Sitting in silence with the sound of utensils clacking. Kalim and Jamil share another awkward moment after a few mishaps. This dinner isn't turning out as they both hoped it would be, well, slip ups do happen once in a while.
So how'd the two lovesick fools get here?
___________
The walk to the villa proved itself to be quite peaceful. Amir hopped and jumped, joyful that he got to play today and Jamil and Kalim walked side by side giggling about memories they shared in Night Raven College. Both were quite pleased with the incoming dawn and expected things to be as peaceful as it is.
Well... two mischief will absolutely change that.
Just as they stepped inside the Villa Khalil had pulled Amir away, while the child giggled, and Najma had dragged the two to the decorated table waiting outside.
"Um... what?" A confused Jamil asked.
"Have fun." Najma replied.
"What is even happening?" Kalim also asked.
"We've set up a dinner for you two."
"Najma- why exactly did you do this?" Jamil asked again.
"Why not?"
"You can't just say 'why not?' Because are you even aware of what this implies?" Jamil pinched his nose bridge.
"Yes, very aware."
"Then-"
"Have fun bro you got this!" Najma throws a pair of thumbs ups and escaped.
Jamil groans, he should've known... Of course Najma wasn't dating Khalil that was just stupid. He knew his sister was well aware of his... circumstances but he had not really expected her to do something about it...
"Kalim I'm so so-"
"It's ok! Let's just enjoy the food!" Kalim smiled as he always did and proceeded to sit himself down the chair provided.
Decoration-wise this wasn't so bad, Najma and Khalil did a good job providing a good ambience. The table is covered by a white cloth with gold accents to the side. A candle was at the center next to a bottle of champagne and it was surrounded by all kinds of foods on which Jamil is assuming to be Najma's cooking.
"Let's dig in! I'm assuming your sister is as good as you in the kitchen?" Kalim serves himself a chicken dish.
"Hah! Hardly."
"Well it's definitely delicious, give it a try!" Kalim tries to feed Jamil with food in his food. "Now say 'ah"
"I'm not a kid." The viper replies
"You'll do it anyways right?" Kalim smiles.
Jamil sighs and eats the offered food. "It's passable."
"Give your sister much more credit, she worked hard for it!" Kalim smiled.
And the whole dinner was like that, they dined and ate delicious food coupled with wine. They talked about various things in their respective lives. For the first time in a while... Kalim felt... Free.
Talking to Jamil just felt so easy, for once he wasn't talking about business, or dodging questions about his wife, nor overthinking every single details of what dangers could happen. It felt safe to be with him. Kalim almost forgot how it felt like to be at ease, it was going to be such a peaceful night.
Eating dinner with Jamil with a good atmosphere, good food, and some good wine really sets a scene for a perfect date.
Wait...
Just as it hit Kalim it the food he was chewing got stuck in his throat. Heavy coughs came out of him and Jamil reached to the other side of the table and immediately handed him some water, "Water! Drink water! Slowly now!"
Kalim lets the water flow through his throat clearing up his throat. He coughs a few more times then after his lungs had calmed down.
"Sweet sevens chew properly!!" Jamil scolded.
"Sorry.. just- yeah I guess I was thinking too much hehe..." Kalim let out an awkward chuckle.
Jamil then sighs, "Please stop thinking about work... And I'm serious about this okay!? It's a nice night with good food and a good atmosphere can I please ask you to relax just for a minute?"
"D-don't worry won't happen again hehe.." Kalim could only awkwardly smile and continue silently eating.
"Has he realized yet??? He doesn't seem to... Khalil you're so dead!!!"
_____________
"I swear to everything good above, Najma I will snitch on your ass so quick you'd be disowned the very next fucking day!"
Jamil tried, keyword, tried. To keep a straight face as the annoyance grows a vein near his head. Kalim does notice it and tries to appease him by talking about random stuff from toys he bought for Amir or just things he heard from the palace and filling his cup with wine
The Viper still visibly displeased made the sultan frown.
"Is he still mad at me.. ?"
Kalim thought that everything was fine but of course! He just had to ruin a perfectly good night with worrying Jamil... Just like he always did.
"Jamil..." The words lumps in his throat. "Are you still mad at me?"
Jamil look up to him and blinks a couple of times.
"OH SHIT HE ASSUMED I WAS MAD AT HIM?? FUCK"
"N-no! Why would I be mad at you?" Jamil asks quickly changing his tone to a soft one.
"Well it's just been you've been annoyed this whole time... I assumed I've upset you..."
Shit.
He's made Kalim overthink...! So much for trying to make him relax he's only made it worse. Jamil swallows the lump in his throat, "Kalim.. "
"Look it's not you okay?" Jamil assures.
"Then who else?" Kalim's frown could reach the depths of the ocean and his eyes... You can see how much of the past floods his mind.
"Kalim.. it's not you really-"
"Are you upset that you were forced to have dinner with me? Oh gosh I knew it I-"
"KALIM!"
With that shout Kalim had been silenced.
Jamil sighs, "Kalim it really isn't you, and... Dinner with you is nice it really is, Najma really just annoyed me with what she pulled."
"Why?"
Why? Yeah why was he upset? Najma and Khalil just did what he was too much of a coward to do. Was he upset cuz of the impromptu "date" they set up or was he upset because it made him face feelings he didn't dare even acknowledge.
"I don't know Kalim... It's just- it's-" Jamil exhales, "I guess I was just taken aback... I'm just..."
Afraid that I won't be able to control
myself and shatter what relationship I've formed with you ...
Good gods... I don't wanna fuck this up.
Jamil stays silent.
Kalim takes off his seat and goes over to Jamil, he cups his face and leans over the viper.
"Jamil... You know you can tell me anything right?" Those eyes, those red ruby eyes calling him, the handsome face that was covered in worry.
He's so close.
In fact I can feel it happening now...
Jamil puts a finger in Kalim's lower lip, "You really shouldn't be so close to me?"
"And why's that?"
"Because you make me crazy." Jamil leans closer.
Closer.
Closer.
Jamil presses his lips against Kalim.
Years of pining, regret, and missing each other poured out at that moment. Jamil remembers the days he wished Kalim shouted his name wherever he went. The days he wished Kalim was by his side to see the freedom he saw.
And the days he spent punishing himself for a sin that's long forgiven.
"To any god out there please, please let me have this moment, and let me believe this is real. That even for just a moment I could feel his lips on mine."
I want you.
I need you.
I love you.