Guldrin’s Gluttony: Family Bound by Speed & Food

The first rays of dawn crept lazily through the blinds, painting the room in soft, golden hues. Outside, the world was still cloaked in the hush of early morning, but inside the house, the faint creak of footsteps hinted that not everyone was still lost in the embrace of sleep. 

Shiro, her silvery hair glinting in the soft light, moved with the precision of a shadow, clutching a small, neatly wrapped package in her hands. Her golden eyes sparkled, brimming with excitement, as she padded toward the door she shared with Guldrin.

Balancing the package against her side, she nudged the door open with her shoulder, the faint squeak of the hinges breaking the stillness. The sight that greeted her made her pause, her expression softening. 

Guldrin lay sprawled across the bed, his dark hair a mess of untamed strands that framed his face. His chest rose and fell in peaceful rhythm, and his lips were parted slightly as if mid-dream. He looked so serene, so completely at ease, that Shiro hesitated for a moment, not wanting to disturb the tranquility.

But the mischievous glint in her eye betrayed her better nature. Biting her lip to suppress a giggle, she tiptoed closer, leaning in until her breath tickled his ear. "Guldrin~" she whispered, her voice a playful sing-song.

No response.

Her grin widened as she tried again, this time raising her voice just enough to penetrate his dreams. "Guldrin, wake up, sleepyhead~ It's Christmas~"

The lump beneath the blanket groaned and shifted. "Five more minutes," came the muffled reply, accompanied by a tug at the covers as he pulled them over his head in protest.

Shiro's eyes narrowed, her grin turning wicked. "Oh, no, you don't," she muttered. Leaning even closer, she kissed the tip of his nose, her voice dripping with mock menace. "If you don't wake up, I'll eat your share of the pancakes."

That did the trick. Guldrin bolted upright, his eyes wide and panicked, though still heavy with sleep. "You wouldn't dare," he croaked, his voice groggy but laced with mock indignation.

Shiro leaned back, her laughter spilling out in melodious waves. "Good morning to you too, Hubby-san," she teased, holding up the package triumphantly. "Merry Christmas!"

Guldrin blinked, his confusion melting into a warm smile as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "You woke me up for this?" he asked, his tone equal parts teasing and grateful.

"Of course," Shiro said, plopping down cross-legged on the bed beside him. "Now, open it!"

With an exaggerated yawn and a stretch, Guldrin took the package from her hands, his curiosity piqued. Carefully, he peeled away the wrapping paper to reveal its contents, a massive, emerald-green gummy bear. For a moment, he just stared, his mouth hanging open in delighted disbelief.

"This is… incredible," he said, holding the gummy bear aloft like a prized trophy. "Seriously, did you see this and immediately think, 'Yep, that's Guldrin'?"

"Obviously," Shiro replied, her grin widening. "It's huge, sweet, and a little ridiculous, just like you. With all the fancy stuff we can buy, I wanted to get you something that would make you laugh. Judging by your face, I nailed it."

Guldrin chuckled, shaking his head. "You really did. This is perfect… I hope mine measures up."

Setting the gummy bear aside with exaggerated care, he reached under his bed and pulled out a small, intricately wrapped box. "Your turn," he said, handing it to her with a flourish.

Shiro's eyes lit up as she accepted the gift, her fingers itching to tear into the paper. She didn't hold back, shredding the wrapping with childlike enthusiasm until a sleek, polished device lay in her hands. Her breath caught as she turned it over, marveling at the craftsmanship.

"This is…" she began, her voice trailing off as she studied the gadget's gleaming surface. "This is amazing. What is it?"

Guldrin leaned forward, his expression brimming with pride. "I call it the All-Purpose Assist Device, APAD for short. Think of it as an iPad's cooler, more functional cousin."

Shiro raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What does it do?"

"Press the button on the side," he instructed, barely able to contain his excitement.

She did, and the device hummed softly to life. A small holographic image flickered into view above the screen, a pixelated, animated version of herself, dressed in a miniature military uniform and waving cheerfully before she took on a serious expression and saluted.

"Hello, Shiro!" the hologram chirped in a voice eerily similar to hers. "How can I assist you today, Ma'am?"

For a moment, Shiro just stared, her mouth agape. Then, laughter bubbled out of her, loud and unrestrained. "Is that… me?"

"Yup," Guldrin replied, clearly pleased with himself. "It's your personal assistant. It learns your preferences, keeps track of your schedules, helps with calculations, takes notes… Basically anything you can think of. Plus, it plays games. I may not have built a full-blown AI yet, but this is close."

Shiro's fingers danced over the device's touch-sensitive screen, her amazement growing with each feature she discovered. "This is incredible," she said, her voice filled with genuine awe. "You made this?"

Guldrin shrugged, trying, and failing, to appear nonchalant. "I had some spare time. And I may or may not have had Skye help steal Stark's hologram technology, I tried to take his A.I. code, but that didn't pan out… Gonna have to make my own."

Shiro shot him a knowing look. "Spare time, huh? So that's what you were doing during all those late nights?"

"Maybe," he admitted, scratching the back of his neck sheepishly. "I wanted it to be special. For you."

Her expression softened, and she reached out to touch his hand. "It is special. I love it. Thank you."

"I uh… Am… Glad? If you keep this up I am going to blush," He said, clearly feeling the heat on his cheeks.

Shiro smirked, clearly enjoying Guldrin's discomfort as he stammered. "Too late for that," she declared with a mischievous grin. Before he could retort, she wrapped her arms around him in a sudden, warm embrace. The kiss that followed left him momentarily stunned, his thoughts scattering like leaves in the wind.

When they pulled apart, their gazes locked, and for a brief, electrifying moment, the entire universe seemed to hit pause. Then, as if a hidden director yelled "Action!" they burst into laughter simultaneously, their voices harmonizing like an impromptu symphony of joy. The sound echoed through the room, mingling with the golden morning light that spilled through the blinds.

"You're impossible," Guldrin muttered, shaking his head as a smirk tugged at his lips, unable to fully suppress his amusement.

"And you love it," Shiro retorted, her grin triumphant, her confidence as unshakeable as ever.

Guldrin let out an exasperated chuckle, watching as Shiro turned her attention back to the gleaming APAD in her hands. The device, his labor of love, was as much a testament to his technical prowess as it was to his desire to make Shiro smile. Its smooth holographic interface shimmered with a soft glow, reacting to her every touch like a devoted pet eager to please its master.

As Shiro navigated through the APAD's myriad functions, her curiosity deepened. A detailed map of their local area sprang to life in the air above the device, complete with highlighted points of interest, notes, and even a few of Guldrin's playful doodles scattered across the edges. The map shifted seamlessly into a meticulously organized to-do list, each entry neatly cataloged under categories like "Strategic Plans," "Shopping," and "World Domination (Tentative)."

She gasped as the APAD's cheerful, slightly smug voice began reading one of her entries aloud.

"'Convince Guldrin to finally meet Skye… If he is going to get more girls, I want—'" The APAD's tone dipped conspiratorially, clearly relishing the drama, "'—to have a loyal faction, someone who will support me as the Queen.'"

Shiro's jaw dropped, her golden eyes darting to Guldrin in wide-eyed shock. Meanwhile, Guldrin was halfway to the floor, clutching his sides as laughter spilled out in uncontrollable waves.

"Wait-" he wheezed between breaths, "you actually wrote that down? Like, in writing? And the APAD read it out loud? I thought scanning your journals for customization was a good idea, but I didn't think it would betray you like this!"

Shiro's face flushed a deep crimson as she struggled to form a coherent response. "It's not betrayal if you own it," she declared, attempting to sound dignified even as her voice wavered. "It's a strategic operation!"

Guldrin wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, still grinning ear to ear. "A strategic operation? Really? You're forming alliances like we're in some kind of medieval court drama?"

Shiro straightened her posture, her expression the picture of mock-seriousness. "Yes! If you're going to waltz around gathering girlfriends like you're assembling an anime harem, someone has to ensure I'm not outnumbered."

"Oh, so now I'm a playboy with a secret master plan?" Guldrin teased, his grin widening as he leaned back against the headboard. "I wasn't aware I had such a reputation to maintain."

Shiro tilted her head, her grin morphing into something wickedly playful. "Please, I've seen how you look at Rika and Saeko. And don't even get me started on how you turned into a stammering mess when Skye joined that video call. It was like watching a deer caught in headlights."

Guldrin straightened, his face immediately heating up. "I did not freeze!" he protested, though the faint pink creeping up his neck betrayed him.

Shiro raised an eyebrow, her grin turning Cheshire-like. "Oh, you absolutely did. You stared at her like she'd just walked out of one of your dreams. You might as well have been wearing a neon sign that said, 'Hopeless Crush Here!'"

"I was caught off guard, that's all!" Guldrin insisted, crossing his arms defensively. "It's not every day someone as intimidatingly cool as Skye just… shows up. Hacktivist, tomboy, and brash, plus, even you have commented on her beauty."

Shiro leaned closer, her smirk softening into something teasing but affectionate. "Don't worry, Hubby-san. I don't mind you getting flustered over other girls. Just remember, I'm your number one."

Guldrin sighed, his mock exasperation giving way to a fond smile. "How could I forget? You'd probably sic your new APAD on me if I even tried. With everything I put into that… It is a scary thought…"

"Exactly," Shiro replied with a satisfied nod. "Glad we're on the same page. And I am not forgetting Emily, but she is her own faction, even if she claims the Queen role, I won't give up."

The APAD, ever the opportunist, chose that moment to chime in. "For the record, Shiro is listed as the primary user and designated 'Queen of All Loyal Factions.' Should I add a reminder for Guldrin to 'stay in line'?"

Guldrin stared at the device, then at Shiro, whose mischievous grin was back in full force. "You haven't had it for more than ten minutes, and you programmed it to sass me already, didn't you?" he accused.

"Who, me?" Shiro said, feigning innocence as she hugged the APAD to her chest protectively. "I would never."

Guldrin groaned, though his laughter wasn't far behind. "You're going to be the death of me."

"And you'll enjoy every second of it," Shiro shot back, her voice brimming with cheeky confidence.

The two fell into a comfortable rhythm of banter, their laughter filling the room like sunlight streaming through the window. Eventually, the APAD, perhaps sensing its moment to shine, transitioned its holographic display into a playlist of cheerful holiday music. The upbeat tunes provided a fitting backdrop as Shiro and Guldrin continued their playful back-and-forth, each quip, and retort laced with the kind of warmth that only comes from a bond forged through countless shared moments.

Their banter was cut short by a sudden, loud thump echoing down the hallway. It was followed by a series of muffled grumbles, growing louder with each passing moment. Both of them froze, their heads snapping toward the door like startled rabbits.

"Looks like the house is waking up," Guldrin said, glancing at the clock on the wall. "Brace yourself for the chaos."

Shiro nodded but lingered, hesitating for a moment before turning back to him. Her teasing demeanor softened, and her expression grew serious, something rare enough to make Guldrin pause.

"Hey, Guldrin," she said softly, her voice almost hesitant.

"Yeah?" he asked, his brow furrowing slightly.

"This… this is the best Christmas I've ever had," she admitted, her words barely above a whisper. "I miss my brother, sure. But I'm okay because of you. I feel like we're finally figuring this out, us. And this gift…" She held up the APAD, its holographic display casting a soft glow. "It's the most personal thing anyone's ever given me. Not just because it's amazing, which it is… but because of the thought behind it. Because it's you."

Guldrin felt his face heat up, the tips of his ears turning an unmistakable shade of red. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, struggling to find the right words. "Well, uh… I'm glad you like it. I mean, that's what I was going for. And, uh, same here. This Christmas feels… special. Because of you."

For a rare, precious moment, the two of them stood there, basking in the quiet warmth of mutual appreciation. The world outside their little bubble seemed to fade away, leaving only the steady rhythm of their breathing and the faint hum of the APAD.

But, as always, peace was fleeting.

"Alright, everyone, up and at 'em!" Letty's voice rang out from the hallway, her commanding tone leaving no room for argument. "Living room. Now. Don't make me come in there and drag you out!"

Guldrin sighed, glancing at Shiro, who was clearly reluctant to leave the sanctuary of their room. "Guess we'd better not keep her waiting," he said, offering her a hand.

"Fine, but only because it's Christmas," Shiro replied, slipping her hand into his. She grabbed the APAD with her free hand and gave it a quick pat, as if thanking it for its service.

They opened the door to find Letty's footsteps retreating down the hall. But what they didn't expect was Jesse, leaning casually against the wall opposite their door, his trademark lopsided grin firmly in place.

"Jesse?!" Guldrin blurted, his voice a mix of surprise and disbelief.

"The one and only!" Jesse exclaimed, pushing off the wall and throwing his arms wide as Guldrin hugged him tightly. 

He looked as scrappy as ever, but there was a brightness in his eyes that hadn't been there the last time Guldrin had seen him. "Merry Christmas, kid!"

Shiro blinked in surprise before breaking into a wide grin. "Wow, Jesse! Talk about a surprise guest!"

"I'd say so!" Guldrin said, still staring at him like he was a ghost. "When did you get here? How?"

"That's all Letty and Mia," Jesse explained, nodding toward the living room. "They wanted to make sure this Christmas was one to remember, and apparently, that meant dragging me outta my hole. Took some convincing, but, well, here I am. Sorry, I haven't been around… My dad ran off with some girl, left me high and dry, so I had been working on new engine designs, and… Well, this."

Before Guldrin could process what Jesse's presence meant, Jesse held up a box he'd been concealing on the ground behind him. "Oh, I didn't come empty-handed. Merry Christmas, little bro."

Guldrin took the box, his curiosity piqued. It wasn't wrapped, just a plain cardboard container, but it was heavy and felt oddly significant. He opened it carefully, his eyes widening as he took in the contents.

Inside was a turbocharger, but not an off-the-market turbo. It was sleek, polished to a mirror shine, with intricate customizations that made it look more like a piece of art than an engine component. Guldrin recognized Jesse's handiwork immediately, the craftsmanship, the attention to detail, and the faint etching of Jesse's initials on the base.

"This," Jesse began, his grin widening as he saw Guldrin's expression, "is the best damn turbo I've ever built. Took me months of tweaking, testing, and scrapping prototypes. But I finally got it right. Thought it'd be perfect for your Chevelle."

"Jesse… this is incredible," Guldrin said, his voice filled with awe. He ran his fingers over the smooth metal, already envisioning how it would transform his car. "You didn't have to-"

"Of course I did," Jesse cut him off. "You're family, man. And family takes care of each other. Besides," he added with a wink, "I couldn't let Christmas go by without blowing your mind."

Shiro leaned over to inspect the turbo, her eyes lighting up with appreciation. "This thing is a beast. Guldrin, your Chevelle's gonna be unstoppable."

"Not just unstoppable," Jesse said, his grin turning mischievous. "It's gonna scream. I ran some tests on a similar setup, and let's just say, you're gonna need earplugs."

Guldrin laughed, the initial shock of seeing Jesse replaced by pure joy. "Man, you have no idea how much this means to me. Thank you."

Jesse clapped him on the shoulder. "Don't mention it, kid. Just promise me you'll actually use it and not let it collect dust."

"You kidding? I'll have it installed by the end of the week," Guldrin said, his excitement evident.

"By the end of the day, knowing you," Shiro teased, earning a chuckle from Jesse.

As the three of them headed toward the living room, the faint sound of Christmas music grew louder, mingling with the chatter of voices. Letty and Mia were busy setting up breakfast,and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon wafted through the air. The tree lights twinkled softly, casting a warm glow over the room. The scene was cozy, a stark contrast to the chaos that had defined much of their lives lately.

Letty glanced up as the trio entered, her eyes softening when they landed on Jesse. "Took you long enough to make an appearance," she teased, though the warmth in her voice betrayed how happy she was to see him.

Jesse shrugged, grinning. "Fashionably late, right?"

Mia, wiping her hands on a dish towel, came over to give Jesse a quick hug. "It's so good to have you here. Guldrin, why don't you come help me with breakfast? You've been saying you want to learn, so let's see what you've got."

Guldrin nodded, still buzzing with excitement from Jesse's gift. He turned to Shiro, who had already claimed a spot near the tree and was inspecting one of the wrapped presents. "You okay here?"

"I'll survive," Shiro said with a smirk. "Go show off those cooking skills. Or, you know, try not to burn the kitchen down."

"Ha-ha," Guldrin replied dryly before following Mia into the kitchen.

Mia handed him an apron, which he tied on with a mixture of determination and mild embarrassment. "Alright, Chef Mia," he said, rolling up his sleeves. "What's the plan?"

"We're keeping it simple," Mia said, gesturing to the array of ingredients on the counter. "Pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, and hash browns. Think you can handle it?"

Guldrin glanced at the assortment of ingredients and nodded confidently. "Piece of cake," he said, though internally he felt a slight pang of nervousness. His Cooking skill might give him an edge, but it didn't make him immune to the pressure of impressing Mia.

Mia handed him a mixing bowl and started explaining the pancake batter recipe. As she rattled off the ingredients and measurements, Guldrin focused, carefully measuring flour, sugar, and baking powder. He cracked eggs into the bowl with surprising finesse, prompting a raised eyebrow from Mia.

"Not bad," she commented. "You sure you haven't done this before?"

Guldrin gave a sheepish grin. "Dad taught me some, but that doesn't count… Beginner's luck, I guess." He shrugged and Mia laughed, "Yup, Dom wasn't ever one to be a good cook… Unless it was on the grill, now that was his happy place."

Mia watched as he whisked the mixture together with an ease that belied his supposed inexperience. The batter had the perfect consistency, smooth, thick, and free of lumps. "Alright, maybe you've got some potential," she admitted. "Let's see how you handle cooking them."

Guldrin heated the griddle, adding a small pat of butter that sizzled and spread evenly across the surface. Pouring the batter into neat circles, he monitored them carefully, waiting for the telltale bubbles to appear before flipping them with a practiced flick of his wrist.

Mia blinked, momentarily stunned. "Okay, now I know you've done this before."

"What can I say?" Guldrin replied, trying to play it cool. "I'm a quick learner."

'How do I say, 'I learned all this thanks to a skill?' Would that even make sense? Nah, let's just claim credit for it.' He thought to himself with a grin.

While the pancakes cooked, Mia moved on to the scrambled eggs. She explained her method: low heat, constant stirring, and a bit of butter for creaminess. Guldrin followed her instructions, his movements precise yet natural, as if he'd been cooking for years. The eggs came out fluffy and golden, earning an approving nod from Mia.

"You're a natural," she said, her voice tinged with a mix of pride and curiosity. "Seriously, where did you learn this?"

"Trade secret, maybe I am just that good?" Guldrin replied with a wink, dodging the question. The last thing he wanted was to explain his mysterious Cooking skill.

Next up was the bacon. Guldrin arranged the strips on a baking sheet and slid them into the oven, opting for Mia's preferred method of baking instead of frying. Meanwhile, he tackled the hash browns, grating potatoes with rapid efficiency and seasoning them with a blend of spices that made Mia pause.

"Did you just… add paprika?" she asked, her tone equal parts surprised and impressed.

"Why not?" Guldrin replied, shrugging. "Gives it a little kick."

Mia watched as he cooked the hash browns to crispy perfection, the edges golden brown and enticingly fragrant. By the time the bacon was done, the kitchen smelled like a five-star breakfast buffet. Letty wandered in, drawn by the aroma.

"What's going on in here?" she asked, leaning against the doorway. Her eyes scanned the counter, laden with pancakes, eggs, bacon, and hash browns, all perfectly cooked.

"Your kid's a prodigy," Mia said, gesturing to Guldrin with a spatula. "He's putting the rest of us to shame."

Guldrin grinned, feeling a mix of pride and relief. "Just following the master's lead," he said, nodding toward Mia.

Letty smirked, clearly impressed. "Well, if Dom ever gets his act together and comes home, he's gonna have some serious competition for breakfast duty." She tried to hide it, but the mention of Dom dulled her mood a bit, but she quickly shook it off.

The three of them carried the food to the dining table, where Shiro and Jesse were already seated. Jesse's eyes lit up as the feast was laid out before him. "Man, this looks amazing!" he exclaimed, grabbing a plate.

Shiro nodded in agreement, though her gaze lingered on Guldrin. "You really outdid yourself," she said softly, a hint of admiration in her voice.

As everyone dug in, the room filled with the sound of clinking cutlery and appreciative murmurs. Guldrin couldn't help but feel a swell of satisfaction as he watched his family enjoy the meal. Even Letty, who had been subdued all morning, seemed to relax, her tension easing as she savored the food.

"This is seriously good," Jesse said between bites. "Guldrin, you ever think about opening a restaurant?"

"Maybe someday," Guldrin replied with a chuckle. "But for now, I think I'll stick to being Mia's sous chef."

Mia laughed, raising her coffee mug in a toast. "To my new kitchen apprentice," she said. "And to family."

"To family," everyone echoed, raising their glasses in unison.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of laughter and warmth. They played games, exchanged gifts, and reminisced about old times. Letty even cracked a few jokes, her usual spark slowly returning. It wasn't the same without Dom, but for a moment, it felt like everything was going to be okay.

Later that evening, as the festivities wound down, Guldrin found himself back in the kitchen, cleaning up with Mia. She handed him a towel, her expression thoughtful.

"You know," she said, leaning against the counter, "I've been thinking about what you said earlier. About learning all you can."

"Yeah?" Guldrin replied, wiping down a pan.

Mia nodded. "You've got something special, Guldrin. And not just with cooking. You've got this… drive, this determination. Whatever you decide to do, I know you're gonna be great at it."

Guldrin paused, her words catching him off guard. "Thanks, Mia. That means a lot."

She smiled, ruffling his hair affectionately. "Just don't forget who taught you everything you know."

"Don't worry," Guldrin said with a grin. "I'll always give credit where it's due."

As they finished cleaning up, Guldrin glanced out the window at the twinkling Christmas lights lining the street. For the first time in a long time, he felt a sense of peace. Things weren't perfect, Dom was still out there, and the road ahead was uncertain, but at that moment, surrounded by family, they enjoyed the peace that was the Toretto household.

(Give me your POWER, Please, and Thank You! Leave reviews and comments, they motivate me to continue.)