The Bakery Witch (Reinhardt X Reader.)
Prompt: Magical universe AU where Character A is a witch who bakes tarts and miniature pies that do everything from soothing a child’s persistent cough, to helping boost a student’s memory before a big test.
Part 1 Part 2 AO3 Link Author Babble: I had to split this big boy into 2 chapters as it was getting a bit long. So if the end feels abrupt. That would be why. I have a vague loose outline for this story but who knows if I am going to stick to it. Turning into a bit of a slow burn huh~ Enjoy!
The cold air hit you before the loud purring from Bella registered in your brain, you opened an eye and heaved a heavy sigh. You did not want to get up and yet, that’s exactly what you had to do. Eyeing the cute ball of fluff on your chest however, you could always put that on hold for a little bit. Just for a little.
Lifting a hand out from the warm blanket to scratch under the small creature’s chin, you listened with a soft smile as the purring increased. Your familiar melting under the affection, her eyes slipping half shut as her tail flicked contently next to her.
“Good morning” you whispered softly. Bella just purred more, headbutting your head and licking at your fingers while you laughed. Appreciating the love this early no doubt.
The next few minutes were spent just laying there, your fingers lightly scratching behind her ear while she sounded like she was trying to take off from your chest. A magical purr powered machine.
Tragically- in your not so humble opinion- it ended far too soon and she paused, her head lifting and tilting slightly. Her ears flicking as if she was listening out for something.
‘There’s someone coming up the path’ her voice rang softly in your head and you were halfway through turning towards the window as three loud knocks sounded at your front door. The hand heavy.
“Coming!” You called out, your voice loud as it echoed throughout the house. Bouncing from wall to wall and hopefully hitting the front doors where your company was waiting.
Slipping out of the blanket, you allowed yourself a brief moment to stretch and snickered as Bella simply took up residence in the warmth you vacated.
“Silly girl” You whispered, moving the blanket so it surrounded her in even more warmth. Making a small nest around her as her soft laughter echoed in your head.
Next order of business, you slipped your feet into your warm fluffy slippers and tucked yourself into one of your jackets. A better defence against the cold chill of the morning air than just your pyjamas.
On your way to your front door, you scanned your surroundings. Tables, side tables, a quick glance into the kitchen just to make sure everything that wasn't for prying eyes was tucked away out of sight.
No old tomes, no knives or wands left out, no spell jars in obvious view or anything charging in the morning sun.
Content that you were safe, you went and opened the front door. Expecting Mrs Macmillan or one of the other older women from town, especially after yesterday. That had been quite embarrassing.
What you got however instead was Reinhardt, in a tight black shirt and casual pants. A casserole dish clutched in his arms like a piece of precious cargo. He looked. . .strangely adorable in an out-of-place type of way and you opened your mouth to question his appearance here of all places before Mrs Macmillan popped out from behind him. Two large bags nearly bursting with food containers in her hands.
From the variations of smells you were getting on the breeze, you suspected she had done with old women did best: Gossip and had told the whole town you were unwell. They in turn had done what most towns did: Made a shit ton of food.
You were not going to turn down free food.
“Oh my, both of you come in come in!” You stepped aside, opening one door wider as you gestured them both in. An amused smile settling onto your face. “Really this wasn't necessary”
Mrs Macmillan simply scoffed at you and patted your cheek as she passed you by, already heading towards the kitchen. She had visited a few times so you guessed she knew the layout decently enough.
Reinhardt however.
You had to bite your tongue to stop yourself from letting out a quiet laugh seeing him squeeze in through your doorway and not knock anything over. You as a kindness, leaned over past him and opened the secondary door giving him a lot more room to maneuver.
“Thank you” His voice was a lot quieter than you expected and you looked up to see a light flush to his cheeks
“You're quite welcome” you told him, swallowing down a delighted laugh. Oh he was simply adorable. You laid a hand on his arm and nodded him towards the kitchen “I'll be right with you both”
He nodded and slowly made his way towards the kitchen. You allowed yourself a moment to stare a small smile on your face before you turned and shut both doors. Locking them both. Just in case.
“Really dear, you need to take more care of yourself.” Mrs Macmillan said as you walked into the kitchen, she was unpacking the bags and your earlier guess had been stop-on. She was unloading box after box after box of food onto your kitchen counter.
There was a lot of it. You had to wonder who had cooked what and when they had the time.
“I’m fine Mrs Macmillan, really. I just got caught up in my work” You said, giving her a reassuring smile. “I”ll make sure it doesn't happen again”
A heavy hand coming to rest on your shoulder caused you to turn your head, your eyes rising to meet Reinhardt's worried ones. Concern written all over his face.
“It was not because of my request was it?” He asked and you shook your head quickly, relief coloured his expression and he gave you a warm smile “Good! A Crusader should never put someone's life at risk. Exhaustion should not be taken lightly”
“I’ll try to be more careful” You promised, taking the casserole off him and putting it on the table as a distraction from the way your heart was doing flips in your chest. His concern burying itself into you and carving out a place. You didn't like worrying him you found. That was new.
He opened his mouth as if to speak but a small ‘meow’ interrupted him.
Bella had decided to make her grand appearance. Walking into the room as if she owned it- she did- she looked up at you, slow blinked and started rubbing up against Rein's legs. Her cat glamour was locked firmly in place and she was purring like a little motor. Much to your amusement.
You shook your head fondly, rolling your eyes as if to say 'cats' to the other two beings in the room and glanced over towards where you usually found the bones of her breakfast, silently wondering if she'd eaten already before she decided to surprise you. . .
By doing what? Jumping up into Reinhardt's arms.
You tried to decide if the slight panic in Reinhardt’s expression was funny or sad.
“Bella Meine Liebe , you can't be doing that” you said, cooing softly to your little creature as she settled in. Simply blinking at you in reply “You little devil”
Mrs Macmillan laughed as Bella meowed back at you, a mock-angry expression being put onto your face before you rolled your eyes.
“Well if you are going to be like that fine. Silly girl. Alright out you go. Once she's decided it is 'lavish attention upon me' time, you aren't going to be of any use here” You said, beginning to gesture Rein out into your living room before catching the eye of Mrs Macmillan and laughing nervously at the look she was giving you “Um ha ha, both of us out of the kitchen then.”
“Better” Mrs Macmillan said, turning her attention back to her task of unpacking the bags. You and Reinhardt shared a quick glance before you both left the room. Clearly both of you had experience when it came to stubborn elders.
Leading the way into the living room, you gestured for him to take the couch-it was in truth the only thing he would fit on- while you curled up in your preferred armchair.
You decided, watching him slowly lower himself onto your couch and place Bella onto his lap like she was made of glass, it was more sad than funny. Watching him interact with her. He was being so careful, so gentle and it tugged on your heartstrings more than you would have liked to admit.
You had done your research the night after your first meeting, devouring every piece of information you could find on the man. His suit of armour was impressive, as was the hammer he wielded as his weapon but both would require a lot of strength.
You supposed he was so used to wielding his hammer, having power behind every swing, hitting with all his strength that he was scared to hurt her on accident.
The thought squeezed at your heart while as the same time warming it. It was a strange mix. Bittersweet.
“She may be small but she's sturdy” You said softly, as if you were speaking to a frightened animal and not a war hero. His eyes met yours from his studying of her and you gave him a reassuring smile “She won't break I promise, give her a pat. If she doesn't like it, she'll just scratch you and move.”
“Alright” his fingers slowly moved towards her and began scratching behind her ear. Bella clearly loved it as she practically melted into a cat pile, her purring loud enough for you to hear on the other side of the room.
Your smile grew seeing the tension slowly fade from his shoulders.
“What is her name?” He asked, beginning to get a little bit more comfortable on the couch while making sure not to move the purring one. It was sweet you decided, seeing him interact with her. You liked it.
“Bella” you answered, watching her as her eyes slipped shut. You could still remember the day you met her like it was yesterday “I found her on my front door step after coming home from a long shift on a rainy night a few years ago. I got her inside, got her warm and got her fed. Waited until the next day to ask if she belonged to anyone. No one recognised her so I got the honour of adopting her”
It wasn't. . .a lie per-say.
You had found her at your front door and you had truly asked around to see if anyone knew her or where she'd come from but it had all been for show. A societal act. Just to say that you had tried if anyone asked.
Truly you knew she'd been yours from the moment her amused voice had asked if you were going to let her inside. She'd scared you half to death doing that, suddenly a voice from the darkness, you swore you had jumped ten feet in the air you liked to say recounting the story for the more magically inclined as they came to visit.
She was still extremely proud of herself for that.
“It is a beautiful name, she is lucky” He said smiling and you couldn't help but laugh, a bright sound that seemed to light up the air.
“If anyone is lucky it's me” You admitted, folding your hands in your lap as you looked at her. “She is my lucky charm, my days have gotten a lot better with her in them. Even if she cannot be trusted when I'm baking at home. She likes stepping on the cookies to leave a paw print as they are cooling.”
Reinhardt barked out a loud laugh, the sound causing your smile to grow while Bella just meowed. Her soft laughter filling your head. Clearly she wasn't ashamed of herself, little devil.
“I bet she keeps you on your toes” He said, clearly too delighted by the idea and you laughed nodding
“She truly does” You agreed, fondly shaking your head “I have far too many stories of her mischief and many others of her almost giving me heart attacks over her. Such is the life of a cat owner”
“I have never had pets, they seem like little tricksters” He chuckled, moving to scratch under Bella's chin and grinning as she purred even louder. You hadn't thought a thing was possible
'Show off'
“Obviously~” she sounded far too pleased with herself and you simply rolled your eyes again
“I would say you could take her on weekends but I think I would miss her too much” you joked, kicking your slippers off to tuck your legs underneath you. “She would love the attention and I would never get her back”
“I would never!” Rein insisted, grin still in place on his face even as his tone became serious “Parting her from you would be cruel”
Bella meowed as if in agreement and Rein lifted her up, supporting her legs easily with his big hands, as if she had just proved his point
“Both of you calm down, it was a joke” you waved a hand about as if dismissing them both, shaking your head as Rein lowered your familiar and allowed her to settle again “Honestly. As bad as each other”
“Mischief comes in pairs” It was the eyebrow wiggle that got you and you snorted, spiralling into a giggle fit while Rein looked far too pleased with himself.
“Terrible” you insisted while he just chuckled
“Never”
The silence that lapsed between the two of you was comfortable.
There was no awkward pause or unsettled coughing or clearing of throats, just two people content in each other's company. It was nice you had to admit.
You would never say it was lonely living in your home, you had Bella after all and the two of you could easily talk for hours upon hours with one another. Either about potions and ingredients or gossip you heard that day or whatever she had stumbled upon prancing about the forest.
There was never a dull moment between you both.
But there was something different about his company, it helped both settle and lift you. You found it difficult to explain.
You would likely realise later that you were developing a crush on the war hero but for now, you were just content.
