#confectionery affection

[ladyaudentium]

“I doubt I’d need more than one arm to lift you.”

[pethfics]

ZUTARA WEEK 2024, Day Seven: Sweet

Title: Confectionery Affection

Summary: Katara had never imagined that she would find such comfort in food and yet there she was, getting emotional over dessert. More than the treats, it was the person who had prepared them for her who mattered the most.

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@zutaraweek

[ladyaudentium]

Confectionery Affection

Rating: Mature Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply Category: F/M Fandom: Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Relationships: Angeal Hewley/Original Character(s), Angeal Hewley/Original Female Character(s) Characters: Angeal Hewley, Genesis Rhapsodos, Zack Fair, Original Female Character(s), Sephiroth (Compilation of FFVII), Rufus Shinra, Rude (Compilation of FFVII), The Turks (Compilation of FFVII) Additional Tags: Bakery and Coffee Shop, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Eventual Romance, Eventual Smut, Secret Relationship, Subterfuge, Deception, zack the puppy is a menace, Slow Build, Pre-Crisis Core (Compilation of FFVII), Mutual Pining, Sexual Tension, Romantic Angst, Chivalry Summary: Running and owning a cafe above the Midgar plate was anything but a slice of cake, but it was Kalika's passion above all else. It should go without saying that members of SOLDIER are revered by the general public of Midgar. So when one of the illustrious First Class SOLDIERs wanders in, trouble is the only thing that is sure to follow. And in Midgar, trouble is known by one name: Shinra. (Reuploaded as of Jan, 2025)

Chapter 7: Reunion

The next day, Rufus managed to catch her inconveniently while she was delivering her goods to the conference room. “It’s good to see you are recovered, Miss Kalika.” He greeted her, usual smooth smile pulled across his mouth.

Kalika similarly matched him, pushing the corners of her cheeks up in a semblance of a smile. “Your concern is appreciated, Mr. Shinra. Please rest assured that our contract will remain unaffected moving forwards. I have taken precautions to ensure such a lapse will not occur again.”

Rufus’s smile strained wider. “That is excellent news.” He then stepped aside, allowing her to leave and she crept past, he made one final remark. “Best of luck on your dumbapple tarts. I do hope you will bring some for us to enjoy as well.”

The young woman stopped, blinking in surprise before she quickly replied, “I’ll see what I can do.” The Shinra prince didn’t have any further response as the conference room door finally came to a soft close behind her. Sighing, the young woman was relieved that was finally over.

Ahead of her, the elevator door dinged and as the doors slid open, Kalika’s breath caught in her chest as yet another familiar—but no more welcome—face came into view. “Why, if it isn’t Miss Kalika? I hope you’re feeling much better since we last met!” Hollander said, cheer lighting his deep baritone voice.

Warning bells and alarms sounded cacophonously in her head as he stepped out of the lift, the doors closing behind him, trapping them together in the hallway.

“I am. Thank you for all your help before. I’m not sure what would have happened if you hadn’t stepped in.” She replied tensely, hoping her praise would be enough to placate him.

Hollander grinned widely, and for a moment, it wasn’t his face that she saw, but Angeal’s. “That’s good, I’m glad to hear it!” a heavy hand came down her shoulder, squeezing in a too-familiar manner. The small hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Angeal’s warning rang loud and clear in her mind, keeping her wary and skeptical of Hollander’s overly friendly performance.

Nonetheless, Kalika continued to keep the smile plastered firmly over her place. “Your concern is appreciated, Dr. Hollander. I’m very sorry to cut our reunion short, but I do have to get back to the bakery. Lots to do.”

Hollander immediately pulled his hand back as if burned. “Oh yes, of course! You’re a very busy young lady after all. Don’t let this old man keep you from your work.” He laughed forcibly, but none of his mirth reached his eyes and that was all the confirmation Kalika needed to know she was right to put her faith in Angeal’s opinion of this man.

There was something lacking in him, something empty.

“Please enjoy the refreshments in the boardroom.” she requested, attempting to remove herself from the conversation. Hollander’s face dropped, smile fading instantly as he stepped aside to let her pass with her cart. Despite how wide the hallway was, it was barely enough room, however, and she was momentarily worried she might roll over his foot. Thankfully, the wheels missed his toes by an inch.

Whatever deities that be, must have been smiling upon her after both the unfortunate interactions she’d had that morning; first with Rufus and now with Hollander, the elevator was still waiting for her as she pressed the call button. With a familiar ‘ding’ they smoothly slid open and Kalika quickly ducked inside.

Once they started to close, she looked up to see Hollander continuing to stare in her direction. For a split second before their eyes met and he noticed her attention, there was a stony, detached, expression on his face as if he were considering the undesired results of an experiment. Then in the next second, it was gone, replaced with a friendly grin as he waved her goodbye, disappearing as the doors closed, severing their tenuous connection.

Kalika could only breathe a sigh of relief.

...Continue reading on Archive of Our Own

[ladyaudentium]

Confectionery Affection

Rating: Mature Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply Category: F/M Fandom: Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Relationships: Angeal Hewley/Original Character(s), Angeal Hewley/Original Female Character(s) Characters: Angeal Hewley, Genesis Rhapsodos, Zack Fair, Original Female Character(s), Sephiroth (Compilation of FFVII), Rufus Shinra, Rude (Compilation of FFVII), The Turks (Compilation of FFVII) Additional Tags: Bakery and Coffee Shop, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Eventual Romance, Eventual Smut, Secret Relationship, Subterfuge, Deception, zack the puppy is a menace, Slow Build, Pre-Crisis Core (Compilation of FFVII), Mutual Pining, Sexual Tension, Romantic Angst, Chivalry Summary: Running and owning a cafe above the Midgar plate was anything but a slice of cake, but it was Kalika's passion above all else. It should go without saying that members of SOLDIER are revered by the general public of Midgar. So when one of the illustrious First Class SOLDIERs wanders in, trouble is the only thing that is sure to follow. And in Midgar, trouble is known by one name: Shinra. (Reuploaded as of Jan, 2025)

"KALI!"

Kalika screamed and fisted her hands in shock, the icing she held splattering all over her white apron and the cupcake before her, ruining it. "WHAT?!" she yelled, crimson eyes flashing with anger over being disturbed and simultaneously ruining the perfectly innocent cupcake.

"It's nearly opening time and we still haven't eaten the breakfast you promised me." Anri glowered, cheeks puffing comically as she crossed her arms.

A deep blush of embarrassment worked its way up her neck to the tips of Kalika’s ears. "I did it again, didn’t I?” she asked sheepishly, and her companion nodded sagely.

"So… since you forgot —again—we'll call it even if you give me that ruined cupcake and one of the blueberry scones, deal?" the Cheshire grin over Anri's normally innocent features was strangely fitting.

Sighing in defeat, Kalika handed her the splattered cupcake and two of the freshly glazed blueberry scones, one for Anri and one for herself. Together, they made their way to the front of house where a steaming cup of coffee and tea awaited them at once of the tables near the window.

Sitting down, they ate and sipped their drinks in companionable silence as they watched the rising sun burn off the early morning mist. It was the last opportunity for peace before the café was due to open and the madness would start again for another day. The calm before the storm, so to speak.

Kalika breathed a heavy sigh, as she relaxed back into her chair. A fan whirred softly high above their heads keeping the air circulating and preventing it from going stale. It would be nice if one of the windows opened, but even above the Plate, truly fresh air was hard to come by. With all the industry surrounding them, the air always had a miasma-esque quality to it.

The clock on the wall chimed the hour as Kalika sipped the last drop of her beverage. "Well, that's the end of our peace and quiet," she groaned. Getting up, she placed her empty cup behind the counter to wash later and went to unlock the door, officially opening the bakery and café, 'Confectionery Affection.’

..... Continue reading on Archive of our Own