[EN] Embarrassment and pancakes

Not many people ever would have guessed it, but cooking was one of Percy’s favourite pastimes. When he was little he used to help his mother preparing dinner and now he shared a small apartment with Oliver the kitchen was his territory. Cooking was an activity one needed precision and caution for if they didn’t want to burn their fingers or make the lasagne look like soup, but other than that not much thought was needed. It gave Percy the opportunity to relax without feeling like he was wasting time by being idle.
      Percy planned on making pancakes. He’d already turned on the radio and put eggs, milk, a lot of flour and a little bit of salt into a large bowl. When he started stirring, he accidently fell into the rhythm of the music on the background. Soon, his whole body began swaying to the song. He was well aware of the fact he looked quite ridiculous, but he liked dancing. It just wasn’t something he’d ever do in public; not in this lifetime, anyway. If he would ever be seen, it would ruin his image as sophisticated, respectable Ministry employee.
      He made a full turn while he used his wand to get two frying pans on the stove and start the fire beneath. He had to be careful not to spill any of the batter while pouring the first spoons full, but then he could continue his improvised dance. He was just levitating the flour onto the highest shelf of one of the cupboards and halfway through another turn when he saw something move in the corner of his eye and froze. The packet of flour stayed in the air, hovering not too far above his head.
      Oliver was standing in the doorway. Percy clapped a hand over his eyes, as if he hoped his flatmate would disappear if he didn’t see him. “Oh Merlin.” He would have used worse swearwords, but he was too horrified to think of any.
      There was a brief silence, which was broken by Oliver. “Perce?”
      “Please don’t say anything. This is embarrassing enough as it is. ”
      “I thought it was cute.”
      “I- What?” Percy peered through his fingers at his softly smiling friend. The guy had to be crazy, there was no other explanation. Maybe he’d hit his head during a Quidditch practice - probably not, though. He looked just as gorgeous as ever.
      Oliver took a step closer and gently tugged at Percy’s hand to get him to show his face. “That’s better.”
      There was a long moment in which neither of them spoke. Oliver didn’t let go of his hand. Percy could almost feel the electricity crackling in the air. Or maybe it was just his brain that was short-circuiting.
      Then Oliver glanced over Percy’s shoulder, thus ending their eye contact. Percy had to blink a few times. “Your pancakes are going to turn black.”
      “Let them.” Percy couldn’t even be bothered to turn around and take a look to see if it was true. For once, he didn’t care is the least that it probably wasn’t the best of ideas to ignore a warning like that.
Oliver looked doubtful. “You sure?”
      “Absolutely.”
      “Good,” Oliver answered, explaining Percy’s words a little differently than an accidental listener might have. He finally let go of Percy’s hand, but only to grab his waist and kiss him. Percy threw his arms around Olivers neck and happily kissed him back. It didn’t look like they were going to stop anytime soon - until they head a loud thud, almost as if something had fallen down. Suddenly the whole kitchen was covered in dust. Coughing, the two boys let go of each other.
      It took him a moment, but then Percy realized had forgotten all about the small packet of flower that had been left floating in the air. Frankly, he was amazed his spell had lasted that long, especially since he had been rather nicely distracted.
      He risked a look at Oliver and he couldn’t help but laugh when he saw the Keepers snow white hair and surprised face. He definitely loved cooking.