Angel listened as Garam set his phone down on the table, then wandered closer. Closer than necessary, as he could feel the heat from his body. He turned from th counter, and Angel's breath caught faintly as Garam planted both hands on the counter. Caging him in, close enough that Angel could see the lack of sleep on his face, the slightly chapped quality of his lips. The proximity sent a jolt through him. Dammit, he's cute. A reminder that they were still navigating this new, fragile space between them. You've had a busy morning. When Garam's voice came out rough and sleepy, it felt intimate. Then came the small smile that tugged at the corner of his mouth, aimed at the mountain of pancakes. You don't expect me to eat all of that, do you? The stack's nearly my height. Angel took a minute to respond. This was what always got him in trouble with Garam. Suddenly, the only thing he wanted to eat was right in front of him. The image of Garam on the tableâŚAngel shook his head slightly as if shaking the thought loose and huffed a soft laugh. The sound surprised even him. He set his mug down, letting himself be boxed in, making no move to create distance. The warmth of Garam's forearms bracketed him on either side, and he could smell the sleep still clinging to his skin. This was going to be hard. "That's the goal, yeah," Angel said, voice low, a hint of tired humor threading through. "Strawberries have vitamins. Pancakes have carbs. Coffee has caffeine. It's a balanced meal if you don't think about it too hard." His eyes traced over Garam's face now, a cheap attempt to distract his thoughts. The shadows beneath his eyes, the way his lids still looked heavy, the slight redness around his lashes that suggested at least a few tears had fallen during the night. He didn't sleep well either, Angel realized, chest tightening. Or barely. Angel's hand lifted before he consciously decided it, fingers brushing a stray strand of hair from Garam's forehead, tucking it behind his ear with a gentleness that made his own throat tighten. The pad of his thumb grazed the shell of Garam's ear, featherlight, lingering. "Let's eat. I need you to eat at least one full pancake," Angel said sternly but quietly, dropping his hand back to the counter, letting it rest close to Garam's forearm without quite touching. Even with all of Garamâs hair sticking up, Angel found him endearing. "In regard to keeping you in the apartment. I just wanted to do something nice for you. Make sure you started the day knowing someone was thinking about you." Angel's gaze held Garam's, soft, tired, open in a way that felt vulnerable but necessary. "Eat with me," Angel said, not a command this time, just an invitation, his voice quieter than he intended. "Please. Then we can figure out the rest of the day together." He turned slightly, reaching for a second mug, filling it with coffee the way Garam liked it, and slid it across the counter toward him. He walked over and pulled out the otherâs chair before going to his own. The morning light filtered through the kitchen windows, casting everything in a pale gold glow. The scent of butter and vanilla still lingered, warm and inviting. For the first time in what felt like forever, the apartment didn't feel like a battleground or a hiding place. It just felt like home, especially with Garam.