N

Xander remained standing beside Anton only about four steps away, still at the island, watching Anton. He simply stood there, leaning his left elbow on the table, and resting his face on his palm as he watched Anton work. Anton probably felt the heated gaze and had become uncomfortable with it.

"Is there something on my face?" He finally sighed and asked in exasperation, turning to face Xander who didn't at all try to pretend like he wasn't staring previously. Instead he moved even closer to Anton getting in his 'personal' space without getting in the way of Anton's work and stared even more intently with an indecipherable smirk.

The smirk was pretty creepy but Anton looked unperturbed. He seemed wary, but the most he did was raise a brow, at his boldness.

"Is there something on my face?" He repeated. He knew there wouldn't be, considering Xander never once pointed it out to him and yet he still asked.

"No." Xander admitted, the creepy smirk still on his face.

"Then is there something of interest on my face?" Anton asked, tilting his head slightly to the right.

"My interest is your face. I honestly don't understand how you always look so composed and aloof, except the times when you smile or laugh and that one time you were sick." Xander confessed.

"Is that why you keep staring?" Anton asked sweeping a cold look over Xander as though trying to find clues of his thoughts on his body.

"Of course it is, why else?" Xander raised his voice only slightly to add emphasis to his point while giving Anton a scrutinizing look, wondering what Anton was suspecting him of.

"Well, in that case... Would you like to hear my secret?" He asked Xander with a rather amused look on his eyes.

"Of course! I'd like to understand you and your motivations. Who wouldn't?!" Xander exclaimed, his eyes shining.

Anton nodded once in satisfaction, then beckoned Xander to come close with his index finger. Xander moved closer. Anton beckoned him again. Xander moved even closer. So close that they could see every distinct part of each other's faces. Xander's back rested against the island as he watched Anton cautiously.

Anton paused only a second as though he was assessing the situation. Xander didn't even bother moving at all. Any slight movement, and anything could have happened.

Anton ignored that fact and leaned over, close to Xander's ear. He didn't whisper, but his voice was low. Low enough that if anyone chose this moment to walk in or to even stand close to them, they would only hear his voice but not the words.

"I'm more interested in understanding you than reacting to anything. The few times I laugh or smile are the times when you catch me off guard, even though I've learnt to stop having expectations of you. That... and my interest in the things you do slightly overwhelms my interest in understanding you. However, I'm not so much interested in anyone. This only ever happens when I'm with you."

He moved away from Xander's ear as though he wasn't just less than five centimetres away from Xander's face barely 10 seconds ago.

He went back to what he was doing, but Xander remained there, stiff as ever looking frosty but shocked. He slowly came to and glanced and Anton who pretended as though nothing had happened. He didn't even spare Xander a glance. Xander didn't care, he looked on anyways. A complicated look in his eyes as he drilled holes into Anton's head with his eyes.

"So what, you want to blame me for your unexpected defect?" Xander asked, not changing the expression on his face. He sounded like he was genuinely curious, but there was an undertone of mocking in his voice.

Anton sighed, but continued what he was doing. "Calling it a defect doesn't necessarily mean it's bad, Xander. That's one. Two, there's no need for blame if there is no fault, is there?"

Xander tilted his head slightly to the right assessing Anton's words than agreed with a nod. "Hmm, I guess so."

Anton gave a brief smile then placed the last of the food that needed his attention in a pot and on the cooker.

He washed his hands and then joined Xander who was watching his every move as he rested his weight comfortably on the side of the island, arms crossed and one leg crossed over the other.

Anton rested against the island, leaving only about 5 inches of space between them. He likely didn't do it consciously. He leaned a bit back, his hands gripping the edge of the countertop rather loosely.

He turned his head to look at Xander for a while, as though scrutinizing him. Xander must have felt the intensity of the stare but chose to ignore it.

"Is there a reason you keep coming to my house? And I don't mean I don't want you here. I just find it odd how before that one time, you strictly and blatantly avoided any unnecessary run ins with me and now, by contrast, you're coming to my house quite often. Pardon, which is more appropriate to ask? Why you avoided me or why you come often?" Anton asked still watching Xander's expression they didn't change even a tiny bit throughout Anton's speech.

Xander's pink lips curled up in a smirk. "Aren't you the polite one? Why would you ask me of all people for my opinion?"

"In the end, I still value your opinion. Which of them would you not take offence to?" Anton didn't look up once as he spoke.

"None." The smug look still hadn't left Xander's face. In fact his smirk looked even more smug. If that was possible.

"None?" Anton's brows furrowed in thought, but he still didn't raise his head.

"None."

"Alright then, I just won't ask any." Anton finalized looking at Xander to show his sincerity.

Xander only nodded in acknowledgement.

The sound of the food cooking permeated the silence that followed.

***

The table was set and Anton was already seated at the head, while Xander sat at his left. Xander rubbed his hands in anticipation, narrowing his eyes at the dishes spread across the table, then began to stack his plate with whatever he seemed to take an interest in.

Anton said nothing. He only watched Xander enjoy himself picking all the foods he wanted to try.

Xander stopped and turned to Anton, as though he just realized he wasn't eating. "Eh? You aren't eating?"

"I will." He said, but didn't make any moves to do so. His continued watching Xander eat as though it was an extremely rare and interesting view. Xander must have felt his stare but it didn't deter him.

He smiled slightly then picked up his fork and started eating like nothing happened.