The kitchen isn't that far away from the bedrooms. As soon as one has rested enough, it is among the first things residents see as they walk out.
So why?
It felt like an eternity.
It wasn't like this once she left to pick up her plate.
She suddenly became too aware of her physicalities.
Footsteps short and fast, somehow covering less distance than she thought. Her way of balancing the pie in her hand. A strand of hair on the corner of her vision.
'How quaint.' Not that she could really understand her state, but she was unwilling to stop and ponder it at the moment.
After all, Coco stated that warm food makes the heart warmer.
With this, her steps grew faster.
Once she entered the bedroom, what greeted her was…
"Huh?" Adam peeked his head, water droplets falling from his dark brown hair, out of the bathroom as he smelled the pie on Io's hands.
"Wu-uh- wait a second!" He seemed flustered.
Wasn't this the first time she heard him stutter?
"Hmm…" Another of his reactions she found peculiar.
"Take your time." Io heard him scramble back in the restroom to put his clothes on.
In the short time she was up at the coffee table in the room putting out the pie and tableware, Adam got dressed in a long black button-up shirt, leather pants, and dress shoes.
He wondered why most of his clothing options were either a businessman or an 80's goth motorcyclist.
As a game, Code Vein had such a goth aesthetic because someone had an idea of a cool design. But, like many things in this reality, there had to be a reason for it.
Surely, it's not like Hot Topic and SuitWarehouse were the only places to be ransacked for clothing at the end of the world.
'Food for thought, pun intended.' Adam threw such trivial ideas away once he reached the small table. It was only big enough for the two of them; however, it didn't feel cramped.
Though… 'Ah, it's red… of all colors.'
A flaky brown crust, toasted within the perfect blend of crunchy and soft confined strawberry filling, and Jell-O with a blanket of sliced strawberries on top.
The red juices were visible…
A bite was something many would look forward to…
But Adam's mouth began to taste blood that wasn't there. Swallowing his saliva felt unpleasant.
Still standing, his hands rested on the back of the chair for a solid second. The repulsive sensation didn't allow him an appetite.
The moment his eyes met those of the expectant girl, he let out a short, stifled breath and slowly pulled it back before carefully sitting down.
'Honestly, none of this is going well…' He knew that this uncomfortable feeling had a deeper reason behind it; at this point, he was just letting it affect him.
But the more he thought about it, the more he hated it.
It made his blood boil.
He attempted to grasp what he had briefly experienced when he fought with Jack, but continued failing miserably.
Like a man in the dark trying to find a door.
He couldn't recall the intuition that allowed him to grasp strength beyond what he can currently wield.
As frustrating as it was, he understood… no, he gave up like a little kid frustrated when things don't go their way.
Then he tried to understand how he managed to blend his Blood Codes so well, but all he got was an answer that was just as frustrating. He just has to keep doing what he has been; it's just a matter of time.
He was rushing, and when you rush, you trip.
But, does he have time?
He already met Jack earlier than he should've, since this time he managed to save the Successor meant to be slain by the Hunter.
His actions have really saved people. Oliver, Yami, and the Revenants that were kept as thralls alongside him at the beginning.
He has weight in this world; it can change, but he can't be sure that it is all for the better.
What if things that happen later were to occur now, outside of his expectations, when he isn't strong enough?
What about the chance that he isn't saving time for preparation, and is rushing an invertible death?
Is it that horrid, meaningless death at the end, or is it the one thing he couldn't attain in his previous life, a life lived?
Which side has the coin landed on? He couldn't see; it was swallowed by the darkness below, the abyss of the unknown.
Juzo Mido, the Queen's nature, the origin of the alien entity within his chest.
All previous knowledge can't even begin to prepare him for all the variables.
So many dangers he felt around and within him.
It felt uncomfortable, but it was just that, an unpleasant feeling. Unwanted thoughts would pop up as the pressure began to seem more real, though he could always throw them at the back of his head. But it is like the flood of frustration and the recent encounter pushed it all to the front.
He didn't know how much time he had.
So he thought of blowing steam with some exercise…
And that went terribly wrong. The paranoia gnaws at the confidence he tries to maintain.
Too greedy.
Too desperate.
To know of so much danger yet be incapable of doing anything.
He has never been pushed like this in his life.
'Sounds like a shitty excuse…'
If there is anything consistent in life, it is that there will always be a bigger struggle. Another wall that is stronger than whatever you have broken through.
Slowly, anger subsided
Not just due to reflection, but out of shame.
'Fuck sake.'
He was back to being that little kid punching the sandbag without gloves. Not because he wanted to be better. Just a brat throwing a tantrum.
All of a sudden, he was behind the starting line, and he only realized after he fell on his ass.
Just what kind of scolding would he be getting from his old man?
He sighed, "Io…"
He almost said it… It might be better to eat it sometime until this nasty taste was gone and had cleared his head, but the shine in her eyes made him swallow those words first.
Such an ideal situation in the worst place of mind.
Adam simply beheld Io's careful movements.
How can one communicate feelings without words?
Actions.
Humans have always used their hands to express something.
They hold dearly, claw with rage, and clamp in sorrow.
Io might not know what to communicate or how to do so.
But she has always done it in some way.
Her delicate hands held a weapon to support Adam.
She held him to remind him of her company in his anxious-filled pondering.
Even caressing the wounds already healed just to alleviate the phantom pain.
And now, her reach has gone deeper.
"Revenants seem to bear profound sentiments to their human past." Io has understood from all other Revenants about the fondness they hold for their human memories.
Even simple routines, such as sleeping, kept one greatly refreshed despite there being no need for Revenants. Despite not requiring nutrients, they would eat, drink, and fill their old vices. It didn't matter if they had to; they wanted to feel human.
"I made it for you." The small knife led by Io's tranquil hand carved out a slice of what she had made.
"..." Adam had never seen Io perform such simple actions so cautiously. As if missing a few crumbs could ruin an already perfect meal.
"I do not know if you can reminisce about a time you were free of this hardship and unease," She gently placed a slice on the plate.
'I can remember it, even if it wasn't here…' An unwillingness remained unvoiced by Adam.
"But I wish for you to taste it." Her mellow voice carried a desire, and her hands followed through.
'Wait…' But there was no waiting.
He saw her lean forward with a plate with a slice of pie in one hand and a spoonful of it in the other
'Ah, now I wouldn't dare to say no.'
The things that she pondered, her conclusion, and her desires.
Her hands gained practice to bring it to life, they became stained to give it color, her intent gave it warmth, and her commitment filled it with taste.
Just to offer him a small memory of peace in the present.
His lips trembled, but he ultimately ate the spoonful of pie; he had decided to lie if it came down to it.
But, as he tasted the food, Adam covered his face with one hand…
Strangely, he didn't put it over his mouth but his eyes.
His shoulders shook momentarily as his chewing slowed down until it completely stopped, his body tensed up as if to stop something within him from stirring.
He didn't swallow the food.
"Is it good?" That soothing voice, the one that had always alleviated his mind, sounded.
"Mh…" Adam began to chew again without taking his hand from his face.
"Yes… It's good…" His answer came after he swallowed; it was filled with clear aversion.
Displeasure and disappointment filled another place.
"..."
It wasn't Io's fault.
'She shouldn't be affecting me this much…it was supposed to be unpleasant… "It's good" was supposed to be a white lie, not a statement.' The man didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
It is said that people bond together quickly when they face adversity together.
Io had been with him since the beginning.
Guiding the lost Adam in a new world, trusting his every word, her presence and support in his every decision, protecting his back in the most desperate times, bringing him back to reality whenever he felt his mind drown in despair, to even a small and inoffensive thing as giving him candy.
Yes, she had helped him plenty–In more ways than he would've expected from her as an attendant.
He brought this upon himself. Wishing for Io's development to progress even before finding attendant vestiges…
Turns out, her attempts at understanding the surroundings and people in it would all lead to her reaching out to him in ways he found himself caught off guard.
'But it's the pie… the damn pie!' He gritted his teeth, frustrated.
Io's care had melted the firm principles he had set up at the start.
It's not as if he didn't know that Io took an interest in food after seeing Coco cook for Luna when they sheltered her.
It's just that he didn't expect to feel the way he does because of what Io made for him.
'Ugh- you touch starved bastard.' He agonized over it.
Has he ever been more ashamed of himself than now? This might be the most embarrassing day of his life.
He thought determination and some reliable knowledge were good enough for the road… until he ended up rattled by every pothole.
It seems today he is hitting every low.
One can't control emotions. Just because your mind avoids certain thoughts doesn't mean your heart will follow.
'When was the last time a girl cooked for-' He abruptly halted his train of thought.
He shouldn't be thinking about the last time something similar happened; this moment belonged to him and Io.
He shouldn't look back when she is in front of him. Io, out of all people, didn't deserve that.
Adam sighed as he now fully covered his face with his other hand. He reclined on the chair, tilting his head back, and simply let his hands slip down his face, allowing them to slump at his sides.
His action made it seem as if he had gotten rid of something useless from his visage.
'It's really hard to ignore it like before… But I am better than this.' Was he someone to be taken down so easily?
He wouldn't dare to claim expertise in matters of love. But he sure knew something.
If you feel like giving the world to someone, you start by fixing it. And the apocalypse needs a lot of that.
Adam, wearing a helpless expression, gazed into a pair of golden eyes he wished he could admire for the rest of the day.
"Girl," Io perked up at Adam's unique inflection, "it's barely been two weeks, you can't be making me feel like this."
She had quickly forgotten about the discomfort she felt from the answer before.
No, more like she couldn't care at the moment.
With eyes slightly wider than before, she tried to understand Adam's change in… almost everything.
It was hard to grasp.
His expression remained the same affection he had whenever he was with her alone.
The gentle tone he spoke with her whenever he encouraged and praised her was the same.
Was it his eyes?
… they had the same warmth in them.
No, it wasn't that.
It was all warm like always…. But the flame was different?
Before Io could contemplate further, she saw Adam stand up before taking her hand.
"Let's go. It's dangerous for me to be alone with you right now." Adam hurriedly got up, as if to escape.
She opened her mouth, but the words took longer than before to come out, "...Right."
"..!" Adam didn't take more than a few steps before suddenly stopping.
Maybe because of the hurry-
"ah-"
-he didn't notice Io's expression change ever so slightly when he quickly turned around to gobble what was left of the pie slice before guiding her out of their room.
The first thing the two saw once they reached the lobby was Rin leaning on the counter of her workshop, seemingly waiting for them.
She looked at Adam, and he returned her stare.
"..."
"..."
The silence present wasn't because of awkwardness or the like, after all, it looked like Adam's mood couldn't be ruined by anything today…
It's just that he was still munching on the pie.
(・₋₍・) "..."
ಠ_ಠ "..."
Only after the food reached his stomach did he use his mouth for talking.
"Time to rest?" He asked, regarding his training.
"Time to rest." She affirmed.
The 'what did we learn?' look on Rin's face washed away, seeing that Adam wasn't being stubborn about getting back in the gym.
"Oh well." He shrugged. If he wasn't going to train, then it was time to use those Uno cards that… were still in the bedroom…
With a serious tone in his voice, he turned to Io, "Wait here for a moment."
= ᕕ(ᐛ)ᕗ
Once he left, Rin turned her eyes to Io, who was now looking at her hand that was warmer just a moment ago.
"I guess it went all well?"
"..."
"Io?"
"...Mh? Yes?"
The little gunsmith chuckled, seeing how the girl was spacing out.
"How did it go?" Coco came out of the kitchen, followed by Yakumo. Both carry a bowl of onigiri, rice, and other sides.
"She is spacing out," Rin answered for Io, who was doing exactly that again.
"I can see that." The merchant looked amused.
Io was looking down the hall that led to their rooms. She was sure that it wouldn't take long to pick up what he wanted…
And then, Adam was just returning, only this time his lips had some redness to them and had some bread crumbs around his mouth that weren't there before…
"Got'em" Adamn waved the cards as he joined the group.
"That we do." Rin chuckled, seeing the deck.
Yakumo followed with a smirk, "Yeah, we already have Uno, you didn't have to bring more."
"You do?" Adam asked casually, keeping a blank expression.
"We have board games too." He added with a short laugh.
That was not something Adam thought of… if he had asked, maybe he would've gotten something else-
'Didn't Coco have an odd reaction when I picked this card game?' He recalled…
She gave him a weird look, although she was hard to read, he could guess that she was debating something.
Had they all gone to Shang and traded all games with him?
Why would she not say anything?
Did Coco take him and Io to keep the Shang's business up, even if the gang had already played all of his games?
'...this lady.'
… He got played.
Even in a world torn to pieces, you move up in the world by the people you know, not what you know. Coco has an eye for customers, and it was likely that she guided them to Shang's store.
"...Uh…I… You see," Adam tried to come up with an answer so he wouldn't have to acknowledge the hard truth of business 101.
He hastily raised his hand, extending his fingers except for his thumb, "four people! Yes, you have board and card games for four people. Don't tell me that you have enough cards for the now eight people in the base."
At this, Yakumo wore a frozen smile.
"Don't tell me that you want us to take turns because eight people at once is too much for you!" And Adam didn't let him retort, and provoked him.
If Yakumo were to say something without answering, it would look as if he were avoiding the subject.
"Y'know, the funny thing is," the ex-mercenary's stiff smirk grew into a brazen grin, "I know you are playing me… but-"
…
….
…..
"-Fu*k! I got played!" Yakumo slammed the twenty cards in his hand onto the table after Coco put down her two cards.
One matched the color, and another was a +4. She held that just for the hell of it. She was devious.
No wonder half of the team didn't want her to make the rules at the start.
Regrettably, the newcomers didn't know her twisted nature in such mind games and didn't stop her from doing so.
"Hahaha!"
Yakumo recognized that laugh.
He turned to Adam, "What are you laughing at! You had way more cards than I!"
He was right. Adam had to use Apoz to hold more cards because they didn't fit in his hands anymore.
Alas, he bought it, and now he sure is using it.
He was the one doing the worst, even below Oliver, who couldn't lie for his life.
"I'm just teaching Io what not to do." Adam, unashamed, hid behind the woman in question.
She nodded, "I learned a lot."
____________________________________________________________________________
Word Count: 3,085
Sorry if that unadulterated, hot, sweaty, unprotected raw handholding made you blush.