[O] Hell's Kitchen

Alyosha had no relationship problems. He was very happily dating Tayce and he didn't plan to change anything about their relationship any time soon.

He had no money problems. He was still living very comfortably on the money he had gotten from his years working with the Mafia and wouldn't even need to think about getting a job for months.

He wasn't planning on moving away any time soon. He liked it here in the mansion. It was a nice place and he quite enjoyed the company he had here.

Dick's thoughts were completely unfounded.

Alyosha took another gulp of vodka.

Dick continued to delve into his thoughts on whatever was up with Alyosha. Weaving together a fantasy of what was getting him down.

Humming a tune to himself he inspected it. Ugh, still not clean.

Sometimes he found cleaning therapeutic. When he choose to do it, or if he wanted to make his precious ball room look extra nice for a special occasion.

Huh maybe he should do that latter.

But when it is stuff like this, where it is a mess of his fault (or worst, someone else's) he really did not like it too much.

With the pancakes finally devoured completely, Alyosha stood.

He picked up the empty plate and the half-empty glass of vodka.

Sipping at the vodka, he padded over to Dick and set the plate down on the counter next to him.

"Thank you," he murmured again, leaning against the counter as he sipped at his glass again.

"You're welcome." He repeated back.

Abandoning the pan for the moment, he wiped and cleaned the plate until it was spotless before placing it with the rest on the drainer. He eyed the stuff on there - already dried.

Glancing up at Aloysha and back down at the draining rack he asked:

"You won't mind putting a few bits of those away?"

Alyosha nodded and set his glass down.

He pushed off the counter and leaned over Dick to pick up a few of the mostly dry items that were on the rack. Like this, his muscular chest and stomach was pressed to Dick's side.

With his brain just a little addled by the alcohol he'd ingested - almost two full glasses of it now - he didn't see anything wrong with cutting corners, even if that meant pressing against the Vampire.

He shook them off, spattering droplets of water onto the sink and counter before pulling away to put the things in his hands away.

"Um."

He froze as he felt Alyosha's hard body press into his side.

The smaller male could feel the taller's chiselled abs against the length of his arm, and his chest brushed against his cheek.

Feeling a few cool droplets hit his face confirmed he was blushing.

Having his personal space given back he whipped his head round to look at the others body, a little in shame before quickly going back to the dishes.

He was pretty sure that was the first time some pressed against him like that in the last year - even if it was a drunken mistake.

"There's, um, a drying up towel over there." He nodded towards the ovens door where it hanged.

Alyosha hadn't even thought about the act.

It hadn't been sexual in the Necromancer's mind. He'd just leaned over to pick up the bowls and pans and that was all.

He padded over towards the oven to dry off the things a little more before placing them all away quickly, making minimal noise considering he wasn't quite sober and was a little bit clumsy with his movements compared to the graceful way he moved when he had been cooking.

"Any more?" he asked as he returned to Dick's side to pick up his glass again.

Still flushed pink he shook his head.

"Just this pan - but I can do that."

He glanced up quickly before back at the soppy water - dirtied from the food. Ugh he will need to clean the sink now.

"Good."

The man took another swig of vodka.

He relaxed against the counter, humming a soft tune to himself as he swirled the vodka in the glass idly.

The alcohol was definitely helping clear his mind a little.

Picking up the cloth he dried the now spotless pan and hurried to put it away.

His face slowly cooled down, but he still could not help the couple of glances at Alyosha's body.

How do people even get that muscular?

"What are you humming?"

He asked, emptying the sink and fishing out the food at the bottom to throw it away.

Alyosha had gotten this muscular through a lot of exercise and having to deal with Tuzik. When dealing with an incredibly strong Demonic pet dog, you had to get some muscle to be able to control him even slightly.

"Is old childhood rhyme."

His lips curled upwards.

A rhyme little kids sang in the playground when at school.

"Antoshka."

"Oh, I see."

That reminded him of a few of his own. Most involving how great god was... Really, that was what most of that songs were about. That or the king.

With the sink emptied of dirtied water and food he began running some clean water, and scrubbed the sides of the sink down.

"What are the words to it?"

"Is very difficult to translate."

Alyosha pursed his lips as he tried to translate it in his head, shaking his head after a moment.

"Not now. When less drunk, find me. I will tell you."

Translating things was a bit out of his ability at the moment. He sometimes lapsed into Russian even when he was sober. He'd have no chance translating something from Russian to English when he was feeling the effects of some (admitedly pretty bad) vodka.

He smiled at the answer, amused by it.

"Okay."

Grim off the sink he filled it a little with hot water, putting a little bleach in it. There done.

Turning he scoped the kitchen.

While he was waiting for the bleach to do it's job, maybe he should do something else. Sweep the floor maybe?

"What does it sound like in Russian?"

Walking over to a long cupboard he picked out a broom and began sweeping.

"Cheerful."

Alyosha couldn't help the grin that curled his lips.

It was ridiculously cheerful and childish. He had found himself singing it when times were rough many times in the past, just to try and bring his mood up.

"Antoshka, Antoshka
Poydyoom kapat' kartoshku
Antoshka, Antoshka
Poydyoom kapat' kartoshku"

The Necromancer sang is softly, a little smile on his face.

The blond vampire listened as he swept, a small smile on his own face.

"It does sound merry."

Sweeping the dust and crumbs into a mound, he put the the broom away in favour for a dust pan and brush.

"Do you know any more?"

"Is a fun song."

Alyosha tilted his head back in thought, staring up at the ceiling.

"Nyet," he murmured with a little shake of his head. "YA byl odinokim rebenkom."

He took a swig of his vodka and set the empty glass down. "I didnt do much socialising when I was young. I had one friend and we did not sing and dance often."

The two of them had been reserved children. They sat and talked, grew old beyond their time when they were very young. Then they got into all sorts of trouble with each other when they stopped ageing mentally.

_______________
I was a lonely child

He knew that nyet meant know - but that was as much Russian as he knew.

"I see." He gave a sympathetic smile. He had always been around children of his own age. Either his siblings or the others at the coven. While they are not all close, they had their fond moments.

Bringing the dust in the pan, he chucked it in the bin before putting the equipment away.

He moved onto cleaning the surfaces.

"That song is enough."

That one song was enough to cheer him up a little.

Though it bought unwanted memories, too. He'd sung it at some truly terrible moments in his life. Moments that he didn't want to relive.

Alyosha continued humming the song softly.

"Hmm."

He glanced over to Alyosha and back down to the surface.

It was a little sad that he knew only one nursery rhyme, he guessed.

Finished with the surfaces he pulled the plug out of the sink. It was gleaming.

With a relieved smile, he turned to look at his handiwork.

When the bleach drained from the sink, Alyosha quickly rinsed off his glass and dried it.

He set it back in the cupboard where it belonged then moved to put the vodka bottle back in the alcohol store.

"Is time to go try sleep." Or go for a walk.

"Please, Richard."

"Please?"

Richard blinked for a moment. Oh, he meant pleasure?

Smiling, he nodded. "Pleasure, Alyosha."

He liked people that cleaned up after themselves.