Chapter Text
There are lots of open secrets under Master Attendant Soong’s restaurant, one of which is the fact that Red Wine and Steak are romantically involved with each other. Then again, some would argue that it’s not even a secret to begin with.
No one is sure when it started, but many Food Souls, and even the Master Attendant herself, saw it coming from a long mile. Gingerbread seemed to be the only one who knows the exact moment those two decided to further develop their relationship. She has this knowing but fond smile on her face whenever she spots those two arguing over the smallest things.
Steak and Red Wine’s dynamics haven’t changed.They still bicker on a daily basis, still exchange less than affectionate nicknames with each other. Through the shallow observations of most Food Souls, they don’t appear to be in any sort of romantic relationship at all. Only some of the more perceptive ones have definitely noticed how their fights these days lack the spiteful venom, very unlike how they used to interact back when they first came to Master Attendant Soong’s summons.
Their bickering is comparable to that of an old married couple’s, Sukiyaki once said.
If one were to take a closer look during one of their childish squabbles (especially when Red Wine’s face is the epitome of smugness), they would not be able to miss the reddish hue on Steak’s face, along with some feigned huffiness, and a whole heaping helping of embarrassment.
Rice had once tugged onto Master Attendant’s sleeve for her attention, asking if Steak was sick. What with said Food Soul’s face getting noticeably redder whenever Red Wine leans in to whisper something into his ear.
Soong had to drag the two aside and give them a talking to about decency after Rice had been effectively distracted by Ichi and Olivia. The outcome of that talk included a red faced Steak who apologized purposely, and an ever dignified Red Wine who agreed to behave from hence forth.
Master Attendant Soong swore she saw the glint of his fangs flashed in a smirk from the corner of her eyes when she turned away.
It is to no one’s surprise that Red Wine can be a bit of a sadist. His main victim is and has always been Steak. Ever since he began his relationship with the red headed Food Soul, he’s made it a mission to fluster Steak whenever possible. It’s almost pitifully easy to rile up Steak when Red Wine is involved, or if he’s the one doing the riling up in the first place. Everyone can tell by Red Wine’s gleeful face that he was really enjoying himself.
The other occupants of the restaurant, Ichi included, are happy for them. For the most part.
Life goes on for everyone.
Then, something in the atmosphere shifted. The change was subtle during the first week of a new month.
It had taken two more days before the realization hit Master Attendant out of the blue, right as she was in the middle of clearing up an empty table. The way she proceeded to ask Ichi her question with utmost caution was almost comical.
“Have you guys noticed something’s off lately?”
Master Attendant Soong’s hushed question caused Ichi to look over from another empty table that he was cleaning up. The white haired boy glanced around the area, upon seeing no prying eyes or eavesdropping ears nearby, he answered in a tone just as hushed.
“You mean Steak and Red Wine? Oh, definitely! Do you think they had a fight?”
Soong shook her head. “No, I don’t believe that’s the case…”
Rice stood next to Ichi with a stack of well-balanced plates with wide, curious eyes as she looked between her Master Attendant and Ichi. She was just as intrigued, but remained silent so that the other two can continue.
Ichi scratched the nape of his neck gingerly, eyes glancing over to the opened window beside him where he could see the vast meadow behind the restaurant. Among the lush green and dots of yellow budding flower was Red Wine, who was seated on the grassy field facing away from them.
Despite the vampire Food Soul being a good distance away, the boy still answered in a quiet whisper, as though he fears Red Wine’s acute hearing might catch on.
“But it kind of looks like Red Wine is the only one acting different.”
“He most certainly has become a lot quieter as of late.” Rice added.
“More broody, you mean?” Ichi said dryly.
He was right though. Lately Red Wine would often be seen wearing a scowl on his handsome face, but there was no evidence that it was because of Steak. Meanwhile Steak’s behavior wasn’t anything different. He wasn’t ignoring Red Wine, nor was he avoiding him. Just this morning they were still seen talking to each other before Steak departed with his team to do some deliveries.
“I don’t think it’s wise to butt in.” Master Attendant finally said after a while. Ichi and Rice had been holding their breaths for her answer it seems. She gave them a crooked but reassuring smile. “Let’s just wait and see how things play out for the time being. I’ll intervene when it starts getting messy.”
“So do you wanna talk about it or are you gonna brood until brooding season is over?”
Red Wine looked up only to see Gingerbread’s petite form towering over him from behind, she does not look amused. The girl gave him a pointed look, and Red Wine gives one of mild confusion in return. She rolls her eyes at his face and heaves an exasperated sigh.
“Scoot over.”
He does just that, though it wasn’t necessary to move much seeing as Gingerbread hardly took up any room. So Red Wine still just tucks his legs into a folded position and sits up a little straighter.
Gingerbread plops herself down noisily on the grass, legs crossed and elbows propped on her knees. She turns to Red Wine with the same pointed look as before and rests her chin under one hand.
“Well?”
If she came out from the Catacombs just to talk to him about this, then Red Wine couldn’t remain silent. He gives a half assed defense instead.
“It’s nothing.”
Gingerbread snorted. Bold of Red Wine to think that alone would convince her, that it could convince anyone.
“Come on, don’t tell me you two got into a fight.”
That finally got a reaction out of Red Wine. He seemed to bristle slightly, but otherwise his elegantly indifferent front remains composed.
“That’s not it. We’re not arguing.” He sniffed, it sounded almost miserably to Gingerbread’s ears.
He thinks himself childish at that moment. There was no reason to put on a haughty mask in front of Gingerbread, but that’s because she’s Gingerbread. It’s clear she genuinely wants to help, and he greatly appreciates it. But he doesn’t see it fit to tell her what’s really on his mind.
Something so petty and insignificant will only make her fall over backwards laughing.
“Then what’s going with you two? I’m not leaving until you tell me, Red.”
There’s no reason to be dishonest around her, he repeats again. Finally, he folds.
“Don’t laugh.” Red Wine mumbled whilst remaining eye contact with Gingerbread.
She gives him a blank look.
“I’m serious.”
“And I’m trying to help. There, we’re even.”
Red Wine had to resist rolling his eyes. He lets out a sigh, one clearly more exasperated than it should be, and hangs his head low.
"That simple minded fool has been acting differently.”
“Ha?” Gingerbread asked, her head tilting to an exaggerated angle, though she was genuinely curious. “Whaddya mean?”
Steak is Steak, or so from what she’s seen anyway.
“He…” Red Wine pursed his lips into a thin line, the tip of his tongue flicking out to lick his bottom lip. It takes him a moment to rearrange his wordings again before speaking. “He’s not reacting the way he always has when I tease him.”
The long pause that followed made Red Wine want to bury himself six feet under.
He made the mistake of looking back at Gingerbread, because he’s met with the girl barely trying to hold herself together from laughing. He must’ve pulled some kind of face for the other Food Soul to finally burst out into uncontrollable fit of laughter. Her hysterically obnoxious laughing overtook the silence too suddenly, and it gave Red Wine a mental whiplash.
“I told you not to laugh!” He hissed through gritted teeth and fangs.
His mortification only added on when Gingerbread really does roll onto the ground laughing. Pale as he already is, Red Wine doesn’t doubt his face is drained of whatever colour is left on his face.
“That’s what’s been bugging you?!” She only stopped to heave in a deep breath before her hysteric laughter returned. “Seriously, Red!”
There’s nothing Red Wine could do except sit there shimmering in his own humiliation while waiting for Gingerbread to cease her laughing. It didn’t take long, but for Red Wine, it felt like he’s been shamed for a century over.
Gingerbread lets out one final wheeze. She repetitively pats on one side of her chest like she’s fighting down an incoming fit of coughs before addressing Red Wine. There was no sign of mockery when she speaks again.
“So what if he’s gotten used to your teasing? Don’t you get tired of constantly trying to rile the guy up?”
Red Wine huffs, “I quite like his reactions, mind you.”
That’s about all he’s willing to say.
The way Steak would go red from a bit of teasing is indescribably cute, especially when it’s from a mixture of embarrassment and arousal. Red Wine would never admit it aloud that he found any aspect of Steak to be cute. But he knows after today’s conversation with Gingerbread, the girl will never let him live down the fact that he misses getting those reactions out of Steak to a point he’s become broody.
“Well pick up a new act or something.” Gingerbread said with a roll of her eyes. “Geez, of course it’d get old quickly if you’re on the same thing for months.”
She made it sound so simple.
But then maybe it is.
“I suppose so...” Red Wine mumbled. Gingerbread snorted in return with a shake of her head.
They stay there for a few moments longer, until they heard Master Attendant Soong calling for Red Wine. She continues to lie there on the grassy field even after Red Wine bid his polite leave, pondering about how those two idiots could be so stupidly endearing yet endearingly stupid at the same time.