Wringing out the wet towel, Akiva shook it over the sink basin to make sure it wasn’t dripping, ignoring Dree’s protest.  It’d feel better with a little warm water; it’d clean him off, and help the inflammation.  He wasn’t the type to think about that sort of thing though, if it wasn’t that bad, he wouldn’t need it.  She did not operate that way though, and smiled softly at him as she approached.

She ducked a little meet his downcast eyes, taking his hand in hers and turning his arm by his wrist – firm, but never intended to hurt, “Here,” she said softly, laying the cloth over the fresh scratches.  “Just a few minutes,” she smiled a little, “humor me?” She gave him a brief, chaste kiss on the cheek (she would feel awkward displaying too much affection in front of Jonas, but she was just trying to make Dree comfortable – compromises). 

With that, she let her arm drop, giving him a quick squeeze on the elbow before looking at Jonas.  “It’s no tax,” Akiva assured him as she walked to the stove, ready to reheat the kettle (which would take all of fifteen seconds) and pulled down Dree’s favorite tea with a mug, waiting for the water to heat before she could get it ready. 

She was glad they had decided to wait for Dree.  Seeing that he wasn’t on an A game today reaffirmed that he would probably not approve of snooping around, and the last thing Akiva wanted to do was violate his space.  She felt slightly bad about even offering earlier.  She’d tell him, of course she would, when Jonas left. 

The talk of the files clearly did not concern her, and Akiva busied herself with the sauce and getting the pasta out.  She glanced over her shoulder in time to see Dree turning – he was going to be heading upstairs, most likely.  Leaving the stove for a moment, she walked back over and took the soiled dish towel from him, entwining their hands for a brief moment, though said nothing.  She smiled up at him and walked back, tossing the towel on the counter (she’d put it with the wash later) and started to get the tea ready. 

“Your tea will be done when you come back down,” she said from the corner, tipping the tea pot, steam curling upward from the mug.  She glanced over at Jonas.  “Would you like another cup?” she raised her eyebrows, making sure to be a good hostess.