Trollhunters - first meetings - (various x reader)

Chapter 5

You had crashed with your motorcycle, faced bloodthirsty trolls, learned of another world beneath your feet and nearly gotten killed several times within the span of one evening and yet you still grew nervous by eating dinner with old friends.
To think that something so simple and normal would make you feel so anxious.
Honestly, it was just embarrassing.

"Do you need any help?" you asked the thin boy as you watched him bustle about the kitchen with skilled movements.

"Nah, I'm good," came his focused response, his knife gliding through a piece of meat and slicing it in half neatly.

Damn. I mean, you knew Jim was good in the kitchen but this was like watching a five-star cook work his magic in his widely known restaurant.
And all you could do was occasionally hand him a spoon, a different knife or a ladle while awkwardly standing on the sidelines with an amazed expression on your -still slightly cut up- face.

Although Jim had looked just as nervous as you in the beginning, he had begun to relax once his work in the kitchen started. Barbara, who was currently taking care of the dishes in the halfway parted room on the other side, had suggested you help him out a bit but it seemed like she only said that to get you to spend more time with each other because Jim certainly didn't need any help.

Plus you really couldn't do much with your left arm in a sling and all.

Not being able to help, the next twenty minutes passed quite slowly for you but even the greatest cooks finished preparing their meals at some point.

The dark-haired teen wiped some sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand and then turned to you with an unsure smile, the knife which he had used to cut the meat in his other hand.
"Thanks for your help, (Y/n)."

You barely did anything though.

He got a shrug as a response from you and then a short look that met his eyes and made him fidget shyly.
Then you wondered how he could look so harmless with a stained knife in hand.

The red hair of Jim's mother came into view as she stuck her head through the opening in the wall that gave view onto the now well-laid table.
"Ohhhh, it smells so nice already, Jim!" she told her son with a smile and disappeared out of view, only to reappear by walking through the door on your left side, "isn't it nice to have (Y/n) here with us?"

She put a hand on your good shoulder and smiled at the lanky boy, who gave a nervous chuckle and a nod.
"Y-yeah, mom. It's.." his blue eyes flickered to the sides before they found yours, "very nice."

Standing like this for a few seconds, some in anticipation others in thought, you all jumped a bit when the oven suddenly gave off its typical ringing noise, telling you that the food inside was done and ready to be eaten.

Barbara shooed you toward the table and seated you at one of the ends before you could even say anything as Jim brought in the steak.
A delicious aroma spread from the medium cooked beef, immediately making your mouth water.

Man, you hadn't smelled anything this good in weeks.
And in comparison to Bular's heavy stench, this was utter paradise for your nose.

For some reason, thinking back on yesterday evening calmed you down. You survived a troll attack, why shouldn't you survive a family dinner?

The embarrassment from before turned into calmness and you soon began to ease up. Although it was barely visible to the two Lakes since all you changed was the stiff posture of your athletic body. At least, from the outside.

Once Jim had taken a seat too, you shortly chatted about something trivial before beginning to eat.

The tender meat nearly melted on your tongue and it tasted just as good as it smelled, if not even better. There was still a fresh note to it, making it juicy and delicious.
The way Jim had seasoned it only brought out the natural taste of the beef while putting a light accent that made it pleasant as well.
Not to mention that the side dishes fit very well by contrasting the meaty taste with a spicier one and then being softened by the sauce.