Raven's story part 43
Dawn saw Raven retreating to the study. The walls of leather bound books offering more freedom than the rooms beyond. Dawn was pinking the snow outside the window when he had finished his dusting of the tomes and polishing every other surface. As he went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for Swan as he had been doing since Tidus had gone on his trip, Raven stopped himself, Recalling the White Wolf's admonishment that Swan should be made to do things for himself lest Raven make him weak. Knowing their father's stance on the subject of weakness, Raven found himself torn. He enjoyed cooking. He enjoyed cooking for others even more, delighting in watching the expressions on their faces as they tasted what he had made for them. He did not, however, wish this to unintentionally be a detriment to his brother.
He went to stoke the fire while he thought about the predicament he found himself in. It did not take him as long as it did to sort this quandary and Raven went back to stand in the kitchen looking at the stove. Then to stand before the window in the lounge looking out at the snow only to walk back into the kitchen. He wore a path between the two areas all the while the interior of the house growing lighter.
Tidus having already been awake choose to have a bath instead of training first thing, his legs partly hung out of the bath due to his height, his chin resting just within the water enjoying the familiar quiet, the creaks of the house and how the wind carried through the small curve of the mountain side. He lay, relaxing in the steaming water, soaking in the soft, comforting sounds, but nothing last forever. The irregular pattering of the bird's pacing intruding on the Scout's reverie.
"Cut it out!" Tidus barked, sitting up slightly before he sank back into the water and blowing bubbles in frustration.
The shout cut the quiet like a thunderclap.
Taken completely by surprise, Raven jumped away and into the bookcase hard enough to make it thump against the wall and objects resting on it to rattle. Swallowing, the young male tip-toed to the kitchen and set a kettle on to boil. Making tea wasn't actually cooking and at that point he could use a cup to calm his nerves. He perched on a chair at the table an empty mug before him. Tidus' crisp reprimand having stilled his feet. As it turned out, a watched pot did indeed refuse to boil.
Raven could not take the waiting. He got up from where he had been curled, knees to his chest, feet flat on the seat of the chair. He checked the flame. He checked to make sure he had put water inside. Not wishing to make any noise, he decided to busy himself with tending the garden that was in desperate need of care anyway. Squatting down, Raven went about removing the weeds and dead plants. He had found a trowel and the sun filtering through the glass above had kept the ground from being frozen solid. Hard, yes, but not impossible to break with a bit of effort. Raven, not having seen a training dummy and so had energy to spare. So much that he could all but feel it coming off himself in waves.
After scolding the boy for his pacing the sin would run his wet hands over his face, feeling guilty for startling the bird he a;ready knew to still have a hair trigger. That was had been a major factor in bringing the boy here after all, yes? No one would find them here...because no one knew of this place. No one who still drew breath. He had brought his little trio here to heal the bird and heal him he would...even if it meant breaking what little of the boy remained intact to do it.
No rest for the wicked. Having turned away from accomplishing his goal in the way it had been done for him...He chided himself harshly for this counterproductive outburst. He had not brought the bird here to repair the weapon. He sought to fix the man. Emerging from the master bedroom dressed in warm clothes. Walking about the house to make sure Raven was alright. He had been able to hear the other's reaction, having stumbled or back pedaled into a piece of furniture...the internal damage... while not knowing exact;y why, he knew he had taken two steps back. Now he sought a frighted bird inside an unfamiliar house.
"...You alright?" Tidus asked from where he stood watching Raven work in the garden.
Over the sound of the trowel clinking softly against the semi-hard soil, Raven had not heard the skillful Scout approach and thus the skittish younger Sin spun on one toe to face the direction the voice, his desperately thin body coiled to spring away toward a more defensible position if need be even as his hand angled the garden tool to insure he'd never again be taken alive.
"Really?" Tidus quiped. "What's up?"
The sharp tip of the implement dipped back toward the ground, the owner of the voice clicked. "...I set a kettle on for tea...for me...if it should ever decide to boil..." He added with narrow eyed annoyance.
"What seems to be the issue?" The Scout prodded, intentionally seeking to place another stone against the bird's scales.
"That...Stupid kettle refuses to boil!" Raven spat out, the anger he had previously been able to dispel becoming ever more difficult to contain: his nerves frayed and his wick short.
"It will boil..." Tidus observed, walking away from the hair-triggered male quietly. While he could not be certain he suspected the bird's testiness was related to not his training. He'd seen the boy train for hour upon hour. On occasion, repeat kata's until he could no longer lift his arms and run wind sprints until he could no longer stand. Seeing the young Sin with the trowel he thought this work in the garden might be more beneficial even if the young male didn't agree. It took longer that was optimal to reach point people in ways to use their time; there was more that 'Climate change bad: Contact lenses and bottled water good' v.v
"Eenngh!" Raven hissed thru gritted teeth. When Tidus walked away he turned back to the unruly tangle of withered vegetation breaking up the ground to free the roots with renewed vehemence.
Heeding the others frustration, but paying it little mind, he let him be. There wasn't a whole of of trouble Raven could get into within that room. It might even do the bird some good to poor his energy into the soil, turning destruction into something that would have a more positive and tangible end result. Walking to the kitchen he'd wait for the water to boil leaning against one of the counters.
The tall quilt ghost that dragged it's multicoloured train across the floor as it came from around the corner made a soft hist, hist , hist as the sock covered feet hidden among thick folds slid over the wooden floor over to the fire.
"Swan..." Tidus offered in greeting to the blanket swaddled figure as the water did finally boil, making tea for everyone unknowing that Raven had a burning desire to do it himself.
"C-c-cold enough here? Can't you do something? Set the house on fire maybe? How about just one of the rooms we're not using?" Swan complained as he huddled in front of the fire, just his face poking out of the thick heavy quilt enveloping him.
"...You'll get used to it, I had thought of putting in another fireplace towards the back of the house, but didn't want the second chimney to give away house big this place was..." Pouring three cups he'd bring one to Swan with a dark grin. "What are you having for breakfast then?" After handing off the tea he'd walk the other cup down to Raven.
Swan would look up with eager eyes at the mention of food. His mouth open, the finger of a hand pointing, but stopped as the other promptly turned and walked away obviously not taking orders.
Working the soil slowly began to soothe the edgy Sin. The dark earthy scent of of fresh turned fertile ground brought him pleasant memories, which were something he had not experienced lately. They came on cat feet, padding softly from where they had been sleeping, passing in and out of the shadows, circling his thoughts as his hands moved. His eyes softened and gentle smile completed the serene expression on is face. Though the muscles in his back, shoulders and neck began to burn, it held the warmth of fruitful labor which he found a pleasurable pain to endure.
"...Here..." The Wolf stated, placing the tea down close by on the ground. "Looks your winning..." A neat line of fairly evenly spaced out piles of dead vegetation lined one side of Raven's progress as he worked to clear the ground of the weeds and withered plants. The sable-haired Asmodian turned to look up at the other Sin, wiping the sweat from his brow with the back of his gloved hand. His eyes falling on the tea, he shook the glove off the other to take up the cup. Blowing on it as he sat down in the dirt.
"..I'll leave you to it and see that your brother doesn't starve... Perhaps he can make you some breakfast instead..." He'd smile "... What do you feel like?"
"Something light..." He said. "...and not to complicated if you intend to have my brother prepare it." He added. Laying back in the dirt stretching his arms above his head working out the tightness that was settling in.
"...Brax and eggs it is then..." It certainly looked like Raven could do with putting on some more weight anyway. Walking back , taking slow strides in no hurry back towards the kitchen, he sang out to the popinjay he'd left inside. " Swan!"
Swan poked his head out the door at the sound of his name. Wearing the thick quilt belted about him like a kimono. A skillet with a rather large piece of butter sliding to the low end of it as he held it casually in his hand. "How do you take your eggs? Say scrambled. It's the only way I can make them..."
"Best hurry...Last time Swan tried to cook he set the house on fire..." Raven said looking up at the sky. "A rather BIG fire..." Raven emphasized.
"Oh fuck, Swan!" The blue eyed male cursed as he walked up to the marshmallow man at a slightly quicker pace. "...If you can only make eggs one way then we're in a lot of trouble..." Taking the cooking items away he'd lead him back into the kitchen. "...That's a lot of butter... If you're trying to slowly kill us all it may work." Putting the objects down to start them off fresh. "Can you bring over the Arion from the cooler."
"Aarion...that's a bird, right?" Tidus might as well asked the broad-chested male for a plowshare, for Swan stood with a brow raised, his mouth hitched over to one side.
Tidus' expression was nothing short of dumbfounded. "Yes.. I ah.. I think I need to take you hunting.." He commented in a stern tone. "From now on, you make -all- the meals." Tidus instructed as he walk around the benches to the cooler. Perhaps something simpler really was in order.
"ALL the meals? All of them them because I asked if it was a bird? " Swan huffed. " That hardly seems fair..." He balked his eyes squinting "A hunt does sound lovely though. I had Enorea pack my bow" he added cheerfully.
"Ok, lets talk about this for a minute... lets say, the war hits us hard again. You marry your beautiful wife and have three children, your wealthy empire is targeted and leaves you almost homeless, with four mouths to feed, but you have no kinah, your children, hungry for days now, tell you their hungry. What do you do?" He tilted his head, the man wanted to hunt but couldn't tell what meat he was using? He guessed it made sense if he was only bringing back the kill.
"No kinah?" He guffawed. The idea of such a thing ludicrous to the male. "Okay, okay I'll humor your little thought exercise. I did so enjoy such things whilst in school." Taping a neatly manicured claw against his chin, he heaved a great sigh that puffed out his cheeks as he stood in thought. After quite a long while, his face lit up. "Go on a hunt!" He said triumphantly as if it was a brilliant deduction. "Wait...are the children home on holiday break or is school out for the Summer?" He inquired.
"But you can't cook it?" Tidus at that moment as much as he actually liked Swan, felt an overwhelming urge to hit that man, right between his stupid eyes.
"Ah, but my beautiful wife can." Swan said smiling as he nodded his head.
"And if she were dead or too weak?" blinking at the fool
"I can cook...scrambled eggs...and toast...sometimes. The burned bits scrape right off, mostly.." He said sheepishly.
"That will not keep them strong for long, people are not always going to be there to hold your hand. Did it ever occur to you, that as much as he tries to keep you from seeing it, Raven needs you?"
"Of course it occurred to me." He blustered indignantly. " I have every intention of providing Rave with everything he could possibly need!"
"Good... Right now he needs a meal. I'd say looking at him he's still under weight and needs more lean muscle. He's stomach still isn't quite up to tolerating rich food or heavy meals. You need to prepare him something like fish, fruit, oats and perhaps just a little something extra even though he may not eat it . Don't forget he's still recovering. I think this would mean a lot more to him, coming from you, than me."
"...You want him to be able to actually eat this meal, yes?" Swan asked his face an exaggerated wince reflecting his ineptitude in the kitchen. "I'll do it! I'll make him breakfast..." He exhaled. " Can't be that hard. Oats, you say?"
"I'll help you, don't worry..." The other conceded, taking out all the items needed. "Take the pot and put it on a low heat.."
"Loooow heat." Swan repeated with exaggerated emphasis, putting a empty pot over a flame that he set about to adjusting up and down.
"There's a few of us, so add about... 3 cups of milk 4 if you're feeling overly hungry."
"Are we feeling -overly hungry-?" He inquired as he filled a mug with milk.
"Eh, go the three you can always make more.." The Sin offered noncommittally. "Now, place in about.. three cups of oats, but you'll likely need a little more if it's too watery slowly add in more and stir it."
Swan poured two glasses of milk into the pot and then filled the glass with oats.
"That's... pretty much it.. keep stirring it slowly until it's hot.. not burnt, hot... then take it off the flame, we've got honey you can add, berries most fruits, i think even some cream."
"This is easy! I had no idea." Swan said smiling as he stirred the pot, sloshing a fair portion of the oat mixture over the rim to hiss and splutter in the flames.
"Ok, calm down. Listen cooking is all about timing.." Tidus admonished, holding two hands up at the sloshing before taking Swan's arms by the wrists. "Ease into it. Everything has to be taken into consideration, make sure you pay attention even with a simple meal like this."
"Timing." Swan said as if taking mental notes for future reference.
"Cooking and women are rather similar. Each dish is diferent and needs to be treated accordingly so, some... like these oats, are modest, Need time to warm up. They need to be treated nicely." He'd step around the marshmellow man to prove his point holding both his arms with a smirk knowing full well the other was likely uncomfortable. "You take your time, caress them, be gentle with them." Showing Swan how to stir the food without sloshing it, making sure none was stuck to the pot, swaying his shoulders a little from side to side very slowly almost as if dancing teasingly, not that there was any threat at all towards Swan, he didn't like him -that- much. "Some foods have more spice and flair, they need more control.. A firm hand and no time wasted! Told how to behave and what to do..." Grinning over the other man's shoulder. He was being a shit head, but he didn't feel the least bit guilty either.
The blush started at the tips of Swan's ears, traveling in a ever deepening shade as it spread down his neck and over his cheeks and he cleared his throat a bit nervously as he stared intently into the pot trying not to appear bothered by the other male's actions and avoiding eye contact at all costs. He prayed Raven would walk through the door and that he wouldn't at the same time as the other, with his hands around his wrists swayed behind him suggestively. The ground was cool and the Sun was warm on his face. Laying on his back, with one arm draped over his eyes, Raven drifted off to sleep
"When you think of a person as individuals, and dishes as individual dishes with different needs, you won't go too far wrong, understand?" The mischievous Scout explained, letting go of Swan's wrists and stepping away
'..y-yes...I see.." Swan said clearing his throat a second time.
"...Now, don't let them burn, pay the oats the attention they deserve..." The Sin instructed.
"Not to worry, on my honor I shall protect the modesty of these oats and not allow them to burn." He said attempting to use humor to cover his discomfort. Though he had been paying attention as he continued to stir the pot the way the other had shown him, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as his mind revisited the words Tidus had said. "I wonder if this is not why women enjoy cooking so much?" He mused, as he drew the spoon through the thickening oats in long curving strokes.
"I have no idea.. Women's minds are a forbidden mystery that I doubt any man will truly comprehend.." Tidus paused a moment reaching to grab some bowls for them all. "Thankfully we have other areas to master with them.."
"Ah, the mind of a woman, as fascinating as it treacherous to navigate..." Swan agreed, continuing to stir the oats as he swayed his hips slightly following curving path the spoon traced . "Master them? My dear boy, I do believe they hold far more power in almost every area and even if they don't it is a happy husband that allows them to think the case is true."
"They seem about right now..." he'd look to Swan being called a boy smirking listening, he was pretty sure the elegant bird entirely missed his point, he'd lean in and grin. "If you don't have the bedroom mastered, you'll be in for an Abyss of trouble."
Swan's blush returned, a bright crimson flush blooming on his cheeks. He waved his hand over the steaming pot feigning it was the heat of the stove that had brought the colour to his face.
Tidus would chuckle, the bowls were ready and placed beside him Swan obviously distracted "Turn the heat off and dish the poor girl!" what an evil bastard.
'Yes, yes of course.." Swan said as he started to portion out the oats. "Oh, do I add the honey now? I would think a terrible mess I'd make attempting stir it into the oats once they're inside such tight constraints."
"Serve them, then just put a little over the top, enough to give them a little flavor."
"Yes, yes..." He said, dividing the contents of the pot between the three bowls and spooning a rather generous amount of honey over the oats with a smile.
"That's plenty.." he'd walk over and pat him on the back "Well done, you can make three dishes now. I'll go get Raven." looking back to make sure the heat was really off before he left the room.
Swan took the bowls to the table,setting one each in front of chairs. He paused, one brow arched as he put the honeyed spoon into his mouth. "Rave is an excellent cook...You don't think he's..." Swan's eyes growing wide with the implications.
Walking back to the sun room, seeing Raven asleep on the grass, the assassin had half a mind to leave him, but then he'd have missed out on Swan's achievement. crouching beside him, using the back of his hand to nudge him "Raven, come see what Swan has managed."
Raven's Story part 44
Tidus knew Raven well enough to expect something. Crouching down, he spoke soft, reassuring words to the sleeping male. When the night-maned Asmodian shifted his arm and started to show the first signs of waking, the Scout gently lay a hand on the other's shoulder. It was a credit to how far the bird had come under the care of the Wolf that he woke without a start. "Did my brother set the entire kitchen alight or just a corner of it?" He asked softly as he propped himself up on his elbows.
"The kitchen survived unscathed...for now." Tidus answered with a slight smile as he stood. "...Come and eat."
Raven gave the other a dubious look , but followed him up to the house. He blinked at the three bowls set upon the table and took a seat, pulling the bowl toward him. "..Thank you, Swan." He graciously intoned with heartfelt appreciation, his voice filled with warmth.
"You're welcome, Rave." Swan replied, swelling with pride, a broad smile. "They're very good oats, if I do say so myself. Very good indeed." Swan gave his brother a cross-eyed look. "Rave! What have you been doing out there? Rolling around in the dirt?" He exclaimed, reaching out to pluck a leaf from Raven's hair.
"Swan.. why not get some fruit?" Tidus suggested, trying to distract Swan as Raven deftly avoiding the contact. Rising in the same fluid movement.
"Fruit. Yes, yes." Swan agreed. "Should I cut it up?" He queried.
The nimble Sin retreated back down the hall he had come from and stepped outside to ruffle his finger's through his sable hair attempting to shake the leaves and small twigs that had become entangled in it. Feeling satisfied that the vast majority had fallen to the tiles just outside the door, he returned to head over to the sink and wash his hands.
"...Just what you want on yours. We don't all have to have the same thing." Nodding to Swan, Tidus couldn't fault him, for all his flaws he did mean well and he was at least making an effort.
"Hmmm, Swan pondered looking over the variety of fruits that Tidus had acquired. He gathered up some assorted berries and a selection of the larger fruit he had chosen. Taking the berries to the table unwashed, he went to the cutting board and picked out what he thought would be a suitable knife to cut the fruit. Buoyed by his success at preparing the meal, he attempted to spin the blade in his palm like he had seen Raven do a million times. The business minded male found it much harder to do than his brother made it seem. The knife clattering to the floor loudly. Swan turned around to face the table, his finger in his mouth. "I'm ok. It's nothing,... a scratch. Hardly even a grazed me..." He gushed, side stepping toward the sink, his hand now held behind him.
"It takes a lot of practice for something like that..." Tidus admonished. Suspicious of the chestnut-maned male's behavior, Tidus rose from the table. He picked up the knife from the floor, placing it on the counter on his way to the spoon. Looking over to see the damage done to his finger. "You should stick to doing tricks on paper, it cuts less."
"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!" Swan exclaimed as the Wolf took his injured hand examining the cut. It wasn't a deep cut, but it wasn't a mere scratch either.
"...You may need a stitch or two. That'll teach you..." Tidus sighed as he moved to find the medical kit.
"Will it leave a scar?" Swan exclaimed. Now holding his wrist as if the finger had been nearly severed. Lips pressed together, he stood with widened eyes inspecting the wound. " I must know! I'm required by Law to disclose any faults of my person, disfigurements included, to my bride prior to her committing to the union... Our house was strong, but now... even the slightest flaw could upend our arrangement and ruin my prospects...not that I would blame her...who would? "
Raven scowled at his brother's antics as he washed his own hands. Returning to the table to eat. Offering not the slightest bit of sympathy to his brother who stood holding his finger over the sink as if the tiny drops that fell from it was his life blood spilling.
"...Run it under the water... " Tidus wasn't exactly impressed by the tall male's exaggerated response to the minor wound, but did show more compassion to the spoon than Raven. Looking after these two was like a full time job. He walked over to the lounge placing the items down on his way back to the kitchen. Stopping by the table, he picked up his bowl of oats, spoon in hand he'd have a few quick bites "mmmm gud..." He mumbled in recognition of the spoon's efforts. His mouth full, chewing still he moved to take a bottle of Swan's brandy deliberately, using his head to coax him over to one of the arm chair.
"...But, but the water stiiiiings." Swan whimpered. "Ooouuuch." As he ran the cut once again under the flow a moment before going over to sit where Tidus nodded. "Wait! What's the brandy for? Is it for pain? Is this going to hurt?" Swan's voice jumped an octave. "Raaaave, come hold my hand. Please, Rave. Please!"
Raven left his breakfast and went to kneel beside his brother, taking the other's hand in both of his and giving it a light squeeze. His brow furrowed, the night-maned Asmodian offered the apprehensive other male an empathic look of commiseration. A sharp blade cuts clean with relatively little pain. Stitches, on the other hand...
"No..." Tidus dissuaded as the bird held his brother's hand in an act of kindness "...Go... Do something else... Go for a walk, train outside, what ever suits you... But don't be here for this.."
Raven looked at Tidus questioningly, but did as instructed without comment. "Is this going to leave a scar? Please say it won't leave a scar." Swan pleaded.
At the door, Raven jerked his coat from off the hook roughly. Stepping out into the snow, the closing door behind him hard enough to rattle it's frame.
Ice blue eyes narrowed hard at Swan, the careless remark sparking his ire as well. A torturer himself, the white wolf was about to prove a point with nothing but one digit. Not only was this about Raven, it was about Tidus too. Taking a chair from the kitchen he roughly put it down next to where Swan was seated with a loud clack of wood against wood, his hand open to take the wound. "Give me your hand..."
Swan jumped as Tidus set the chair down loudly. A bit reluctantly he slowly offered over his hand with a growing sense of trepidation.
"You are here... with two victims of torture, and you're worried about a tiny scar on your finger..." The Wolf snarled, snatching the other's hand quickly, his claws digging hard into the flesh. He uncorked the brandy pouring it painfully slowly over the wound.
"AAAAAaaaaaahhh!" Swan yelped in real pain this time as the alcohol burned deeply into the cut. "Tight! To tight, your claws!" He cried out.
Tidus felt his eyes begin to glow. He poured that entire bottle of brandy over the relatively small cut. Far more then needed letting it spill to the floor. As much as he taught Raven to turn away from the darkness, the Wolf was inclined to embrace it. Having more control of his own mind than Raven, who didn't seem able to switch it off. "They burned my flesh..." He growled. Digging sharp claws into the skin they gripped, threatening to break it. Shuffling about his kit for a needle. "...They whipped me...They whipped your brother..." Holding the unthreaded needle to the light.
'Ouch! Ouch! OUCH! Your claws!" Swan protested, his voice strained. He pulled slightly, trying to free himself, but not to hard against the bite of Tidus' grip.
"You! Are not listening..." A very dark and threatening rumble to his tone, his eyes brightly flaring crimson. "If you are unable to handle this small... pitiful amount of pain then how can you possibly conceive of what your brother experienced? Taken captive and held in chains so long they've left permanents marks around his wrists. Tortured without mercy. Abandoned and left to die under the hot desert sun..." Cruelly, the needle was driven into Swan's finger deep enough for tip to reach the bone, infuriating the bundles of nerves that lay there. "Do you know what your own flesh smells like when it burns? I do.. and you, Swan, will have your eyes opened -right- now. You will be subject to a pathetically tiny taste of what others have endured on a far greater scale for hours... days... weeks... In the unfortunate case of you brother...months... "
Swan howled in pain as the needle when in deep. He struggled now, really struggled to free his hand. Grabbing frantically at Tidus' fingers with his other hand, filed down claws not having the same effect as sharpened ones. "Stop! Stop! Stop!" He screeched.
"...Stop struggling..." Tidus hissed, leaving the needle as it was for now. "Imagine yourself in the baking hot sun. Your back torn to shreds... but whipped more anyway. Begging the Gods to take you to the aether..." Keeping his eyes dead set on Swan. "The amount of pain you feel pales in comparison... You will sit... You will feel every prick and jab as I mend your fucking smooth skin and I am going to make sure this leaves a scar in case you ever... need a reminder..."
Swan maintained eye contact with Tidus. Tears rolling down his cheeks. He stopped struggling, but winced every time his pulse feathered past the needle embedded in his flesh. He bit his lower lip and held his breath to keep from making a sound.
Pulling out the needle, Tidus let go of Swan. Threading it to stitch the other's wound. He took his time and while normally he'd have been kinder he took far less care with this wound, jerking at the stitches and flesh. Tidus felt the cruelty of his actions, but this was nothing new to him. It was his opinion that Swan was not deserving of common compassion right now. Luckily, the cut didn't require too many stitches. Finishing up, cleaning up the blood and wrapping the injury Tidus broke the silence. "...You mean well... You just need to look past your own beak..." Standing with the kit, the mood swings of the house wearing on him.