Cooking fish

The fish I'd caught earlier flopped around in a makeshift basin of water nearby, as if taunting me for the emotional rollercoaster I was currently on.

I crouched by the small fire I'd managed to start, trying to focus on the task at hand cooking dinner and not thinking about how Xyra looked with her hair damp from the water fight.

Her laughter from earlier still echoed in my head, sweet and unguarded, a sound I hadn't realised I'd been craving until now.

I ran a hand through my hair, letting out a long sigh. Focus, Ren. She's your princess. Your charge. Not someone you can just— My traitorous thoughts were cut off by the image of her smile flashing in my mind again.

"Damn it," I muttered under my breath.

I stood up, grabbing the fish with one hand and my trusty magical cooking ball with the other. The device was a lifesaver on missions, storing all the tools a soldier might need to cook on the go.

As I activated it, the familiar shimmer of magic formed a cutting board, a small knife, and some basic seasoning packets.

Xyra's curious gaze flicked to the scene. "That thing again," she remarked, crossing her arms. "Is it some sort of enchanted kitchen?"

I smirked despite myself. "Something like that. When you're stuck on missions for weeks, carrying fresh food isn't an option. So, we improvise."

"Improvise?" she echoed, raising an eyebrow.

"Watch and learn, Your Highness," I replied, laying the fish on the board.

I worked quickly, scaling the fish with practised ease. My hands moved automatically, though my mind wasn't nearly as focused.

Every so often, my gaze would flick towards Xyra, who was sitting cross-legged by the fire, her attention half on me and half on her nails, which she was inspecting with royal disdain.

She probably thinks I look ridiculous right now, I thought, slicing the fish cleanly down the middle to remove the guts. But then again, maybe not. I caught her glancing my way out of the corner of my eye, though she quickly averted her gaze when I looked up.

Is she… blushing?

"Are you done staring, or should I pose for you?" I teased, unable to help myself.

Her face turned red instantly. "As if! You're just… loud with that knife."

I chuckled under my breath, letting her excuse slide. "Whatever you say, Princess."

As I continued prepping the fish, my thoughts turned darker. This is a bad idea, Ren. A really, really bad idea.

Her earlier laughter replayed in my mind, followed by the way she'd looked at me by the stream. There was something in her eyes—confusion, curiosity, maybe even… something more? I shook my head, forcing myself back to reality.

She's off-limits. Completely off-limits. Focus on the fish, Ren. It's just a fish. Not her lips, not her hair, not the way her stupidly regal posture makes you want to ruin her composure…

"Damn it," I muttered again, louder this time.

"Everything alright over there?" Xyra asked, looking up with a smirk that screamed 'villainess.'

"Fine," I replied through gritted teeth, sprinkling some salt and pepper over the fish. "Just cursing my magic for being so slow to recover. If it were back to full strength, we wouldn't still be stuck here."

Xyra tilted her head, studying me. "You should be grateful, really. If your magic had recovered, you wouldn't have had the pleasure of my company for this long."

I laughed at that, shaking my head. "You're not wrong, Your Highness. Though, I suppose if I didn't have to cook for you, I'd probably miss this… quality time."

Her lips twitched, but she didn't reply.

I skewered the fish on a stick and positioned it over the fire, turning it slowly to ensure even cooking. The smell of the roasting fish filled the air, rich and savoury, and my stomach growled in anticipation.

Maybe this isn't so bad, I thought, watching the flames dance. Being here with her. Away from the palace, away from the expectations. Just us.

But even as the thought crossed my mind, I cursed myself again. This is dangerous territory, Ren. You can't let yourself get comfortable. You can't—

A sudden yelp pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Ren!" Xyra snapped, glaring at me. "You're dripping fish juice on my leg!"

I looked down and, sure enough, a stray bit of the fish's juices had splattered onto her pristine, pale skin.

"Oops," I said, though the grin on my face betrayed my lack of remorse. "Guess I'm a bit messy."

"A bit?" she repeated, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You're an absolute disaster."

I couldn't help but laugh. "You're lucky you're stuck with this disaster, or you'd be eating raw fruit right now."

She huffed, brushing at her leg. "Just don't ruin my clothes. I've only got what I'm wearing, thanks to your inability to recover your magic."

The jab stung, but only slightly. "Careful, Princess," I said, leaning closer. "You wouldn't want to upset the person making your dinner."

Her glare softened into something almost playful, and for a moment, the tension between us felt less like a battlefield and more like… something else.

I focused back on the fish, flipping it once more. The skin had turned a perfect golden brown, crisp and aromatic, while the meat inside looked tender and flaky.

Almost done, I thought, resisting the urge to steal a bite. But as I adjusted the skewer, I accidentally knocked it against the edge of the fire pit.

"Ren, watch it!" Xyra exclaimed, reaching out to steady the stick.

Our hands brushed, and the contact sent a jolt through me. I froze, looking up to find her staring back at me, wide-eyed.

The moment stretched unbearably long, and then—

My foot slipped on the damp ground, and before I knew it, I was falling forward, the skewer clattering to the side.

"Ren!" Xyra gasped as I landed on top of her, our faces inches apart.

My heart pounded as I realised the position we were in, her soft, warm body pressed beneath mine. Her eyes were wide with shock, and I could feel her rapid heartbeat matching my own.

For a moment, neither of us moved, the world around us fading into the background.

Oh no. This is bad. Really, really bad.