It’s been years since he and Dirge last saw each other. In the beginning, it hadn’t been intentional. They were both always busy ferrying souls from one world to the next, so it was rare that their paths crossed. Then Tempest passed, and Grim hung up his scythe in favor of a rolling pin and…well…

“This is incredible”, Dirge muses, glowing red eyes locking onto Doughboy with an intensity that could melt bedrock. “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a familiar quite like this before. What is it?”

Grim just scoops the trembling doughboy off the table, bringing him to rest atop his shoulder as he clears his throat and murmurs, “He is a Doughboy. He is quite adept at his job, I assure you”.

“A Doughboy. How remarkable. I would have thought you’d choose a three-headed dog, but this suits you a thousand times better.” Dirge affords his cookbook a stare, his fangs twisting into a delighted smile. “Oh, my. You’ve turned your spellbook into a cookbook. How delightfully creative! And my goodness, what are these?”

Grim shoves the door to the oven shut, cleaning the chocolate from his bony fingers before he walks over to his big brother to see what’s garnered his attention now. “Ah. Those are devil dogs.”

“Well, they’re not like any devil dogs I’ve ever seen”, Dirge retorts, admonished as he watches Grim bring the chocolatey hellhounds to rest atop the stove. “They are positively adorable!”

It’s been an adjustment, having Dirge know about his baking. He’d be worried that he’d disapprove. And though he had seemed bewildered by Grim’s admission, it wasn’t long before he was asking to watch him in action. 

Needless to say, by the time Grim’s left out for class, he feels like an emotionally exhausted mess. Tanner affords him a moment’s stare before musing, “You seem distracted”. He then glances down at his scorched devil dogs, which Grim only managed to salvage from their transformation in exchange by overcooking them. “And those seem…charred. That’s gonna do wonders for my blood pressure.”

“Ease off. He just told his brother about his baking” Angela brings her millionaire shortbread to rest atop her table and fixes him with a pointed stare before letting her eyes drift back to Grim. “So. How’d he take it?”

Grim just sighs. “Surprisingly well, actually. His enthusiasm is simply a tad overwhelming.” He then wavers and smiles at Angela. “You seem excited.”

“Obviously”, Tanner says with a roll of the eyes. ‘It’s caramel week.”

Angela lets out a happy squeal before she says, “Yes, it is!”, only to then fall silent as Chef Sucrose arrives.

“...Are you going to be all right?” Grim affords her a moment’s stare, but Angela just nods before Sucrose makes his way over to the table.

He’s silent for a moment before he pauses at Grim’s table. “...These look a little overdone.”

“I used too much hellfire”, Grim explains in favor of the truth.

Sucrose just nods, then looks to Angela and takes a bite before he says, “This is really good actually”.

“Hey, Grim.” Tanner jerks his head, and the two file out of the class, giving the two their space. “What do you think?”

Grim just lets out an inquisitive hum. “They are not arguing. I shall take that as a good sign.”

“I dunno”, Tanner murmurs thoughtfully. “Her doughgirl picked up a spoon when she saw him.”

Grim says, “She could have gone for the knife”. To solve the argument, the two peer into the window. And waver at the sight of Angela and Chef Sucrose enveloped in a hug. Feeling like he’s intruding on a private moment, Grim pulls his face from the window, only to then falter at the sound of Tanner sniffling.

“That’s beautiful.” Tanner swipes at his eyes, then turns an expectant stare Grim’s way. “You know what? You should invite Dirge to the end of the year banquet next week. He could see you bake without, you know, actually getting in the way of you baking.”

A shudder passes up Grim’s spine. “I suspect his enthusiasm would only double if he attended the banquet.” At the raised brow he gets in question, he crosses his arms over his chest. “It is not because I am afraid of disappointing him.”

“I never said you were”, Tanner calls out in a singsong and with that he roughly shoves open the door to produce a loud of a creak to announce his arrival. He darts inside to collect his things.

All the while, Grim purses his lips together. Doughboy cuts a curious stare his way, and he narrows his eyes before letting out a dejected sigh as his shoulders fall. Lips pressed tightly together, he pulls his phone out of his pocket. He dials up the number, clearing his throat before he says, “Hello, Dirge. Yes. I was…wondering how you feel about brownies”.