As the people who lived at Skyhold worked, time seemed to fly by rather quickly; from it being just a few days to a couple weeks have passed, and now the fortress really looked like a being could live in it comfortably, or, somewhat comfortably. There were still things to do, but people could finally relax and smile at their hard work. The soldiers even helped by lending the staff a hand with moving rubble onto wagons and guarding them from bandits as they crossed the bridge to dump it.

With the work from Josephine, a steady amount of supplies such as food and resources have been pouring in with the help from the Inquisitor's hard work with gaining the approval she needs to gain power.

But, back in the kitchens, May has been promoted to a full on staff member, despite her uncle saying "she's too cotton headed" They were heavily short staffed due to the attack on Haven, so they took all the help they can get. No more cutting veggies or simple prep such as boiling water and setting a fire for this young woman.

With the kitchens becoming busier by the day, May had less opportunities to go find Cole and at least have a nice chat with him, but, she couldn't be happier with her current position. All she really wanted to do was tell him a dream she had a few weeks back that seemed a bit too real for her. She woke up to a roaring fire the night she fell asleep in the kitchens while having a lingering touch on her head from what she thought was from Cole. Only a few questioned where the fire had come from, but just figured it was best not to question the gift horse in the mouth.

With a tiring sigh, May wiped her brow with her forearm before setting her cutting knife down, along with the peeled plums in a bowl and set them aside for the next fruit she had to cut up. She went to the other side of the kitchen and swiped a few apples for carving before returning back to her spot; but impetuously stopped within a few steps of her spot when she noticed something off.

"Where are those peeled plums…?" She mumbled to herself before forcing her feet forward to her spot. She looked around and no one had the peeled plums in their hands, or were anywhere in site. "No one could've taken them while I was gone… right? I was only gone for a moment…." She scratched at her temple while trying to figure this out. She even asked the other cooks if they've seen the plums, but no one had seen them, or were just too busy to notice such a small thing go missing.

With a grumble, she walked out of the stuffy kitchens and took in some fresh air; it seemed like it had been forever since May breathed in fresh air and just relax for a moment or two before sleeping. Now wasn't the time for sleep, for it was still day time and she was on a mission… well, a personal mission really.

"What? Peeled plums on the window sills?"

May arched a brow as she turned her head to listen to a few guards that were leaning against the kitchen walls, "Yah, it's been attracting so many flies, it's really bothersome." The guard rolled his eyes at the mere thought of it.

"Do you know how they got there?" the female guard asked while tilting her head.

"No, it was like a ghost just decided to put them there."

A ghost? May pondered about this for a moment, thinking about the only being who could be a ghost. Who was the only person who could disappear without a moment's notice and no one would ever know they were there in the first place…

Click

With a little growl and her gaze turning into a glower, she started her march to look for a certain somebody, "COLE!" for she hated the thought of wasting food.

After an hour or so of looking for the boy, and asking if people have seen him, she headed up the stairs in the tavern to see that Iron Bull was right. Cole cowered slightly at the mere impact of her glare.

"You're mad at me…" He simply stated like a guilty child would to a parent.

"Well yeah! You took food from the kitchen and just left the plums out to rot…" May grumbled while pushing her bangs back, tempting to rip out her own hair, but knew better, "Why would you do that?! It's such a waste; I can't even comprehend why anyone would do this…" She shook her head while trying to control her breathing and speaking through clenched teeth, "We could've used that for the soldier's meals…"

"Well, spiders need to eat…" The blond hesitantly spoke up in defense, then was about to open his mouth again, but May glared at him, then he quickly closed it.

"What does that even mean?!" Her eyebrows were furrowed as she tried her hardest to keep her cool, "You can't just steal food from the kitchens like that!" With a final huff, she turned around and stomped her way down the stairs.

Cole was admittedly a little irritated too, but just shook his head and sighed, mumbling to himself, "She doesn't understand…"

A few days have past, and a fuming May was still apparent as her poor excuse for a poker face was still working in the kitchens and serving the people in Skyhold. As she held a tray of food in her hand, she passed out food to some of the healers who were in a bit of a rush to get back to work, therefore not really having the time to go in a line and wait to be served.

One of the male healer's face cringed a bit as he merely gazed at May, but he straightened up as he asked her, "So… May…. Anything bugging you lately…?"

"Nope." She snipped, her eyes widened as she realized how rubbish her attitude was and sighed, "I'm sorry about my poor attitude, it won't happen again."

"It's alright," He held up his hands in defense, "we all have those stressful weeks."

"More like days…" She mumbled to herself, but realized him and the other healers heard her and she facepalmed, "I am just so sorry…"

"May," One of the other healers with boy-cut light brown hair placed a hand on her shoulder, "what's wrong?" the female healer gave May a sweet, genuinely warm smile, "You're still just a kid, right? A job like this can be very stressful."

"It's not the job, really, it's not…" May lowered her head and took a calming breath before speaking again, "Someone has been stealing food from the kitchens and I just hate the thought of food not going to people who need it more rather than greedy thieves who probably waste it." She didn't realize it, but her tone turned rather bitter towards the end as a light growl could be heard when she said 'waste'.

"Uh…" The male healer scratched at his scalp and moved his blond hair back, "We're sorry to hear that… but, on the bright side: since the fruit turns rotten, it attracts flies, which attracts spiders, therefore; giving us a decent amount of spider webs to use for the injured soldiers and other people who need it." He gave a small smile before turning towards his meal, "Sorry about the food situation, but thanks for the meal."

May merely stood there, frozen like a statue until it seemed like lightning struck her and she started moving again, getting back to work before her uncle called her a 'cotton head' again for having her head in the clouds about half of the time. She mentally facepalmed as she knew what she had to do next to make it up to Cole from her little short-sighted outburst.

ooOoO0OoOoo

Later that night, Cole was sneaking around with a handful of mints while keeping a sharp eye out for May; not wanting to get another scolding even though she might be asleep, it's better to be safe than sorry. He walked along the wall of a stone building and noticed something odd. Taking a couple steps back, he saw a windowsill with a bowl of peeled plums that he didn't place.

Who did this…? He asked himself as he unintentionally tilted his head and arched a brow. It's possible that someone else is starting to copy him just to spread the good deed or take credit for his work, but kitchen staff wasn't allowed to merely hand out food unless it was time to eat… plus it would be odd to just hand out a bowl of peeled plums to just anyone.

Click

His eyes partially widened before his face softened into a calming smile before patting the peeled plums and going back to his intended location for the placement of his mint, "Thank you," He mumbled, "you're helping."

ooOoO0OoOoo

The next day rolls by and May is on a short break from her work, and she's taking that break by walking outside of the kitchen and thinking to herself, debating whether to go apologize to Cole now or later, or if he's even in his little corner right now. She just puffed out her cheeks and sighed while continuing on her slow stroll.

"HEY!" May's eyes opened wide as she fell on her bum from the sheer surprise, "What are you doing? I could've sliced your head off child!" A rugged yet feminine voice that seemed to be hardened by battle yelled in May's direction.

Time seemed to have stood still as May looked up at the woman with short black hair and dark eyes with scars that were no doubt from combat, she only blinked a few times before the woman spoke again, "Get up already!" The woman ordered, and so May followed that command by scrambling to her feet and dusting herself off.

"I'm so sorry, Cassandra!" May's eyes were wide with fear as her teeth clenched from the mere sight of the soldier, she's only been close to her through serving her in the mess hall, but not this close.

"Ease up, I'm not going to bite your head off." Cassandra sheathed her sword, "You're one of the kitchen staff, no?" Cassandra's face didn't react to May being as scared as she looked, "You're rather young to be working a full time job for an army, don't you think? It looks like it's been stressing you out…"

The small brunette shook her head, "No ma'am, I love my job."

"Then why the big sigh?" Cassandra's stone face was not budging, it was like it would always be stuck in her eyebrows being furrowed, "If it weren't for that, I would've made your head roll."

May had a light blush and turned away, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you…"

"Look at me in the eyes when you talk to me."

"Yes ma'am, I'm sorry." She stood at attention and looked Cassandra in her menacingly cold eyes.

"Now…" She leaned against the training dummy, "What's the problem?"

"I um…" May was more than confused… Cassandra was known for being hard on anyone in her way and could break bones just by looking at the person, proving that she's just as capable as any other soldier, despite her being a woman. She once heard that you have to be twice as strong to get half the respect from men, don't know where she heard it from… but it seemed proof enough from her travels with her uncle.

"Well?" the soldier's voice raised a bit to get May's attention, "I don't have all day."

"Er… I yelled at a friend the other day and we haven't talked since…" Her shoulders slumped as she recalled the recent memory, "I want to apologize, but I don't know if they'll be mad at me or not."

"This person is your friend, right?" May nodded to Cassandra's question, "Then you have nothing to fear. If they were truly your friend, they would hear you out and wouldn't be mad enough to keep you away, true friends don't do that."

"I… I guess you're right…" She tilted her head as she thought about it.

"I am right, now quit skulking and go apologize already; your negative aura is bad for the people's health." Before May could even respond, Cassandra merely picked her up by the waist and moved her to the side before pulling out her sword and bashing away at the dummy.

She didn't know if Cassandra was being serious with the negative aura thing or not, but she quickly shook out all thoughts and headed to the tavern to find Cole.

After a minute or two of walking, May made it up to the attic to see that Cole was sitting down; but as soon as their eyes met he stood up and stared at her curiously. May blushed a bit as she walked up to him and didn't meet his gaze. She was acting like she got caught taking a cookie from the cookie jar and was just inches away from admitting it.

She took a breath of confidence and looked up at Cole, "I'm sorry that I yelled at you the other day, I…" She sighed and let her shoulders slack, "I didn't understand before… but, now I do." She smiled up at him, "The plums attract flies, and the flies attract spiders, which make webs for the healers to use for the injured people around here…"

Cole softened up and gave a genuine smile before giving her a warm hug, "Thank you for understanding…" May blinked a few times before returning the hug with a big stupid grin on her face, "I know it was you who put out the plums last night."

He released her and she let out an awkward giggle, "I have no idea what you're talking about." He just shook his head and grinned, "But, I do have something to tell you."

He arched a brow and tilted his head, "What is it, May?"

"If you need anything from the kitchens, just ask next time, because I know it was you who's been stealing mint." She pouted, "I was going to use some of it in a recipe…"

"I'm using it for-"

May held her hands up, "I don't want to know, I probably won't understand it at first… we're getting more, but just ask if you need anything and I'll see what I can do. Last time people weren't pleased to find some of the ingredients go missing, makes people believe there's a thief amongst us."

"That's why I took away the daggers." He simply stated.

"What… How? I…" She let out a frustrated sigh and smiled, "I have no idea how daggers relate to anything in the kitchens, but the point is: ask me next time, all right?"

He simply nodded before cupping his chin and thinking as if he were in his own world for a moment, completely ignoring May as she tried to look under his hat to see his face. After his short moment, he turned his attention back to her, "Can I have a cheese wheel?"

Her jaw was left slightly agape as her shoulders completely slouched, then she shook her head and straightened up a bit, "Like… part of a cheese wheel or…?"

Cole formed a circle in the air with his hands, "A whole cheese wheel."

She was simply flabbergasted at the request as she tried to think of why he'd want an entire cheese wheel, "Why…?"

"For the rats." He simply stated.

She put her face in her hands and let out a big sigh, "I'll see what I can do…"

"Thank you, May." Cole sweetly smiled to her as she walked back to the kitchens.

A/N:
The story and art belongs to cartoonartist on Deviantart, I just write it out.
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Sorry again for the lateness XP Life has been... very "lively" I think... yeah, thanks again guys! :3