A/N: This cute little pairing was requested by Mr. War. Personally I think Ragna x Tao is more lighthearted and cutesy than other pairs involving him, so this may seem treacly. Anywho...hope you guys like it~
Drabble #7
Theme: Muffins
Pairing: Ragna x Taokaka
~ x x x ~
The aroma of home-made pastries, freshly baked loaves, cinnamon and the sickeningly sweet scent of syrup wafted through the warm air of the room. Two people occupied this space where multiple ovens stood on opposite ends of a long counter in the center of the room. They busied themselves with the task of packaging biscuits and buns and assorted pastries for the day's deliveries.
"Phew, it's hot in here," the girl with the beige hoodie remarked, wiping her forehead in an exaggerated manner. "This is taking forever, meow!" She threw her arms up in bewilderment, sending a nearby basket of muffins tumbling.
Just in the nick of time, the young man attired in an unbearably bright red jacket looked up from beneath the counter and caught the basket. "Quit complaining," he responded lightly, rolling his eyes as he straightened up and placed the basket on the tabletop. "It's your fault we're in this mess anyway."
Seemingly offended, she crossed her arms with a huff, spinning around to scowl at the wall. "It's not Tao's fault the baker-guy has two left ears! He's the one who fell over and dropped all the bread in the street!" she said in her defense.
Ragna disguised his chuckle with a discreet cough and lifted a pile of decorated boxes that needed to be filled on the counter.
The personality of the happy-go-lucky girl was strangely infectious. She had this strange way of infecting others -especially him- with her lighthearted disposition. Normally he would not have hesitated to scoff sardonically, but at times like these he found her naïveté mildly amusing.
"It's two left feet, idiot," he corrected, moving the chocolate muffins from the cooled tray to another woven basket. He glanced up momentarily through the strands of his bangs, to make his stare less obvious, as he awaited her reaction.
He hadn't wanted to be involved in this in the first place but it was Jubei's command for him to look out for his training partner no matter the situation. On this day, they were permitted a rare break from intensive training and after much debate they were on their way to the Park since Orient Town was too crowded for Ragna's liking. Distracted, Tao ran ahead sniffing the air and only to be found begging the baker for a snack. With Tao, one thing led to another as per usual and now they spent their day repaying the livid baker with work.
"Feet, ears, same thing, meow," she shrugged it off easily with a flippant wave of her paw. Her brilliant crimson eyes met with the delectable chocolate-muffin in his hand. "Heyyy, can Tao have a bite?"
"No. You can't just eat the stuff without paying."
"No faiiirr," she whined. "Tao doesn't have any money."
"Like that's not surprising," Ragna remarked, remembering a past incident involving their flee from a restaurant when they both were unable to pay.
While Tao sulked in a corner, limply straightening the boxes, Ragna spoke up with an offer. He discovered her liked her better when she was in high spirits. "Hey, I'll buy you a muffin before we leave, okay? Let's just get done here."
Tao blinked and then looked over her shoulder enthusiastically, her mood instantly lifting. "Really?"
"Yeah, sure, if it'll make you happy," Ragna replied nonchalantly, going back to his work. When Tao made no response, he glimpsed over his shoulder to find her suddenly standing right behind him and staring.
"What...?" he asked slowly, stopping himself from jumping back in surprise. It was slightly unnerving to find the Kaka looking so intent when she was usually so blithe. Tao scrutinized him attentively, her head tilted. "What is it...? Something on my face?"
"Y'know..." she started, her mouth steadily widening into a grin and her eyes brightening with a mischievous gleam. "Underneath all that weird spiky hair and crabby attitude, you're actually very sweet, Good Guy!"
Ragna averted his eyes a bit too quickly with a muttered disagreement, though this was all in vain since Tao pressed on with a goofy grin, "Hey, maybe Tao should start calling you Actually Very Sweet Guy! Huh? Huh?" she suggested playfully. "Whaddaya say?"
Ragna slung his arm around the girl's neck in a firm headlock and brought his other across, briskly rubbing her head. Tao squirmed and wriggled animatedly, gasping for air. "Then again, myeow, Blushing Boy sounds good too! Or wait, Muffin Man!" she exclaimed jokingly, glancing up at him with effort under his firm grip.
Ragna raised both his eyebrows at the suggestion, trying to keep his expression neutral, though he couldn't fight back a grin. "Shut up, you," he said with a gruff laugh, grabbing a muffin from the basket and stuffing it in her laughing mouth.
~ x x x ~
A/N: Well...I tried. Not sure if it could be called romance, though. Heh...heh heh... ^-^'
