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"Sera has said that you make really good burgers! Do you think I could ever… perhaps… Try them out?"
That question kept finding its way back to Rev's head throughout the day. It was a thought he certainly would be against entertaining, but at the same time cannot help himself but scratch that itch at the back of his head.
"What… If you did?"
"Did what, Rev?"
Mark's interjection quickly threw Rev out of his train of thought.
"DON'T-!"
He lets out a sigh, quickly recomposing himself in the face of his roommate.
"Don't, worry about it. I was just thinking out loud."
"Oh, okay!"
Mark takes a turn and heads to the direction opposite of Rev's, their classes separating them and saving Rev the trouble of a barrage of questions he did not want to answer.
"I wonder what my roomie's got in his mind this time~?"
It was far from worthwhile to satiate the vampire's curiosity. Rev only made his way towards the alchemy classroom, Bella's question still echoing in his mind.
Focusing on class was already troublesome for Rev, with Baba Yaga's words that would usually go in through one ear and out the other now only being white noise in the back of his head.
Firstly, why would Sera even bring up his cooking to Bella? Sera usually does not mention anything extra in a conversation unless it was…
About…
Him.
'Why would they be talking about me? Actually, why wouldn't they?' Rev knew that he is often a topic of conversation in KADE, from his frequent explosive stunts to somehow solving a problem that he had no idea even existed. The question he knew to ask himself was 'Why would Sera bring up the burgers?'
"-Mr Vennett, are you still with us?"
"GAH-!"
Rev's head jolts upwards, greeting Baba Yaga's usual scowl, which was now staring at him directly. Quickly he recomposes himself, trying to deflect all of the curious and perhaps mocking glares of his peers.
"Uh… Yes? I think I am?"
"Then, surely you can repeat what I just said, no?"
"Uhm…"
Cold sweat began rushing down Rev's back, having not the slightest of an idea as to what Ms. Yaga could be asking.
"Double it and… Uh… give it to the next person?"
Ms. Yaga's expression turned stern, followed by her looking over Rev's shoulder.
"Ms. Donna, could you be so kind as to remind your classmate here as to what I was explaining?"
Rev's eyes suddenly widened, turning behind him to for the first time notice Bella sitting directly behind him. He hurriedly swallowed, quickly rotating himself back to his original position. The thought of even facing Bella at the time was sending his consciousness reeling. How could he ever possibly explain that one question could stay stuck in his head this way?
"We were just about to discuss ways to identify the quality of ingredients through trivia that does not require us to have them on hand, Ms. Yaga."
Bella's calm, confident voice quickly made its way into Rev's mind once again, bringing that question from earlier back to the forefront of his thoughts.
"Do you think I could ever… Perhaps… Try them out?"
"Fine, fine, fine! I'll make you a stupid burger!"
It was the only way for the idea to leave his mind anyway.
The rest of the class played out normally. Rev answered a few class related questions, showed some other students some mistakes they were doing (thankfully without any explosions this time), and avoided Yaga's wrath.
On the beat of the agonising screech of KADE's bell, Rev waited until almost everyone had left the classroom. Bella was about to pass through the doorframe when he grabbed her arm.
"R-Rev!? What are yo-"
"Tonight. School kitchen. Nine thirty. Be there."
"Wh-what!?"
"You heard me."
One would think that Rev was threatening Bella in the hallway with how assertive he sounded and with how she had practically melted into the doorframe. Eventually, Rev releases Bella and goes on his way. Bella, meanwhile, was left momentarily stunned. It took Baba Yaga's passionless concern for Bella to snap out of her trance and head to the next class.
The rest of the day passes like a haze for Rev. When the last screech of the day ends, he hurriedly enters the school kitchen.
"Patties, bread, tomato… Yep. Everything is here."
"Just like…that day."
Bella's face on the day of the school dance never left him. What happened was his fault, after all. Had he not stolen the Necronomicon, Wendy would've never been possessed by Yog and the dance wouldn't have been ruined. And he would've also not almost died, for real this time, right next to Bella.
"I really did mess up that day, didn't I?"
"-Mess up what, Mr. Vennett?"
"-GH! WHAT'S UP WITH EVERYONE SCARING ME TODA-"
Rev's temper tantrum was cut short when he realised to who he was yelling at: Professor Lovecraft. The aged teacher was holding a clipboard on one hand and a pen on the other. His expression was stern, like he just got out of traffic jam.
"Here for a late night snack?"
"…No. What about you?"
"Just stepping in to take stock for today."
"…Uh huh."
"So, Mr. Vennett. If you're not here for a snack, then may I ask you why you're tresspassing into areas restricted for students?"
Rev fell into silence, quickly trying to think of a way to both save his own skin and also get rid of Lovecraft, who was about to throw a wrench into his plans.
'How exactly would I explain to Lovecraft that I was here to make a burger for Bella without it sounding extremely conspicuous?'
"I'm here to, uh…"
'Uh… Why was I doing this? Surely it wasn't just because she asked me, no. No, it's deeper than that, more personal.'
Rev started ruminating. Every time that Bella somehow made the time spent in this prison of a school just slightly more bearable flashed through his eyes, from the incident with the potions to the truth and dare game, he realised really why he wanted to do something for Bella, just this one time. Just a friendly gesture. Or so he thought it as one.
"…Mr. Vennett? You're spacing out again."
"I'm here to make something for someone."
Lovecraft's face flashed with a spark of surprise, his gaze quickly softening. To him, the fact that Rev was capable of doing something for the sake of another meant that he was, at last, getting through to him one way or another.
"I see. Then, if that's the case, I will not interfere. Though, I cannot turn blind eyes to you breaking into a restricted area, regardless."
"So…? Are you going to kick me out?"
"How about this? If you help me write down the remaining stock for today, I will excuse you being here."
Rev's luck just dawned on him. If it was Yaga who took stock, he would've more than likely been croaking by now.
"Deal. Let's make it quick."
Lovecraft handed Rev a list full of everything he had to account for, a portion of which was already filled in. It took them around 20 minutes to finish accounting for everything else. Rev carefully made sure to account for one less when going through the ingredients he was going to use. Once he was done, he handed the sheet back to Lovecraft.
"That should do."
"Indeed it shall, Mr. Vennett. Thank you for your time, I hope what you're making for someone proves to be fruitful."
Before exiting the kitchen, Lovecraft stopped at the door.
"Ms. Donna seemed excited about something today. You wouldn't happen to be the source of that excitement, would you, Mr. Vennett? And she wouldn't happen to be that someone you mentioned either, I'd imagine?"
Rev froze. He knew there was no real way to fool Lovecraft. He was no Yaga or Frankenstein. He was both a professional at understanding motives and very close to Bella.
"…Well-, yes."
"I see." Lovecraft then exited the kitchen, softly closing the door behind him.
"Now…" Rev finally recovers from the shock, igniting the grill and leaving it on the back burner for a while. He gathers all of the igredients he'll need and places them on a nearby countertop.
Then he picks up a knife and brandishes it like he's about to commit a murder, before slicing it down a tomato and turning it into a small stack of very neatly shaped tomato slices. Following the tomato is a head of lettuce, from which Rev plucks out only one leaf and slices it. Next comes the onion, sliced to thin wheels. Lastly, he takes a burger bun and cuts it in half at the middle, turning it to two buns. Rev then places his hand on the hot grill, quickly retracting it as a hot sensation engulfs his palm.
"Ow! Ow! …At least the grill's ready."
He takes out a ready patty from the box and tosses it on the grill. Rev checks the time on the nearby mounted clock. 09:10 PM. In 5 minutes, he'll take the patty off and finish the burger. In another 20, Bella will hopefully show up. And he'll have done something for which he hopes she'll enjoy.
Minutes pass in silence. 09:15 PM. Rev takes the patty and begins assembling the burger. Bun, condiments, patty, lettuce, tomato, onion, bun. All on a plate, neatly stacked in that order.
09:19 PM.
"Now I just gotta wait fo-"
"-Rev?"
Bella's voice coming from outside the kitchen froze him in place. His eyes dart to the clock. 09:19 PM. So much like Bella to be early at an arranged meeting is what he was thinking.
"C-Coming! Hold on!"
Rev grabs the plate and almost bursts out of the kitchen door if it weren't for his mindfulness. The last thing he'd want would be for the spoils of his effort to end up landing on Bella or on the floor.
"R-Rev? What is that?"
Rev's voice lost all of the excitement it had before leaving the kitchen, dropping to the point where it would be more wise to call it a whisper. His movements were rigid, sharp to the point that they could be called mechanical.
"…It's for you, Bella. You said that you wanted to try them at some point. So, here."
Rev brings the plate on one of the tables, sets it down, then practically collapses on one of the chairs nearby.
"R-REV!?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine. Just… I need a break."
He had no idea that making a simple burger would be so taxing on him. Bella rushes to his side, tugging at his sleeve.
"Do you need water? Something?"
Rev covers his face with his palm, leaving out a sigh.
"…Bella. I am a revenant. I wish I needed to drink water."
"R-Right… I'm sorry, just. What the hell were you doing in there for this to happen!?"
Rev points at the plate with the burger on it.
"…A single burger knocked the wind out of you?"
Bella lets go of his sleeve, a soft chuckle leaving her lips.
"If that's the case, then you should eat it."
Bella gets up and reaches for the plate housing the burger, bringing it near Rev. Rev's eyes darted open at the sound of the plate being pulled across the table.
"N-no! I made it for you! You're supposed to have it!"
"Then, why don't we split it?"
"What?"
Before Rev can finish speaking, Bella rushes into the kitchen, and soon comes out holding a knife. She attempts to slice down the middle of the burger, but is stopped by Rev placing his hand over the burger.
"There's no point in doing that! Really, I'm fine! You should have it!"
"But, Rev! You made the thing! You should also get to enjoy it!"
"Well-! Uh…"
He stammers a little. He thought that this was going to be as straightforward as giving someone a small gift. Turns out that he underestimated both Bella's kindness and her concern for him for earlier.
"Fine, fine. Whatever."
He pulls his hand back, letting Bella slice the burger in half.
"Let me go get a second plate, at least."
Rev slowly gets up from the chair, wobbling over towards the kitchen while clutching his head. 'Damn it! What is this!? Why do I feel like I've been ran over!?' He quickly finds a second plate in one of the cupboards. Clumsily he picks it up, the plate almost falling out of his grip. Few seconds of grumbling underneath his own breath, Rev emerged out of the kitchen with the plate.
"Is everything okay…?" Bella's concern came out soft, like a night's breeze. Her eyes kept darting around Rev, from his face to his eyes, his neck, hands, anything that she could look at for anything that could be cause for concern.
"…Done looking, Witch?"
"G-Getting a single plate from a kitchen shouldn't have taken you so long! I'm allowed to be worried!"
Rev understood where she was coming from. Compared to explosions, leaps of faith out of windows, landing face first inside a fountain and everything else in between, cooking a simple burger should not have winded him the way it had.
"I'm fine. Promise."
But he also couldn't explain why it winded him the way it did.
Rev takes a seat next to Bella, their elbows almost colliding.
"Let's eat before it gets cold." Excitedly, Rev picks up his half of the burger and places it on his plate.
Before he takes a bite from his share, his eyes dart at Bella. Waiting for her input, for her to rate his labour. Bella faces him, a soft smile in her lips.
"Rev. Is there something you want to say?"
"No, no. I just…"
"I want to hear what you have to say. It means a lot to me."
"…Just want your opinion."
"Rev."
Bella scurries closer, her hand landing on Rev's.
"No matter how it tastes, it still is something you made yourself. For me, no less! That alone means everything to me."
Rev hadn't realised how stiff his shoulders had gone until then, where they visibly relaxed. A sense of calm washed over him, and a breath he wasn't aware he was holding finally slipped out.
"…Alright."
Bella finally takes a bite out of her share. A modest in size bite right at the center. Her smile persists, and her expression says everything to Rev.
'She enjoyed it. She really did!'
Soon after, Rev bites down on his share. Despite having made burgers a fair share of times, this one felt special to him. Special in a way that he couldn't understand at the time.
09:32 PM.
Both he and Bella have finished by now. Bella wipes her face softly with a handkerchief, cleaning up the residuals from her meal. Rev just wipes on his sleeve.
"It's late. I should probably get you to your dorm before curfew. Let me first go clean those up first." Rev gathers the plates, getting ready to take them back to the kitchen.
"Let me help you, at least!"
Rev knew better than to argue with her a second time.
"…Fine. You can wipe them."
Together, they head to the kitchen. Rev quickly washes the plates clean to the point he could see his own reflection on them, while Bella wipes them dry firmly. Finally, Rev puts them back in their place and they leave the kitchen.
The way back to the girls' dorm is lit with small chatter between the two.
"Who taught you how to make such good burgers, anyway?"
"Self taught, and not half bad it seems."
"Should I be expecting more of 'Rev Vennett's self taught delicacies, then?'"
"TH-THEY'RE NOT EXCLUSIVE TO YOU!"
Bella had to shush him while laughing, not wanting to be heard by the entirety of KADE right before curfew.
Finally, they reach the door to Bella's dorm. Bella listened in for whether Nerissa was inside already.
"Looks like she's already asleep."
Then turns to face Rev.
"Rev."
"Bella."
"Thank you, really. And,"
Bella stands on her tiptoes to place a small kiss on Rev's cheek. Rev, stunned as he was, could not bring himself to utter a single word without stuttering.
"They say to kiss the cook, after all."
She winks at him before opening the dorm door and swiftly entering, not giving Rev any chance at recovering or going on his usual tangent after being surprised by something.
The click of the door locking in front of him snaps Rev out of his shock, and after a bit of mumbling under his breath, he quietly heads back to his own dorm.
Inside the dorm, Mark is already there, petting Raven.
"Rev! You're back!"
"…Guess I am."
"How did your little adventure go? I didn't hear any explosions or angry screams!"
"It went… Fine. Nobody got hurt and I did what I had to do."
"Okay!"
Mark lets out a yawn.
"Man, I'm beat! I didn't lie down already because I was waiting for you. Raven was on the verge of running out to find you!"
Rev faces Raven, the cat curled up near his bed now that he's back.
"Were you now, cat?"
A soft purr can be heard from Raven.
"Hm. Guess you were."
He then turns to face Mark, who was already getting ready to lie in his coffin.
"Anything else?"
"Nope, nothing!"
"Goodnight, roomie!"
Mark's coffin shuts itself, and already Rev can hear the barely audible snoring of his roommate.
"…Night."
Rev doesn't bother to take his uniform off. He just falls on his bed and shuts his eyes. The day plays out again. From start to finish, Rev remembers everything he said, did, felt and heard. And the highlight of those were:
"Bella worrying for me, Bella reassurring me, Bella enjoying what I did for her, and Bella…"
Even now, he couldn't believe it. Yet in his disbelief something else was ignited in him. A new feeling that he could not explain, yet it affected him to such a level that it would be horrible for him to ignore. And the main source of that feeling was…
"Bella."