Chapter 31 #3
“Your priorities are fucked.” Zenko set both plates on the nightstand, then helped him pull the protective cover away before they stripped off the old bedding and replaced it with the clean sheets they’d found earlier.
By the time they were settled against the headboard with their food between them, Zenko had found the remote and turned on the television.
“You pick. Nothing military, nothing involving hospitals, and if anybody gets shot in the first ten minutes, we’re changing the fucking channel.”
“Agreed.” He flicked through the options until he found an old action comedy he vaguely remembered seeing years ago, then reached for his plate when Zenko shoved it toward him.
“Although I should point out there’s a decent chance somebody gets shot.
You’ve eliminated about eighty percent of everything I watch. ”
“Then expand your horizons.” Zenko stole a piece of brisket from his plate despite having more than enough on his own and settled deeper against the pillows.
“You’ve got a house I didn’t know about, a motorcycle I already hate, and a television big enough to qualify as one of Max’s mega monitors.
I’m learning all sorts of new shit about you tonight. ”
“You’ve got a month, maybe longer, depending on how quickly that neck heals.
” He rescued another piece of brisket before Zenko could steal it too.
“Plenty of time to discover all my terrible secrets. Right now, shut up, eat your dinner, and let me find out why that guy is wearing a fucking chicken suit.”
“You ate my brisket.” He looked down at his plate, then across at Zenko, who was chewing with absolutely no sign of remorse. “There was an entire container sitting between us, but you stole mine. I want that entered into the official record before this relationship goes any further.”
“Yours looked better.” Zenko reached into the container this time and dropped another piece onto his plate before returning his attention to the television.
“There. I replaced it. Although if we’re keeping an official record, I want it noted that you brought an injured man home, put food within reach, then expected him to respect arbitrary ownership boundaries. ”
“You’re going to milk this fucking gunshot for everything you can get, aren’t you?
” He finished what was left on his plate before setting it aside and reaching for the bottle of water.
“Noble’s going to clear you for duty in a couple of months from now, and you’ll still be telling people you need the last piece of pie because you were tragically wounded in the line of duty. ”
“Absolutely.” Zenko put his own plate aside before stretching his legs beneath the covers and settling closer against him.
“I nearly died, babe. If that doesn’t earn me unlimited access to your food and control of the remote for at least a year, then I seriously misunderstood the benefits package when I agreed to be your man. ”
“You agreed?” He took the remote out of Zenko’s reach before he could claim that too, amusement pushing aside some of the exhaustion that had followed him since they left the hospital.
“That’s an interesting version of events.
Pretty sure I told you I loved you while you were unconscious and couldn’t argue with me, so technically I recruited you. ”
“Recruited me?” Zenko turned onto his side and took the remote from him before dropping it onto the nightstand.
“Pretty sure you were already mine by then, babe. You were simply taking your sweet fucking time figuring it out.” He leaned in and kissed him slowly, lingering over it until whatever ridiculous argument had been happening on the television stopped mattering.
“Besides, I said it back, so there are no take-backs now.”
“Wasn’t planning on one.” He kissed him again, keeping it soft as Zenko shifted closer beneath the covers.
The exhaustion he’d been ignoring since somewhere over the Atlantic finally started winning now that they were fed and alone behind locked doors.
“Although tomorrow we’re establishing some ground rules about stealing food off my plate. ”
“Tomorrow.” Zenko tucked himself against him and pressed one last kiss to his mouth before settling. “Tonight I’m sleeping for twelve fucking hours, and if you wake me before the coffee starts itself, I’m reconsidering this whole relationship thing.”
“Good luck getting rid of me.” He reached for the remote and shut off the television, leaving the bedroom quiet except for Zenko’s breathing beside him. “Sleep, babe. We don’t have anywhere we need to be tomorrow.”
“Best fucking thing I’ve heard all day.” Zenko’s answer was already blurred by exhaustion, and within minutes his breathing had settled into the slow rhythm Shaun had learned to recognize during the journey home.
He stayed awake long enough to listen to it, letting the unfamiliar feeling of having someone beside him in this bed settle without trying to name what it meant. Eventually, the last few days caught up with him too, and he fell asleep with Zenko still tucked against his side.