Chapter Text
It’s been a very odd day.
And it’s not any less odd by nighttime.
Mukouda can’t stop staring at the golden band on his ring-finger, even when he’s supposed to concentrate on mincing the meat.
Fel has turned back into his Fenrir form, and is lounging about the fireplace, like nothing much happened.
Even later yet, after they’ve all eaten, and he tucked Sui in for that night, Mukouda splurged on a fancy beer (or three) and sat next to Fel.
“We already had a contract,” he poked.
“We still do.” Fel responded. “We’ve reinforced it, now.”
“Ah,” Mukouda said, and gulped down his beer.
“Is that why you did it, then?”
It feels like a loaded question. Mukouda stared down at his beer can.
“Do you humans need a reason for everything you do?” Fel snorts. “Sounds exhausting.”
Mukouda sighed.
This called for a second beer.
He cracked the can open and took another long drink from it.
“It’s never a straight answer with you, is it, Fel?”
“Not when you ask pointless questions.”
“Marriage is kind of a big deal for humans, you know?”
“You certainly made a big deal of it.”
“Marriage is special.”
Fel snorted. “If Humans are doing it, it can’t be that special.”
“Really.” Mukouda narrowed his eyes. “Many Humans cook, too. Can’t be that special, can it? We can very well eat food from the street vendors in the next town over. I’m thinking a month or two –”
Fel, perhaps, for once, realizing his mistake, backtracked as swiftly as possible.
“Your cooking is not like that. It’s special.”
“Well, marriage is special, too. It was you who insisted on it.”
The firewood cackled as it burnt.
“I’m older than you are,” Fel finally said, “and I have never made a contract with a Human, before you.” Fel wasn’t looking at him, but seemed to find the trees practically interesting. “With you, what I hunt – all meat – tastes better. Even – even when you don’t cook it.”
Mukouda sighed again. The beer can was empty. He made to get up, when Fel spoke again.
“Mukouda. The contract we have made – of feeding me three meals a day.” Fel turned to him, looking deadly serious. “If there comes a day when you can no longer cook for me, I won’t leave.” He seemed to contemplate something, then added: “And I’ll still hunt food for you.”
Objectively, this was the bare minimum Fel could say, after all the things he did.
Subjectively, Mukouda felt warmth spreading in his chest, and his lips tugged up into a smile, without much thought.
“I’ll be in your hands, then. When you have those, at least.”
Fel huffed, looking pleased, his thick mane puffing up.
“And when you cook the Rainbow Crested Phoenix,” Fel said, “make sure to eat it all.”
Mukouda blinked, puzzled. “What about Sui-chan?”
Fel huffed again. “Sui can have a taste,” he conceded, “but you can’t feed Sui a Rainbow Crested Phoenix. It won’t do any good, for a Slime.”
“If you say so.” Mukouda agreed, mind already buzzing with different recipes and ideas as he turned the ring around his finger, lost in his thoughts.
He felt like, with this, he’ll be cooking something really special.