Hair braiding fic! Lambert taking a moment to watch Aiden with the two Cats who raised him.
Lambert straightened up from splitting the last of the logs, trying to ignore the way the sweat was making his shirt stick to his back as the rest of the caravan buzzed with activity around him. He couldn't help but notice that he'd been given the most gruelling chore right as the sun hit its zenith but for once he bit his tongue: He was here on his lovers invitation and the last thing he wanted to do was make Aiden look bad by losing his temper. Speaking of....
Aiden was sat on the ground, leaning against the legs of another Cat Lambert had been introduced to as Cedric - a gruff seeming half-elf with an impressive set of scars and the dregs of a Skelligan accent. Aiden seemed to be doing a majority of the talking, his hands fluttering animatedly and his brow furrowing minutely every now and then when he was the recipient of a particularly sharp tug. It was almost hypnotic, watching as Cedric twisted and pulled Aiden's hair into braids which Lambert could tell even from this distance were far more elaborate than any he'd seen his Cat do on his own when they traveled, the older cats own locs falling over one shoulder as he hunched over slightly in his work.
Another ambled over with two plates of food. Axel, a native of Geso and Cedric's...something, who looked to be a couple of decades or so older than Aiden and himself. He handed a plate over to Aiden before settling down with the other whilst saying something that caused Aiden to laugh and Cedric to roll his eyes before aiming a half hearted swat at his head with a playful baring of teeth.
Lambert couldn't help but crack a smile of his own, feeling like he was being treated to a glimpse into a moment of Aiden's childhood here with the two he had introduced as his mentors. It was in the way Axel fed a bite of food to Cedric as he worked but slapped Aiden's hand away when he caught him trying to steal a particularly tasting looking morsel that was missing from his own portion; it was in the way Cedric gently tapped Aiden's chin with the backs of his fingers in an apparent reminder for him to face forwards and stop moving.
Seemingly feeling Lambert's eyes on him, Aiden ignored Cedric's instructions and glanced over in his direction, giving him a bright grin before waving him over. He wordlessly held the plate out as Lambert settled next to him and helped himself to some of the dried meat and fruit piled on - clearly Axel had filled this with the intention of Aiden and Lambert sharing too. He couldn't help but give a little snort of laughter as Cedric tsked before taking hold of Aiden's chin and righting his head himself in a more forceful hint, the youngers expression morphing into one of petulance as he popped a raspberry into his mouth whilst grumbling under his breath.
Lambert wasn't sure if he was supposed to give any sign he'd heard his lover's complaint or not, his attention already caught by the sure motions of Cedric's fingers now that he was close enough to observe and wondering if the older Cat would be willing to teach him.
