Work Text:
"Observing a situation or phenomenon necessarily changes it!"
"That's true," Ratio allows without missing a beat, not so much as glancing away from the documentary playing on the massive wallscreen as Aventurine bursts into the room.
Here he is, coming home after a long and hard day of work, ready to argue discuss a vaguely scientific topic, something that should arouse some interest, and his sweetheart doesn't even so much as greet him.
After standing around for another minute, like maybe Ratio will have a sudden change of priorities, Aventurine gives it up and moves on. Office, to store some documents, bathroom for a shower and then the kitchen to feed the children.
Though the cakes are perfectly sapient and somehow capable of using their tiny little paws to operate a surprising variety of applicances, together with their cat-aspect allowing them to get to any place, rather than make their own food they vastly prefer for their owner to serve them dinner.
Aventurine can't begrudge them this indulgence, considering how frequently he's off-world and leaving them to the mercy of different petsitters. He sets down the last of the plates admist urging from Dice, who always loses in assertiveness against her siblings, but cries loudest when a human displeases. Then he slides down till he sits on the floor, to watch and keep them additional company while they eat.
Initially busy chowing down, they eventually note his presence. As usual Cards starts playing with her food halfway through, pushing it this way and that, circling her plate for a better vantage point till she's facing him and makes eyecontact. She jumps back with a startled "Meow!"
The others look up, turn back to their food, then slow down. Trying to be polite?? No, trying to eat and chat.
Aventurine observes with amusement, indulgently listening to the intermittent 'talking' and holding up his own part of the conversation whenever it appears wanted. Not that he has more success interpreting their meaning than usual. Intelligence in companship has its own downsides. If they were incapable of understanding him in turn, he could just say whatever, but when he pretends to understand und subsequently completely misses the mark Chips berates and corrects (?) him at length. He learned it from Ratio. It's as adorable as it's hilarious.
Later Ratio finds him sitting curled up on the kitchen floor. Hah, how uncool.
Because the Doctor is the best, he doesn't comment, just offers Aventurine a hand up.
Aventurine takes it, gets a real good grip and then yanks. Ratio lands in his lap with more force than anticipated. The commotion startles the last two cats out of the room.
"Are you alright?" Ratio asks, unimpressed but still concerned. His hand cradles Aventurines skull, evidently having kept his head from meeting the unforgiving steel of the cabinets.
"Yeah," Aventurine chokes out a laugh. "You're just heavy."
Ratios fingers curl, one hand gripping Aventurines, the other fisting hair. From the position up top, he's considered. In the end Ratio only settles down the rest of his weight. Rather the opposite of a punishment.
Aventurine hides his face in Ratios tits. Thanks to their size difference, exaggerated due to the position, they are right in front of his face. How could any mortal man resist? He smiles. Thinks about biting. Smiles harder.
While he would like little more than to stay like this forever, the arrangment really proves less than ideal for longer stretches of time. He's cold, hungry and, particularly his ass, increasingly numb.
Relucantly he gives a few firmer strokes to the skin at his sweethearts waist, straddeling the ephermal line between groping and petting, rubs his head against that chest for the last time, then leans back to look up.
Ratios eyes take a few moments to blink open. But he's quick to get a grip - literally. The hand on his head stops its caress to fist his hair again. Another point for 'likes to manhandle'. Or maybe 'control freak'? Not that Aventurine can judge or mind either way.
"Are you ready to eat now?"
"Yeah. That was why I went into the kitchen originally." It's the truth, even, not that Ratio seems inclined to take him seriously.
From his position banished to the kitchen island, Aventurine considers. That's another chance lost. He just wants to make and offer food to his sweetheart to woo him. Except clearly he doesn't, or he would have long since taken the opportunity. Should he give therapy another try, after all...?
Nah.
There's no need, either, he always pays when they go out to eat, has ever since Ratio stopped distrusting him too much - or possibly simply couldn't be bothered to have that self-same argument for the hundredth time. While it wasn't intended for courting initially, noone can say Aventurine isn't providing as he should.
Noone who matters can say anything, period. The dead don't speak.
"You don't mind that I don't...?"
Ratio throws a look over his shoulder, sees that this is indeed a serious matter and so after finishing up whatever he has in his hands, turns around to give his attention. "I enjoy cooking in general and take a particular pleasure in having you share in my culinary efforts." That's sweet. Seeing the sentiment on his face, Ratio immediately works to undermine it. "You would benefit from putting on more weight and I have the knowledge to ensure sufficient coverage of all necessary nutrients." Rude! But actually still very sweet.
Aventurine can feel a silly smile growing, so he leans forward that the good Doctor can enjoy the full force of it. Predictably he flusters, whirling back around to hide.
"...but that doesn't mean you have to do the work all the time."
Ratio clears his throat. "Indeed. For one, I'm too busy. And I don't. Make food every time. You also spent significant effort," and money, "to choose restaurants which would suit my tastes. Aventurine, I - also appreciate that very much." Damn, now he's making both of them flustered. As if to cover for his own feelings, like having his back to Aventurine isn't already bad enough, Ratio goes on, "In interpersonal relationships nothing is ever perfectly equal. As long as the people involved are content, there's no need to worry too much."
Nice sentiments. Is Ratio going to therapy? Or what, readying relationship advice on the net? Otherwise, could this be... the power of a healthy upbringing??
It's not enough for Aventurine. He sighs.
Ratio twitches, swallows his own sigh with a shake of his head, says, "Stop worrying. If i have a problem, particularly such a small one like not being in the mood to cook, I'll certainly make it known. Or is it that you doubt my ability to communicate my displeasure?"
Aventurine laughs, surprised. "That's certainly not the case." He chooses to stop arguing. After all, the wife has spoken. "Thanks, babe."
That evening the home-cooked meal is delicious, as always. As he chews, Aventurine packs the last of this issue up in a box in a dark corner of his mind to be revisited at a far later point, if ever.
Ratio sits on the couch reading a book, one hand back in Aventurines hair since he's claimed that lap as his pillow as is his right as the boyfriend. The cakes in turn lie stacked on top of his stomach, having magnanimously forgiven them the earlier fright.
He scritches one while playing the new popular gacha game on his phone. Not that farming mats takes a lot of concentration with his builds. He needs to check his stocks tonight. Does he still have enough extra selfies in reserve for his social media? He doesn't want to deal with Obsidians bullshit tomorrow.
A voice pulls him out of his thoughts. "About what you said earlier..."
"Mhh?" Aventurine kills his last enemy, exits out of the game and lets the phone fall on his chest. Trying to catch a glimpse of Ratios face proves futile. The book just so happens to be held strategically in the way and if he moves too much he'll disturb the cats. Also, there's a pull on his hair. Good to know at least that his new hair routine is really doing it for Ratio?? "Sorry baby, what did you say?"
Provided Aventurine hasn't annoyed him too badly at the moment, Ratio likes to look at him when they talk, not a form of respect earned by many of his conversation partners. Trapped as such, Ratio eventually places the book aside.
Not that this helps much. From this vantage point even Ratios unfairly handsome face looks humorous at best.
"What did you want to talk about when you came home?"
Ah. Quite without his permission Aventurine can feel his amused expression slide into a practiced smile. Not exactly fake, but not particularly authentic either. Now the lovey-dovey interlude has taken the wind out of his sails he's having second thoughts about broaching this topic again, but of course even preoccupied Ratio would remember his words to come back to later.
Now then to lie deflect or just come out with it?
"Just come out with it," Ratio says.
... not because he's showing off his suddenly acquired mind reading abilities! But because something something linguistics, people who spend time together speak the same! Successfully talking himself out of an early heart attack, Aventurine calms right the fuck back down.
He should get up. He doesn't want to. But for this conversation it's better if they don't touch.
Ratio holds him in place with both hands.
"Uh..."
"You'll wake the cakes," so he says, but the force behind his touch noteably lightens, leaving Aventurine to flee if he really cares to (go against his sweethearts wishes).
"I don't want to make you uncomfortable." One last out. Aventurine himself wouldn't allow such a weak presumption to change how he records an insult in his mental ledger, but of course Ratio is a more reasonable man.
As he immediately proves when he huffs a laugh. "Darling, you don't make me uncomfortable."
Right then. Aventurine continues smiling charmingly, assuming the other position has a better view. "You asked to watch me pleasure myself."
A noise of acknowledgement. "Indeed. I then retracted the request. But you aren't content with the reason I gave at the time, since observing a situation or phenomenon necessarily changes it."
Aventurine lets the silence stretch, feeling that would serve him best at this time. Only his fingers move, continually scritching the cats.
Eventually his patience is rewarded. Ratio shifts, says "Very well. You make a good point and in any case that you brought the matter up again of your own volition soothes my concerns. Though you may also verbally state that this is indeed something you'd enjoy for yourself."
...?
Ah.
"I want you," Aventurine can't help but sit up now, the better to meet Ratios eyes, "to watch. Please babe. It'd be really hot." He licks his lip, decides to keep babbling. "First I didn't say anything cause it's vulnerable and now I don't mean to pressure you, but I desire you. A frankly embarressing amount. Could you really not tell?? For years! You'd just be walking or verbally eviscerating some fool and I'd turn so stupid. It's not that I'd be doing a favor - you'd be indulging me." Hard to be earnest without turning too graphic, so he's glad to see his words are working. "No, seriously, you think that I don't want you?? Sweetheart. Ratio. Veritas. You are so pretty and I like you so much-"
And that's the winning combination, a hand covering his mouth, Ratio using the other to shield his eyes. With interest Aventurine watches a flush climb up that face. He licks his lips, accidentally licks Ratios palm and jerks back, tumbling off the couch.
"Gambler...!" Ratio appears concerned only for some moments, while ascertaining he isn't injured, just stupid. Then he slumps into the cushions, letting his arms down from where he couldn't catch Aventurine.
Way to ruin the mood. Aventurine laughs to cover his dismay.
Well. Go big or go home.
He turns till he's on his knees. His hands carefully settle on the couch next to Ratios legs and when that only results in a raised eyebrow he moves further and lets his head fall into that lap. There Aventurine rests, waiting for any indication he's too close despite keeping a decisive distance away from Ratios crotch. Additionally his face is hidden in firm thighs, that he can't fuck up and make any fuck-me eyes. Honestly, he doesn't get Ratio at all. He bites his lips to keep from offering an unwanted blowjob. Though the truth is that he wanted it, wants it, so perhaps if he framed it like that...?? Bad thoughts.
"... you make me so crazy," Aventurine complains, aggrieved.
"What was that?"
Aventurine rolls his head from side to side in something like a headshake, suspecting he was perfectly audible. When fingers card through the hair at his nape he slumps further down, his hands slipping from the 'safe' place on the seating to trail down till they reach bare ankles. Even Ratios feet are doing it for him. Fuck, he's such a lost cause.
Not helping is the hand sliding around his throat and gently tilting his head back till their eyes meet. "I believe you. Very well. The details can be discussed at a later point. It's late. I'm tired. Come to bed with me?"
!! "Anything you want, honey."