A/N: I feel I must apologize for this chapter. I was craving sweets when I wrote it… Shadow is just too adorable, though, being all grumpy about nothing. What job does Ike have when he gets older, I wonder…?

Warning: Awesome-O says that this is GAY. Full of GAY. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I… I gots nothing. Really. Nothing. Sorry.

Summary: Challenge fic. 25 Random Words. The rules? Just use the word in a scene about the pairing. Chapter 14: Shorthand.

Remember:

"Blah" – Speech

Blah –Thoughts/Emphasis

Blah – Self Explanatory

14. Shorthand

Ike was strutting through the condo, sniffing the air. There was a sweet scent of cooking chocolate chip cookies. Quickly, he threw down his messenger bag and dashed into the open kitchen. Shadow was sitting on the counter, nibbling the last of a batch of brownies. Quirking an eyebrow, Ike paused.

"What are you doing?" he asked tentatively. Shadow swallowed whatever he was chewing and glanced up at his lover.

"I was trying to write…" he mumbled, then grabbed another brownie, which was oozing caramel, "And I was doing research…"

"Okay," Ike said walking forward. He picked up a brownie, still moist and warm, and bit into it. Richness flooded his mouth in a swirl of dark chocolates and creamy caramel. "But how did that lead to baking?"

Shadow scratched the back of his head—and the loose tank top he used on workdays rode up too high. Pale, firm skin was peeking slyly at Ike. "I don't remember. It had something to do with wiki and shibari and then before I knew it, I was on a baking website, looking for caramel recipes."

"Caramel?" Ike questioned. He noted there were note cards stuffed into the worn cargo pants. Batting at a few broken chains dangling from Shadow's belt, Ike plucked one up. As he unfolded it he asked, "Why caramel? Is your main character a baker or something?"

"No, I couldn't remember what caramel tasted like," Shadow said, a mouth full of brownie.

"Caramel tastes like… caramel," Ike said, eyes roaming over the writing unseeingly.

"Right," Shadow scoffed, unfolding his legs and leaning back on the counter top, "Because I can just say, 'He slowly licked the caramel off her trembling body. His skillful tongue dipping into her womanbud and tasting her salty sweat mixed with the caramel flavor of caramel.'"

"Yeah, that is kinda lame…" Ike agreed pointlessly. The Canadian had grown use to the strange quirks his lover possessed. His brother went so far as to claim all writers had them, which Ike never questioned since Kyle was a New York best seller.

"I know. That's why I baked the brownies," Shadow deadpanned. He stared down at his creations, inspecting them. "I don't think I cooked them long enough. Maybe I should check the cookies…"

Ike was busy trying to read Shadow's shorthand. It was a near impossible task. There were scratches and spills and smudges and it was a frantic cursive with his left hand. Shadow was right handed, but wrote down his notes with the left to remember them better. Again, with the quirks. "Alright!" Ike exclaimed, flicking the recipe card across the counter, "So, what are the chocolate chip cookies for?"

"For you. The cake consistency kind…" he muttered, not looking in Ike's direction. Blinking, the smaller man looked up to the goth, confused.

"You… made me my favorite cookies?" he inquired. Shadowed jerked his down in a nod. A smile couldn't help but blossom over Ike's face.

"Well, they were on the site, and you always complained when we were kids, ya know, 'cause your mom never got the cake kind, just the crunchy ones for Kyle and—" in mid-ramble Ike hopped onto the counter and hugged Shadow as tight as he could. Shadow was taken aback, but returned the hug like it was second nature.

"I'm so lucky to have a guy like you," Ike whispered. Shadow grunted a reply of some sort, mostly focusing on the bundle of warmth that was Ike in his arms. In between the smell of smoke and soap there was a lingering aroma of faded ink and sweets…

—END?—