The Bonbon Waiting Game

Lio knew how to make dango and mochi. He didn’t know how to make bonbons, but would that stop him? No. He was on a mission, and that mission was making Khepri bonbons.

He looked at the recipe card he currently held in his hands. Butter, confectioners’ sugar, sweetened condensed milk, coconut flakes, walnuts, vanilla, chocolate chips, and shortening. He had all the ingredients he needed after going to and returning from the store.

“Make the filling,” he read, “let it chill for at least two hours. Roll filling into balls and freeze until hard. Easy enough. Then melt the chocolate and shortening together. Dip the balls. Yeah, okay, seems easy.”

Lio had everything he needed and sat out on the counter, ready to go.

“Are you making treats?” Hart’s sudden appearance made Lio jump.

“Nothing you would eat, I think,” Lio replied.

Hart pouted. “Can I help anyway?”

Lio smiled, “If you really want to.”

With Hart working with him, things would either go better or worse. It was a real toss-up, but Hart enjoyed learning, and Lio hoped for the best.

“Step one,” Lio started, “mix the butter, sugar, milk, coconut, walnuts, and butter in the large bowl until well combined.”

He and Hart worked their mixes until finished, and Lio slid them into the fridge. “Lio,” Hart said, “are these for Khepri?” Lio nodded in response. “Are you two…together?” Lio nodded again as he busied himself with cleaning the countertop. “Is it supposed to be secret?”

“Huh?” Lio cocked an ear. “Why would it be secret?”

Hart stared at him. “You didn’t tell anyone, and you hide away together. I think he’s been going to your room almost every night, too.”

Lio chuckled. “We’re not purposefully trying to hide anything. That’s just how it’s working out.”

“Is it love?”

“It’s…” Lio looked over at Hart. “Why are you asking anyway?”

Hart frowned. “Because I’m curious. You keep dodging my questions.”

Lio chuckled. “I’ve dodged one question,” he corrected. “Now, unless you want to spend the next two hours in here waiting for that mix to chill, you might want to find something else to do.”

Hart scoffed but smiled. “I hope your treats turn out tasty. I’m sure Khepri will like them.”

He waved goodbye as he left the kitchen and Lio smiled to himself. Hart was a sweetheart. Now, back to making treats for people. He made dango in the meantime, and when his two-hour timer went off, he returned to making his bonbons. With two dozen or so little naked bonbons made, he placed them in the freezer before munching on his dango. After a while… another timer ding. Finally.

The recipe was easy, but the waiting drove him crazy. He left the bonbons in the freezer until his chocolate was melted and ready, then he began dipping each naked bonbon and setting it aside. A little while later, Lio had freshly made bonbons.

Finished with his agonisingly long waiting period, he placed the treats into a cute pink box he’d picked up along with his ingredients. Surely, Khepri would like them. He liked sweets. He shook the thought from his head and finished the cleanup before heading to Khepri’s room, bonbons in hand.

“Come in,” Khepri called when Lio knocked. He beamed when Lio entered the room. “Did you make something?”

“I have chocolate all over me, don’t I?” Lio wasn’t surprised. He was no chocolatier.

Khepri nodded. “I think you have it in your hair too. You don’t typically get so dirty when you’re making treats. Well, not unless you’re pounding mochi, but that’s different.”

Lio sighed softly. “Chocolate-covered or not, I made you some treats. Hart helped mix the batter.”

“What’d you make?” Khepri’s eyes fell on the pink box Lio held.

“They’re bonbons.” He handed Khepri the box, watched as he opened it, and took one out. Khepri seemed conflicted about the new treat, and Lio watched closely as he ate it and pondered the flavour. Lio was nervous.

Khepri smiled softly. “You made all these just for me?” Lio nodded nervously. “I think I like your mochi better, but these aren’t bad. I think some different filling if you want to make them again sometime.”

“If is the keyword there, isn’t it?” Lio chuckled. “If I make these again, I’ll bring something else to occupy my time. Waiting for them to cool and then freeze isn’t exactly my definition of fun.”

Khepri hummed and sat the box on his bedside table. “Maybe I’ll help you next time?” He suggested. “Maybe you won’t mind making them so much if you had some company.”

He had a point. The worst part of making the bonbons was the waiting. If Khepri were with him the next time—if there was a next time—perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad. “I like the sound of that,” Lio said. “Do you… like them enough for me to make more of them?”

Khepri giggled. “Before you start thinking I hate them, I don’t think they’re not bad. Not my favourite, but I’m still going to eat them. You made them for me. I don’t think there’s a single dessert that you make that’s bad.”

“Please stop trying to inflate my ego,” Lio smiled. “I’m just glad you like them enough to eat them.”

“Thank you, Lio,” Khepri said. “It’s the gesture that means the most, isn’t it?”

“If that’s the case, then I have nothing to worry about.” Lio smiled and leaned forward, kissing Khepri softly before pulling away. “You taste like chocolate now.”

“And you’re covered in it. Does that make you the treat now?”

Lio chuckled. “If that’s how you want to look at it.”