“What? I have to help?”

Together we stood in the kitchen. Kaami was in the middle of chopping some onions. Tau put his hands on his hips. “We’re all cooking lunch together because it is the best time to talk about the day and to be together. We can get to know each other better”, Kaami replied and looked at Tau.

“No way! I’m not doing slave-work!” “What? Right now, Kaami is the only one working.” “What does cutting onions have to do with slave-work”, Kaami asked and got back to work.

“It’s - You want me to serve you!” He crossed his arms and eyeballed Kaami who didn’t respond to his complaints.

“What are you even cooking?” “Pasta”, was my short answer while I turned to the fridge and grabbed some sweet peppers and half zucchini. “I’m vegetarian”, Tau continued.

“Perfect! Here are some sweet peppers. Will you please cut them, too?”

“No! I’m not your slave! I-” “Okay!” Kaami turned around, sighed, and tried to smile at him.

“You don’t have to cut them.” “Then I’ll go-” “You stir the vegetables.” And before Tau could say a word of protest, Kaami put the wooden spoon in his hand and nodded towards the big pot that was already standing on the stove.

“I won’t work”, the kid tried to protest again, but Kaami only shook his head. 

“Come on boy, you basically have to stand there and hold the spoon”, I tried to convince him, and Tau didn’t complain. At first, he stared at me, brows furrowing, then his angry expression melted and he blankly stared down on the floor.

I placed my things next to Kaami and started chopping, too.

Minutes in silence passed.

Eventually, Tau cleared his throat.

“What do I do now?”

“Oh - sure - do you see that green bottle?” Kaami looked over the working surface. Tau followed his eyes. “That one?” He pointed at the oil bottle and Kaami nodded.

While I continued cutting all vegetables, he showed Tau how to pour oil into the pot and how to heat the stove.

“Now that the oil is warm enough you can put in the onions.”

Fascinated, I watched how Kaami and Tau talked. The boy was still cautious around Kaami but seemed less stressed than three days ago.

I smiled even harder when Kaami automatically leaned over to show Tau how to stir everything.

“What?”

Caught in the act I tried to focus on something else, but Kaami was too fast.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing.”

I wanted to lean away but his hands grabbed my waist and he pulled me closer.

“What’s up, babe?” “Nothing - really! I-I just” While I tried to talk, he rubbed his forehead against mine. “What’s so funny?” “I’m happy”, I murmured and he stopped teasing me. “What? Why?”

I looked at Tau who watched us and couldn’t hide a smirk, too.

“For you”, I whispered and kissed his nose. “For me? I - Nik!” “Sir, what do we do now”, Tau interrupted our very embarrassing quiz game and let us focus on making food.

“Finally!”

Tau threw his fist in the air like someone who had won first place in a competition.

We had set the table and seated around the plates and the pasta pot.

“Enjoy your meal!”

The first one to grab the pasta spoon was Tau. He shoved an enormous mountain of pasta on his plate and started eating - like it was the last thing to do in his life.

“Hey buddy, slow down”, Kaami smiled and took the spoon.

“There is enough for everyone.”

“Huh.” 

“Yes, you can even have another round if you’re still hungry”, I chuckled and started eating.

“U no? She ‘a-besh noo-sh I eba abe!”

“What?”

“Shee ah-” “Wait! First you eat, then you talk”, I cut him off with a sharp voice. Tau gave me an annoyed look but didn’t complain. Very loudly and unbelievably fast he chewed the noodles and swallowed.

Kaami laughed. “Must have been something important, huh?”

“Nah, just the best noodles in a long time. The food in the orphanage sucks - like really sucks!” 

“That's ´cause you made it yourself. Homemade food is always the best”, I said while digging my fork into the noodles.

Tau didn't reply but continued eating quietly.

While washing the dishes, Kaami and I barely said a word. I didn't exactly know what to say with Tau sitting at the table and doing his homework. And I didn't want to distract him.

“Tau?”

After putting all the dishes back into the cupboard, we turned to the kitchen table. Tau barely moved a muscle. “Hm?” “Is it okay for you if we leave you alone?” “Gosh, you don't have to hold my hand all the time! I’m twelve, for fuck’s sake!” “Tau”, Kaami growled behind me as if to remind the boy of something. He shrugged, finally looked at us.

“No swearing - got it!”

“We’ll be in the living room.”