#mark asks

"Hi Jesse."

"Oh!"

Jesse carefully put down the knife that he was cutting up vegetables with and took one step away from the counter.

"Hi Mitch! I'm sorry. I didn't hear you come in."

Mitchell smiled softly at the young man. He was standing perfectly still, with his head slightly bowed and his eyes down. It hurt Mitchell's heart a little bit that he was still so uncomfortable with him coming around but it was Mitchell's own fault. He needed to make visiting more of a priority.

"Don't mind me," Mitchell held out one hand, gesturing for Jesse to continue his task, "You making dinner?"

Jesse huffed out a little laugh, "No, but I'm in charge of the vegetables."

"Worthy task."

Jesse just smiled and took one step forward and picked up the knife again. He so carefully lined up the edge of the blade before slicing, every single time. Mitchell found the way he settled into a slow rhythm oddly mesmerizing and he audibly squeaked when Mark showed up right at his elbow without saying a word.

"Jesus! Make a noise would you."

"Sorry," Mark laughed placing a firm hand on his brother's shoulder, "Never known you to be so skittish."

Mitchell scoffed at his little brother, "Sure. Our entire lives didn't clue you in huh?"

"Fair point. How's it coming Jesse?"

"Good," Jesse smiled but kept his eyes on the carrot under the knife.

"Can I toss them into the salad yet?"

"One more carrot and then yes."

Mark snatched a slice of cucumber off the cutting board, earning him a playful scowl.

"There's only two slices of cucumber left you know."

Mark happily shoved the slice into his mouth and grinned, lifting both hands up in the air and backing away from the counter.

They watched Jesse make the final slice of carrot and set the knife carefully off to the side of the cutting board, his eyes scanning over the perfect little piles of assorted vegetables as if he was making sure everything was done to his satisfaction. Mitchell found himself holding his breath as they waited. He wasn't sure for what.

Finally, Jesse nodded and looked up at Mark with such an open, vulnerability that Mitchell wasn't expecting. Jesse's eyes were shimmering in the evening light, as if they were holding back little pools of tears, just waiting to spill over. Mitchell swore he could see the scared kid tossed into the system, waiting to be punished for cutting a damn pepper the wrong way.

He watched Mark round the counter as casual as can be.

Wasn't Mark seeing this? Mitchell found himself wanted to wrap Jesse up in his arms and tell him everything was okay and he was safe and no one would ever hurt him ever again. He breathed out a slow breath as Mark quickly looked over the little piles Jesse had so carefully made. He bumped Jesse's shoulder, making the boy smile and snatched another cucumber, popping it into his mouth.

"Hey!"

Mitchell could feel the tension around them all shatter, dissolving into laughter instead. Mark squeezed the back of Jesse's neck, the kid sporting an impressive overly exaggerated pout, before reaching into the fridge and pulling out another cucumber.

"Oh, thank god! You don't get any of this one!" Jesse said, snatching the cucumber out of Mark's hand and promptly shoved him out of the kitchen.

"Oh come on!" Mark laughed as he allowed himself to be manhandled by a man currently half his weight, "Those are perfect by the way. Toss 'em in the bowl when you're done chopping up my cucumber please!"

Mitchell was stunned at what he'd just witnessed. Jesse's entire disposition completely morphed from a scared, unsure pet trying his best to properly perform a task given by his master to a playful, happy member of the family so proudly chopping up, and protecting, the last cucumber. The kid was beaming and laughing and mindlessly scooping up the veggies and tossing them into the salad bowl.

"You okay?"

Mitchell looked over at Mark, setting the table.

"I'm great. Hungry."

Mark smiled at him and gestured to the spread of food, Jesse coming in with the salad and proudly setting the bowl in the middle of the table.

"Let's eat!"

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