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The times they meet are far and few in between.
Silver has his responsibilities in Briar Valley as Malleus' retainer and Jade spends an innumerable amount of time between the sea and land. Very rarely do the two manage to find a moment to spend together, when the rush of life has ebbed to a comforting drawl and the most pressing matter is what they should have for dinner.
(mushrooms, of course. if silver gets his way they will have mushrooms.)
Morning light splits the sky but Silver doesn't wake yet.
His body only begins to rouse when the sun has climbed high into the sky, afternoon time in the countryside creating a pleasant sight to wake up to.
He opens his eyes first, taking in his surroundings.
It's his bedroom, yes, sparse as he would usually have it, but living on and off with Jade has left the merman's mark in his room. There are terrariums on shelves and a messy board with papers and pictures pinned to it haphazardly. Jade is neat except when he is passionate and so his books and supplies lay in a manageable mess in various spots about the room.
He will clean it later, Silver knows, and so he doesn't mind, rising from their bed and passing a hand through his hair.
He takes a sniff and soon sleep seeps out of him like water from a rag wrung taut. Jade is cooking.
His feet carry him down the steps and to the living area, a mixture of vintage and simple decor making a chaotic but comfortable clash. He finds his husband standing in front of the stove, staring intently at the phone in his hand as he stirs the pot. Silver cannot help the way his face softens.
Sidling up to him, he wraps his hands around Jade's waist, pressing his cheek against the space between his shoulder blades.
Silver doesn't have to see his face to know he's smiling.
"Good morning, my dear," Jade says kindly. "You woke up later than usual."
"Hmm," Silver offers, inhaling the scent of salt and earth that seems to cling to Jade no matter the situation. "It was just so comfortable. Before I knew it, it was midday."
Jade laughs, a sweet sound that renders Silver's heart in two. "No matter. I've made something for you." At that, he gently loosens the grip Silver has on him, pulling the shorter man into his side instead. "I've managed to make a soup using the chicken bones from last night's dinner. I unfortunately couldn't add any of the mushrooms I foraged from the woods yesterday but I do think it'll be just fine without it," he explains.
Silver feels his lips twitch upwards, sighing softly as he leans into the other man's side. "I can't wait to try it."
"Don't tease me," Jade counters. "My cooking hasn't at all improved since our time at school."
"It was never awful," Silver tries instead, shaking his head in defeat when Jade simply chuckles before kissing his hair.
"You should change and freshen up," he tells him. "I'll have the table set up by the time you come back."
He nods, squeezing Jade's hand on his waist. "Alright. Thank you for preparing this. You didn't have to."
"Oh, but I wanted to," says the merman, a toothy grin on his lips. "My culinary skills are nothing to celebrate and yet you always seem to have experienced an epiphany when you try my dishes. Cooking for you is rewarding. I'll have it no other way."
Silver smiles, genuinely then. "I'm glad."
(lunch that afternoon is nothing short of a success.)
FIN