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Their coffee was lukewarm at this point, not like either of them minded it. Deeply engrossed in their conversation, the food on their plates had become an afterthought.
“I don’t see why we can’t wait until the next time they’re on sale.”
Kaveh stabs his finger into Alhaitham’s chest. “You say that but you’re the first to complain once we’re out of coffee.”
“Still, It would be way more cost efficient.” Alhaitham says, completely ignoring the point. Kaveh sort of hates it when he denies acting like this. Making Kaveh look like a crazy person when he swears he’s not making this stuff up.
Kaveh can only respond to this with a glare, and suddenly Alhaitham pivots.
“We can go tomorrow.”
“Ah, not tomorrow. I’m giving a lecture.”
Alhaitham’s eyebrow raised. “Well I’m not exactly free the next day either.”
“Alright alright, I’m sure I can move some things around.” Kaveh swiftly rises from his chair, heading to his office. Alhaitham leans back, smirk hidden behind a mug he raises to his lips. He might’ve been lying a little bit but no one else needed to know that.
Kaveh returns sooner than Alhaitham was expecting. Planner in hand and pen furiously scribbling into it.
“We are screwed.”
He slams it down on the table in front of him. Alhaitham leans over the table for a closer look.
They double booked.
They were meant to get dinner at some fancy restaurant tonight.
Neither of them would be back on time to get ready, let alone even be home yet.
Silence filled the room as they exchanged a look, then back down at the planner, Then to eachother again.
Kaveh sighed, head hanging low as he started to leave again. “I’ll call to cancel our reservation.”
Alhaitham takes another sip of his cold coffee.
── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──
For once, Alhaitham arrives home first. Albeit still late at night. All he could ask for is his nice warm bed but the growling in his stomach raised a new issue. He knew Kaveh would come back hungry as well. But had he really felt like turning on the stove and cutting vegetables? Definitely not.
“You’re home early!” Kaveh seemed to be in high spirits, walking towards Alhaitham with a smile. “Well earlier than usual.’
Alhaitham slumped into his husband out of pure exhaustion, luckily Kaveh caught them both from falling.
“I am hungry.” He groaned.
Kaveh shakes his head. “I assume I’m doing all the cooking for tonight, huh?”
After a bit of silence, Alhaitham responded. “I will help a little.”
Kaveh just sighs. “I’ll take it. But you have to get up.”
Kaveh ransacked the cupboard and triple checked the fridge just to find something suitable to cook with.
As promised, Alhaitham did help somewhat. Cut up some of the vegetables, boiled the water. But most of the work was rightfully attributed to Kaveh.
“You’re doing a wonderful job helping me out here.” Kaveh says with the most sarcasm he can muster. Yet for some odd reason (because he did pick up on it but didn't care), Alhaitham didn’t seem to acknowledge it, only nuzzling further into his partner.
“I did, didn’t I?”
“You’re lucky that I actually had enough energy to do this.”
Alhaitham lifts his head to look at him. At first Kaveh couldn’t tell what he was getting at, staring at him with those piercing eyes. He does laugh at little at Alhaitham’s pouty expression once he does end up getting it. Kaveh can’t help but love it when he’s like this. Behind closed doors where they don’t have to worry about being perceived by others (not like Alhaitham really cared about that sort of thing). He loved it when he was this clingy, when Kaveh got to dote on him a little.
“And you’re lucky I love you, of course. Is there really any doubt?”
“Yes there is.” Alhaitham nods into his shoulder. Kaveh can only laugh, purely out of love obviously.
“As if.”
“I have the slightest suspicion that you love Tighnari more than me.” Kaveh could feel Alhaitham smirk against his neck.
“Enough of this.” Kaveh wiggles out of Alhaitham’s grasp. “Food’s ready now.”
“You didn’t even try to deny my claim.”
“I don’t need to! Come sit down and eat the food I slaved away for!”
Alhaitham obeys, not before getting a word in. “Are we forgetting the part where I helped out?”
“It’s interesting what you consider helping.”
Alhaitham shakes his head fondly, taking his first bite.
He chews, he chews for a long while, hating every second of it, he can barely hold it down.
He wants to spit it out almost immediately.
A part of him wants to pretend like he enjoys it, at least to spare Kaveh’s feelings for all the trouble he had gone through for him. But seeing Kaveh’s face, not even hiding how disgusted he was, Alhaitham felt some sort of relief.
Once again they both stared at eachother in silence.
They both spit it out and threw the rest of it away.
“You can’t say we don’t need to go get groceries now.”
Alhaitham can’t even argue with this, as tedious of a task grocery shopping was for him. But they had no other choice if this was all they had to work with.
“Just tell me what you want me to order for dinner.”
── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──
Following their makeshift candlelit dinner, Alhaitham was excited to have his well deserved rest. He wasn’t anticipating Kaveh would beat him to the bathroom. At first Kaveh was surprised, but then he extends his hand to him and grins. “Why don’t we take a bath together since we’re both here.”
Alhaitham couldn’t be more happy about this proposition.
Once Alhaitham was in the tub, Kaveh settled between his legs, leaning back into his chest as arms wrapped around him.
“I cannot promise you I’m going to get up early in the morning.”
Kaveh lets his eyes close, the warm water felt so nice on his aching bones. He’d be content staying here for hours even when he knew Alhaitham would want to get out as soon as he could. “I guess I can’t expect any more from you than that, can I?”
“Not this time. I’m too tired..can barely stay awake.”
“I can’t say I’ve seen you this tired after work before. What were you even up to today?”
Kaveh turns around but Alhaitham can’t look at him. Kaveh can definitely tell he was blushing but for what reason? What could he possibly need to be embarrassed about?
“You’ll figure that out tomorrow.” Is the only answer he gives him.
“Fine, I guess I’ll be able to wait till then.” Under the water, Kaveh grabs Alhaitham’s hand and squeezes it.
“Happy anniversary, Alhaitham.”
“Happy anniversary, Kaveh.”