Work Text:
Isagi had just entered the kitchen.
He blinked at the disaster zone that used to be his kitchen. Flour coated the counters in uneven clumps, like a failed snowstorm, and there were streaks of batter on the walls as if someone had tried. And failed. To recreate a crime scene. Bowls teetered on the edge of the disaster, BROKEN spoons stuck to the surface like they had fused with the countertop, and somehow, frosting had ended up on the ceiling. He was curious, but valued his sanity enough to refrain from asking.
And at the centre of this sugary apocalypse stood Kaiser, holding a piping bag like it was an artist’s brush. Except, if this was art, it would be in the realm of abstract horror.
Isagi glanced around his eyes full of questions, despite the situation being painfully clear: crimes against humanity. “…Did you fight the kitchen and lose?” he finally asked.
Kaiser turned his head, as if just noticing him, a light laugh escaping, his golden hair dusted with flour, a cheshire grin stretching from ear to ear, the corners of his eyes drew a smooth arc, “Ah, Yoichi, mein Lieber! Perfect timing.”
“Time for what?” Isagi crossed his arms, resisting the urge to massage his temples. Kaiser, looking more like an overenthusiastic child than a world-class player, spreads his arms gesturing grandly at the table.
“A taste-test.”
Isagi’s gaze followed Kaiser’s hand… and immediately regretted it.
The cupcakes -if they could even be called that- looked like a disaster. Some were misshapen lumps, the batter having risen in awkward angles, while others had crater-sized dips in the middle. One was nearly blackened at the edges, but its centre. still looked suspiciously undercooked. The frosting situation was worse. Some had it slathered on like an afterthought, while others were piled so high they swayed under their own weight.
"What...” Isagi began slowly, "....is this?”
Kaiser reached over the counter behind him light laugh escaping. “A victory." Then after some thought, "Fought and won,” he added, lifting a slightly lopsided cupcake as though it were proof of his triumph.
"..."
“...Your lies used to be more convincing,” Isagi settles on finally.
Kaiser flashes him a lazy smile, “Rude. But I always save some patience for you,” He shoved the abomination toward Isagi’s mouth, "You'll literally be eating your words soon anyways."
With the kind of resigned acceptance one might have before walking into a kitchen with Kaiser, Isagi bit down.
And.
It was good.
The cake was soft, perfectly moist, and the frosting -despite its terrifying colour- was light and creamy, with just the right touch of sweetness that melted on his tongue. It was actually better than good.
Isagi blinked, chewing slowly, “This is...”
Kaiser’s shoulders straightened, his fingers curl slightly around the counter. His expression didn’t change much, a smirk playing at his lips, but his eyes gleamed in anticipation, bright and eager, like he was practically vibrating inside.
Isagi swallowed, still a little stunned, “It’s delicious.”
Kaiser eyes curl in that infuriatingly smug way, but the way his fingers tapped restlessly against the counter betrayed his excitement. “Obviously,” he said, but there was an unmistakable ring of satisfaction in his voice.
“Of course it is. I followed the recipe.”
“Is that what you call frosting on the ceiling?” Isagi asked.
“Enthusiasm,” Kaiser says before he looked away, lips twitching.
"..."
“Ha,” Kaiser ran his hand through his hair dismissively, turning slightly away, as if not looking at Isagi directly would somehow make him seem less eager, “Jealousy is a scary thing Yoichi, why would I be? I am a man of many talents.”
Isagi smirked, “Yeah maybe. It takes real innovation to think of using buttercream as hair gel.”
Kaiser’s hands stilled, but his ears were tinged a refreshing shade of red.
Before Isagi could tease him any further, Kaiser nudged another cupcake into Isagi’s hands, “Try this one, too.”
Isagi happily complied, taking a bite, then another. And gods was it unfair, they really were some damn good cupcakes.
Isagi licked a bit of frosting off his thumb, “Okay, fine. You didn’t completely ruin my kitchen for nothing.”
Kaiser’s lips twitched, “A snide remark. How surprising.” He still wasn’t looking at Isagi opting instead for a sudden interest in his violently dyed hands. But Isagi was sure that his tail -if he had one- would absolutely be swinging equally violently right now.
Isagi shook his head, despite himself, the corners of his lips curled, "Dumb cat."
And true to his words, Kaiser pounced.
"Meow," Kaiser smirked.
Frosting smeared across his cheek before he could react.
Isagi didn't speak for a long time. He then suddenly smiled,
“Oh, you’re gonna regret that.”
“Wait, hey-”
"Too late." Isagi grabbed a handful of frosting from a nearby bowl and as soon as he got a firm grip on Kaiser's hair-
"Pahahahahaha! You! It. Pfft. It looks great."
Kaiser sneered, "Stating the obvious Yoichi."
Colourful mayhem erupted throughout the kitchen.
Batter flew and frosting splattered. There was laughter, shrieks, and at one point, Kaiser tripped and nearly took down an entire tray of cupcakes with him. By the time they finally called a truce, both of them were covered in a sugary mess, breathless and grinning. Kaiser had frosting in his hair, and Isagi’s jumper was beyond saving.
“You look ridiculous,” Isagi choked out, trying to smother his laughter.
Kaiser leaned closer, eyes twinkling mischievously, “Hmm, can't say you're much better.”
Suddenly, Isagi feels a soft press of lips against his forehead. It was as quick and sweet as the frosting on cakes. Kaiser pulls back, looking entirely too pleased with himself, his face tinted pink.
“I win,” he declares triumphantly.
Isagi stands frozen for a moment before shaking his head, unable to fight the smile spreading across his face, “You’re impossible.”
“You'll live,” Kaiser smiled, cusping the other's face and lightly pulling the boy towards him.
Isagi hand reaches, bringing it up to wipe frosting off Kaiser’s face, “Yeah, I guess I'll have to find a way.”