Perfection was an illusion and Blyana Hightower had her own demons she was struggling with when she arrived at the capital. She felt broken from her past and didnt want to be defined by her diagnosis. Perhpas a man deemed as broken could be the one...
Blyana was cooking with Otto. They had not done with before, her mother and her had cooked when she was little but never Otto. She was sure he didnt know how to cook. But he looked very confident as he told her what to do.
"Oh Blyana can you open that for me?" Otto questioned and she pulled at the container but her numb fingers werent working. Larys reached out for it but she swatted a hand at him.
"I got it." She assured hooking the lip of the lid in her teeth and giving it a little tug. Larys chuckled shaking his head. Otto stared back at her.
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"What? It is open now." Blyana remarked passing him the jar. "What are you making daddy?"
"I'm making...." Otto chuckled. "I'm trying to make what your mother used to make." Otto admitted and Blyana's hand went to her heart.
"Just sprinkle that on top and then we bake it and it will be ready in no time." Otto added. Blyana sprinkled the seasoning on it. "More." Otto offered and Blyana looked to Larys. He could already tell this was not going to be edible.
"This is paprika daddio." Blyana remarked.
"Yes and I remember a crunch on the top... no thats good, maybe it was sesame seeds." Otto pondered moving around the counter.
"Dont you have mum's recipe?" Blyana questioned.
"You know she never used a recipe." Otto countered. "I'm going off of memory."
"Heavens help up." Blyana murmured. "Okay, you want a layer of sesame seeds on the top... for crunch?'' Blyana clarified.
"Yes." Otto agreed and again Blyana looked to Larys, they were not eating supper tonight it seemed and she coated the food with a thick layer of sesame seeds. "Wonderful.' Otto agreed with a clap. He put it in the oven before looking back to blyana.
"I had fun cooking with you daddio, I'm glad you are here." Blyana remarked.
"I dont want to leave." otto agreed. "I like being here with you and little Teo."
"I like you being here." Blyana agreed. Otto moved to Teo's bassinet, he smiled back at Otto as Otto picked him up.
"Hello to grandsire." Otto coed to matteo.
"My little gift of God." Blyana whispered as she started looking for a backup meal for her grumbling stomach.
"Blyana... Larys, I... well I did mean to talk to you." Otto offered and Blyana pulled away from the pantry. "Please, if you would." He gestured to the seats beside him.
"What's going on Daddio?" Blyana questioned as she tucked her toes under herself and her knees tipped into Larys lap. Larys wrapped an arm around her and Otto smiled back at them before looking at Teo.
"I have loved being here but I know that with any marriage, distance is a good thing and you already have Larys' father and brother here for duties-"
"I dont really bother with them." Blyana assured. "I dont like how they treat Larys." Larys gave her shoulder a squeeze.
"I... know that I dont want to go home but I feel like I need to give you some space. I... you are a woman grown, with a husband and a baby and more to come I hope." Otto remarked. "I just want you to know I'm here, if you need me and... Im sorry if I havent been the most welcoming person, Larys. You are good for my Blyana. You love her and I see that. I do. I'm sorry."
"Nothing to apologize for." Larys assured. "You are just protecting Blyana. I admire your relationship together. My father and I rarely speak, he doesnt see me as anything more than well what the rest of the world sees." Larys offered, a second born cripple. It didnt matter that he was married and had an heir, a son of his own, a wife that he loved more than life. He wasnt Harwin. Harwin could fuck the princess, have her bastards and he would still be the golden boy. Oh wait, he did fuck the princess and have her bastards.
"Yes, and I thank you for taking care of her as well." Otto agreed and he extended his hand. Larys shook it. He felt a wave of pride, feeling like this was truly the moment Otto relinquished some control and trusted Larys to fully take care of his daughter.
"Thank you for saying all that daddy." blyana added as she moved to him kissing his cheek. "You dont have to leave though, I love having you here."
"The king doesnt, Lyonel doesnt." Otto murmured.
"Well I dont care about them, I care about you." Blyana declared. "I want you here."
"We can talk about it after supper." Otto remarked looking at his watch. He pulled it out of the oven and plated a hefty piece for each of them.
Blyana took a bite and otto was so proud of himself but she swallowed it thickly before looking to larys.
"Have a bite... its so good." Blyana offered choking on the words and otto smiled victorious. Larys pursed his lips.
''I'm suddenly full." Larys offered.
"Nonsense." Blyana coed bringing it to his lips. Otto took a bite and promptly spit it out.
"Blyana this is inedible." Otto declared.
"I know but you seemed so happy and I didnt want to disappoint you daddio." Blyana countered. "I had fun cooking with you even if it is... gross."
"Gross." Otto agreed taking her plate. "This is why your mother cooked." Blyana nodded. "She was skilled at many things, her cooking is something I miss often." otto agreed. "I'm sorry I ruined supper."
"You didnt." Blyana assured. "I had so much fun tonight with you and I'm really glad we got the chance to talk like this... you and larys..." Blyana beamed back at him. "I love when my boys get along." Otto chuckled shaking his head.
"I suppose I should get a cook in here." Otto realized with a huff of a breath.
"I make the best potatoes." Blyana corrected. "Can you two pull together a salad and I will get to work on potatoes."
"Commanding the room just like a queen." Larys purred in her ear.
"It will still be perfect." Blyana assured as Larys held her from behind. "Just give me ten minutes."
