Shadow: Based upon my father's approach to Christmas cake – "let's chuck it all in!"
Shipping: Hikarishipping – Yugi Mouto x Malik Ishtar x Ryou Bakura
Little Gifts
21) Pudding-Making
The clack of cutlery and china was loud in the little kitchen, evident even over the cheerful babbling of the radio and the atrocious humming that accompanied it.
"Ma-lik…" Ryou's voice shortly after there has been a gurgling splash, more scraping as a bottle was finished being upended into olive-coloured goop, "that's way too much sherry."
"Nah…" Malik's response, the blond's smile bright and sunny and completely ignorant of both the freezing cold weather outside and the disapproving look on his boyfriend's face within. "There can never be too much alcohol."
Ryou wafted a hand in front of his nose. "But the kitchen reeks."
Yugi, sitting on the sideboard going through a pile of kitchenware in an effort to find a suitably-sized container to put their cake-mix into, gave a vague nod. "Most of the alcohol will be burnt out during the baking though, Ryou, and only leave the flavour behind."
Ryou sighed. "But we still don't want it too strong!"
"Wait…" Malik ignored the albino's exclamation, focusing in on Yugi, "the alcohol gets burned out?" The Egyptian looked most disappointed by this news. Yugi nodded. "Well, damn." Somewhat sulkily he grabbed the mix insofar, dumping it in the smaller youth's hands. "You do it then."
"Do what?" Yugi looked at the other in some confusion, wrinkling his nose at the strong smell coming from the bowl. He slid down from the sideboard, feet placed firmly on the tiled floor.
"Mix!" A flapping motion from the blond. Yugi hesitantly looked to Ryou, who gave him a small nod of confirmation. Yugi mixed – Malik watched him for a few minutes, and then wandered out of the kitchen.
He came in again later, when both his boyfriends were occupied, Yugi the one humming along to the radio this time, eyes closed as he stirred some sultanas into the cake-mix. Malik grinned when he saw it, sneaking up behind the duelist and draping himself about Yugi's shoulders.
"Make a wish," his murmur was low, but it still took the other by surprise.
Yugi jumped, heart thumping in his chest and spoon clattering in the bowl. "I…what?"
"It's traditional," Malik insisted, chin perched comfortably on the other's shoulder.
"And how would you know?" Ryou asked, amused, looking up as he hunted down some more dried fruits from one of the numerous cupboards in his kitchen. "This is the first year you'll ever be celebrating Christmas."
The blond pulled a face at him. "I've watched videos."
"Oh, wow." The fond sarcasm in Ryou's voice was lost on neither of his companions. "But go on," the Brit looked back at Yugi, "make a wish. Malik's right – it is a tradition."
Yugi closed his eyes for a few moments, thinking…and then smiled, nodding to himself and opening his lashes once more. "Done."
Malik leaned over a bit, curious. "What was it?"
"It's a secret!" Ryou hit the Egyptian before Yugi could respond. "Don't give away your wish, Yugi, or it won't come true."
The other gave him a gentle smile, bowl still clutched to his chest. His expression was soft. "Who says it hasn't come true already?"
"Then that was a bloody quick wi– ow!" Malik rubbed is head when Ryou smacked him again. "That one hurt!"
"Then have some sensitivity," he was told rather self-righteously.
Yugi only laughed, and pressed a quick, consoling kiss on the blond's cheek. Malik smiled at him, somewhat mollified, opening his mouth to no doubt pass some perverse comment –
"Ow!" A rub at the Egyptian's arm, Malik all-out pouting at the sting there from Ryou's wooden spoon. "What was that for? I never did anything!"
"You were about to," Ryou assured him, before reaching in to take the bowl from Yugi, ruffling the smaller boy's hair as he went past.
They were actually planning on getting the thing baked that day, after all.