#fa ayna

Soft music plays through a speaker resting on the countertop, notes floating through the apartment as Ayna’s hums swirl with them. She bounces on her feet, dancing lightly as she stirs a pot on the stove, ingredients scattered about.

“Look at you,” a laugh sounds from behind her, “Dancing Queen.”

A wide smile splits Ayna’s lips as she playfully swishes her hips, “I’ve got moves.”

Arms wrap around her from behind, squeezing tight as a chin lands on her shoulder. “Mmhmm,” Kennedy hums, their nose nuzzling into Ayna’s neck, “You’ve got more moves than anyone I know, babe.”

“You should get out more.”

Kennedy barks a laugh, “Hey!” releasing the woman in her arms to slouch against the counter instead.

“I’m just saying,” Ayna chuckles, tossing in spices.

“Besides, if I went out more I wouldn’t have nearly as much time to spend with my beautiful girlfriend,” Kennedy darts forward, pressing a light kiss to Ayna’s cheek.

“You make a convincing argument.”

“I always do.”

“Politicians,” Ayna snickers, “They’re all so sneaky.”

“And teaching assistants,” Kennedy’s head shakes in a tease. “They’re all so pretentious.”

Frowning, Ayna bumps her hip into Kennedy’s, “I thought you liked my pretentiousness.”

“I love your pretentiousness. I also love that you’re a better cook than me,” they dip their finger into a bowl, swiping some sauce and licking it off their finger.

“You just like the free food.”

“Well, duh,” Kennedy laughs brightly, grinning easily.

“Speaking of,” Ayna announces, drawing out the last word, “Done! Did you get the wine?”

“Yes ma’am,” Kennedy retreats, crossing to the opposite side of the kitchen where a bottle of wine rests. They tug open a cabinet and grab two wine glasses on the way, setting them down with a clink.

They set about uncorking the bottle, toying with it as Ayna turns her attention plating their dinner, throwing together all the different parts as neatly as she can. She takes forks from the silverware drawer, glancing over her shoulder as she rests them on the plates to find Kennedy walking towards the living room, hands full of wine.

Ayna follows, settling their meal on the coffee table as Kennedy passes a glass of wine. “Bone apple teeth,” they grin over the rim of their glass, their smile growing when Ayna laughs.

“Just eat your food.”

“Alright, alright,” Kennedy laughs, taking their plate as the pair on the couch fall into relative silence, the old sounds the scrapping of cutlery and the pouring of more wine.

---

Ayna presses her cheek further into Kennedy’s shoulder, humming as their fingers comb through her hair, toying with a dark lock occasionally. The couple’s sprawled out on the couch, music still humming somewhere in the apartment.

“Thank you for dinner,” Kennedy finally murmurs, breaking the stillness filling the living room.

Ayna shifts, her arm over Kennedy's waist tightening as she peers up at their face, the nearby lamp casting shadows. “Thank you for being here.”

“Thank you for being here," their finger pokes at her side, a sparkling smile breaking across their features. "Even with all the mess that is my life.”

“There is quite honestly nowhere I’d rather be,” Ayna hums, sinking back into their side.

“Nowhere? Really? Not even a tropical island?”

“Hmm. Maybe…”

Kennedy chuckles, fingers slipping back into dark tresses, “Well I for one would take a nuclear bunker with you over a Caribbean island any day.”

“Sweet talker.”

“Exactly how sweet are we talking? Candy corn or pure sugar?”

“Hmm,” Ayna hums contemplatively once more, considering carefully. “Chocolate?”

“Ooh, I could go for some chocolate."

“We have some in the pantry.”

Kennedy abruptly darts upright, Ayna jolting upwards with them as their eyes bulge out in their excitement, “We do?!”

She laughs, shifting into the back cushions, “I went to the shop yesterday and picked some up since you ate all of it.”

“Hey! You took the last of the strawberries last time, so we’re even.”

“Okay, okay.”

“Oh, wait!" Kennedy shouts out, jumping to their feet. "Chocolate-covered strawberries!” they weave quickly through the living room’s furniture and towards the kitchen without a backwards glance.

Ayna turns to watch them, her gaze following them as they disappear around a corner. “Will you at least share with me?” she laughs, calling after them.

Their head pops back around the corner, an amused grin on their lips, “You’ll get the first bite, promise.”

They dart from Ayna’s line of sight again, a few clatters sounding from the kitchen. Ayna’s lips pull into a smile as she stretches out on the sofa, settling into the cushions and chuckling beneath her breath when Kennedy swears, “For fuck’s sake…”

After a few minutes and several sounds of the microwave, they reenter, a platter held triumphantly above their head. “I did it!”

They slump back onto the sofa, crossing their legs and facing Ayna, the platter propped on their lap. Their fingers spin around the rim of a small bowl full of melted chocolate, strawberries with the tops cut off and toothpicks resting beside it.

“First bite, just for you.” Kennedy stabs one of the smaller strawberries and dips it in the melted chocolate, offering the stick to Ayna with a soft smile.

She takes it between her teeth, sliding the strawberry off the stick and biting into the fruit. Kennedy grabs their own, dunking it in chocolate and taking a big, eager bite.

“Is it as sweet as my talk?” they ask through a mouthful, chocolate dripping down their chin.

Ayna grins, swiping her thumb along their chin and sucking the chocolate from the pad of her thumb. “No. You’re still sweeter.”

Kennedy’s smile is soft, relaxed as they lean forward to press their lips to Ayna’s. She returns it, one hand raising to cup their cheek and urge them closer, a smile of her own curving her mouth.