Fluffcember Day 16: Chocolate
@fluff-cember
Fandom: Tales of Berseria
Pairing: Eizen x Zaveid
Additional: Resonant Aifread Pirates; Established EiZavi; slightly suggestive themes; Post Canon
crossposted on AO3 (just like every other day to, I just keep forgetting to mention it sometimes)
Zaveid stretched his back as he walked back into Eizen's cabin. Somehow he had become an integral part of the crew, without actually wanting to be part of the crew. He liked the Aifread Pirates, but something about the pirate lifestyle just wasn't for him. And yet he was living it rather naturally on the Van Eltia. Eizen was sitting on his desk, glasses on his nose, letter in hand.
"What's the matter?" Zaveid asked.
Zaveid looked over his shoulder, though didn't really read the contents of the letter Edna had sent him. He more just turned his head to look at Eizen. He had his brows furrowed, after all. Looking rather conflicted about something.
Eizen sighed and leaned back in the chair, placing the letter down on the desk again, as he looked at Zaveid. He adjusted his glasses on his nose, before he raised the same hand to push his hair back. Out of his face, making him look much more handsome than he already was.
"Edna. She asks for some variety with her palmiers," he said.
Zaveid nodded and leaned forward, letting his arms rest on the backrest of the chair, while he placed his chin on Eizen's shoulder. He still didn't see how that would be a problem, though.
"Because the days are getting colder on the mountain," Eizen added.
Zaveid blinked at Eizen before he looked back to the letter, and finally back to Eizen again. Thinking about what exactly he had said there just now. He could see Edna getting tired of eating the same palmiers every time, just like he couldn't see it.
But because the weather was getting colder? He knew that winter should be approaching on Eastgand. Or maybe it already was in full swing. It had been a while since he last had visited the rascals in Talliesin.
"What? How is that related?" Zaveid asked.
If it had been concerning something she was growing surrounding the mountain, to sustain herself, Zaveid could have understood that. But Edna didn't need to sustain herself through food in the first place, and Eizen was sending her everything she could possibly need. And the things she didn't have there, Zaveid provided her with, whenever he went and visited her on his trips to Eastgand.
Eizen raised an eyebrow, not elaborating on his sentence. As if it was perfectly clear how those two things were related. Maybe it was an earth malak thing, Zaveid concluded. He sighed and shook his head, deciding to not dwell too long on the issue. That would just result in a headache in the end.
"Alright, I won't pry, Eizen. Can't you just send her different ones then?" Zaveid asked.
He knew Eizen could be a hardass about things like that. But at the same time would that be the best solution Zaveid could come up with. Well, there was another solution he could come up with, but for now he would stick with that one.
Eizen let out a sigh and shook his head, picking up the letter again, looking down on it. Zaveid straightened his back again, stretching his arms over his head. He just wanted Eizen to be done with that. So they could spend some time together. He had been holed up in his cabin the entire time.
"No, I can't. She doesn't like any other ones," Eizen mumbled.
Zaveid hummed and nodded, frowning at the way his bones cracked slightly. He supposed that help in the storage cabin, he had offered, hadn't been all that good for his back in the end. But he liked being of help on the ship.
Which possibly was why the entire crew had got so used to him so fast. Except for the fact that he was effectively sleeping with the first mate, one of the two people in charge on the ship. It also had been an added bonus that he was getting along well with Benwick.
"Palmiers…" Zaveid mumbled.
He closed his eyes as he brought the pastry to the front of his head. It shouldn't be that unsimilar from Mille-Feuilles, he supposed. Maybe he could offer his help in the end, after all. Though seeing Eizen struggle like this to please Edna did fill him with some sort of satisfaction.
Zaveid just hoped it would one day be enough, to finally convince Eizen to get his ass up and visit her himself. To make sure she was alright and had everything she needed, and not only trust her word. Zaveid would watch a little longer, if she got more demanding. It could be her new strategy to get him to visit her.
"Yes, palmiers. Made from puff-"
"Zaveid. Would you get off of my lap? I am there for you in a moment," Eizen interrupted himself.
Zaveid had plopped down on Eizen's lap, partially because he wanted the attention to himself. Partially because he wanted Eizen to look at him, when he could make his suggestion. And lastly, partially because Zaveid liked sitting on Eizen's lap. Zaveid snatched the letter out of Eizen's hand, reading it over, to confirm what Eizen had already told him.
"Give that back!" Eizen growled.
Zaveid ignored him wholly and slapped his hand away when he wanted to grab it back. The little lady really got a little demanding in her latest letter. Something about it got Zaveid to smile. He could very well imagine that this was her latest strategy.
Zaveid leaned against Eizen, as he sighed and decided he wouldn't get his letter back anytime soon. Or at least until Zaveid was done with it. It wasn't like the contents contained any sort of secret. Zaveid and Eizen didn't really do secrets any more.
"What does she like? Like ingredient wise," Zaveid asked.
He scanned the letter again and again for any sort of preferences. Though, Eizen probably knew all of those by heart. Which Edna was aware of as well, so she didn't need to include them. She just needed to say the word, and Eizen would make it happen for her.
"I mean, she never complained about any of the sweets I made her, but what does she really like?" he added.
Zaveid never went to see Edna with empty hands. Always borrowing the kitchen of one of his rascals in Talliesin, whenever he wanted to visit her. So he could make something fresh. Or just getting the ingredients and making it fresh in her little home for her.
And so far, Edna had loved every single pastry or pudding or cake or whatever he had decided to treat her to that time. Never outright saying it, but just like Eizen, her gestures and reactions told him far more than words.
"What?"
Zaveid placed the letter down on the desk again, closing his eyes to think of what he would need. He didn't even register Eizen rather confused voice. He knew that Edna had no intolerance to any of the base ingredients. So just the flavour would be the key factor.
And obviously how he would achieve that. But maybe there also was a special something in those specific palmiers she just loved so much, which he would need to keep in mind. Some sort of ingredient he would need to add, to make her love his palmiers just the same way she loved the ones Eizen got her.
"Also, do you have a recipe, or do I need to go with trial and error," Zaveid added.
The puff pastry was easy enough to him by now. He would need to get the form right, though. And then of course, as he was already thinking about, the flavour. Zaveid knew the ones Eizen normally purchased were just sweet. Maybe with a dash of vanilla in there. But definitely nothing special.
Zaveid opened his eyes and looked at Eizen. They stared at each other for a moment, Eizen utterly confused, and Zaveid waiting for an answer. His question had been easy enough, he thought. To bake something, he would need to make sure he knew the recipe, the recipient liked the most. At least if there was one.
"I…huh?" Eizen got out.
Zaveid blinked at him, before he raised an eyebrow. Eizen was aware that he could just bake the palmiers himself, right? He certainly was aware that Zaveid was taking care of all the cooking whenever he was on the ship.
Zaveid started to rack his brain about that fact. Was he aware? Eizen didn't really keep track of any of his meals, so he most likely would live off of whiskey if not for Benwick and Zaveid occasionally forcing him to eat something substantial. But certainly he knew that Zaveid was the one making those meals. At least whenever he was on board. There could be no other way.
"Frankly, Eizen my beloved, I have been hurt for a while now that you would still buy palmiers for her, when you literally have me sleeping in your bed," Zaveid said.
It had been something he had been wondering about before. Why Eizen just didn't simply ask him for help. When they would talk about everything under the blue moon while cuddling anyway.
"Someone who learnt how to make sweets from two professional chefs," Zaveid mentioned.
That Zaveid was sure that Eizen must know. That he had learnt how to bake, and partially how to cook, from not one but two professional chefs. He knew that the whole group had met Ben, Saliph and their three rascals. Arwell had told him all about the 'scary, mean-looking, blond dude', after all.
Eizen raised an eyebrow, as he finally placed his arms around Zaveid. Pulling him closer, so he could properly rest against him. Making sure he wouldn't be able to slip off anytime soon. He was still very confused, though.
"Didn't Theodora learn how to cook from them?" Eizen asked.
Zaveid chuckled and nodded at that. So that was the issue. He really didn't know where Zaveid spend the majority of his time on board. Not that Zaveid could blame him, when he was either coped up in his cabin or on deck supervising everything going on. Or coordinating their next steps and destinations with Benwick.
It wasn't even that he was so wrong about his statement. It had been Theodora who had wanted to learn how to cook from Ben and Saliph. Zaveid had been happy to be the taste tester and look over their shoulders while they taught her.
"Yes, how to cook. Baking wasn't her strong suit, though. So all of then harassed me into learning it," he said.
Though with Theodora's incredibly sweet tooth, only being rivalled by Edna and Eizen's, he hadn't had any other choice but to learn how to prepare any sweet treat she could come up with. Or encounter in Stonebury. Or whatever Ben and Saliph would mention to her.
"So? Recipe?" Zaveid asked.
Eizen leaned back, starting to draw small patterns on Zaveid's back with his hand. Right, he had taken off his jacket, while helping Benwick feeding the sylphjays. Just so it wouldn't get dirty in the process. And Eizen's cabin, due to Eizen being a living furnace, was always pleasantly warm.
Though the motion did make Zaveid shudder. Not from cold but rather from the touch alone. He adjusted his position on Eizen's lap slightly. The grin on his face, telling Zaveid that Eizen was enjoying his reaction a little bit too much.
"I should have one," Eizen said.
He looked away shortly and closed his eyes. Thinking further, most likely. Yet, it already was a big help for Zaveid that he didn't need to go through trial and error. They didn't have that much time after all, before Edna would get impatient.
"And chocolate. Edna likes chocolate," Eizen added.
Zaveid pumped a hand in the air, grinning to both ears. To which Eizen just raised an amused eyebrow. Chocolate had been in the top five of his guesses, after all.
"Knew it!" Zaveid cheered.
Chocolate, Cinnamon, Strawberry, Apple-Cinnamon or Caramel. Zaveid knew Eizen would always go more for apple-cinnamon, which was the sole reason it had made it in there. But he was rather glad that Chocolate had made the cut. Working with chocolate was always fun for Zaveid. He let his arm fall down again, bringing both of them around Eizen's neck next.
"Then we're gonna need the ingredients. Wait with the reply for a few more days, alright?" he said.
Zaveid leaned his forehead against Eizen, smiling brightly as he placed a feathery kiss on Eizen's lips. One, Eizen wouldn't just let stand so easily, pulling Zaveid closer, as he let his hand glide down towards Zaveid's waistband.
———<3———
After two day in which Eizen hadn't seen a hair of Zaveid, with him slowly having started to contemplate going down there and dragging Zaveid away himself, Zaveid emerged from below deck, a bright, triumphant grin on his face. Definitely more than pleased with the result of what he had produced.
"Done!" he said.
The crew turned around to face him at once, various looks of amusement in their face. Eizen just let out a sigh at Zaveid's appearance. They were closing in more and more on Southgand, so he supposed he couldn't fault him for going around shirtless, or rather jacket-less in his case. That didn't mean he had to like it.
Especially with him having made quite a mess of himself. And if Eizen thought about it, which he really didn't want to, probably of the kitchen as well. He knew he should have seen that coming, and yet it somehow still came as a surprise to him.
"You have chocolate…everywhere," Eizen said.
Zaveid laughed and placed his hands on his hips. He grinned at Eizen, his eyes sparkling with mischief. And Eizen really wasn't exaggerating. Zaveid did have chocolate pretty much everywhere on his body. Most of it on his hands, and the least amount on his face, but there was a lot there.
All of it looking rather enticing to Eizen. It would be a waste to just let him wash that all off. Chocolate was expensive, after all, and Zaveid surely had given it his all to work with it. Zaveid's grin widened as he noticed Eizen's eyes roaming over his body.
"Wanna taste?" he asked.
Eizen's gaze snapped up to meet Zaveid's immediately. He sighed and cleared his throat before raising an eyebrow. Those of the crew who chimed in that they surely wouldn't mind, were shut up rather quickly by a glare. Much to Zaveid's amusement.
"I'm kidding! I mean, unless," Zaveid laughed.
He winked at Eizen, knowing that talk like this was practically forbidden in front of the crew. While each member of the Aifread Pirates knew about their relationship, it was still somewhat of an open secret. Mainly because Eizen didn't like to talk about things like that. And Zaveid didn't mind one bit.
Right now, that wasn't his main concern anyway. He needed Eizen's final verdict on the finished palmiers, to know if they were any good for Edna. Or if he would need to start from scratch again. Zaveid did like how they had ended up, but he couldn't be too sure, if they were any good. He walked forward and grabbed Eizen's hand, his grin mellowing down to a smile.
"Come on, taste one and give me your verdict!" he said.
Without waiting for an answer, he dragged Eizen below deck with him. Ignoring the laughter and teasing remarks from everyone up there. They all should know well enough that Zaveid had been holed up in the kitchen, so whatever he required Eizen for was waiting there, not the bedroom.
Zaveid was really, really hoping that Eizen would give him a passing grade for the palmiers. And that then ultimately little Edna would love them as well. He always liked it when those he cherished liked the sweets he made. Always loved making them happy that way.
"Tada~" he said, as he walked into the kitchen with Eizen.
He stepped aside and held his hand out towards a tray with two types of palmiers on them. Somewhere he put the chocolate already into the dough, and somewhere he just used it to decorate them. Not having been able to decide between either of the options, so going for both of them.
Eizen walked closer to the tray, raising an eyebrow. Zaveid stayed behind him, though, rocking on his feet, waiting for Eizen's judgement. He had cut two of them in half, so Eizen could taste them like this. And that was the exact one he was eyeing right now.
"They do look edible," he said.
Zaveid rolled his eyes and stuck out his tongue to Eizen. If they got a passing grade, he would need to make more anyway. And then he would make sure they looked even more appetising. So that Edna would already be able to tell how delicious they were only by looking at them.
"Meanie," Zaveid mumbled.
He lightly slapped Eizen's shoulder, causing him to chuckle. He did stare at the finished pastry for a little bit longer, before he first took the half in hand where Zaveid had incorporated the chocolate into the dough. Causing a darker colour and a richer taste of the overall palmier.
Zaveid started rocking on his heels again, waiting for Eizen to finish the half. He took his sweet time, making Zaveid wait for him to finish. Though once he did, he didn't say anything. He closed his eyes for a moment, before taking the second half. The dough itself having hints of vanilla and caramel worked into it, with the glazing being pure chocolate. Which was exactly why Zaveid had only coated the top half of it, so the flavour wouldn't be too overpowering.
After he had finished that one-off, he turned around to Zaveid, looking at him for a moment. Zaveid's eyes stayed at a little bit of chocolate, having gotten stuck on the corner of Eizen's mouth. Zaveid resolved to only tease Eizen with it, should he not give him a positive verdict. Without another word, though, Eizen pulled Zaveid flush against himself, pressing his lips against Zaveid's. The kiss, which had started all too suddenly, ended way too soon for Zaveid's liking.
"I love you," Eizen whispered against Zaveid's lips.
Zaveid looked at Eizen, surprised at the way his eyes had darkened. He let his tongue glide over his lips, tasting the chocolate from the palmier Eizen had eaten. And while it was a little bit too sweet for him, he supposed he could live with that. After all, both of them did like their sweets sweet.
"I mean it, I love you, Zaveid," Eizen repeated himself.
He pushed Zaveid backwards, effectively trapping him against another edge of the counter top. The change in the air fully visible at once. Just like the change in Eizen's behaviour. Zaveid really hadn't expected that something like this would be enough to get Eizen in the mood.
"Somehow that tastes even better," Eizen mumbled.
He pressed his lips against Zaveid's neck, where he had smeared some of the chocolate earlier by accident. He definitely had not meant to use this opportunity to seduce Eizen. When he had asked him earlier if he wanted a taste, he had mostly been joking.
Though it wasn't as if Zaveid would complain. Not with the way Eizen's eyes had darkened like this. Not when he was looking up at him, as if he wanted to eat him whole. Immediately, even if someone could walk in on them right here.
"We can try to put it…somewhere else as well," Zaveid suggested.
He let out a breathless moan, as Eizen licked a stripe of chocolate from his neck, planting his lips on the place where he stopped. Lightly sucking on Zaveid's skin, as he craned his neck.
Both of Eizen's hands held Zaveid in place, pressing him against the counter top. While one of his legs had found its way in between Zaveid's. Pressing rather uncomfortably against his crotch. Or comfortably, if Zaveid looked at it from another angle.
"You don't like sweets," Eizen muttered.
Zaveid nodded, sneaking his arms around Eizen's shoulders, only so he could let his hands glide into his hair. Slightly scraping his nails over Eizen's scalp, causing him to let out a low growl. A low and deep sound reverberating through Zaveid's skin, causing a shiver to run down his entire body.
No, Zaveid wasn't really a fan of sweets. He liked spices and bitterness more. Which wasn't to say he wouldn't pair either of those with sweets once in a while. Indulging in it, whether it be with Eizen or with Edna. But even if Eizen had never explicitly said anything, Zaveid knew he had a sweet tooth. "But you certainly do, Eizen. Maybe you wanna see if it tastes even better put on some other part of me," Zaveid said.
He craned his neck more to the side, as his eyes fell onto the entire batches of unused chocolate he still had lying around. He definitely had gotten too much of that stuff. So why not put it to a very, very good use otherwise. He would still have enough to bake more than one or two more batches for Edna to enjoy.
Eizen chuckled as Zaveid squirmed lightly beneath his hands. And against his thigh, still pressing against his crotch. When his pants already did get so painfully tight at the moment. Purposefully teasing him, just for the fun of it. "I like that idea," Eizen mumbled.
Zaveid closed his eyes as Eizen sank his teeth into the skin on his neck. Absolutely intending to leave a mark for everyone to see there. Most likely, having gotten a little bit more pissed off by the more suggestive comments, Zaveid had been receiving from the crew.
Even if they were all in good faith, and none of them would ever even get the idea to try to steal Zaveid from Eizen. Not that they could, when Zaveid was utterly and fully infatuated with his grumpy earth malak. As he opened his eyes, his gaze fell onto the palmiers again. Right…
"But first, verdict!" Zaveid said.
He grabbed Eizen's shoulders and pushed him away. Just enough to get him to snap back to reality. No matter how much Zaveid had been enjoying himself as well. They could continue this later. Right now, the sweet treats for Edna were important. Eizen could have his…treats later.
Remembering why he had been following Zaveid into the kitchen in the first place, Eizen looked over his shoulder, towards the pastries. He pursed his lips slightly, all the while keeping his grip on Zaveid's hips. Definitely intending to not postpone their activities for too much longer. He turned his head back to Zaveid, and brought his mouth to Zaveid's ear.
"Bake one more sheet each, and I'll make sure you can't walk for the next few days," Eizen whispered.
His breath hot against Zaveid's skin, causing him to flush down to his chest. The promise itself leaving him breathless, as his imagination started to run overdrive. Zaveid supposed that was the best possibly compliment he would be able to get from Eizen. And he was more than happy with it.
He didn't even know what had gotten Eizen in the mood like this, but Zaveid absolutely would need to find out for future references. And the promise was more than enticing.
"Fuck~ Deal~" Zaveid moaned.
Eizen had started to let his mouth and teeth glide over his neck again, pressing his leg, the one between Zaveid's legs, up higher. On the one hand didn't Zaveid want to let him go, on the other, he knew he had to. At least if he wanted to get those two batches done, Eizen had requested.
Eizen leaned back with a heavy sigh, looking at his handiwork on Zaveid's neck. Eyes staying momentarily on the chocolate still stuck on Zaveid's upper body. He licked his lips at the promise of more.
"Good, I need to keep coordinating with Benwick, be ready when I'm done," Eizen whispered against Zaveid's lips.
Without waiting for another response, he straightened his own clothes and left the kitchen. Leaving Zaveid with a raging hard on in his pants, while calculating exactly how long he would need to finish everything up.
Only to then prepare himself so Eizen could have his sweet treat.
