SUMMARY: Quentin makes dinner and they discuss the darkness that has taken over Vallo among other things before ending the night with snuggles.
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N/A
Never had Eliot seen the streets as empty as they had been the past few days with the darkness and daemon situation, Vallo's latest chaotic episode. It was strange to say the least. He went straight home as promised and could smell garlic as soon as he walked toward the kitchen. Quentin was standing at the stove stirring what he was sure had to be the sauce for the spaghetti. He walked up behind him and slid his arms around his waist. "I'm home, beautiful." He pressed kisses to his neck and nuzzled against his warm skin. He knew the younger man had been worried about him. Another reason he wasn't exactly crazy about this place.
"Smells good. And you look sexy cooking." He grinned and kissed him again. "Do you need help with anything?" He could go for a drink, but wine would be better with dinner.
Quentin had been doing his level best not to worry with everything going on at the moment. The dark wasn't the bad part. It was just dark. Turn on a light. Light a candle. Whatever. That he could handle. But he'd been seeing people talking about being attacked, and then Eliot had basically ordered him to stay home. Sure he had pushed back on it, but he had honestly felt the love in those words. So in the end, he'd stayed in at least for the day. He'd revisit the idea of getting out there to help where he could in the morning.
He also had not been joking when he said he would clean the cottage. Everything had been cleaned, dusted, washed if need be and there was still one load in the dryer. But it was just towels so he wasn't worried about getting it out right away. Between cleaning and cooking, he didn't have time to actively worry too much about Eliot being out there. He was startled when he heard the door open but didn't move from where he was checking the sauce. He leaned into the hug and turned his head to kiss Eliot's jaw. "Everything is just about done. I just drained the noodles. The sauce is done....garlic bread is in the toaster oven." He looked over at it and it had two more minutes to go. "Almost done. Maybe pour some wine?"
Eliot hummed at the kiss to his jaw. He really had missed Quentin today. Maybe part of it was what was going on, but most of it was just wanting to be with him. "Did you make a salad? If not don't worry about it." He stepped away to get the wine and glasses, filled them then set them on the table. Moving back to the kitchen he gathered up everything needed to set the table.
"I'm gonna run up and turn the lights on upstairs." He would be quick. Eliot got the feeling Quentin didn't really want to go upstairs. He mostly understood why, but hoped it wouldn't avoid it forever. Not that he had room to talk. He still hadn't slept in the new master suite bedroom and only went in it once or twice a week to gather clothes up for work or if they were going somewhere. He'd get there one day.
Back downstairs he walked over to Quentin and pulled his hand from the spoon that was stirring the sauce then put his hands on his hips to turn his whole body so that he was facing him. He smiled then leaned in to kiss him properly. "Mmm, definitely missed you today. Are we ready to eat? I'm starving." He'd forgot to take something for lunch and with how bad things were getting he didn't want to order something and have someone out and about just to bring him food.
"Shit I knew I forgot something! I can put it together real quick if you want one?" With everything getting done just about the same time he had to get the bread out of the toaster oven, this time he was more careful with the pot holder and did not burn himself thank you very much. Quentin tasted the sauce one more time and then dropped the spaghetti into the pan. He stirred that all together then took it off the heat.
HE meant to try to make the salad but he got distracted by the hands on his hips. He turned and leaned up for that kiss, his arms easily wrapping around Eliot's neck. He might have clung just a little tighter than was absolutely necessary considering they'd just seen each other in the morning. But with everything going on, he was just happy to have his man back home and in his arms. He tucked his nose against Eliot's neck for a moment then nodded. "Unless you want me to make a salad, everything is ready."
Quentin pulled his head back and leaned up for not-so-quick so quick kiss then shimmied out of Eliot's arms. "You go sit. I"ll bring the food over to the table." He shooed the man over toward the table then served up two plates of pasta, two slices of garlic bread on each plate, and he carried them over setting down the one that had just a smidge more in front of Eliot. He looked the table over then took off the apron and hung it on the hook near the stove and finally sat down. "So how busy was work today?" He remembered Eliot saying it might be slow, but he figured that might have changed.
Eliot could feel the extra emotion coming from Quentin when they kissed, the way he held him tighter and all but clung to him. He understood. The way life seemed to throw curve balls at them it was hard not to expect something might happen during one of Vallo's fucked up episodes. "No, I don't need a salad. No worries, Q." Another kiss had him thinking about more than just dinner before Quentin was shooing him to go sit down, so he did."
Soon a heaping plate of spaghetti and garlic bread was set before him and he took a bit of the garlic bread. 'No, only a few brave souls ventured in. The quiet is odd to say the least." He dug into the spaghetti. "Nice, Q. Good balance of seasonings. You did great." He smiled and took another bite. "How was your day? Oh, before I forget, what time is your orientation tomorrow and Thursday?" He was hoping the evening, but even if not he was still going and didn't think it would be too much of a big deal to take off early. It wasn't like Dorian's was busy.
Quentin couldn't help it. They had just started to settle back into something that was comfortable for them when this happened. He didn't like to think about Eliot getting hurt, and now there was a very real possibility of it happening while the man was getting to and from work. It was insane. But they were both home and safe. For the moment anyway. Who knew if those demons would be able to come to the cottage or not?
"I can imagine." He didn't start eating right away. He had to know of Eliot liked it. Quentin knew how to cook more or less, and what he'd done was really just doctor up some premade sauce and cook the noodles. But it was so easy to fuck up pasta and he was concerned. "Glad you like it." He smiled then finally had his first bite of the food. Not bad. Could be better...chunkier veg would be nice maybe. Mushrooms! That's what was missing. Meatballs? Maybe. He shrugged at the question and finished off another couple of bites before looking up again. "The house the clean. Laundry is done. I have no idea what I am going to do tomorrow since they've gone ahead and pushed orientation back until next week." Assuming the darkness and demons were gone by then. No telling what they would decide to do if they weren't. "Maybe I can go to work with you? At least I won't be sitting at home alone trying not to freak out over every little sound outside."
That was the thing, there were all the unknowns about this darkness and creatures, demons, things, whatever they were. Light was known to keep them away, but what if one of them busted through the light or a group of them? He just didn't know and that's what everything all the more scary and worrisome. Hopefully this wouldn't last much longer. Most of the time such events seemed to last a few days to a week. He really hoped this was one of the shorter ones.
"It's delicious. Thank you for cooking." He leaned over and pressed a kiss to the corner of Quentin's mouth. "The cottage looks amazing. It's really shining. Thanks for doing all the work and the laundry. You're a regular Mr. Mom," he teased. "Or is it, Mrs. Doubtfire?" He grinned then ate some more. Eliot felt a wave of relief wash over him when Quentin shared that his orientation had been pushed back to next week. "Good. I really don't like the idea of you being out there or anyone, really. Especially now with the number of those things increasing and injury reports coming in." That caused him to worry more. "Of course you can come with me to work." He slipped his arm around Qentin and pulled me into hug. He could see how being home alone now would make one uneasy and jump at every sound.
Being so new, Quentin had no idea what to expect or if this was just a normal thing that happened in Vallo regularly. He tried not to think too hard about it and just enjoy dinner and the company. He just ate quietly trying not to think about what might happen when Eliot went to work the next day. He blushed and shrugged at the kiss. "You're welcome." He looked up and laughed. "I don't know if I'd go that far. There really wasn't a lot that needed to be done." It was mostly clean before he started, it's just now they could totally show off the cottage if they wanted to. He wasn't sure he was ready for that kind of thing.
As soon as he'd gotten the notification that orientation was pushed out at least a week he knew Eliot would be happy. He wasn't exactly, only because he didn't want to be alone right while things were going sideways like this. HE didn't want Eliot out there alone in it either, even if he was only going as far a portal to get to work. "I knew you would like that. He shifted his chair over so they were even closer together and rested his head on his shoulder. He wanted to just climb into the man's lap but that might be a bit too much. "I don't like the idea of you being out there at all. Can't we just stay home? No one will be out and about anyway."
Of course Quentin would down play all the work he'd done. It was typical of him. "Well, I would go that far. You did a lot today. It's nice to come home to a clean space and a good meal. It's even nicer coming home to you." He couldn't even begin to put into words how good that felt. He finished off his food then drained his wine glass. He was full, but reached for the wine and poured himself another glass.
Once Quentin moved closer and laid his head on his shoulder, Eliot slipped an arm around his shoulder, his fingers playing with his soft locks. "I just worry about you." He didn't know what he would do if something happened to Quentin. He sighed quietly. "I wish I could stay home." He really needed the money now that it was just him paying on the loan for the re-modeling. just can't afford to right now. I'm safe though. I've got magic and besides, I'm too fabulous for those things to even think about touching me." He grinned a little knowing he probably shouldn't joke like like that, but it was better than letting his worry get carried away. "I could see about working a half day. I don't really think my boss would mind."
Quentin tried not to squirm too much under the praise. "If I'm at home, it's the least I can do." He had done quite a bit, even if he had only glanced at the rooms upstairs. HE was still not sure if Eliot wanted him up there. He wasn't sure if Eliot wanted to be up there, and he was just taking his cues from the man on that front. All he'd done upstairs was a quick vacuum of the landing and the hallways that could be easily reached from it. The rest he'd left untouched.
Quentin shifted to sit up and ate the last bit of his garlic bread then settled against Eliot again. He should get up to clear the table but he wasn't ready to move just yet. "You know...somehow I totally believe that. You could just give them one of those smouldering Eliot looks and they would apologise and run the other direction." He looked up and grinned. Okay that was maybe a bit much, but whatever. He was just trying to not think about just how serious the situation really was. He'd been in enough of them to know what it felt like, and how much he needed to let go and just laugh about it so he didn't go crazy with panic and worry. He was brought back down from the silly moment and nodded. "Please ask him as soon as you get there."
Eliot took a sip of wine when Quentin sate up. He couldn't help the chuckle that came from him when the other talked about a smoldering look from him and the daemons apologizing and running away. "If only I was that good." If a smoldering look could do that these things would be gone. There were more than a fair amount of attractive people in Vallo to do just that if it were the case.
"I will as soon as I get there. I promise." He really didn't think it would be an issue. He pressed a kiss to Quentin's temple and nuzzled against him. "Curl up with Houdini and Kismet and watch a good movie or read. They'll keep you company while away. And you know what good snuggle buddies they are." Eliot drank some more wine. "I should check in with Abigail. She's in that big house all alone. Do you think I should see if she wants to stay here until this is all over? Would you be okay with that if she wanted to?"
"I think you are." He smiled but nodded at the suggestion of cuddling up with the cats. "They really are. Kismet just followed me around all day. Except when I had the vacuum going. She hated that, but other than that she was right there. Making sure I'm okay I guess." It was cute really. He was sure the cats knew he was a different Quentin, but they were okay with it. He was okay with them too.
He thought about it and frowned a little. Extra trips meant longer out there but he just nodded. "It would be better if she came and stayed here with us until this is all over with." He hadn't actually met Abigail yet, but she had spoken to him on his net post and he knew she was Eliot's friend. He really needed to get to know more people than Eliot. He was trying, in his own shy way.
"You're also bias," Eliot replied returning the smile. "She loves you. They both do." Though Kismet had been more the other version of Quentin's cat. She just seemed to gravitate toward him a little more, so it wasn't a surprise she was still the same. "Keeping you company to help comfort you. They know those kind of things." At least he believed that when it came to pets and animals.
Eliot caught the frown. "I could ask her to take a way point to the city, to the bar. That way we could come back to the cottage together." That was if she wanted to stay with them. "No extra trips. I just worry about her being alone." No one should be alone during things like this." He gave Quentin a hug. "Thanks for being okay with it. I'll send her a text and ask. Now, why don't we g clean up then head for bed or some quality snuggling?" He didn't wait for an answer before he stood and began to clear the table.
He would neither confirm nor deny his bias when it came to Eliot. He was sure anyone could see it when he looked at the man. Which got him wondering if everyone saw it back in his own timeline. He pushed the thought aside. Nothing to be done about it now. Quentin nodded. "I know they do. She's just a little bit more hands-on about it so to speak." Hands. Paws. Whatever. She was just more affectionate in general than Houdini was with him. Except when he was sitting down and had a lap. Then Houdini was all about the lap time.
Quentin knew Eliot had seen his expression. He looked up at him and smiled. "That would make me feel better about it, but if you have to go get her then you have to go get her. I know you'll be careful." He leaned over and kissed the man's cheek. Before he could settle again, Eliot was suggesting bed and snuggles. "I could use some bedtime snuggling." He stood up with him and collected the dishes and things to take into the kitchen again. He looked over at Eliot. "Why don't you go get ready for bed? I'll get the kitchen cleaned up and be right there." He set everything into the sink and then moved to put away what was left of the pasta and sauce. Enough for lunch the next day, he should make sure Eliot took it with him in case he couldn't leave early.
"Are you saying you paw handles you? Do I need to have a talk with her?" He joked as an image of Kismet doing just that went through his mind.It was true, Houdini was more his cat. He'd picked her out as a kitten at the shelter. She'd been a great comfort when he had moved out for two months and it was just him and her while it had been just Quentin and Kismet at the cottage. He didn't want to think about that though.
"Thank you." He kissed Quentin sweetly. "I think she'll come to Dorian's though, but I won't have a problem going to get her if she prefers it." The suggestion of him going to get ready for b ed and Quentin cleaning had him wanting to protest, but he decided not to. "I'll do the cooking and the cleaning tomorrow."
He made his way to the bathroom downstairs where he took out his contacts and made sure his glasses were sitting on the counter, then washed his face and brushed his teeth. He took the pajamas he'd put in the closet out and changed into them then went to Quentin's room. He turned down the sheets then slid beneath the getting comfy while he waited. In the silence of the room his thoughts turned to other things. Upstairs, darkness, daemons, having to leave Quentin and wishing life would get back to some form of normalcy soon.
"I mean you can have a talk with her but I don't know what good it would do." She was a cat and cats did what they wanted. Period. He liked that about them actually. And so far all she'd done was be cute and try to stay close to him so that wasn't so bad. That might change, but she would still be cute so she'd get away with any evil she plotted.
"Okay, love." He watched Eliot walk away and then went back to his task. Lunch was clearly labelled in the fridge for Eliot to take to work. Apparently, Quentin was going to be that person while he was home and not working. It wasn't a bad way to be he figured. Dishes were done next, rinsed and set into the dishwasher. Pots were cleaned and dried. He took one more look around the kitchen and dining room then nodded to himself before he started the dishwasher. He turned the lights off out of habit then turned them back on. Nope. NO Daemons in his house thank you very much.
It felt very strange to leave lights on all night but he knew for the moment it was the safer option. He took the time to wash up and brush his teeth before walking into his bedroom. "Hey you." He spoke softly then stood in the doorway for a minute, just enjoying the moment. End of the night, everything was calm for the moment and he had Eliot. In his bed. He pushed off the door frame then moved to change out of his clothes. He thought about sleeping in just his shorts, but with everything going on he opted for sleep pants and a t-shirt. He turned off the overhead light and switched on the bedside lamps before climbing into the bed with Eliot. "Are we going to have to sleep with the lights on?" They hadn't the night before, but things seemed to be getting much worse and he wondered if they should.
"You're so cute," Eliot grinned. "I was joking. Though the thought of her man-handling you is pretty funny." He pressed a kiss to his lips then another.
He looked up to see Quentin leaning against the door frame. "Hey, beautiful. Hurry up and get in here. I'm lonely." Eliot watched the other undress appreciating the view. Once he was in the bed he scooted closer and slipped his arms around Quentin pulling him to lay against his chest. "I think we should. Things don't seem to be improving out there and I don't want to take any chances." If anything they were getting worse. "It is weird, isn't? Having all the lights on at night. I'll be happy when this is all over."
He rubbed over Quentin's back and sighed quietly. It was nice laying like this. He'd missed it so much. Quentin knew it was a joke, he just ran with it because he thought it was hilarious. Or at least mildly amusing. With the cats in mind, he left the door open a crack in case they decided they wanted to come in where the people were.
Once he was settled and tucked up against Eliot's side he rested his head on the man's chest to listen to his heartbeat. He missed this part most. Sure, sex and kissing were amazing, but this part? Just holding and being held? Emily had it right. This was the part of a relationship that he missed the most. "I'm not sure how well I'm going to be able to sleep with all the lights on like this. I guess I could wear a blindfold or something." He shrugged and let his fingers trace randomly along Eliot's side. HE yawned and snuggled in closer. Maybe he wouldn't need the blindfold. He had Eliot.
At present Eliot felt so warm and comfortable he could just drift off to sleep curled up with his man. "Hey, no kinky talk when I'm tired," he chuckled softly. Quentin's fingers tracing over him relaxed him further and he smiled when the other yawned. The past few days had made them both more anxious and worry more among other things. He let out his own yawn and hugged Quentin as he dropped a kiss on the top of his head. "Goodnight, Q. I love you." He paused, a small grin tugging at his lips. "If you do need that blindfold don't hesitate to wake me up."
He sighed contently and closed his eyes. The warm weight of Quentin against him, the sound of his breathing and his familiar scent soon lulled him into sleep.