Chapter Text
Cookie still hadn’t got used to the lights and cameras yet, and wasn’t sure he ever would. This change in his life came to him suddenly and absolutely unexpected – though he fully deserved it.
However, the lights and cameras loved him, as well as everyone on the set, which was perfectly natural. The crew and viewers sometimes jokingly called the show "Cooking with Cookie" even though his segment only was on air once a week and was, in fact, about baking.
The day started chaotically, because the guest was late. It wasn’t that much of an emergency, because it sometimes happened, and Cookie’s co-host Emma went with a tried-and-true method: interviewing Cookie just like she did with guests.
Mostly, they discussed Cookie's new favourite recipes – which was the only topic he was always ready to discuss, since it wasn't personal (although you can say it is, to some degree) – and right before she could ask what exactly they were baking today, they got a ping that the guest arrived.
Cookie took his place behind the counter and braced himself. There was another thing that made him worry this day: the viewers' latest favourite gossip was that he and the guest were dating. They were not.
Emma stood up to welcome the guest.
"... with your today's partner," she winked at the camera so the implications were even more obvious for those at home, "King-Lu, whom we all know and love from our own Lions’ Den!"
The guest entered, handsome as always. He was dressed a little more casually than in his own show, and Cookie had to admit he rocked that outfit, which was a bit thematic as well. Thankfully, it wasn't a bodybuilder apron one of the previous guests wore, only a t-shirt with Remy from Ratatouille, completed with signature black jeans.
King-Lu waved at the invisible audience, smiling, and joined Cookie behind the counter.
He raised an imaginary hat to him and Emma and said to the cameras, "Don't forget to wash your hands!"
Emma eagerly clapped.
"You first?" King-Lu said to Cookie, gesturing towards the sink and breaking with this the usual routine.
Cookie was glad to turn his back to the cameras because he needed to hide a blush and eye-roll at the same time.
Meanwhile, King-Lu inspected the ingredients with horror.
"I hope you don't regret coming here," the co-host laughed, joining them. "So, what’s cookin’?"
This phrase was a signal for announcing what the recipe of the day was, and today it was a tea cake. Very simple, but still with some room for failure, because why else would the guests be involved?
Cookie explained the ingredients and process to King-Lu, who still looked nervous.
"May I ask something?" he narrowed his eyes. "Isn’t there supposed to be any tea?"
"Well, no," Cookie answered. "It’s called that only because people eat it with tea."
"So I was wrong my entire life?!"
The co-host snickered.
"I know, disappointing, right? And I think it’s my cue. I’ll leave you to it," she added suggestively and left the scene.
Somehow, after only three minutes of measuring and mixing the ingredients, and putting the pan into the oven, King-Lu was entirely covered in flour.
"It might be a record," Cooke commented when King-Lu looked himself over and glanced at one of the cameras with sad puppy eyes. "We have a mini vacuum just for that."
"At least I didn't drop the bowl when I smashed the egg against its rim," King-Lu congratulated himself and explained in reply to Cookie's silent question, "it happened more than once. I have dozens of culinary failure stories."
"Come here then," Emma exclaimed and patted the couch next to her. "Tell us everything."
Cookie looked at the guest, who was visibly eager to share all the possible anecdotes, and absent-mindedly put the tip of the batter-covered spatula in his mouth.
Could use more sugar, he thought reflexively, and then his eyebrows went up at the sight of King-Lu's doing the same with the spoon.
"What?" King-Lu noticed him staring. "Why would anyone waste perfectly normal food?"
"It's not normal food," Emma wrinkled her nose. "It's batter!"
"Don't tell me you don't eat cookie dough!" King-Lu said with exasperation, and the dialogue slowly segued into the interview proper.
While they were talking, Cookie was sitting on his bar chair, checking the oven timer once in a while (and also the oven in general, because guests were supposed to set the temperature themselves, and it wasn’t as simple as you might think). He listened to the questions and the answers with curiosity, because Emma was good, and King-Lu was actually an interesting person, which wasn’t a surprise, but still a pleasant proof. Emma, thankfully, didn’t say anything about the rumours, and Cookie assumed, judging by King-Lu’s expression, that he might also have been glad about it.
[King-Lu and Cookie only met once before, which was strange, considering they worked on the same channel, and not so strange considering how much of an introvert Cookie was.
It was an award after-party, and they chatted for fifteen minutes until the social currents separated them, but several very good photos were taken during this short time, including an almost cinematic shot of them clinking their glasses, and for some reason, TV viewers suddenly saw a potential in their non-existent romantic relationship.
It might have been because they were the only two gay men on the channel (which was kinda sad). King-Lu was very open from the beginning of his career (using it sometimes, quite successfully, for his professional benefit), and Cookie came out last June in a burst of well-deserved self-love and acceptance by simply wearing a gay pride flag sweater.
Or they just looked really cute together (and that was undeniable.)]
Then the timer rang, and Emma and King-Lu returned to the counter.
King-Lu had the honour of taking the cake out of the oven, which he did it with his hands shaking a bit, and Cookie was sure it wasn’t an act.
"God, I thought I would burn this place down or at least kill all the cameras with the sprinkling system."
Emma laughed nervously.
"That’s why we have professionals on set. And I don’t mean firefighters."
King-Lu stared at his creation with amazement.
"It does look pretty good," Cookie nodded at his wide smile and smiled too.
He cut off three slices and offered two to his colleagues on little saucers.
"The batter wasn't sweet enough, I think," King-Lu hummed, breathing in the warm aroma.
"I'll get jam then," Cookie said and opened the fridge. "Or do you prefer honey?"
King-Lu blinked at the choice.
"Let's go with honey," Emma suggested, when the producer behind one of the cameras made an expressive we-should-wrap-it-up gesture at her.
"I think I can do better with practice," King-Lu said confidently, swallowing the giant bite he immediately took off his slice.
"Certainly," Cookie agreed.
"I've worked here long enough to name at least five ways this could go terribly wrong," Emma laughed, and the producer repeated the gesture with even more energy.
Cookie mentally crossed his fingers so the whole thing wouldn't go awry – she still had enough time to spoil it by mentioning the rumours after all.
But, well, it was exactly what happened next.
"So," Emma clapped her hands mischievously. "Let us say goodbye to our audience, shall we? At this moment of almost family cosiness, right, guys? So great to finally see you together!"
She quickly waved her hand at the cameras, and the other two did the same. If the cameras wouldn't stop rolling, someone would've probably needed to colour-correct poor Cookie's face.
"Well," King-Lu said, when they left the set a minute later. "All this tea that was never there reminded me of something."
"Hm?"
"There's a teahouse I've been itching to show someone. Not a bottle of whiskey, of course, but..."
Cookie was silent for a moment.
"Is it a date?" he asked when King-Lu raised his brow.
"Whatever you feel comfortable calling it," King-Lu replied, casually but just a tiny bit nervously.
"Okay," Cookie said vaguely.
"Let me text you the location," King-Lu said with ill-concealed mischief, and Cookie had no opportunity to not give him his number.
But before King-Lu could text anything, his smartwatch pinged and he groaned.
"I have to go," he said.
Cookie sighed sadly.
"See you soon then," he replied and inadvertently took a step forward for a goodbye hug.
He didn't intend to, so it would be awkward – if King-Lu didn't do the same.
The hug felt like they were old friends, and Cookie stood still for a minute after King-Lu left and waved at him over his shoulder.