The house was unusually quiet after Aiden ended the call.
Kael carried the last travel bag into the hallway and returned to find Aiden sitting on the sofa, staring at nothing in particular.
Kael watched him for a moment.
Aiden looked as though he wished the sofa would swallow him whole.
His ears had turned red again.
Humans truly were expressive creatures.
A small smile tugged at the corner of Kael's mouth.
"So..."
Aiden groaned "...Please don't."
Ignoring him, kael continued "Are your companions always that loud?" He asked.
"Unfortunately," Aiden sighed dramatically, burying his face in a cushion. "Uhg, I'll never hear the end of this."
Kael tilted his head "I do not understand."
Aiden groaned into the cushion "of course you don't."
"They repeatedly claimed you possess a crush."
"Of course you heard that." Aiden said into the cushion
"What does that mean?"
Aiden slowly lowered the cushion and looked at him "You really don't know?"
"I haven't heard of that word" Kael said " explain it to me." He demanded
"I was hoping your curiosity would disappeared."
"Tough luck." Kael smirked
Aiden rubbed a hand over his face "It means..." He hesitated before letting out a small sigh. "It means you have romantic feelings for someone."
Kael nodded slowly "I see."
Silence settled between them.
Aiden looked away first.
Kael continued watching him, after everything he had learned about humans over the past weeks, one thing had become very clear.
They often revealed the truth without intending to. The way Aiden had looked at him during the video call. The way he had hurried to interrupt his friends.The warmth in his face.
The shy smiles throughout the afternoon.
The pieces fit together surprisingly well.
Kael folded his arms. "So..."
Aiden immediately tensed up. "So?" He questioned with shaky voice.
"Do you possess a crush?"
Aiden froze.
Kael waited.
Several seconds passed.
"I..."
Another silence.
Then Aiden laughed awkwardly.
"Can we pretend you never asked that?"
"We could." Kael began.
Aiden's shoulders relaxed.
"But I do not wish to." He concluded with another smirk. He was enjoying the human's reaction.
They looked at each other.
Aiden let out a long, defeated sigh. "I knew you were going to say that."
"You know me well."
"I do." Another silence followed.
Kael had intended to wait.
He had learned that Aiden often spoke when given enough time. He was correct.
"...Yes, you."
The answer came so quietly that Kael almost missed it.
"Me?"
Aiden nodded without looking at him.
"Yes, you " He confirmed.
Kael considered that "I see."
Aiden looked up, looking both embarrassed and relieved. "I wasn't planning on telling you today."
"What changed?" Kael asked looking him straight in the eye.
"You." Aiden whispered
"I fail to understand." He raised an eyebrow
"You kept asking questions." Aiden groaned
"Oh, i guess i did." Kael said thoughfully "I have a question." Kael continued
"I have a bad feeling about this." Aiden groaned again
"You spent the entire afternoon attempting to express it to me, right? ." Kael continued.
Aiden slowly looked up "...What?" He asked confused.
Kael folded his arms "The compliments. The staring. The unnecessary excuses to touch my hand." He tilted his head. "Were those your attempts at expressing your feelings?"
Aiden's eyes widened "You noticed that?"
Kael scoffed "I notice most things."
Aiden stared at him. "Then why didn't you say anything?"
Kael looked genuinely puzzled "I did not know that was what you were doing."
"You... didn't?" Aiden asked wide eyed
" How was i supposed to? I thought you were just appreciating me."
Aiden blinked once.
Then twice.
Finally, he buried his face in both hands "Oh, this is so much worse."
Kael chuckled quietly. "I understand now. Thanks to your friends "
"You were just watching me embarrass myself." Aiden cried, hand still covering his now red face
"I was observing." Kael said quietly, watching him writhe in embarrassment.
"There's a difference?"
"Definitely."
Aiden peeked at him through his fingers "Why do I find that hard to believe."
Kael just laughed at that.
Another silence settled between them.
Kael leaned back comfortably "I admit..." He smiled a little. "I wondered when you would finally say it."
Aiden's head snapped up. "You what?"
"You are not especially difficult to read."
"Oh, wonderful."
"You looked at me rather often."
"I did? ." Aiden asked bewildered
"You smile at me when you think I'm not looking."
"No i didn't." Aiden argued weakly
"You became jealous." Kael pointed out. He'd noticed Aiden's jealousy, but he finds it cute.
"I..." Aiden stopped before sighing. "...I did."
Kael's smile widened ever so slightly "I found it flattering."
Aiden blinked "You did?"
"Of course." He said it so naturally that Aiden almost laughed.
"I was once a prince, Aiden."
"As if i can ever forget that." Aiden scoffed
"I have been admired before." Kael said with pride
"There he is." Aiden deadpanned
"There who is?" Kael was confused now
"The cocky prince." Aiden said in a flat tone.
Kael looked faintly amused. "I was merely stating fact."
"You absolutely enjoyed this."
"...Perhaps a little."
Aiden pointed an accusing finger at him "I knew it."
Kael laughed under his breath.
It felt.....Nice.
Far nicer than he expected.
His amusement faded into something gentler as he looked at Aiden again.
"I hope you know..." His voice softened "I do not dislike that you feel this way."
Aiden's smile disappeared, replaced by surprise.
"You don't?"
"No." Kael shook his head "If anything..." He paused "I am honoured." The words came more easily than expected "You trust me enough to place your heart in my hands."
He looked down at his own hands for a brief moment. "I know what it means to give someone that trust."
When he looked back up, his expression had lost all traces of teasing. "I will never make light of it."
Aiden swallowed. "I wasn't asking you to feel the same."
"I know." Kael nodded "And I would not lie to you by saying I already do."
"I enjoy being with you." Honesty had always been easier than comforting lies "I trust you." Kael continued easily "I seek your company more these days." He smiled faintly. "I simply do not know what those feelings will become."
Aiden was quiet for several moments.
Then he smiled.
It was smaller than before.
Warmer.
"I think..." He laughed softly "...I can be patient."
Kael returned the smile.
"I believe that would make us both happier."
Aiden stood and stretched.
"So..." He turned to kael "Dinner?"
"Dinner." Kael rose as well "I shall help."
Aiden looked at him suspiciously "Help you say."
"I shall help." Kael stated again. Like he was proving a point.
"You said that last time." Aiden narrowed his eyes at him.
"I was helpful."
"You ate half the carrots."
"I was just checking to see if they were edible."
"They came from my refrigerator."
"Then I confirmed your refrigerator is reliable."
Aiden laughed so hard he had to steady himself against the kitchen doorway.
Kael watched him, quietly pleased.
They walked into the kitchen side by side, their shoulders bumped more than once against the narrow doorway. Neither moved away, and neither mentioned it—both content to simply walk forward into tomorrow, together.