The dinner preparation went by smoothly as soon as both Zeke and Hawke started, he didn't expect how efficient Hawke would be in the kitchen, although he should have known already considering how fast the dinner is served whenever he is on kitchen duty. The sight of him working those kitchen tools is mesmerizing and almost on par with Magnus, their styles and approach to cooking as a whole could not be more different though.
"They should be coming home in just about thirty minutes now, boss," Hawke finally talked after a whole hour of being silent and focused, "once you're done with washing those you should go to the living room and take a rest, I know you've been busy the whole day."
He said all this is a nonchalance tone, without ever looking at Zeke, although the notion was thoughtful he felt as if Hawke was pushing him away.
"Look, Hawke I know that we haven't started on good terms but I want us to get along with each other," Zeke started, "these past few weeks has both been rather hard and fulfilling for me and I want to share these moments with you along with the rest of our team without ever feeling like I did something wrong. Right now, I feel as if you're pushing me away even though I'm trying really hard to get along with you better, if I did something wrong please tell me, communicate with me."
Hearing Zeke's plea, Hawke stopped stirring the pot, he looked at Zeke with an uneasy expression on his face averting his eyes every moment it comes across Zeke's, "look boss, I'm never the one to express any emotions, I would rather just work and do everything without ever thinking about why the hell I'm doing it or what the consequences are if I do something. I know that I am abrasive and insensitive but—that's just who I am boss, it... it's not you boss it's me."
Hawke cringe painfully at the words that he had just said clenching both his hands while trying to make his words make just a teeny tiny it sense.
Zeke finally got a glimpse of who Hawke really is, his struggle for saying these things out loud is so apparent that Zeke could not help but feel really bad bringing this discussion up, but he needed something from Hawke, this may have been all out of nowhere but considering how Hawke has treated him throughout his whole stay so far, if they are to be living together for all his time in Loneharv, he and Hawke have got to find a middle ground sooner or later.
"I—I understand Hawke, I am so sorry for putting all these feelings onto you just because I was insecure of myself," Zeke said, feeling dejected about the situation, "I just want to get to know you better just like the rest of the boys, to have at least a common ground with each other."
Hawke finally looked at Zeke and saw his eyes genuinely telling him that he meant no harm and that it's okay to let his guard down with him and that he is someone who he can trust.
Hawke sighed deeply shaking his head slowly, "I can't promise anything would change boss, as I've said before this is just the way I deal with things, how I am, and I know too well that not everyone can accept them, but one thing that I can assure you is that my loyalty to you and to our group is unshakeable, that no matter what happens I would never abandon everyone."
Hawke went back to stirring the pot without any further words, it's might be hard to interact with him but Zeke now finally understood that Hawke does things because it's what he thought was right and even if he is lacking in the emotional department he has never meant any harm with his actions. Maybe this is why the other boys had let him be even with his snide remarks towards them.
"Now boss, you really should take a rest, otherwise I would just ask you to do more stuff since you're just standing there staring at me," Hawke said, "off with you."
Zeke grinned at Hawke then nodded.
"Hey boss, I—I don't dislike you.."
Zeke heard the guy said as he turned to leave the kitchen.
Thirty minutes weren't that long of a wait until Zeke heard footsteps coming from the entrance, he saw Wulfric come in gesturing a hello to him while going straight upstairs, probably to his room to freshen himself. A minute later and Magnus soon came in from the entrance as well, holding a bunch of paper and paraphernalia for the commission tomorrow, he smiled at Zeke.
"I'm just going to go upstairs and clean up boss, I'll come down when it's time for dinner," he said while waving the papers.
Zeke nodded then closed his eyes for a minute.
A few moments later a gentle shaking woke him up from his nap, it was Dirk back from the town and with Avin behind him.
"Boss, we just came in time for dinner, we already heard Hawke shouting that it's ready," Dirk said while sitting beside Zeke on the couch, "I'll explain what happened during dinner, c'mon boss I'm am really starving from the events today."
He got up and took Avin with him in the kitchen, soon enough Wulfric and Magnus came down from upstairs and are also ready to eat. Zeke stretched one final time then went to the kitchen.
The dining table inside the kitchen is now packed full with all the boys on it, ready for dinner. Zeke spotted a empty chair beside Wulfric, it seems that he saved a spot for him. The house came with a long dining table that can accommodate up to eight people so Avin joining in with the rest of them isn't really a problem.
Magnus, as usual, helped serve the food with Hawke, they served a soup with a bunch of potatoes inside which is the only available vegetable resource at the moment, the aroma of the food is inviting enough to make anyone salivate with hunger.
As soon as Magnus and Hawke were finally done setting up everything they sat in their own chairs and everyone started to dig in.
"The registration of Avin as a town resident and most importantly as your farmhand went through without a hitch boss, I think the part of him being one of your helpers helped alleviate the fact that he did trespass this realm illegally without all the right process," Dirk explained as everyone eat, "and the Mayor was only too pleased to bring in another willing and suitable farmhand."
"That's good news," Wulfric said while chewing calmly, "but the problem of where Avin would stay is still unresolved."
This was Magnus' cue to inform everyone what he and Zeke discussed earlier.
"The boss and I already went ahead and discussed a commission that we will be submitting tomorrow," Magnus interjected, "I know that we should've waited for everyone to give their ideas and opinions about this but we felt that everyone would agree that our house needs a bit of renovating."
"Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?" Dirk said as his tail wagged in excitement.
"Yes, although since we still don't have enough funds for a huge change we decided to apply for a loan and add two extra guest rooms for our house," Zeke explained jumping into the conversation, "hopefully though as Magnus has already explained to myself, we could pay the loan soon so we can apply for more commission whether it be a construction one or just a general improvement of the homestead."
"Yes, although for now we shall focus on what we really need at the moment, which is a room for Avin to settle in," Magnus added, "we also decided that I'd be the one lending him my room for now, and sleep on the living room for the duration of the renovation."
"Seems like you both has all the stuff figured out," Wulfric said, "anyone has any objection or concern about what the boss and Magnus has just announced?"
While waiting for anyone to speak up, Zeke could see a brief moment of the draconian glancing at Magnus, but the moment he realized this Avin was already looking at his own food listening promptly to what everyone is saying.
"Nothing to say here," Dirk said as he continued eating.
"It doesn't affect me so go ahead," Hawke added.
"How about you, Avin, any input about our decision?" Wulfric said addressing the person who's the topic of the day, "you're basically one of us now so it's only right to grant you a voice in these discussion."
Avin was a little taken aback by sudden attention to him and by the trust of the whole crew, "I am in no position to complain, these propositions are the best that I could ever take so no I have no objection."
Wulfric nodded, "we can proceed with the plan boss.