NATE
The dark grumble draws Nate’s interest, reluctant as it might be, his chin lifting so his gaze can flick up, finding Sunjata’s focused somewhere on the ceiling. His hands move on autopilot, as mismatched eyes lift to the ceiling as well, looking for the same explanation his husband seems to be. Frustration finds an answer with hesitant curiosity, then yet more surprise as an explanation comes. Nate can’t stop himself. A rough chuckle leaves him, the knife set down on the counter so he can lean towards the attuned and grab his chin gently. ”I didn’t think you were in a joking mood.”
It’s something Nate wants to believe so badly he actually does, for a breath. The show of humour fades though, his hand coming up to rub at his jaw while he stares at Sunjata, wishing his husband would look at him. There are two ways Nate can see this going, two choices he has, and the part of him that has somehow matured manages to shout down his initial reaction. ”Was he better than me or something?” Joking makes it easy to talk around, easy to return to the task of preparing food, though his eyes are on Sunjata more often than not, watching the attuned to see if he’s made the right choice.
”I did.” It feels a little awkward now, though it shouldn’t, and Nate hates that it does. ”I got it in the Grounds. I uh... meant to give it to you sooner but,” he hesitates, not sure if he should laugh or not at what he’s about to say, ”the timing never really felt right.” Hands that are once again busy with a knife and vegetables pause once more so Nate can retrieve a small, plain black box from a pocket on the inside of his jacket, and slide it across to Sunjata. Inside, if the attuned opens it, is a pair of earrings; a feather, elaborately moulded from silver, dangling beneath a smooth blue bead, the clasp above it.
It’s something Nate wants to believe so badly he actually does, for a breath. The show of humour fades though, his hand coming up to rub at his jaw while he stares at Sunjata, wishing his husband would look at him. There are two ways Nate can see this going, two choices he has, and the part of him that has somehow matured manages to shout down his initial reaction. ”Was he better than me or something?” Joking makes it easy to talk around, easy to return to the task of preparing food, though his eyes are on Sunjata more often than not, watching the attuned to see if he’s made the right choice.
”I did.” It feels a little awkward now, though it shouldn’t, and Nate hates that it does. ”I got it in the Grounds. I uh... meant to give it to you sooner but,” he hesitates, not sure if he should laugh or not at what he’s about to say, ”the timing never really felt right.” Hands that are once again busy with a knife and vegetables pause once more so Nate can retrieve a small, plain black box from a pocket on the inside of his jacket, and slide it across to Sunjata. Inside, if the attuned opens it, is a pair of earrings; a feather, elaborately moulded from silver, dangling beneath a smooth blue bead, the clasp above it.
killed my old self
but the new me isn't much better
but the new me isn't much better
