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Uvlo Gahjewesfv sat at the kitchen table, a rumbling in his stomach as he watched his bondmate cook. The Shetona had been marinating meats all day and was now in the process of dicing vegetables with a rapid clicking of the knife on the cutting board. It made Uvlo think about birds he encountered on his travels which would tap snails against rocks to get at the meat inside. By the kami, even his memories were focused on food right now.
The gatherer had been hard at work recently, mining a new vein of ore uncovered in Mamook that Master Shunye said helped with anxiety. Upon his return, he expected the pair would eat out as they often did, but his lover surprised him with the declaration he wanted to cook a meal for them. And so the Viera did his best to wait patiently, but it all smelled so wonderful! Surely a closer look at everything would do no harm…Walking behind the cook, he draped his arms around the other man and kissed his neck.
"Mmm…well hello there~" Master Shunye hummed and placed a hand on Uvlo's arm, an acknowledgment of his presence and something the Veena had also been missing as of late from his ventures.
"Hi…it's all looking so good!" Uvlo said, doing his best not to salivate on his bondmate's shoulder.
"Aye, it should be finished before too long," Master Shunye confirmed, scooping some more toppings into a tortilla. The emissary from Othard's emerald eyes flicked downwards to the spread of completed food on a tray. Surely a little taste would do no harm…
He was the personification of stealth, nuzzling his lover's cheek as one hand sneaked down for a taco. A spoon rapped against his knuckles, causing him to squeak in surprise and retreat.
"Patience, Skybun!" Master Shunye chided with an exasperated laugh. The Viera pouted, his azure ears drooping as he licked the splotch of sauce the utensil left. It had just the right amount of heat and he imagined what meat soaked in the stuff would taste like.
"I'm sorry, Master Shunye…" he mumbled. Soft, delicate fingers that had often caressed him lovingly at night wrapped around his hand, guiding Uvlo back to the counter.
"It just needs a finishing touch and then it will be done," the Shetona promised, reaching down to some sliced green fruit. Uvlo looked at them in curiosity, his leporine nose picking up a citrusy scent like the oranges he once had while in La Noscea. He watched as Master Shunye picked up a piece and firmly pinched it. There was a wet squish as juice sprinkled down over the tacos like rainwater.
Uvlo's limp ears raised back up in delight at the little flourish and he glanced eagerly at his bondmate. "Done?"
"Yes. Skybun, now it's done!" Master Shunye permitted. The Viera dutifully picked up the platter and carried it over to their shared table, fetching some cups and pouring his partner's favorite mezcal. Master Shunye sat across from him, his ruby eyes fixed expectantly on the emissary.
Uvlo blushed and fidgeted. "Umm. Back home it's typical for the elders to have the first bite…" he explained. It was as much a matter of survival as it was respect, the older wesfv needing to be strong to protect their young male charges as they trained to be the next generation of guardians. What had remained often required rationing, especially during the seasons when snow fell thicker. City life had been so different here, such abundance available as long as you were willing to pay or trade for it, and living together with the Shetona had offered feasts he'd never experienced before. Still though, didn't respect demand that he—
"I want to see your reaction," Master Shunye insisted kindly and the Viera's voracious appetite won out in the end. Picking up a taco, he gave it a few cooling breaths before chomping down. The puffy shell led to a bounty of flavors, the succulent meat bursting inside his mouth with an accent of acidity. Packed to overflowing, Uvlo was ready for there to be a huge mess from the initial bite, but to his surprise everything remained blended together.
"Mmm-mm-MMM!" the Veena moaned with delight, ears wiggling as the warm food tumbled blissfully down into his waiting belly where it rested warm and comfortable. Realizing he'd been caught up in the moment, he peeked shyly at his lover and found an equally warm smile on his face. Encouraged by his lover's pleased expression, Uvlo finished off the taco and reached for another.
"These are-mmm!-delicious!" he gushed and the red-haired leporine chuckled pleasantly.
"I'm afraid I'm no Aunt Tii, but I wanted to do something special for you as thanks for all your recent work. When you're cooking for a person and not a crowd, I think it allows for a little extra care and love to be cooked into a meal," Master Shunye said wistfully.
Uvlo's pale cheeks grew flushed like rose petals on snow. "I can taste the difference, Master Shunye…"
At last the Shetona appeared ready to eat, picking up the folded tortilla and taking petite, thoughtful bites. "I know that you wanted to eat right away, but the lime juice plays a very important part in the dish."
The Veena nodded. "It really does amazing things with the flavor! I like how it's sweet and spicy."
"The flavor is part of it, yes, but it also helps to keep everything held together…you're the lime in my life, Skybun, the special ingredient that makes it all work…" the apothecary said quietly.
Uvlo's heart pounded in his chest and he softly sniffled. "Master Shunye…" he whispered.
"The onions?" the Shetona asked with a wry smile.
"No…not the onions. That just makes me really really happy!" the Viera confessed with a shaky laugh and rub of his face, smearing some sauce across it. Master Shunye tutted and reached over to gently dab at it.
"Careful now, my love, get that in your eyes and you'll be shedding tears of a very different sort!"
The tender gesture was almost enough to make Uvlo melt down into his chair, taking his bondmate's fingers between his lips where he lightly kissed and sucked on them.
It appeared he was hungry in other ways, too…