Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

…since when did it start to rain in February?

the heavy downpour on Robloxia sure seems to kill the romantic vibe that Valentine’s Day was supposed to have- yet still, couples seem to pour into Builder Brother’s Pizza to have a romantic date night with their partners.

to be fair, even with the gloomy weather, this pizza joint sure seemed to get the mood just right. dimly lit booths, soft chatter, the scent of fresh crust in the air-

Elliot couldn’t blame them. this place attracted couples like moths to a flame.

…

of course, that wasn’t going to stop him from being a little salty.

despite his cheery customer service attitude, he couldn’t help the painful squeeze in his chest whenever a couple would kiss. or hug. or laugh. or touch. or breathe.

this was getting out of hand. Valentine’s Day always seems to leave a bitter taste in his mouth. maybe because every single year, asking out girl after girl, desperate for a taste of what love was like- he would somehow end up face first in the dirt along with a big, fat, rejection.

so much for the day of love, huh.

after practically punching in the order of the very touchy couple in front of him into the register, Elliot sighs loudly, leaning back against the wall as his eyes scan over the busy restaurant.

“…This is so unfair,” he mutters, trying desperately to hold back the jealousy radiating off of him while customers were still in view.

“What do they have that I don’t??”

before the exhausted employee can finish his rant, his phone buzzes off on his pocket. it’s his break. thank Telamon.

Elliot grins tiredly to himself, letting his co-worker take on the register as he rubs the back of his neck, trudging to the staff room.

finally, some well needed rest. he was usually never this exhausted on the job- but envy does wonders to a person. he could probably catch up on that podcast he was listening to, or maybe play a level of that game from-

…

oh COME ON.

right before Elliot’s eyes, are two of his co-workers practically eating each other’s face off in the corner of the staff room. for a moment, he just stands there, wondering whatever in his life went wrong.

before immediately slamming the door shut with a groan. seriously, what is it with the universe and torturing his lonely self today???

having grabbed his umbrella from the staff room, Elliot makes the wise decision…to spend his break outside. in the rain. not exactly ideal, but he’d rather do that than witness the make-out session from the two lovebirds that were considered his work family.

Elliot pushes open the back exit with his leg while opening the umbrella with his hands, having the gracefulness of a headless chicken while doing so as he stumbles forward. at least the umbrella’s open.

the employee sighs loudly, leaning his head back against the cool brick wall. it’s a nice balm to soothe his headache.

his eyes start to flutter shut- perhaps exhaustion overtaking him from his shift…

…until the familiar clinking from a coin is heard.

Elliot’s eyes snap open- just in time for him to notice the man in front of him. sleek suit, black shades, lopsided fedora and cocky grin-

Chance.

Chapter Text

Elliot feels a wave of relief crash over him as he sees the familiar face. getting kidnapped today was not on his agenda.

he can’t help the grin tugging at his lips. Chance was his…well, favorite customer, and the gambler seemed to know that- always popping in when he’s most wanted, starting up a chat, and even usually giving the employee a little something from their casino earnings.

…though Elliot couldn’t help but wonder why he showed up so much. they practically had all the money in the world- why not go to some fancy, expensive bar or something instead of coming to Builder Brother’s Pizza? did he revel in the attention he got from customer’s stares? did they like the romantic atmosphere of the place?

…or maybe he-

his thoughts are broken as Chance leans on the wall next to him, that same, confident grin still on his face.

“Look’s like someone’s had a long shift today,” the gambler teases, his eyes trailing over Elliot’s face with a gleam in their eyes. he could see that Chance was trying to keep up that cocky persona of his- but they could never quite get it right like they usually did whenever they were around him.

“Pfft,” Elliot scoffs, tilting his visor slightly to look up at Chance, the slight grin on his face never leaving. “Wonder what gave that away. Was it the dark circles or the disheveled hair?”

“I’d say it was from the grumpy aura you were radiating from 5 miles away. I could sense you from the entrance, pizza boy.”

Elliot rolls his eyes at the nickname. it seemed like he had a new one for him every day. pizza boy, Ell, shorty- it was honestly whatever they felt like in the moment.

“Very funny, coins for brains. I should blacklist you.”

“Whoawhoawhoa, hey man, c’monnn! I’m your best buddy!! You wouldn’t do that to your good ol’ pal, right??” Chance stammers, the words practically tumbling out of his mouth as he dramatically wraps an arm around the employee’s shoulders.

Elliot laughs at Chance’s dramatic antics, his head brushing against the gambler’s shoulder as he turns it to face them.

“Who says I wouldn’t? You’ve been awfully annoying lately. And you know my dad doesn’t like it when people irritate his employees, especially his son-”

Chance cuts him off with a theatrical groan, clinging onto Elliot’s shoulders as the gambler practically deflates like a balloon.

“Ellioootttttt…C’mon, quit playin’ with me. I’m the only one allowed to tease here. But I don’t actually annoy you, do I?”

they ask, staring up at Elliot with an expression akin to a sad puppy’s. despite clearly faking it, there’s a hint of real concern and vulnerability in Chance’s eyes.

Elliot quickly picks up on it, his smile softening as he gently pokes Chance’s cheek.

“Obviously I’m kidding, idiot. You think I’d actually be annoyed with you, even though I keep you around all the time? If anything, you make my day a lot better.”

Chance can’t help the slight flush creeping up on his face at the praise, quickly disguising it with his usual grin.

“Yeah, yeah, ‘suppose you’re right, Ell,” they mutter, moving Elliot’s hand so that he’s now holding the side of his face.

“You’d never get tired of me. And I could say the same for you.”

…Elliot feels a slight stutter in his chest at that, eyes shining just slightly.

he wasn’t joking, was he?

the employee just smiles, rubbing his thumb over the gambler’s cheek before pulling away, returning to his former cross-armed stance.

“…thanks. That’s…that’s really nice to hear.”

Chance just chuckles quietly, putting his arms behind his head as he does. he feels a little disappointed at the loss of contact, but manages to suppress it.

“No problem, pizza boy. I’m-…”

they pause slightly, glancing over at Elliot- who seems to notice his gaze, looking back at him.

“…always here for you.”

…

the two of them just…stare at each other, for a moment, after those words are spoken. it’s not awkward, but more…intimate.

…Elliot lets out a fond sigh, glancing away as he speaks. right now, his flustered state is a little embarrassing to show.

“…I’m always here for you too, yeah?”

Chance lets out a quiet chuckle at his words, nodding just slightly.

“Of course. Glad we’re on the same page, then.”

the fond gazes from each other are…definitely a little more than just friendly.

“I- I should get back to work,” the employee mumbles, pulling his visor over his eyes. “Break’s…almost over.”

“Oh. Yeah, no, totally-” the gambler responds, clearing his throat as he turns away slightly. “Don’t wanna distract you from work or anything, heh.”

“But, uh…”

“Would you…maybe want to spend some time together, after your shift? Just to- hang out, or, y’know, hah…”

the words die on their tongue.

Elliot blinks twice, his breath hitching just the slightest.

…surely this wasn’t some romantic gesture, right? just a friendly hang out…

though he had to admit that the prospect of it being more excited him a little.

after thinking it over (or at least pretending to) Elliot nods slightly, the smile spreading across his face evident.

“…Sure. That sounds great.”

Chapter Text

Chance’s words from earlier seem to linger in Elliot’s mind, ringing in his head like an unsolicited chime even as the last customers leave.

the employee lets out a ragged sigh, already getting to work on closing up. finally- dealing with all those icky lovesick customers all day was making his head spin with jealousy.

Elliot’s thoughts seem to wander as he starts wiping down tables, already starting to drift to a certain gambler.

…he was seriously getting attached to them.

too attached.

he doesn’t want to think about it, but no matter how much he wants to push the thought down- he knows that he’ll eventually fall for that fool.

and when he does? another rejection. another hit to his ego. another open wound on his poor, weary soul.

Elliot’s heart, once so full of love to give, has been wrung dry.

it’s hard to imagine that he could ever have a relationship with anyone at this point. he wants to think that Chance might be different- but how was he supposed to believe that when no one’s ever accepted him before?

the employee’s shoulders sag as he burrows himself into a deeper hole of insecurity, slinging the rag over his shoulder as he finishes the last table.

ugh. he felt like an old man on his last legs just from feeling so dreary.

he heads back to the staff room, gathering his belongings before heading to his car in the parking lot- not even bothering to open his umbrella, and just soaking up the rain like a big sponge.

…
ah, hangout. right. with Chance.

oh darn. the thought makes his face flush again. Chance had texted him earlier, telling him to show up at…his childhood arcade. how did he even know that?? well- not like it’s unwelcome, or anything…

nevertheless, Elliot gets into the driver’s seat and pulls out of the parking lot, not even noticing the way his hands slightly shake on the steering wheel.

…

the drive was way too quiet. Elliot couldn’t bring himself to put some noise on, leaving himself with the rain and his thoughts.

he hated being like this. so…unsure of everything. for once in his life, he wishes he was in control of anything that was going on for him. his thoughts, his relationships, his actions. anything that he did felt so…so…ugh. wrong wasn’t the right word. he couldn’t even be in control of labeling his own feelings.

the neon lights of the Bloxy Arcade flash brightly against the rain, making it almost look like falling glitter, and momentarily, reminding the employee of his surroundings. he gets out of the car, and in all of his awkward glory, shuffles through the sliding doors, looking for a certain smug faced gambler.

who of course, was playing Big Bass Wheel like the addict he was. y’know, the giant fish wheel that you spin for tickets that looks oddly similar to a slot machine. what was he expecting, really…

Elliot trudges up to Chance, placing a hand on their shoulder with an unamused glance.

“…did you seriously take me here just so you could gamble while keeping your true intentions under wraps??”

Chance turns around with a wide grin, jerking his thumb in the direction of the wheel.

“I just got a thousand tickets.”

“Dude.”

“Hey, hey, I’m sorry. Did’ya really expect me to just sit around and wait for you to get here?”

Elliot rolls his eyes, his grip tightening on the gambler’s shoulder as he pulls them away from the wheel. Chance is still grinning like an idiot, tickets trailing behind.

“We really need to get you a new hobby,”
Elliot mutters, pinching the bridge of his nose with his free hand. “Like, I don’t know. Knitting or something.”

“Knitting? Ell, do I seriously look like the type of guy who would engage in nursing home activities?”

“No, not like- ugh. Just, maybe something less…self-indulgent.”

“Like…axe throwing?”

“Chance…”

before the gambler can respond, one of the other machines catches his eye, and he quickly tugs on Elliot’s sleeve.

“Hey, isn’t that a Dance Dance Revolution machine? Didn’t you used to love those?”

the employee’s face flushes at Chance’s words. how did he…

“Eh…how did you know that…?”

“Oh. You brought it up in a conversation a while ago, remember? You also mentioned your favorite arcade as a kid, hah. That’s kinda how I decided to bring you here.”

…they…they really recalled all that? Elliot remembered having that conversation ages ago, probably a month or two back. and yet…Chance still remembered, even a detail as tiny as this.

Elliot’s expression turns slightly bashful, even as Chance pushes him towards the machine, placing him on one of the pads as he pushes a token in.

“Hmm…say, what’s your favorite song, Ell?”

the employee snaps out of his trace, shaking his head slightly as he glances over the song catalog. favorite song? well…

“uh…”
Elliot glances down at his shoes.
“Internet Yamero…”

“ohhhh, that one song from that streamer girl game? what was it, Needy Streamer Overload?”

“ah- SHUSH!! no need to be so loud about it…”

Chance just snickers, muttering something about how he didn’t know Elliot was into visual novels, before picking the song as the dance pads beneath them light up.

Elliot grabs the railing behind him, a shaky grin on his face. it’s been a while since he’s played this, and he honestly thought that he’d be rusty- but the feeling of the arrows beneath his feet is all too familiar.

—

after one song and a lot of heavy breathing, the scores are shown on screen, with Elliot winning by a landslide.

Chance groans loudly, slouching against the railing. “Come onnn! That’s no fair. You’ve got years of DDR experience…”

Elliot just laughs at the gambler’s sulking, gently nudging their shoulder with fond eyes.

“You were the one who wanted to play this, dummy. It’s not my fault that you picked the one game I’ll beat you at.”

“Yeah yeah, whatever man. I still get the right to be salty.”

the gambler glances at the clock on the wall, his smirk faltering slightly. despite his desires, he doesn’t want to keep Elliot for too long. though it doesn’t keep him from being a little downcast about it.

“It’s getting kinda late, dont’cha think? I’ll get you a little something with my tickets and then walk you out, yeah?”

Elliot nods, watching as Chance confidently strolls over to the counter with his mountain of tickets, letting out a quiet snort of amusement. the gambler purchases a large, fluffy pink caterpillar, the neon color looking like it could kill a pilgrim.

Chance grins over at Elliot, throwing the large caterpillar over his shoulders like an oversized scarf.

“Aww. You look adorable.”

the employee just rolls his eyes, pulling the caterpillar closer around his neck. “Let’s just get out of here while the rain’s light. I don’t want my new prized possession to get soaked.”

the double doors slide open as the two walk out of the arcade, a silence falling between the two for the moment.

…

“Hey, Chance?”
“Yeah? What’s up, buddy?”

Elliot hesitates slightly, his gaze drifting towards Chance as he speaks.

He wanted to tell them about everything. About how he made him feel. About how his heart flutters whenever he’s around him, about how his insecurities seem to fade in his presence.

But all he can muster up is a measly, “I really had fun today.”

And somehow, that seems to be just enough for Chance.

“…Me too, Ell. Me too.”

Chapter Text

the sound of crickets outside and rustling leaves in the wind does nothing to calm down Elliot’s nerves. the employee lays in his bed, sheets clutched tight to his chest and cheeks flushed as his heart pounds hopelessly.

he just can’t seem to get that stupidly cute face out of his head. at this point, he wouldn’t be surprised if he started dreaming about them. Elliot wonders what kind of dreams he would have about Chance. maybe they’d hold hands, or go on a cute date, or maybe even sneak a kiss-

okay, he was getting way too ahead of himself. the employee groans tiredly, flipping over to lay on his stomach as his face lands in his pillow.

what now? Chance didn’t ask him out or anything, despite the tension that he at least thought was between them. and, y’know, not to mention that it was the DAY OF LOVE.

he really was getting ahead of himself, wasn’t he? maybe Chance didn’t want him after all. maybe he was being wishful again, hoping that the handsome gambler would sweep the employee off his feet as soon as he realized his deep-rooted feelings for them.

he doesn’t have work tomorrow either- it’s Friday. which means he can’t drown himself in responsibility to forget his conflicting thoughts. utterly fantastic.

this wouldn’t be happening if he controlled his thoughts, or his feelings, or…quite literally anything that would make this situation better. it always circled back to that same thought. it was starting to feel like he was grasping at straws now, desperately trying to hold on to something in his life.

he often seemed to find that most things tended to slip out of his grasp.

 

after a good few minutes of intense breathing and heart palpitations, Elliot sits up quickly. he has to call Chance. he HAS to. grabbing his phone from the nightstand, he rolls over on his side and opens his contacts. right there, at the top, is Chance’s number, saved as “idiot <3” same as ever. holding up the phone to his ear, the employee bites down on his nail so hard it might break.

the phone rings and rings, for what seems like almost forever. he could have probably fallen asleep in that time, but talking to Chance would give him a million times more energy than any amount of sleep could ever achieve.

“Pick uppp…pickuppickuppickup-”

“Eh…? That you, Ell? Hah…”

Elliot’s heart probably explodes into a million little jiblets at Chance’s sleepy tone. he has to grab at his chest to make sure it’s still beating.

“…guh, um. Yeah. It’s- it’s me.”

Chance chuckles quietly on the other side of the line, his voice still slightly rough. “Well? What’s up? Doubt you’d be calling just cuz ya miss me.”

oh. about that.

“Uhh. Well, you…you know…”

…

“Couldn’t sleep.”

laaaaaaaame.

the gambler’s tone shifts to something slightly more concerned now.
wait, they’re actually buying that???
“Really, now? You tried counting sheep and stuff?”

“Yes- um, yes. Tried…tried everything, y’know? Not even melatonin’s working.”
the employee mumbles, hoping he sounds convincing despite the way he’s sweating enough to fill a pool.

another quiet laugh from Chance. darn it, if he kept doing that, Elliot was going to go into cardiac arrest.

“Well, alright. Since you’re calling me this late at night, I’m gonna guess you’re getting pretty desperate. Y’want me to come over?”

 

what.

Elliot looks like he’s seen a ghost.
Chance. CHANCE. wants to come over to HIS house. HIS HOUSE. even though it’s like, TWO IN THE MORNING.

WHAT??

realizing he’s been saying nothing for way too long, Elliot quickly pulls the phone back up to his ear, hand cramping tightly around it. his voice comes out barely heard, strained and squeaky.

“…that would be nice. If it’s not a problem. Or anything. Yeah.” jeez, he sounds pathetic.

“Gotcha. I’ll be there in about ten minutes, ‘kay? Promise I won’t keep ya waiting. See you in a bit-!”

the phone hangs up, but Elliot hasn’t moved an inch from his spot.

until the crushing weight of realizing his room is an absolute mess falls onto him. oh crap.

Elliot leaps out of his bed, scrambling to pick up the socks and magazines he had left on the floor and stuffing them in drawers. he wasn’t really that messy in the first place, but…you know.

various thoughts run through his head as the employee glides down the stairs. Chance had never seen the inside of his house before, despite how well they knew each other. if they wanted to hang out, it was usually at some café or park. like…cute little dates. yeah. way to feed into his delusions.

after cleaning his house head to toe in record time, Elliot flops down on his couch with a heavy sigh. hopefully that would be enough for the gambler not to think he was a slob. his place needed a bit of freshening up anyways.

but speed running a full house clean doesn’t come without its consequences. Elliot can feel his eyes start to droop now, letting out a weary sigh.

maybe resting his eyes for a moment wouldn’t be too bad…

 

…

 

“Heyyyyyy!! Hey!! Elliotttt!! Pizza boy!!”

that familiar voice could wake him out of anything. the employee’s eyes flutter open, only to realize that Chance was right at the door, yelling his name like a lunatic. only they would do such a thing so late at night.

“Yeah, yeah, gimme a sec, stupidd…”

he mumbles, pushing himself up off the couch and almost stumbling over to the door, swinging it open with a lopsided grin.

“Hey.”

Elliot glances over at Chance’s appearance, seeing how his usual suit and fedora were replaced by a pair of casual clothes. but of course, he had to keep his classic shades on. it was almost endearing…
“Pff. What happened to ‘I can’t sleep’? I took one look through that window and saw you out like a light.”

Elliot’s blinks twice. oh, right. the whole excuse for why he wanted Chance to come over was because he couldn’t sleep.
“Oh. Well…um…”
curse his inability to lie convincingly.

“Eh, don’t worry about it, alright? I’ll stay anyway. I don’t think you would call me for nothing.”

the gambler reaches out, ruffling Elliot’s hair with a grin before stepping inside. the employee rolls his eyes, but sighs fondly and follows suit.

“…Did I ever mention how cute you look all disheveled and sleepy?”

Elliot flushes at Chance’s words. crap, he’d been so focused on cleaning his house that he’d forgotten about fixing himself up.

well, at least Chance liked it. though, to be honest, he would have been too tired to change his appearance anyways.

Elliot glances around his house, calculating in his mind where they should go. the kitchen? neither of them were hungry…his room? BIG no. way too intimate. maybe…

“Hey, Ell! Wanna just…hang out on the couch, or whatever?”

…right.

he sits over next to Chance, who had already made themselves comfortable on his couch. Elliot had ended up sitting a bit too close, their knees brushing against each other, but he couldn’t bring himself to move away.

the employee awkwardly clears his throat, sparing a glance over at the gambler.

“So…how have things been going with you? I know we’ve seen each other a bunch of times today, but I never really got to sit down and ask you how you’ve been.”

Chance shrugs slightly, that same confident swagger to him as always as he puts his hands behind his head.

“Ah, y’know. Big casino winnings, rounds of drinks at the bar, riding down the highway with the wind in my hair. Just the same old.”

“Sure, because your ‘same old’ is probably somebody’s dream vacation.”

Elliot responds with a chuckle, his eyes curious and fond. he had always admired the way Chance had such an extravagant lifestyle, but they were still so down to earth. they never seemed to let the popularity or money get to their head. it was almost…impressive.

“Well, tell me about what’s been going on with you, pizza boy! And don’t leave out aaany details, I wanna hear it all.” Chance asks, placing his elbow on his knee and leaning his head in his hand, a warm smile present on his face.

“Aha, well…” Elliot laughs a little, his gaze straying off to the side as he thinks. his life? well…

“Just the usual- clock in, work, clock out. It’s not too mundane, or anything- I love my job. But a vacation or something wouldn’t hurt…”

Chance nods slightly at Elliot’s words, eyes half lidded behind their shades.

“Mhm? Tell me all about it.”

Elliot’s heart stutters at the way Chance looks at him. He looked so…

…loving?

the employee just shakes his head, dismissing the thought quickly before going on a rant to the gambler about his life. work, friendships, vacations, family. anything that came to mind, really- he just felt so comfortable with them. Elliot could tell them that he got a positive pregnancy test and it wouldn’t be awkward.

this was…nice. Elliot’s usual feelings of being out of control felt much more grounded. even though words were spilling out of his mouth like a relentless waterfall, it didn’t feel wrong in the slightest.

Chance gave him a sense of security. and all Elliot wanted to do was wrap himself up in that feeling like a blanket forever.

 

“And then, get this- he asked for a pizza with no cheese, no sauce, no toppings, literally just the bread. I asked if he was sure that he really wanted this, and he yelled at me for questioning his sophisticated palate.”

Elliot mutters, a long sigh akin to a groan coming from him with a slow blink. He had his head on Chance’s lap, one of his hands tracing patterns on the gambler’s leg while the other dangles at his side. Chance gently rubs Elliot’s head, fingers running through his hair and scratching his scalp, making the employee hum softly from pleasure.

“Hah. That’s gotta suck, huh? Dealing with dumb customers every day. Who asks for just bread from a pizza place??”

Elliot nods slightly at his words, now turning his head so he’s staring up at Chance.

“I know, I know, it’s pretty stupid…”

…

“…thanks for listening. I…usually don’t have a lot of time to actually sit down and talk.”

Elliot moves Chance’s hand to his cheek, relishing the warm feeling of his palm. It felt like a soothing balm against his cold face.

“So you, actually listening…it means so much to me.”

 

Chance’s breath hitches in his throat. The way Elliot stares up at him, like he’s the most blessed being in the world…

They gently rub their thumb over his cheek, a warm, soft smile gracing their lips.

“…Of course, Ellie.”

“Hearing about your happiness, struggles, thoughts, feelings…it’s music to my ears.”

 

“Now why don’t you get some rest, alright? Don’t want you walking around like a zombie tomorrow, do we.”

Elliot lets out a soft chuckle, the sound sweet as he nuzzles against Chance’s hand- too sleepy to think before he acts.

“Yeah…mm, yeah, o…okay.”

and then, as quick as he was awake…Elliot’s out cold.

 

“love you.”

 

“…love you too.”

Chapter Text

waking up to yourself drooling all over your crush’s shirt isn’t the best feeling, but Elliot sure didn’t mind. he was still stuck in dreamland, his mind in a haze as sun from the window pours in and shines over the two on the couch, making them look almost like some romantic painting.

oh. right, he was still cuddled up against Chance.

Elliot doesn’t really know how, but somehow he ended up with his head on Chance’s chest, splayed on top of them with the gambler’s hand in his hair- which was still there.

well…to be fair, there wasn’t really any reason for him to get out of bed…it’s the weekend, he’s got no plans, and not to mention, he was very content laying in the arms of the gambler of his dreams.

…Elliot was never one to slack off, but maybe a few more minutes wouldn’t hurt-

“…mmh…g’morning, Ellie. You sleep well, ya big dork?”

never mind- all rational thought goes out the window. no matter how many times Elliot would hear that sleepy voice, it would still have the same effect on him.

“Ah…yeah. I slept pretty okay, y’know. The usual.”

that was a lie. Chance had served as the best pillow he’s ever felt in his life.

“Maaaan, I slept like a baby. You ever hear that one phrase people always say? You sleep better if you’re around someone you love?”

oh. okay. yeah, that’s totally helping.

“Don’t…don’t just say stuff like that, Chance. You’re gonna make me get the wrong idea…”

Elliot mutters, seemingly sinking into the gambler’s warm embrace again. he didn’t seem to be in a huge rush to get up at the moment- they felt really, really nice….

Chance chuckles quietly, his other hand coming up to trace light circles on the pizza boy’s back. “What? Can’t two guys cuddle on the couch like bros?”

“Right, because that’s totally what friends do…”

yet, neither of them seem to pull away. both of them can sense the slightly romantic tension, but they push it to the back of their minds, just enjoying the other’s presence for a moment.

that is, until Elliot’s alarm goes off at a million decibels. the employee wants to scream into Chance’s chest right now, fishing his phone out of his pocket and shutting the darn thing off.

“Guess we should get up, huh…”

Chance nods slightly, a slight grin on his face- but that expression quickly falters as his stomach lets out a loud rumble.

“…oh, heh. Um…well. You want me to order something for delivery?”

the gambler mumbles, sheepishly chuckling as the circles they trace on Elliot’s back turn into more intricate lines.

Elliot contemplates the offer for a moment. while it would be a lot less work than making his own, he really wasn’t in the mood for cold waffles.

his eyes stray towards his kitchen, eyeing the perfectly cleaned stovetop and counter from last night.

…

“Hey, have you ever made pancakes before?”

 

——

 

Chance places the large bag of flour on the counter, shaking their head to get all the remnants of it out of their hair. he turns to Elliot, who happened to also be covered in flour. the guy looked like he just got out of a blizzard.

“You think that’s everything? If you couldn’t tell, I’m not a huge cooking guy.”

“Mm…flour, eggs, milk, sugar…we’ve got all of our basic stuff!”

Elliot says, turning to Chance with a shining smile as he starts putting all the dry ingredients into a bowl. Chance of course, watches.
and watches.
and…watches.

…

“Elllllliiiieeeeee…”

“Yeah? What’s up?”

“Can I, like…do something…?”

“…so what happened to ‘I’m not a huge cooking guy’, hm?”

the gambler groans dramatically, placing his hands on Elliot’s shoulders from behind with a pout, which Elliot clearly doesn’t care enough about to turn around.

“But I’m so BORED. I thought we were gonna make them togetherrrr…! You’re acting like a big ingredient hog.”

before the pizza boy can tease Chance about being too childish, he stops for a moment.

what Chance had just said did have truth to it- even if it was very exaggerated…

there it was again.
his tendency to try and take control of things. trying to have some sort of hold on matters that…maybe he should let loose once in a while. let himself breathe easy while everything goes its own way- but…

how was he sure that he could get them back?

he’s abruptly snapped out of his thoughts by Chance (as per usual) when the gambler lets go of his shoulders. Elliot watches as they tighten their Kiss the Chef apron around their waist, pick up the recipe book, and get to work.

“Come on, man! We’re just doing this for fun. Even if we do mess up, we’ll still have fun, alright?”

Chance flashes a grin over at Elliot, even as some of the eggshells that he cracks land in the bowl.

 

Those words.

 

Elliot had never really let someone else grab the reigns. But…
Maybe now was a good time to start.
That smile did wonders to him and his weary heart, after all. No matter how much he wanted to deny it.

“…Sure, Chance. Just try not to burn my kitchen down in the process. Insurance in this economy is already a nightmare.”

“Hey, I promise! Don’t worry about a single thing- every single item in this room is safe and sound!”

Elliot raises his eyebrows, and he can practically read the lie written on the gambler’s face. But he can’t really bring himself to care in the moment.

after all, Chance was right. if he’s not able to loosen up when making pancakes, then when will he?

“…yeah, yeah, alright. c’mon, you can help me mix together the batter, okay?”

the pizza boy says, holding the spoon out for Chance like a peace offering. a sign of loosening his tight grip on something in his life.

Chance’s eyes seem to soften. Like they can sense Elliot’s relief by the way his shoulders sag and his breathing slows- even if it’s just slightly.

“Thanks, Ellie. Promise I won’t let you down.” they speak with a gentle smile, taking the spoon in their hand and spinning it a few times.

While both of them knew it was a lie, neither of them seemed to mind anymore.

“So…pancakes, right?” Chance says, his usual cocky grin breaking out on his face. “Heh. Your kitchen stands no chance against me!”

Elliot rolls his eyes, feigning annoyance at Chance’s dumb antics. “Sure, Chance. But I’m not letting you anywhere near the griddle.”

 

——

 

“…mm.”

Elliot hums quietly to himself, pen cap between his teeth as he scribbles notes on a recipe book, already planning ahead for the next thing he might make.

“Chance, do you think I should make tiramisu or cherry pie for Noob and Sixer’s party later this week?”

“…whuh?”

The gambler is currently hunched in front of the griddle like a kid on Christmas Day, just waiting for their parents to give them the go. Elliot sighs quietly.

“For a party, would you pick tiramisu or cherry pie?”

“Uhhhmm. Cherry pie. Definitely cherry pie.”

…

“I don’t even know why I’m asking you. You’re just gonna pick the one you like better.”

“So? What’s your point, Ell.”

Elliot resists the urge to sigh again, marking down ‘Cherry Pie For Party’ before capping his pen.

“Never mind. How are the pancakes going?”

“Amaaaaazinggggg…”

Chance drags out, leaning over the counter and practically drooling. He turns to Elliot, a bright smile stretching across his face.

“When’re they gonna be done, hm? Five minutes? Two? One?”

“…probably around ten, if we want them to fully cook and cool.”

“Whaaaaatttt…”

Elliot has to stifle a laugh. Chance looks like a sad puppy at the revelation.

“It’s ten minutes, you’ll live. You won’t starve to death, I promise.”

Clearly, Chance doesn’t believe that. They’re sprawled across the floor with the elegance of a wet carpet.

“You are a cruel, cruel man, Elliot. Don’t you know how it feels to be so close, yet so far?”

This time, Elliot can’t hold back his laugh. His gaze strays to some leftover strawberry shortcake he made not too long ago.

“Well, if you really can’t hold off until then…”

He picks up the platter and a nearby utensil, before crouching down next to Chance’s deflated form. Slowly, the employee takes a spoonful, nudging it against their mouth.

Chance’s eyes widen, and a bright pink flush creeps up on his face. Behind his shades, his gaze is drawn to Elliot. Leaning over him, pressing a spoonful of sweet shortcake against his lips.

“I hope you like strawberries.”

The gambler might as well get shot in heart by Cupid’s Arrow. Well, not like it hasn’t happened already. If they had to count how many arrows Cupid shot through their heart just for Elliot, they’d have an entire armory.

Slowly, he opens his mouth, letting the sweetness linger in his mouth. It tasted like strawberries, cream, sugar…and a heck of a lot of love.

“…whoa. What do you even put in your baking, Ellie? It feels like you’re spoon feeding me hopes and dreams.”

“Eh, it’s just a recipe I threw together last minute. Used all the ingredients you usually do, just added some extra sugar, strawberries- and a little bit of honey and cinnamon. I’m thinking of modifying it when I have the time. Why, you like it?”

“It’s perfect. Literally. Like, don’t even change a thing- please.”

Elliot chuckles quietly, taking another spoonful and pushing it into Chance’s mouth. “Guess I’ll keep it this way then. I trust your…incredibly refined palate.”

The griddle lets out a loud beep before the employee can even finish teasing the gambler. Chance scrambles to his feet, leaning over the counter with a wide grin.

“Jeez, finally! Felt like I was waiting for millennia!”

the pizza boy rises from his knees next to him, sparing a fond glance at the gambler before grabbing the nearby spatula and plating the pancakes with a gentle smile.

“These look perfect…a little bit crispy on the outside, and probably nice and soft on the inside…”

Elliot says admiringly, a twinge of surprise in this voice. With Chance around, he didn’t expect the treats to turn out so…er, pretty.

He casts another glance over at Chance, who is currently staring at the pancakes with hearts in their eyes. Elliot lets out an amused scoff, socking the gambler in the shoulder teasingly.

“You look at those pancakes with more affection than you do when look at me.”

“I do NOT! Just…let me try one before I start drooling all over your counter. Pretty please?”

Elliot pretends to sigh dramatically, before gently taking one of the pancakes and splitting it down the middle. The inside is a light golden-brown, with the texture of a cloud filled with cotton.

The two eagerly take a bite of their respective halves, and their expressions seem to light up just at the mere taste.

“Oh, wow…this is way better than I imagined.”

“THIS IS LIKE- THE GREATEST THING I’VE EVER EATEN.”

the gambler grabs Elliot by the shoulders, shaking him excitedly with the rest of his pancake half stuffed in his mouth.

“ELLIOT. YOU ARE A CULINARY GENIUS.”

the pizza boy bashfully rubs the back of his head with a quiet laugh and a flush already starting to spread across his face.

“Aw…it was nothing. And- and you helped too, y’know! It wasn’t all me! Give yourself some credit.”

Chance swallows the pancake remains, staring at Elliot with wide eyes before their pupils dilate and they hug him close.

 

“You are way too humble, you know that, Ell?”

“…pfft. I guess.”