escordvi | 🌱🏛️ quiz, vol. 07

[To nobody's surprise Alhaitham is not at all ashamed at being called out, and if anything stares with even more intent when Kaveh doesn't shy away either, the expression on his face clearly debating on the pros and cons of letting himself fall for his husband's bait.

...but no, they really do need food, and so with a sigh and a shake of his head Alhaitham steps forward and cups one side of Kaveh's face, keeping him steady as he leans down again for a deep, longing kiss that both indulges and placates—as well as promise.]

Later. [He murmurs it against Kaveh's lips when he finally pulls back, gaze still heavy with desire as he meets his husband's gaze.]

I'll hold you to that...

[Kaveh whines a little, but sighs and subsides, slipping into the tub contemplatively. If dinner runs the risk of getting cold...well. That's why they have an attachable hose and shower head for the tub in here, after all. One of Kaveh's cleverer moments, if he says so himself.]

Hand me the sprayer?

[A hum, and Alhaitham gives one more peck on the lips before he pulls away completely. He takes a second to get the sprayer as Kaveh asks, passing it over to him before finally making a move to step out of the bathroom (though not before dumping the blanket into the laundry basket—it needed to be washed after today one way or another).]

Call me when you're done. [He tells his husband before exiting entirely, taking this time to do any last minute set ups that he might've missed earlier.]

I won't be long.

[And true to form, Kaveh does his best to make this fast...he'll have to more properly wash and condition his hair later, but maybe they can save that for some together time in the tub...hmm.

As it is, he rinses himself clean and has Mehrak bring him more loosely fitting house clothes before peering out of the bedroom, still a little wobbly on his feet.]

Haitham?

Here.

[It only takes a second for Alhaitham to poke his head from the corner, the rest of him appearing right afterwards as he walks down the corridor to where the bathroom is. Kaveh has indeed washed up, choosing to dress for comfort rather than style, which is more than enough for him. The clothes are mostly meant to prevent messes while they eat anyway.

He hums once, approving, then goes to scoop Kaveh right back into his arms without another word, carrying him all the way over to their dining table, which has been decorated for the occasion. Its nothing too extravagant or fancy—just a nice tablecloth he'd seen Kaveh eyeing not too long ago, with a (unscented) candle set within a glass container (to contain the wax) placed at the center that's surrounded by a small scattering of petals. All in all, its a simple setup that can never really go wrong.

Alhaitham sets Kaveh down at his chair first before going over to his own side. A nicely plated steak with sides of potato and some greens greets the both of them, accompanied by wine glasses that are already half-filled.

He picks up his glass and holds it forward for Kaveh to do the same so they can toast.]

Happy birthday, Kaveh.

[Kaveh laughs as he's scooped up again, and then falls into a kind of awed silence as they reach the dining table. What Alhaitham's done isn't the fanciest, no, but for a man who values the pragmatic over the romantic, the effort he's put into this...is far more effective than an aesthetically perfect image.

He tries not to sniffle, heart overflowing, but Kaveh does smile, bright and overwhelmed with the sheer love. He clinks their glasses together, and tries to think of something eloquent to say, but all that comes out is--]

I love you.

[...well, he probably should have started with "thank you", but he's sure alhaitham understands.]

[Alhaitham smiles as Kaveh toasts and says those words, looking more than pleased at how much his husband clearly likes this.]

I love you too.

[It doesn't need to be said, not really, much like how he doesn't need to hear Kaveh's thanks—but he knows its also good to express these things, so that they will both know, without doubt.

He takes a sip of the wine before setting it aside, then promptly starts on his food because truthfully he's just about as hungry as Kaveh is, and the steak is just as much for himself as it is for the architect. Though, of course, he made sure that Kaveh's steak is blissfully free of any sort of spice, pepper or otherwise. This isn't the occasion for such teasing, after all.]

[Really, Kaveh's only complaint is a lack of cheese, but no singular meal can have everything, and he's not about to voice such a thing and spoil the effort Alhaitham put in to pamper him. And even as it is--the food is good, the wine is sweet, and Kaveh is hungry enough to eat a sumpter beast--for once, he falls fairly quiet to enjoy eating.

...It would be kind of nice if Alhaitham fed him, though.]

[He wasn't worried about Kaveh disliking the choice of food, but its still nice to see his husband enjoying it nonetheless, and watching that is more than enough to bring a small smile onto Alhaitham's face. Every amount of effort spent will always be worth it, if it means he can make the architect smile like that.

But while Alhaitham isn't a mind reader, he does pick up on the longing expression that flits over Kaveh's face, which has him frowning a bit.]

Is there something else that you want? [He asks after a brief pause, giving the other a questioning look. Normally he wouldn't be this nosy, waiting for Kaveh to voice out his wants and needs first before responding to them... but it is his husband's birthday, and Alhaitham is committed to making it a day that will bring him more joy than anything else.]

Huh--no, don't make that face! Everything's fine!

[Kaveh didn't realize he was making any kind of expression and he's subsequently turned beet red in response. He can't just ask to be fed like a spoiled little prince! ...Not that he doubts Alhaitham would do it, but it's embarrassing.]

[Well that's certainly quite the reaction, if Alhaitham has something to say about it. Not quite what he'd been expecting, but if Kaveh is acting like that then it can only mean a few things...

He raises an eyebrow here, giving the other a chance to explain himself before Alhaitham starts narrowing down the possibilities to figure it out for himself. Surely Senior Kaveh doesn't want to embarrass himself even further now, does he?]

Don't look at me like that!

[Kaveh's only getting more flushed by the minute. Oh, Archons, how does he get himself out of this one???]

[Well Kaveh apparently has no intention to disclose what has gotten him so flustered, so it's time for Alhaitham to figure it out for himself.

Not that it's really hard, to be frank.]

Oh? You want to move on from dinner already? I wasn't aware of how insatiable you've become.

[It's not going to stop him from having some fun in the process though.]

Wha--you haven't even finished your plate! What kind of brute do you take me for?!

[Kaveh hasn't finished his either, but that's not the point.]

The same kind you're taking me for, it seems.

[Yeah he's very amused right now. You're just too easy to tease, senior.]

Haitham!

[WHY BULLY! IT'S HIS BIRTHDAY!]

[Every day is bully day, it just depends on how much he wants to do it.

But that being said Alhaitham can't help but actually laugh this time—mostly in the form of an audible chuckle that actually has his shoulders shaking for a bit. You are just too cute for words, senior.]

[Kaveh, the pinnacle of maturity and wisdom, sticks his tongue out at his husband.]

Weren't you supposed to be spoiling me today instead of teasing me? In your own words, even.

[Surely Kaveh should know by now that him doing that only makes Alhaitham adore him so much more.

He takes a second to wipe away an imaginary tear from the corner of his eye before he looks back over to his husband, smile already playing on his lips.] There's no rule which states I can't do both.

[Even as he says that though there's no hiding the sheer fondness that gleams from his face right now. This may be Kaveh's birthday, but Alhaitham can't help but feel like he's the one who's getting the presents. But is everyday with his senior like this not a gift in its own right?]

You're incorrigible.

[Kaveh huffs, but it's unmistakeably fond--he can't help it. This playful side of Alhaitham is one he's always loved, and while he'd like it if more people knew about this, the Alhaitham that is kind and playful and an irrepressible tease, part of Kaveh is secretly proud that there are parts of Alhaitham only he knows about.]

Only for you.

[He says it easily, because its the truth; there's nobody else who he'd ever do this with, especially when he knows how much Kaveh likes this too. Their countless exchanges, their mutual debates... everything that they share with each other are all things which Alhaitham will never want to share with anyone else. It is theirs just as much as it is also his.

But outside of that, he supposes Kaveh is right in there it is his birthday, and Alhaitham has every intention of spoiling him rotten. So he takes his half-eaten plate and stands up from his seat, walking around to Kaveh's side of the table where he first sets down his plate, leaving his hands are free to scoop his senior up from the chair so that he can settle down on it himself and shamelessly plant his husband right on his lap.]

There we go. Just as the birthday man wishes. [He huffs out, bemused, though that doesn't stop him from wrapping one arm around the other's waist.]

You make it sound ridiculous, saying it like that.

[Kaveh hmmphs a little, but given how he's immediately wriggled into being maximumally comfy on his husband's lap, there's no change he's actually upset with this turn of events. And why would he be? Alhaitham's arms are comfortable and safe, after all.]

Is there any other way I'm supposed to say it?

[He asks with a quirk of his lips as he uses his other hand to bring Kaveh's plate closer to them. He can't exactly reach out that far while he has his husband on his lap, after all.]

I'm sure I don't know, you're the one with the Haravatat degree.

[Kaveh is eyeing the approach of that plate with bright eyes though. He's still hungry and he's getting spoiled...by this time of the day, his lingering discomfort with letting people fuss over him has largely faded into background noise. He couldn't accept this from anyone else but...

...If it's Alhaitham, it's alright, isn't it? This is his husband. It's alright if Kaveh lets his husband spoil him.]

Somehow I don't think my degree is meant to be used for this.

[Not that its stopping him from doing so, especially when he sees how Kaveh is trying and failing to hide his excitement from being spoiled further. It's very, very cute.

Alhaitham gets the plate as close as he can without it being in danger of dropping to the floor. Thankfully past him had some foresight to already score the steak, primarily to marinate better, but the fact that it makes it far easier for him to cut out a strip while having a grown man on his lap doesn't hurt either.

Once he has the steak sliced up into sufficiently edible pieces he spears one with the fork and brings it over to Kaveh, fully expecting his senior to be waiting and ready to be fed.]

🌱🏛️ quiz, vol. 07

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