A/N: Written for Densimber Day 2.
"How's the chocolate coming?" Deeks asked, looking over his shoulder where Kensi was methodically stirring the contents of a glass bowl balanced on top of a pot of simmering water.
"It's almost ready," Kensi answered, sounding distracted.
They'd spent the morning making five different varieties of cookies, which now decorated every spare bit of counter space. She'd been surprisingly laid-back about it all until they reached the final cookie recipe. His mom had been making the chocolate and peanut butter swirled treat for as long as he could remember and Kensi had painstakingly reviewed every step and ingredient with her.
"Well, if we don't hurry up, the dough's going to be too soft." He gave the tube of homemade peanut butter cookie dough in front of him a slap with his rolling pin. It didn't so much as dent the surface. "Or at least that's what the recipe says."
"Hey, your mom said to melt the chocolate completely. I'm not having lumpy filling again."
While Kensi watched over the chocolate, Deeks continued to roll, hit, and generally bully the dough until it was flat and relatively rectangular. He was actually a little sweaty, which was slightly embarrassing given that his mom regularly made at least 10 batches of cookies every year.
"Ok, I think it's ready," Kensi said suddenly, hissing as she tried to remove the bowl. "Damn it!"
"What?" Deeks made a move towards her, but she waved him off, tucking her thumb between her lips for a second.
"Nothing. I'm fine." She shook her hand like it would make the red patch of skin disappear. Turning with the bowl balanced between her now gloved palms, she poured the molten chocolate on top of the asymmetric piece of dough.
"Start rolling before it hardens," Kensi instructed him as she shoved the bowl to the side. He attempted to peel the bottom end of dough off the counter, which had softened up considerably in the last couple minutes
"I'm trying." It was significantly more difficult to manipulate than his mom had made it sound. When he finally managed to complete one uneven roll, a few cracks formed in the now very warm dough.
"Oh my god, this is a freaking disaster," Deeks groaned, feeling the absurd urge to laugh as chocolate started oozing out of the sides, the roll slowly deflating as it warmed.
"No, we can still salvage it," Kensi insisted, nudging him to the side and desperately molding the oblong blob with her hands. Making an angry sound, she swiped her hand across her forehead and her shoulders slumped in defeat
"You, uh, got a little something on your nose," Deeks observed gently, pointing to the streaks of chocolate decorating her face. She touched her nose, leaving behind even more of a mess and Deeks inhaled quickly to hold back a unexpected smirk.
"Martin Atticus Deeks, don't you dare laugh," she warned him dangerously, which was somehow even more amusing with her covered in flour dust, powder sugar in her hair, and chocolate.
"I wouldn't dream of it." A chuckle escaped him despite his best efforts and Kensi glared at him.
"Oh, you think this is funny?" Her expression turned devious and Deeks guessed what she was about to do a second before she dipped her fingers in the mess on the counter. He yelped, jumping across the room, but Kensi cornered him against the sink.
"Kensi, no don't, agh," he groaned, turning his head as Kensi smeared chocolate through his hair. For good measure, she scooped up something powdery from next to the sink and rubbed it on top. She stepped back with a satisfied smirk. "Was that necessary?"
"Absolutely," she said happily. "Now we're even."
"Oh, that's what you think." He picked up the closest item at hand, which happened to be some apricot purée. Kensi gasped when he flung it, hitting her squarely on the face. It dripped down her cheek and neck slowly.
A few minutes later, they were both sticky, gritty, and the kitchen was in complete disarray. Deeks wiped a piece of candied cherry out of his eye and glanced down at Kensi, who was pinned between his chest and the dishwasher. They were both breathing heavily.
Bracing his hands on either side of her, Deeks grinned, chuckling at Kensi's sticky hair and food streaked shirt.
"You look adorable," he teased. He wiped a dot of chocolate off her cheek with a smirk.
"Shut up," she suggested, threading her fingers through his hair to pull him closer. Her fingers caught in the strands as she kissed him, tugging gently at his bottom lip.
"Mm, this is way more fun than baking cookies," Deeks decided, lifting her up on the counter.
"I have to agree." Kensi slid her hand up his back, cookies and mess completely forgotten. "Much, much better.
A/N: As many of these stories go, bits are rooted in my own experiences. My Grandma always said when you're making Whirligig cookies (the ones Kensi and Deeks are making), don't answer the phone or take a break, cause the dough will be ruined once the chocolate hardens.