Periscope Eyes
by Kay

Case in point: you reach into the refrigerator and grab the milk carton, wanting a quick gulp to wash down your chocolate chip cookie. Your hand pauses in mid-air when Billy's voice comes from the living room: "Get a glass. No drinking from the carton," he says flatly. He's in the living room, for Pete's sake! How could he know what you're doing? It boggles your mind, and it doesn't help that his reprimands make you feel like a naughty child.

Hmph. Well, he's not your mother. You're an adult, and you can do as you please. Especially when it comes to something as harmless as drinking out of a milk carton. That thought in mind, you tip your head back and take a drink, thinking that nothing in the world that goes better with chocolate chip cookies. Then you stick out your tongue in the general direction of the living room, just for good measure.

"Lovely, Dom. And you wonder why I treat you like a child."

With a guilty start, you turn to smile disarmingly at Billy. When did he come into the kitchen? And how did he know what you were thinking? He must have some kind of mind-reading skills to go along with those periscope eyes.

Billy ambles over to stand in front of you and pulls the milk carton out of your grasp. Reaching over your shoulder, he retrieves a glass from the cupboard and proceeds to fill it halfway with milk. Green milk. Green milk that he then presses into your hands. You stare at it stupidly, thinking "I know we're not in England anymore, but that's just not natural."

You look up to catch Billy's smirk. "Enjoy," he says. But it's not a statement or a joke; it's a challenge.

Your eyes narrow. Okay, who cares if the milk is green? It's just food coloring or something, because the milk tasted fine. Accepting Billy's challenge, you bring the glass to your lips and swallow the milk in one long gulp. You run the back of your hand across your mouth for effect, eyes never leaving Billy's.

"Thanks."

"Mmm..." Billy murmurs, staring at your mouth for a minute. Then he leans in, and you let him kiss you because you love him no matter how weird he is. After he's tested your mouth with a questing tongue, gathering the remaining flavor of milk, he pulls back and grins. "Elijah's here," he states matter-of-factly.

Sure enough, the doorbell rings a couple of seconds later. You dutifully go to answer it, shaking your head in amusement. Periscope eyes, like you already said. You'll probably never figure that guy out.

You greet Elijah with a hug and welcoming smile, not really noticing the odd look he gives you until he says something that catches your attention.

"Dom, your teeth are kind of green."

Huh. Maybe those periscope eyes are catching, because even though Billy's standing behind you, you know that he's grinning.

END.