Van knows intimately what it's like to be overworked, underappreciated and practically running on empty. Perhaps not in the same way Nath does, but ve gets it. Ve's done vis fair share of back-to-back, nonstops, and ve's had clients walk out, satisfied but unthankful. You'd think it'd make him sympathetic to Nath in moments like these, when ve can see vis best friend so physically exhausted, and make ver take back vis words.

And usually, that is Van, but the eight years of cohabitation have given ver the audacity and confidence to know something should not be done, but still do it anyway.

So, at the sound of Nath's "yeah, 'kay," Van moves to completely throw off vis friend's covers, a giant grin on vis face. Knowingly or not, Nath has said yes, and Van will always gladly take advantage of his friend's half-asleep state when he wants to.

"Good, get up and dressed then!" Van says as ve makes his way out of Nath's room. "Grocery shopping is best done early in the day."

Ve pauses in the door way, "I'll make you coffee, so don't take too long, okay?"

NATHANIEL HART

Van laughs and waves off Nath's comment before ve heads into the kitchen. Burn the coffee? Who does Nath think ve is?

(Really, the assumption is perfectly reasonable. Van is an okay cook, but ve's awful at making coffee. Vis mouth is just better at tasting it, than vis hands are at making it. Will he admit it? Of course not.)

However, today the coffee gods have decided to look upon Van and bless ver. Ve still fights with the espresso machine yes, but eventually what comes out is much better than what ve usually makes. Ve finishes vis drink long before Nath shows up in the kitchen, but keeps Nath's mug on the electric, temperature-controlled coaster they bought that came in a set with their electric mugs. Ve sets the temperature on vis phone, and then signs into one of vis mobile games for the log-in bonus before switching to an app for note-taking to jot down what ve wants to pick up.

At the sound of Nath walking into the kitchen, Van looks up, grinning from ear to ear, "I made the espresso machine my bitch today, are you proud of me?"

Then, ve gestures to coaster and mug on the side away from where ve's standing. "I kept your mug warm for you too, but it's not my fault if it doesn't taste as good. It was in peak condition when I drank mine."

NATHANIEL HART

Van makes an offended noise at Nath's comment, but the grin on vis lips betrays any sort of implied negative feelings.

"You trust me that little?" Van says dramatically, putting vis hand palm flat against vis chest, right over vis heart. "I'm so hurt. Next time, you can make the coffee."

Honestly though, that would probably be the preferable situation.

Yes, Van had a stroke of luck today, but normally it's Nath one who gets the machine to do it's best, if it's doing anything at all. Van is perfectly okay with instant coffee, but Nath- he's a coffee freak, and it's probably one of the few things Van will never understand about him.

Van's phone vibrates, and ve unlocks it to check the notification, and it's a text from their dog sitter. Ve looks up from vis phone to Nath, "Dog sitter wants to know if we're picking up the dog today, by the way."

NATHANIEL HART

Van rolls vis eyes at the way Nath visibly straightens up and his words.

Goddamn dog lovers, they're all the same.

For a moment, ve debates not handing over vis phone, but that's just a little too childish for vis tastes. It's not like ve'd really get anything out of withholding it anyway, John the dog will come home eventually.

Ve puts the phone in Nath's hand, and, earlier in their relationship, ve'd ask Nath to be careful, but at this point, ve doesn't think it needs to be said. Nath is... probably the one less clumsy with his hands between the two of them.

"The dog is his nickname. I'm Van, your Nath, he's the dog. It just makes sense." It doesn't, Van just doesn't like dogs. Really, ve tolerates John at best, but ve's pretty John only tolerates him too. It's a mutual understanding.

Van leans toward the island, propping vis elbows up so ve can rest vis chin in the palm of vis hand to watch Nath fiddle with vis phone. "And no, I don't miss him, he probably doesn't miss me either. We only get along because of you anyway."

NATHANIEL HART dog the dog

Van rolls vis eyes- ve's not going to start an argument with Nath over their dog's name. John the dog's name can be whatever ve wants it to be. Sometimes, when Nath isn't around, ve calls him Egghead, after Nath because that's what he can be sometimes, a fucking egghead.

Van leans away from the counter and crosses vis arms along vis chest, "Good for him, saves me the hassle of having to teach him my boundaries."

If Van had to worry about vis closet getting dog fur on it along with lint, wrinkles and stains, ve might've started graying early, and that's not a good look for ver. Ve already knows ve wouldn't look good with gray hair. As he watches Nath turn the phone around to face ver, he think Nath might look good with gray hair though.

Ve doesn't even spare a glance at the photo, ve's already seen it. It did make ver feel a little affectionate the first time, but ve already knows a second look won't bring up the same feelings. They were fleeting, unrepeatable. "Yeah I'm off, but we have to go grocery shopping first."

"Can I have my phone back now?" Van asks, holding vis hand out.

NATHANIEL HART dog the john

Van takes the phone back, sending a message to the dog sitter that says, will pick him up later, thanks!. Ve's glad Nath hadn't gotten a chance to message the sitter himself. They probably would've had a big change in plans if he had. Dog first, grocery shopping second. Realistically though, that scenario probably would've ended with Nath staying home with John, leaving Van to shop by verself.

That would've been so boring. Half the fun of this trip is Nath joining ver after al. Their busy schedules leave them barely any time for themselves, let alone each other.

Sometimes, friends matter more than sleep.

(Van ignores the fact he can only think that because he wasn't the one forcefully woken up today. Ignorance is bliss.)

"Of course, I have," Van says, but it's not mean-spirited, more playful than anything. "Was there something you wanted to add?"

NATHANIEL HART