Zavien
- The Risen Sun -
Zavien loosened his hold only enough to let her work, occasionally reaching forward to assist with holding a lid or ingredient. His smirk widened at her reassurance, squeezing her tight to him as he joked, "Are you sure? I'm pretty hungry." The gleam in his eyes suggested he might share with his pregnant girlfriend, but that he could very much eat it all on his own.
When Soh finally slipped from his grasp, Zavien let her go as if the kiss was the key to her freedom, wondering if he was imagining the distracted look on her face. With nothing to occupy his hands anymore, he maneuvered around her in an easy, familiar dance as he gathered drinks, butter for the bread, and silverware to meet her at the table. Before long, he settled down next to her, smiling at the pleasant meal and better company.
The spaghetti was delicious, the marinara sauce was perfectly executed, and the bread had a unique sharpness that he didn't mind. It might not have been a five-star professional dinner, but Zavien would happily eat it for the rest of his life if it meant sitting across from the woman he loved, even if that included whatever conversation they were about to have. He could tell in the flickering of her silver gaze, the cautious way she held her fork, the silence that felt less like quiet contentment and more like cherished moments before the peace was broken. It almost had him asking what was wrong, but she seemed to be searching for the words to start, so he paused to butter a piece of bread until she spoke.
Soh's words had his head tilting, eyes meeting hers with an openness that invited her to speak whatever worried her. He offered an encouraging smile as he said, "No, I guess we didn't." It faded as the uncomfortable thoughts arose, something that had been on his mind for the last few weeks, a decision he'd been grappling with. His lips pressed together. "I've actually been thinking about that." Not wanting to interrupt or derail whatever Soh had to say on the matter, he looked to her. "But what are your thoughts?"
When Soh finally slipped from his grasp, Zavien let her go as if the kiss was the key to her freedom, wondering if he was imagining the distracted look on her face. With nothing to occupy his hands anymore, he maneuvered around her in an easy, familiar dance as he gathered drinks, butter for the bread, and silverware to meet her at the table. Before long, he settled down next to her, smiling at the pleasant meal and better company.
The spaghetti was delicious, the marinara sauce was perfectly executed, and the bread had a unique sharpness that he didn't mind. It might not have been a five-star professional dinner, but Zavien would happily eat it for the rest of his life if it meant sitting across from the woman he loved, even if that included whatever conversation they were about to have. He could tell in the flickering of her silver gaze, the cautious way she held her fork, the silence that felt less like quiet contentment and more like cherished moments before the peace was broken. It almost had him asking what was wrong, but she seemed to be searching for the words to start, so he paused to butter a piece of bread until she spoke.
Soh's words had his head tilting, eyes meeting hers with an openness that invited her to speak whatever worried her. He offered an encouraging smile as he said, "No, I guess we didn't." It faded as the uncomfortable thoughts arose, something that had been on his mind for the last few weeks, a decision he'd been grappling with. His lips pressed together. "I've actually been thinking about that." Not wanting to interrupt or derail whatever Soh had to say on the matter, he looked to her. "But what are your thoughts?"
