Fury

Athena went through the shelves of books, searching for a book to read to kill the boredom. All the books were old and dusty. She read quietly each title of the books but none of them caught her interest.

There was not even a single romantic book much to her dismay. She looked at Darren who was laying on the bed with his eyes half closed in annoyance. "I can't find any romantic book. Only a bunch of books talking about war, nature and other stupid things."

Darren raised his eyebrows. " You love romantic books?"

"Well, obviously," she snickered.

" Well, I don't have any as you can see. What's the point of reading useless things? It's just a waste of time. Find a book that can help you improve your sword skills instead."

" Actually, I don't think it's a waste of time. These kind of books help you relax and forget all your worries instead of reading this stupid book that only adds more problems on top of the others," Athena said as she threw the book she was holding at him. It hit him right in the face.

"That hurts," he complained as he rubbed his face and threw the book away.

"And it also brings pain," she added. "Love does exist..." She frowned. " Does it?" She was after all clueless about this love stuff.

"You are even doubtful about what you are saying," Darren laughed. "Of course love exists. Look us. Aren't we in love?"

Athena took a book from the rack and threw it at him. This time he was prepared. He immediately blocked the book with his hand. She pouted and went to sit down beside him.

"You never showed me any of your friends," she said as she rested her chin on her hand. "Don't you have friends?"

Darren scratched his head. "I do have one. His name is Fury."

"Fury? What a strange name..."

" Let me call him," Darren said. He sat up and let out a shrill whistle. Only a few seconds passed and something jumped on the bed, startling her.

A brown squirrel nestled itself in Darren's arms.

"How did it get in?" Athena asked while pointing at the squirrel. Darren patted it and pointed at the open window. "Through the window of course."

"So this is your friend?" She asked in confusion. His friend was a squirrel?

"Yup. A brave one he is. He is even smarter than you... Stronger than you."

Athena looked doubtfully at the little cute creature in his arms before shaking her head. "That's not possible."

"Fury, this is Athena, my future wife. Athena, this is my buddy Fury." Darren introduced them.

Athena choked on her own saliva. Her pale cheeks turned into pink colour because of the blood rushing to her cheeks. Future wife? She was not his future wife! When did she agree to that? The squirrel looked at her uninterestedly before looking back at Darren.

"I am not your future wife," she protested as her face turned crimson.

"Of course you are. I am the only who has the right to marry you in this lifetime."

" Says who?"

" Says me," he grinned playfully. He was teasing her again. Athena bit her bottom lip and tried to look serious. She stretched out her hand to touch the cute little squirrel.

"It's better if you don't touch him. He doesn't like being touched by other people except me."

Athena pouted and withdrew her hand. That squirrel looks so cute! She felt her hand itch. How she wanted to touch it...

Darren noticed her longing look and sighed.

"Fury, do you mind if my future wife plays with you for a bit?"

" I am going to say this for the second time, I am not your future wife!" Athena protested.

Fury gave him a disapproval look and then jumped out of his arms and went to her hesitantly. Athena opened her arms and smiled gleefully.

It jumped into her arms looking uncomfortable. Athena squeezed its butt making it squeak. It felt so soft. It struggled to escape.

"Don't tell me you are feeling shy." Athena teased it as she continued squeezing it. She went from squeezing it to pulling its bushy tail. The poor squirrel squeaked. It bit her hand making her loosen her grip on it and it immediately bolted out of her arms and jumped down the bed. It immediately went to jump through the window, disappearing from their sight.

"Is it gone?" Athena said as she rubbed the hand that was bitten.

"Are you hurt?" He asked worriedly. Athena looked at her hand and replied, "I am okay." It was just a small injury and nothing much.

"You have a weird way of handling animals," he said as he shot her a weird look. Athena shrugged nonchalantly. " He looks too cute."

"Now Fury probably hates you," Darren said. "Let me go after him. I will be back."

Athena nodded and Darren gave her a blowing kiss before he left. Athena rolled her eyes and went back to the rack to look for a book again.

It soon became dark and Darren was not yet back. Feeling bored, she decided to cook dinner. She wore the apron that Darren used. She started the fire the way Darren had taught her to and began to cook. She wanted to surprise him. This was her first time cooking and she couldn't help but feel happy.

Cold sweat broke on her forehead as she cut the meat into pieces. She never thought that cooking would be this difficult. When Darren arrived, he was greeted by a comical sight. Athena's hair was unkempt, resembling more of a bird's nest.

Her face was black and her apron was torn and also smeared with flour. She looked like a madwoman right now. The whole room was filled with the smell of burnt food. The whole kitchen was a mess. The kitchen utensils were everywhere. There were grains of rice scattered on the floor.

Darren looked agape at her.

"Surprise," she said awkwardly.

Darren looked at the burnt meat in his plate that looked very unappetizing and then looked at Athena's anticipating look and gulped softly. He picked up a piece of the burnt meat with his knife and placed it in his mouth. It was burnt and had too much salt. He immediately cringed at the horrible taste and was about to spit it out when he met her anticipating gaze.

He immediately swallowed it without chewing and grinned forcefully at her. He gave her thumbs up. Athena smiled warmly and batted her long eyelashes. Darren continued to eat the burnt meat under her watchful gaze until nothing was left in his plate.

Athena immediately scooped more burnt food into his plate, making him groan inwardly. He was sure that he was going to have a stomach ache after eating this horrible burnt food.

"How does it taste?" Athena asked eagerly.

" Great," he answered shortly. " Aren't you going to eat?"

"I will eat after you are done," she replied. She wasn't sure of her own cooking and decided to let Darren try it first but seeing how happily he kept on stuffing her food into his mouth, it seemed like it did not taste that bad.

After eating almost three quarters of the burnt food, Darren wiped his mouth. "Your cooking is great. It's very delicious. I will be back in a couple of minutes." He immediately stood up and left the room in a hurry.

"Where are you going?" Athena shouted but he had already disappeared. She shook her head and picked up a spoon. She scooped up some rice and put it in her mouth. She immediately spat out. It tasted horrible. It had too much salt.

She took her fork and picked up a piece of meat and placed it in her mouth. Athena chewed it but also immediately spat it out. It tasted horrible too. She went for the other dishes. Athena chewed the food slowly and something made a cracking sound. It seemed like she had chewed a stone.

Athena frowned and spat the food out. Is this what Darren called delicious? Why did he lie? Come to think that he ate so much of this horrible food. Her eyes widened and she murmured, "Darren."

She immediately stood up and bolted out of the room. She walked in hasty steps to the bathroom. Athena stood at the door and listened. Someone was vomiting inside. Athena knocked the door anxiously. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I am okay." Darren answered weakly. She tried to open the door but it was locked.

She rapped the door hard. "Open the door," she shouted.

"I said I am fine," Darren shouted back.

" No, you are not. Why did you lie that it tasted okay? It tastes horrible!"

" I did not want to make you feel upset."

Athena paused for a moment before she yelled, "Well, I am upset right now so open the damn door!"

" I can't!"

" If you don't open this door right now, I will... I will... I will break this door!"

The door was immediately unlocked and Athena opened it, revealing a pale looking Darren.

"Are you okay? Are you having a stomach ache?" She asked as she touched his face worriedly.

"I told you that I am okay," he said helplessly. Athena immediately pulled his right ear.

"Ouch. That hurts!" He yelped.

"I don't like liars! You don't look okay at all to me! Stop lying! You are going to bed right now!"

" Can you let me take a shower? After that I will go straight to bed."

Athena nodded and was about to leave the bathroom when he suddenly grabbed her hand. She turned to look at him in confusion. Darren did not say anything and looked into her crystal green eyes.

Athena's cheeks turned pink and she averted her gaze from him. "What is it?"

"Can you bath with me?" He said shamelessly. Athena blinked and pulled her hand away. She took a step away from him and looked at him like he was some sort of an alien.

"Shameless," she uttered and scurried out of the room like something was chasing after her. She heard him laugh and she blushed.

She picked up a book and went to sit cross legged on the bed. She began to read the book quietly. She listened to the running water. Strange thoughts popped in her mind and she immediately casted them aside. Where did that come from?

After some time, he stepped out of the bathroom wearing only a towel around his waist. Athena tried to look at him but from the corner of her eye she could see his black tousled wet hair.

Athena swallowed hard and tried to concentrate on reading her book.

His skin was creamy and smooth. His jawline was sharp. His neck was long and his shoulders were broad. He had strong muscles. His legs were long and thin. He looked rather lean when he was in clothes but now...

Darren took out a set of night clothes and was about to change when Athena blurted out, "You can't change in here!"

Darren turned to look at her with his eyebrows raised. "Why can't I?"

"Because... Because you can't!" She stuttered. "Go and change in the bathroom!"

"Just turn around if you don't want to look," he chuckled as he began to remove his towel.

Athena turned around to make her back face him. Her cheeks turned crimson. She was unable to calm down her heart that was beating crazily. What was this feeling? Why was her heart beating so damn fast? What was wrong with her?!

Countless questions raced in her mind but there were no answers to them.

"There is nothing to be shy about you know. I have already seen your body so you can also see mine," he said in a low and seductive tone that made her feel goosebumps all over her body.

"Just shut up!" She yelled in a high pitched tone. Her face heated up. This shameless man... He was just too much for her.

He did not tease her further and wore his clothes. Athena heard him zip his pants. "Are you done?"

"Yup," he answered and Athena turned to face him.

He climbed on the bed and Athena covered him with a sheet. She placed her hand on his forehead. His temperature was always strangely low. He was so cold like ice.

"How are you feeling right now?" She asked. Darren blinked his eyes and said in a cute voice, " A lot better but a kiss can help to speed up my recovery."

Her gaze hardened. She had had enough of his shamelessness. It was time to teach him a lesson. Athena closed her eyes and steeled her heart.

This is it... One, two, three...

She immediately planted a kiss on his cheek. "Better now?" She asked with her cheeks red and did not dare to look into his eyes. Darren looked at her in shock. He touched the cheek that she had kissed.

"Did you just..." Darren began in disbelief. He never thought she would kiss him.

Athena turned to make her back face him. "Goodnight," she said in a voice barely above a whisper. He looked at her red ears and nodded absent-mindedly.

Athena closed her eyes, feeling shy and pretended to sleep. However Darren knew that she was still awake and tugged the ends of her hair gently.

"Thanks for the kiss," he whispered.

Thump thump thump.

Athena did not answer and patted her chest. If her heart continued to beat at this kind of rate, she was sure that it was going to explode.

"You also won't be stepping into the kitchen from now on," he added with a tch. "Even Fury can cook better than you."

Her gaze darkened. That squirrel again! Darren really knew how to ruin the moment!