Chapter Text
You were having a very pleasant dream about something. It was one of those dreams you knew was good but only lasted long enough until the moment you woke up.
And that moment came very quickly. In the form of burnt food.
With a gasp, you jolted out of bed and raced to the kitchen where the smoky odor was strongest and the cacophony of voices grew louder.
“That’s not how you’re supposed to—”
“Yes it is, give me—” and then a resounding clang as something fell. Most likely.
When you stepped into the kitchen, Abby’s bright smile was the first to find you. “Hummus!” came his way of greeting.
“Hummus?” Muttered Jinu as he straightened up, a greasy pan in one hand and judging by the cracked shells on the counter, the sad, charred remains of eggs in the other. “Oh, hey,” he said when he spotted you before turning to his pink-haired companion, saying. “It’s human, Abs. Hummus is a vegetable.”
“Oh, rightrightrigthrightright. The Hume. G’morning!”
“Hope you don’t mind us borrowing the stove for a bit.” Jinu barely looked at you as he tightened his apron around himself. It was the one you’d recently purchased online after a few cocktails — a white apron with “Trophy Wife” written in elegant, pink script.
“For?” You croaked weakly and immediately heading to the fridge to grab yourself a glass of cool water, when a pair of strong arms wrapped around your waist.
“Good morning, sunshine,” Romance cooed in your ear as he nuzzled the crook of your neck, his hair tickling your nose and making you sneeze. “You smell good tod—hey!”
Romance’s arms disappeared as quickly as they came, just as Mystery literally appeared out of nowhere in front of you. But his greeting was immediately drowned out as you took the proffered mug of coffee.
“Oh, my God,” you gasped, immediately taking a sip—then discreetly spitting it back into the mug. It tasted like dirt.
You glanced at Mystery then, about to ask where, how and with what he made this coffee with, but if you squinted, a corner of his lips was pulled up. The barest hint of a smile.
So instead, you returned his grin. “Thank you.”
A flash of blue caught your eye as Baby enters the kitchen. Like the others, he was dressed in the pajamas you’d been lending them since they “arrived.” Nothing too special—just an assortment of old, baggy clothes that never fit. But somehow, Baby had gotten himself a prettier set of matching, pink PJs.
Baby didn’t even spare them a glance, going straight for the fridge and pulling out your last carton of milk before heading back out again, but not before saying, “Your coffee tastes like shit, Z.”
Immediately came a chorus of:
“Don’t listen to him.”
“Baby, come back here you little shit!”
“You’re very thoughtful, Z.”
“Baby Saja, no phone for the rest of the day!”
“…it does need a little sugar,” muttered Mystery.
For several moments, no one spoke. In the silence, you debated whether to take another sip. Just a tiny bit. Sure, your insides would wither, but it would only be for a few seconds, and the taste would probably be ingrained in your mind for the rest of your mortal life, but seeing Mystery like a deflated balloon…
With a sigh, you lifted the mug to your lips, even as you could feel your throat closing in on itself. But one look at the awed expression on Mystery’s face hardened your resolve.
You closed your eyes as the murky liquid was about to touch your tongue when a resounding clang echoed in the small space.
“Alright! Breakfast is ready!” Jinu called. He and Abby stood side by side behind the counter where an array of plates had been set up, each filled with scrambled eggs, a generous amount of bacon and toast. “Baby, come get your share before Abby eats everything!”
Abby muttered a response you barely heard as you caught Jinu’s gaze. It was only for a second before he went to chatting with his boys, but you knew you didn’t imagine the warmth in them as he looked back at you.