Chapter Text
Xavier shifts his gaze from the newspaper he reads to Julian. He folds the bundle of papers and turns to the younger man so Julian has all his attention.
"Cookies, hmm? I've never thought you were fond of sweets before. What suddenly changed?"
The youngest boy only shrugs. During their time together, Melissa always seeks the food stalls, with Yin following her behind. She bought various treats, from sweet to bitter. While Yin always seeks meat-related food. Julian had never found anything that caught his attention, so he never bought anything. Xavier sometimes offers him something that may match his taste, like cotton candy, fruits, or chocolate, but none of them interests the Raven.
"Alright, go get Melissa and Yin. We are going to the market."
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As always, the market was busy and crowded, making the little Raven hard to focus. Julian dislikes loud and crowded places. It scares him, but not the fear he felt when he was alone in the darkroom when he failed the test during the Raven training. Julian was afraid that he would be separated from the groups by this sea of people and be left alone. He can't have that!
Julian has never been so glad to the universe when the nightmares, the dark room, and the non-stop training and punishment has finally over when Xavier and the group found him lifeless. He remembered the warmth from the white-haired girl when she lifted his tiny body, the human contact he was starved off of after his mom died when he was so young.
So whenever he was scared, Julian always sought Melissa's hand, and they would walk side by side so that he was not lost. However, today he couldn't seem to seek safety from Melissa, for she had already disappeared in the sea of people as the group entered the market's gate. Only God knows where she went.
So instead, Julian inched closer to Xavier, clutching onto his cloak so that he could stay close.
The blue-eyed man turns to him and gives him a small smile
"We'll be there soon, Julian. It won't be long, I promise," he pats the little Raven's head.
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Once they had arrived at a store that sells ingredients for bake, Julian initiated to bring a wooden cart and followed Xavier from behind. Yin was two steps ahead and tried to chase the little man.
"Whaaaat? Baking? I thought we only buy packaged cookies! So boring!" Yin whines.
"It's an activity. Boring means you do nothing and being a burden to the house like mosquitos," said the blue-eyed man with his hands on his hips
"But-"
"Besides, once your cookies are done, you can show off Wanwan the next time she stops by", he interrupts
"Alright, let's do it! So what things do we need?"
"I'm not sure. Might find a book recipe first, so we know the exact things we need."
Yin and Julian blink.
"You… don't know what to buy? Do you even know how to bake?" asked Yin as he walked with Julian by his side to the cashier,
"Now you mention it; we need to buy a recipe book first- ah, good sir, can you get me a cookie recipe?"
"Oh, a single father wanna bake for children, eh? Let me see… are you an expert in this field, or are you a first-time baker?" the shop owner asked. His voice was rough but friendly. Julian couldn't see his face as the tall desk covered his sight. Sweet cheese! Why do the adults build tall furniture everywhere?
"First time. I'm best at cooking, so I was certain that baking would not be that hard", Xavier says as he scratches his chin.
Julian thought hard. Why does Xavier want to do the thing he has never done before? Wasn't that waste of time? Why troubles himself so much? Julian can't understand. He was so lost in thought that he did not realize Xavier was patting him to remind him to go back.
"Can you help Yin find these stuffs in this area? I need to check on something else. And after you both done, bring the cart back to this desk, got it?" said Xavier, giving him a piece of paper containing the list he needed to find. Xavier's writing is beautiful because it's neat, not like Yin. Melissa's handwriting was beautiful too, but Xavier's is easier to read.
"Come on, Julian! The fast we find those, the fast we get home and baking!" said Yin with excitement
"Let's race," Julian challenged because he knew the blond loves to race.
"Game on, red boy."
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Melissa was already there when they left the store, with bubble gum in her mouth. She could always seem to find them and re-group with them whenever she went off by herself on their every journey. How she could manage that, Julian didn't know. Melissa was good, but sometimes she's so much of a prankster.
When she saw Xavier brought two shop bags in his arm, the white-haired girl offered him to help.
"I remembered baking when I was with my mother," Melissa began to chatter.
The groups listen to her as Yin interrupts to question this and that. Julian gave her an interested look but failed to comment because, unlike Yin, he didn't know how. For example, Yin asked how her home was back then or if she had a boyfriend for her to give her baking. Julian only offered 2 to 3 words, just enough to let Melissa know that the Raven listened to her too. Sometimes she pats the youngest on his head every time he comments.
Then she offers him her free hand so that they can walk together at the same pace. Her hand was smooth and warm, but Xavier was the warmest. Maybe it's because of his blue light magic? He sometimes wanted to hold his instead of her, but Julian was afraid that it will bother the older man
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When they reached the rented house, the front door was busted open with a broken handle. It should be shocking, and it did for the first time it happened because they feared someone might steal things inside their house. But after it happened for a few times, they already learned that the only one who could break in like that-
It was the man that Julian hated most because every time he visited, it annoyed Xavier!
The man was sleeping and snooring on the sofa like he bloody belonged there, with Cheese - their house cat, on top of his naked chest. Why is he not wearing a shirt anyway? This is not his house!
"Fredrinn!" the older two chimed in as they rushed into the sleeping man, making Cheese woke in her slumber and jumped out.
The man was big, tanned, had silver hair like older people, and had long legs. Julian's height was only about the other's thigh.
"Fucking brats….. let me sleep," the big man muttered as he covered his face with his hand.
"Old man! My control over Lieh is improving-"
"Did you bring any cute dolls as you promise-"
"You two, put the groceries in the kitchen and pick up the others that fell to the floor!" Xavier commanded with a high tone.
Julian's guess was right. Xavier was pissed!
"And Julian, put this shop bag in the kitchen too, please. I need to do something with the door first" Xavier turned to Julian and handed over the bag.
The bag is heavy, but of course, Julian can manage that! He is strong, after all.
His two [siblings?] grumbled and did what Xavier had said, with Julian followed them from behind. But before he entered the kitchen, the raven turned his back and saw the blue-haired man covering the big man with a blanket. And Cheese jumps onto the sofa to continue her slumber
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"Julian, please put this on so your shirt won't dirty," said Xavier as he handed him a scarlet apron.
"Hey, no fair! Where's mine?" Melissa protests
"It is a gift from the shop owner. He said it once belonged to his grandchildren, but the child already moved out with her parents, " Xavier said as he rolled his long sleeves.
"Still unfair! No apron, not helping you baking-"
"Fine, you take the baking parts only then. Checking on the fire will not dirty your clothes, I suppose."
Julian admires Xavier that whenever his siblings want to start a debate with the older man, Xavier can always counter them back and stop them dead in their tracks.
And with that, Melissa only poofs her cheeks like balloons.
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"... then butter, and half-teaspoon of baking soda…." Xavier reads aloud so Melissa can ensure the measurement of the ingredients is just right and put those into a big bowl.
Sometimes the white-haired girl stopped Xavier to discuss the measurement as she explained things based on her experiences. Julian can't understand anything, so he silently stands still and waits for any command from the two.
"....that makes sense. Let's try your method. Julian, can you mix this all with a whisk?" Xavier asked as he motioned for him to get closer.
Julian moved his little chair so he could stand beside him. He needs a chair in the first place to reach the table for a better angle. Luckily, this house has afforded it. It is used for sitting while washing clothes or for bathing.
From this angle, Julian can see Yin was busy waking up the sleeping man, such as talking non-stop with a loud voice or shaking the bigger man's body, completely ignoring the other's protests. It's strange. Why does Yin look like he admired the man? Xavier is way cooler than that big man, right?
Xavier then brought their hands together, held the whisk, and motioned to give him an example to use the tool.
"Good. Keep that up until the butter is completely softened up,"
Julian only hummed and wondered if he could manage to do that. The butter was solid and hard to deform. The more he whisked, the heavier it felt. But he can't stop, can't he? Because Xavier was not telling him to, and he would not disappoint the man. After all, this is the consequence of his request.
He was lost in his focus until a big body separated them both.
"Baking, eh? Is this coincidence or what? I just bought you an apron."
It's the big man! And still with his naked chest! Julian remembered that sometimes Xavier said it is not appropriate to go around without clothes.
Out of reflex, Julian hold the whisk off and punched right into the man's arm with all his strength.
"Get! off! Xavier!" Julian said, he was really pissed that the stinky man blocking him from Xavier
"Oh, red pups! Didn't see you there because you know you are tiny," said the man, turning his gaze to him and followed by an ugly laugh. Julian scoffed. Does his punch didn't hurt him at all? It sometimes works with Yin and Melissa.
Why does Xavier allow this man to stay at the house in the first place? He was not helping around the house at all. He came only for eat, sleep, and then go.
Julian never liked the big, stinky and ugly-faced man. He always made fun of him and called him tiny. He knew he was still small, but Julian was positive that he could still protect Xavier and his siblings!
"Now you finally wake up, do things that you left before: fix the door handle or tidy up your things that scatter to the floor", Xavier ordered the ugly man.
"What, no greetings at all?" said the man with a playful tone as he closed his body to Xavier.
Oh. No. NO!
Julian knew pretty well what that meant. The man wanted to touch Xavier!
Julian jumped out of his chair and ran to the tiny space between the two to prevent the big man from doing things he didn't like, like hugging Xavier. Even worse, kissing Xavier. With that, Julian lifted his arms to the air to become a human shield for Xavier as the older man took two steps backward
"No touch Xavier!" said Julian with a loud voice. Julian made a battle stance as if he wanted to challenge the big man.
"No disturb us!"
"He's right. We are in the middle of important baking. So, get lost," Xavier said with a hand on his slender hip.
"Damn brat. Hey Yin! Bring the aprons here!" shouted the man so the other could hear him.
"No fair! Xavier has one, and I'm not? What the heck, Fred?" says Melissa with a high tone
"Sapphire cooks all the time, so what's the problem?"
"I help him sometimes, like this! "Melissa pointed at her work. She was working with the cream.
"Fuck, sapphire. How did you find these punks? They are all troublesome and loud!"
"Yeah, but they are useful enough and stay through the times," Xavier spat
"Oh yeah? I notice that one of them was leaving his comrades and breaking his promise," the big man countered
"Funny. Because who's come and go like a pathetic beggar now?"
The room went silent.
Adults are hard to understand, Julian thought. Why are they arguing like us, the kids, all the time?
The silence cracked when Yin jumped in
"Xavier, check this out! I got letters from Wanwan! Fredrinn met her!" said Yin as he brought the aprons and the said letters
Xavier sighed and turned his gaze to the blonde. A look of resignation on his face.
"Alright. Which one is my apron?"
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"Rare Gems," the youngest read the words from the blue-haired man's new apron.
"Your taste got worse," Xavier commented as he took over the butter task from Julian.
"Yeah, what does that mean?" Yin asked to represent the youngest's thought.
"You know, I only seek beauty. So when I see this apron, I found them funny. Besides, it has good materials."
"Funny?" Julian can't help to ask. He wanted to understand the meaning.
"See this little picture? It's funny because diamonds are not rare gems. You will get diamonds in jewellery stores around the town easily" Fredrinn grinned as he wore his own apron
"But not for a specific gem, the sapphire. They are hard to get, even though I'm looking at it now."
"For the love of- Fredrinn, seriously? Is that your best pickup line after all this time? You're embarrassing me, " Melissa groaned as she pointed her creamy whisk to the big man.
".... oh! Fredrinn just flirted with Xavier! Ugh, Gross! " Yin exclaimed. Melissa groaned louder as she smacked the blonde's head for his slow thinking.
The big man chuckled.
Julian caught Xavier turning his gaze to his shoulder like he tried to hide his face. There are reds in his cheeks, Julian saw. Julian would never know what caused his red face or why he was hiding.
Sapphire, sapphire. That's what the big man always calls Xavier; sapphire. Is that the meaning of the blue-eyed man's name? Melissa once told him that the first time he heard the big man called Xavier sapphire. It was a blue gemstone that would later b used as jewelry. According to the white-haired girl, once people wear jewelry, the person is considered more beautiful.
Does he mean that... Xavier is beautiful?
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Xavier always finds that amusing every time the little Raven thought hard right after he gained new information. Sometimes the blue magic man helps his little brain to process things, but this time he leaves him to it.
The youngest then looked up at the big man and read the words that were embedded on his apron.
"Dig... Bick? What's that?"
"Oh, it's like reversed first letters between the two words, you know."
"Hmmm…. Oh! I get it! It's Big Di-"
Xavier coughed hard when Yin tried to clarify the meaning behind the words. Melissa only laughed hard, followed by the big man.
"Julian, help me pour the flour a little by little. And Yin, please find me a rolling pin and the cookie cutters. It's on the shopping bag" Xavier clear his throat, closing the topic.
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Baking is fun when it's time for cutting into various shapes.
The crimson eyes glowed as he watched Xavier roll the round dough until it was flat, using what Xavier called a rolling pin . After it was flat, the blue-eyed man motioned him to cut the dough with the cookie cutters.
Julian chooses a dog, cat, and bear cookie cutter back in the shop, while Yin…
"How did I miss my shopping? I didn't see you pick up that shape, Yin," Xavier sighed as he watched the blonde teen with the big man flatten their own dough and cut it with a…..
"Poop shape!" Yin laughed hard.
"You are going to eat shits, nice humour kid!" the big man adds with a laugh.
"He was under your bad influence, you know," Xavier sighed.
"Oh that's nice. I declare him as Fredrinn's descendants then."
Julian then watched Xavier place the cut-out dough into a baking pan while Melissa prepared the oven. Once the three baking pans were ready, the Raven helped Melissa to put it into the oven.
"10 minutes will do," said his favorite siblings as she set the timer on
Julian nooded. And when he turned to his back, he saw between the two adults. The Raven frowned and sighed. Like the other times, no matter how hard he tried to separate those two, they were always closing the distance easily, so their shoulder were next to each other. Sometimes the big man pulls the blue hair strand behind Xavier's ear, and the man takes a good look at the other's face, giving Xavier a calm smile. A smile that was different from every time they mock Julian and the siblings
And Xavier just let him.
The red-haired child remembered that he always found Xavier stitching the man in every time that man came was injured. It should be Melissa's job. She always took the job when they were injured.
Julian didn't understand. Are they like Yin and Wanwan? Yin said it was called as a couple. But couples always stay together, right?
Yin was probably not with Wanwan right now because he said he needed to train, and as for Wanwan she was a street performer along with her group. But when she stops by the house, the two are inseparable! And they never fight.
He closed his eyes, hands folded in his chest, and his brow frowned. He was thinking
"Boy, are you thinking hard, Ju-ju? Your tiny brain might explode! Come here, let me help what you to thinking," Melissa motioned him to get close to her.
"Xavier and the man. Couple? Yin and Wanwan?" Julian asked. He may lack words to describe things, but his group can always manage to understand him.
"Ah, that question can only be answered by those two idiots," Melissa said as she crouched down, checking up on the oven.
"Why idiots?"
"Yes, you've seen them right? They're arguing and talk trash to each other, but at the end, they are inseparable every time they meet. They have never been honest, how can they know they need each other?"
Julian frowned
"Besides, Fredrinn always leaves," the teen added.
"Wanwan go too," Julian hesitates
"The two are a different case, Julian. Even when they were separate, they always tried hard to get close. They exchange letters, send gifts to each other, and throw lovey-dovey words whenever they can. Do you see all of those things happen to the idiots?"
Julian furrowed his brows. All of this was hard to understand.
"Here's what I thought. I think Fredrinn has issues. I heard them arguing about-"
"What do you guys talking about?" a calm voice came for them both to jump.
"Oh, you know, talking about idiots. No big deal, nothing's new."
Xavier raised an eyebrow.
Ding!
The timer's off, meaning the first batch of cookies was done!
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The kitchen was full of laughter when the fourth batch came out
"It's a fucking dick!" Said the big man with laughter
"My stomach hurts," said Yin but he didn't stop his laugh either
The cookies turn out to be the shape of a man's sex. But Yin and the big man didn't do it on purpose. The cookies were supposed to be a sword shape, but it were all deformed into strange shapes once it was done
"You two bring disgraceful to this house" Xavier rub his forehead
"Yes, ew! I don't understand. They are the same dough as the animal shapes. But why these are turned into disgusting shapes? I mean look at this!" Melissa pointed one cut-cookie
There was silence first and then came an outburst of laugh
"It's boobs!!" said Fredrinn and Yin in unison
Julian doesn't understand the jokes at all. Melissa turned to laugh after, even Xavier laugh.
Xavier has a good laugh. Not like Yin and the big man. They like barking dogs, he thought.
Then Julian could only provide a smile, so he will not be left alone
"That's enough. Help me icing the cookies, please" Xavier clapped his hand so he can have everybody's attention to him
Today, the weather felt warmer than before