Work Text:
Today's meal is made up of various foods that Loid has not had the chance to cook in a very long time.
Deimos's wildlife is vastly different to what it used to be, and many of the animals the Orokin would dine on have either become extinct or transformed into something else. Thus, Loid is forced to improvise by ordering foods they would not normally eat.
Turkey, imported directly from Earth itself, sits stuffed in the middle of the table, surrounded by more stuffing and Brussel sprouts. The sprouts themselves are not imported from Brussels however, but grown on a spaceship orbiting Earth. According to the seller, they are just as good as the original Brussel sprouts.
Loid shall be the judge of that. He expects nothing less than perfection for such a meal.
Albrecht is sitting at the table, staring at the turkey. His eyes shift impatiently around the lab, like he's looking for something. Today, there is no KinePage sitting beside him at the table, no project he needs to finish while eating.
It is an unusual sight. Usually, he takes his food while working on a project, if he eats at all. Many a time, Loid has awoken from his slumber to find him cooking something to eat. He shares, of course. He'll share with him, and then Kalymos will usually climb atop the table to feed herself too.
Not today. Albrecht sits at the head of the table. Kalymos lies down next to him. From where Loid's standing, he can see the kavat's got one paw on Albrecht's foot in a comforting gesture.
Sitting around doing nothing must be affecting him more than he's letting on.
The last parts of today's meal finish cooking. Loid removes them from the stovetop and brings them to the table, before serving out portions to Albrecht and himself.
Albrecht starts eating before Loid has even sat down. He looks up from his meal and catches his Albrecht's eyes staring at him.
It would be a comical sight, what with him holding a turkey leg an inch from his mouth, with Kalymos reaching up with her mouth open as she tries to get some turkey too. But something clouds over his eyes, dulling their brilliant gleam.
Guilt. It is an alien emotion to see him wear. But it is present nonetheless as he lowers the turkey leg down. He picks up the knife and fork that'd previous lay abandoned by his plate and begins cutting the meat from the leg. Spearing it with the fork, he brings it up into his mouth and eats it much slower than he was doing before.
Kalymos yowls impatiently, but climbs back down to the floor at the look Albrecht gives her. He feeds her a small slice of turkey, before starting on his own Brussel sprouts.
The look in his eyes has not abated. Albrecht has never shown guilt towards him before. It coils in Loid's gut, weighing him down like lead on his soul.
"If you have somewhere to be, Albrecht, I will not stop you." Loid knows he is a busy man. He knows there's many projects to be tended to. That thing that hurt his Albrecht lingers in his thoughts, the catalyst for his recent efforts and odd behaviour.
The pale skin on Albrecht is an eternal reminder of the cost of them not doing enough.
Albrecht, however, shakes his head. "Forgive me, Loid. But no. I do have something that needs doing." His eyes flit between himself and the direction of his lab, before focusing on him entirely. "But I promised to share a meal with you. I intend to honour that promise."
"You are forgiven." Gratefulness chases away the shame. Albrecht tucks into the meal at a much slower pace than he had been before. Kalymos occasionally asks him for more food, one big lanky paw reaching up to his shoulder to get his attention.
"Kalymos." Albrecht gets a pointed hiss in response. He stares at the kavat. Loid leans down to see what she is up to, and finds her lying on her side. Even looking at her from behind, he knows she's fixing him with eyes that beg him for more food.
Loid cuts a piece of his turkey off and places it down next to him. It draws Kalymos away from Albrecht, but unfortunately, the kavat realises there are two people she can beg for food.
Her paw reaches up to the top of his head and knocks his glasses askew. The sight of it draws a faint smile from Albrecht, even after he levels a glare at Kalymos for it.
Between Albrecht's much slower pace, Kalymos's begging and his own delay in starting his own meal, they both manage to finish their meals at the same time. Kalymos steps out of the way as he rises from the table, carrying his plate with him.
Usually, after dinner has been eaten, Albrecht will retreat to his lab while he cleans up. Today, however, he lingers at the table, watching him pick up the plates. When he gets to Albrecht, he picks up his plate. "I will help today, Loid."
"You do not need to. I only asked that we share a meal together."
Albrecht shakes his head again. There's an determined look in his eyes now. "I want to."
And really, who is he to turn down his Albrecht's help with cleaning up?
Having two extra hands, and a clingy kavat, makes the cleaning go quicker than usual. Loid cleans the food and gravy from the plates with the water and soap. Albrecht dries the pots and pans with a towel, scrubbing them to remove any resistant parts of their meals.
There's a feeling of static running up his arms every time their fingers touch. Albrecht lingers when he takes a plate from him. That is not to say he is slow; he cleans with an efficiency the Necraloid never could manage. But Loid can feel his presence in his actions, reminding him that his Albrecht has chosen to stay, to aid him with such a mundane task.
Kalymos offers her support by nudging Albrecht in the direction of where the plates, pots and pans usually go. "I know where to put them away," he tells the kavat. She swats at his foot in response.
Once everything has been cleared away, Loid picks up a fresh towel to clean the table with. Albrecht still remains at the sink. He no longer has anything to do, but still he remains, watching him work.
"Was there something wrong with the food," he asks. He cannot think of why else his Albrecht would stay.
"No. The food was good." To have his food declared to be good meant that he had enjoyed it. Albrecht never did comment on the food he'd make himself, but Loid had gone to a lot of trouble to make this meal.
Loid inspects the table. Now free of food debris and spilled liquids, it looks just as clean as it did before they'd eaten. "We can do it more often. Should it not cut into your work, I would be happy to make a full meal such as this for us to eat together again."
"The work never ends. But to eat like this again…" Kalymos yowls in agreement. Loid looks over to see his Albrecht scratching the kavat on the head. "…we should. It is good to spent time not working. Not not working. With you, Loid."
"I understand, Albrecht." Loid turns away to put the towel-cloth down.
It seems tonight has been a success.