Lloyd woke up with Javier on his mind and went to the bathroom and turned on the tap just to fill the silence.
The sound drowned out his thoughts for a moment—almost.
When he turned it off, Javier was still there, exactly where he shouldn't have been: in his head. He stared at his reflection for longer than necessary.
Javier had already been awake—he could hear it through the wall.
He splashed water on his face, harder than necessary, then wiped it away and pretended it helped.
He left the room.
In the kitchen he noticed Javier before he noticed the mess.
He stood at the counter, sleeves rolled up, coffee machine humming softly beside him. Too relaxed. Too comfortable. Lloyd's gaze drifted past him and landed on the sink piled with dirty dishes. His jaw tightened. Of course.
He opened his mouth, already forming the lecture in his head, when something brushed his lips. Sweet. Crumbly.
A cookie.
Lloyd froze, then glared up. Javier loomed over him, grinning like he'd just won something.
"How is it?" he asked.
Lloyd chewed slowly, eyes never leaving him. He swallowed, sighed, and turned toward the sink instead. Arguing would take more energy than it was worth. He rolled up his sleeves and turned on the tap. Cold water splashed against his hands, sharp enough to keep him grounded.
By the time the dishes were done, his irritation had dulled into something quieter. He reached for the coffee machine, then stopped.
A cup already waited on the table. His table.
"You know how I like it," Lloyd said, picking it up, his tone almost sounded like a complaint. "Strong. Milky. No sugar."
"Why don't you taste it first?" Javier replied, smiling.
Lloyd stared at him and then the cup for a second, then slowly, almost hesitantly, he lifted the cup, moving it closer to his lips, he took a small sip of coffee, the bitter taste hit his taste buds, the taste he liked. He glanced up despite himself. Javier was watching him, his smile soft this time.
Lloyd rolled his eyes, a small, almost unnoticeable curve formed on his lips.
He pulled the chair and sat down, when Javier commented.
"Don't you feel like the atmosphere feels like husband and wife?" Javier teased.
Lloyd almost choked on his coffee.
"W-what?"
Javier laughed at his reaction, waving it off.
"You washing the dishes, me making your coffee, like my parents..."
Lloyd glared at him before turning away quickly, focusing on the cup in his hands. He muttered,
"Shut up, asshole!" A soft red tint appeared on his neck imagining them together, he told himself it was stupid. A joke. Nothing more.
But something in Javier's words sounded so right...
That now it didn't feel like strangers... friends, or roommates... The closer... It almost felt like... a home... And even if Javier was annoying, Lloyd didn't hate his company, he enjoyed being there with him.
The kitchen now suddenly felt different—smaller, warmer. Familiar in a way that made Lloyd's chest ache.