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Ifa's house wasn't far from the vet clinic. He liked to stay close in case of emergencies. So, when Ororon passed Ifa's clinic and saw the 'closed' sign, he smiled and kept going up the path. The vegetables in the basket were beginning to feel heavy and he was glad there wasn't much farther to walk.
The lights were on in the small hut and the silhouette of Cacucu flew around inside. Ororon knocked on the door and heard the little saurian call for Ifa before the man himself appeared.
"Hey bro, come on in," Ifa grinned and stepped aside.
"You finished early," Ororon commented as he entered.
"Not many appointments today. Which is good considering there's a lot of flight training going on this week."
"I brought you some stuff from my garden. Granny said I should share since the crops have been good this season."
Ororon placed the basket on the kitchen table and opened the top to show Ifa everything inside. He began pulling out an assortment of produce — carrots, cabbages, radishes, and cacahuatl.
"That's a lot," Ifa laughed. "You're sure you have enough for yourself?"
"Sure do!" Ororon said. "This season has been good to me. And the aphids are doing well, too."
"That's great to hear," Ifa smiled, patting him on the shoulder. "Hey, why don't I make something for us to eat. Have you had dinner yet?"
Ororon shook his head, feeling his bat-like ears flop against his hair.
"Good. Then we can share a meal."
"You don't have to," Ororon began to protest, but Ifa waved him off and started pulling out vegetables from the basket.
Most people only knew Ifa as the best saurian vet in Natlan, but there were only a few who knew how talented a chef he was as well. Ororon felt a little awkward just standing in the kitchen with nothing to do, but then Cacucu landed on his shoulder and nuzzled against his cheek.
"No way, bro!"
"Cacucu has been excited for your visit," Ifa said over his shoulder while he washed the produce.
"I'm glad you invited me. It's been a while since it's just been us," Ororon said.
Ifa rolled up his sleeves, showing off his toned forearms and Ororon had to look away lest his heart hammer its way straight out of his chest. He knew his best friend was a fine looking man. He'd had plenty of embarrassing fantasies about Ifa for years. But nothing had ever really developed between them beyond friendship. No matter how badly Ororon wished they could be more. It was too scary to voice his desires.
"You okay, bro?" Ifa asked, chopping vegetables and putting them in a pan to cook. "You got really quiet all of a sudden."
"Yeah, I'm okay."
"Did Granny Itztli scold you for something again?"
"Not today," Ororon said with a shrug. "I was just thinking."
"Wanna share?" Ifa asked, not looking at Ororon.
This was his chance. Maybe he could say how he felt without Ifa looking at him. Would that be easier or harder? Cacucu nudged his cheek as if to say 'go on'.
"I like you, Ifa." There, he said it.
"Oh thanks, man. I like you, too." Ifa grinned over his shoulder. The kind that was lopsided and made Ororon's heart skip a beat.
Shoot! Ifa didn't understand.
"No, I mean…" Ororon sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Forget it."
But Ifa turned down the heat and came to stand in front of Ororon. His fingers notched beneath Ororon's chin and tilted his face up to look at him. Cacucu flew back to his favorite perch with a signal from Ifa.
"I know what you meant," Ifa said softly. "And I mean it when I say I like you, too."
Ororon's breathing hitched. His eyes darted between Ifa's and he felt his face grow warm. Ifa's fingers were soft against his chin, his thumb moving upward to caress Ororon's lower lip.
"Can I?" Ifa asked, his eyes dipping to Ororon's mouth.
"Please."
Slowly, Ifa leaned in. Their lips met in a soft kiss that was warm as the summer sun and as sweet as honey. Ororon's eyes fluttered shut and he reached out to place his hands on Ifa's shoulders. He felt unsteady in the best way.
When Ifa tilted his head to deepen their kiss, his tongue sliding over the seam of Ororon's lips, it sent a shiver of anticipation down Ororon's spine. He opened for Ifa, tentatively poking his own tongue out to meet Ifa's.
Cacucu whistled and the spell was broken. They jumped apart, both breathing heavily and cheeks flushed red.
"I—" Ororon couldn't speak. His head was dizzy and he felt like he could just float away.
"I've wanted to do that for a long time," Ifa admitted, his eyes softening as he caressed Ororon's bottom lip with his thumb once more. "Maybe… after dinner, you'd like to stay for dessert?"
Ororon's stomach flipped with the promise of more. He was greedy. Always wanting to monopolize Ifa's time. And the thought of having the man for an entire evening, with no interruptions, was a dream.
"Definitely."
"Good," Ifa said, not able to contain his beaming grin. "Want to help me make dinner?"
"Sure. Just tell me what to do, Chef."
Together, they moved around the kitchen, preparing the meal and Ororon felt like it was natural. Like they were meant to occupy the same space. To be so close that when they needed to slide past each other, Ifa grabbed onto his waist and kissed his cheek.
"This is nice," Ororon said as they sat down to eat the meal they prepared together.
"Yeah, we should do this more often," Ifa agreed. "Maybe with someone waiting on us and a couple tankards of mead…"
Ororon's ears flicked with curiosity. "Ifa?"
"Hmm?"
"Are you talking about a date?"
"Uh yeah. Unless you don't—"
"I do," Ororon cut him off. "I want to go on a date with you."
Ifa beamed again and continued eating his meal. Ororon couldn't be happier. He was with his favorite person, eating a meal made with his vegetables, and there was the promise of more kissing later. This was the best night ever.