Chapter Text
The succulent taste of the fish...
The rice adding texture and something to soak the juices up with...
The soy sauce hitting all the right notes...
A flash of inspiration.
"Ren... hey, Ren? Earth to Joker!"
Ren's eyes snapped back into focus, his blinking hard as the world around him came back in to view. He shook his head softly, as he looked down to his sushi and then back to his friend who had come out with him to get it.
Dark Pit looked back with his signature "cool" indifference. The duo had hit the town together as they often did after matches on certain days. Side by side the two saw the sights in Smashville and got up to their own brand of mischief. Maybe one day Joker would introduce Dark Pit to the rest of his Phantom Thieves, but for the time being, Morgana was the only one present in their escapades.
"What is up with you, dude?" Dark asked, his eyes making contact (rather sheepishly) with the other's cool grays. "You keep lookin' like you're losing your mind every time you take a bite."
Joker laughed lightly, a hand going to rub at the backside of his head. "Ah... nothing. Just enjoying the food, is all."
"Really?" Pittoo asked, skeptical. "I'm also enjoying it... but you don't see me about to bust my load after every nibble."
"Ren's somewhat of a cuisine-o-holic," Came Morgana's lazy reply from inside Ren's backpack. The 'cat' stretched himself out, mewling lightly as his joints popped. "Kind of a snob, too, when it comes to what he'll eat. And selfish! This whole time he hasn't even offered me a NIBBLE of his sushi, and he knows how much I love it!"
"Be quiet, Morgana," Ren shot back, playfully shoving the feline back inside the bag, much to Morgana's chagrin. "I am not a snob."
"Are too!" The cat shot back, clawing his way back out from the stuffiness of the bag. "Pittoo, did I ever tell you about the roadtrip we took a summer ago? We stopped at a ton of different cities in Japan, and Ren here tried everything! Literally everything! And then when he got back to the RV, he 'improved their cooking'. Literally recreated what the restaurant made, and made it better! Doesn't that sound snobbish or what?!"
"Keep digging and you *won't* get any of my sushi," Ren threatened, before he heard Pittoo's snickering.
"Cat's right. Sounds like you're a total snob, Renny," Pittoo jeered playfully. He reveled in the hint of redness that pricked at Joker's ears as he taunted him.
"I am not a snob," Ren reiterated. "I'm just... culinarily inclined."
"So you can cook?" Dark Pit offered, a cocked brow inching itself on his forehead. "Well, what the hell are we doin' out here in Smashville?! You. Me. Kitchen. We're gonna put your ability to cook better than the restaurants to the test."
A challenge? Ren was never one to back down from a challenge. Plus, he had *just* gotten inspired on how he could improve what they had just had...
"You're on. But we've got to pick a few things up from the grocery store. You're buying."
"Deal," Dark Pit said, slyly shaking Ren's hand.
"Hey! What about me! I wanna judge some sushi too!" Morgana protested.
Looks like they had a hangout... or a date.
Pit wandered the halls toward the kitchenette. Something in his stomach was telling him he needed to head this way... and who was he to deny that guiding part of him? The angel of light was feeling lighter and happier today for some reason... moreso than normal. Like a part of his heart was being fulfilled in a way that before had been unseen.
As he approached the kitchenette, he heard voices. Happy voices. And laughter. Lots of laughter. It sounded like a regular party was going on!
"Hey! C'mon, you gotta give me SOME sushi! I traveled in your bag for, like, a whole hour! Doesn't that deserve a reward?"
"Does it? I was the one walking everywhere!"
"This is Morgana abuse!"
Followed by more laughter. Pit eyes widened slightly as he beheld the sight before him.
Pittoo's back was to him. He, Joker, and Morgana were making a mess in the kitchenette, in the best way possible. Rice, raw fish, and other assorted sushi parts were scattered along the countertop. What had begun as a simple challenge to make something better than what the restaurant was serving devolved quickly into a fun mess. Pittoo's dark tunic was stained with fish and sauce, Ren's face looked as if he had just murdered someone with the soy sauce drenched on his face. Morgana had munched some of the raw fish and was desperately trying to get more.
"What's wrong, kitty? Can't get enough sushi?" Pittoo taunted playfully.
"I AM NOT A CAT!" Morgana spat back, trying to get at Pittoo's hand but always falling just short.
Joker laughed. His heart was full. It was nice. Very nice...
Pit smiled on as he saw his brother like this. It had been so long since he'd seen Dark Pit so light-hearted and... happy. Was that a smile? A genuine smile?
The angel of light didn't want to ruin this perfect moment. As quietly as he had come, he left.
He was quick to pull out his communicator, though. No *way* was Tiki going to miss out on hearing this hot story.