[ There’s a jolt of warmth up Kaveh’s spine when he feels Alhaitham’s hand on his back. Generally, he would never allow this sort of overly-familiar touching, but… he excuses it, warm-faced, and doesn’t comment. Nor does he shake Alhaitham off when that hand moves to his waist.
Kaveh can smell Alhaitham. He could before, but up close like this, it is more apparent than ever. It’s a scent he’s grown used to — fond of, even, if he lets himself admit it — and even the fragrant spices don’t diminish Alhaitham’s scent.
He suspects the alpha is not only talking about the food. ]
If you want to help, you can get plates.
[ Kaveh angles his head towards a cabinet door, figuring that’s likely a safe way to maintain space between them when everything in Kaveh is telling him to allow it. ]
[ Alhaitham doesn't want to pull back from Kaveh. He'd much rather stay right here and continue smelling him all he wants. But he knows a dismissal when he hears one and that's the only reason he has survived so far in his pursuit of Kaveh. So, he takes a step back, drops his hand from Kaveh's waist and nods. ]
Plates it is.
[ He'll move in the small space then to reach the cabinet with the plates, pulling them out with practiced ease even if he's never been in the space before. It just feels familiar to him, like this is his mate's den and he's just making himself comfortable in it. Which, to be fair, it kind of is and he kind of is too. ]
[ Kaveh instinctively misses the touch, though he's still trying to tell himself it's nothing. He's simply someone who enjoys physical contact, and has not enjoyed it in quite a while. No matter the fact that Alhaitham's scent makes his cheeks warm.
He fits so comfortably in Kaveh's apartment, too. Like he belongs there. He doesn't, Kaveh reminds himself, but... ]
Here.
[ He serves Alhaitham a generous portion, and a strange anxiousness settles on him. Like he's concerned with how Alhaitham will enjoy the food. Kaveh brushes that off, too. ]
Would you like anything to drink? I generally have wine with dinner.
[ A bit too much wine. He can make more tea, too. ]
[ Alhaitham is happy to take the plate of food, picking up both of their servings with his hands and nodding towards the couch. ]
Should I take these to the couch for us to eat or is there somewhere else you'd prefer to eat?
[ He notices the little dining table, but it wouldn't be as cozy as eating next to each other on the couch. In his heart of hearts, he wants to see if he can figure out a way he can convince Kaveh to feed him himself. ]
And wine is good with me, thanks.
[ Maybe if he gets a bit of wine in Kaveh, he'll be easier to convince into it. ]
The couch is fine. I'm not fussy about where we eat as long as you don't spill.
[ With that, he gives Alhaitham a pointed look. No stains on the couch or the rug. He paid a lot for that rug. It doesn't cross Kaveh's mind to examine how the couch seems preferable to him, where he'd normally select the dining table with anyone else.
In the meantime, he pours two glasses of wine. He will try very hard not to overindulge, not with a guest over, but Kaveh does enjoy a bit of wine. ]
[ There's the slightest quirk of Alhaitham's lips upward as Kaveh agrees to the couch and he'll bring both of their plates to the couch, setting them on the coffee table while he leaves Kaveh to bring the wine glasses and the bottle over, if he wants.
It's only when they're both settled on the couch that Alhaitham finally tries the food. He's sitting next to Kaveh, close enough that their shoulders are pressed against each other. Just happenstance, truly. But then he's picking up the fork and taking a bite of the stir fry and, huh, this is really good.
He takes a few more bites, making a pleased noise before looking at Kaveh. ]
[ Oh, he's certainly bringing the bottle. Kaveh never ends with just one glass of wine.
They're sitting awfully close, which Kaveh tries to ignore; he tells himself it's only because... because the couch isn't all that big, and he doesn't like it. But also, he doesn't hate it either.
He watches Alhaitham closely, and then beams when his cooking is given approval. ]
I don't cook often, so I'm glad I've still got it.
[ It's only then that he takes a bite of his own food. And then a sip of wine. ]
[ Alhaitham doesn't know how to subtly get Kaveh to feed him. He wants it to happen, can't stop picturing it in his head, but he also knows that Kaveh is still on guard around him a little bit. So, he eats his food and his eyes flicker over Kaveh, taking him in, considering.
He'll sip the wine too, slower though, not as interested in it as he is in Kaveh. For now, he's quite comfortable in Kaveh's company, at least. ]
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no subject
Kaveh can smell Alhaitham. He could before, but up close like this, it is more apparent than ever. It’s a scent he’s grown used to — fond of, even, if he lets himself admit it — and even the fragrant spices don’t diminish Alhaitham’s scent.
He suspects the alpha is not only talking about the food. ]
If you want to help, you can get plates.
[ Kaveh angles his head towards a cabinet door, figuring that’s likely a safe way to maintain space between them when everything in Kaveh is telling him to allow it. ]
no subject
Plates it is.
[ He'll move in the small space then to reach the cabinet with the plates, pulling them out with practiced ease even if he's never been in the space before. It just feels familiar to him, like this is his mate's den and he's just making himself comfortable in it. Which, to be fair, it kind of is and he kind of is too. ]
no subject
He fits so comfortably in Kaveh's apartment, too. Like he belongs there. He doesn't, Kaveh reminds himself, but... ]
Here.
[ He serves Alhaitham a generous portion, and a strange anxiousness settles on him. Like he's concerned with how Alhaitham will enjoy the food. Kaveh brushes that off, too. ]
Would you like anything to drink? I generally have wine with dinner.
[ A bit too much wine. He can make more tea, too. ]
no subject
Should I take these to the couch for us to eat or is there somewhere else you'd prefer to eat?
[ He notices the little dining table, but it wouldn't be as cozy as eating next to each other on the couch. In his heart of hearts, he wants to see if he can figure out a way he can convince Kaveh to feed him himself. ]
And wine is good with me, thanks.
[ Maybe if he gets a bit of wine in Kaveh, he'll be easier to convince into it. ]
no subject
[ With that, he gives Alhaitham a pointed look. No stains on the couch or the rug. He paid a lot for that rug. It doesn't cross Kaveh's mind to examine how the couch seems preferable to him, where he'd normally select the dining table with anyone else.
In the meantime, he pours two glasses of wine. He will try very hard not to overindulge, not with a guest over, but Kaveh does enjoy a bit of wine. ]
no subject
It's only when they're both settled on the couch that Alhaitham finally tries the food. He's sitting next to Kaveh, close enough that their shoulders are pressed against each other. Just happenstance, truly. But then he's picking up the fork and taking a bite of the stir fry and, huh, this is really good.
He takes a few more bites, making a pleased noise before looking at Kaveh. ]
It's good, I like it.
no subject
They're sitting awfully close, which Kaveh tries to ignore; he tells himself it's only because... because the couch isn't all that big, and he doesn't like it. But also, he doesn't hate it either.
He watches Alhaitham closely, and then beams when his cooking is given approval. ]
I don't cook often, so I'm glad I've still got it.
[ It's only then that he takes a bite of his own food. And then a sip of wine. ]
no subject
You do.
[ Alhaitham doesn't know how to subtly get Kaveh to feed him. He wants it to happen, can't stop picturing it in his head, but he also knows that Kaveh is still on guard around him a little bit. So, he eats his food and his eyes flicker over Kaveh, taking him in, considering.
He'll sip the wine too, slower though, not as interested in it as he is in Kaveh. For now, he's quite comfortable in Kaveh's company, at least. ]