Hung by chains

8. Banana bread

Solace slowly awoke from a dreamless slumber, still cuddling the puffy blanket and trying to get a few more minutes of warmth and comfort. Getting up was not something the young woman wanted to do, especially with the high school-minded perverts in the house. Man, good thing that bed was comfortable.

"Solace."

She jumped slightly, recognizing the voice of the blond brother. How did he get into the room without her noticing? He stood straight and tall before her, his presence enough to make the room's temperature drop. He wore a black long-sleeve shirt that made his arms thinner and grey sweatpants. It was so loose that the shape of his legs was impossible to see.

Nonetheless, she decided it would be best to hide her shaky hands.

"Pleasantly surprised you remember the name. To what do I owe the honour?" she teased in a sarcastic tone with a smirk.

"I assume you need to eat, yes?" He replied in the same sarcastic tone, only this one was far less amused. "Breakfast won't be making itself; it's time for your first lesson."

"Oh, so this is going to be more than you just torturing me, huh? Impressive." she persisted as she got out of bed.

"Don't make me consider changing that." Skafil snapped back, still keeping a straight posture. "Change; for some reason, your clothes have the horrible smell of mud. We don't want that on the food." He finished, walking out of the room. When he nearly closed the door, the blond turned his head as if he were lazily trying to look at her. "The kitchen is the first door downstairs to the left. Get there once you're ready." And with that, he shut the door.

The teasing noch should be lowered by a couple of degrees.

She put on a brown hoodie, a pair of shorts, and some Crocs. It was a comfy outfit that wouldn't get in the way of cooking. She went downstairs into the kitchen to find Skafil in a rather unexpected situation for him.

The blond was picking up ingredients for what seemed to be some bread, humming to himself with a softer expression than the usual stoic face. Soon after Skafil noticed her presence, his face immediately scrunched back into his frown. Still, he seemed to have a bit more resentment, a darker shadow cast under his brows and eyes.

"Y'know, I'm not THAT much of an asshole. I won't make fun of you for something like that. There's no interest, and I'd feel unoriginal." Solace explained. "Besides, I don't care."

Skafil's expression softened back to his usual resting bitch face. Maybe even a little more, but it was still a bitch face. Was it a surprise? Perhaps, but it remained uncertain.

"The smallest amount of respect... Now that's rich coming from the one who called me 'Blondy.'"

"After which, you quite literally choked me."

"...Touché." He mumbled with a tight voice after recalling the last day's events. She arrived next to him on the counter and picked up a paper. "I'm sorry. I'll prevent it from happening twice."

"Alright, I won't forgive you." She replied, uninterested as she read the handwritten recipe.

"Good." He replied, feeling very awkward. How did she stand there so casually, right next to him, after what he had done? Humans don't tend to stay near sources of pain; what was up with her?

"Banana bread? Not something I'm used to, but not a bad option..." she commented casually. "Any reason behind the choice?"

"Not really, um... I just like making it, I suppose...."

"Someone's shy...."

"And someone's slacking off; get cooking."

"Okay! Okay! Gee..."