The Iron Sole Alchemist (Chapter 25) A Quiet Day and a Home Cooked Meal
by Howlin
(Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to this universe, places, or characters, and only claim the protagonist, Loki, Sloth, The Gunslinger Alchemist, The Swarm Alchemist, and his subordinates as my own creations. This is fan fiction, and I don't profit from it. Please don't sue me.)
. . .
The next two days were a waiting game. Sloth took over the desk in the hotel room, eager to try out some of the drawing techniques Armstrong had shown her on the train. I sat on the bed, watching her from behind as she was framed by the soft light pouring in through the window.
After a few minutes just enjoying the view, I reached into my satchel and pulled out a notebook of my own. I started working out array designs and alchemic formulae, glancing up at Sloth, still hard at work, every few minutes. After a couple hours of companionable silence, I put my notes away and got to my feet. Crossing the room, I kissed Sloth on the neck to get her attention.
"I'm going shopping," I reported. "Is there anything you want me to pick up?"
"Shopping?" she blinked in confusion.
"Yes. We don't need to eat and drink," I admitted, "but why deny ourselves the simple pleasures?" I ran my fingertips over her bare shoulders to emphasize my point.
"Pork chops?" she asked, tentatively.
"Can do," I replied, and gave her a light peck on her slowly curling lips.
. . .
I returned half an hour later, carrying a large paper bag. Sloth looked up from her drawings as I withdrew a large sheet of wax paper and unrolled it on a table. I traced a transmutation circle with a grease pen, and piled ingredients into the center.
"Why are you using a circle?" she asked.
"Habit," I admitted. "This is simple enough alchemy to clap transmute, but I've used this array so many times, it'd feel weird cooking without it."
"You were on the road a lot," she noted.
"After I joined the military, yeah. But I got into this habit while I was studying alchemy in Central. I figured alchemy was like any other skill. The only way to get good at it was practice, practice, practice."
"You were using alchemy to cook even when you were at home?" she asked, wrinkling her nose up.
"You saw my shower at the lab. I used alchemy for everything." With that, I activated the array. A wave of blue light passed across the circle, and two steaming hot plates of food appeared with their proper place settings.
Sloth hopped out of her chair and sat down with me. Gripping a utensil in each fist, Sloth said, "It has been a while since I sat down to a meal like this."
"Let me know if you want any changes to the way anything's cooked," I said as she shoveled the first morsel into her mouth.
She she shook her head, swallowed, and said, "Uh-uh. It's good."
"Even if I am a weirdo who does all his cooking with alchemy," I teased and started eating myself.
"I've known you were a weirdo for ages," she teased back. "At least you're a weirdo who can cook."
. . .
Author's comments:
I originally planned to get straight into the battle of Central at this point, but circumstances prevented me from rewatching my DVDs. Instead, I ended up writing a few quiet domestic scenes, which I think actually help with the pacing.