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-- ❅ --
The late morning was quiet, with exception to the birdsong next to the open window. A breeze rustled the curtains and sunshine filtered in – anyone unused to the weather in the Shroud wouldn’t imagine it was just days before Starlight.
Given the season, Zala hummed happily as she busied herself in the kitchen.
The Scions, though publicly disbanded, still met regularly – and just the week before, Tataru had sent out invitations to a Starlight party at the Rising Stones. When Zala had called via linkpearl to confirm the details, their peerless businesswoman asked the ex-Warrior of Light to bring some specially made baked goods for the get together.
Zala could hardly refuse her.
Familiar footsteps in the hallway interrupted her thoughts and she smiled as Raha and Sid appeared, each appearing a bit sleep-ruffled.
“Good morning,” she said, giggling when Raha stepped forward to hug her and bury his face into her neck. “We’ve a busy day ahead.”
Sid sidled in behind her, wrapping arms around the pair of them. “Why,” he grumbled, the sort of not-question Zala had grown very accustomed to.
She smiled into Raha’s hair, enjoying the remnants of the warmth she’d left behind this morning when she’d awoken, before reaching around to poke them both.
She grinned as they each flinched and groaned. “We’re going to the Scion’s Starlight party and Tataru has begged us to make some sweet treats.”
“Threatened, probably.”
“No, she would have threatened you. She doesn’t have to threaten Zala.”
Zala ignored their playful banter as she turned back to the counter, set up with bowls and myriad ingredients. “I had some ideas,” she said, tapping her chin. “But I thought we’d brainstorm a little together.”
“Did Tataru mention anything specific?”
“No,” Zala said, hopping up to sit on the counter to face them. “I was thinking cookies and maybe some sweetbread if we can manage it. Or a fruitcake or tart.”
“What sort of cookies?” Raha mused aloud, resting an idle hand on her thigh as he stood beside her.
“Oh!” Zala said, looking at their quiet companion. “Sid, you’ve mentioned some cookies you’ve enjoyed before, right? What were they called-”
“Boortsog,” Sid replied quietly, standing at her other side and eyeing the ingredients. “But they’re more fried dough than cookies, so perhaps not-”
“That sounds delicious,” Raha grinned. “Do you know how to make them?”
“...Yes,” Sid said somewhat hesitantly, though he didn’t seem wholly upset at the idea. “They’re not too difficult to make, the dough will just need to rest for an hour before being fried.”
“Good thing we have a fryer,” Zala said, clapping her hands in excitement. “I’ve been wanting to use it ever since we got it!”
She grinned wider at the soft smile on Sid’s lips at her antics.
“Might that be enough?” Raha wondered. “I have a particular tart recipe in mind that we could prepare. The party is tomorrow evening, correct?”
Zala nodded. “She didn’t give me the most notice, but it should be enough time. Do we need any other ingredients?”
“Seems we have everything for the boortsog,” Sid said, pressing a kiss to Zala’s temple before turning to the ingredients. “Let’s prepare it first since it’ll require time to sit.”
“Good plan. But – ah, we’re missing fruit for the tart,” Raha said, frowning.
“How about I go and get what you need? You’re both the masterminds behind these recipes, after all.” Zala offered, hopping down from the counter.
“If you’re certain, my moon” Raha said, taking a piece of paper to note down the assortment needed.
“More than happy to help,” Zala said, pressing a kiss to his cheek before turning towards the door. “Be back in a little while!”
She smiled at the chorus of “be safe!” and “love you!” she left behind, grabbing her coat and slipping on her simple boots. Looking at the list, she wouldn’t be gone too long – the botanist’s guild likely had this in stock, and failing that she’d check in at the markets.
At one time, she might have felt a little leery at leaving Raha and Sid home alone. But, as she shut the door to their home, she felt nothing but a soft warmth in her chest.
-- ❅ --
G’raha watched Zala disappear behind the front door with a smile before turning back to the counter where Sid stood, already moving to start mixing ingredients. He hummed along with the table-top orchestrion to some seasonal tune, grabbing from the set of bowls for his own preparations.
When he and Zala had initially moved in, they hadn’t much in the way of furniture or household supplies. But before they could spend too much gil on it all, Tataru had surprised them back then, banding their friends and loved ones together to throw a large housewarming party that G’raha still had trouble accepting.
Even after everything they've been through, he still felt like an outsider on occasion. When someone referenced an event that he'd only read about, or perhaps an inside joke that the other Scions chortled about - it'd gotten easier over time to accept, as he'd grown more comfortable.
It’d taken much to really feel like he was one of them, though the Scions had worked to make him feel at home. It was even something he’d somewhat bonded with Estinien on, though they’d hardly traded many words on the topic – and it seemed Alphinaud was particularly attuned to either of them feeling this way, with the way he’d pay special attention or compliment to them.
And as such, he could easily identify the emotions in the other man’s teal eyes as he focused on the dough.
“There’s no need to worry, you know.”
Sid didn’t reply and G’raha continued his work, knowing that he’d respond when he wanted to. Finally, the man sighed gravely, at odds with the image of him covered in flour, rubbing his forehead with the back of his hand.
“ Sid,” G’raha implored, pausing to press a hand against the small of his back. “While you’re welcome to stay home, you know that your presence is welcome.”
He still didn’t answer right away, his eyes focusing instead on measuring out the necessary ingredients.
“Knowing and understanding are two different things,” Sid said, and G’raha nearly groaned aloud. His partner was one of the most obstinate men he’d ever met, and he’d run a whole city of people for nearly a century.
“ Please, Sid, come,” G’raha said, unashamedly nuzzling against his side as he worked.
“You usually don’t ask so nicely,” Sid said blithely, but G’raha could tell he was touched.
“I usually don’t have to,” G’raha replied, tail waving playfully in the air as Sid stopped mixing. The other man rounded on him and G’raha grinned into the harsh kiss he was delivered, running his hands up his bare arms. His fingertips traced the scales and scars along the way and he sighed as Sid stepped away.
“How do you know?” Sid asked, his forehead resting against G’raha’s.
"Know that you're welcome?" G'raha murmured. "'Tis obvious how taken the Scions are with you - you showed how much you cared for Zala after the Final Days. Plus," he smiled. "They all want to get to know the man that's captured our hearts."
Sid snorted. "Don't be ridiculous."
"I'm being fully serious, Sid. You're wanted. And...it'll mean a lot to me and Zala to have you come with us."
"I cannot fathom why," Sid said.
"Plus, Rielle will be there," G'raha added. "And you know you'll get an earful if the boortsog makes it but you don't."
Sid chuckled. "Perhaps you're right."
“I know I'm right. I have had much experience in feeling unwanted, Sid. Even when the feeling was entirely fabricated by my own mind.”
Sid hummed at that and squeezed his hips, leaning down for a hug. G’raha smiled into his shoulder as he wrapped his arms around Sid’s middle.
““It won’t do for the baker himself to not deliver his own goods to the party. From what Zala’s said, I’m sure they’ll be a hit too.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t make them, otherwise everyone will start expecting them at every party,” Sid said dryly.
“There’s no way Zala will let you get away with that now that you’ve committed,” G’raha teased, delighting in Sid’s smile at the notion.
“What will I not let you get away with?” Zala called, the door closing shortly after her words.
“Welcome back,” Sid said as she came into view, a brown paper bag on her arm.
“Doesn’t look like there’s much baking going on here, hmm?” Zala said, raising an eyebrow at their compromising position as she drew closer.
“G- Raha was simply giving me some tips,” Sid said, stepping away with a slight blush that G’raha would have teased him for if it weren’t for his sudden use of his given name.
Zala hummed as she put the bag down near G’raha’s mixing bowls, clearly not believing them for a second. She circled the counter to lean into both of them, tail twitching mischievously. “Well then, my master bakers, how can I help?”
G’raha met Sid’s gaze over her head with a smile. “I’ve prepared my ingredients already, so let’s work together on the boortsog.”
He had a feeling this Starlight would be the best yet.