[Cable scoffs at Wade's comment, perhaps a little because he's underselling his own ability to captivate Wade and also because Wade is stupid and the things he says are stupid.
As always, when the warm water hits Cable he makes a relived sound. He cracks his neck from side to side and rolls his shoulders. He's giving Wade shit but here he is, kind of visibly a broken old man too.
He narrows his eyes at Wade but he shifts aside for him while he soaps himself up.]
[ In all fairness, Cable is not wrong. Except for the part about captivating Wade. Then he's the fucking idiot.
Wade's halfway through sudsing up his lower stomach and junk, where all their fun had decided to congeal on his body then shooting his hand down behind his balls to get right into his business from the back end. He squints at Cable as he moves aside for him, and they're just doing this rotating little dance. Wade rinses off, but his eyes are roaming over Cable's wet body with renewed interest, tempered by their banter. He ignores the question in favor of asking an impetuous one of his own. ]
Hey, so do you have to blow dry your cables? Just curious if you might rust when you bathe.
[ Wade says, somewhat acidically, but he's leaning awfully close to him when he says it, close enough to touch, or kiss. He's flirting. ]
[Cable doesn't ogle Wade cleaning himself up because he's minding his fucking business over here.
As always, Cable is very careful and calculated even when he's cleaning and he's taking a moment to rinse out the intricate parts of his fingers so as not to exist in a world where he has Wade jizz in his circuits.
He furrows his brows at the question, unable to just not answer it.]
It's not that kind of metal. It's organic.
[Is the short answer, and he already wants to prepare for the long answer by cupping his hand over Wade's mouth. But he doesn't.]
Any other stupid questions you want to get out of the way?
[ Wade knew asking about it was going to only prove as Wade, in his effort to try to quell the nervousness surrounding this entire thing he has with Cable, tries valiantly to think of a good follow-up question to irritate him with. In his heart, learning more about that virus clenches acutely around his cancerous heart, makes him yearn a little more about the idea of making life easier for him. Not just because it's Duplicity, but because he sacrificed his one ticket home and Wade not only abused it, but destroyed it.
Obviously, he lands on precisely nothing clever. ]
Yeah — got a spare toothbrush?
[ After he's busied himself lathering up his body — focusing on his underarms, stomach, ass, and junk, he's crowding Cable out of the stream of water, but in a way that he means he's got his hands on him, getting in too close and flirting with kissing his mouth or his body. The only thing holding him back is his own general nausea from his hangover and Cable's demeanor. ]
[If Cable knew Wade's little heart was clenching for him, he would feel nauseous too. Instead, he's just irritated, because Wade is asking questions and getting in the way of having a productive shower.
Cable places a firm hand on Wade and nudges him gently aside, out of the way so Cable can rinse off. Once that's done, Cable nudges Wade back into the stream while he moves out of the shower.]
I have two of most things. For now. 'Til someone moves in.
[It's a bit of a series of broken thoughts as he considers what that looks like.
In typical Cable fashion, he takes Wade's request completely seriously as he sets the spare toothbrush on the countertop for him.]
[ Wade is so in his own head that when he thinks he's moved out of Cable's way, he's actually just getting more in his way and it's only when Cable puts hands on him and physically adjusts him that he realizes it. His mouth snaps shut, eyes immediately fixed on Cable's face as he casually mentions the vacancy in his apartment and he knows why it's there. It's for his submissive and Wade involuntarily brushes his hands on Cable's sides like he's trying to self-soothe as he tries hard not to think about how he'd feel if there was another person here.
Wade isn't exactly a jealous kind of guy. He has fits of pique, sure, little jelly feels that he quips about, but those kinds of feelings tend to slide right off. Wade pokes his head out to see Cable put the toothbrush out and Wade's expression is unreadable as he reaches in to turn the water off.
The hangover has him feeling vaguely cranky, so he lays blame at its proverbial feet for the weird little flip his stomach does about Cable making room for him in these little gestures, even though he made it clear it doesn't mean anything. Jesus Christ.
Wade towels off, mechanically goes through the motions of brushing his teeth, ignoring the fact that everything from water pressure to the quality of toothpaste is better in the Up, because quality doesn't mean shit when you feel vaguely queasy. He needs to fucking eat. He spits foam into the sink and keeps fucking talking. ]
Given any thought to who your first contract will be with?
[ Wade grimaces at his reflection and mouths out: What the fuck, zip it! He rinses his toothbrush and splashes cold water on his face, patting his face. ]
[Cable slips back into domestic bliss so easily, it's like he never left. He might act like a lone wolf (cringe) but he is absolutely a house dog. He likes to care for someone and blessedly, Wade is such a mess he needs near constant care.
Cable brushes his own teeth, spitting his toothpaste out aggressively when Wade continues his questioning.]
Of course I have. It's all I fucking think about here.
[He looks visibly irritated as he inspects his stubble in the mirror, opting to leave it. Shaving in front of Wade is risky and who is he trying to impress?]
I'll figure it out. [Firmly, as if he's speaking to himself.]
[ Wade towels off his face, leaving his face in the comfortingly warm and soft fabric a little too long because the sheer amount of luxury in the Up is novel and hard not to get lost in. After the shower, he feels a lot more human and it lets him acknowledge the strangely easy way they coexist.
It means looking over at a very naked Cable while being similarly dressed, Wade's eyes visibly drop down and then up, sizing him up while his lower lip is tucked under his teeth. Wade looks away, drops the towel, and snags a robe to throw on as if equipping the world's worst armor against sex. ]
Submissives are supposed to spend no less than half their time cohabitating with their Dominant, so consider your options carefully.
[ Wade offers exactly zero new helpful information, but it helps him to say that instead of what's really on his mind. He breezes past, trying to play it cool like he isn't fighting for his fucking life to ask for the spot. He intends to head for the kitchen because the siren song of bacon and eggs is going to make everything feel a lot less insane. But he makes sure to speak directly into Cable's ear as he starts to move. ]
They're gonna hear a lot of us having sex, and I'm not quiet.
[ How presumptuous! But also, he's planting that little thought in his head a tad poisonously, knowing that it's probably going to haunt him. And he hopes it does, makes him think long and hard about who can tolerate front row tickets to that shitshow. ]
[Cable feels Wade's eyes on him and he's never been sure how to act under the captive attention of anyone like that, so he proceeds as normal.
His lip curls briefly at Wade's extremely useless information, as if disgusted by it. He shoots Wade a withering look, then the other man is passing him and speaking into his ear. Cable squeezes his eyes shut and exhales slowly through his nose, his irritation audible.
It does summon a whole host of memories, which Cable opts not to spend too long reflecting on before he comments back.]
No, you're not. Every time you come you act like you're about to die.
[It is a completely neutral observation, punctuated by Cable just getting dressed like they're not discussing their sex lives here. He very pointedly doesn't even remark on the fact that this is going to happen again, the implication just slides past him and Wade will never know if it was intentional or subconscious.]
[ Wade stops a short distance out the bathroom door, his expression flat. He backtracks, one of his bare feet squeaking on the very expensive floor as he spins around to face him. No, Cable, you don't get to rub his face in it. He'll rub his face in it all on his own.
Wait. ]
You're unbelievable! [ Wade internally panics as he rounds on Cable and realizes his entire rebuttal consists of complimenting him on sexual prowess. Everything from the way he commands him in the bedroom, where he puts his fucking hands, how he kisses him just sparked up every last nerve ending until he felt like he was fucking dying. He gives up, rolling his eyes and turning around again, shooting a sassy answer as he walks out. ] I can't help it, it's like that virus supercharged your dick. Not all of us can pull off 'sex with the T-1000' act like you can!
[ Wade is heading to the kitchen, yanking open the fridge door and closing his eyes as the cooler air hits his face. He feels flustered. ]
...How do you like your eggs and how many do you want?
[There is absolutely no way Wade was going to let Cable have the last word, so he anticipates him squeaking back into the room to challenge him.
Cable rises from pulling his pants up and straightens himself to stare directly at Wade as he berates him. As is customary, he just stares deeply and intensely at Wade. Always challenging him to say more than he wants to say and always amazed at how much that ends up being.
His pants are also tantalisingly not pulled up all the way, sitting low on his hips where they were abandoned when Cable started to square up. But that's not important right now.
Cable just stares Wade right out of the room, adjusting himself and his pants before he follows him.]
Two. Not burnt. [With all the faith in the world.]
You just make yourself at home. [He grumbles, but he is not in any way stopping Wade. He is slinking behind him to start making coffee.]
[ Wade tosses a package of bacon and carton of eggs onto the counter, then hunts down a skillet to place on the cooktop, arranging rashers of bacon in straight lines over the pan to start them cooking first. With a turn of a knob, he sets them to heat. ]
Over-easy, then. [ Wade's trying very hard not to think of how Cable looked with his pants slung so low on his waist. It's weird how appetizing someone can look with more clothes on than off. He's not sure if it's his hangover or his very recent development with Cable that's making him so fucking unwell, but he's experiencing it. He's aware that Cable is busying himself making coffee but ventures: ]
How well done do you want your bacon?
[ Wade asks, conversationally, as if they weren't just a moment ago comparing their o-faces to death or robots. Wade reaches over to pluck a spatula and tongs from where they're housed. Turns out he knows his way around a kitchen. ]
I'm partial to a little soft, not brittle.
[ Will this be the next hot debate of the day? Stay tuned, Duplicity. ]
[There's some wariness watching Wade navigate this space, full of sharp objects and fire hazards. Cable does have to admit to himself that Wade seems to know what he's doing and he starts to relax.]
I don't have a preference.
[He says it a little softer this time. It's a genuine answer. All of this is a luxury to him and he's never thought much about it. As he's making coffee, it occurs to him that he should return the favour here.]
How do you have your coffee?
[Part of it feels like domestic bliss and part of it feels like he's challenging Wade to give him the wrong answer.]
[ Wade says automatically, spinning a knife he'd used to slice open the package of bacon in his hand before flicking it across into the sink in one smooth movement. He knows his way around, but he's also still a fucking killer. Sometimes he just doesn't know how to turn it off.
Wade tosses his head over his shoulder as he wrinkles the wrapper into itself and tucks it away into the fridge. Then hunts around in his cabinets for spices while the bacon sizzles and snaps in the pan. ]
How do you take yours? [ Wade asks idly, pulling his attention away to look at him. Curious. ]
[Cable echoes, and it means nothing!!! It just makes it easier for him to make two coffees. He sets one on the counter closer to Wade, twisting the mug so the handle is pointing toward him.
He leans back on another counter with his mug in both hands, seemingly happy to warm his fingers on it.]
Don't throw shit around.
[He chides, but he's not hating watching Wade make his way around the kitchen.]
[ Wade's attention goes involuntarily up to greet that 'black, no sugar' and he feels a pull in his chest. Gravitational. Meeting a magnetism he's familiar with. He glances at the mug presented to him with the direction that handle faces and he glances up at Cable's retreating back with an air of gratitude and softness the smothers into the task of pushing half-cooked bacon to the side so he can crack eggs into it. Four of them. ]
'Kay.
[ Wade says, pushing the contents frying in the pan around before setting the spatula down and reaching for the mug, relishing a sip. Wade closes his eyes because that? Is an fucking incredible cup of coffee after being in the Down for a bit. And because he's hungover. ]
[Cable is not hungover and coming off the back of some of the best sleep (and sex) of his life, but it is good coffee. He breathes in the steam from it for a moment before he drinks.
There is an undercurrent here that this feels too comfortable. Not just what he has with Wade, but things like this-- the coffee, the food, warm showers and beds. Cable's mouth twists a little, thinking about it.]
It is. [He agrees.] So you'll never want to bite the hand that feeds you.
[Solemnly, because it's never too early to be a salty old man.]
[ Wade cradles the mug in his hands, practically huffing the delicious steam from it like an addict. He swallows a mouthful of it and lets it slide down his throat to pool in his stomach, then leaves the rest on the counter because too much of a good thing always ends up corrosive. Consuming from the inside out.
Wade puts a lid over the skillet and lets the contents cook under its steam for a few minutes. He turns to Cable, walks up to him until he crowds up against his side of the kitchen, and puts his hands on the counter at either side of him. ]
You ever think that's why they put us in our unique designations? [ In recent nights, Wade has given a lot of thought to it. That there are one too many moments that make him feel like he perhaps fit a certain mold. He wants to know if Cable feels the same sinking feeling. Just checking in between the minutes he has before he needs to check on breakfast. ]
[Cable says, and perhaps his unflinching response to the way Wade crowds right in is an example of that sense of self-assuredness he has. He just draws a sip of coffee out of his mug, waiting for Wade to work through whatever impulse is leading him right now.]
Haven't talked to enough people to figure out if it's random.
[He just leans a little further back into the counter so he can give Wade an appraising look.]
Do you think they're trying to prove something to you?
[ There's a moment where Wade's at a loss for words. At his core, he hates self-assured Dominants. Hates their entitlement, hates how the world fucking caters to them like princes of the fucking universe. Loathes himself for how easy it is in moments like these to submit and serve, even when it's harmless and not asked for.
The city just has a way of fucking things up. ]
They don't have to. [ Wade laughs, drumming his fingers before he turns away, peering into the clear glass of the lid. Ignoring the way he wants to argue his case, that he's not just a fucking servant. ]
You're a mutant, you know what it's like. [ A pause. ] Worse 50 years from now, right? After people like me fucked the planet into a coma?
Hard to say if things are better or worse here or there.
[He admits, honestly. He can't help the line of thinking that follows when his eyes trail Wade, returning to cooking their breakfast. It makes his stomach twist a little uncomfortably, but he didn't ask for this. All he can do is share his resources.]
It's hard to have comfort and not feel comfortable.
[He admits, trying to make it seem a little idle and not like a deeply troubling thought.]
I want to share it with someone. [He adds, because a further discussion with Ororo has persuaded him not to hold off.]
[ Wade understands. As much as Rowena makes life comfortable for him. He hates he can't nest the way he wants to. Can't touch her stuff, can't leave his little signatures around, his figurines in red and black, his drawings and sketches and photos. In his own room, sure, but that's just for three months. Fact is, it can't feel like home when he can't settle in with the creative ways he's used to.
Wade inspects the eggs before lifting the clear lid away and putting it aside, taking the spices he'd fished out of the cupboards earlier and sprinkling them over. When he plates them, there are equal portions of bacon, crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, and eggs flipped easy and dusted over with smoked paprika and sea salt. Wade slides both plates onto the table, waving for Cable to join him. He makes a conscious effort to yank his headspace away from service and remind himself that he's making breakfast because he's in love with him, not because he's a Dominant.
It's just a little scary sometimes to realize how effective Duplicity is at getting in your head. ]
Yeah. [ Wade glances at the table and quietly snaps his fingers, starts exploring the drawers in search for utensils, eventually landing on them and retrieving his coffee. Sliding over into Cable's space and leaning onto the counter a smidge too close, his fingers playing into the fabric of Cable's shirt where he's leaning against the counter.
He wants to ask, You think that someone could be me? But what he says is: ] Breakfast is served. Come on.
[In tandem, they are having their own private, little thoughts about what would be ideal here. Although admittedly, as much as Cable has come to like Wade, it still probably wouldn't be ideal to live in close proximity to him.
But it does make sense, practically, for Wade to live here and just stay here and contract indefinitely with Cable. It's the bare minimum Cable could offer to improve Wade's quality of life significantly and bridge the gap that has been wedged between them by their designations.
Although, with how Wade is, if he wanted it he surely would have asked by now. It's not like he plays many cards to his chest and he probably couldn't play coy if he tried. Maybe he prefers the freedom? Maybe he doesn't want to be tethered to Cable? All those thoughts swim in his head and he's looking at Wade but not really paying attention to what he's doing.
Then, suddenly, Wade is back in his periphery and right into his personal space. Cable simply looks down at the fingers fiddling with his shirt without making any move to stop him. He follows Wade to the table, feeling more unable to process the bizarreness of this situation than almost anything else they've done together.]
Thanks for this.
[He says, eyes lingering on Wade a moment as if he's never ate a meal in his life before he seems to remember and starts to dig in. It only takes about two bites for him to need a moment to process how good it tastes. In total contrast to Wade and his coffee, it's a moment of silence and appreciation instead of an exclamation.]
[ Sex in a place like Duplicity is normal. But there wasn't a whole lot of opportunity to break bread when it came to them before being brought here. Wade sighs as he sits down to eat. Being hungover means he's conflicted about eating, his stomach really doesn't appreciate having black coffee as it's only resident so he knows that he'll feel better once he throws something else down.
Wade picks up his fork and knife, poised over the eggs on his plate. Then starts to slice through them — tidy, because the yolks are the best part when they're still warm and gooey and that shit gets everywhere when you break them. He takes a bite, and where Cable's quiet, he hums appreciatively, chewing a few times before he talks with his mouth full. ]
Cook? [ Wade scoffs with a soft laugh that ends in a snort. Please. Not like he was slaving away in the kitchen there, but it does make him happy to hear it. That's him, culinary genius, master of single-ingredient dishes. ]
Well, [ There's something funny about it, that they barely know one another outside of Russel being what brought their paths to converge across time. Wade places another bite into his mouth as he looks at Cable, expression fond. ]
What do you want to know? [ Wade asks, biting the tip of a piece of bacon. ]
[Cable is about to make a statement about how the best cooks really are the ones who make simple ingredients sing. He's also about to ask Wade to stay forever because he's tired of subsisting on cup noodles and cashews, but he doesn't.]
This is good. [He gestures almost threateningly at his eggs. He takes another mouthful, watching Wade watch him with a fond expression that he doesn't feel he deserves.]
I don't know. [God, his mind.]
Is there anything you'd like me to know? [Now it's like he's softly interrogating Wade and even he doesn't seem to realise it.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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As always, when the warm water hits Cable he makes a relived sound. He cracks his neck from side to side and rolls his shoulders. He's giving Wade shit but here he is, kind of visibly a broken old man too.
He narrows his eyes at Wade but he shifts aside for him while he soaps himself up.]
What now?
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Wade's halfway through sudsing up his lower stomach and junk, where all their fun had decided to congeal on his body then shooting his hand down behind his balls to get right into his business from the back end. He squints at Cable as he moves aside for him, and they're just doing this rotating little dance. Wade rinses off, but his eyes are roaming over Cable's wet body with renewed interest, tempered by their banter. He ignores the question in favor of asking an impetuous one of his own. ]
Hey, so do you have to blow dry your cables? Just curious if you might rust when you bathe.
[ Wade says, somewhat acidically, but he's leaning awfully close to him when he says it, close enough to touch, or kiss. He's flirting. ]
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As always, Cable is very careful and calculated even when he's cleaning and he's taking a moment to rinse out the intricate parts of his fingers so as not to exist in a world where he has Wade jizz in his circuits.
He furrows his brows at the question, unable to just not answer it.]
It's not that kind of metal. It's organic.
[Is the short answer, and he already wants to prepare for the long answer by cupping his hand over Wade's mouth. But he doesn't.]
Any other stupid questions you want to get out of the way?
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Obviously, he lands on precisely nothing clever. ]
Yeah — got a spare toothbrush?
[ After he's busied himself lathering up his body — focusing on his underarms, stomach, ass, and junk, he's crowding Cable out of the stream of water, but in a way that he means he's got his hands on him, getting in too close and flirting with kissing his mouth or his body. The only thing holding him back is his own general nausea from his hangover and Cable's demeanor. ]
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Cable places a firm hand on Wade and nudges him gently aside, out of the way so Cable can rinse off. Once that's done, Cable nudges Wade back into the stream while he moves out of the shower.]
I have two of most things. For now. 'Til someone moves in.
[It's a bit of a series of broken thoughts as he considers what that looks like.
In typical Cable fashion, he takes Wade's request completely seriously as he sets the spare toothbrush on the countertop for him.]
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Wade isn't exactly a jealous kind of guy. He has fits of pique, sure, little jelly feels that he quips about, but those kinds of feelings tend to slide right off. Wade pokes his head out to see Cable put the toothbrush out and Wade's expression is unreadable as he reaches in to turn the water off.
The hangover has him feeling vaguely cranky, so he lays blame at its proverbial feet for the weird little flip his stomach does about Cable making room for him in these little gestures, even though he made it clear it doesn't mean anything. Jesus Christ.
Wade towels off, mechanically goes through the motions of brushing his teeth, ignoring the fact that everything from water pressure to the quality of toothpaste is better in the Up, because quality doesn't mean shit when you feel vaguely queasy. He needs to fucking eat. He spits foam into the sink and keeps fucking talking. ]
Given any thought to who your first contract will be with?
[ Wade grimaces at his reflection and mouths out: What the fuck, zip it! He rinses his toothbrush and splashes cold water on his face, patting his face. ]
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Cable brushes his own teeth, spitting his toothpaste out aggressively when Wade continues his questioning.]
Of course I have. It's all I fucking think about here.
[He looks visibly irritated as he inspects his stubble in the mirror, opting to leave it. Shaving in front of Wade is risky and who is he trying to impress?]
I'll figure it out. [Firmly, as if he's speaking to himself.]
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It means looking over at a very naked Cable while being similarly dressed, Wade's eyes visibly drop down and then up, sizing him up while his lower lip is tucked under his teeth. Wade looks away, drops the towel, and snags a robe to throw on as if equipping the world's worst armor against sex. ]
Submissives are supposed to spend no less than half their time cohabitating with their Dominant, so consider your options carefully.
[ Wade offers exactly zero new helpful information, but it helps him to say that instead of what's really on his mind. He breezes past, trying to play it cool like he isn't fighting for his fucking life to ask for the spot. He intends to head for the kitchen because the siren song of bacon and eggs is going to make everything feel a lot less insane. But he makes sure to speak directly into Cable's ear as he starts to move. ]
They're gonna hear a lot of us having sex, and I'm not quiet.
[ How presumptuous! But also, he's planting that little thought in his head a tad poisonously, knowing that it's probably going to haunt him. And he hopes it does, makes him think long and hard about who can tolerate front row tickets to that shitshow. ]
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His lip curls briefly at Wade's extremely useless information, as if disgusted by it. He shoots Wade a withering look, then the other man is passing him and speaking into his ear. Cable squeezes his eyes shut and exhales slowly through his nose, his irritation audible.
It does summon a whole host of memories, which Cable opts not to spend too long reflecting on before he comments back.]
No, you're not. Every time you come you act like you're about to die.
[It is a completely neutral observation, punctuated by Cable just getting dressed like they're not discussing their sex lives here. He very pointedly doesn't even remark on the fact that this is going to happen again, the implication just slides past him and Wade will never know if it was intentional or subconscious.]
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Wait. ]
You're unbelievable! [ Wade internally panics as he rounds on Cable and realizes his entire rebuttal consists of complimenting him on sexual prowess. Everything from the way he commands him in the bedroom, where he puts his fucking hands, how he kisses him just sparked up every last nerve ending until he felt like he was fucking dying. He gives up, rolling his eyes and turning around again, shooting a sassy answer as he walks out. ] I can't help it, it's like that virus supercharged your dick. Not all of us can pull off 'sex with the T-1000' act like you can!
[ Wade is heading to the kitchen, yanking open the fridge door and closing his eyes as the cooler air hits his face. He feels flustered. ]
...How do you like your eggs and how many do you want?
[ God. ]
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Cable rises from pulling his pants up and straightens himself to stare directly at Wade as he berates him. As is customary, he just stares deeply and intensely at Wade. Always challenging him to say more than he wants to say and always amazed at how much that ends up being.
His pants are also tantalisingly not pulled up all the way, sitting low on his hips where they were abandoned when Cable started to square up. But that's not important right now.
Cable just stares Wade right out of the room, adjusting himself and his pants before he follows him.]
Two. Not burnt. [With all the faith in the world.]
You just make yourself at home. [He grumbles, but he is not in any way stopping Wade. He is slinking behind him to start making coffee.]
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Over-easy, then. [ Wade's trying very hard not to think of how Cable looked with his pants slung so low on his waist. It's weird how appetizing someone can look with more clothes on than off. He's not sure if it's his hangover or his very recent development with Cable that's making him so fucking unwell, but he's experiencing it. He's aware that Cable is busying himself making coffee but ventures: ]
How well done do you want your bacon?
[ Wade asks, conversationally, as if they weren't just a moment ago comparing their o-faces to death or robots. Wade reaches over to pluck a spatula and tongs from where they're housed. Turns out he knows his way around a kitchen. ]
I'm partial to a little soft, not brittle.
[ Will this be the next hot debate of the day? Stay tuned, Duplicity. ]
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I don't have a preference.
[He says it a little softer this time. It's a genuine answer. All of this is a luxury to him and he's never thought much about it. As he's making coffee, it occurs to him that he should return the favour here.]
How do you have your coffee?
[Part of it feels like domestic bliss and part of it feels like he's challenging Wade to give him the wrong answer.]
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[ Wade says automatically, spinning a knife he'd used to slice open the package of bacon in his hand before flicking it across into the sink in one smooth movement. He knows his way around, but he's also still a fucking killer. Sometimes he just doesn't know how to turn it off.
Wade tosses his head over his shoulder as he wrinkles the wrapper into itself and tucks it away into the fridge. Then hunts around in his cabinets for spices while the bacon sizzles and snaps in the pan. ]
How do you take yours? [ Wade asks idly, pulling his attention away to look at him. Curious. ]
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[Cable echoes, and it means nothing!!! It just makes it easier for him to make two coffees. He sets one on the counter closer to Wade, twisting the mug so the handle is pointing toward him.
He leans back on another counter with his mug in both hands, seemingly happy to warm his fingers on it.]
Don't throw shit around.
[He chides, but he's not hating watching Wade make his way around the kitchen.]
I don't have a good icon
'Kay.
[ Wade says, pushing the contents frying in the pan around before setting the spatula down and reaching for the mug, relishing a sip. Wade closes his eyes because that? Is an fucking incredible cup of coffee after being in the Down for a bit. And because he's hungover. ]
Fuck me, that's good.
hangover personified
There is an undercurrent here that this feels too comfortable. Not just what he has with Wade, but things like this-- the coffee, the food, warm showers and beds. Cable's mouth twists a little, thinking about it.]
It is. [He agrees.] So you'll never want to bite the hand that feeds you.
[Solemnly, because it's never too early to be a salty old man.]
NOT WRONG
Wade puts a lid over the skillet and lets the contents cook under its steam for a few minutes. He turns to Cable, walks up to him until he crowds up against his side of the kitchen, and puts his hands on the counter at either side of him. ]
You ever think that's why they put us in our unique designations? [ In recent nights, Wade has given a lot of thought to it. That there are one too many moments that make him feel like he perhaps fit a certain mold. He wants to know if Cable feels the same sinking feeling. Just checking in between the minutes he has before he needs to check on breakfast. ]
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[Cable says, and perhaps his unflinching response to the way Wade crowds right in is an example of that sense of self-assuredness he has. He just draws a sip of coffee out of his mug, waiting for Wade to work through whatever impulse is leading him right now.]
Haven't talked to enough people to figure out if it's random.
[He just leans a little further back into the counter so he can give Wade an appraising look.]
Do you think they're trying to prove something to you?
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The city just has a way of fucking things up. ]
They don't have to. [ Wade laughs, drumming his fingers before he turns away, peering into the clear glass of the lid. Ignoring the way he wants to argue his case, that he's not just a fucking servant. ]
You're a mutant, you know what it's like. [ A pause. ] Worse 50 years from now, right? After people like me fucked the planet into a coma?
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[He admits, honestly. He can't help the line of thinking that follows when his eyes trail Wade, returning to cooking their breakfast. It makes his stomach twist a little uncomfortably, but he didn't ask for this. All he can do is share his resources.]
It's hard to have comfort and not feel comfortable.
[He admits, trying to make it seem a little idle and not like a deeply troubling thought.]
I want to share it with someone. [He adds, because a further discussion with Ororo has persuaded him not to hold off.]
Hard to let just anyone wander into your space.
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Wade inspects the eggs before lifting the clear lid away and putting it aside, taking the spices he'd fished out of the cupboards earlier and sprinkling them over. When he plates them, there are equal portions of bacon, crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, and eggs flipped easy and dusted over with smoked paprika and sea salt. Wade slides both plates onto the table, waving for Cable to join him. He makes a conscious effort to yank his headspace away from service and remind himself that he's making breakfast because he's in love with him, not because he's a Dominant.
It's just a little scary sometimes to realize how effective Duplicity is at getting in your head. ]
Yeah. [ Wade glances at the table and quietly snaps his fingers, starts exploring the drawers in search for utensils, eventually landing on them and retrieving his coffee. Sliding over into Cable's space and leaning onto the counter a smidge too close, his fingers playing into the fabric of Cable's shirt where he's leaning against the counter.
He wants to ask, You think that someone could be me? But what he says is: ] Breakfast is served. Come on.
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But it does make sense, practically, for Wade to live here and just stay here and contract indefinitely with Cable. It's the bare minimum Cable could offer to improve Wade's quality of life significantly and bridge the gap that has been wedged between them by their designations.
Although, with how Wade is, if he wanted it he surely would have asked by now. It's not like he plays many cards to his chest and he probably couldn't play coy if he tried. Maybe he prefers the freedom? Maybe he doesn't want to be tethered to Cable? All those thoughts swim in his head and he's looking at Wade but not really paying attention to what he's doing.
Then, suddenly, Wade is back in his periphery and right into his personal space. Cable simply looks down at the fingers fiddling with his shirt without making any move to stop him. He follows Wade to the table, feeling more unable to process the bizarreness of this situation than almost anything else they've done together.]
Thanks for this.
[He says, eyes lingering on Wade a moment as if he's never ate a meal in his life before he seems to remember and starts to dig in. It only takes about two bites for him to need a moment to process how good it tastes. In total contrast to Wade and his coffee, it's a moment of silence and appreciation instead of an exclamation.]
Didn't know you could cook. [A pause.]
I don't really know anything about you.
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Wade picks up his fork and knife, poised over the eggs on his plate. Then starts to slice through them — tidy, because the yolks are the best part when they're still warm and gooey and that shit gets everywhere when you break them. He takes a bite, and where Cable's quiet, he hums appreciatively, chewing a few times before he talks with his mouth full. ]
Cook? [ Wade scoffs with a soft laugh that ends in a snort. Please. Not like he was slaving away in the kitchen there, but it does make him happy to hear it. That's him, culinary genius, master of single-ingredient dishes. ]
Well, [ There's something funny about it, that they barely know one another outside of Russel being what brought their paths to converge across time. Wade places another bite into his mouth as he looks at Cable, expression fond. ]
What do you want to know? [ Wade asks, biting the tip of a piece of bacon. ]
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This is good. [He gestures almost threateningly at his eggs. He takes another mouthful, watching Wade watch him with a fond expression that he doesn't feel he deserves.]
I don't know. [God, his mind.]
Is there anything you'd like me to know? [Now it's like he's softly interrogating Wade and even he doesn't seem to realise it.]
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