Short Takes - A Pastry

Title: A Pastry
Characters: Morgana, Faceless Summoner
Genre: Romance, Feels, Confections

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	A summoner knocked politely on the heavy oak door clearly labeled “Employees Only” and the curt voice of a woman called out, muffled, “Enter.” Wearing an incredibly uncharacteristic apron and chefs hat, the Fallen One glazed several pastries, and spread the confection generously across them before she set them aside to frost a cake. Her hands moved quickly, deliberately, across every inch of it and she looked only briefly up at the summoner to ask, “What? I'm busy.”

	“When'll you be off?” he asked casually.

	With a sigh and a roll of eyes, she picked up the beautifully frosted cake and brushed the summoner aside as she walked into the actual salesroom of the bakery. The summoner trundled behind her, a pout of disapproval on his face as she placed the cake down upon the counter and stuck a delicate metal cardholder into it. The card it held read clearly, “Devilishly Dark Devil's Food Cake.” She turned about and nearly walked headlong into the summoner after setting down the cake. “Have you come only to bother me? Or is there something you actually wanted? I will be off when I am done. I've told you this plenty of times. I hardly think it begs repeating. Unless you're stupid or something.” A thin smirk formed on her face as she pushed past the summoner.

	She emerged from the backroom almost immediately and carried with her the freshly glazed pastries. Again she brushed past the summoner, who continued to stare at her, half-glum, half-amused, as she set the pastries in a display case. Her frame obscured the contents of the case, but when turned about, she held in her hand one of the treats. With a much warmer smile, she handed the pastry to the summoner, who took it quietly and smiled back.

	It was then that she smeared the excess glaze on her fingers on his cheek and chuckled. “Get out of here and clean your face up. I'll be off, as always, when I'm done. Can you wait that long or are you going to bother me the rest of the day?” The summoner shook his head and made for the door, but as he reached for the handle, it swung open and revealed a patron.

	The smile on the baker's face vanished, and the softness that had lined the very edges of her voice dissipated, replaced by a straight face and businesslike tone as she greeted the customer. The summoner gestured for the patron to enter and gave her one last look. For an instant, though her tone nor her face changed, her eyes softened in a way he knew was reserved only for him.