xxi. lost

You cover his eyes with your hands as you guide him from the bedroom. After being unceremoniously awoken a few minutes back, you know he's not in the best of moods, but you've been planning this surprise for a while now and don't want it spoiled.

"Do you really have to do that?" he grumbles, refusing to move when you prod him forward.

You spin him around, moving your hands to his wrists, and pull him close to you. You peck his lips and he tries to deepen the kiss, but you move out of reach before he can. "Just do this for me, okay? I think you'll like it." You put on your best Gideon pout, which you've realized he seems almost unable to resist, and you see him cave before you.

"Fine." He puts your palms over his closed eyes and holds them in place as he turns back around.

You smile victoriously, now that he can't see you, and lead him into the kitchen. Each step is carefully taken, and yet the two of you still almost trip over one another. When he's in place, you remove your hands and hope he'll be happy with your plans.

After spending nearly a month with the youngest Black at your flat, you've come to realize that his lack of cooking skills really upsets him. He's tried desperately to make a variety of foods and, though you ate them out of pure courtesy, you both know well that the food was borderline edible and did not taste as it should. And so, you begged your elder sister to come and try to help him - her skills with food far above anything you retained from assisting your mum back when you were younger. Molly was hesitant at first, but eventually she succumbed to your pleas.

Regulus stands there, seeming lost, as he looks from your sister back to you. A nervous smile that you've seldom seen plays on his lips as he nods in acknowledgement of her presence.

You reach for his hand, squeezing it gently with reassurance. "Molly's agreed to help you with your cooking," you explain, watching for his reaction.
You can detect the faintest reddening of his cheeks, but his smile turns warmer and, if you're not mistaken, he seems happy about the offer.

"Okay then," he says with a nod, and Molly whisks him away to begin his lesson.

You spend the morning and part of the afternoon sitting in the heated kitchen, watching your sister and Regulus make pastries, bread, chicken, and a handful of other things. Once Regulus warmed up to your sister, it seemed to you that he was having fun and toward the end was even joking with her. Though, truth be told, his cooking did not improve much, but that was only half the reason you wanted Molly here - honestly, you wanted her to see the side of Regulus you see, and you think that was accomplished fully. Regulus was scarce with his words at first, but soon he engaged himself in the conversation, speaking of how he met you, Bill, and Charlie, and different cooking disasters that have happened to him, among other things.

When you see Molly to the door, she stops in the doorway and smiles approvingly. "He's no chef," she says, with a laugh, "but I do like him."

Her approval warms your heart after dealing with Fabian's disapproval for so long; it's nice to know your sister understands even if your twin never will. You embrace her and kiss her cheek, grinning happily. "Thank you - for everything."