Witchy Ways (Antisepticeye x reader)

Fire Cider

"Alright, I need to go out and gather some more herbs, you can help." I asked turning in my stool towards Anti holding the list of ingredients I needed.

"Alright." He shrugged.

"Ok, there's a backpack in your room, take it." I said standing.

I walked to my room. I grabbed my bag and filled it with empty bags that I use to gather.

I went to my closet and grabbed my knives and holster. It went around my waist and around my right thigh. I strapped it on.

I walked out into the kitchen to see Anti waiting in the stool. I grabbed some more bags out of a drawer and handed them to Anti.

"Put these in your backpack." I asked. He nodded and put them away.

"Ok, all ready?" I asked checking to make sure I had everything.

"Yes." He said and we walked out the door. He followed me as I walked into my shed to grab two pairs of gardening clippers. I handed one pair to him.

I put mine in my pocket and he did the same.

He followed me into the woods on my usual route as I looked for the wild herbs that grew.

"Now, since winter is right around the corner, flu season is going to start kicking up. Though I'm immortal, I'm not indestructible and am still prone to illness and colds. I need to make a fire cider, for now, this is all we are here for." I pulled out the list.

"I need ginger root, horseradish root, black peppercorns, rose hips, astragalus, schizandra berries, and budrock root. I have the rest in my garden." I said.

"Umm...."

"Is there a problem?" I asked raising my eyebrow.

"I'm not that familiar with plants..." Anti said playing with his fingers.

"Here." I walked in front of him and placed my hand on his forehead, transferring my knowledge of plants unto him.

"Now you should know what all the plants are and their properties." I said turning around.

"Wow." I heard him say under his breath.

"Wow, indeed." I chuckled.

We gathered all of the herbs that I needed and headed back towards the house. I clipped the rest of what I needed from the garden.

We put most of our gatherings away to dry except for what I was going to use right at the moment.

I measured all the herbs and had Anti grind what needed to be ground while I chopped what needed to be chopped.

***(The following is a real recipe that I've acquired from the book, 'Secret Medicines from your Garden ~ Plants for Healing, Spirituality, and Magic' by the author and herbalist Ellen Evert Hopman.) ***

½ cup grated ginger root (Zingiber officinale)

½ cup grated horseradish root (Armoracia rusticana)

1 medium onion (Allium cepa), chopped

12 cloves garlic (Allium sativum, A. canadense), chopped

2 hot peppers (chilli peppers, Capsicum annuum), chopped

Zest and juice from 1 lemon (Citrus limon)

Zest from 1 small orange (Citrus sinensis)

1 tablespoon turmeric powder (Curcuma longa)

½ teaspoon whole black peppercorns (Piper nigrum)

¼ teaspoon ground cayenne (Capsicum annuum)

Organic apple cider vinegar

¼ cup raw organic honey

Put all of the herbs in a glass jar and barely cover them with apple cider vinegar. Cap the jar tightly and store the jar in a cool, dark place and shake regularly. After about a month strain out the herbs from the vinegar and store the vinegar in another clean glass jar. Add honey and stir until well blended.

You can use the strained out spices and herbs in a stir fry with cabbage and carrots when everything is finished.

***(Back to the story)***

I put all of the spices and herbs into a jar and poured my Apple cider vinegar over them, I put on the lid and shook it for a few seconds then put it in a cupboard.

I put away everything I used and walking into the dining area and living room.

Anti was sitting at the table, I ruffled his hair as I walked by and spoke,

"Thank you for the help." I smiled and strolled out the door. I turned and looked at him.

"Coming?" I asked smirking at him.

"Oh, sure." He said blushing as he stood up.

We walked to the bench in my garden and sat down enjoying the sunset as I lit up a cigarette.

"Would you mind if I had one?" I looked at Anti who was looking at my pack of cigarettes.

"I didn't know you smoked." I sat pulling out one for him.

"Occasionally. Thank you." He said taking it. I held up the lighter and lit it for him.

I got up and grabbed my watering can. Few of my plants need water dayly so I watered the few and sat back down.

"I could use a drink." I said taking a puff of my cigarette.

"You?" I asked looking over.

"You're going to turn me into an alcoholic." Anti chuckled.

"You don't have to accept the offer." I shrugged.

"When offered, I accept." He said.

"Well then. What will it be tonight?" I smirked putting out my cigarette.