#// they survived a culinary war JDJWJD

[nyt1ba]

     Her absence always brought with it a void nothing can ever fill,   a new form of emptiness quite unbearable to him.   After many years of unbroken solitude she had given him back a warmth stolen from him since the war,   perhaps more profound than anything he had known and forgotten with time.   It was more than simple affection or want for companionship but a part of himself he hadn't known he lacked,   never whole without her,   a breath of life after many years of inward decay.   To think he would find such a thing in the one who craved death above all else,   they were an enigma he himself was unable to solve,   he didn't wish to either,   finding himself maintaining the strangest belief despite all hope having left him.   The gentle flame of candlight paint the living space in a warm orange,   the scent of dust that gathered from years of no use had thankfully burned away.   He had been busy   ...   more than usual,   this extra endeavor of his took what little time he would spare for other projects,   always picking up one task after the other,   always finding something to repair in a world that lived on parts   &.   energy.   The idea was a simple dinner,   but his own perfectionism had turned it into a practice of mastering a skill he doesn't quite posses,   cooking was not his forte,   and with him hardly needing to have a daily meal like a normal human would he would scrap up what he has just to fill his stomach,   nothing that tasted good,   but bearable enough for him to digest,   anything that would give him energy so he doesn't pass out sooner than planned.

  Between the three of them it was Elektra that was the best at it,   and despite her deliberate avoidance of food they had begun to have regular meals whenever they were all together.   Even so,   he wanted to return the favour somehow.   Using the time she would go tend to her own business,   he and Artemis would pour over the recipe book she had secretly found by request,   Meridian dishes neither of them knew how it tasted,   trusting the processes and hoping for the best instead.   Through trial and error,   [   and many accidents including fire   ],   the final product now lay on the table he brought into their little rundown home.   She was to meet him there as soon as she made it back to earth,   cryptic as always with his invitation,   perhaps playing on her nerves with his lack of information.   The click of the door alerts him of her arrival and despite his intricate planning,   a touch of nervousness rose from within,   it almost feels silly,   he's never done anything like this before.        ❛❛   Stay exactly where you are.   ❜❜        he calls from the other room,   allowing himself a moment to look over everything one last time and gather himself so he doesn't make a mumbling mess out of himself.   Satisfied,   he goes to meet her.   Bare hand reaches to guide her away from the door.   Both hands now come to cover her eyes as he takes her into the living room,   all queries ignored just to tease her a little before he removes them for her to see the table he had set up.

     this must have taken you forever to arrange. and you did it all for me?

  That rare softness colors her expression again,   a side of her only seen in private when neither of them needed to live up to the false image they had made of themselves,   it was real,   it was her,   a glimpse of the person she really is when anger   &.   pain free her from their clutches.   He studies her expression in the silence,   the tenderness in her smile and the gentle glow of eyes catching the candle's light like stars reborn.   The sadness they hold is not hidden from him,   having grown so used to the cruelty of a world that had forsaken her as well,   kindness seemed more like a dream she's undeserving,   always doubting it's truth any time it presents itself.   Adam hums at her question to solidify the act even further,   regardless of what she thinks of herself he would love her all the same,   this was just one way of expressing it.        ❛❛   You looked down lately,   I thought you could use a little pick me up.   It's   ...   not perfect by any means,   but edible,   at the very least.   ❜❜        he explained,   rubbing at the back of his neck sheepishly,   a faint pink rising upon cheeks when her eyes would meet his,   there was still some intensity in being seen,   however from her,   he had grown to like it.        ❛❛   I had help too,   as you know I can burn water if I try hard enough.   Artemis is much better at it   ...   when supervised.   ❜❜        there was still some ash to be cleaned after this adventure of theirs but she needn't know that.        ❛❛   Now come on,   before it gets cold.   ❜❜        he invites,   pulling a chair for her to sit.

@stilettaux // surprise for the wife :3c