+ MISSION HUH? +

+CHAPTER 37+

"What are you working on?" Victoria asked, pulling up a stool beside him.

Renjun glanced at her, a small smile on his lips. "Just... processing. Painting helps."

Victoria nodded, her gaze flicking to a nearby sketchpad. "Do you mind if I...?"

"Go ahead," Renjun said, his voice gentle.

She opened the sketchpad, pulling out a pencil and starting to draw. Her lines were quick but deliberate, shapes forming into rough designs. Renjun leaned over, curious.

"You're designing wrestling gear?" he asked, tilting his head.

Victoria grinned. "Yeah. For Andrea, Jaemin, and Ethan. You think Drea would eat this up?"

Renjun studied the design—a sleek black and green ensemble with intricate details. "Definitely. She'd love it."

Victoria's smile faltered slightly as she thought of Andrea but quickly refocused on the designs. She and Renjun worked quietly but comfortably, the act of creating easing some of the emotions weighing them down.

+++++++

The kitchen was a flurry of chaos as Victoria ushered Chenle and Jisung inside, shoving aprons into their hands. The boys exchanged wary glances, clearly skeptical of the situation.

"What are we even making?" Chenle asked, eyeing the countertop covered in flour and chocolate chips.

"Cookies," Victoria announced, tying her own apron. "Because everyone loves cookies, and you two need cheering up."

Jisung groaned, holding up the apron like it was a foreign object. "Why do I have to wear this?"

"Because," Victoria said, grabbing a mixing bowl, "if you're gonna bake with me, you have to look the part."

Chenle snickered, tying his apron with exaggerated flair. "Alright, Chef Victoria. Lead the way."

As they got to work, the kitchen quickly descended into a mix of laughter and playful chaos. Chenle was tasked with measuring ingredients, but his "eyeballing" technique left Victoria glaring at him as he dumped an unholy amount of flour into the bowl.

"Chenle!" she scolded, waving a measuring cup at him. "We're baking, not making a snowstorm!"

"What?" Chenle said innocently. "It's fine. Flour's the same thing as sugar, right?"

Jisung groaned, burying his face in his hands. "We're gonna die."

"Relax," Victoria said, taking the bowl from Chenle. "I'll fix it. You two are officially demoted to sous-chefs."

Despite the mishaps, the cookies eventually made it into the oven. As the sweet aroma filled the kitchen, the boys seemed to relax, their earlier sadness momentarily forgotten.

"You're good at this," Jisung said quietly as he watched Victoria clean up the counter.

"At baking?" Victoria asked with a smirk.

"At... making us feel better," Jisung admitted, his voice soft.

Victoria's expression softened as she glanced between the two of them. "That's what older sisters are for."

Chenle grinned. "I guess you're not so bad, Vi."

Victoria laughed, nudging him playfully. "I'm amazing. Don't forget it."

+++++++

That evening, Victoria and Jeno retreated to the media room, their arms full of snacks as they settled in for a Marvel movie marathon.