Work Text:
The cookbook was open. The online tutorial was open. The rice cooker had turned off an hour ago.
And Eury still hadn't figured out the damn fish.
It was a joke, and one made long before they were even a thing - she knew that. But it didn't leave her head the whole week leading up to their anniversary.
"If someone makes me sushi, I'll marry them on the spot."
So, what the hell, right? There was always raw fish in the fridge, she'd used the rice cooker at least once, and the knife can't possibly be that deadly.
Wrong, wrong, and wrong. First of all, apparently she had to thaw the fish first, so that put a delay on her plans. And then the rice came out all loose and weird and nothing like how it was when Tabby made sushi. And she had to tie back her snakes to prevent them from snatching the knife from under her hands. Her hands, which were now full of nicks and scratches, the poor kitchen rag thoroughly stained with dots of green blood tossed into the sink.
At least the fish seemed… soft enough? And she'd checked their cupboards for soy sauce, horseradish and seaweed. So now, to make something edible out of… that.
Ugh, the one goddamn time she tried to do something cute for her, and it had failed miserably . Gorgons just weren't cut out for manual work. They were supposed to be cunning matriarchs, not… housewives.
As well as whatever Sybille has been doing for the last six years.
Once again, with feeling. Slice it in one smooth movement, and-
Well, that was a bit of a chunky slice. But it worked. She set it aside, on the "better looking slices" side of the cutting board and tried again. Too thin.
Eury roared in frustration. Tabby always made it look so easy ! With a pen in her hand, she could write as smoothly and evenly as possible, but all that grace went right out of the window the moment she had a knife in her hand. She drove the knife straight down on the too-thin slice that was just pathetically laying there, mocking her with her inability to cut even slices of meat .
And she hadn't even touched the rice yet. Goddess help her-
➽───────💚────────❥
Tabby stretched her back and arms as she left the elevator, yawning. She frowned and tilted her head, there was a strange sound coming from her apartment. Her ears twitched as she walked closer, tiptoeing to be as quiet as possible, even though her steps were naturally light.
It took a moment to identify the noise: drawers being open and the sound of the knife hitting the cutting board. There were also familiar scents: freshly made rice and soy sauce.
No way, Tabby thought, grinning to herself, her tails swinging mischievously.
Eury was cooking. That must have been the millennium's miracle because never in her life she considered the possibility of that happening.
Tabby fished the keys from her pocket and finally entered the apartment.
“I'm home!” She greeted, followed by the welcoming hissing of the snakes.
"Ah shit, you're back already ?” She exclaimed, frustration evident in her voice.
The ginger bit her lip, trying to contain the smile. “Yup. Thought you'd like it.” She threw her bag in the hanger and took off her shoes. “Why? Do you want me to leave?”
" No . I thought I had more time. Just… come in here."
Tabitha made her way to the kitchen, leaned on the island counter, taking in the miraculous scene in front of her. Eury was disheveled, with her snakes tied in a ponytail, and there were some bowls scattered, a pile of dishes on the sink and the cookbook half open.
She whistled. “ You? In the kitchen? I thought Garjanas didn't do that.”
“We don’t .” She hissed, pausing for a second before mumbling something.
“What are you making?” Tabby asked, and received a glare back.
“As if you don't know.” Eury turned back to her task, Tabby chuckled, going to her.
“I like to listen to your voice.” She purred, hugging her girlfriend's waist. “And you sound so adorable when you're embarrassed.”
"Shut up. Ugh, it's ruined already." She sighed, leaning back into Tabby's arms unconsciously.
The ginger rested her chin on the gorgons shoulder and glanced at the bowls. The fish was cut in various sizes, and the rice was fluffy. She let her chest rumble with content, the tip of her tails wiggling.
“It isn't. It's perfect for a bowl.” She glanced at the girl's hands, noticing the scratches. “Let's take care of you and then I do my meowgic.”
Eury sighed, grumpy. "Alright…"
➽───────💚────────❥
After they took care of her hands, Tabby changed into more comfortable clothes and began to work in the kitchen. Eury propped herself up in one of the barstools on the island and stared at her hands, now covered in small cat themed band aids.
“Hey, you didn't poison our food did you?” Tabby questioned, opening the fridge to take something.
"I'm left handed. Only the right side got some blood drawn. Might give you eternal life, with your luck."
She watched as Tabby picked up ingredients and utensils, and built up two bowls with fish slices, cream cheese, cucumbers and seaweed laying on a bed of seasoned rice. She purred gently during the whole process, bringing a small smile to Eury's face. While Tabby finished the bowls and set the table, Eury took the chance to open a bottle of wine she had put in the fridge earlier, and poured them two glasses, handing one to Tabby.
"Thought you might like some rosé."
“Going all fancy today, are we?” Tabby sniffed at the wine. “Sweet.”
"It's that one my parents gifted you. How they know you like your wine sickly sweet is beyond me."
Tabby shrugged, she blinked letting go of the magic that kept her odd eyes. “So, how's the food?”
Eury took a second before answering. She'd always liked when Tabby showed her - literal - true colors around her. She looked beautiful either way, but the mix-and-match was rather rare.
"It's delicious , obviously. I'm clearly not touching this kitchen ever again."
Tabby grinned. “Of course. But… what if you want to drink water?”
"Would you not get it for me?" She asked in an extremely sweet and fake voice, batting her eyelashes.
Tabby tapped her chin. "Maybe. If you say please."
"In your dreams."
➽───────💚────────❥
“Ready for dessert?” Tabby pounced from her chair walking back to where she left her bag.
“How can you still think of eating? ” Eury shook her head leaning back, her snakes gently undulating around her head. “I'm so full.”
The ginger whistled as she picked the two packages, one with a small green ribbon and another with a cat sticker. Perfect.
“Oh really? My mom made her homemade fortune cookies, are you sure you don't wanna eat one?”
"Oh. Well, that's a pretty light dessert. Do they have fortunes?"
“Yup.” Tabby moved the chair so she'd sit next to Eury and handed her the one with the green ribbon.
Please goddess, she hoped her mom didn't mix up the fortunes.
Eury pulled the green ribbon with a small smile on her face, opening the package and taking out the fortune cookie. She looked at Tabby.
"Are you not going to open yours?"
“Got distracted.” She lowered her head and fiddled with the sticker before ripping it open, she held the fortune cookie and waited for Eury to break hers.
Her heart was beating so loudly it almost drowned all the noise.
Eury didn't notice. She had turned away from her and broke her fortune cookie, putting a piece in her mouth while she looked curiously at the little strip of paper.
Oh.
"Will you marry me?"
She couldn't stop a smile from creeping over her face. She looked over at Tabby, her cookie broken and a ring in her hands.
"You sly cat." Was all she said before grabbing her face in her hands and kissing her sweetly. "Of course ."
Tabby grinned so widely her cheeks hurt, her tails immediately wrapping around Eury's legs, her chest rumbling loudly. Tabby kissed Eury one more time before taking her hand.
“Purrfect.” She whispered after placing the ring on her finger, and kissed it adoringly.
➽───────💚────────❥
"You know, I was thinking about it as well." Eury broke the silence with a whisper, later that night.
"Mrr?"
"I don't know if you remember… but this time, when we were in school and we went out for sushi and you talked about learning how to make it… and you said you'd marry a person that made you sushi."
Tabby widened her eyes, the tip of her tails wiggling. “You remember that?”
"I'd forgotten, but it came into my mind earlier this week and it wouldn't leave. I just had to try."
The ginger cupped her fianceé's cheeks with both hands. “I love you.” She whispered before leaning for a kiss. “And, well, if you wanna learn I can teach you.”
Eury frowned. "I'm fine with just watching. And you got me already, didn't you?" She teased, lightly.
“Mrr...” Tabby chirped as the purrs got louder.
Fianceé.
Next step: wife.
🐈💍🐍