You wiped sweat from your forehead as you stopped stirring the boiling pot. You added the potatoes and carrots, then put the top on as you started to cut the mushrooms as quickly as you could to keep the stew from burning. You were a cook in Camelot's palace kitchens and you enjoyed it a lot. As you finished adding all the ingredients to the pot, you noticed that you had completed all your actual cooking for the night; all that was left was the dishes. The day before had been a feast, and the whole kitchens had been running overtime all that day. Because everyone was so worn out, you had volunteered yourself to stay late tonight cleaning up in an effort to get in good with the head cook. She liked you well enough for your personality and eagerness to do well, but you were, well, a bit accident prone... and a few times had spilled or broken things...
But tonight you didn't have anything to mess up, thankfully. All you had left was to finish this stew for Arthur and his favorite five knights. You knew that someone would come pick it up and then all you had to do was wash up. Closing your eyes for a moment as you tried to ward off exhaustion, you were completely taken by surprise when you heard someone clear their throat. You looked up to see Percival grinning at you.
"Hey (y/n). What have you got for super for us tonight? It doesn't smell awful!" He teased, making you blush slightly.
"It's stew, obviously." You replied with a smile, "How come you got sent down here and not Merlin? I usually expect him whenever Arthur needs things picked up from the kitchens, not one of the famous knights of the round table. Have you been demoted? Are you being punished somehow? Surely Arthur could think of something worse than having to make a trip to the kitchens to pick up delicious food from the wonderful me!" You teased him. Of all the knights, Percival was your favorite. The fact that he was not of noble blood made him more approachable, and what with his no-sleeves armor and smile and short hair, you thought Percival was the cutest thing. The fact that he was one of the crown prince's favored knights was just something else to love about him and admire him for.
"Very funny, (y/n), Merlin is helping Gaius tonight, and I thought I would be helpful and pick up supper. Clearly the only reason I am here is to get the first serving, although had I known you were the one cooking, I might have skipped supper and eaten at the tavern instead." He replied.
You gasped, feigning hurt. "Don't act like you didn't purposely sabotage Merlin so that you could have a legitimate reason to come to the kitchens in a desperate attempt to see me." You laughed a bit at him as you spooned the stew into a serving bowl and put it on a tray with six bowls and spoons for him to take with him.
He stopped for a minute, seriously considering his next words. Finally he spoke. "Merlin actually did have to help Gaius tonight...But I did volunteer to get supper so I could see you." And before you could do anything other than blush and stutter, he kissed your check, took the tray, and hurried up the stairs, leaving you alone in the kitchens to figure out exactly what had just happened between the two of you.