The Devil In Disguise

Sibling Bonds In The Kitchen

The early afternoon sun cast a warm glow through the kitchen windows, bathing the countertops in light as Gianina and Rufus moved around, preparing lunch for the group. The room smelled faintly of rosemary and garlic, with freshly chopped vegetables scattered on the counter and a pan heating on the stove. Gianina had decided to make chicken stir fry.

In the living room, Marcus and Cal were engaged in a heated Xbox match, their voices rising and falling as they battled it out, their competitive energy filling the house. Gianina smiled to herself, enjoying the atmosphere, even with the tension that sometimes lingered between her and Cal. Today felt normal, even with all they'd been through.

Gianina looked over at Rufus, who was carefully measuring spices into a bowl. "You know, you're welcome to ditch this and go join them," she teased, gesturing toward the noise in the living room. "I'm sure they'd be thrilled to have another person to beat."

Rufus raised an eyebrow, grinning as he shook his head. "Nah, I'll leave them to their battle," he said, reaching for the flour and adding a generous handful to the bowl. "Besides, I'd rather be here. I've always been a girls' guy anyway." He winked, giving her a playful smirk.

"Oh, is that so?" she asked, pretending to be offended as she picked up the flour container. Without warning, she reached over and sprinkled a pinch onto his head, letting out a laugh as he stared at her in mock horror.

"Alright, you're asking for it now," he declared, wiping the flour from his hair with an exaggerated huff. Before she could react, he grabbed a handful of flour and aimed for her, managing to dust her shoulder as she shrieked in protest.

"Oh, you did not just do that!" she said, quickly ducking behind the counter, but she couldn't keep the smile off her face. She peeked over the edge, her eyes narrowed in playful challenge as she grabbed another handful of flour. "You realize you just declared war, right?"

Rufus shrugged, trying to maintain a serious expression as he set the bowl of flour aside. "Bring it on, GG," he replied, and with a laugh, she launched a small handful at him. He dodged, grabbing another handful and tossing it back, their laughter filling the kitchen as they playfully pelted each other with tiny clouds of flour.

"What are you two even cooking in there? Chaos?" Marcus's voice called from the living room, his tone amused.

Gianina glanced over, smirking as she wiped her hands on a dish towel. "Nothing you two need to worry about," she replied with a laugh. "We're just... adding a little extra flavor."

The flour fight settled down, leaving a fine dusting across the countertops and their clothes. Gianina reached for the bowl Rufus had been mixing, giving it a stir as she added more ingredients. "Alright, I think we've sufficiently seasoned everything with flour. Let's get back on track, shall we?"

"Agreed," Rufus replied, still chuckling as he reached for a cutting board. He began chopping vegetables with a quick, practiced hand, his movements smooth and precise. "You know, I've missed this," he said after a moment, his tone softer. "Just... cooking together, hanging out. Feels normal."

Gianina glanced over at him, a smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah, it does," she agreed. "It's nice, having something familiar, you know?"

He nodded, setting aside the chopped vegetables. "I'm glad we're all sticking together," he said, his voice sincere. "You're like family to me, GG. Always have been."

She felt a warmth spread through her chest at his words, a sense of gratitude that went beyond words. Rufus had always been there, her constant through the years, the one person she could always count on. To her this nerdy, cute guy was more than a friend. He was her brother and she'd be lost without him and Mary. She was happy they were together and was secretly making plans on what to wear to their wedding. "Thanks, Rufus," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "That means a lot."

He gave her a small smile, reaching over to nudge her shoulder. "Anytime, kiddo. You're like the little sister I never had."

She laughed, rolling her eyes. "Little sister? Really?"

"Hey, that's a compliment," he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "You're scrappy, stubborn... and loyal. I respect that."

She gave him a playful shove, but her smile was genuine. "I guess I'll take it as a compliment then."

They worked in companionable silence for a few minutes, the sounds of chopping and sizzling filling the kitchen. Gianina added the chopped vegetables and chicken to the pan, stirring them gently as the aroma of garlic and rosemary filled the air. "This smells amazing," she murmured, inhaling deeply.

Rufus grinned, leaning against the counter as he watched her. "All thanks to my culinary expertise."

"Oh please," she scoffed, nudging him with her elbow. "I did most of the work here."

He held up his hands in mock defeat. "Fine, fine. I'll give you credit. But I did add the secret ingredient."

"Flour?" she teased, raising an eyebrow.

He chuckled, shrugging. "Hey, don't underestimate the power of flour. Adds a whole new layer of flavor."

They both laughed, the sound light and genuine. But after a moment, Gianina's expression softened, and she looked over at him, her smile fading just a little. "Rufus... thank you. For being here. You're honestly the only guy I really trust."

He blinked, a bit taken aback by the sincerity in her tone. "GG, I... wow. I mean, thank you. That means a lot." He paused, reaching out to give her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "You know I've always got your back, right? No matter what."

She nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I know. And it's... it's comforting, you know? Knowing I've got someone I can rely on."

They stood in silence for a moment, their connection deeper than words. Gianina felt a wave of gratitude wash over her, a warmth that went beyond friendship. Rufus had been her rock, her constant, through everything. And now, with so much uncertainty surrounding them, his presence felt like a lifeline.

After a beat, Rufus cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "Honestly, I'm kind of glad Mary's taking this trip. She needs the break... and so do you, GG. With everything that's happened, you deserve a little peace."

She nodded, a pang of sadness tightening her chest. "Yeah... losing Jordan, Jamie, Destiny... it's been hard."

He looked at her, his gaze filled with empathy. "I know. And you've been so strong through it all. But you don't have to carry everything alone, okay? We're all in this together."

She swallowed, blinking back the tears that threatened to fall. "Thank you, Rufus. Really."

From the living room, Marcus's laughter broke the moment, followed by Cal's voice, his tone lower, more thoughtful. Gianina glanced over, catching sight of Cal's gaze as he exchanged a look with Marcus. They had obviously overheard the conversation, but neither of them said anything, their expressions unreadable as they turned back to their game.

Rufus caught her glance and gave her a reassuring nod. "Hey, don't worry about them. They're just jealous they're not in here with the cool kids," he joked, his grin playful.

Gianina chuckled, shaking her head. "Yeah, maybe."

They continued cooking, the atmosphere in the kitchen warm and lighthearted despite the weight of their recent conversation. And as they finished preparing lunch, Gianina felt a renewed sense of gratitude for Rufus and the bond they shared.