@lovelikeyoursfest Day 2 - Caught Red-Hearted
They meet at Portia's to catch up over breakfast, share news from the palace and their respective parts of town. Julian praises and affectionately mocks Portia's cooking in turn, and she mostly ignores him. They bicker and joke and discuss recipes until conversation comfortably dwindles, and Arsenal excuses themself to play with Pepi in the garden.
Julian stares after them adoringly, and Portia rolls her eyes.
"Ilya, your face is going to get stuck that way." *** The clinic is closed for the day and Asra is minding the shop, so Arsenal and Julian spend the afternoon weaving between market stalls, trading trinkets and gossip and taking a rest at Selasi's. They buy enough pumpkin bread for everyone, and Selasi dips into the back to fetch a sample of a new item he's been trying: something with citrus and honey that smells like orchards in the Spring.
While he's gone, Julian grins, just enough of a warning that Arsenal doesn't yelp when he sweeps them into his arms and kisses them. A low whistle and a laugh herald Selasi's return, startling them away from each other and into blushing apologies.
***
Occasionally, they go to places other than The Raven which, for all its charm, doesn't have the most nutritious food, nor does it lend itself to intimate conversation. Tonight, instead, they drop by Thyme's place, The Green Kitchen, to drop off bread (she jokes that Arsenal is cheating on her with Selasi, but accepts it with an appreciative sniff) and take their dinner to go.
Julian can't resist stealing another kiss while Arsenal is trying to pay. They bat good-naturedly at him, and Thyme snickers. She winks and waves them off with a call of, "Give him one for me, huh, Nally?"
For once, Arsenal is the one smirking while Julian shyly ducks his head.
***
They find a quiet spot just outside the city and settle on the grass to enjoy Thyme's cooking. It was a journey getting Julian to eat regularly, but well worth it to see how much healthier he looks, to watch him enthusiastically trying (and usually enjoying) whatever Arsenal or Portia (or occasionally Asra) put in front of him.
He fawns over the noodle-and-vegetable dish Arsenal cites as being similar to what they ate as a child, asks to try more recipes like it. Arsenal enthusiastically agrees. Once the food is gone, they sprawl on the grass, enjoying the cool weather and the warmth of each other’s bodies. All too soon, it’s time to go home.
***
It's dusk when they reach the shop, just in time to find Asra locking up. They talk for a few minutes--"You didn't miss anything. I nearly finished Faust's newest sweater in all the downtime."--pass off the bread destined for the hut and the palace, and say goodnight.
As soon as the door is shut, Julian collapses against Arsenal with a grand sigh. "Thank god," he groans. Arsenal laughs and cups his face.
"What?"
"We're finally alone." He grins and waggles his eyebrows. Arsenal gives a thoughtful hum, and lets their arms drop from his face to his shoulders.
"So we are."
Moa chooses that moment to fly in through the window in a flash of feathers and a cheerful (horrifying) whuff.