"Noah... wake up... you promised to make breakfast yesterday..." Elara's voice was soft but carried that quiet insistence that always got through to . Her breath brushed against the back of my neck, warm compared to the chill in the room. I was still cocooned in her arms — her steady heartbeat thudding against my spine — and for a mont, it felt impossible to move. I hadn't slept in my own room since my awakening, as I called it.
"Oh... yeah... I'll get to that..." I mumbled, my words dissolving into a sleepy sigh as my body sank deeper into the mattress.
Elara exhaled a small laugh before her tone hardened slightly. "Hey, co on, Noah. You've got class today."
The blanket was yanked away, and an icy draft imdiately wrapped around . I instinctively curled into a ball, chasing the fading warmth that clung to the sheets and her skin.
"Elara..." I groaned, half buried in the pillow. "You're cruel."
She only chuckled, the sound rich and amused. "Cruel? You'll thank once you sll breakfast—if you actually get up."
"But I'm the one making it," I mumbled, rubbing at my eyes and swiping the sleepy crust from the corner of my lids.
"Yeah, and you're gonna love it. Now co on..." Elara said, swinging her legs off the bed. Her bare feet padded down the carpet as she stood and walked to the bathroom; the door clicked softly behind her.
I burrowed back into the blanket, letting the warm weight fold around like a cocoon. The world outside the duvet was cold and gray—perfect for sleeping—but the mory of her laugh and the imaginary sll of whatever I was about to cook tugged at .
As if she could see through the wall, she called, voice muffled but sharp with warning: "If you don't get up, I'm throwing cold water on you."
The threat hit harder than it should have. I shot upright, heart leaping, hair a ss. "I'm up! I'm up!" I yelled, scrambling to shove my feet into slippers before she actually ca at with a bucket.
I trudged into my room's bathroom, the tiles icy against my bare feet. The shower hissed to life, and I stepped under the stream for just long enough to feel awake—letting the warmth chase off the last of my drowsiness. Afterward, I went through the rest of my usual routine: a bit of skincare to keep my face from drying out, brushing my teeth until the mint burned pleasantly, and finally running my comb through my ssy hair until it looked halfway decent.
When I finally made my way to the kitchen, Elara was already there—sitting at the table like so queen waiting for her servant to perform. Her chin rested on her hand, eyes half-lidded but expectant, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
"Took you long enough," she teased.
I just sighed, rolling up my sleeves. "Alright, alright... let's see if I can work so breakfast magic."
I turned on the stove, the faint click-click-whoosh of the fla filling the quiet kitchen. The soft orange glow lit up the counter as I made my way to the fridge, feeling Elara's eyes on the whole ti. When I glanced back, she was watching with that gentle, almost dreamy smile—one that made her look both angelic and terrifyingly devoted.
I pulled out the syrup-glazed sausages and a carton of eggs, setting them neatly beside the stove. The cold from the fridge clung to my hands as I walked to the pantry and reached into the burlap sack, pulling out four firm potatoes, dirt still clinging to their skins.
"You look so pretty..." Elara murmured, voice soft but rich with admiration.
I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face. "Flattery this early? You're spoiling ," I said, blowing her a playful kiss before setting a cutting board on the counter. The knife sliced cleanly through the potatoes, each thock echoing through the quiet room as I chopped them into small, uneven squares, the scent of earth and steel mixing in the morning air.
I swept the diced potatoes into a plastic container and carried it to the sink, the cool air mixing with the faint heat from the stove. Turning on the tap, I let the stream of water fill the bowl, swirling the cloudy starch around as I scrubbed each piece with my hands. The water turned milky, then clear again after a few rinses.
Once they were clean, I patted the cubes dry with a towel, the faint scent of raw potato clinging to my fingers. I tossed them into the air fryer basket, the tal giving a soft clink as I shook it to even them out.
"Let's see if I rember the settings," I muttered, twisting the dial. The machine humd to life, glowing softly.
Elara leaned back in her chair, watching with amusent. She probably thought it was magic—she barely knew how to turn it on, let alone use it.
I turned my attention back to the stove, setting a pan over the flickering fla. A small dollop of butter hit the surface with a soft sizzle, lting into a golden puddle that filled the air with that rich, creamy scent. I cracked six eggs one by one—four for Elara, two for myself. She was going to need the extra energy for... later activities.
The eggs cooked fast, the whites bubbling at the edges while the yolks stayed perfectly round and glossy. I slid them gently onto two plates, the steam curling up like lazy ghosts.
Next ca the syrup-glazed sausages. They hit the pan with a hiss, the sugary coating caralizing almost instantly, sending up waves of sweet, smoky aroma that filled the whole kitchen. I plated them beside the eggs, everything looking almost too perfect to eat.
Just as I was admiring my work, the air fryer dinged—right on cue. I turned, a little smile tugging at my lips. Breakfast was ready.
I slid a generous pile of golden potatoes onto both plates, the crispy edges crackling faintly as they hit the porcelain. The sll of butter, salt, and caralized syrup filled the air, warm and heavy. I carried the plates over to the table where Elara waited, her eyes already locked onto the food like a predator watching its prey.
"Mmm, sothing slls so good..." she purred, her voice low and pleased.
I sat across from her, sa spot as always—the unspoken rule of our morning routine. The chair creaked softly under as I watched her expression shift from hunger to mild disbelief.
"This is a... a shit ton of food, Noah. Holy hell." She stared at her overloaded plate like she wasn't sure whether to eat it or worship it.
I smirked, leaning back in my chair. "You'll need it for later purposes," I said, giving her a knowing look. "Besides, breakfast is the most important al of the day... right?"
Elara shot a sly grin as she popped a potato into her mouth. "You keep feeding like this, and you'll end up regretting it when you can't feel your legs," she teased.
I laughed, eting her gaze. "Oh, I'm counting on it."
-
Elara stood by the front door, watching sling my backpack over my shoulder and clutch my handbag a little too tightly. The morning light filtering through the curtains caught the shimr in her eyes—she was trying to be strong, but the worry was written all over her face.
"I'm so terrified, Noah..." she whispered, her voice trembling as she wrapped her arms around . Her embrace was tight, desperate, like she was afraid I might slip through her fingers.
I silenced her worries the only way I knew how—by leaning in and pressing my lips softly against hers. The world seed to still for that brief mont. When I pulled back, I looked her in the eyes and said, "I'll be okay, I promise. I've got the taser you bought yesterday—it's in my handbag."
Her bottom lip quivered slightly, but she nodded. "Call during lunch, okay?"
"Okay," I said with a small smile. "I love you, Elara."
"I love you too, Noah..." she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper as I gave her one last kiss by the doorfra before stepping out into the cool morning air.
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Sorry if there’s any mistakes, I kinda just skimd through the chapter since I wanted to get it out fast.
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