Golden spears of sunlight spilled across the polished wooden floors of the Emiya residence, stretching lazily from the open windows and settling into the quiet warmth of the home. The early morning breeze drifted in, carrying with it the faint scent of summer and the distant hum of a waking town.
Standing by the kitchen window was a tall young man.
Lightly tanned skin. Short dark ash-brown hair, its ends catching auburn under the sunlight as it swayed gently with the breeze. His posture was relaxed, almost absent-minded, as if the stillness of the morning belonged to him.
The soft clink of porcelain broke the silence as he poured tea into a cup, the faint steam curling upward before disappearing into the air.
Footsteps followed soon after.
Abel didn't turn, a quiet hum escaped him instead as he slid the cup across the counter without looking.
It was caught effortlessly. A pale hand, slender and elegant, lifted the cup with practiced ease. Crimson eyes glinted with amusement as their owner perched herself atop the counter like she belonged there.
Snow-white hair framed a face that didn't quite belong in a normal morning.
"Mhm… delicious as always, Abel." she hummed, taking a slow sip. "You really are an amazing partner."
"Thanks."
The reply came flat.
Ishtar's lips curved.
"You should be more grateful, you know. Compliments from me aren't exactly common."
She leaned forward slightly, resting her chin against her palm as she watched him.
"You'll hurt my feelings if you keep acting like that every day."
A quiet sigh left Abel.
The same exchange. The same tone. The same result.
Every morning.
"I'm glad it suits your taste," he said after a moment, flipping a pancake with a practiced motion. "I tried."
Muted gold met crimson as he turned slightly.
Ishtar smiled.
"That's much better."
Another sip.
A pause.
"Still not perfect, though. Try harder next time, okay~?"
"Mhm."
A comfortable silence followed.
The faint sizzle of bacon filled the space as Abel returned his focus to the stove. Ishtar remained where she was, watching him without saying anything more, her gaze lingering in a way that suggested she had no intention of leaving any time soon.
More footsteps.
Lighter this time.
"Morning…"
Shirou entered with a small yawn, rubbing the back of his head as he stepped into the kitchen. His eyes drifted toward the stove, then toward Abel, before a resigned smile settled on his face.
"You're up early again," he sighed, taking a seat at the table. "Here I thought I'd finally be the one making breakfast."
"You say that every day."
"You should try harder~"
The synchronized response earned a short laugh from Shirou.
"Yeah, yeah… I get it."
He leaned back slightly, resting his arms behind his head.
"So, what's on the menu today?"
"Blueberry pancakes. Bacon."
Abel stacked the pancakes neatly onto a plate, placing strips of bacon carefully at the side before turning—
—and stopping.
The plate he had in hand was gone.
"…Yum! Thanks for the food as always, man!"
Abel stared at his empty hands for a moment.
Then slowly looked up.
A man sat casually atop the dining table, already halfway through a pancake.
Messy dark blue hair. A uniform worn improperly—coat tied around his waist, sleeves absent, tank top exposed. His pants were torn at the edges, as if effort had never once been made to fix them.
"…How did you get inside?"
"I used the key I had, duh."
Abel's gaze didn't change.
"…Since when did you have a key?"
"Since I stole your spare last week."
Another sigh.
Heavier this time.
Behind him, Shirou laughed.
Ishtar didn't even bother hiding hers.
"You should really be more careful, Abel," she mused. "For a man of your caliber, you're surprisingly easy to steal from."
"I noticed."
Abel turned back to the stove, already preparing another plate without complaint.
"Man, this is good," Renji spoke between bites, completely unbothered. "You ever think about opening a restaurant or something?"
"No."
"Shame, you really should, then give me free food for the idea."
"At least leave some for everyone, Renji," Shirou added, leaning forward slightly a smile.
Renji grinned. "Too slow."
"Eat properly."
"I am eating properly."
"That's not what I meant."
As the conversation slowly faded into the quiet hum of the morning, Ishtar slipped off the counter with a soft thud, her movements light—almost deliberate. She made her way over without a word, each step quiet against the wooden floor until she stood just beside Abel.
Leaning in slightly, she tilted her head, crimson eyes fixed on him with a familiar, expectant gleam. A small smile tugged at her lips.
"What?" Abel asked, a faint smile forming despite himself.
That was all the invitation she needed.
Her eyes lit up.
Her smile widened—sharper now, smug.
She leaned forward, resting her chin lightly against his shoulder as if she had always belonged there.
"Feed me."
"No."
"Cruel."
"You have hands."
"They're occupied."
She raised her empty cup slightly, tilting it just enough to make her point clear.
Abel stared at her.
For a second.
Two.
Then exhaled quietly.
Without another word, he picked up a strip of bacon and held it out to her.
Ishtar's smile softened—just a little.
Victorious.
She leaned in and bit down.
"…Hm."
Abel's gaze drifted toward the window, just for a moment.
Sunlight still poured into the room, warm and steady. The breeze continued to pass through the open space, gentle and unchanged.
Everything was as it should be.
"…That's my fingers you're biting now."
Ishtar pulled back slightly, blinking once before letting out a soft, amused laugh.
"Oh my. My apologies." Her smile returned, brighter this time. "They were delicious, though~"
Another sigh escaped Abel's lips that morning