"Sir, I only told her that whatever relationship you have with Xander sir is strictly between you and him. I don't know, and neither is it my business what relationship you both have." She reported.
Anton said nothing. He only gave her a once over probably looking for telltale signs of lying, but seeing nothing amiss, he picked up his knife again and resumed cutting the meat. Xander on the other hand simply smirked and leaned his back on the counter with his arms crossed to resume watching Anton work.
Sarah who had finished her report and was quick witted enough to realise her presence wasn't needed anymore, bowed and left as suddenly as she came. She felt something must have changed between her master and Xander but she didn't seem to know what.
Anton and Xander remained that way till Anton finished all he was doing.
When the ingredients had been added to the pot and left to cook, Anton turned to Xander.
"We can leave now. I'll come back to check it." He informed Xander.
Xander said nothing, and only followed behind Anton out of the kitchen and into the living room. He took a seat on the sofa while Anton went to pick up the remote. He sat down beside Anton and turned on the television. The sound of chants, screams and whistles from a football stadium replaced the silence.
Xander's attention was fixated on the screen, probably even forgetting Anton was beside him. Anton on the other hand has his eyes on Xander, scrutinizing Xander's every expression. From the slight crease between his brows when a goal was missed to the subconscious grin on his face when his team scored.
Anton didn't have any problems with football actually, but he was never really one to get worked up over a game. He watched it just to watch it, and not necessarily for the thrill like most people did. Xander, however, watched football but for the thrill and because it was interesting. If he didn't want to use his phone and he needed entertainment, football was just the thing to watch.
But while it gave most people high blood pressure whenever their teams were losing, Xander was way less over the top about it.
Noticing Anton watching him from the corner of his eye, he turned to the culprit. That very culprit didn't even seem the littlest bit ashamed of being caught staring. Xander's audacious habit had rubbed off on him. His eyes remained on Xander as though he really couldn't look away. Xander, the object of attention raised a brow at Anton in a question.
Anton smiled, "Nothing, you just look good." he commented and stood up, heading back to the kitchen like nothing happened.
Xander paused, recorded the match, then followed the mischievous Anton into the kitchen.
"That was random." He stated. "You can't just say that and leave. Where'd that even come from?"
"Yes I can actually." Anton replied, not at all looking at Xander who stood few feet from him.
He stirred the food in the pot, scooped a bit of it out the pot with a spoon and held it in front of Xander's mouth to taste it.
"Me?" Xander asked. "Why don't you taste it?"
"I don't like tasting the food I make before eating it." Anton explained.
"Interesting. So how are you sure you don't add too much of anything." Xander asked curiously.
"I'm not." Anton smiled back still holding the fork to Xander's mouth.
Xander took the fork into his mouth eating the contents off it, then tilted his head to the left as though he was thinking.
"You really always get it right. Are you just really lucky or really talented?" He asked.
Anton laughed and dropped the fork in the sink stirring the food again, before he placed the pot on the lid again.
"Are you still very hungry?" Anton asked turning to Xander.
"Very."
"Mn, give it a while. It's almost done."
Xander nodded once.
"Will you help me set the table?" Anton asked.
"Just this once and only because you cooked for me even though you've just finished work." Xander explained purposely avoiding Anton's gaze.
Anton smiled warmly but didn't tease or push Xander about why he was avoiding eye contact.
Xander followed Anton about, collecting plates, glasses and cutlery as Anton handed them to him before they headed to the dining room.
They worked together in silence, setting the table, till all that was left was the food.
"You can sit. I'll get the food." Anton directed Xander waving a hand at Xander's seat at the table.
Xander sat, adjusting his chair till he was comfortable.
Anton left and came back a while later with the food, a jug of water and some serving spoons. He sat at the table too.
Xander didn't wait on ceremony as he had really taken Xander's house as his own. He picked up one of the serving spoons, scooping up some food for himself into his plate and started eating immediately.
Anton only watched him eat though he'd been starved for days. "There's still more than enough food, Xander, slow down."
Xander looked at Anton but said nothing and went back to eating as though Anton hadn't said anything. Even though he was eating like a starved dog, he didn't look even the tiniest bit unattractive. He helped himself to three rounds of food before he finally leaned back in his chair and sighed in satisfaction.
Anton himself was still eating his second round and was looking at Xander with a look of amusement in his eyes. Xander watched Anton eat elegantly and languidly like he had all the time in the world.
Anton finished and started clearing the table.
Xander joined him and they carried everything to the kitchen, working together to clean them and return them to their places.
*
After the last glass had been returned, they returned to the living room. Xander regained his spot, watching the match, and Anton sat beside him, watching the match too.