Crumbling Worlds (A Charlotte Cracker x OC story)

Chapter 8: Unexpected Danger

Trigger Warning: There's going to be some violence and a death in this chapter! What a nice way to kick off the romance x'D

Two weeks had passed since she first set foot into Cracker's kitchen, and by now Michelle had grown fairly used to her new schedule. Giuseppe still didn't really like her, but at least the mink was getting more tolerant of having her around. His comments about how 'useless' she was also started to decrease as time went on, and especially after Michelle stopped freaking out about the talking food. Of course she was still a bit bothered by the things the chef told her at day one, but for most of the time she managed to push that aside and focus on her work.

As a result, her cooking was also getting a lot better. Sometimes, after she got home, Michelle would even try to re-create some of the dishes Giuseppe taught her in her own kitchen. Well, they never turned out quite as good as the chef's works, but there was no denying that she was improving. A lot. Right now, the young woman was very happy with her new situation. Not only was she learning to cook for herself, but she also earned her own money now and was able to live after her own rules. No more taking orders from her parents, no more sailing around the seas against her will- at last, the independence she always longed for seemed to be within reach. Everything was going for her well. Right?

...But as the days went by, Michelle also started to feel a little... weird around Cracker. It wasn't the same 'I'm-kinda-scared-and-creeped-out-by-this-guy'-weird she felt in his presence until now, but rather a 'this-man's-behaviour-confuses-me'-weird. Since she was around him almost every day, the young woman slowly got to know an entirely new side of the Minister. Most of the time Cracker was genuinely nice to her, even despite his sometimes arrogant tendencies, and Michelle found that he was actually... rather pleasant company. Just like during their first meeting many weeks ago, he would sometimes crack jokes or give her some subtle advice- and not to mention how he would always praise the young woman for whatever she was doing.... it really encouraged her, and sometimes she even found herself looking forward to work just so she could spend some time with him or talk to him. To make matters worse, he was also constantly making her blush, and not just with embarrassment anymore. Being around Cracker felt... almost empowering in a way. To think that this big shot pirate wanted her in his presence, engaged her in conversations, told her about his life and even touched her hands occasionally... it was very hard for Michelle to wrap her finger around it, but she couldn't figure out whether they were starting to become friends or.... something else. I mean- you don't feel this type if weird around friends, do you?

Her curiosity had gotten so intense that she would sometimes even ask Giuseppe about the Minister while they were cooking; and although she still didn't really believe in the things the mink told her about Cracker during her first day at work, he did know the Minister a lot better than she did. So, right now, the cranky chef was her best shot at finding out more about Cracker and his possible intentions.

Today they just finished with serving up some meatloaf and were busy cleaning up the kitchen when Michelle once again started to talk about the Minister.

„You really seem to know Sir Cracker very well." she noted as she was cleaning the dirty dishes in the sink.

„Duh. I've been working for him for years, basically since he took control of this place decades ago." came the response from Giuseppe, who checked on the pantry to make sure that everything was properly stored away for the next day.

„Wait- decades? Sir Cracker has been in charge of Biscuits Island for that long already?!"

„...Well, yeah. Why? Did ya think he was just appointed recently?"