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‒ Finally!! ‒Leo exclaimed as soon as he got up. ‒The most anticipated season has arrived, for which we prepare the most every year, our favorite month guys!
None of his brothers or friends had woken up and the boy was already running around the room picking up and leaving pieces of clothing. Trying on a scarf and then another and then a third, then an orange sweater with bats on it and later changing it to another brown one with ghosts embroidered on it. He went into the bathroom for a moment and came out brushing his teeth and exclaiming in a low voice.
‒ It's officially Halloween! And this year is going to be the most spectacular Halloween we can think of. You'll see! I have a list and I'm not afraid to use it! -And he slipped out of the room.
Mikey, who had been watching him for a while, sat on the bed and stretched. He looked around him before standing up, dodging arms, legs, and tails. The previous day's movie marathon had resulted in a sleepover and it was funny to see the way everyone had gone to sleep. Donnie, curled with his muzzle into Robin's neck, growled and hugged his partner more tightly, but he didn't move from where he was, nor did they. Raph and Cassandra for their part seemed to be competing in snoring, while April was completely stretched out with one leg over Donnie, another over Raph's tail, one arm over her chest, and the other between Robin's ears.
Mikey was also excited to have the perfect excuse to indulge in his love for all things spooky and scary, as well as the amount of spiced desserts he could make without so much guilt. Halloween was international candy month after all. But unlike Leo he didn't want to wake everyone, so he picked up the his phone, one of the sweaters Leo had discarded and left without a sound.
His brother wasn´t hard to find. He just hoped that the absolutely horrifying noise he heard wasn't his new mixer. The last thing he wanted was to start the day yelling at his brother for ruining it. Donnie would also be furious, although deep down delighted by the opportunity to further improve his latest invention.
‒ Happy Halloween Leo. ‒ he greeted him as he entered the kitchen, ignoring his face completely to gauge the level of disaster.
‒ Mikey! Hermano! Just in time to be the first to witness this historic moment.
"Oh no," the boy said internally, watching with horror as Leo grounded coffee beans in the blender instead of using the grinder. He was going to say something, but...
‒ I've been watching a ton of frapuccino´s and cappuccino’s and latte´s videos on TikTok. For about 2 weeks really. ‒ Leo commented excitedly, proud to have an audience for his creative process ‒ So you can consider me as your total expert on coffees, teas and substitutes.
Leo had always been energetic and problematic, but in recent years, all the responsibility of leadership and so many problems saving New York every other week had had a very marked effect on his personality. Seeing him so excited about a coffee was nostalgic in a way, and Mikey couldn't help but smile and lean back on the plateau.
‒ I thought you didn't like coffee. Also, didn't we already had a local expert?
‒ Yes, yes. Donnie drowns everything with excess caffeine and insists that it tastes better without sugar, because "it doesn't contaminate the balance of flavors and aromas of the coffee beans." And yes, I do prefer tea for the rest of the year. But it's Halloween! The occasion calls for a coffee, and I have the perfect mix in mind. You will see.
Mikey laughed at Donnie's impression. The genius was exquisite when it came to the coffee he preferred, going so far as to create the espresso machine himself so that the process had the millimetric perfection that his standards required. And needless to say, he was a gourmet when it came to coffee beans. He was always trying new varieties and perfecting his personal blends. He had mixes for all of his moods and more recently for some of Robin's, which his siblings considered the height of infatuation and didn't miss the opportunity to joke about it. And speaking of him, Mikey was pretty sure he wasn't going to be happy about Leo snooping around and mixing them up. Even less so that he treated them without any consideration. But that was a problem for later. The damage was already done.
‒ Couldn´t you drink tea on Halloween? ‒ he asked him.
Mikey sometimes drank, but he preferred soda and sugary drinks to any of his brothers' favorite concoctions. And during the holidays always hot chocolate with spices and extra marshmallows.
‒There is cinnamon and ginger tea. Both are appropriate, don't you think? The kind of tea you would make before sitting down to watch an old Scooby Doo movie and eating cookies while it rains outside and the wind blows the leaves.
‒ Yes, it could be, but strictly speaking it would be more appropriate if the drink has milk. And milk with tea is an abomination. A horror, an infamy. I am convinced that hell has a special place for those people.
‒ For me it tastes good. Have you tried the one Robin makes? ‒ The cat was as fond of tea as Leo, but they were always arguing about the extra steps.
‒ Yes. It is horrible. A little is already bad, but no, they drown theirs in milk and honey. For what it´s worth it they might as well just drink hot milk with honey. Although his mixes are not bad, I have to admit that. It's frustrating to see so much talent wasted.
While they were talking, Leo had already emptied the half-ground beans and powder from the blender, and now he was pouring everything into the espresso machine and putting a cup under the nozzle.
“Um, Leo…” Mikey tried to tell him that this wasn't how the mix should look. Too late. The hot coffee was already coming out. If they could call that coffee.
‒ Main ingredient ready! Now for the rest. Mikey, sunshine of my life, could you scrub the mixer for me while I get them together? I'll need it in like two minutes and I don´t want my coffee cold.
‒ Leo, if you want to learn to cook properly, the first thing is to have everything on hand from the beginning. ‒ the boy complained, but he took the opportunity to check if the blades were not damaged. Besides, if Leo scrubbed it he was sure to leave coffee particles everywhere and he would have to scrub it again anyway.
Leo stuck his head in the refrigerator and came out with a carton of almond milk, butter, cream and 2 oranges. He left them on the plateau while he opened and closed cupboards looking for the rest. Mikey kept watching him, not quite understanding what a can of pumpkin puree and half the rack of spices had to do with the coffee, but terrified to find out.
‒ Now comes the magic. ‒ His brother promised him, smiling. He looked so proud, showing off all the cans and other random items he had found. Mikey tried to find the pattern or logic. The only thing he saw was that there was a lot of orange. And even if it was his favorite color, it was too much.
Leo took the blender, still wet inside, and returned it to its base. Then he started adding a little bit of everything. Without following any apparent order nor using any unit of measurement. Mikey tried to at least give him his measuring spoons, but he waved them away with an angry wave of his hand.
‒ That won´t do. Watch and learn how a true leader does it. I just need my eyes and my ninja intuition for this.
It was painful to see. Very painful. Mikey might not know much about coffee, he might hate its guts, but he was sure you didn't add butter or black pepper, let alone a touch of olive oil. And he was sure that cinnamon, cloves, anise, nutmeg, ginger, vanilla and cocoa were too much for just one cup. And on top of that he added a sizable pile of pumpkin pie spice mix. Which was redundant, but apparently Leo had no idea what it actually was, nor had he read the ingredients list. And to all this Leo kept adding things while the mixer spun, making unnatural sounds and squeaks, and the mixture inside spun, changing colors with every addition. Going from white to brown, to orange to muddy with some darker strips that look like they weren´t going to get mixed. Mikey, with a hand over his chest and short of breath was watching as his brother gauze at the mixture with a critic eye.
‒ There´s something wrong with the color. Maybe a bit of saffron? Or would it be better turmeric? Mikey, you are the artist and the chef, which one was orangier?
Mikey swallowed.
‒ Leo, listen, I think it´s fine like that. ‒ it wasn’t, but it could be so much worst if he tried adding those.
His brother looked at him for a second. Mikey tried to smile, he really tried. But his stomach was doing weird noises and he was getting nauseous with the sole idea of tasting it. He suddenly envied Leo´s abilities of getting out of uncomfortable situations by lying.
‒ No. It is not. Bur maybe you´re right about something.
Mikey sighted in relief.
‒ It can do it with a little coloring. This way I don't modify the perfect flavor that it surely has. ‒ Leo continued, unaware of his younger brother's concern, and marched back to the refrigerator to find the dyes.
The boy approached the mixer to smell it. As much as he wanted to support his brother to try new things and learn, he wasn't going to do it at the cost of his life. Just as he expected. It was too much. He hadn't put his nose to the blender when the shock wave of the aroma hit him completely. It was worse than entering a one-square-meter spice store where they also liked cheap incense and all the shop assistants used excessive perfume. If Leo had not reappeared next to him at that moment he would have taken the container and poured all the contents down the sink.
‒ I found the orange one! Now give me some space, I know you must be impatient. Don't worry, there will be enough left for you to try and repeat. ‒ he said, pushing him with his hip. ‒ and you will always have me to prepare you more whenever you want.
Before Mikey could explain to him that you add only a few drops, he proceeded to unscrew the bottle and emptied it.
‒ Very orange, because I know it´s your favorite color, and since you are always so good to me and I love you so much I thought I would make it even more special for you. ‒He said, admiring the magnificent radioactive tone that the drink took on.
Calling it a drink was perhaps an exaggeration. When the mixer finally stopped spinning and settled, they both saw that the liquid had only appeared to be liquid. Leo went to pour it into Mikey's cup and had to use a spoon to scoop it out of the bottom. And then fight with the dough because it insisted on sticking to the spoon and not falling into the cup like it should.
‒ Maybe the recipe wasn't like that. At all. ‒He had to admit after finishing with that goop all over the surface of the plateau, his hands and arms and even his face. To say, everywhere except in the cup where it was supposed to go. Only a small portion had fallen there ‒ I thought it would look good. The videos make it look so easy…
The expression on his face had completely changed. As if all the previous joy had been a facade and now he seemed… disappointed? defeated? Leaving the spoon with the capricious dough aside he glanced at his sweater. There were large orange and brown stains over the design. He couldn't believe that he had ruined his favorite sweater by being so careless. He hadn't even put on an apron.
‒ Give it to me, I know how to remove those stains. It had happened to me often. ‒ Mikey offered, extending his hand in his direction.
Leo handed it over without a word. Leaving more stains in the process. Mikey scraped the mixture with a knife and then reached for a kitchen towel. After wetting it, he began to dab it little by little over the sweater, collecting the orange dye.
‒ After you just have to soak it with a little water and vinegar. It works wonders you'll see.
Despite that statement, Leo's mood did not seem to improve. After a few seconds looking at the mixer, he took it in his hands.
‒ You don't have to try it. I think it's better that no one does. ‒ He told Mikey as he carried the mixer back to the sink. ‒ I'm not sure it's edible. And being the team doctor it would be against my Hippocratic oath to let you get sick.
Mikey approached him and took the cup. With the help of a spoon and a lot of determination he began to eat. He tried to thoroughly savor the mixture. The texture was weird, and the flavor was too much in more ways than one, but most of the components got lost in each other. That gave him an idea.
‒ Needs some work. Only a little.
Leo looked at him in disbelief.
‒ Mikey, didn't you hear me? You really don't have to. ‒He begged him, approaching. Willing to take the cup away by force if necessary.
In response Mikey offered him a spoonful. Leo hesitated for a few seconds, but if his little brother had sacrificed himself, he could also be brave, so he reach to try it. His face went through about 20 expressions at once during the process.
‒ Too much cinnamon! ‒He exclaimed. ‒ Where the hell did the coffee flavor go? And the pumpkin?
‒ It is normal for them to get lost. That's why people like Pumpkin Spice Latte. Precisely because it almost doesn't taste like coffee. Isn't that what you were trying to do?
Leo nodded, slightly embarrassed.
‒ Do you mind if I use this for something else? I have an idea. And if you want, I can show you a very easy recipe to make it. Step by step, and with quantities. It's a foolproof recipe.
‒ Leo-proof? It sounds perfect. ‒ He responded with a smile, cleaning and scrubbing while Mikey looked for more ingredients. ‒ Can I help you with what you want to do? Whatever it is.
‒ Of course! There is nothing more appropriate than freshly baked pumpkin cookies to celebrate that October is finally here.