The Taste of Seduction

He felt so weak, tired, and so torn apart. For the first time he didn\'t want to be strong anymore. He wanted to lean on someone and act spoiled.

"I was so scared when Ace called me" Meredith said, breaking the silence.

"I was afraid I would be too late. I know you wouldn\'t- but grief makes people do stupid things and I" Meredith sighed.

"I never heard from you after you dropped me home yesterday and you weren\'t picking up your calls too." She continued.

"I know." He whispered. "I\'m sorry."

Meredith shook her head, "I\'m sorry I wasn\'t there when you needed me the most." She said her arms were tightening around him.

Atlas kissed the top of her head. "It\'s okay. I\'m glad you\'re here now."

Meredith met his gaze and nodded.

"Do you want to talk about it?" She murmured softly.

Atlas shook his head, "No."

"Are you sure? Maybe opening up might help."

Atlas exhaled, "I know but if I talk about it now.i might break down again and I don\'t know how long it will take to pick up the pieces. I\'m not ready."

Silence stretched between them

"Have you eaten?" Meredith asked, suddenly breaking the silence.

Atlas shook his head, "No. I\'m not really hungry."

"I know but please eat something for me?" She pulled away to look at him, her eyes pleading.

"Alright."

Meredith beamed, "What do you want to eat?"

He stared at her quietly before a mischief light passed through his eyes.

"You." He planted a swift, playful kiss on her lips.

Meredith flushed and playful slapped his hands, "Atlas!"

"Meredith!" He mimicked her voice and busted into laughter.

Meredith stared at him in a daze.

"Ah you\'re laughing.my favourite sound in the world." She grinned at him.

Atlas froze when he realised that he was really laughing. Something he has never done on his parent\'s anniversary.

His Angel was really the light in his darkness.

Meredith stood up from the floor, "I will be right back, okay?"

Meredith said and took a step but Atlas grabbed her hand, stopping her in her tracks.

Meredith glanced at him, "What\'s wrong?"

Atlas blinked at her, "Don\'t leave me."

He didn\'t care if he was behaving like a kid or was too cringy; he just didn\'t want her to leave him.

Meredith smiled and crouched beside him. She ruffled his hair, "I\'m going to prepare something for us to eat."

Atlas blinked and just stared at her. He didn\'t care what she was going to do, he just wanted his Angel beside him.

"What about you join me? We can cook together!"

Atlas forced out a smile and nodded.

"Good, let\'s go."

*****

"So what are you preparing?" Atlas asked as he sat at the stool in the kitchen watching Meredith remove ingredients from the fridge.

"Take a guess?" She said, glancing at him.

"You know my knowledge about food is limited."

Meredith grinned at him, "I know. This makes it more fun. If you guess it right, I will reward you."

Atlas furrowed his brows as she removed flour, eggs, butter and placed them at the counter.

"Hmm, based on my memories, these are used for baking. My mom always used these to bake cookies for us. Don\'t tell me-"

He stiffened when he realised what she was doing. He had once told her his mom used to bake cookies for him and his friends, he didn\'t think she remembered.

Meredith beamed at him and winked at him.

"My man sure is smart. Now for your reward, what do you want?" She said, pulling him out of his trance.

Atlas\'s eyes glint with mischievousness. " I wouldn\'t mind a kiss."

Meredith flushed and nodded. She walked to stand in between his legs. She leaned forward and pressed a light kiss on his lips.

"There, your reward." She said and turned around to walk away but Atlas grabbed her hand and pulled her to him. She hit his chest and she gasped.

Without giving her the time to react, he cupped the back of her head and crushed his lips to hers.

He bit her lower lip and she gasped, giving him the opportunity to snake his tongue inside. Meredith moaned into the kiss.

Atlas pulled away after assaulting her lips for a minute.

"This is how to kiss Angel. Based on our training I thought you might have grasped the basic things by now." He teased, causing her to flushed in embarrassment.

"Maybe I should work harder." Atlas murmured to himself.

Meredith glared at him and pulled away from him.

"If you want to work I have the perfect work for you."

She picked an apron and threw it at him.

"Put it on and come and assist me."

Atlas looked at the pink apron and a frown marred on his face.

"Come on! I\'m sure you will look good in it. Real men wear pink, don\'t you know?" She teased, her eyes glimmering with mischief.

Atlas gave a defeated sigh and got down from the bar stool. He put on the apron and helped Meredith with hers.

"Let\'s take a picture together. This is so romantic!" She said enthusiastically.

Atlas knew this was her way of cheering him up and he didn\'t mind one bit.

He kissed her cheeks as they posed for the camera. Meredith stared at the picture in a daze.

"Your boyfriend is handsome right?" Atlas whispered in her ear.

"Of course he is but I\'m more beautiful." She stuck out her tongue at him and he chuckled.

"Of course, my Angel is the prettiest."