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Summary: Jiminy helps Red with an unexpected side-effect of suddenly living in luxury at Snow and Charming's castle.
Author's note: Just a silly little something set in the Enchanted Forest, set sometime after Snow and Charming reclaimed the kingdom but before the curse was cast.
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Red heard him before she saw him, the sound of gossamer wings bringing with them memories of long light summer nights and tall grass even in the midst of winter. Turning from the wintery vista outside the window she smiled brightly as her friend landed on the sill beside her.
"Hello Jiminy."
"Hello Red. Can't sleep?"
She shook her head with a sigh. "Hungry. And yet I have no appetite." It sounded absolutely ridiculous when she said it out loud. "It's silly. How can I be tired of food when I dine quite literally like royalty every night?"
He shrugged, wings fluttering a little as he clasped small hands behind his back. "Maybe you just feel like something a little less… complicated for a change?"
Could it really be that simple? She came from humble beginnings, after all, and it was quite another world to live at the royal castle. Red had never in her life seen as much food; every night several courses of the most delicious foods imaginable, wine, desserts and sweets – and Red was so tired of it.
"You know, I think you might be right!"
He chuckled and Red felt herself blush a little. She hadn't meant to sound so surprised! But before she had the chance to apologise he took to the air again, hovering at eyelevel.
"How 'bout we do something about that? It's the middle of the night and I doubt the cook would mind if we borrowed the kitchen, as long as we tidied up after ourselves afterwards."
A nice stew would be wonderful now, simple and comforting, and it would warm her through. Tugging her cloak a little closer she shivered from the cold radiating from the window. It was certainly tempting, but…
"I'm not the best cook," she admitted hesitantly. Before they moved into the castle on Snow's insistence (she seemed very reluctant to let her extended family out of her sight) Granny had done most of the cooking, and though she had taught Ruby a bit the young woman had never really cared much for the activity.
"Oh, that's all right," he chirped merrily. "Neither am I!"
She giggled and he waved for her to follow him.
"But I'm sure that between us we'll find a way. Simple is after all what we're aiming for, isn't it?"
She couldn't argue with that sort of logic, so she rose with a smile from her spot by the window and together they made their way down to the kitchens.
. o .
Red wasn't sure if it was Jiminy's gentle instructions and encouragements or just the fact that her grandmother was not there to hover and nitpick, but whatever the reason she soon found that she wasn't as rubbish in the kitchen as she had thought she would be. It was actually quite fun working with Jiminy; though obviously she had to do the more physical part of the cooking Jiminy added spices and kept an eye on the stew as she tried not to make a mess of the chopping.
She had expected his know-how of herbs and spices – sometimes it seemed there was nothing under the sun that he didn't know something about! – but she had not expected his seemingly experience-gained knowledge of cooking, making her wonder where on earth (and not to mention how) a cricket had learned to cook…
But as the kitchen filled with the delicious smell of rich stew Red pushed her curiosity aside. Jiminy sprinkled over a last tiny handful of spices as Red found a deep bowl for her and an egg cup for him, and they both laughed when her stomach grumbled loudly in anticipation.
It was the most satisfying meal Red had eaten in weeks.
"Thank you, Jiminy," she said as she pushed her empty bowl aside a little while later, feeling full and content.
"For what?"
"For this." She motioned towards the remainder of their meal and then the kitchen at large. "I would never have thought of this on my own, let alone dared to actually do it. You always know exactly what to do to make people feel better. Thank you."
He fidgeted, looking down as he shuffled his feet, and Red had to bite back a surprised chuckle. Was he actually embarrassed by the praise?
"I'm just happy it made you feel better, Red."
Had he been able to Red was sure he would have been blushing. Deciding to take pity on him she changed the topic, asking him about the spices he had used; he immediately started telling her about a time he got lost in a vast spice market on one of his travels and soon he had her almost in hysterics, laughing so hard she was crying. They talked and laughed for hours and for the first time since Red moved into the castle she felt truly at home.
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More one shots to come...