Chapter Text
Raaarghh—!!
The cries of the fallen angels ceased, their bodies reduced to near nothing by the merciless onslaught of cherry bullets the Food Soul unloaded into it. She lowered her weapon as she got closer to one of the corpses, prodding it with a boot. It did not even twitch, its many eyes glassy and unseeing.
“It’s over.” She announced loudly. The humans at the gates breathed a loud sigh of relief. They were part of her new fallen angel security force, hand chosen by her and were loyal to her command.
“Collect the bodies and give them a proper burial.” She ordered.
“Yes, Lord Black Forest Cake!”
They responded quickly and set about the task with efficiency and an air of solemnity. She quickly surveyed the area. Noting that there weren’t any enemy stragglers in the area, she deemed it safe enough to leave them unsupervised.
One… two… Two of the humans have been killed in that assault. Neither had been the traveling merchants that had been initially targeted by the Fallen Angel, but members of her security force. Black Forest Cake clicked her tongue, wearing a displeased expression on her face.
I’m getting rusty. What good am I if I let good men go to waste like that? She thought. The gates lowered for her, and she also sent out an order to have the gates checked after the fallen angels tried to damage it chasing after the merchants. That done, she continued on her way back to her office and home.
She was aware of the whispers in the alleys when they thought no one was listening. Ever since that day at the gates, her town had changed. Black Forest Cake didn’t care much for her own reputation. What worried her would be the stability of her hometown.
A leader’s rule is only as effective if the people didn’t challenge it. Fear was a good motivator, but it was also kindling for rebellion. Black Forest Cake understood what Spaghetti had been trying to tell her, but in the end it was her town and she was its protector and de facto leader. She continued to make sacrifices and compromises over the years until her town became what it is today.
It wasn’t the best, she is aware of that. And surely a handful of her citizens quietly hated her, but it was a small price she was willing to pay to keep everyone safe and the town’s economy continued to flourish.
With a loud sigh, Black Forest Cake cracked her shoulders and pushed the intruding thoughts away. She turned the corner and noticed Spaghetti had arrived from the opposite end. He was alone, probably sent his teammates off to deal with their own concerns.
“You’re back.”
“Ah, good day, Black Forest Cake.” He greeted her. Her eyes quickly took in his slightly disheveled clothes, but otherwise he didn’t look physically injured. Each time he went out, she half expected he’d return with a broken person he insists on taking care of. But that hadn’t happened for a long time, not since the last one that ended on a bad note.
She hadn’t been present for all of it. She’d only heard it from the others and found that everyone had something to say, though even the most vocal of them was met with dismissive irritation from the red-haired Food Soul. Black Forest herself did not have an opinion about how Spaghetti conducted his business, but even she had to agree that something had changed.
“Are you free this evening?”
He raised his eyebrows. “I… do not have any plans, Black Forest. What’s the occasion?” He replied. She shifted her weight, a hand on her waist as she studied him with scrutiny.
“As my general, I need to have a status update from you.” She said, “I think dinner’s a good time to give me a report. How about it?”
Spaghetti didn’t think twice about the invitation. Black Forest Cake was pleased with that and went about talking to her staff that she would be having an esteemed guest for dinner. For the rest of the day, she went about her own business with the merchants and the city council. By the time the sun was dipping low over the walls, she was looking forward to a reprieve from the near endless paperwork and meetings.
She quickly made her way to her room. There was no need to change her attire, however the least she could do was clean the filth of the day’s battle from her face and clothes. Even during the days when the town struggled to survive, her master attendant taught her that she had to look as impeccable as could be. Appearing clean and well dressed lessened the problems of being looked down upon.
She looked in the mirror and frowned. Who was there to impress? Spaghetti? It was all thanks to him that everyone and herself could afford such good clothes and better homes in the first place. And he hadn’t expressed any outward interest in anyone— at least not towards herself and the others.
The Food Soul redid her pigtails then made her way to the dinner room. Spaghetti arrived just as the hors d'oeuvre was served. Pleasantries were exchanged and he began to give his report as the soup came. Though he prioritized his own work above all else, he was still her city’s foremost advisor and general.
It was well into their main course when Spaghetti ended his report and Black Forest Cake had nothing else to interject. She found herself feeling a rare pang of nervousness, and was surprised at her hesitation.
She set down her fork and rested her chin on her hand. “It’s come to my attention that something has happened.”
“Pardon? What has happened?” Spaghetti inquired.
“You’ve been busy.”
“I’ve always been busy.”
“You’re making yourself more occupied than usual.” She pointed out. Spaghetti’s face remained neutral. He took a bite of his schnitzel. When he didn’t make a comment, she continued. “Let me make myself clearer. For the past months, you’ve done quite a lot of your personal business trips that your companions rotate accompanying you, or you go on alone.” And not once had he asked her to accompany him either. It stung, but she wouldn’t complain about it. Now wasn’t that time.
She respects his unspoken rule of never meddling in his affairs, nor asking too much of what he does unless he asks for her aid. For all that he speaks of understanding the darkness, and walking amongst agents of chaos, there was still something painstakingly good and human in him. Black Forest Cake could say she had that too, in a way that she devotes herself to the safety of her town and the people living in it. But she couldn’t understand the way it manifested in Spaghetti’s.
Soft hearted as he is, there is something compelling about it. She thought. Her opinion of him hasn’t changed all that much.
“The point I’m trying to make is that you should know your limits, general.” She said. She took a long sip of her kirschwasser and added, “Your decisiveness is commendable, but overreaching yourself because you need to be distracted from something else is not a good idea. You don’t want to become blind to those who could stab you in the back.”
“It’s not as simple as that, Black Forest.” Spaghetti replied. He hasn’t touched his glass of kirschwasser. “Besides it was my own folly for allowing such a thing to continue.”
“So he was only a distraction?” The barest of winces didn’t miss her notice. Ah, so it was well worth the shot in the dark.
“A mistake. One that I won’t allow to happen again.” He gritted out. Spaghetti continued to play the part of a good-natured guest and continued to eat his schnitzel until he had completely cleaned his plate.
Black Forest Cake polished off her own plate and poured herself another glass of kirschwasser. As the servants went to clear the table and prepare for dessert and tea, she pondered on what to say, knowing she hadn’t spent all that much time with him up until she had to return to her home and her duties. On first impression, he wasn’t weak but he wasn’t remarkably strong either. Not someone she would have given more passing thought, but from the little she had been able to experience—
“He was good for you, general.” She spoke with a less strict tone. “If I’m to be bold, I think he would have been many things to you.”
Spaghetti refused to look at her, but he laughed like he’d heard something funny. “My untimely death for certain.” He quipped.
Black Forest Cake shrugged. “Maybe, but like the rest of those poor souls you love so much to care for, he would have been someone you cared greatly for. Caring is not such a terrible thing. It’s partially how we give ourselves purpose after all.”
Spaghetti glanced at her, looking sincerely troubled then steeled his expression and shook his head.
“You needn’t concern yourself, Black Forest Cake. I can promise that you and your town will never be traced back to me or the others.” She got her answer, and she could respect that.
A moment later, the servants rolled in a trolley full of dessert cakes and confectionery. Donauwelle, Marzipan, Mozartkugeln and Vanillekipferl to name a few. Along with two kinds of steepled tea. They were about to serve the two Food Souls when a rising commotion garnered their attention and the doors to the dining room burst open.
“Damn it! Let go of me you bi-”
“You cheating tomboy!” Stargazey Pie’s outcry drowned out Oyster’s words. She pointed an accusing finger at her. Black Forest Cake blinked at the petite thing with bewilderment.
“Accusing me for crimes I have no recollection of committing? That’s grounds for being thrown into jail without parole or a meal, you little ingrate.” She drawled.
Stargazey stomped her foot and looked every bit the spoiled brat Black Forest Cake accused her of being. “You took Spaghetti on a date! I don’t even like you because you’re a mean tomboy with no style! That hat’s stupid and you know it!”
She stood up, slamming her hands on the table. “A what?! What kind of delusional fantasies are you cooking up in that pieced together, molding brain of yours?!”
Black Forest Cake didn’t notice the rest of the girls filling in, her eyes on the girl whose attention was suddenly on the plate of cake a servant was holding.
“Is that a Bienenstich? And you were going to eat it without me?” Stargazey sounded insulted. Black Forest Cake could only watch as the short thing took the slice meant for her and plopped herself in the nearest seat. Even more surprised was the fact Spaghetti gave her his dessert fork without any prompting.
“You’re not invited-”
“Oh don’t be such a spoilsport, sweetie. Spaghetti wouldn’t be able to finish it all anyway.” Black Pudding interjected. She took a seat beside Stargazey and took a bit from the cake.
Black Forest Cake felt a vein throb watching the woman so rudely undermine her authority. She could have them tossed out on their rears but a single glance from Spaghetti and she decided that it would just cause more of a ruckus than it was worth. And she didn’t want the gleeful Stargazey Pie causing property damage in her tantrum. That she can condone anywhere else besides her own domain.
“I apologize on their behalf, Black Forest Cake.” Spaghetti said. “I’ll pay the reparations for the desserts, but allow them to stay. This is actually working out well for what I have to announce and I think you might be interested.”
Begrudgingly, she sat down and motioned for the rest to join the table for dessert. She ordered the servants to bring everything else up from the kitchen and as soon as the servants were told to leave them be, the table conversation flared to life.
It wasn’t terrible company. Even she admits having jeers thrown between herself and Stargazey was great fun to have after a long day of being upright and upstanding. Borscht and Spaghetti sat close together in deep conversation, something about their easy relationship made Black Forest Cake a little jealous, however she put herself above that sort of pettiness. Borscht earned her place as far as she sees it.
She glanced at the three remaining occupants at the table. Oyster easily kept to himself and poked at his Zwetschgenkuchen with suspicion. Surströmming didn’t seem interested at all in anything but the tea and daydreaming. Margarita… well, she quietly watched the rest with wide curious eyes between mouthfuls of confectionery.
Truly, a ragtag bunch. She belatedly wondered how she managed to become part of such a team, not that she was complaining about the arrangements.
And if the night pleasantly narrowed down to Spaghetti showing them a pilfered invitation then announcing a new heist that involved boarding a ship, she wasn’t displeased. Not when she was invited this time to take part in the operations.