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It was Valentine’s Day. A day that was meaningless to Sephiroth, a day where he’d have to be more careful with what he did and where he was going so he could keep the fans who were interested in him from trying to pursue him.
… It was Valentine’s Day. A day that should be meaningless to Sephiroth, and a day that he should be spending holed up inside of his dorm room, or out on an isolated mission.
Instead he was spending the morning in the kitchen that he never used, reading a recipe book that he had bought just a day prior, and looking at the recipe for making heart-shaped cookies.
He bought all the materials and ingredients that he needed at the store yesterday, alongside the book. He bought measuring cups, sprinkles,and more items that seemed crucial to the preparation of these cookies.
All because of Angeal.
If this all went wrong, then it was Angeal’s fault for making him feel the way he did towards the other boy. If it wasn’t for these feelings of… romance, then Sephiroth wouldn’t be in this stuffy, unused kitchen.
He sighed, and narrowed his eyes at the recipe. “One large egg yolk…” he muttered, a confused frown forming on his face. One large yolk, as opposed to what, a small yolk? What made a yolk a large yolk? Or was it referring to the size of the egg? What made an egg a large egg, as opposed to the perfectly-sized eggs he had on the counter?
He huffed, and cracked open an egg over the mixing bowl he had. What did it matter? He’s sure that just the one, regularly sized yolk would be fine. Gods, what was a large yolk… did this recipe want him to break open a chocobo egg? Those were large- did this recipe call for the murder of a chocobo chick?
He let out a frustrated sigh, and mixed the ingredients together with a whisk. These better turn out perfect.
Perfect enough to win over Angeal’s heart.
*
Sephiroth had made a total of ten cookies. Half of them were topped with white chocolate, while the other half was tipped with dark. They were bite-sized, convenient to bring if you were going on a mission. He had put pink and red sprinkles over them, most likely too much, compared to the cookies shown in a photo at the bottom of the recipe- but it didn’t matter.
Sephiroth had made these, he followed the instructions exactly as they were written, these cookies were baked to perfection. Angeal would love them, and Angeal would understand Sephiroth’s intentions perfectly.
… But that didn’t necessarily mean that Angeal felt the same way towards Sephiroth. Which was completely fine. He’s certain that if Angeal didn’t like him before this, then he would like him after this.
He put the cookies into a small, plastic bag and wrapped a pink ribbon he had bought at the store around it.
It was perfect.
Angeal was at his dorm, he had the day off, too. All Sephiroth had to do was go in and deliver these, it would be as easy as that.
With a deep breath he left his dorm-
And subsequently walked into Angeal.
“Wha- oh, Sephiroth! Was just about to knock,” Angeal grinned, looking amused by the situation. Sephiroth glared up at him, goddess it wasn’t supposed to be like this! He hadn’t prepared for something like this to happen!
“What do you want?” Sephiroth wrinkled his nose, and crossed his arms.
“Ah, uh…” Angeal’s grin turned a bit sheepish. “… I wanted to give you something.”
“So did I.” Sephiroth said coldly- maybe a bit more colder than necessary. Gods, this was all going wrong… “I wanted to- um, I…” His voice trailed off, and he looked down, away from Angeal’s too kind and caring gaze.
“Here, why don’t you hold open your hand?” Angeal suggested. Sephiroth frowned, but did as was asked of him. He felt something soft placed into his hand, and a quiet crinkling sound.
He looked at his hand, and saw a small knit cat holding a plastic bag in its arms. The plastic bag had small, heart-shaped chocolates in them.
Sephiroth stared. And could not stop staring. He’s certain Angeal was staring at him, too, waiting for his reaction. His response.
Sephiroth shoved the plastic bag of cookies he made against Angeal’s chest. The other boy’s eyes went wide with surprise and he held the bag in his arms.
“Oh, I didn’t-”
“They- I was-” Sephiroth cut himself off, and then looked back up at Angeal. “Stop staring, just eat one.” he said, then looked away again. He couldn’t bear looking at Angeal’s face any longer.
Sephiroth heard the sound of crinkling, a quiet crunch, and then…
“Did you make these yourself, Sephiroth?” Angeal asked.
“I did.”
“They’re good!” Angeal praised. Sephiroth could feel his face grow warm. “I’m surprised, you’re- uh- nevermind. Why don’t you try one of the chocolates I made you? They’re not just for looking at.”
Sephiroth huffed, and did as he said. The chocolate was sweet, and while Sephiroth has definitely eaten more expensive sweets, and yet… this had to be the best he’s ever had. Perhaps it was because it was Angeal who made it.
Angeal, who made these for him, Angeal, who…
Sephiroth wanted to go back into his dorm and hide under his bed.
Angeal looked back down at the bag full of cookies, and then hesitantly said, “So, um, does this mean that you-”
“No. Yes- I, ah… do you…” It felt as though his face was on fire, and he finally looked back up at Angeal. Gods, his eyes… they seemed to pierce through his soul. “Do you return these feelings!?” he shouted at him, his voice echoing throughout the hall.
Angeal smiled at him, and gods did it do things to Sephiroth’s heart. “I do, Sephiroth. I like you, too.”
Sephiroth feels like his brain froze. “Good,” he said, nodding. “Excuse me,” he then turned around, ready to head back to his dorm room. He needed to hide away in the dark, because right now it felt like his heart would burst out of his chest.
“Wait!” Angeal reached out and set his hand on the back of Sephiroth’s shoulder.
“Hm?” Sephiroth did not squeak.
“Do you want to come over to my dorm for dinner later today? I- we could make something together, if you’d like.”
That sounded perfect, even if Sephiroth had no kitchen skills. “Yes, that would be fine.” Sephiroth responded, trying to keep his voice level. “I… I will see you later,”
“Yeah, see you later, Sephiroth.” Angeal said kindly, and then let go of Sephiroth’s shoulder. Already did he miss the touch, but he’d never say so out loud. He’s embarrassed himself in front of Angeal enough for today.
He returned to his dorm, headed into his dark bedroom, and sat down at the foot of his bed. Angeal liked him. Angeal liked him more than a friend would. Angeal made him chocolate.
Sephiroth could not feel more ecstatic!