Work Text:
"You know I love you very much, right?"
"Yes?"
"Then I'm about to say something that you're not ready to hear."
"I know exactly what abhorred phrase you are about to utter, and you're wrong."
"I'm right."
"No you're not. I refuse to let this be our first falling out as a couple."
"Then admit I'm right!"
"You are not."
"Ratatouille is not that good a film."
"It's an artform!"
Movie nights between the two had been routine for a while now. It was just a moment to rewind and let the rest of the world fall away, if only for a brief moment. Ever since the death game, any peaceful moments were appreciated. There was just one simple issue: the glaring differences in preferred genres. Mishima liked tear-jerking films. Black and white romances; heart wrenching movies about a man and his pet; real life stories that'd been adapted into emotional rollercoasters. Anything that would inevitably make his eyes water. He wasn't a big crier, even after all he'd seen and been through. Maybe this was why he loved these sorts of things. It was nice to let out some feelings every once in a while. Keiji on the other hand? Much less emotional. He didn't particularly have any 'favourites', really, it was just that all that touchy-feely stuff didn't hit him as hard as it did his partner. He'd watch pretty much anything Mishima suggested. The two of them only had one rule between them: no action or cop films. It was the only thing Keiji had ever refused, until now.
"How can you not like it? Have you ever seen it?" The teacher looked over the top of his glasses, frowning slightly.
"I think I saw like… one or two scenes when the kids were all watching it?"
"You're judging a film you've never even seen before? My my, how biased!"
"Oh don't say that." Keiji laughed, shaking his head a little. "It's just-"
"Do not say it's simply a kids film!"
"That wasn't what I was going to- Okay, look. It just seems a little… I don't know? Tame?"
"Tame?!"
"Oh here we go."
"How could you- Fine. Whether you like it or not, we are watching it just to prove once and for all that Ratatouille is not a tame movie!"
"Did- Did they just shoot their ceiling down?" The policeman blinked once, then twice, then a third time in confused shock. "Of all the things to do with a gun…"
"To be fair, dearest, whenever you see any sort of pest, be it bug or rodent, you never calm down until I have gotten rid of it."
"Shut up!"
"Gladly, as you can enjoy the film better than way."
"Oh my god."
"Are you still saying it's tame now?!"
"...I'm so confused by this film lemme get this straight."
"See? It is more complex than you expected!"
"It's- Okay, how many minutes are we into this? Not many. In that time, he has found poison, gotten struck by lightning, gotten shot at, been separated from his family, and nearly drowned in a sewer." He listed the details, counting lazily on his fingers, staring down at his partner, cuddled up against his side.
"Correct!"
"This is a kids film, right?"
"Why wouldn't it be?" Mishima tilted his head to one side, a playful smirk on his face. This was going exactly as he had planned.
"Oh god."
"It's about to get a whole lot better!!"
"Let me guess, more near death experiences?"
"...So I was joking when I said 'more near death experiences'."
"And I wasn't joking when I said it was about to get a whole lot better."
"That was just… A montage of him nearly dying."
"Indeed it was. You must feel quite foolish for calling this 'tame'. Hmm?"
"Fine! You win! It's not a tame film."
"Aha!"
"But,"
"Oh good, you weren't finished."
"That doesn't mean it's a good film. It's just more complex than I expected."
"Hmm. We shall see about that."
The two continued their debates throughout the film, wrapped up in each other's arms. The only movement was for Keiji's wild gesticulating as the cartoon continued to confuse him. He'd always spoken with his hands. Despite his criticisms and complaints, he was clear enjoying himself. The soft smirk that he thought Mishima didn't notice gave that away. The playful tone to his words made it easy to see right through him. Maybe it was the film, or maybe it was simply the being curled around the man he loved, but something about that night just felt… right to Keiji. Movie nights always did, but there was something extra special about this one. Could it be his partner's pure childlike joy? Could it be the sheer warmth of his bright smile? There was something just… gentle about it. It felt good.
"Hey… are you crying?" The policeman was suddenly aware of a soft sniveling sound.
"It's just… He spends his whole life as- as a sullen food critic… Even his office i-is shaped like a coffin. But, but by the end! He's- He's happy, Keiji."
"Aww, you softie." Despite the insult, there was no animosity in his tone. He tenderly brushed the tears from his partner's face, smiling warmly.
"Must you patronize me?"
"You're an easy target." His hand remained on Mishima's cheek, holding it gently.
"And you're an ass."
"Hey!"
"However,"
"Oh?"
"That is why I love you."
"Aww, you love me?"
"Yes, you fool."
"I love you too, but you're in no position to call me a fool."
"You forget that I am."
"How's that?"
"You said Ratatouille was a tame film that wasn't as good as I thought it was. You were wrong."
"I'm never going to live this down, am I?"
"You made a grave mistake. Of course I must never let you forget it!"
Perhaps it would take a thousand years for him to admit it, or perhaps he never would. But that night made one thing very, very clear to the friendly policeman: Ratatouille was his favourite film by miles.