he smiled. Nate whirled around to preheat the oven and suddenly did a double take as he noticed him. Letting out a scream, Nate dropped down behind the Island counter.  Sean found it so cute that he couldn't hold back his laughter. Nate crawled around the counter to peek around the side, chuckling out. "Don't do that! Shit! You nearly gave me a heart attack!" Sean stepped out farther into the kitchen, smiling as he teased out. "It's good to see that you have a good flight reflex." Nate climbed to his feet, snatching a wooden spoon off the counter to playfully scold back. "Don't make me use this, young man." Sean grinned, shaking his head as he eyed the room and asked curiously. "What are you making?" Nate blinked for a second, his mind lost in thought, before he shrugged and answered nonchalantly. "I don't know... but it will be amazing."

Sean raised an eyebrow, trying not to sound doubtful as he asked. "Nate... Have you ever cooked before?" Nate shot him a sideways glance, upon pulling out a cutting board and saying in a snarky voice. "Of course, I have. Why would you doubt me?" Sean cleared his throat, rubbing his collarbone nervously as he watched Nate rub cooking oil in a non-stick pan, telling him softly. "Has anyone ever eaten your food?" Nate turned to face him, answering with a smile. "Yes, they have. And before you ask... Yes, they are still alive." They shared a chuckle, before Nate crossed his arms and puffed himself up to challenge him. "Alright, Smartass. How about a little friendly competition? Loser buys pizza for dinner." Sean extended a hand to shake on it, agreeing confidently. "Alright. You're on. Just know that if you lose you're buying Pineapple Pizza." Nate tightened his grip on Sean's arm, pulling him closer as he playfully retorted back. "I love Hawaiian pizza, but I won't be paying for it!"

Sean slipped past him to grab a soup pot from a cabinet and set to work. The kitchen wasn't that big, but between trying to sabotage each other... Sean was having fun. Mark never did this with him, despite his cooking videos being so chaotic.  Mark was a very serious cook off camera. Nate was anything, except serious and he liked that. They fought over ingredients and even added in stuff that they really shouldn't have put in their dish, just to keep the other from using it in theirs. Nate pulled out some flour to mix in his pan, then tapped Sean's shoulder. The second Sean turned, Nate flicked his fingers and speckled Sean's face in flour. Sean shook his head as Nate laughed, Sean then reached out to grab the ends of Nate's headband. Carefully pulling Nate away from the Island, Sean sprinkled pepper in his dish, while Nate let out a cute baffled cry. He tried to reach out to push his dish away from the assault, but couldn't reach. So, instead he turned to tickle Sean's underarm to get him to release him.

After Nate slipped his dish into the oven, Nate began to play with the left over food. Trying to do trick shots into a measuring cup with an onion and juggling garlic cloves badly. Sean tried to keep an eye on his pot, but Nate was a big distraction. When they were both finished, they cleaned the island and set bowls of their concoctions down in front of the other. They both glared down into the bowls with weary expressions. Nate's resembled what appeared to be a very chucky oatmeal. While his was an extremely boiled down version of vegetable stew. Or what semi-resembled stew. It was brown with meaty pieces of beef and bacon and what little veggies he managed to steal from Nate. They regretted the idea of taste testing their sabotaged handy work, but they hadn't been thinking about that at the time. Sean took a deep breath, picking up his fork and stabbing a piece that looked like an oatmeal covered apple slice. Taking a bite, he shivered and tried not to spit it out.

Grabbing a napkin, Sean spit it out, chuckling out as his eyes watered. "Oh, that was so bad. There was so much pepper and garlic. And it tasted like wet slime." Nate's eyes were watering too as he chewed slowly on something from Sean's dish. Sean chuckled loudly, watching Nate suddenly shake his head and scramble for a napkin to spit it out. Nate coughed after, wheezing out. "I shouldn't have put the hot sauce and jelly beans in there. I got the strong taste of dog food and dead fish." Nate continued to wipe his tongue with the napkin, between grumbling out. "I regret this. I regret this so much!" Sean pushed the bowl away, asking in a chipper tone. "You got anything to wash this taste out?" Nate grabbed another fresh napkin to spit into, then pointed to the fridge, saying quickly. "Ya. There is beer in the fridge." Sean made his way over to grab two cold beers and walked back to slide Nate one. Twisting the tops off, they guzzled down a few swings. The malt helped to cover some of the taste, but not all of it.

After the taste finally started to go away, Sean asked him. "So, how do we tell who's the worst?" Nate cleared his throat gruffly, before asking hopefully. "Can we just agree that they were both really bad and split the bill fifty-fifty?" Sean nodded with a smile, happily fishing out his wallet. He had converted some of his money at the airport to cover his expenses in the States. He never had any real intention on letting Nate pay for the whole thing anyway. Accepting his money, Nate got up to put in an order to be delivered. While Nate did that, he ventured to the bathroom to clean the flour off his face. When he returned, Nate was sitting on the couch humming to the theme song to the anime that was still playing. As he approached, Nate lifted his legs for Sean to sit down, then he lowered his legs over his lap. For a few moments, they just sat watching the show called 'Shokugeki.' However, Sean was going over the events in the kitchen in his head. He had fun just screwing around with Nate. They had made a terrible mess... but he felt happier than he had in days.

He was so wrapped up in his thoughts, that he didn't realize he had been stroking Nate's leg, until Nate suddenly jerked upright. Nate had scared him out of his own thoughts, but when he tried to ask what was wrong... Nate shushed him and scrambled off the couch toward a bedroom. Sean blinked a little confused, waiting for Nate to return. It took awhile, before he reemerged with a small notebook and his guitar. That is when Sean got it. Nate had gotten an inspirational idea and had ran off to get it down on paper before it left his head. Nate paused the show, sitting down with his guitar as he asked him hopefully. "Listen to this real quick and tell me what you think?" Sean adjusted more comfortably on the couch to watch Nate close his eyes and center himself. When he opened them, he began to strum and sing.

"Creating something new with all of my might. They push me to give in, but I won't give up the fight. They pull me down, I always get up again. No, they don't know what I'm cooking up.

Just like another rise, I cut it through me. I'll take a breath and take in all of the scenery. I've got my chance to prove what they don't believe. Now all their eyes are on me.

I'll take the reigns and steer through this ride. I'll make my way and cross through that line.

Now I can see the light that it shines and the way that it smells. The fumes intoxicating, even now I can tell. And all my hopes and dreams, I'm serving up on a plate. And I believe in every single thing I create. If you can't stop what's in store. You gotta ask for more.

I feel the fire coming down on me. But they don't know that I live just to turn up the heat. I already know what they want me to be. But I won't give them a say.

I'm giving it my all even if I'm alone. Cause they don't know what I've got, straight from down to the bone. And now the spotlight's mine today. Just let me do it my way.

I'll take the reigns and steer through this ride. I'll make my way and cross through that line.

Now I can see the light that it shines and the way that it smells. The fumes intoxicating, even now I can tell. And all my hopes and dreams, I'm serving up on a plate. And I believe in every single thing I create. If you can't stop what's in store. You gotta ask for more. I'm gonna win this war."

He paused after he finished to bite his lower lip with a slight blush, mumbling out. "Well, what do you think? I mean... It's a rough draft... but-" Sean gave him a warm smile that made Nate stop mid-sentence. Sean brushed his bangs out of his own eyes, telling Nate honestly. "I really liked it. It's fun and passionate." Nate's cheeks turned a darker red and Sean watched him hug his guitar closer. Avoiding Sean's eyes, Nate admitted to him shyly. "I actually have an idea for a possible music video to it too. Watching this anime always makes me want to cook, but having fun with you in the kitchen just... inspired me to write this. You don't mind?" Sean shook his head, genuinely telling him. "Not at all. Go wild with it." Nate finally met his eyes with a bright smile on his face. A smile so warm and bright that Sean had to turn away, before his heart melted.

Nate hopped up onto his feet, asking excitedly. "You wanna help me record it? I wonder if I can get Arin to make a small appearance in it when he comes over." Sean sat up a little, asking surprised. "Arin from Game Grumps is coming over?" Nate winced, biting his lip and mumbling out. "Shit... I was suppose to keep that a secret. He heard you were going to visit and wanted to stop by for a bit. Is that alright?" Sean shrugged, playfully stating out. "Do whatever you want. It's your house. I don't have a problem seeing him." Nate reached out to take ahold of his wrist to pull him off the couch, leading him into the kitchen to clean things up as he told him. "Just try to act surprised when Arin shows up for me. Sound like a plan?" Sean staged a set of over reactions to make Nate laugh. Together, they cleaned up their mess and started recording bits of the video. Within another hour, the pizza arrived and soon after that Arin did too. Sean recorded Nate reenacting a version of their fun earlier. The whole time, his heart beat heavily in his chest to the idea that Nate had been inspired by him, because of the fun they had shared together.

As dead as he thought he was inside, Something about Nate reminded him how alive he was. Warming his heart and getting him to smile every single time he smiled at him. By the time they got to playing video games on the couch, Sean's cheeks hurt from smiling and his sides burned from laughing so hard. To Be Continued...