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It’s no surprise tho Robert that Chad is pretty good at cooking, and not just French cuisine.
“What are you cooking?” He asks his boyfriend after walking out of their shared bedroom, having just changed out of his dispatcher uniform into something more comfortable.
“Mantu.’ Chad quickly answers as he steams the vegetable-filled dumplings in the steamer basket, waiting for them to get done. “It’s an Afghan dish, basically steamed dumplings filled with beef, onions, and herbs.”
“Sounds tasty.” Robert says, smelling the warm dough and meat ingredients from the steamer. Knowing his boyfriend and his love of cooking, the dispatcher doesn’t have to see the food to know it will taste incredible. “Though I hope you didn’t use our Beef.”
“Of course not, dummy.” Chad chuckles, knowing that the tiny dog is asleep in his dog bed. As much as he wants to kiss his boyfriend silly for that joke, Chad isn’t done with their dinner yet. Can’t let Robert’s cute face distract him from his amazing cooking. “Now go prepare the table. I forgot to do that.”
“Yes, Sir.” Robert says before opening the nearby drawer and grabbing the tablecloth. Usually, he doesn’t have to do much except wait until dinner is ready. But when Chad has forgotten something, he’d do or gladly get it.
It’s when Robert is done preparing the table that Chad finishes their dinner for tonight. Having sorted the food among the two plates into reasonable portions with some dumplings left for tomorrow, Chad puts the plates on the table, the meals fresh and warm.
Robert has the urge to eat right away, his stomach even growling a little, but he waits for his boyfriend to sit down. Eating before the chef is done his kinda a dick thing to do, especially when Chad has worked hard to make dinner for both of them.
“Go ahead.” The hero says after pouring some wine for Robert and himself some red wine. “Try it.”
Robert nods before turning to his food. He scoops one of the dumplings up, the food covered in tomato sauce, before taking it in his mouth.
As always, the food is absolutely divine, the flavour rich and almost addictive. Sometimes Robert wonders why Chad didn’t become a chef at a restaurant, because he’s sure more than a few kitchens would want him there.
“It’s heaven…” Robert says with his mouth full, his words barely understandable. He takes his time chewing before swallowing it. “Where did you get the recipe?”
“My grandmother used to make it a lot when I was little, back in Herat.” Chad explains, smiling as the memories resurface in his mind. “It used to be my favorite growing up.”
Already having another dumpling in his mouth, Robert listens, not daring to interrupt him.
“I wouldn’t mind you making more food from your childhood.” Robert says after swallowing his food, staring at his boyfriend with a warm smile. “I haven’t heard you talk about it that much, so…”
Robert pauses, trying to find the words to ask.
“What else did she make?”
A warm smile spreads on Chad’s face, feeling an invisible weight being lifted off his shoulders. He knows Robert isn’t the type to judge or ignore him. But it still feels so nice to be able to talk about his childhood and past with someone who means the world to him, about the snacks and dishes his grandmother used to make.
And for the rest of their dinner, Chad doesn’t talk about anything else, with Robert listening attentively.