The morning sunlight filtered through the cracks of my bedroom window, casting a gentle warmth on my face. Yet, the lingering exhaustion made me reluctant to leave the bed. My plans for a few more moments of peace were abruptly interrupted by a light tap on my cheek.
"Wake up, you ugly bird. It's already late," came a familiar, high-pitched voice, playful yet soft.
Reluctantly, I opened my eyes, blinking slowly. Fenrir, with her wide grin and a wagging tail, was sitting squarely on my stomach. I frowned. "What are you doing on top of me?"
"Making sure you wake up, you lazy bird," she replied with a small laugh, her gaze warm despite her teasing words.
I let out a huff, trying to suppress the smile tugging at my lips. "I never imagined being woken up by someone like you," I said, half-joking.
Fenrir narrowed her eyes, her lips pursed in mock offense. "Are you mocking me? You should be grateful that I, Fenrir, the mightiest wolf of the Norse lands, sacrificed my morning sleep just to wake you up, you ugly bird!" she proclaimed, puffing her chest with exaggerated pride.
I rolled my eyes, too tired to match her energy. "Yes, yes. I get it. Thank you for your noble effort, mighty wolf."
Fenrir let out a frustrated huff, mumbling something incoherent under her breath. "You're such an annoying pet."
"I'm sorry if I can't live up to your expectations," I replied, scratching my head lazily. "By the way, could you move a little? I'd like to sit up."
"So annoying," she muttered, her lips still pouting.
She shifted slightly but didn't entirely move away. Instead, she perched herself on my thighs, allowing me just enough room to sit upright on the bed.
"This is better," I remarked.
Fenrir's expression softened, her golden eyes scanning me intently from my tousled hair to the parts of me uncovered by the blanket. "It looks like your wounds have healed completely."
I nodded slowly. "Yeah, everything's fine now."
"That's a relief." She smiled, the tension in her shoulders easing.
Her expression warmed my heart. I wanted to lighten the mood further with a joke, but before I could speak, Fenrir suddenly moved closer and wrapped her arms around me in a tight embrace.
"What are—"
My words caught in my throat as she buried her head against my chest. Her breathing slowed, her voice coming out in a gentle murmur. "Please... don't be reckless again."
Her sudden action left me momentarily stunned. Yet her tone—soft, soothing, and filled with worry—was so different from her usual self. A small smile found its way onto my lips as I slowly returned the embrace.
"Alright. I'll try."
"You won't promise me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. "I'm sorry," I finally said.
"It's okay. I understand."
Her simple words carried a depth that resonated within me, grounding me like the roots of a towering tree. But the tender moment was abruptly interrupted when the door swung open, revealing a pink-haired maid with bear-like ears holding a tray of food.
"Excuse me, sir. I brought—" Her words faltered, her eyes widening as she took in the sight of us embracing. Her face turned beet red.
Both Fenrir and I froze, staring at her in wide-eyed silence. Words failed us as if an invisible hand had choked our throats.
"I-I'm sorry for intruding on your precious moment! I'll take my leave immediately!" she stammered, hastily setting the tray on the nearest table before bowing awkwardly and bolting out, slamming the door shut behind her.
Silence. The world seemed to pause for a moment. Neither of us spoke or moved, the awkwardness lingering heavily in the air.
Finally, Fenrir broke the silence with a confused whisper. "What do we do now?"
I shrugged, glancing at the door. "We should probably eat first." I tried to get up, but Fenrir placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Don't move. You just recovered. Have you already forgotten about your injuries?"
"Fine."
Fenrir climbed off me carefully and walked gracefully to the corner of the room, retrieving the tray. She returned to the bedside, sitting on the edge as she set it between us.
"You need to eat to recover," she said softly, her tone unusually gentle.
She picked up a spoon, scooped up some food, and held it out to me. "Come on, open your mouth," she urged with a small smile that lit up her face.
Without thinking, I opened my mouth, accepting the spoonful without protest, as if hypnotized by her uncharacteristic kindness. As I swallowed, a faint blush crept up my cheeks.
"Fen, I can feed myself," I mumbled.
She shook her head lightly, her golden eyes meeting mine with unwavering resolve. "Let me take care of you. Just this once," she said warmly.
The next spoonful came, and I accepted it without hesitation. The room fell into a peaceful silence, and for the first time, I saw a side of her I had never witnessed before.
There were no demands, no teasing, no signs of arrogance—just a pure, unselfish desire to care for me.
As she fed me, the morning sunlight kissed her face, accentuating her natural beauty. For some reason, I felt at ease. Her gentle smile brought a faint one to my lips as well.
"Hey, why are you smiling like that?" she asked, half-annoyed, her face tinged with pink. "Don't tell me you're thinking something weird!"
I shook my head slightly, hiding my grin. "Nothing."
But deep inside, I thought differently. If Fenrir could show more of this side of her, she'd be absolutely perfect.
Grumble.
Suddenly, the sound of Fenrir's growling stomach broke the silence. I looked at her, and she stared back, her face a mixture of embarrassment and innocence.
"You're hungry, aren't you?" I asked, barely holding back a laugh.
"N-no, I'm not!" she protested, even as her stomach growled again.
I sighed, shaking my head as I pushed the plate toward her. "Go ahead. I'm full."
Her eyes sparkled. "Really? Then I won't hold back." Without hesitation, she began devouring the rest of the food.
I couldn't help but smile as I watched her eat with childlike enthusiasm. There was something endearing and charming in her unpolished nature.
For reasons I couldn't explain, watching her this morning washed away all the exhaustion and pain I had felt before. Fenrir, in all her quirks and contradictions, had a way of making me feel... alive.