Alternate Revelation - Chapter 4: Comfort Food

I'm sorry I took so long to update; this chapter is a lot longer than the others and I was busy today from school all the way until about 10 o'clock. So I'm just getting this in now. lol
I hope I didn't get your expectations up; I don't think I'm going to put a lemon in this. I haven't written a fluffy thing in a while... maybe I'll put one in the last last chapter or something? I dunno.

This is my favorite chapter that I've written for this story. It's so sweet and adorable. I'm editting it to the soundtrack for Chobits, and it's fitting so nicely. Listen to the song "Undertones" on youtube from the Chobits soundtrack if you'd like to get all of the sweet feelings from this chapter.

Enjoy!

To Pholo! Yet again, your review has made my day! And you're very welcome for writing back! XD

To li ross! Thank you for the critique! I went back and looked and I saw what you meant. I hope I fixed it lol.

It's around six-o'clock now; dinner time. I hadn't done much of anything all day, but for some reason I was absolutely starving. My stomach growled loudly, proving my point.

Alice keeps yelling at me to do stuff for her. I would love a distraction, but I so don't want to move right now. Who knew a couch could be so comfortable? My legs are hanging off the side of the couch's arm so I'm really not into the giving up the most awesome spot in the world thing. But of course my relaxation comes second to Alice's bitching.

"OZ! I'm hungry! Why is dinner taking so long?"

"I dunno," I tried to sound as agitated as I possibly could. Alice is a brat, but that's just how she is. No use crying over spilled milk.

"Why don't you go and see?" I don't know why I thought that would work. She just glared at me...

She's still glaring.

God dammit. "Fine, fine! I'll go see." She says nothing but goes back to relaxing, resting her feet on the table. I would've bitched at her but as I moved closer to the kitchen, my hunger dissolved the anger. Whatever is being made it smells absolutely delicious. Nostalgic even. Meat, spices, some sort of vegetable- cheese maybe? Oh, it smells heavenly. I obliviously started walking faster, eager to find out where the food was.

And, more importantly, who was making it?

My thought was cut off as I rounded the corner and saw a light glowing from one of the open doors. A blast of scents filled my nose and I peeked around the doorframe to see what was inside.

Well, I found the kitchen. It was rather large, enough for the island counter in the middle plus about six spacious feet surrounding it. Cabinets lined my left side of the wall while a fridge was in line with the entrance to the kitchen. A pot of something wonderful was boiling on the island's stove and I saw Raven chopping up three carrots at once before dropping them into the pot.

I watched curiously as he proceeded to brush his hands and then bend over to adjust the flame's strength. He wiped his hands on his apron then turned to the fridge to grab milk, pouring some into the pot while stirring it. After he put the milk away he rested his hands on his hips and sighed, then took his hair out of a ribbon and retied it, followed by washing his hands-

Okay, I need to stop. Now I'm just stalking him. I can't help it though; he was so interesting to watch. And I mean that genuinely. I fought between wanting to help him and wanting to just keep watching... I chose the former.

I stepped in slowly, feeling nervous for some reason. I greeted him shyly, like I had before, "Hi Raven-san." He seemed shocked at hearing another voice, like I'd just caught him having a heated arguement with a vase of flowers or something.

He smiled at me though,"Oh, hello Oz-kun. I didn't hear you come in."

I smiled bashfully, "Heheh... sorry. What are you doing?"

He crushed a clove of garlic before nonchalantly throwing it into the pot and answering me, "Making dinner. Does it smell good?"

I nodded enthusiastically. "I can smell it all the way from down the hall. What is it?"

He seemed pleased with my reaction, "It's meat stew. It'll be done in a little bit."

I stared at the bubbling concoction, my mouth salivating. "I can't wait, I'm starved."

He chuckled lightly and then stereotypically tasted the stew. I'm assuming he thought it needed salt, because he put some in.

"I still need to get..." he trailed off staring into the pot.

I felt my cheeks get warm, "Do... do you need help with anything?" He looked at me. His expression was so... light-hearted. His eyes were half-lidded, his eyes bright yellowy-gold, and his smile was like... adoration. Like I was a little brother wanting to learn from an older sibling.

My heart ached as I longed for Gilbert, feeling as if I was abandoning him as this man's smile brought me joy.

Raven nodded slightly, "I could always use a little help. The salad still needs to be made... Sharon-san's request." I waited as he rummaged through a grocery bag. He pulled out a head of lettuce and grabbed a rather large knife. He cut the head in half and then handed the knife to me cautiously,

"Be careful, okay? Can you chop this for me?" I took the knife, triyng to look careful.

"Sure... how hard can it be?" I took one of the halves and tried to cut it. With a loud slam the knife collided with the cutting board. I surveyed my cut; way too thin and I somehow cut it diagonally. How does someone even do that? I stared, too embarrassed and prideful to look at him or ask for help. So I tried again; too thick now, still diagonal. I heard him chuckle and my cheeks burned.

He spoke softly, "I can help you if you'd like?" I hoped he was looking at me, because the only answer I could bare giving him was a small, shameful nod. He stepped over, standing behind me, and I saw his arms come around me. I felt him against my back. A little close considering we were only acquaintances now, but I was way too happy at the proximity. Or lack of it.

His hands covered over mine making chills go up my spine, and I had to hold my breath to keep from releasing some kind of horrifically happy sound. His hands were big compared to mine, and warm just like earlier today. They weren't terribly soft, but the roughness wasn't uncomfortable. I tried hard to shut my heartbeat up.

Like servants' hands...

I made no effort to try chopping on my own, so his hands didn't lift from mine. But I figured I should try, so I started moving my hands with his instead of just being guided. We finished the first half and his grip on my hands lessened. Whyy...

"Do you think you have it now?"

"Yeah, I think so." I shouldn't be greedy. I cut the remaining lettuce half a little better than before as he took some of sort of bread out of the oven. The smell was mouth-watering, fresh. I put the lettuce in a bowl. He then handed me some cucumbers.

"Could you chop these?" I smiled and nodded again in response. This I could do. I dumped the cut pieces into a bowl as Raven stirred the stew again.

"Alright, this is the last thing that needs to be prepared." He grabbed a bowl of strawberries from the fridge and rinsed them. Before he could go back to his own work, my mouth blurted out,

"Could I watch you this time?"

I panicked, straining to stay calm on the outside. How weird I must sound! I don't even know him at all. I might as well just leave now.

"Sure." Oh. The world didn't explode.

He came to stand next to me again, but much to my subtle dismay his arms weren't around me this time. Raven started cutting the fruits, removing the leaves and then cutting length-wise. His cuts were so graceful, like his hands made no strain to cut the fruit at all. Granted strawberries were pretty soft on their own, but he looked like he was cutting through air. His hands were absolutely beautiful.

The whole time that I've been watching him, Raven has been smiling. That simple, content smile. For a moment though, my heart stopped, because I thought I was looking at Gilbert. I tore my eyes away from him, back to his hands, but my heart still lost its rhythm. Raven looking like Gil, holding a knife... like Gil had right over my chest. And then I lost him.

I was spacing out, tumbling over the scenes before and after when I accidentally cut Gil. I fought the urge to scream, the tightness in my throat. I don't know when I leaned into Raven, but I became aware his arm against my cheek, flexing and relaxing as he moved his hands. I intentionally pressed into him more, my eyes pricking. He had a sad smile and he made no effort to move me or ask me what was wrong.

ooo

I hovered closer to his arm now, more confidently, and watched as he tossed the salad together. It still struck me as odd; a strawberry salad?

"I've never heard of such a thing." He had laughed lightly at my comment.

"You'd be surprised how good a sweet salad can taste, given the right dressing." I was extremely eager to try this. He turned to the fridge to grab said dressing.

Too engrossed in our conversation, I didn't hear Alice stomping down the hall towards the kitchen.

"OZ! What's taking so lo-" she cut herself off as she took in the sight of me clinging to Raven's arm. Her face showed confusion, then disgust, and then anger. She pointed accusingly at Raven.

"What are you doing making my man-servant hang all over you?" Raven seemed shocked at her words, like he'd just realized that I was, in fact, hanging all over him and being so friendly. His ears were turning red, with anger or embarrassment I wasn't sure, and he snapped back at her, forcefully slamming his right hand onto the counter.

"I'm not making him do anything you stupid rabbit!" His body was facing me, his head turned to Alice in the doorway. I was facing Raven, fighting the urge to move close, to calm Raven and keep him from getting angry.

"Stop crowding him you stupid seaweed!"

I chagrined, trying to keep the peace, "A-Alice... calm down. There's no need to-"

She continued glaring at Raven, "Shut up Oz!"

I flinched slightly and Raven growled, "Don't tell him to shut up!" I sighed, defeated.

They continued fighting, just white noise in my ears. Alice was leaning over the other side of the island getting in Raven's face while Raven was leaning over the opposite side, but only on one hand. The other seemed to be resisting moving closer to me, like he was shielding me... maybe it was just my wishful thinking.

"My, my... such children we have to deal with, huh, Milady?" a smooth voice cooed.

The three of us looked up at the doorway to see Break leaning against the frame. Sharon stepped around him, a gentle smile on her thin lips.

"Indeed, Break. I fear we will never receive dinner if they continue fighting." Alice's stomach growled and she grimaced.

"Hmm, we wouldn't want that, would we Oz?" I looked up at my name, seeing Break's all-knowing smile. I laughed nervously in agreement and blushed. I feel like I was caught doing something illegal. I looked to Raven for support, but he wasn't looking at me. When had he moved away? He looked distant now, lost in his own thoughts.

I was glad when Sharon spoke up, keeping the conversation going, "Come along Alice, let us find our seats."

Alice growled, glared back at Raven and I and then her angry stomach propelled her to the dining hall. She rounded the door frame, taking one last suspicious look at me, before leaving from my sight.

"Don't take too long now~" Break chimed before waving and following Alice.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Raven was the first to speak, "Could you bring them their salad, Oz-kun?"

I looked at him, but he wouldn't make eye-contact. I forced myself to smile though, "Of course."

Am I the only one who finds cooking to be an adorable hobby between my pairings? It's probably just this pairing...

...No, I'm right. It's completely adorable.
Hope you like it as much as I do! I'll update again tomorrow hopefully, maybe in the morning since I'll be busy for EVER tomorrow~
And if you couldn't tell by now, I really hate Alice. She gets in my way. A lot.