[Ace's POV]
Gale reached across the table with a pair of long cooking chopsticks. With deliberate, almost fussy precision, he began adding the last of our ingredients to the seasoned broth pot: plump brown mushrooms, the final slices of marbled beef that hissed as they hit the liquid, a tangled nest of white noodles, and finally, a small bowl of shredded cheese that melted instantly into a rich, creamy swirl. He gave the pot a slow stir, the savory steam rising in a fragrant cloud that did nothing to cut the chilling tension in the room.
