Stop, stop, stop

weilongfu:

For @andwebegin based on this prompt.

Pairing: TinCan

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As Can takes the time to get to know Tin, Can realizes that Tin has several bad habits. It’s not that Can is a saint or perfect, but his bad habits are different than Tin’s so he gets to judge. 

And really, Can is just happy to have some manner of ammunition. 

The first bad habit is that Tin talks to himself in the mirror. Not a small hype talk or encouragement. Can has watched from afar as Tin actually bounces ideas while talking to the mirror, as if the surface reflects more than just light. 

The second bad habit is that Tin knows how to cook but refuses to do so. His entire fridge and freezer is full of frozen food and take-out. It’s a wonder Tin hasn’t died of scurvy yet, but at least Tin takes multivitamins and most of the food he orders has vegetables in it.

The third bad habit, and Can has no idea how Tin has survived this long from it, is that when he’s lost in his work, Tin loses sight of everything else. This can mean anything from losing track of time (Tin forgot about a date until it was twelve hours later and wondered by Can didn’t want to have dinner at 7 AM), to not sleeping (Can will never forget watching a sleep deprived Tin try to drink his notebook), to not watching where he’s going.

The first two effects of Tin’s tunnel vision are hilarious once or twice (Okay the sleep deprivation one is dangerous but incredibly funny because Tin’s confused expression whenever he attempts to eat/drink something that isn’t food will never fail to amuse Can). But Tin’s inability to watch where he’s going is going to actually kill him. 

Can has managed to prevent this some how. Today is a prime example.

Today, Can walks on ahead, rambling as Tin checks his emails on his phone. An activity that Tin thankfully does not do often. As they reach the street corner, Can stops as the light changes. A few moments later, Tin walks up and continues walking. Can thrusts his arm out in time to prevent Tin from walking right into a car and becoming a rich smear on the pavement. 

Tin, to his credit, stops the minute he makes contact with Can’s arm, but continues his email. The minute Can drops his arm, Tin continues walking as if nothing happened.

This repeats several times.

Can is concerned and decides to confront Tin. There’s no point in dating him if he’s got a death wish. 

“Do you normally not look where you’re going?” Can asks over dinner. “I’ve never seen you so distracted, are your emails that important?”

“I don’t do it when I’m alone,” Tin says putting some more meat into the boiling broth. “Here, this is cooked. Eat this.”

Can happily holds out his bowl, but he catches onto the previous sentence. “So you only do this when you’re with people?”

“I only do it around you.”

“What?! Why?!”

Tin looks up from his rice and blinks. “I trust you to stop me.”

A warm feeling grows from Can’s chest and he’s pretty sure it’s something like love and trust, but it’s also tinged with annoyance. “That’s very sweet, Tin.” And Tin smiles and Can almost wants to not say the next part. “But please for my sanity, stop that.”