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Nina loved to cook. She cooked not for herself but always for other people.
First her depressed father.
Then her coworkers at the fish and chips so that they didn't live on greasy food.
Followed by her coworkers at the accountant's office. They needed a bit of cheer when doing the tedious tasks day in and day out.
Now she cooked for Strayz.
She wanted to show her thanks for Noodle hiring her as their PR manager and what better way than through somebody's stomach. Nina had decided that a simple ground beef enchiladas would be the way. So here she stood making the sauce for it out of dried chilies and flavoring the beef exactly how her card had it written. Nina hoped they liked it. If they took a bite out of it and spat it out she had no idea what she would do (would she ever be able to face them? Probably not. She would quit right then and there out of sheer embarrassment). That wasn't the way to think. She had to not think negatively. If she felt like that then it would mix into the food and it would mess it up. She ran the sauce through the mesh and watched it pool into the bowl beneath it. Yeah, she had to think positively. Positive thoughts for a positive dish.
Going down the ladder of the shelter one-handed was a hard task but Nina succeeded in it. That in itself she was proud of. She stood there and looked around, unknowing if she should just walk in or wait for somebody to acknowledge her. She didn't have to wait long as Murdoc walked by, paused, and looked her up and down.
"Oh, it's you," he said with emphasis on the "you" as if he could spit venom. "To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit? Another shag with Stu?"
Nina rolled her eyes as she walked towards their table, "No. I brought some food for all of you."
Murdoc brightened up, his demeanor changing from one of hate to curiosity. "Oh did you? What kind is it?"
"Beef enchiladas," Nina stated, setting the cooking dish on the table and got silverware and plates so Murdoc could serve himself. When she saw him not wait a second before digging in she smiled. Seeing somebody si excited for her food brought joy to her.
Nina ventured off to go to Stu's room. She hadn't spoken to him since their first meeting, which was to be expected, and hoped that their encounter wasn't a one-time occurrence. Stu seemed like he was a friendly guy and she would like to keep a friendship with him. When she went to his room the door was open and as she peered inside she saw him reading a book. She knocked on the doorframe to get his attention, smiling as he looked up at her with surprise.
"Oh, you're back!"
"Yep, back in the flesh. What're you reading?"
"An encyclopedia of a card game. Listen to this one entry: Fire sprites are faeries who can cast fire spells and are perpetually surrounded by a flaming aura. They were summoned by the Kieryn elves while fighting against the Calthyn elves in the White Woods of Corondor."
"Interesting!" Nina exclaimed as she came over to look at the encyclopedia. "Do you play?"
"No, I just like reading 'bout it."
"Nothing wrong with that. By the way, I brought over some beef enchiladas if you want some."
Stu closed the book and set it on the ground before standing up. "That sounds good. Does everybody know?"
"Only Murdoc."
"Oh well. The others will see it in the fridge."
Walking out of the room and to the table Nina kept glancing at Stu, who wore a lazy smile with half-lidded eyes. She didn't take into account how massively tall he was when they had last met but now that they stood side-by-side she realized that she had to look up to be able to see his face, making her feel smaller than she was. His purplish-blue hair stuck out from underneath a white beanie that Nina thought suited him. Stu glanced at her, grinned at her, and bumped his shoulder against her. She chuckled and returned the bump. When they made it to the table Nina sat down while Stu served himself. She watched him as he sat down, got a small portion on his fork, and took a bite. Her nerves were on high alert as she waited for any sign from him of what he thought of the food. It was as if Stu was taking an agonizingly long time chewing just to draw out this moment. When he swallowed he stuck his tongue out.
"Spicy!"
Nina looked down at the table, "Oh, sorry," she said dejectedly.
Stu shrugged, "Why're you sorry? It tastes good. Just has a kick to it. Probably need some milk to go with it." He put an arm around her shoulders, kissed the top of her head, and let out a chuckle, "Your buzzed hair tickles."
Nina couldn't help but smile at that, "I've never been told that."
"Yeah, it's prickly." He gave her head another kiss.
Nina let out a laugh, "Yet you keep going back."
"Cause you're sweet."
Stu gave her one final kiss atop her head before getting up and getting himself a glass of milk. Nina watched him as he sat back down and went back to eating; she felt her smile growing the longer she watched on. Thinking of how despite Murdoc's harsh voice towards her he still ate her food and now Stu was enjoying her cooking made her feel warm inside, but most of all, Stu being the way that he was towards her comforted her. Their first encounter wasn't a one-time occurrence. She'd cook for them more and would be seeing Stu more often.