Chapter 463: A soft day in (suggestive)
This felt like a very surreal moment for Kellen.
It was so domestic that it felt like a contradiction to everything that was going on. Kellen didn’t hate it. He liked that he was in his home clothes, in their apartment together as Kellen made lunch. Rhys wasn’t sitting at the island, but instead standing behind him, his arms wrapped around his waist. They rested on his stomach, Rhys’ chin on his shoulder as he moved around the kitchen with Kellen, not against.
It felt more like a dance than anything else.
Rhys’ soft breath against Kellen’s neck as he went about cooking made everything feel like a dream. Like he hadn’t had his whole life flipped on its head and now he had to go fix it all.
Kellen forced his thoughts away from what was going to happen after tonight. He instead turned his attention to the man behind him and how warm his hands on his stomach felt. It was strange, but also welcome to have Rhys like this. He liked it.
In another life, if he hadn’t discovered his love for being a Field Guide, he could see him having a cushy in town job, like running a bakery or a restaurant or something while Rhys worked as an Esper. Something significantly more safe that would put Rhys’ mind at ease. There was a chance that Kellen could still do that, but it would be years from now.
"What are you thinking about?" Rhys asked into the silence and Kellen chuckled.
"An alternate timeline where I never found Field Guide work and I opened a bakery instead of going to the front lines. We still end up meeting and falling in love, but it’s different." Kellen told him, a smile on his face. "It’s a nice thought. One where I had no problems with who I was." Rhys let out a sigh before he pressed a kiss against Kellen’s shoulder.
"I wish it was this timeline where you didn’t have any issues with who you are. You’re a wonderful person now." Rhys told him and Kellen turned his head, smiling at him.
"You’re a sweetie, you know that? Lunch’s almost ready, do you want to get the table ready?" Kellen asked and Rhys nodded. He separated from Kellen, even if it was obvious he didn’t want to.
He didn’t set the counter, instead setting the coffee table with two place settings, some glasses of water, a bottle of cider and a bottle of beer. Kellen had a feeling he knew what Rhys wanted to do, but still dished up two plates.