A Slice of Pie

Raspberry

Looking back, I've made a lot of mistakes in my short twenty years on this earth.

Ding!

There was that one time where I nearly died by the vines of a raspberry bush.

Ding!

There was also that one winter when an old friend and I thought swimming bareback in a frosty river was a good idea. And, of course, I can never forget the day the skies decided to haunt me for the rest of my days. Though, I have to admit that meeting Cassian Calloway was amongst the worst of them.

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding-

The little bell by the register strangled in my tight grasp. My palm smothered its song while I tried to soothe the anger rumbling in my chest.

Glancing up, I found Cassian holding a guilty hand midair. A sly smile twisted his lazy expression while the early noon mist raged into heavy rain outside. Thunder grumbled its grievances as Granny Bett's number one customer bellowed, "Fetch me three slices of Bett's famous pie, Win!"

My brow twitched. Still, my sickeningly sweet smile stayed. It was partly so the old croon in the kitchen wouldn't sniff out my poor attitude. Though, the truth behind my smile was to soothe the knight looming in the corner.

The copper knight looked awkward hunched over the dainty wooden table. The metal chair he chose to crouch in creaked with every breath he seized. Meanwhile, his gaze - those needlessly beautiful eyes - fluttered back and forth between me and his new admirer.

I admit, Rat's new infatuation was my fault. Sending her to scare off my unwanted guests will be added to the long lists of reasons why I'm not a hero. I should have handled it on my own by doing what I do best - hiding until they grew bored. 

But, never in my wildest of dreams, did I think the little rodent would fall for the knight over one measly compliment...

"I said Winnie isn't here so go away, Shorty!"

"And I said, you didn't, Brat!"

Cassian had been arguing with the little mouse much longer than any grown man should. His already red face grew deeper with every word. And, just like Rat, he refused to back down.

Honestly, if I wasn't scared Granny Bett was going to come bumbling out the kitchen any minute, I would have laughed.

"That's it! Either you move out of my way," Cassian ordered, "or I kick you out the way, myself."

"I'd like to see you try, fat-foot!"

"Why you little-"

"O-Okay," a familiar voice tapped in. 

Curious, I leaned forward to find that the copper knight had stepped between the two children. He looked much better than he had the other day. Well-rested and a lot cleaner. A pair of friendly hands rose high in the formidable air. A noble act that made my eyes roll.

Looking down at Cassian, the knight spoke with a careful tone that held a weight to it. "I'm growing tired. We should be heading back."