Archive of Our Own ^beta

He could rarely indulge in specific tastes, work tying him to exact locations and rarely going out to the cities or something like that, but that day he managed to have a little time and bought what he now had in his hands. The aroma of sweet and bread giving away the contents of the box and he felt the weight of it. He wanted to jump, he was happy, but he knew that he might stumble and say goodbye to what he bought, and he also knew that he would be scolded for throwing everything away.

So, he decided to walk quickly down the hall, keeping his eyes on the halls for anyone, and he was lucky when he found Olive coming out of a room, the seraph taking her arm and pulling her with him, the cherub letting herself go because of the surprise, but smiling when she saw who it was.

"Are we in a good mood today?" Olive asked.

Engetsu nodded, showing the box he was carrying with his other hand. "I bought donuts and I want to give them all." He smiled when he saw who appeared at the end of the hall. “Hey, head angel!”

Taffy jumped, the scream taking him by surprise and with tired eyes he looked across the hall. A tired smile forming on his face at the sight of them, Engetsu swallowing the comment that he looked terrible, because he knew that Taffy knew that he looked terrible, and he didn't want to make him feel worse than he already did. So, when they got to him, Engetsu passed his girlfriend first to him and then opened the box.

“Tada!” He yelled, putting the box in front of them. "Choose your favorite, but don't tamper with the rest because yuck."

He watched the blondes approach, Olive watching each one in contemplation and Taffy looking a little more alive; his eyes shining and even his face taking on a little more color. The cherub being the first to take one; a stuffed donut, sprinkled with sugar. Taffy taking more time, his hand raised, uncertain which one to take, until he reached for a chocolate one, filled with chocolate, covered with chocolate and lines of caramel on the surface. Engetsu laughed.

"Bro, I knew you'd pick that one." He closed the box. “My teeth hurt when I saw it and I said; ‘Taffy’.”

Olive smiled and chuckled as she saw the blonde blush. The cherub leaving a hand on his arm. “He chose it thinking of you.”

“… Thank you.” He said after letting out a long breath, followed by a smile. "Thank you, I hope this helps me for the rest of the day."

Engetsu expected the same, he smiled back and said goodbye to both of them, making his way down the corridor and looking for the rest. Two fewer and the box felt lighter. He stopped dead, how many donuts did he have? He hoped they would reach everyone. He turned the box over and opened it, counting the remaining donuts and holding up a hand, counting who was missing from his companions. While doing the accounts, a voice distracted him.

“And that?”

"They're donuts." He replied, turning to see his friend, and smiled. “Take one.”

Behind him, Inga raised his eyebrows, a pleasant smile forming on his lips as Engetsu turned, showing him the contents of the box. The brown-haired man taking a hand to his chin, examining the donuts and extending his hand, but moving it away soon after and continuing to meditate, when he extended his hand a second time and withdrew it, Engetsu complained.

"Take one, damn it, I’m getting tired." He puffed out his cheeks. "The others are waiting."

"Oh? Aren't they all mine?” He put a hand to his chest. “I thought we were friends.” He blurted out in feigned pain.

Engetsu smiled. "Take one and go."

Inga laughed and took one, the white frosting, with chocolate chips. Engetsu ready to close the box and leave, but Inga raised his free hand and stopped him within seconds. Engetsu watching his friend, Inga counting the rest of the donuts.

“There is a dozen, who did you gave before?”

“Olive and Taffy.”

"And you'll give the rest of us." Inga continued, Engetsu nodded. "Then spare one, I'll take it."

Engetsu frowned and turned, pushing the box away from Inga and looking at him with annoyance, Inga by his side holding his own donut away, avoiding its possible demise, even with his eyes closed Engetsu felt his challenging gaze.

"Everyone gets one and you have yours." He raised a hand and pointed at him accusingly. "So go away, now."

The other seraph lifted his chin, looking down at his colleague and left his free hand on his waist. "And what will you do with the last one? Throw it away? Better give it to me.”

"I didn't give it to Taffy, why would I give it to you?"

"Because I'm your friend."

"Taffy is also my friend."

"Don't force me to take it."

"Huh? I'm not afraid of you.”

Silence spread between the two, both angels looking at each other with challenging looks and knitted eyebrows. Engetsu holding his box still away from Inga and Inga holding his donut up. The tension building between them, weighing on their shoulders, and silencing the sound around them. Inga closed his fist and Engetsu placed a hand in front of him, closing it as well. They raised their hands high and lowered them.

Both extending their palms at the same time. They closed them again and raised them, lowering them and showing stone both. They repeated, paper. Scissors. Stone. Stone. Scissors. If Engetsu had had time, he would have wondered when was the last time he managed to draw so many times in a row with Inga, but it wasn't the moment. He had to save the donuts, because if he lost one, Inga wouldn't let him go until he lost them all, and he didn't want to lose them all! He still hadn't given one to Fiore! No, he wouldn't lose!

"Oh, donuts."

They both froze, the paper between them and Lei at their side. The eldest taking two donuts; one stuffed with blackberry and the other sprinkled with sugar. Without adding more, he went down the corridor, the two younger ones following him with their eyes, before turning down the corridor Lei turned to see them and gave them a smile.

"Nemofi likes them a lot." And he left.

It was no longer worth playing, both leaving the issue in a tie and saying goodbye, Inga resigning himself to defeat and Engetsu going on his way, he still had... How many did he have? He stopped to count again; opening the box and counting with his fingers, although he felt they were missing. He slammed the box shut and shook his head, and if someone was missing, he could give them his and that's it.

The next few minutes were spent going around in circles, searching, and searching and damn, they could all hide pretty well. He was getting tired and wanted to go with Aes and Fiore to enjoy the desserts. His spirits dropping a bit until he saw two halos through the castle window and ran out into the gardens.

Outside, Zero was sitting on a stone bench, his eyes lost in the sky and an expression of almost melancholy, an expression that turned into annoyance when he heard Engetsu's shout. The warrior gave the newcomer a dirty look, but the seraph ignored him and stopped beside him, opening the box and wiping his hand on his dress before reaching for a stuffed donut.

He handed Zero the dessert and the warrior went blank, red eyes focused on the donut. Engetsu pulling it closer, insistently urging him to take it, almost rubbing it in his face. Zero gritting his teeth and turning his head to the side, snatching the dessert from him and Engetsu smiling, without expecting anything, he ran away; surely Zero would get up and put the donut back in the box.

Good. One less. He quickened his pace, searching for the rest of his companions and praying they were easy to find. And God had mercy on him, well no, never that, but he was able to find Youran and Yuu together, the younger ones walking down a corridor, the angel in pink carrying papers and the younger one following him closely, talking to each other.

"Hey, kids." He called, making them stop. Engetsu smirking. "Do you want drugs?"

“… What?”

Engetsu laughed as he watched Yuu go from shock to panic in seconds, his eyes going wide. He would never get tired of the innocence of the young angel, he was cute. He showed them the box and opened it, letting them see the remaining donuts. Youran's eyes instantly shining and smiling. The terror on Yuu's face fading and calming. One day Engetsu would stop playing with him, but that day would not be today.

Youran taking the donut pinker than his own hair, biting into it instantly and savoring the cherry jelly. Beside him Yuu took a chocolate one, a more normal version of the one Taffy had. Before leaving, he assured Yuu that the donuts did not contain anything bad, the younger one blushing and Engetsu laughing once more; Yuu was so easy to tease.

He was getting ready to have to walk around and around again, but the library was close and better now than later. He entered and passed the sign that said it was forbidden to bring food. He saw Fiore at the counter, sitting in his chair and reading something new or a favorite. He set the box down on the counter and pushed it down the wood.

Fiore, without looking up, raised a hand and stopped the box before it fell. Engetsu would never get tired of seeing how he did that, from books to cups, Fiore stopped everything without looking up. He moved closer as Fiore stood up to see what he had caught. Engetsu beaming at him as Fiore opened the box, the scent of sweet spreading in the library.

"You must stop bringing food." Fiore commented, looking at the content.

"But I'm not touching anything."

“But I do.” He replied, closing his book with his free hand, and taking a handkerchief from his pocket. "Who are you missing?"

Engetsu stood up on his tiptoes and looked inside. "Tsurugi... Aes and me."

"Tsuru was here recently, he's going to the training rooms." Fiore said, taking a donut; with nothing on it, barely shining. He took a bite. "You can catch up if you go fast, but don't run!"

Engetsu let out a laugh that echoed through the library. He closed the box and ran out of the place, hearing a frustrated cry from Fiore. The box feeling so light now that if it hadn't been for the fact that he had seen the contents he would have ensured it was empty. After running some more, he caught sight of Tsurugigozen at the end of the hall, Engetsu running up to him and praying that the donuts wouldn't turn ugly.

"Tsurugi!"

The aforementioned stopped instantly, turning around and Engetsu preparing to open the box. He almost falling when he stopped, opened the lid, and held out his arms, displaying the last three donuts. Tsurugigozen observing the content and without the need for explanations, took one; the bicolor donut that Engetsu had chosen first in the store was going last, he felt a little sorry, because he had chosen it for himself.

"I don't like to eat before training." Tsurugigozen said, taking a bite and shrugging his shoulders. "But hey, today it's up to the rookies to run."

Engetsu chuckled. “You're cruel.”

“Life is cruel.”

He said goodbye and went on his way to make the rookies suffer, because he didn't plan on doing maneuvers with a full stomach. Engetsu also taking course, the two lonely donuts in the box. The way to the medical area was customary for him, so much so that all the assistants greeted him when they saw him, smiles and warm greetings, Engetsu answering them without stopping. When he got to the main area, he saw Aes at the desk, writing who knows what.

Engetsu entered, taking a chair that was for visitors and lifted it up, walking up to the blonde who didn't notice until Engetsu put the chair down next to him. The seraph placing the box on his own lap and opening it, showing Aes the contents. The blond put the pen aside and looked at the box, then looked up and saw Engetsu's face.

"I told you to stop eating these things."

Engetsu brought the box closer to him. "Choose yours."

The blond rolled his eyes, used to Engetsu ignoring his recommendations and even orders. So, he reached out a hand and took the one that was nearest; covered with white chocolate and colored sprinkles. Engetsu taking the leftover and closing the box, taking a big bite of the last stuffed donut and savoring the blackberry. Both of them eating in silence, enjoying the little dessert, Engetsu satisfied that they all managed to have one. Aes could tell the donut didn't taste that bad.