A/N; Just a small glimpse of how Muta occupied himself before getting his family back in All I Have Needed.
Birthday Bash 2019 Prompt 4
14. Prank War
It all started so innocently. Just a tiny bit of payback for one comment that felt over the line. Then, because the other one thought it was too much, there was payback for that.
By the time anyone thought to start keeping score, no one knew who had the most victories.
ooOoo
Toto slammed his fork on the table and spat out the peas that had been stuffed into what had appeared to be his favorite mulberry turnover.
"What's wrong?" Muta asked, eating a perfectly normal mulberry turnover with a smirk.
ooOoo
Muta shrieked with surprise as his peaceful walk through the manor's garden turned very wet and cold thanks to a swiftly confiscated hose.
ooOoo
The baron gave his favorite cook a firm look. "I mean it, Muta. Toto's only going to have one wedding day, and I will not have you ruining it for him."
The large man held up a hand as if swearing in court. "I did absolutely nothing to the cake or the wedding food that you or he won't approve of. You're completely right, this is Toto and Tara's special day, and it is not my place to add any drama," he recited a little too perfectly.
That firm look turned suspicious. "You are being far too compliant about this," he accused while crossing his arms like a tired parent. "You did something, now out with it."
Muta flinched and snuck a suspicious look around to make sure that the other cooks were still gone from the kitchen before quickly whispering in his lord's ear.
"I bribed Otho. The only boxers Toto could find this morning is covered with bright pink flamingos."
Despite himself, the baron couldn't resist laughing at that one. He didn't even snitch, though the retaliation came right before Toto and his new wife left for their honeymoon.
ooOoo
"Can you say, 'Daddy is a chicken'?" Muta coaxed a two-year-old girl while waving a big cookie with nuts and raisins in front of her hypnotized eyes.
"Daddy is a chicken," Tanya recited obediently, holding her tiny hands out for the cookie.
"That's a good girl," he purred, handing her the cookie. "If you repeat that in front of your daddy, I'll get you another one."
ooOoo
"But it was an accident!" Toto tried to explain as he ran around the ballroom dressed as a clown, with an extremely angry samurai in hot pursuit as caramel dried in his hair and costume.
If it weren't for the wicked grin on the clown's face, someone might have bothered to believe him.
ooOoo
Toto held the portable phone to his shoulder, knowing how his friend would react to what he was about to say.
But with the desperate tone in the woman's voice, he had no choice but to try. Taking in a deep breath, he pushed open the kitchen door and whistled to get Muta's attention. "You've got a phone call, Lard Ball."
Muta looked up from the turkey he was basting with surprise. "Who is it?" he asked curiously as the other cooks also stopped what they were doing to hear more.
The newest cook of the von Gikkingen manor hadn't received a single phone call since he began work. He had never been shy about admitting that the arrangement suited him just fine, but the peculiarity had his attention.
Toto took in a deep breath while walking closer. "You'll think it's a prank if I tell you, but she sounds like she's in a lot of trouble. I'm… certain that you're her last resort." He offered the portable phone with a somewhat pleading expression.
Giving his friend a suspicious look, Muta set the baster down and held the phone to his ear. "Hey. What do you want?" he asked grumpily like he was expecting a prank phone call.
As Toto overheard the first syllable out of the woman's mouth, he was astonished to see the change it brought on the large cook.
Muta's mouth fell open as a gasp escaped his control. He bumped once against the counter on his way to the ground, landing on his backside with a thunderous slap of flesh against tile.
"Naoko," he breathed with such a reverence, it nearly made Toto weep.
The man was still head over heels for his estranged wife.
ooOoo
Toto had to go to the internet for this one. He followed all the directions, he alerted the other cooks not to set off the trap, and he had an ideal excuse to hang around the kitchen again this morning.
His best friend's teenage daughter was a gift from heaven, and he'd get into an actual fight with anyone that tried to disagree with him.
Little Tommy was resting his head happily against Haru's shoulder, and she was contentedly running her exposed cheek over his soft baby hair and taking in the scent.
Toto still felt terrible about letting her think that everyone had gotten worked up over her scars instead of the normal side of her face. He had to keep reminding himself that it was actually the kinder option, and there was the chance that Muta might decide to leave the manor if he even suspected-
No. Humbert was no fool. Even if he was able to determine that Haru used to be Lucy, what good would it do? Despite his looks, he was too old for her, and she was underaged. She was going to make some lucky young man very happy, but not for at least a few more years. They would work on weaning her off the mask in the meantime.
She bounced Tommy a few times in her grasp, making him giggle with delight as he kept a firm grip on her black shirt.
Paul looked over the latest batch of pancakes cooking in front of him and finally used the line that Toto had begged of him. "Muta? Don't you think that sprinkling nuts on the uncooked side of the pancakes be a nice touch?"
Just as Toto suspected, his best friend's eyes lit up at the suggestion. "Yeah and cut up some bananas to serve with them! Hold on," Muta begged, innocently walking to the fateful cupboard and opened it for the walnuts.
The rubber band snapped from the extra stretch, making a cheesecloth bag full of plain cooking flour fling itself right into Muta's face. It exploded everywhere, making Muta stumble and fall backward while choking on the flour he had accidentally inhaled.
Toto began laughing… but that died in his throat as he got a good look at Haru's expression.
The poor girl was already as pale as a sheet, but she seemed paler still as her eyes went wide with horror. Although she couldn't speak, there almost seemed to be a flashing sign over her head that screamed 'TRIGGERED!'
The others must have seen that face as well, because the room was dead silent as Haru passed Tommy to his father. Even more worrying than the 'triggered' look, a second mask of complete blankness overtook her features. It seemed to be a very old, practiced look that had probably been useful to keep herself from crying in public.
She came forward almost automatically, helped her father to his feet, and led him over to one of the sinks so that she could start cleaning him off. Her hands were very gentle as she wiped away the worst of the flour bomb, only taking breaks to rinse her wash rag from the paste the flour kept turning into.
Naoko looked around before locating a broom and dustpan, sneaking worried glances at her husband and child as she started sweeping up the remaining mess without a single word.
… What had Haru been through? Toto hadn't seen even one hint that she missed her life in Japan in the two months since she came here.
Neither did Naoko, for that matter. Then there was that subtle hint at his first time changing Haru's bandages that the fire that had destroyed their home and half of the sweet girl's face had been intentional. But Haru was such a sweet girl, who could possibly have hated her enough to do such a thing?
Muta knew. Toto knew his friend well enough to see the fathomless regret in his eyes as well as the understanding for his daughter's reaction.
He looked up at the lord's cousin and gave a subtle shake of the head.
The game was over.
Toto nodded his agreement, although he was desperately curious to know what all had happened in Japan.
If only Haru was ready to talk. It would make it so much easier for Humbert to determine if she used to be Lucy if they could just hear what was on her mind.