Alaric watched her for a moment after she pulled her hand away, his gaze lingering as if he hadn't quite decided what to make of her yet.
Something about the way she carried herself… so controlled, so composed and yet… slightly off from what he expected… kept his attention longer than it should have.
"Continue," he said at last, his voice lower now, less mocking than before, edged with quiet curiosity.
Let's see how far you can go.
Elena didn't answer immediately.
Her eyes held him steadily, as if she was actually considering it rather than playing along. There was a seriousness in her gaze that didn't match the situation and for some reason, that made him more interested about her next move.
"Come closer," she said softly.
He did.
Not because he trusted her but because he wanted to see what she would do next.
The distance between them closed, just enough for him to notice the small details… the way her breath steadied, the slight pause in her movements, the faint tension in her fingers as she lifted her hand.
His gaze followed instinctively.
For a fleeting moment, anticipation flickered through him… unexpectedly, uninvitedly.
Was she going to touch his face?
His lips?
He noticed the way she pressed her lips together briefly, as if bracing herself.
Nervous?
That only made him more attentive.
"Go on, Elena…" he murmured, his voice quieter now.
Her hand moved and then… rested on his head.
Alaric's brows drew together slightly.
Her fingers slipped lightly into his hair, not tentative, not hesitant… just… naturally.
And then she began to pat his head.
Slowly.
Gently.
As if it made perfect sense.
What… What is happening right now?
"What exactly are you doing?" He asked, the confusion in his voice no longer hidden.
"I'm doing what someone does when they care for their partner," Elena replied, her tone simple, almost as a matter-of-fact.
He stared at her. "By patting my head like I'm a child?"
She frowned slightly, genuinely puzzled now. "Is that not… right?"
For a moment, Alaric didn't respond.
He searched her face, expecting to find a trace of mockery, some hidden amusement… but there was none.
Only quiet uncertainty.
He leaned back a fraction, exhaling softly as if trying to reset his thoughts.
"Is there anything else you want to try?" He asked, this time more measured.
Elena withdrew her hand but she didn't pull away completely. Instead, she leaned in again, closer than before, both hands lifting this time.
Alaric's gaze dropped instinctively to her lips. Then back to her eyes.
This time, he didn't question it.
He leaned in as well, the space between them narrowing until it felt intentional, his attention fixed entirely on hers.
Her hands came up to his face, her fingers brushing against his cheeks, soft and warm.
His breath slowed.
His lips parted slightly without him realizing it.
And then… she pinched his cheeks.
Firm enough to catch him off guard, her fingers pressing in before she gave his face a small shake, the faintest hint of satisfaction appearing in her expression.
Alaric froze.
For a second, he didn't move.
Didn't react.
As if his mind was still catching up to what had just happened.
Then he pulled back, staring at her, something between disbelief and irritation flickering across his face.
Elena, however, looked completely unbothered.
Almost… content.
As if she had done exactly what was expected of her.
And that… was the most unsettling part.
Before either of them could say anything further, a waitress approached their table, her steps polite, professional… but there was something in her expression she couldn't quite hide.
A faint curve at the corner of her lips, as if she had just witnessed something she wasn't supposed to react to.
"Would you like to order something?" She asked, her tone steady, though her eyes flickered briefly between them, a hint of suppressed amusement lingering.
Alaric noticed it immediately.
Of course she would.
Anyone would.
He just chose not to comment.
Elena, however, didn't hesitate.
"I'll have an iced americano with biscuits and gravy," she said, as if she had already decided long before sitting down.
Alaric glanced at her for a brief second before turning to the waitress. "Steak and eggs."
The waitress noted it down quickly, her smile returning for just a moment longer than necessary before she excused herself and walked away.
A short silence followed.
Alaric leaned back slightly, his gaze settling on Elena again, something unreadable behind it. "Are you always this hungry," he asked, "or does using your brain too much trigger it?"
Elena looked at him, trying to decide whether that was an insult or simply his way of continuing the conversation.
"I didn't have breakfast," she replied evenly. Then, after a brief pause, "What about you? That doesn't look like a light order either."
"Keeping up with you made me hungry."
That answered it.
Definitely an insult.
Elena exhaled softly, not bothering to argue. "Well," she said instead, her tone shifting back to something more neutral, "I showed you how to act like you're in love. Now it's your turn."
Alaric held her gaze for a moment.
He almost said it… that what she had shown him was nothing close to love.
That it was… something else entirely.
But he didn't.
Not because he couldn't.
Because he chose not to.
There would be time for that later to crush her confidence.
"Lean in," he said instead, his voice steady, carrying that quiet authority that sounded less like a suggestion and more like an order. "Place your hands on mine."
For a brief second, Elena hesitated… not out of resistance but out of curiosity.
Then she did.
Her hands rested lightly in his.
Alaric's fingers closed around them, firm but not rough, guiding them slightly closer. His movements were slower this time, deliberate, as if he was aware of every small shift between them.
Then he lifted her hands toward his lips… and pressed a soft kiss against her knuckles.
The gesture was simple.
Just a hint of gentle intimacy.
Almost… effortless.
He didn't let go of her hands. Instead, he lifted his gaze to hers, watching closely, waiting for something… anything… to surface on her eyes.
And what he found… wasn't what he expected.
Elena was looking at him but not with surprise, not with fluster, not even with discomfort.
Just… confusion.
Pure, unfiltered confusion.
Alaric's brows drew together slightly.
"What are you thinking?" He asked. "You're supposed to look happy."
His voice pulled her back, the moment snapping into place.
Elena blinked once, as if she had momentarily lost track of where she was, before a smile appeared on her lips.
It was perfect.
Carefully shaped.
Exactly what anyone would expect to see but it didn't reach her eyes.
And he noticed.
Of course he did.
This time… Alaric didn't feel amused because whatever she was doing earlier… that strange, misplaced affection… had felt more real than this.