#kareem.theo3

[avdaciter]

starter — kareem howard

SETTING: the docks walk path ; evening AVAILABILITY: closed starter for THEO SINCHAI | ( @macabr3s )

From getting to a more chatty position with his friend’s boyfriend   ,    to going home with a demon he thought he’d always hated, one thing was certain: the Halloween fair had changed some things for the witch. So, he’d taken a page out of Kiyan’s book and had decided to make it happen by asking Theo out on an actual date. He’d grown tired of the chase, if he was being honest… and he was expecting her to say no, so when Theo actually accepted his dinner invitation, Kareem was damn ecstatic.

So it was nice that dinner went well, even better she’d accepted his suggestion for taking a walk by the docks.

“It’s such a nice evening.” He said casually. His hand ghosted against hers, knuckles almost brushing against each other. “Here.” Kareem shrugged off his coat when a colder breeze blew past them. “It’s getting colder.” He placed his coat over Theo’s shoulders and watched her for a moment there. The moon hung high up in the sky, casting shadows over their faces and painting Theo’s hues a different shade of hazel from her usual one. “Damn, you’re so beautiful, Theo… I—” His fingers brushed her hair behind her ears and Kareem hesitated for a second there, as if silently asking for permission before dipping his head down and pressing his lips onto hers.

Time stood still, it seemed. His hand rested on the back of her neck as he deepened the kiss, and when Kareem slowly broke away from her embrace, it almost felt like his head was spinning. “I—have been wanting this for such a long time…”

[avdaciter]

The way her slim fingers slid down to take hold of his hand told Kareem that it was okay.      That this, them, that it was okay. That it was a good thing, just like he had hoped it would be. A smile lingered on his lips as he looked down at their fingers intertwined. It just felt so right. So much, that he'd wondered about the about of lost time that had separated the Kareem who had just figured out he had developed feelings deeper than friendship for Theo and the Kareem from now. "Good." He repeated her words, bringing her hand up to press a kiss on her knuckles, then leaned in to kiss her rosy cheek, both colder than usual due to the evening breeze. At least, he hoped his coat could keep her warm.

Her jokes hit him like a light jab on the chin, causing Kareem to chuckle in response as his head bobbed. "Right, right... Because obviously I'm one step away from a retirement home, so you need to be extra careful with me, you know?" Playfully, he rolled his eyes, leaning in to steal a peck from her pink-tainted lips. Then another. And another.

Honestly, the witch had to muster all the strength in himself not to keep kissing Theo, but, since she had accepted doing this again, he figured they would have more time to keep kissing and, definitely not in such public places. "Yes, the stars are out to try and outmatch your beauty...... cue joke—" Although Kareem had every intention of sounding corny, with his free hand moving from his chest up to the skies in such a dramatic stance, even if he hadn't meant to sound like that, he figured he knew Theo well enough to assume she would crack a joke at his words, so, he added humor to their little moment first, just waiting for Theo to add her own touch and flare to their evening, even pointing his hand to her as if on cue.

He laughed, not taking anything seriously, which was something he'd learned to practice more around Theo, then planted a kiss on the side of her head as they kept on walking. Her question, however, caught the older witch a little off guard, but he didn't see a problem in answering it. "Well... if I'm being honest, I was growing tired of the playful flirting." He said as his gaze caught her hazel eyes under the moonlight and the street lamps. "Look, Theo... I've been into you for a few months, and, well... I don't really like playing games." He didn't believe in fate or destiny, so he couldn't stand there and tell her that he was waiting for the right moment to do so as Kareem knew there was no such thing, but, after his conversation with Robin and then the time spent with Kiyan, something hit him like an avalanche: what the hell was he waiting for? "I'm actually too old for that crap, so if you had said no, it just would have made me try to move on. But... I'm glad you said yes. You have no idea how much."

         a  knowing  look  surfaces  on  the  younger  witch’s  features  as  she  rolls  her  eyes  at  kareem’s  response  .  her  skin  erupts  in  goosebumps  at  his  lingering  touch  .  who  knew  that  the  man  in  front  of  her  would  have  such  an  effect  on  her  ?  then  again  ,  theo  had  practically  forced  herself  to  look  the  other  way  when  it  came  to  his  advances  for  fear  of  actually  wanting  to  pursue  something  beyond  friendship  .  her  breath  hitches  ,  longing  for  the  feeling  of  his  lips  against  hers  once  more  .  “  good  .  ”  the  sassy  retort  comes  out  breathier  than  intended  .  “  i’m  glad  .  ”

when  he  steps  away  ,  she  instinctively  reaches  out  to  take  hold  of  his  hand  .  her  thumb  brushes  against  his  knuckles  before  she  gently  tugs  him  closer  .  she  pauses  at  his  question  .  eyes  shifting  away  as  she  contemplates  .  god  ,  she  can’t  even  remember  the  last  time  she  went  on  a  date  .  like  an  actual  date  .  it  was  certainly  before  moving  to  portum  that  much  is  for  sure  .  theo’s  good  at  casual  .  it’s  easier  that  way  .  but  maybe  she  should  take  the  chance  to  pursue  something  more  with  the  older  witch  in  front  of  her  .  it’s  not  like  she  has  any  plans  to  leave  town  anytime  soon  .  

and  after  what  seemed  like  forever  ,  theo  nods  .  “  yeah  ,  ”  she  smiles  .  “  i’d  like  that  .  can’t  leave  you  waitin’  too  long  ,  i  suppose  .  just  wouldn’t  be  fair  to  the  elderly  ,  ”  she’ll  playfully  wink  .  “  and  i  heard  stress  isn’t  good  for  people  your  age  .  ”

“  let’s  keep  walking  ,  ”  theo  decides  .  “  it’s  a  beautiful  night  after  all  .  ”  she  appreciates  the  option  to  make  a  choice  .  far  too  often  has  theo  felt  like  she’s  forced  to  make  a  choice  that  isn’t  necessarily  for  her  but  rather  for  her  survival  .  and  with  kareem  ,  it’s  nice  .  easy  .  she  doesn’t  think  she’s  ever  experienced  anything  like  this  before  .

“  can  i  ask  you  a  question  ,  though  ?  ”  her  head  turns  ,  doe  eyes  look  up  at  him  .  “  why  now  ?  ”  in  truth  ,  theo  thought  he’d  pop  the  question  sooner  rather  than  later  .  “  don’t  get  me  wrong  ,  i’m  glad  you  asked  but  we’ve  been  friends  for  quite  a  while  ...  ”

[avdaciter]

If it had met his expectations   ?    The question itself drew a passionate chuckle from Kareem's lips and prompted the slightly taller man to rest his forehead against Theo's. His hands, lowered from her neck, traveling along her shoulders, arms and rested on the small curves of her hips. "Eh... it was alright." He teased, his shoulders moving up and down in a playful shrug. Although not one to play games and give away half truths, with Theo, well... he'd gotten used to tease, play around, to take things with a lighter tone when it came to the slender, hazel-eyed witch. Again, he lowered his lips to hers, but this time, they barely ghosted over hers, caressing her soft skin with his own. "You can definitely say it exceeded my expectations, though."

It took more willpower than he was expecting to pull away from Theo's embrace, and even though he still pressed a kiss on the tip of her nose before doing to, Kareem did step back. A simple step, giving the younger witch enough space to breathe, to walk away, to pull him close again, to do anything she'd like to do. "Do you think you'd like to do this again?" He asked, more hopeful this time, since, Kareem figured they'd had a successful first date. "I have to take my chances, right? I'm not young anymore." He teased, making fun of his own age as Theo often would.

The worst is over, he thought to himself as he cupped her rosy cheek in one of his hands.

"Should we keep walking?" Kareem hesitated for a second there, before letting his words carry on as if he hadn't paused even for a split second. "Or should I take you home?" As always, he'd given her a choice. As always it wasn't like the older witch to impose anything on anyone. Everybody had a choice, a chance to say no.

           theo  always  followed  a  set  of  rules  whenever  she  arrived  in  town  .  never  get  attached  .  stay  for  a  year  if  possible  .  two  years  maximum  .  leave  before  the  past  catches  up  .  and  the  same  thing  applied  when  she  first  arrived  in  portum  .  it  was  simply  self  preservation  .  and  then  she  met  kareem  .  kind  eyes  .  charismatic  smile  .  chivalrous  charm  .  she  quickly  grew  fond  of  the  other  witch’s  company  .  and  while  there’s  no  denying  that  he’s  attractive  ,  she  found  herself  hesitant  to  offer  anything  other  than  friendship  .  chalk  it  up  to  fear  of  ruining  a  good  thing  ,  she  supposes  .  and  when  he  started  flirting  …  well  .  it  took  far  more  self  control  than  she’d  like  to  admit  to  not  flirt  back  .

but  she  grew  tired  of  holding  back  .  she’d  been  in  this  town  for  FIVE  YEARS  .  three  years  longer  than  she  allowed  herself  to  stay  in  any  given  place.  so  perhaps  it  was  time  for  her  to  slowly  let  her  guard  down  .  she  was  sure  that  kareem  would  eventually  grow  tired  of  flirting  with  her  .  it’ll  pass  ,  she’ll  tell  herself  .  but  he  surprised  her  with  his  dinner  invitation  .  so  maybe  it’s  okay  to  be  selfish  .  to  form  attachments  .  and  she  surprised  herself  when  she  readily  agreed  .

dinner  had  gone  well  .  and  perhaps  it  had  to  do  with  the  fact  that  the  two  started  out  as  friends  that  made  the  transition  easier  .  it  included  far  more  flirting  from  kareem  and  less  resistance  to  flirting  from  theo  .  it  still  stands  that  he’s  good  to  her  .  far  too  good  .  but  she  won’t  dwell  on  that  tonight  .

“  it’s  a  beautiful  evening  ,  ”  she  hums  in  agreement  .  head  tilts  up  to  look  at  the  moon  before  her  attention  is  pulled  by  kareem  draping  his  coat  over  her  shoulders  .  warmth  envelopes  her  along  with  his  scent  .  doe  eyes  stare  up  at  him  ,  taking  in  a  moment  to  truly  admire  him  .  she  leans  into  his  touch  ,  lips  hovering  above  his  momentarily  before  his  lips  are  pressed  against  hers  .

theo  presses  up  against  him  as  he  deepens  the  kiss  ,  almost  as  if  to  hang  on  to  him  .  worried  that  he’d  disappear  once  he  breaks  away  .  she’s  dancing  on  dangerous  territory  by  indulging  herself  .  but  in  this  moment  ,  she  finds  it  hard  to  care  .  when  kareem  slowly  breaks  away  from  the  kiss  ,  eyes  flutter  open  as  she  steadies  her  breathing  .  the  feeling  of  his  lips  now  imprinted  on  hers  .

“  well  ,  ”  she  clears  her  throat  .  “  i  sure  hope  it  meets  your  expectations  then  ?  ”