"ummm... Over there please!"

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She pointed to the corner counter, forcing up a smile for the rocket as he pushed through into the kitchen they were supposed to share. Truth be told, Dr Maher scared the shit out of her. He was tall, intimidating, and whenever he walked by a flurry of whispers always followed. 

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So when she was told to help him make some sweets for the higher ups, she had almost immediately fainted from shock. 

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Still, she had to persevere! 

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"Thank you by the way. For getting the ingredients, I mean. I really appreciate it!"

She was sunshine and he was midnight rain. Together, the two made an odd pair in the kitchen. It reminded her of a recent fanfiction she read involving two-- ah, she was doing it again.

"Chocolate-chip cookies," she chimed. They were her favorite. "Which means I'll need...mm..."

Fingers idly scratched the back of her hair, strains tangling between them.

"The flour, baking soda, and salt."


Because the bowl was already there, prepared in front of her with a matching whisk. Both were pink, of course.

"ah, yes, and those."

Caden's presence often felt like a spider trailing her shoulders. Slow to crawl, every second gave him another opportunity to weave his web. Rory only hoped not to get caught in it.

Experienced hands mixed the ingredients, displaying an eloquence contradictory to the Mechanic's naturally jittery nature. It was clear she felt comfortable behind the wooden spoon and bowl.

"I wouldn't call myself a baker," she laughed, shaking her head. Her white bow nearly slipped from her hair as she did. "I just like making sweets sometimes. Usually, I stick to cupcakes but today felt like a cookie kind of day, y'know?"

His light touch goes unnoticed. Probably for the best. 

"Hmmm!"

Dropping the wooden spoon into the bowl, Rory propped her hands onto her hips, eyebrows furrowing in thought. Cookies were by far her favorite, but there had to be more, right?

"I like chocolate treats, but only if it's balanced right. Likeee chocolate chip cookies, or a chocolate cupcake with vanilla icing. I like cake, too, but I always mess up when I try baking those."

She glanced over at him. 

"What about you?"

She shook her head lightly.

"Honestly, I've always wanted to! But, somehow, I always end up getting another cupcake or cookie or whatever."


A soft giggle trickled out. The mixture was looking near its finishing point, all colors melding into one solid slob of brown. Reaching over, she began plucking out the other ingredients, plopping them into a separate bowl to stir.

"Do you have any suggestions on where I should go? I've been here forever, but I never seem to have much luck with bakeries."

She nodded, listening intently as she continued to mix together the ingredients.

"Where do you live now?"

The question naturally came up, ignoring the obviousness of it all. With his brother revealing their identity to the world, there was only one place left to live. And it wasn't slateport.

When the realization hit, Rory immediately bit into her cheeks. Embarrassment felt like a slap to the face.

"Sorry, bad question."

She didn't. Whenever her eyes wandered, encircling the patches of color that speckled his face and neck, or heard the short hisses of whispers that trailed his every step, undeniable fear raked her body.

But she knew it wasn't far to him. His brother had been the one to commit the crime, and what, Caden was supposed to be to face it's consequences all on his own?

"Of course," she murmured, trying to stay focus on the mixture in front of her. It was taking on a new shade, indicating it's readiness. "We're friends, aren't we?"