Chapter 100: Phoenix's past struggles

"What about your own weirdness, Phoenix?" she asks, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. "You can't be surrounded by all that and not have a few quirks of your own."

Phoenix paused, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Oh, I've got my fair share of weirdness, believe me," he admits. "For one, I have this bizarre habit of sleep-cooking. I'll wake up in the middle of the night and start making elaborate meals. It's not unusual for Dexter or Blaze to find me in the kitchen at 3 a.m., halfway through a soufflé."

"Once, I made a five-layer cake at 3 AM. Didn't even remember doing it until I found the kitchen covered in flour the next morning."

Astrid laughs, eyes wide with surprise. "Sleep-cooking? That's next level! What do you do with all the food you make?"

"Usually, Blaze and Dexter eat it. When they are not around, I just give it to Titan and Ember and the others," Phoenix says, laughing. "They've learned to expect midnight snacks. Though, Dexter once found me trying to make s