FicWad

CHAPTER IV
Everyone in the kitchen was busy with his own stuff. Me and the guys were sorting out the bags, some girls were washing vegetables, some were preparing the kitchen utensils. It wasn’t that easy though, since we had only three candles lit up. All of the instructors are supposed to be in their beds now, but you can’t be too sure, right? Generally, we could cook anything right now. Beet, potato, onion, carrot, small pepper, meat, several types of groats and, of course, goddamn mushrooms. I noticed Sasha gazing at the table with her wild eyes, but for now she’s controlling herself. Suddenly, I felt a heavy hand land on my shoulder. Turning around I saw Reiner smiling at me.
«I see you’re very happy with our little journey,» I smiled back at him.
«You’re goddamn right I am!» he laughed. «Not only we succeeded with your insane plan, but I’m about to try a dish cooked by Christa. You’ve given me a chance I could only dream of...»
«Happy to serve, man. Eventually she would realize that you’re a much better of a knight than Ymir. And just in case; no matter how good or bad that dish will be – tell her it’s great.»
«Sure thing!» he shook my hand. «Thanks for the great evening, Al. That’ll be a great finale to this stage of our training.»
«Just gotta live up to the end of it, aye?»
«True, true,» Reiner said as he moved to Bertholdt, who was filling up glasses with wine.
Huh. Bertholdt. Taking a look around I realize that everyone has a reason to be here. I’m here for Sasha; Reiner wants to make it out with Christa, Mikasa wants to impress Eren. And then there are Bertholdt and Mina. Okay, Bertholdt wanted to forget about Annie for a while, I get that, but Mina? What’s in it for her? Well, it’s none of my business, maybe she just wanted to hang out with us.
We were done with the bags and the girls proceeded to cooking. Mikasa fought for her right to get to the oven first, shoving Christa out of the way. The latter, obviously discontent with such rudeness, sat on one of the benches, where Reiner immediately accompanied her. Honestly, I never expected Mikasa to be a good cook. She’s not really interested in anything but Eren and training. But I might be pleasantly surprised.
Looking at the ingredients she was gathering, I figured she was gonna make rice with beef fillet and stewed vegetable. Not so hard to make, but not so popular among commoners because of the beef. This might be something they cooked back at their home? If that’s the case, I envy him for having such sensitive girl by his side. And rather dangerous I might add. She was handling the knife incredibly well, slicing vegetable and meat. She must’ve been participating in cooking in Jaeger’s house. While I was watching Mikasa, Sasha sat with me.
«Admiring her?» she asked acidly.
«Just wondering how skilled she is at that. Never thought her to be.»
«Well, she said she’s cooking it for Eren. She must be putting her very soul in it.»
«Yeah,» I stretched with sadness in my voice. «Kind of wanna be in his place...»
«Hey!» she tapped me on the had. «No envy allowed! I’m thrice as better cook as she is!»
«So you wanted to treat me to something?» I felt some kind of arrogance awaken in me. «Thought you were going to eat it all by yourself.»
«I... N-no, I wanted to cook for you...» she replied quietly.
«So you finally decided to show me some appreciation!»
«I always d-did...» she said even more quietly.
Honestly, I don’t really know how she feels about all that. Maybe I’m just as dumb as Eren, who can’t figure that Mikasa likes him. Yes, we are close, but as friends and colleagues. When it came to romantics, the initiation was always up to me. On the other hand, she was never against it and never pushed me away. What is she’s just inexperienced? She wouldn’t spend that much time with me if she felt uncomfortable around me? She’s from a village as well, I doubt she had time for romance there. Same as me though. Huh, anyway I’ve got a subplan for today she has no idea of!
While I was thinking about love and stuff, Mikasa was already done with cooking. She filled two plates and moved to the table where Eren and Bertholdt sat. Berth, realizing he’s not in the right place, went away. Mikasa sat in front of Eren.
«Eren,» she said calmly. «I want you to try this.»
«Thanks a lot!» he said happily. «Damn, I’m hungry!»
Eren caught some meat and rice with his fork and put it in his mouth. His face changed so fast I thought for a second that the food was terrible.
«M-Mikasa...» his voice was shaking. «It’s just like...»
«Yes, Eren,» Mikasa smiled at him. «Just like she used to make it.»
I saw Eren’s eyes glisten with tears. So I was correct after all. This guy had never shown any grief. Damn, who could’ve thought he misses his family so much. I feel sorry for him. Mikasa stood up, went round the table and hugged Eren from behind. At last, I realized that it was their and their only moment, so I quickly turned away. Sasha followed my example.
«Wow...» she sighed. «She knows how to get to him...»
«Well, they were always together...» I felt awkward.
«Poor Eren, I can’t imagine how he felt back then.»
Sasha comes from Dauper village, southside of Wall Rose. Unlike me, she had her parents.
«Yeah,» I said. «Look, it’s Christa’s turn.»
She was standing in the kitchen with rather small, but quite costly amount of products. She had beef brisket, mushrooms and some cheese. Wait, cheese? We didn’t find any cheese. Christa cut out an even and rather large piece of meat and threw it into the pan. She added cheese and some milk from one of the cupboards to a small cauldron. After that, she sliced the mushrooms and added them to the resulting sauce. By this time, the meat was sufficiently cooked and Christa cut it into two pieces, put them on two plates and poured the sauce on top. Steak, she made a steak with mushroom and cheese sauce. One of the plates she left on the counter and brought the other to Reiner’s table. It seems he convinced her to let him try some of her cooking. Considering the looks of this steak, I wouldn’t mind having a piece myself. I wonder what Sasha’s got prepared for me? Christa sat before Reiner as well.
«H-here, Reiner,» she said in her soft voice. «I didn’t have much practice so it might be bad...»
«No worries!» he comforted Christa. «I’m sure it’s great!»
Reiner cut a piece of meat and even with such distance between us I saw how juicy it was. Damn, my mouth’s watering already. He put that piece in his mouth and I saw a wide smile appear on his face. Well of course it is great!
«You’re an angel, Christa,» he said blissfully.
«Huh?» Christa was taken aback.
«It’s perfect, Christa,» he was smiling as if this steak brought right to the Heaven’s gate. «I’ve never tasted anything like that!»
«C-come on, Reiner,» she doesn’t seem used to being complimented. «It’s not that good...»
«Marry me,» Reiner said with all his seriousness.
So he couldn’t hold back. He’s straightforward as hell, but maybe he will win a victory over Christa’s heart with his openness and kindness?
«Gods, it looks so good!» Sasha said while she was drooling on the table. «She’s not only looks like an angel, but cooks like one too!»
«Think you’ll lose to her?»
«Hell no!» Sasha smiled proudly. «You’ll see. She’s no match for me.»
Meanwhile Mina has reached the kitchen. She took a bunch of small peppers, carrots, potatoes and a flat piece of beef. She began slicing the meat into thin stripes from a strange angle, turned it around and repeated that. Then she turned it again and made vertical cuts through the meat. It came to me that she was making minced beef. Then she mixed it with some rice, put it away and proceeded to vegetable. She cut potatoes and a carrot into small pieces, then she began cutting off the tops from the peppers and stuffed them with meat. Stuffed peppers it is. Minced meat is usually made of not-so-pricey pieces of meat, so common people can allow it sometimes, unlike fillet. She put all that into a cauldron with small amount of water and began stewing it. Some time later, she added cut vegetables. When the cooking was done, she filled up two plates and moved to... Bertholdt? Now that’s an unexpected turn! I guess our watchtower ain’t doing that bad after all! I knew he should look at someone besides Annie. That’s his chance!
«Bertholdt,» Mina began. «Would you like to try this?»
«Huh?» It seemed as if Bertholdt was woken from some form of trance and then blushed to the roots of his hair. «S-sure, t-thanks!»
Well he wasn’t ready for that. He probably was thinking that he was unwanted here. Who knew Mina had plans for him? Bertholdt cut a piece off a pepper and ate it. I’m pretty sure it’s so good with that juicy meat and hot bouillon. Bertholdt thought the same way.
«It’s great, Mina! Thanks a lot!»
«I’m g-glad you liked it,» she spoke shyly.
Well that made this evening interesting. And Sasha moving to the kitchen made it even more interesting! Here comes my turn! Though my enthusiasm evaporated the second I saw her gathering literally everything we had. A bit of this, a bit of that, a bit of everything. What is she doing? She began cutting vegetables. Potato, carrot, onion, meat, mushrooms, leftover piece of cheese went into the cauldron, followed by rice and several eggs. Looking around I noticed that everyone was spectating Sasha, even Reiner who just a moment ago was obsessed with Christa. Sasha ran up to Bertholdt, took his flask, added some wine to the cauldron, and triumphantly covered it with a lid. I decided to come up to her.
«S-Sasha,» I said uncertainly. «May I ask what exactly are you cooking?»
«A stew, obviously!» she replied happily.
«You sure you didn’t add anything unnecessary?»
«Of course not!» she cut me off. «Get back to your place and wait. It’s almost done.»
I went back to my table and sat there expecting my fate. Invisible clock in my head were counting every minute until my most likely painful death. In about 30 minutes, the «stew» was ready. Sasha put it into two plates and approached me. Reiner looked at me with a sorry look on his face and Bertholdt nodded to me as if I going on a suicide mission. You’re not helping, guys! But Sasha was in great mood and the looks of the mass on her plate didn’t seem to bother her. Saying a few prayers, I put a spoonful of stew in my mouth. Well, the taste is... Interesting. It’s sharp, I’d say. I feel a lot everything and I feel a lot more then I would prefer to. But I must keep a steady figure.
«It’s... It’s great, Sasha,» I could barely speak.
«Is it?» she asked again with hopeful air around her.
«Haven’t tried anything like that!»
She, however, felt completely okay. It seems that she doesn’t care about the taste of what she eats as long as it’s food. And this «stew» got everything in it, a perfect option for someone like her.
«Y-you know,» she spoke quietly. «You’ve always been by my side, always helped me. I thought I should add everything to it to show how much I appreciate you...»
«I... Uhm,» it was my turn to blush now.
There isn’t gonna be a better chance. I took Sasha by the hand.
«Sasha, do you mind if we walk out for a moment?» I said in a leveled voice.
«Huh? But you haven’t finished the stew.»
«I will once we’re back. So?»
«O-okay, let’s go,» she agreed awkwardly.
We rose from the table and moved to the door. On our way I saw Reiner nodding to me. He must’ve guessed what I’m about to do. When we went outside, I took a long breath, looked Sasha in the eye and started talking.
«Sasha, you remember how many stuff we’ve done together?»
«I do, Al.»
«I want you to know, that every time we went to that storehouse, every time I covered you before Shadis. It was all for you. Every single time you came to my window I was happy. I knew that I would never get bored, as long as you’re by my side. It’s always blooming around you and that’s all I need. I’m glad I’ve met you and I’m grateful for all the time we’ve spent together.»
«A-Albert...» she was so red I could physically sense it.
«I don’t know what happens to us in the future. Damn, I don’t even know what happens to us tomorrow. But this very evening. It’s all for you. You’ve earned it, right?»
Even in the darkness of the night, I knew she was smiling. She was smiling at me. She went closer to me and wrapped me in a warm hug. I hugged her in response.
«T-thanks, Al,» she said. «I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for me. I should never have thought I’d meet someone like you here, but you appeared before me on the very first day. Thanks for being with me all this time. And please, stay with me...»
Time for my trump card. I wiggled out of her hug, got down on my knee and pulled out a small doughnut I’ve found in the storehouse. I stretched my hand with doughnut in it to Sasha. She laughed and gave me hers. In a moment, the doughnut was on her ring finger.
«You’re such an idiot,» she said with love. «Nothing like that ever happened to me.»
«And never will, I am the one and only,» I replied moving closer to her face.
She was not against it. Why would she? Luckily, she felt the same about me as I did about her. I wonder what would our lives be now if I hadn’t come up to her on that very first day and hadn’t given her that piece of bread? Good thing I’m so empathetic. That kiss wasn’t that long, but it was filled with love we felt for each other. I knew it was a new experience for her as it was for me. But we’ve got a lot of time before us and I’m sure we won’t waste it. After all, after tomorrow’s exam we’ll move to a new location. And new location means new places for us to rob!
«Let’s head back?» Sasha asked me softly.
«Yes,» I replied. «What will they think of us?»
When we entered the dining hall, everyone noticed our red, but satisfied faces. To hell with it. We helped them as well, right? They owe us this one.