Let me cook for you

I sat cross-legged on the cold cave floor, glaring at the lifeless bunny I'd just battled into submission. My hair was a mess, my knees stung from the scrapes, and my pride was bruised beyond repair. This was not the life I envisioned as a princess.

And then, to my absolute astonishment, Ren stirred.

"Are you kidding me?" I snapped as she slowly pushed herself up. "You were practically half-dead two minutes ago!"

Ren stretched her arms above her head, her muscles flexing in a way that made me momentarily forget how angry I was. She winced slightly but managed a smirk. "I'm fine. Just needed a moment to rest."

"Rest?" I echoed, incredulous.

She rolled her shoulders, as if testing her range of motion. "The training I went through was hell. My body's used to bouncing back quickly. Though my magic… not so much. That's going to take a while to recover."

"Convenient," I muttered, crossing my arms.

Ren ignored my sarcasm, reaching into the waistband of her tunic and pulling out a small, spherical object. It glinted faintly in the dim light of the cave.

"What now?" I asked, watching as she held the sphere in her palm.

"This," Ren said, her tone infuriatingly casual, "is a magical storage device. Perfect for carrying essentials."

Before I could ask what she meant, she pressed a tiny rune on the surface of the ball and dropped it to the ground. The sphere hit with a soft clink before bursting open in a flash of light.

When the glow faded, I found myself staring at a neatly arranged set of cooking tools a knife, a small cutting board, a collapsible pot, and even a compact fire starter.

"What is that?" I demanded, gesturing to the unexpected array of equipment.

Ren grinned, clearly enjoying my confusion. "A field kit. Every squad gets one. Stocking food on missions is complicated, so we carry these to make cooking easier."

"And you've been sitting on this the whole time?"

"Didn't think we'd need it until now," she said with a shrug. "Besides, you seemed so determined to kill the bunny on your own. I didn't want to steal your thunder."

I opened my mouth to retort, but she cut me off, kneeling beside the tools and picking up the knife.

"Let me cook it for you," Ren said, her voice soft but confident.

For a moment, I just stared at her. Ren's usual teasing and casual attitude were nowhere to be found. Instead, her expression was focused, her movements deliberate as she began preparing the meal.

She slid the knife along the bunny's fur with practised ease, her hands steady and sure. I watched as she skinned the creature, her fingers working with a precision that was both impressive and unsettling.

"You're awfully good at this," I muttered, trying to suppress the strange flutter in my chest as I watched her.

Ren didn't look up. "It's part of the job. We don't always have the luxury of hot meals waiting for us on missions."

Her tone was calm, but there was a subtle undertone of pride in her voice, as though she took genuine satisfaction in her ability to provide.

Once the bunny was cleaned and prepped, Ren reached for the collapsible pot. She set it on the cave floor and lit the fire starter, the small flames casting a warm glow over her features.

As the fire crackled, she sliced the meat into even pieces, her muscles flexing with each movement. The faint sheen of sweat on her skin caught the firelight, making her look almost…

I shook my head, banishing the thought.

"What are you doing now?" I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.

Ren glanced up, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Seasoning it."

"Seasoning?"

She pulled a tiny vial from the field kit, sprinkling a mix of spices over the meat. The rich aroma filled the cave, making my stomach growl loudly enough to echo off the walls.

Ren smirked. "Hungry, Princess?"

"Just cook it already," I snapped, my cheeks heating.

"As you wish."

Ren placed the seasoned meat into the pot, adding a bit of water from another compact vial. She stirred it gently, the steam rising around her like a halo. The scent was mouth-watering, and I hated how mesmerised I was by her movements.

Her focus was unbreakable, her expression one of quiet determination. There was something undeniably captivating about the way she worked, her hands moving with such confidence and care.

"Do you always make a spectacle out of cooking?" I asked, trying to distract myself from whatever strange spell I was under.

Ren chuckled, her voice low and warm. "You're just not used to seeing me like this."

"And what's 'this,' exactly?"

"Capable," she said simply, her lips quirking into a teasing smile.

I rolled my eyes but didn't bother responding.

After a few more minutes of stirring and tending to the fire, Ren finally leaned back, wiping her hands on a cloth from the kit. She lifted the pot and gave it a careful sniff, her eyes lighting up with satisfaction.

"It's ready," she said, turning to me with a small, proud smile.