My Baby Daddy Isn’t Human

Steam curled into the air as Raelynn stirred the simmering soup in the pot, the gentle bubbling sound filling the otherwise quiet kitchen. The scent of garlic and herbs drifted around her, warm and inviting, but her mind was elsewhere. She hadn't intended to cook, but after everything that had happened, her hands had moved on their own. It felt like the least she could do.

Her gaze flickered to the bandages wrapped around her fingers, a small reminder of how reckless she had been. And then, there was Elion—wounded because of her. A pang of guilt twisted inside her chest, making her grip the wooden spoon tighter. He had shielded her without hesitation, taken the brunt of the attack meant for her. She sighed, scooping up a spoonful of broth before tasting it. The flavors were rich, but she barely registered them.

With a deep breath, she turned off the stove and grabbed two bowls from the cabinet. The quiet clinking of porcelain was the only sound as she plated the food. It was simple—just soup with some bread on the side—but it was all she could manage. Hopefully, Elion wouldn't complain.

She was just about to place the last dish when the sound of footsteps made her pause. There he was, standing in the doorway, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp as they landed on her. His hair was slightly tousled, as if he had just gotten out of bed, and his shirt hung loosely over his frame, emphasizing his broad shoulders.

Raelynn blinked, momentarily forgetting what she was doing. His presence had that effect on her—an ability to make her brain momentarily shut down.

"You cooked?" His voice was smooth, tinged with amusement as he arched a brow at her.

She huffed, snapping out of it. "Yeah. Good timing. Sit down, I made lunch."

Elion smirked but didn't argue, walking over to the table with slow steps. He lowered himself into the chair, exhaling slightly as he adjusted his position. That small sound didn't escape her notice. Her gaze immediately dropped to his injured hand, still wrapped in fresh bandages.

Elion followed her stare and rolled his eyes. "Don't start," he muttered.

"I didn't say anything."

"You were about to."

Raelynn clicked her tongue but let it go, sliding the bowl toward him. "Eat."

Elion picked up the spoon with his uninjured hand, his movements slower than usual. He tried to scoop up some soup, but his grip was awkward, and the spoon trembled slightly. Raelynn's eyes narrowed as he attempted to bring it to his mouth, only for half the liquid to spill back into the bowl. He paused, his expression blank as if pretending it hadn't just happened.

She stared at him. He stared at the soup. A muscle in his jaw ticked.

"…You can't eat properly, can you?" she asked flatly.

Elion exhaled through his nose, setting the spoon down. "I can. I just need to adjust."

Raelynn crossed her arms. "Sure. At this rate, we'll be here until dinner."

He shot her a look, but before he could argue, she reached for the spoon. Elion blinked as she scooped up some soup and held it out toward him.

"Open up," she said simply.

He gave her a long, unreadable stare. "You're joking."

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

There was a beat of silence. Then, slowly, a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "You're really going to spoon-feed me?"

Raelynn rolled her eyes. "Unless you want to starve."

He didn't move at first, as if contemplating whether to accept. Then, with a slight tilt of his head, he leaned forward and parted his lips just enough for her to slide the spoon in. The soup's comforting warmth settled between them, making time slow just a little. Raelynn swallowed, suddenly aware of how close they were.

Elion sat back, chewing thoughtfully. His gaze flickered to her. "Not bad."

She blinked. "Huh?"

"The food. It's good."

"Oh." She cleared her throat, quickly scooping up another spoonful. "Well, I don't cook often, so don't expect this every day."

Elion smirked. "Pity. I could get used to this."

Raelynn narrowed her eyes but continued feeding him, their pace settling into something natural. With each bite, she found herself relaxing. The tension from earlier had faded, replaced by something calmer, something easier.

At one point, Elion huffed a quiet laugh. "You're surprisingly good at this."

Raelynn rolled her eyes. "For someone who always says he's fine, you sure do need my help a lot."

Elion chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Maybe I just like the attention."

She nearly dropped the spoon. Heat rushed to her face, but she quickly masked it with a scowl. "You—! Just eat your soup."

His smirk widened, clearly enjoying her flustered reaction. "As you wish."

Words flowed between them, playful one moment, thoughtful the next. At some point, Raelynn found herself watching him—noticing the way his expression softened, seeing the way his sharp features relaxed in the cozy light. It was rare to see him like this.

As she lifted another spoonful, Elion suddenly exhaled, closing his eyes for a brief moment. His body sagged just slightly, as if exhaustion was creeping up on him.

Raelynn hesitated. "Are you okay?"

He looked at her, eyes dark with something she couldn't quite figure out. His nod was subtle, his voice even softer. "Yeah."

But she wasn't convinced. He might be strong, but even he had limits. And right now, he was pushing them.

Without thinking, she reached for his free hand, her fingers curling around his. Elion stiffened slightly, caught off guard, but she didn't let go. Instead, she gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

"Just… rest, okay?" she said softly.

For a moment, he didn't say anything. Then, his fingers tightened around hers, his grip warm and steady. "Alright."

Raelynn smiled, just a little. She didn't have a name for whatever was going on, but taking care of him felt right.