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“You don’t have to stand so close, you know?” Trey hummed, sending a glance under his lashes over his shoulder. His cheeks were flushed from the heat of the stove he stood over, stirring the stew base they were going to have for dinner. They flushed a bit redder as he felt a hand curl around his hip, chin resting on his shoulder.
“Don’t be cruel; I simply want to be close to you,” Jade simpered, his quiet breath ghosting along Trey’s neck, “and the kitchen is such an intimate space-I’m simply utilizing its square footage as best as possible.”
Trey rolled his eyes, impossibly fond. Their kitchen was far from small, and if it was ‘intimate,’ it was only because of Jade’s close contact. The room, like the rest of the Hunt family villa they had settled in, was spacious and high-tech- without being ostentatious-though it could certainly be…eccentric in terms of personal decoration. Trey’s husbands could be thanked for that.
Sure, it probably paled in comparison to the Mostro Lounge kitchen Jade used to be used to, but it was much grander than Trey had been used to from growing up in his family’s bakery. His childhood homestead was nothing to scoff at by any means, but it was much more of a humble, neighborhood establishment than a luxury restaurant or private villa.
“Of course, of course,” Trey placated, both highly aware neither of them meant what they were saying. “But you’ll have to detach for a moment, unless you want to eat just potato and carrot stew for dinner?” He tilted his head towards the counter, gesturing at the rest of the chopped vegetables, all selected from Jade’s own liking, and the precooked venison courtesy of Rook. “It’s nearly time to add the rest of the ingredients, and I know you’ve got a new mushroom type you’re itching to include. ...Or have you changed your mind?”
He was teasing, of course, and Jade knew it–arm around his waist squeezing tighter, the eel encircling his prey.
“Oh, you know I’m not the type to do that,” Jade smirked, sharp as ever. “Unless you’re mistaking me for my brother.”
Trey wrinkled his nose. “Better hope that I’m not. I certainly wouldn’t let your brother hold me like this.”
Jade pulled away slightly, miming gagging as Trey’s shoulders shook with restrained laughter.
“No, I sincerely hope not,” He scowled. “Better leave that dubious honor to Jamil and Ace. He can have them, but he can’t have you.”
“Sevens knows how they ended up together, but I’m glad they did,” Trey smiled. He never would’ve guessed it back at Night Raven, but the couple somehow worked. They’d even double-dated (if it could be called that with their numbers) once or twice. Trey might not get it, but they could say the same about his own relationship. If he’d told someone about his partners back then, he probably would’ve been laughed at or taken straight into the infirmary for inhaling too much potion fumes at science club.
And yet here he was, a few years past graduation, cooking with one of his husbands, matching wedding bands on their fingers alongside a matching earring on their right ears. And he was incredibly, almost stupidly happy.
The stew he was stirring was bubbling lightly, a pleasant smell wafting from each pop. It was about time to add the other ingredients. He set the spoon against the side of the pot and tapped his hand against Jade’s lightly, feeling him wordlessly let go of his hip.
They moved in practiced unison, winding tightly around each other in their kitchen dance despite the abundant space they had. Jade gathered his personally acquired bounty of mushrooms, sliding them into the pot with a gleaming eye as Trey slid in the other vegetables. He wondered what taste Jade’s latest find would leave in their dinner tonight, and if he would have to break out his signature spell to make it edible. He hoped not; Jade always enjoyed it more when his experiments turned out well (at least when he was testing it with his husbands), even if it always made Rook go on an inspired tirade on the subject of “nature's incredibly varied beauty.” (Rook’s words, as Trey was well able to quote by now.)
As if summoned from the thought, he heard the slightest sound behind him, a creak of boots on the floor following the small sound of the front door closing. He smiled indulgently, knowing his husband was making his presence detectable for his sake.
“Hello, love,” Trey turned, abandoning the stew to the stove for a moment to greet his hunter, Jade slinking up alongside him.
“Mes amours!” Rook cried, teeth shining in his wide grin. His clothes were simple, stained lightly with dirt from his day hunting, though his hair was still impeccably situated. (Somewhere, Vil was sighing with pride, he was sure.) He had his bag slung over his shoulder, heavy with the day's hunt.
“What did you catch us for today, dear Rook?” Jade brushed his hand on his cheek, uncaring of the specks of mud blending in with their lover's freckles. “Trey was just about to add the lovely venison you caught the other day to the stew, so you’re right on time.”
“I couldn’t be late for dinner with mes trésors!” Rook beamed, turning his head to lay a kiss on Jade's palm. He pressed another kiss on his pulse point before disentangling, shrugging the bag off his shoulder. He was about to open it when Trey tutted, a sharp sound with his tongue that made him feel like his mother scolding his siblings.
“No fresh game in the kitchen while we’re cooking, remember?” He wrapped his hand around Rook's own, holding the bag shut. “We don’t want blood on the floor before we finish eating.”
Rook flushed, humming happily, “My apologies, mon cœur, you’re right. I was simply lost in my excitement to show the wondrously plump ruffled grouse I shot down this afternoon. It will be a wonderful meal, tended to under your strength and gentle hands.”
Trey sighed, unimaginably fond.
“Thank you for the compliment, though I’m sure it won’t be anything especially special. Though tonight's dinner might be, since Jade had his own ingredient to add.”
Rook gasped, eyes alight with fervor.
“Oh, how marvelous! Unless I am mistaken, this is the new species you found on your expedition last weekend? Ah, how I am filled with excitement to taste the conjoined spoils of my darling's hard work and ambitions!”
Jade smiled, gaze heated, “Don’t forget the venison you so skillfully provided for our table. This meal was made by all three of our hands and desires, my tide.”
Rook flushed further, glowy and so happy.
Trey let go of his hand, turning back to the stove with a teasing glance, moving to grab the cutting board of venison.
“If you want to taste the work of our joint labor properly, you should go wash up.” His voice was light and goadingly affectionate. “Dinner should be ready in 15 minutes, and we wouldn’t dream of starting without you.”
A soft kiss was pressed to the back of his neck, sending pleasant goosebumps over his shoulders and down his spine. He smiled, eyes closed in simple loving pleasure.
“Of course, mon mari, I shall go get myself cleaned up post haste,” Rook spoke, still pressed against his back, the words hot on his neck. “I would never dream of making my hard-working husbands wait for me to indulge themselves in the meal they worked so hard to make.”
A soft, amused noise from his other side, Jade humming indulgently at the flowery words they still found so charming.
“Do hurry back,” Jade purred (one could think he was a catfish mer, not an eel), and Trey knew he was leveling his gaze at Rook in his special way of goading. Rook knew this as well, and gladly fell into his lover's hunting trap.
“I will be back in your arms in the blink of an eye,” He pledged–just as earnest as he’d been delivering his wedding vows– and Trey heard the sound of a quick kiss being pressed to Jade’s lips, both with a hand on one of Trey’s shoulders. He relished the warmth.
The hands left his shoulder, and the nearly silent footsteps of their hunter faded in the distance as he nearly launched himself upstairs to their bedroom, Jade whistling pleased beside him.
Trey shook his head, fondness stirring in his chest alongside the stew in their pot.
What ridiculous husbands he had. And yet, he wouldn’t change them for anything.