Author Notes:

Greetings! I have returned! Life's been busy as of late. Ah well, here's the next chappy, another one shot this time. I've got several written on paper, now I just gotta get 'em typed XD. Thanks to all the viewers, I know you're out there! Special thanks to Jane Silver for being my very first reviewer for this story, I'm glad you like it. Enjoy the next chapter!

Pairings: Artha/Moordryd if you squint

Characters: Artha and Moordryd

Disclaimer: When life gives you lemons, make lemonade...unfortunately, that doesn't help the author gain ownership of Dragon Booster or the characters within..


Lessons in Life: Sugar Free

" I don't want to live in a world where I have to eat sugar-free sugar cookies."

Takayuki Ikkaku, Arisa Hosaka and Toshihiro Kawabata, Animal Crossing: Wild World, 2005

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Artha wasn't sure how he'd been forced into this position. Well, that wasn't quite true, he actually had a pretty good idea on how he'd ended up like this, it involved a bet, a blond, a prank, and his father...he still wasn't on speaking terms with said paternal unit. In any case, the punishment for the crime had been decided upon, unjustly decided upon in his opinion, the jury was biased! However, as he had no say in it, Artha simply had to make do with scowls, threats, yells, and finally resorting to sharing his opinion with his father via the silent treatment...all of which had blown up spectacularly in his face. Conner was making it a point to yammer at him as much as possible, in the most annoying and obnoxious manner he could imagine, all the while smirking at Artha's inability to respond in the manner he'd like to due to his stubbornness. Truthfully, he was just about ready to send a punch the older man's way if he didn't Cut. It. Out!

Back to the matter at hand though. Supposedly it was meant to help them develop skills that they could use to survive later in life. While he might agree with the idea in theory, practice wise...it sucked. Sighing heavily, he blinked as his hands were suddenly grasped in a firm grip, frowning, he raised his eyes to the owner of the hands holding his,

"Do you mind? I'm working here!"

Moordryd merely scowled and yanked his hands further away from their work,

"No, you're killing it. In fact," he glanced down, "I think we can safely say it's long past the dead stage and moving quickly to the returning-from-whence-it-came stage. Did you even look at what we supposed to do?"

Artha scowled at him,

"I know what I'm doing!"

He received a look,

"Reeaally now?" Moordryd drawled, and shrugged uncaringly after a minute, "fine, you do it your way."

"I intend to."

"Well good then."

Moordryd made to turn; pausing at the last second and suddenly ran a finger down the left side of Artha's face. Artha blinked and forcibly ignored the flutters in his belly, or the giddy feeling that swept over him, or the way his face tingled after Moordryd touched it. The blond pulled back, sucking on the finger thoughtfully,

"Needs more sugar," he glanced down again, "and you've put too much water in."

At the incredulous look he received he huffed defensively,

"Cain does this kind of stuff all the time, but his first few goes weren't too good, so we all ended up having to learn just so we wouldn't starve. He's fine now though...so long as he doesn't decide to experiment."

The look didn't change, he scowled and stepped closer, digging a new bowl out and placing it in front of the brunette along with what he needed.

"Pay attention Stable brat, cause I'm only doing this once."

He wrapped an arm around the other's waist and snagged both hands, guiding them through the steps. They worked in awkward silence for several minutes, until Artha spoke up,

"I can make a good stew you know."

Moordryd hummed, concentrating on the steps, though his lips quirked in mild amusement at the slightly defensive tone in the other boy's voice,

"That a fact"

Several more minutes passed as Artha watched his hands move, memorising the process,

"...I suppose I could show you how to make it..."

Moordryd made an agreeable sound,

"If you want."

Artha relaxed, mildly surprised he hadn't realised how tensely he'd been standing,

"Good,"

Twenty minutes later, Artha was the proud creator of a dozen sugar cookies made from scratch. Really, he decided, as he simultaneously munched on one while demonstrating how to dice meat properly, Home Ec. wasn't too bad, in the end.

FIN

Authors Notes:

...well...that ended up completely different from my notes, the characters just kinda ran away from me...Anyway, originally I was going to Artha unable to cook...period...but I figured, he does most of the chores at home right? So he must do at least SOME cooking. I doubt he does cakes or biscuit type things though, more likely practical stuff that can be cooked up quickly and kept for several days. Thus, he can't make cookies. Moodryd on the other hand, hangs out with Cain, so he must have picked up something. That's all for this chapter, let me know how you liked it Until next time!