After taking a refreshing bath, Dean stepped out of the bathroom, feeling more awake but still trying to shake off the remnants of that dream. He changed into some comfortable clothes—a loose T-shirt and soft pants—and took a deep breath, trying to calm his heartbeat that was still erratically pacing.
Making his way to the hallway, he was surprised to catch the faint aroma of cooking. Dean frowned slightly, confused. Usually, he was the first one up, handling breakfast and making sure the house was in order. Curious, he headed toward the kitchen, and there, to his astonishment, was Alex. Alex was standing at the stove, fully dressed in his casual clothes, stirring a pot with an unexpected look of concentration on his face.
Dean blinked, still processing the scene in front of him. "Alex? You're up early… and cooking?" he asked, a smile creeping onto his face. He tried to hide his surprise but couldn't quite manage it. "What's going on? I thought you'd still be sleeping."
Alex glanced over his shoulder, chuckling. "Surprised, huh?" he said, turning back to the stove as he added a pinch of salt to the dish he was preparing. "I thought maybe it wouldn't hurt if I took over breakfast duty for once. You do it every day, so maybe it's my turn to be a little helpful," he added with a small grin, looking pleased with himself.
Dean couldn't help but smile at the sight of Alex trying to cook. It was strange but… kind of endearing. "Well, that's… unexpected," Dean said, moving over to the counter. "But hey, I won't complain if it means I get to relax a bit. So, what's on the menu?"
"Pancakes with scrambled eggs," Alex replied, his smile widening. "Nothing too fancy, but I think I can manage it."
Dean laughed softly, amused. "Alright, then. I'll set the table." He grabbed some plates and silverware, arranging them on the dining table with an extra touch of care.
Once Alex was done, he carefully placed the freshly made pancakes and scrambled eggs on the table. The smell was enticing, and Dean's stomach growled softly in appreciation. They both sat down to eat, the atmosphere surprisingly calm and warm, almost like… a family breakfast.
Dean took a bite and glanced over at Alex. "How's Kikki doing? He was crying last night."
Alex looked up, a bit of pride in his smile. "He's fine now. Still asleep, actually. I got him back to bed last night without too much trouble."
Dean's eyebrows lifted slightly. "Really? Usually, it takes a while to calm him down. I usually have to… well, I didn't know you had it in you," he teased, laughing softly.
"Of course I did," Alex replied, grinning. "After all, I am his dad. I've got my own ways of handling him." He looked up, his gaze softening for a moment as he continued eating.
Dean's smile lingered, but something was bothering him. His thoughts wandered back to the previous night, to how close Alex had gotten, to the words he'd said. *Was that really just a joke?* he wondered, his mind racing with questions. He opened his mouth to ask, but the words didn't come. Instead, he heard himself saying, "So… uh, what's going on with Lucas?"
The mention of Lucas seemed to break the pleasant mood entirely. Alex's hand froze mid-bite, his jaw clenched, and a shadow crossed his face. His gaze, which had been warm and soft moments before, grew cold and steely.
"Never let that guy in this house again," Alex replied tersely, setting his fork down with an edge of finality. "And don't ever bring up his name in front of me." He glared down at his plate, jaw tight, clearly trying to hold back more than he wanted to say.
Dean's eyes widened, taken aback by the intensity of Alex's reaction. He swallowed, realizing he might've crossed a line he didn't know existed. "I… I just want to know—"
"You don't nedd to," Alex cut him off sharply. Without another word, he pushed back his chair and stood, his movements stiff as he picked up his plate and took it to the sink. "I'll be getting ready for the office," he muttered, his voice clipped. And with that, he left the room, disappearing down the hall.
Dean sat there, stunned. The warmth and lightness of their morning together had vanished, replaced by a cold, lingering tension. He couldn't quite understand what had triggered Alex's reaction, but one thing was certain: there was something going on between Alex and Lucas.