The gentle clatter of kitchen utensils was the first thing to pull Sora from sleep. Somewhere nearby, something sizzled and she caught the scent of bacon in hot oil curling into the air. Her eyes blinked open, though the darkness behind her eyelids remained unchanged. That groggy, scratchy heaviness still clung to her face, but there was no light to shield from, no shapes to make out. A voice called across the room, drawing her fully from her fog.
"Morning," Yusei said, somewhere near the kitchen area. "Hope you're hungry. You like bacon and eggs?"
She yawned, stretching her arms above her before curling them back toward her chest. "Yes, thank you."
She heard the crackle of bacon turning in the pan, the scrape of a spatula.
"How'd you sleep?" he asked over the hiss of oil.
Sora pushed herself up into a sitting position, running a hand over her hair to settle it, the blanket slipping off her shoulders. "Honestly? Really well. Which is... rare. I don't usually sleep easy in a new place."
The sound of his footsteps approached then the soft clink of a plate being set down in front of her, just off to the left. A second later, the faint tap of a mug beside it. The scent of tea joined the bacon, weaving warmth straight into her chest.
"Must've felt comfortable, then." Yusei said thoughtfully and she heard his feet walk back the way he came.
She smiled faintly, nodding. "I guess so."
She reached forward slowly, fingers sweeping until they found the edge of the table. Using that as her guide, she slid her hand forward, palm flat, until it bumped gently into the plate's rim. She adjusted herself, carefully feeling either side, her fingertips touching cold metal. A knife to the right. Fork to the left.
Sora appreciated that he hadn't stayed and tried to narrate every little thing. He hadn't hovered. He knew she could find it all by sound and instinct, and he let her.
Some people were well-meaning but overbearing. Constantly assuming she needed help to so much as sit upright. She did need help sometimes, but she didn't want to be treated like she was helpless.
She lifted the fork, feeling around until the prongs hit the crisp edge of a strip of bacon. Holding it steady, she reached for the knife and, with practiced precision, cut a neat piece. She brought it to her mouth, chewing slowly. It was perfectly seasoned and salted, and she all but melted as she savored the taste.
"Mmm." She smiled and sighed. "That's really good. Thank you."
From the kitchen, Yusei chuckled. "You're more than welcome."
She heard him moving again, the rhythmic sound of a whisk, a pan lifted, something being stirred.
"Jack and Crow'll be up and down soon," he said over the growing hum of morning activity. "I figured we'd spend today brainstorming, try and see what ideas we can come up with to help you ride. With your input, of course."
She paused mid-bite, this time with egg yolk warm on her tongue. She set the fork down, folding her hands gently on her lap. "Yusei... thank you. Again. But-" her tone dipped with uncertainty "are you sure it's not... too much? I mean, you're offering to help me figure out something people have basically told me was impossible, and you're letting me stay here, too. You haven't even said how long I can stay. Aren't I... imposing?"
Yusei responded without hesitation. "Of course you aren't."
"But I'm a total stranger."
"No, you're not," he said evenly. "Not anymore."
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Yu-Gi-Oh 5D'S: When the Engines Sing
FanfictionTwenty year old Sora Tomo has lived her entire life in darkness. Blinded by tumors as a baby and abandoned to a children's home, she's learned to navigate the world through sound, vibration, memory, and sheer will. Since she was a teen she dreamed o...
