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Tweak says, "The penguins are coming!!!!"

Armaan Viraj Khatri (fallontheflame) wrote in nevermore_logs,
@ 2023-04-15 21:35:00

Entry tags:

armaan khatri, avery duffield, patience

WHO: Armaan Khatri and Patience [Freddie] - But Avery first
WHEN: Saturday night
WHERE: Armaan, Avery and Lyra's apartment
WHAT: Cooking for Freddie. Also Avery being a butt
WARNINGS: TBA, possibly smut, possibly nothing!

Freddie was coming to spend the night! Armaan had Plans, and he was starting those off by cooking Freddie a delicious dinner. He knew Freddie was working with the kids at the shelter today, even though it was Saturday. And when he did that, he rarely took time for a break. Freddie usually just grazed on what he could and called it good. Armaan was working on feeding him up, now that he had a good job and was finally making money.

And considering he was making nice money now, Armaan could afford to feed Freddie more than student food when he came over to visit. The first few months had been a parade of frozen microwave burritos and mac and cheese. Armaan was so glad he had graduated and all that was behind him.

Once, on their first date, Armaan had asked Freddie what his favourite food was. Freddie had answered that he loved roasted lamb with mint sauce and veggies, and so that was what Armaan was painstakingly making tonight. He had seasoned it perfectly, and then slow roasted it all day on low heat so that by the time Freddie showed up, the meat would be so tender. He threw some potatoes, carrots and garlic in there to roast as well. He wanted another side so he was busy slicing up some leeks to saute with bacon, when he heard footsteps approach. It couldn't be Freddie, but Armaan had thought both his flatmates were gone. He whirled around and screamed, knife in hand, when he found Avery standing behind him in his underwear, looking like the ghost of flatmates past.

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phantomtruth
2023-04-16 10:14 am UTC (link)

Pursing his lips, Avery pulled on a clean teeshirt. "I'm gonna need to buy some popcorn as well," he said, eying up Armaan to see just how desperate the man was to get rid of him. "Can't go see a film without popcorn."

He wasn't a complete asshole though, so he pulled on a hoodie jacket and grabbed his wallet off the desk and flipped it open, shaking his head sadly at how empty it was.

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fallontheflame
2023-04-16 11:04 am UTC (link)

Armaan blinked for a second, until he realised what Avery was doing. And hey, Avery had paid for a lot of things while he had a job and Armaan was still a student. He snorted and waved for Avery to follow him. "Come on, man, let's see what I've got," he laughed.

He made a beeline for his coat and pulled out his wallet. "Oh, hey! Two twenties! Isn't that something!" he said, handing them over to Avery. "I hope the popcorn tastes like heaven."

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phantomtruth
2023-04-16 11:19 am UTC (link)

"Oh man, popcorn and a drink!" Avery took the cash before Armaan changed his mind and allowed Avery to stay in and hide in his room. "Cooor, fanks mistah!" He put on a poor cockney urchin voice, and stomped his feet into his shoes. "I hope you're using protection. Make sure you do save me some." And with a long sigh and an eye roll, he pulled his collar up and left the apartment.

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fallontheflame
2023-04-16 11:23 am UTC (link)

Armaan just huffed out an exasperated laugh, and he returned to the kitchen to fry up the leeks and bacon. He hoped the little misadventure hadn't lost him too much time, because he wanted to be finished cooking pretty much right as Freddie arrived.

The timing still worked out perfectly. He had pulled the meat out of the oven to rest, and the leeks were in a dish keeping warm when there was a knock at the door. Armaan had set up the table all nice and he checked it one more time, before bustling to the door to pull it open. "Hi!" he said, grinning from ear to ear to see his boyfriend there. He leaned in to greet Freddie with a kiss, and then stepped aside so Freddie could come into the apartment. "Come in, come in. Let me take your jacket."

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	patientia_est 2023-04-16 12:01 pm UTC (link)
	Freddie arrived with a bunch of flowers, pretty ones in blues and yellows, and he presented them to Armaan as he came in. "I saw these and thought of you," he said cheerfully. "How are you? I have been looking forward to this all day." He sniffed a few times, and turned his head towards the kitchen with interest. "You've been busy!" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

fallontheflame
2023-04-16 12:05 pm UTC (link)

Flowers! Armaan's stomach swooped a little, and he grinned, delighted. Yeah, it was looking more and more like he really was the romantic type. "I'm great, you! I have been looking forward to seeing you too. These are gorgeous," he said, rushing to grab a vase once Freddie's jacket was hung up. He set the flowers up in some water and then turned to his boyfriend with a grin.

"On our first date, you told me what your favourite food was. So I thought I would make it for you. Something a little special." And just wait until Freddie found the rose petals, and the strawberries and champagne in the bedroom.

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patientia_est
2023-04-16 12:33 pm UTC (link)

Freddie gave Armaan a warm smile. "How very thoughtful. It smells amazing." He went back to Armaan to kiss him on the cheek, and then kicked off his shoes as well, because it was only polite to take his shoes off in someone else's house. "I'm well, just work, you know, I am glad to be able to sit down and relax. Knowing I was seeing you definitely helped my day go a little faster."

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	fallontheflame 2023-04-16 12:38 pm UTC (link)
	Armaan slid his arms around Freddie then, and he pulled his boyfriend close. "I'm glad," he said, his voice warm and happy. "Did you even take a break today?" He worked so hard for those kids, but it was one of the reasons Armaan loved him so much. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	patientia_est 2023-04-16 01:08 pm UTC (link)
	"I had lunch, of course," Freddie replied. "I admit to skipping afternoon break. And, I admit to being quite peckish now." He smiled back at Armaan. All of this was so lovely of him, and such a sweet thing to do. It all made him think how happy he was to have waited for this man to notice him. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

fallontheflame
2023-04-16 01:14 pm UTC (link)

Armaan reached up to cup Freddie's face in his hands. "You're such a good man," he said, and he leaned in to kiss Freddie's lips, though he kept it chaste. Freddie was hungry, so it was best to not get distracted by making out. "You sit, I'll bring everything over."

Once he let go of his boyfriend, Armaan headed to the kitchen to grab the pan with the lamb and veggies, as well as the dish with the leeks and bacon in it. He carried it all over, glad that all the sauces were already on the table. "Here you go," he said, handing a knife to Freddie so he could cut himself some lamb. "I even remembered the mint sauce! What can I get you to drink?"

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patientia_est
2023-04-16 01:51 pm UTC (link)

It was a small dining table, but it didn't need to be overly large for just the two of them. With the dishes of food, though, it was almost too small!

"Whatever you're having," he replied to Armaan's question, taking the knife and leaning over the meat pan to carve the roast. Such an honour that Armaan was giving him to do that. It all looked absolutely amazing, and he said so as he placed food on his plate.

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fallontheflame
2023-04-16 10:10 pm UTC (link)

Armaan knew Freddie wasn't a big drinker, and he had champagne for later. So he grabbed a can of soda for each of them and carried it back to the table. It wasn't as classy as wine, but who cared?

Once Freddie had loaded up his plate, Armaan moved to do the same. "I wanted to do something really nice for you, now that I can afford something like this," he explained. There had been a gap in his paychecks after losing his first broadcasting job to racism. It hadn't been long, but without Freddie, he would have been eating plain white rice for about a week until he finally got paid for his current job. Or begging Avery for his leftovers. But Freddie had stepped up and fed him without complaint. "And to thank you for feeding me when I needed it."

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patientia_est
2023-04-17 11:10 am UTC (link)

"Oh my love, you know you don't have to repay me for that. But thank you. This is all fantastic." The food really did all look delicious, and it tasted as such too when Freddie took a bite. "Mmmm. Perfect."

This relationship with Armaan was so satisfying after so long spent alone. It was far easier to relax and relate to people, and having someone to go to after work, instead of his fish and his clean apartment, made his heart lighter. And the fact that Armaan was going to so much effort tonight just filled his heart with affection.

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fallontheflame
2023-04-17 11:16 am UTC (link)

"I know I don't have to. I wanted to," Armaan grinned. He tucked into his dinner, satisfied that it was delicious and hearty fare. They chatted and ate their fill, Armaan cleaning his plate and then leaning back with a groan.

"So full," he said, smiling over at Freddie. "What about you, you need anything else?" He had other plans tonight, but he didn't want to move on until he was sure Freddie was sated.

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	patientia_est 2023-04-17 11:24 am UTC (link)
	"Regretfully, I cannot manage another bite," Freddie sighed, rubbing his belly. The food had all been so good, he'd possibly eaten slightly too much if anything. After a minute, he was going to get up and help clear the table, once his food was settled. "My compliments to the chef. That was delicious." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

fallontheflame
2023-04-17 11:27 am UTC (link)

Well there would be plenty for Avery, he would be glad about when he got back. "I'm glad you liked it," he said, moving his chair closer to Freddie so he could rest his head against Freddie's shoulder. "I feel like my life is finally coming together. I have the job I worked years to get, I'm out to my family so they know the real me. I'm with you. It's really good."

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	patientia_est 2023-04-17 11:50 am UTC (link)
	Freddie rubbed Armaan's back between his shoulders. "It is good," he agreed. "I am very happy I bought you that coffee that day. My patience paid off." He smiled at an in-joke only he got, and kissed Armaan on the temple. "Shall we clean up and go sit on the sofa? I'd like to get my arms around you properly." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

fallontheflame
2023-04-17 11:58 am UTC (link)

The invitation to be in Freddie's arms brought a little purr to Armaan's throat. God, he wanted Freddie to get his arms around him properly too! "Speed cleaning!" Armaan said, with a laugh. Still, he turned so he could plant a kiss on Freddie's lips before they both rose to clean up the table.

When they were almost done, and Armaan was wrapping up a plate with foil over it for Avery, Armaan looked over at Freddie. "Hey, Freddie? Could you go get my glasses for me, they're in my bedroom." He didn't want or need his reading glasses at all. But he did want Freddie to walk into the hallway and follow that trail of rose petals to the bedroom. There was a bucket of ice and champagne in there, as well as chocolate covered strawberries. And a little box with a bow on it, sitting on the nightstand. "Thanks, babe."

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patientia_est
2023-04-17 12:08 pm UTC (link)

"Your glasses? Well, alright," Freddie said, slightly confused why Armaan needed his glasses right now. He walked towards the bedroom, and then stopped with a little smile. "Ah. Glasses. Sure." Something told him that there may be glasses of a different kind, perhaps, if he followed the trail. "Armaan, you hopeless romantic, what are you up to?" he called back over his shoulder, walking carefully into the bedroom so as not to crush the petals. What a sweet thing to have done!

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	fallontheflame 2023-04-17 12:11 pm UTC (link)
	Armaan shoved the plate into the fridge and then he followed Freddie's trail until he could wrap his arms around his boyfriend from behind and give him a quick kiss on the neck. "Just felt like doing something a little special," he said warmly. "What can I say, you inspire me." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	patientia_est 2023-04-17 12:32 pm UTC (link)
	Freddie chuckled and placed his hands over Armaan's, holding them lightly. "What have I done to deserve all this?" he asked. "This is so thoughtful! Strawberries and champagne!" For a bed that took up most of the small apartment bedroom, it was looking quite inviting. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

fallontheflame
2023-04-17 12:35 pm UTC (link)

"What have you done? Freddie-" Armaan released his boyfriend, but only so he could draw Freddie over to the bed. They both sat, but Armaan made sure he was holding Freddie's hands for this.

"You've done everything. You supported me to come out to my mom, and you stuck by me when I lost my job. You weren't turned off by the fact that I've never had a relationship before. You're right beside me, learning how to do this together. That means so much to me. That's what you did to deserve this." He wanted to give Freddie the little present, but he was going to let that sink in first.

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patientia_est
2023-04-17 12:55 pm UTC (link)

All of that came so naturally to Freddie that he hadn't given it a second thought. None of it was done to manipulate. He'd only wanted to help Armaan be the man he wanted to be, and fortify him just a little to be able to get through it with better strength. "Seeing you grow and be who you want to be is all the reward I need," he said earnestly, and squeezed Armaan's hands lightly. "But I am touched that you have gone to all of this effort. It does mean a lot. Thank you."

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fallontheflame
2023-04-17 12:59 pm UTC (link)

Armaan leaned in to plant another kiss on Freddie's lips and then he said, "no, thank you. I do have a present for you." He reached out for the box and plopped it into Freddie's waiting hands. "I feel like my space is so much better when you're in it." The little box held the key to this apartment in it, and Armaan wanted Freddie to know he could come over any time.

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patientia_est
2023-04-17 01:10 pm UTC (link)

Opening the box to reveal the key made Freddie's heart jolt for a moment. Was this- But no, no rings, instead a key standing on the little velvet cushion, and he suppressed a breath of relief.

Not that he would not marry Armaan when the time came. But... there were a few things they should discuss first. A key though, a key he could and would accept. He smiled and pulled Armaan into an embrace. "You are such an amazing person," he said, holding him tightly. "I adore you."