even after mars' comment, he remains quiet. he twirls spaghetti around his fork before going in for another bite, chewing slowly.

"hm."

and then, he glances up, meeting mars' gaze with a deadpan expression.

finally, he speaks, breaking the silence and suspense.

"...i love it."

his words, along with the smile that breaks, are genuine.

"i really do. this is amazing, mars."

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

If Mars were a different, more insecure person, or if he didn’t know Cian as well as he does now, maybe he would have been fooled. Even if Cian hadn’t particularly liked it, he’s too confident to even consider that someone else might think his food is awful, and after all, their little camping trip had taught him a thing or two about what an asshole his dear boyfriend can be sometimes…
[break][break]
Not like that’s a bad thing, though.
[break][break]
Not like Mars loves him any less for it.
[break][break]
Quite the contrary, even if it does cause him to raise an eyebrow when Cian gives him a deadpan stare.
[break][break]
”You’re cruel.”
[break][break]
But, he laughs, soon mirroring Cian’s smile.
[break][break]
”I’m glad you like it. You don’t want to know how much effort it took to actually learn to make that properly.”
[break][break]
Now he’ll admit it, because this wouldn’t have been as fun if Cian had expected the food to taste amazing.

[BREAK][BREAK]

+ CIAN MAHER

cian's definitely an asshole, so he should be thankful that someone loves him enough to not mind his usual antics. it's cruel, that much he knows, but he laughs all the same.

"oh, now i do."

he grins, twirling more spaghetti.

"how much effort, mars?"

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

”Of course you do.”
[break][break]
This too isn’t a surprise, because he’d want to know too if the roles were reversed, but for now, he won’t give Cian what he wants, because he too wants to enjoy his meal.
[break][break]
Spaghetti is twirled onto the fork, and he takes a bite, looking at Cian while taking longer than what’s likely necessary with it.
[break][break]
”A lot of effort.”
[break][break]
Multiple attempts, actually. A considerable amount of wasted ingredients and hours of frustrating a personal chef that had no choice but to hide his frustration. Mars had enjoyed it at certain points and disliked it at most, which may be why he smirks when saying his next words:
[break][break]
”I think cooking may just not be my thing.”
[break][break]
And yet, even if it isn’t, he had gone through the trouble of learning to make this perfectly. For Cian, and for no one else but him.


[BREAK][BREAK]

+ CIAN MAHER

the suspense kills him but he makes no signs that it does. instead, he continues grinning, watching mars eat with a surprising amount of patience.

when the answer finally comes, it's met with a genuine laugh.

"well, it's a good thing you have me, huh?"

and aurelio, who's the far better cook.

"but, babe, i really like it when you cook for me."

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

It wouldn’t be fair if he didn’t also torment Cian at least a little, right? Maybe Mars is also kind of an asshole, even if with Cian it’s only jokingly and when the time calls for it. With most people, though...
[break][break]
Well, there’s no need to speak of that right now.
[break][break]
When Cian laughs, he does too, because he definitely doesn’t disagree with that.
[break][break]
”Oh, I know. I’m so lucky to have an amazing boyfriend who can cook me delicious meals.”
[break][break]
And a private chef, but poor Aurelio’s cooking skills always seem to be dismissed in favour of how much Mars loves it when Cian cooks for him. Typical.
[break][break]
Holding his gaze, he smirks.
[break][break]
”You do? Hmm… Maybe I’ll cook for you again sometime, if you earn it.”

[BREAK][BREAK]

+ CIAN MAHER

mars is also kind of an asshole, but not nearly to the same level as cian is. even if he were to be on the same level, cian would love him all the same. he's enamored of mars, that much has been clear for a while now.

"yeah, you are."

though he smirks, he's also pretty fucking lucky.

again, poor aurelio.

the smirk is met with feigned innocence. he hums in thought.

"and how would you suggest i earn it?"

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

Maybe they just go together like that. After all, with so many things in common, would it really be that surprising that being ‘kind of’ an asshole sometimes is one of them? Cian is definitely the worse one though. At least most of the time, anyway. But, Mars loves him just like that, and despite whatever doubts can sometimes exist, they both know that.
[break][break]
So, they’re both assholes and they’re both lucky. It would probably be kind of contradictory to most people, no?
[break][break]
Not to Mars, though.
[break][break]
”Babe, it’s not fun if I tell you what you should do. You have to guess.”
[break][break]
The smirk turns into a grin, raising his glass to take a sip of wine.
[break][break]
”I’m sure you can figure it out.”


[BREAK][BREAK]

+ CIAN MAHER

two assholes cancel each other out, or maybe they just make one giant asshole. who knows, really.

what cian knows, however, is that he's thankful to be here with mars — here, on his private yacht, anywhere. he'll always be thankful.

"i definitely can figure it out."

but maybe not tonight. or at least, maybe after their nap.

he smiles, bright as ever as he finishes off the rest of his pasta, savoring each bite more than the last.

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

Cian can figure it out, Mars is sure of that, but he definitely won’t figure it out tonight.
[break][break]
Not when he’s this tired. Not when he’s likely to fall asleep as soon as they head back to the bedroom after their meal. It has been a long day and Mars is tired too, so maybe things like those should be left for another time. Maybe even tomorrow...
[break][break]
Mirroring Cian’s smile, he too finishes his meal, perhaps enjoying it much more than what usually would have simply due to the fact of knowing that all of his efforts were worth it and Cian is happy with it.
[break][break]
That’s what matters the most.
[break][break]
That’s the reason he did all this.
[break][break]
When he’s finally done, the fork is set down on the plate, stretching up just a little. It’s dark out now, sunset having faded into the ending moments of twilight.
[break][break]
”Mm… Wanna head to bed now?”


[BREAK][BREAK]

+ CIAN MAHER

when he's done, he gently places the fork back down, then looks up at mars to enjoy the rest of the moment while everything around them fades into twilight.

after another sip of his drink, he nods, smiling as he meets mars' gaze with sleepy eyes.

"please."

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉

It’s almost funny now to think about the fact that when they had first boarded the yacht earlier, they had been annoyed at the thought of the mission ruining their day. In the end, the mission had brought upon more good things than problems, and despite their argument, they had ended up here: having dinner together while daylight faded.
[break][break]
Despite everything, it has been a perfect day.
[break][break]
That’s how Mars will remember it: for the way it ended over everything else.
[break][break]
So, when he stands, he still smiles, walking over to Cian and extending a hand towards him.
[break][break]
”Come on, sleepy.”
[break][break]
How could he not tease him?
[break][break]
It’s adorable.
[break][break]
And, nearby, he could almost bet the Castform is sleepy as well.

[BREAK][BREAK]

+ CIAN MAHER

it really has been a perfect day, and as much as cian would hate for it to end so early, he knows he's pretty much ready to just pass out.

so bless mars for picking up on it. he reaches his hand out, accepting mars' in his before standing.

"great dinner, but i'm ready for my nap."

and yes, cian junior is equally as sleepy, though it seems like he's waiting for cian to go to sleep before doing the same as well.

Martín del Mar // [x]

☉