#riko's

Paul has been telling me to check out Riko’s for months now and on a recent trip to Long Island I had the chance to stop on my way to Massapequa. I made sure to not eat a lot earlier in the day since I knew Riko’s was a pie only place so I went in hungry for some slices. I know LI likes to jack up their prices so I was pleasantly surprised to only be spending $11 on a pretty big personal pie. I was able to finish all 6 slices, but would have been more than content with 4.

I went for the hot oil pizza (Paul’s recommendation) which is Riko’s claim to fame. It’s a plain pie made with spicy oil and a stinger pepper in the middle. I had mixed feelings about the hot oil. While it did have a nice kick, it was not distributed very well, leaving some bites with no spice and others with way too much. Honestly I might have preferred a plain pie because the cheese and sauce were great! Thin crust with a nice layer of cheese and that light, unseasoned sauce that I love. I would like to return eventually to try some other items, I hear they have a dope hot oil hot dog....

                                       this one’s from Paul’s visit!

Life unfolds in a weird way. Leaving Japan and going to Hawaii made him grow closer to the other man, even more so than when they were together almost every other day having activities together.

‘Busy?’ The pop out of his LINE messenger app flashes on his screen, and Ryutaro smiles at the name. 

‘Hmm, busy is good. What about you?’ He types on his phone with practiced moves. 

How long have they been just texting? Years. 

When was the last time they met each other? When he just came back to Japan, maybe?

Both of them are public figures, and people are looking at each and every actions (and Ryutaro learnt it the hard way). 

‘Nothing new. Just lazing around for the day with my cats.’ Ryutaro chuckles, reminded how no one knew about his cats, and how even Hikaru stayed over and not know. Watch the episode of Itadaki High Jump made him crack up so hard, and he thinks that they are just as good without him. He doesn’t fit there.

‘Sounds good to be resting, I’m still on the way home.’ His muscles are aching and he can’t wait to collapse on his bed and get his much needed rest. They are texting in English, something that they’ve done over the years at Ryutaro’s request to improve his English while he was in Hawaii.

‘Call me when you get home.’ 

A smile tugs at the edge of his lips, and Ryutaro can’t help but giggle to himself like a high school girl.

‘Yeah, I will. After I shower.’

‘Yeah. I miss you.’

“Oof!” The impact comes almost unexpected and Yuuri groans from under the blanket, knowing full well what has landed on top of him. The tell-tale whines of Makkachin pawing him awake makes Yuuri flip over to the other side in attempt to escape, but it only exposes his face and Makkachin makes it his duty to lick his new owner up. 

“Makka, spare me.” Yuuri croaks into his pillow.

“He’s not going to stop until you wake up, moya lyubov.”

Yuuri’s hair is all mused up from a night’s sleep, and peeking out from the blanket, he sees the blur outline of Victor standing at the door. Sighing in defeat, he palms around for his glasses on the side table, putting them on once he manages to hook his fingers around the frame and bringing them close. 

Once he isn’t looking out into the world through frosted glass, he can see Victor already fresh and ready for the day. The Russian walks over and pulls him out of the comfort of their warm bed, before pushing him into the bathroom. “Come on, Yuuri. Wash up. Breakfast is ready in a sec.” His deep chuckle sends Yuuri’s heart fluttering. 

Part of him still can’t wrap his head around the fact that they are, in fact, engaged. The metal wrapping itself around his ring finger on his right hand serves as a constant reminder that what he has right now isn’t a dream. 

Yuuri finds himself smiling to himself in the mirror as he brushes his teeth.

When he finally joins Victor at the dining table, toast and scrambled eggs are plated and placed on his seat, and his mug (which is printed with his Stammi Vicino exhibition costume because Victor insisted on custom-made matching mugs for them) is filled with freshly brewed coffee. 

“Good morning, Yuuri. Are you more awake now?” 

“Hmm,” Yuuri hums in reply, reaching over to grab the sugar, only to have the jar pulled further away by Victor. Frowning, he looks over at Victor with a confused look.

“It’s two sugars, right?” Yuuri nods.

“I’ve already put them in.” Victor uses his fork and points towards Yuuri’s mug, motioning for him to take a sip from his caffeinated drink. 

Looking down at his mug, Yuuri lifts it up and takes a tentative sip. 

“Oh.” And it’s Victor’s turn to raise an eyebrow. Yuuri shakes his head before smirking at his fiance. “So you can have a good memory when you want to.” 

Chuckling, Victor leans over and pecks Yuuri on the lips. “Only for the important things, Yuuri.” His fingers on his right hand intertwines with Yuuri’s, and their golden rings makes a soft click on contact.

At the very least, he is comfortable in his boots (and also the pretty over-sized looking off-shoulder knit, and knitted beanie).

Just when he was about to get up and hike back home, Yamada felt a pair of arms encircling his waist and pulling him into a warm embrace. “Sorry I’m late, Yama-chan.”

“And I was thinking of going home already.” He didn’t have to turn around to know that it was Yuto that is hugging him from the back.

He didn’t have to guess because this is all happening because of him.

Turning around in his arms, Yamada was met with a usual grin and he spots Yuto’s camera (one of the many cameras the man owns) hanging on his shoulder. “I have no idea why I agreed to this. My sister thought that I was mad going out like this,” rolling his eyes, Yamada nudged Yuto’s arms away.

“And what did you say?”

“I informed her about the presences of a crazy photographer boyfriend, and her only reaction was ‘oh, have fun’.” Clicking his tongue, Yamada waved to Yuto, signalling to the younger man to follow him. “How is dressing up as a female out in the public fun?” Yuto had quickly followed up, and naturally held onto Yamada’s right hand. “Of course there are plus points to this. We can hold hands out in the public like this.” While saying that, he carefully laced their fingers together. He could see Yamada’s cheeks tinted a little more pink than the blusher he had applied.

“So, where is the cafe you were telling me about?”

“A cat cafe. I think I need to surround myself with furballs right now so that I don’t punch you.”

“The photos will turn out great. Where else do you want to go after that?”

“...”

“Come on Yama-chan, it’s a date!”

“Then you come up with something, boyfriend.”

“Fine. I’ll do just that and make you the prettiest person on Earth, girlfriend.”