Congratulations on 100 followers! Here for the game: 💙 for Helnik! (but not sad please!)

Thanks! <3 <3 <3

Nina

Nina is confused, to say the least. Matthias has been vanishing off somewhere every few days a week. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. From 6 pm to 8 pm. At first, when she asked him if they could go for a movie and he said he was busy, she let it go. Then he came late for one of their at-home dinner dates, which she was a bit annoyed at but promptly forgot about it when he wrapped his arms around her and just held her for a few minutes. But slowly, she started to notice the pattern. Same three days. Same hours.

Whenever she asked, he'd have an excuse prepared. Whenever she called during those two hours he'd pick up and repeat the excuse. She's considered the obvious options. A surprise for her. But both her birthday and their anniversary has since passed and he's still not stopped whatever this is. An extra job. But he never has work from this elusive "job" so she's dismissed that too. A proposal. But they're already married so what would he even propose? And why would it take this long? Plus she knows that Matthias is not the type to take big life decisions without discussing it with her (they discussed the idea of marriage months before he proposed. She loved that he wouldn't do it without asking her first).

She has even considered the worst, most terrible thing, an affair. She dutifully sniffed his clothes for a smell of a new perfume and peered at them carefully to search for a differently coloured hair strand. When neither turned up, she was relieved but not too surprised, she didn't really think Matthias would do that to her.

She's tried all sorts of ways to figure out what it is. She's tried following him many many times yet he always loses her somehow. Out of desperation she even asked Inej once and he somehow managed to hide from her too! She's running out of patience and has decided to confront him tonight when he gets back from wherever it is he goes during this time. She's on her way home on this dreary Monday evening and she's already thinking of ways to bring it up. She's not too worried though, she has a few hours to think of it, it's only 5:30 pm.

Matthias

Matthias is excited for tonight. He's been prepping all day and he can't wait for Nina to come see. He's perfectly dressed for the task and is ready to go. He's also eager to end this secrecy. He knows Nina knows something is up. He's actually quite impressed that she managed to go this long without asking. He recollects her various other devious ways though, following him, even getting Inej to follow him (all he had to do was tell Inej the plan and she left him alone) and even calling him randomly to see whether he'd let something spill by mistake. He grins to himself, he loves the way her mind works.

He hears the door knob shake a bit and the sound of a key being inserted. He holds his breath as she walks in. And walks right past him into the living room, onto the sofa and collapses onto it with a sigh. He hears her muttering to herself, "oh he's gonna tell me today". He smiles and walks over to her.

"Nina."

Her eyes pop open and she looks at him as if she's seeing a ghost.

"Wh-what are you doing here?" she asks, bewildered.

"I live here, love," he quips, trying not to grin at her.

She narrows her eyes and is about to reply when he grabs her hand and tugs her to their dining table. She stands there gawking for a moment. Many moments. When it's been almost a minute she turns to him and seems to suddenly notice the apron he's wearing.

"You...did all this yourself?" she whispers. Even as she's looking at him, her eyes keep darting to the feast he's displayed on the table.

"I did," his voice reflecting the pride evident in his smile.

"Then...wait, is this related to your Monday-Wednesday-Friday ritual?" Her eyes are narrowed and her hands are on her waist.

"I took cooking classes, and baking ones too," he clarifies, eyes growing brighter and brighter.

"Ugh, I hate you," she groans, and then smooshes her face into his chest and wraps her arms around him. He hugs her back, feeling his excitement melt into syrupy sweet contentment.

Nina

How could he do this to her? How dare he! He can't just be this thoughtful and sweet and- oh screw this! She pulls away and presses her lips to his, trying to convey all her bittersweet emotions about this (such lies, there is not a single bitter emotion right now, she feels as if she is about to explode with all the love blooming inside her).

She kisses him, thank you and I love you and I cannot believe you did this.

And he kisses her back, I would do anything for you and I love you too and How can you not believe I'd learn to make the one thing you love as much as you love me (food, that is)?

After lots of kissing, they sit together and eat. Nina is in awe of all the wonderful things Matthias has made and Matthias is in awe of Nina, not because of how fast she manages to finish all the food, but just because.