christmas cooking

Christmas was an busy time for Kiew, he was always in the kitchen baking his head off and going to sleep late at night once he got his recent orders shipped out, "Do you plan on letting us help?"

Kiew glared at Hana at the suggestion as he slid the cookies into the oven.

"What'd I do? I wanna help!"

"Hana, this is my job, the last thing I want is dragging everyone into my work." Corey gripped Kiew's shoulder firmly, their glare just as sharp as the carnikoi's, "We helped you last year, why can't we do it again?"

"These orders are important, Corey," Kiew pulled his hand off and set it on the counter before going to his next bowl of mix and starting it up too, "I want to get this all done just right."

With a huff, Corey and Hana thought up a plan to help him somehow. They tried mixing the frosting and Kiew smacked their hands away, they tried kneading dough but got shooed away, they couldn't even take the treats out of the oven before Kiew told them to move and that he could handle it.

"Finally.." Kiew sighed and packed up the last of the orders, all that was left was small candy decoration he gets from a fellow sweets creator. He felt something off though, even with everything in place, a sinking feeling in his stomach failed to leave him, that was until his friend knocked on the door, tears in her eyes as she blubbered out an apology, Kiew eased her before grabbing her shoulders, "What happened?"

"The candies broke! I tried everything to get them to work but I never could! I'll give you the recipe to it, but I don't have anymore time, I'm so sorry!"

Kiew stared, his heart in his throat as he realized how far this could set him back, especially if more orders came in.. it wasn't even close to the end of December, or even close to Christmas. He snapped out of it when Corey cleared their throat from behind him.

"If you could send the recipe my way, I could always make the candy."

"Since when.."

"Don't worry about it," They purred, "just send it to me."

Kiew was hesitant to let Corey and Hana use his tools, but he had no other choice if he wanted to get the sweets out in time. He was in the kitchen the whole time, watching over them like a hawk, even as they finished he watched like something else was supposed to happen, that was until Corey set the little peppermints down did it click that they were done and his tools were in one piece.

"Since when did you learn to make peppermints exactly?" Kiew gave the koi an accusing glare, "You didn't break the suppliers work just so you could use my tools?"

Corey gasped at the accusation before feigning offense, "I would never! Mostly cause I thought you made all the candy yourself, but this does mean I was able to help!"

Kiew sighed and shook his head, "Are you happy now?"

"Very! I got to help!" Kiew shook his head again as he carefully placed the peppermints into their designated spots, softly grumbling thank-yous to Corey and Hana.

After a little more grumbling, he packed up his boxes and sent them out for safe delivery and began one last order for the day, "Corey! Hana! Come here!"

"Are we in trouble dad?" Corey teased as they walked in, Hana giggled just behind them until Kiew handed the two of them a plate of cookies, "The ones on the left are yours Corey, and the right are yours Hana."

"Why're we getting cookies?" Hana picked them up and sniffed, a little curious until he immediately began eating, "I won't let your generosity go unrewarded, even if it's Christmas. So, its your favorites."

"How'd you get peach at a time like this!? It tastes sooo good.." Hana kept shoveling in his side and Corey soon joined him, humming with delight at the pumpkin and cinnamon taste, "I've been blessed.."

"There's more your box, eat all you want." Kiew left the kitchen and heard the two kois practically race over to their box as he heard another order come in. Christmas was his favorite time of year, sometimes.