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It had been a surprise when Pieter brought fish home. Pieter had been a vegetarian for as long as Michael had known him, and he had also never seen him feed seafood to Charlie. But Pieter had explained that he made one exception a year to his vegetarianism at Christmastime, for tradition, and that had been that. At least, until Michael was watching Pieter actually eat the lutefisk he had prepared. Pieter had a visible suffering on his face as he swallowed.
"Babe, may I make an observation?"
Pieter turned towards Michael slightly. His face was still in a sour grimace, fork raised halfway to his mouth. "Yes?"
"You don't seem to be enjoying that at all."
"Yes, well. You try it and you'll understand," Pieter said, giving the fork to Michael.
Michael took a bite. He had never experienced fish that had a texture like jell-o before. Or, maybe rubber was more apt. And the taste itself was... Not to Michael's taste.
"Are you sure you made this right?" Michael had to ask, knowing the state of Pieter's refrigerator and his cooking.
"It's how my mother made it," Pieter said, which wasn't exactly an answer.
"You don't have to finish this, you know," Michael felt like he had to remind Pieter. It wasn't as if Pieter hadn't reminded Michael he didn't need to be so self flagellating in the past. Sometimes Pieter could use the reminder as well.
"I don't have to, no," Pieter acquiesced. "But it is tradition. And I am going to continue to eat it once a year. It is less about the eating it, anyway, than it is the making it. The time and contemplation."
Michael scooted his chair a little closer to Pieter's, making their shoulders touch. He took another bite in solidarity, making a small face before giving the fork back to Pieter. Even with more of the white sauce it was just an odd, odd dish to his palate. Michael was also pretty sure Pieter had overcooked it. Maybe next Christmas Pieter would let him be part of the time and contemplation of making the lutefisk.
"I may be overstepping, but next year maybe we could use more spices?"
Pieter turned to Michael, wide-eyed.
"Michael, min dukken, you are the smartest man alive."
Pieter laid his hand over Michael's, squeezing it. The sheer sincerity in his voice made Michael burst out laughing.