A/N: This story will be a selection of one shots that aren't connected to any of my other fics. They'll take place in different timelines and at different points. Mostly Phoenix x Maya, but other pairings included.

This first story is from the tumblr prompt - "Can I Open My Eyes Yet?"
Phoenix x Maya

Phoenix scrolled aimlessly through friends life updates on his phone, before letting out a sigh.

He put his phone down and turned his head towards the kitchen door. The closed kitchen door. He'd heard all sorts of noises coming from the room in the last three hours, but he hadn't seen hide nor hair of Maya.

"Maya? Is everything okay in there?" he yelled, hopeful she could hear him through the door and over the racket she was making.

"Fine and dandy, Nick!" she called in reply. "It won't be much longer, I promise."

"Are you sure I can't help you?" Phoenix called out.

Maya opened the kitchen door and poked her head through. There was flour in her hair and some sort of sauce smeared across her cheek. He could only see her from the neck up. Phoenix wondered with a small laugh how many different ingredients covered the rest of her.

"Nick, this is super important to me. I have to do this." she frowned.

"Okay, okay." Phoenix said, raising his hands in defeat. "It's your kitchen."

Maya smiled quickly before ducking back inside. The kitchen door closed again with a click.

After two weeks of takeout meals since they had finally moved in together, Maya was adamant that she wanted to cook for him. It was only after they'd been to the supermarket to collect ingredients for the "meal of his life", that Maya admitted that she'd never actually cooked for anyone before.

"It'll be like an adventure!" she'd cried happily.

Phoenix groaned. He was hoping this was an adventure his stomach could handle.

Another twenty minutes of clanging and clattering from the kitchen passed, before Maya opened the door, covered head to toe in various flours, spices and sauces.

"It's ready!" she said with a grin.

Phoenix leapt from the couch and headed towards the kitchen door, ready to battle whatever faced him at the dinner table. He steeled himself. No matter how inedible it was, he was going to tell her it was the greatest meal of his life. She'd worked so hard on it and he couldn't bear to disappoint her.

He had to admit though, it did at least smell good.

"Ah-ah-ah," Maya said, stopping him in his tracks and waving a finger at him. He stopped. She leaned forward on her tip toes, giving him a quick kiss. Giggling as she eyed him afterwards, she reached up and gently brushed a spot of flour she had transferred to his nose.

"Close your eyes." she instructed, taking his hand. "I want this to be a surprise."

Phoenix closed his eyes and allowed her to lead him through what he suspected was a complete disaster in the kitchen towards their dining table in the adjoined room, where she had assembled their meal. He heard a chair scraping across the floor boards before she maneuvered him over to it to take his seat at the table.

Once seated, he found himself smiling. It really did smell good.

"Can I open my eyes yet?", he asked.

"Yes. Wait! No!" Maya cried. "One more thing."

He heard her get up from her seat and rush toward the kitchen. When she returned, he registered the sound of her striking a match, before the tell tale smell of burning wood hit his nostrils. She must have put candles on the table. He smiled again.

"Okay, now." Maya said. He could hear the nervousness in her voice.

"Remember Phoenix," Phoenix told himself, before he opened his eyes. "No matter what, this is the best meal of your life."

He opened his eyes and gasped at the sight in front of him.

On his plate was the most perfect looking burger he had ever seen. It looked even better than the ones that the big chain restaurants used in their advertising. On the side were mouthwatering crispy golden fries. In the centre of the table between them was the most delicious looking apple pie he had ever laid eyes on. It even had the criss crossed lattice like his grandma used to make. And yes, she had indeed put candles on the table.

Maya stared at him expectantly, waiting for his reaction. He continued to gape at the food, unable to believe that she had crafted such a beautiful looking meal.

"Well?" she prompted, when his silence became too much.

"Maya, if this tastes half as good as it looks, I am the luckiest man alive."

Maya grinned.

"Well, take a bite! I want to know what you think!"

Picking up the burger that was practically art, Phoenix almost felt bad for taking a bite and ruining its perfection. Glancing up at Maya across the table, he took his first bite.

He groaned in appreciation as the flavours exploded in his mouth. It was sensational.

Placing the burger back down on the plate, he looked across at his girlfriend who was practically bouncing with happiness from his reaction to her food.

Wiping his mouth with a napkin, he sat back in his chair.

"You know, we are never eating out again." he started. "I can't believe I have paid for so many sub par burgers when you could cook like this."

"Well Nick, it was probably all those sub par burgers that allowed me to perfect this technique. AND… if you keep taking me out for burgers, I'll only get better." Maya bargained.

Phoenix raised his finger to object, then realising he couldn't argue with her logic he closed his mouth and dropped his hand back to the table.

If burgers could actually get better than this, then he was all for it.