Between the shadows of the trees, a knight wandered. Though no one could see his face, every villager now and then could recognize his silhouette – the Grim Reaper, a men of mind, but a man of no heart.
The solitary trail was the only company to the mysterious Reaper. He had been going from town to town, searching for shelter... but no one would open their door! The presence of that stranger was said to bring calamity and even death to those who lived in a house we was let in.
His long, black coat would not allow even the strongest of the winds to lift it, preserving any other sight over his unknow appearance.
There was a time that a famine came across a small village, close to the abandonated castle of a king who once feed all of his people! But that was long, long ago already.
A particular family still had oil to lit their lamps up, the only house in that darkned village that would sparks it's insides. There lived a knight – and his loyal squire.
The two were in such a hunger, it was driving both of them crazy! How could the brave knights protect their home if—
"But wait, how are they a family if they are only two knights?"
"Wha— Of course they can be a family! Aren't we all a family?"
"... Yeah!"
Anyway... They were really starving. The older knight, a man that fought into various battles even inside his former king's castle, would drink up every beer they found in some old stocks of the house! This made the squire, a young girl, really mad! So in revenge, she ended up drinking all the rest.
"Buh"
And now they were in the red.
Wondering how they could not only save their bellies, but also how could they assist the rest of village, the two knights were caught in a sy heard a polite knock on their door. The squire promptly picked up her sword, while the other knight set his shield ahead of them. He slowly approached the door, turning the knob.
It was none person other than the Grim Reaper himself! The girl didn't know who was this figure, but she kept standing in an offensive position if anything happened. The older knight, in the other hand, knew who this infamous creature was; however, he let the stranger enter the house as he asked for shelter.
The squire quickly went to question her friend about it, fearing that unknow danger could fly right behind their back!
But he didn't say anything. In his heart, that man could be suffering as much as the whole village, searching for a place to sleep at for so long!
As they argued, the lights suddenly went off. The knights hearts raced as they were in the dark, holding each other so they wouldn't be alone. Mysterious faint lights appeared in some bits of the dark, and when they realized, it was forming a trail!
With no place else to go, the two followed the orange lights. It even looked like the tiny house didn't exist anymore – they were straight in a field now!
Fearing for the worst, they held each other's hands. Until all the lights lit up and revealed...
Fareeha's eyes widened in curiosity.
"THE BEST SOUP THEY EVER TASTED!"
Both Fareeha and Reinhardt looked at the woman, unsettled.
"Weeeell it was not a sou—"
"Yes it was! Soldiers love nothing more than fresh, delicious food waiting for them after a long battle!"
"Ja, but you definitely won't want to taste Ana's!" He winked at Fareeha, who tried to force a chuckle but failed.
She glared at him, pompous.
"That is why... Fareeha is learning to cook!"
The girl nearly winked, looking up her mother with disdain in the eyes, arms crossed.
"Yeah mom!" She rolled her eyes, unamused. "You made me make dinner for you for a whole week instead of just going to the cafeteria! And now I can't even sit to hear uncle Rein's histories without you just jumping in to say how the braaave knight cleaned the floor until it shone?"
She completely ignored the last part, faking a smile. "But Fareeha, you know a cafeteria is for coffee, and I like tea!"
Fareeha growled, standing up and leaving the room in heavy steps. Brigitte let out a sad cry as she squirmed in her godfather's arms, almost dropping her screwdriver. He standed up.
"What has gotten into you?"
She shrugged. "Well, what was gotten into you to be thinking you can just tell her any history?"
Reinhardt sighed, a serious look in his face. He even had a low voice tone.
"You can't just keep pruning the girl like this, Ana. In fact, she can't even stand near you lately, have you noticed that?"
"She just got into puberty."
He chuckled, indignant.
"Okay, that— that was the limit. You need to stop it, Ana! Just let the girl be!"
"And what do you know about children?"
"I know that no matter were I hide this screwdriver, Brigitte will find it and toss it right inside her mouth! So why bother hiding if she's going to chew it anyway?"
Ana crossed her arms. "That didn't even do a pinch of sense "
"And what you're doing does even less! You're becaming too paranoid!"
She stared him, her eyes widened. Finally, she gave up, sitting down and resting her tired face in her hand.
"You're right." She snorts. "I dont know what to do."
He took a seat alongside the woman, placing his hand in her shoulder.
"If you wanted someone to do your dinner, why not ask Gabriel?"
"Are you crazy?!" She whispered, a low tone filled with caution. "He may want to roast me if I asked him that!"
"But then why are you so eager to get Fareeha to cook?"
"I don't know, I'm a terrible cooker so I had a bad time in mission sometimes..."
He stares at her, sceptical.
"Do you just heard what you said?"
"What?"
He sighs, putting Brigitte in the ground as she clumsy walks away chewing her screwdriver.
"You seem a little gestresset after all those smaller operations in the east, friend. How about we go out?"
"Oh!" She chuckles, warmed by the unexpected invite. "Well, you know what I say..."
"Oh for the love of— I can hire a jet if you don't want to spend your money in vacation!"
Ana is sat with crossed arms, smirking at Reinhardt. She lightly waves her head.
"Oh, you don't want me to..."
"Come on!" She approaches him excitedly, leaning her hands on his arm. "I heard from Torbjörn that your curry is the best!"
"You know that currywurst is not the same as—"
Her eyes dazzle as a puppy's.
"Pleease?"
He snorts. "Okay, but..." He quickly picks updated a paper and pen from his pocket and write a few things, leaning it against his thigh. "You better go get it."
He hands Ana the paper, as she immediately gives him a smirk once reading the contents. Standing up, her feet get her across the hall.
"DON'T YOU DARE PICKING THEM FROM THE CAFETERIA!"
"I SWEAR BY MY HUSBAND THAT I WON'T!"
He vigorously laughs as she walks alway.
And then his head clicks.
"Wait, isn't she— BRIGITTE GET THAT AWAY FROM YOUR MOUTH!"
Chop chop chop, the vegetables were angrily cutten by the girl. Her hand firmly held the knife, sliding and slicing the vegetables with no effort at all. Making lunch was now a everyday routine for Fareeha, since Ana pestered her about it so much. She said that a soldier, first and foremost, should be first doing housework and not picking a pistol right away. No sense! Where's the sense in that?!
Her hand delicately stirred one of the pots in the stoven, filled with chickpeas and water. She didn't even liked chickpeas besides in humus, but Ana said... It was healthier. She just probably like chickpeas.
That really sucked.
"Hey"
She observed the vegetables boiling alongside the water.
"HEY!"
The girl let out a faint screech as she breathed heavily from the surprise. Turning to the doorway, she saw Gabriel.
"Something is burning."
Her eyes widened in wonder, until she noticed block of carrot that fell next to the burner. She tried removing the ruined vegetable from there; first with her own bare hands – which obviously didn't work as she squirmed – and later successfully picking it with a fork. Turning to Gabriel again as soon as she catched it, Fareeha gave him an awkward smile.
"What are you doing?"
"Oh, I'm, uhh, cooking?
He keeps the same face.
"I can see that."
"Chickpeas..."
The man's arms are crossed as he approachs the balcony. "Weren't you arguing with Amari about how you hate chickpeas?"
Her eyes swing. "Well, it's healthier—"
"Why don't you make humus?"
Fareeha sighs, turning off the chickpeas burner and looking over Reyes. Unlike other agents, he always had his uniform worn, which seemed kind of weird to her. But it's no surprise to see this guy specifically being edgy. She chuckled to herself as she thought about it. How can he cook in that?
Until her thoughts were dissipated in front of her, Gabriel was already messing with the pot.
"Hey! Uncle, leave it to me! I need to make lunch!"
"You said you don't like chickpeas, right?"
"Uhmm..." Fareeha pouts, scratching her jaw. "I don't, but—"
He dumps the chickpeas in a drainer and throws the pot away in the balcony, making a loud noise that made Fareeha's eyes squeeze.
"Have you ever thought why?"
Quickly searching in the kitchen cabinets, the man sets another pot in the balcony, filling it with water and putting the chickpeas in.
"Wasn't it easier to use the water that was hot already?"
He gives the girl a glare that makes her shiver slightly. Closing the pot and putting it in the stoven right after, he crosses his arms.
"Have you thought about your answer?"
"Uhhh..."
Fareeha rests a finger in her lips, thoughtful.
"It is too hard!"
"If you don't cook them in pressure they will take forever to do so."
"Oh... so that is it!..."
"So" Gabriel approaches her, leaning down his torso. "What are we doing?"
Her eyes glimmer.
"Ohhh... I—I was going to make soup! But... it's not that tasty!"
"Well, I have a suggestion."
As he smiles, he starts handing Fareeha some ingredients. She starts choping them; handful of onions, pork, and other vegetables as Gabriel separately stir fry some of them. The scent roams over all the place and the man even starts humming quietly. He was caught by surprise as soon as the girl went up to pull his sleeves.
"Uncle Gabe! Where did you learn to cook?"
He sighs. "Well, it's been in the family."
"Why don't you cook here more often?"
Her big, puppy eyes shine as her gaze is set in the man. He scoffs.
"Why would I do that? It's not like anyone here cook for me."
"But mama said you have the best cooking here!... And she is very bad at it..."
"Yeah, everybody knows that for sure."
"And, and—" She waves her hands excitedly. "We are your family now!"
His eyes widen with the sudden words. The man pulls a smile in the corner of his lips, crouching next to Fareeha and laying a hand on her shoulder.
"Then I can cook for you."
A bright smirk takes place at the girl's face.
"... And for your mother."
"She'll be so happy—"
"But don't think I will cook in your place, smarthead."
He stands again, chuckling at the Fareeha's pouting face. "But mom doesn't like—"
The door suddenly opens with Ana and Reinhardt carrying a bag of groceries.
"Oh... Reyes. What are you... wait, what are you two doing?"
"I told you not to pick from the cafeteria."
"Ahkrus!"
"And what are you doing here? Going to cook?"
Reyes gives the woman a smug. Scoffing, she leaves her bags in the table. "Actually, Reinhardt will cook for us!"
"And who is teaching? You?"
"Do not understimate me, kamerad! I live by the word and legacy of my gute alte Dame!"
"Uncle Reyes make the best food ever! Blehhh!"
"Fareeha! Do not—"
"I shall make you change your mind, my little friend!"
A faint sound whistles in the room.
Gabriel intimidatingly approaches the knight, leaning his hands in the balcony.
"So you really think that? What can you do? Currywurst?"
Reinhard glares at him with sharp eyes.
"Actually yes."
As Reyes scoffs, they start arguing with each other in not a too much of agressive manner. Fareeha kept spicing up things much to her mother's disapproval.
"Fareeha!" She grabs the girl by the arm, while the men's voices keep getting louder. "I told you already not too—"
The fire alarm goes off sudsenly, soaking everyone in the room. The vegetables are ruined.
Everyone in the room stared at each other.
"Wait" Gabriel eyes widen. "How long was that pressure cooker on—"
"Mom, did you know that you need to cook chickpeas in the pressure cooker?"
Ana caress her right eye with a bag of ice.
"Yes, habibti, I do."
"Then why didn't you said?"
She rolls her eyes. They are reunited in the hall's sofas, soaked entirely and with dishes of food.
"Reinhardt! Don't give that to her! She will have cramps!"
"The girl needs to build up Ana!"
"I don't think this is the way to do it."
"I think uncle Rein and Gabe should cook for us everyday!"
Ana chuckles, taking some fries and studding them in her mouth. "You two should open a restaurant after retiring."
"I'm more on a casual cooking. But you should do it, Reinhardt."
"I'LL NEVER! THE CRUSADER'S HONOR SHALL BE... HONORED!"
He lift his arm as Brigitte starts chuckling. Both Gabriel and Ana sighs, with the later chuckling.
"Oh, mama, mama!" Fareeha pulls her mother's sleeves as her eyes glimmers. "What about me? Can I open a restaurant?"
She smiles soflty, her swollen eye squeezing a little.
"Not by any chance."
The knights then see themselves in the company of a large pot of soup. The bottom is a little burned up, but they don't care – they deeply appreciate the Reaper's act of generosity. The knights ate along in silence, just appreciating the moment. And in the night before that, they could cook for everyone in the village together, even teaching the only child in the village to do so!
And so they happily lived forever alongside the once so feared Reaper.