Taako isn’t what you might call a romantic. He’s a practical guy with practical needs, and he’s not shy about what he wants. Are those two different things? Maybe, shut up. The thing is, he doesn’t look through the world in rose-colored glasses. At least, he didn’t, before.
Before Kravitz, Taako had sex when he pleased and rarely spent energy on actual dating. Why bother? What the fuck was the point? He was a rising star no one could keep up with. There was that whole tiny issue with you-know-what and you-know-who at you-know-where, but he wasn’t gonna let it get him down! He wasn’t going to let it ruin anything for him, so was there a little self-sabotage in the courting department for a teeny bit? Maybe! Shut up! But then Kravitz happened.
Oh, did Kravitz happen. And suddenly things made him feel all pink and sparkly. Tiny, dumb little things. Like. Like scraping the cat pan. It’s stupid, he knows. But is it still sexy as hell? Boy howdy.
Like watching him squat down, his pants riding a little low, his lithe muscles showing the exertion. Watching him unbutton and pull up his sleeves, revealing a titchy bit of arm hair, so strong and manly and desirable, that little bit of a break in his personal dress code already so horny it could drive him up a wall and straight into the atmosphere. He even ties back his hair, which is, frankly, illegal, sometimes letting a stray braid fall out and caress his strong cheekbones, Jesus Fantasy Christ in a burger joint, and then he deigns to fucking?? Smile?? And pet one of the cats?? Skritch him under his chin and say in his stupid accent I’m afraid the restroom is closed for cleaning, sir. Thank you for your patience. It’s murder, straight up, most foul, with mustard.
And then he even cleans it. That gentle look in his eyes, that little poke of his tongue between his teeth. He sifts in new litter, no qualms at all, no avoiding the task, not, in an incredibly sexy move, asking Taako to do it. He puts the top back on and he cheerily announces All clear! And chuckles so warmly when Beans immediately has to use the fresh right out of it. He tosses the nasty little and dusts his hands off before washing them, and when he dries them, the throws the towel right over his shoulder and turns that bright-as-the-sun smile on Taako and asks how he can help with dinner.
Taako needs a fainting couch. His delicate constitution can’t handle such things. How did he get so weak? Who crafted such a dangerously targeted weapon?? It’s horrible. It’s evil. It’s his darling, beloved husband, who takes him by the waist with such strong, work-experienced hands and kisses him in the kitchen, even though he’s been staring, open-mouthed, for what feels like ages now. He even kneads a little circle with his thumb in Taako’s back and smiles again, kissing his cheek.
“Something on your mind?” he’ll say.
“Nothin’ much,” Taako will reply. “Just thinking about how you changed me, is all.”
Before, having a moment would have been the end of the world, for Taako. After Kravitz, it’s a regular old Wednesday night, and for some reason, he doesn’t mind it at all. He laughs and lets Kravitz pull him close, and he appreciates the little things, and he feels so, so lucky. And it’s good. Life is good.
And that’s more than he ever could have hoped for.
