To Bake or Not to Bake
Title: To Bake, or Not to Bake…Ah, There’s the Chocolate
Author: TC Wildstar
Disclaimer: I have no claim to Power Rangers, Old Navy, or Ghirardelli Cocoa. I merely borrowed them. I was inspired by Tigger’s Cookie Recipe, EstiRose’s INEBG in general, Nik and Wynd’s Mad Lib session, and finally Starhawk’s love of the Green and Crimson combo.
This takes place at any point of the series you choose between Pork Chopped and the final episode, the later the better, though.
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Cam stared at the screen again. The program will not write itself, he thought to himself. Ninja ops is quiet, he should be relishing this fact. Why couldn’t he? “Because it’s too quiet…” he whispered softly.
He closed his eyes. He just needed to switch gears, and then all would come into focus again. He needed a distraction. He waited. Surely, one of the five would come barging in at any minute and break the silence. He opened his eyes, glanced at the clock, and then closed them again. He focused on 2:30 PM. Too late for lunch. Too early for dinner. Not even a good time for tea. He opened his eyes and skimmed the program. Nothing. He glanced at the clock again. 2:32 PM. Damn it!
He closed his eyes again. Cookies! He thought. Yes, cookies. No, but not just any cookie. Oatmeal no-bake cookies, like they served at school when he was a kid. Yeah… Just what you needed when you got out of trig and needed a boost before you went to physics.
Cam quickly launched out of his chair… his fingers trailing over the keyboard, locking the computer. He nearly soared down the hallway into the kitchen.
Oatmeal. Sugar. Vanilla. Peanut butter. Butter. Cocoa. Hmm… where’s the cocoa? Just as his mind was wrapping around the myriad of possible demises the cocoa may have met, he heard soft footfalls, like a ninja trying not to spook him.
“Lose your father in the cabinet again?”
It was Hunter. “No. And for the record, that never happened. That was a rat. My father was at the movies with Blake.”
“So… what are you doing?” Hunter leaned over the counter and began sorting through the ingredients.
“Trying to find the cocoa,” Cam responded as he watched the destruction of his counter organization. Hunter finally put down the oatmeal, and grabbed the peanut butter. He released a small growl as he wrenched the lid off, using entirely too much effort as if for show. Cam began to replace the lid back on the vanilla while watching Hunter scoop out a massive amount of goo onto his finger and thrust it into his mouth. Cam watched the procession of finger scoops of goo a couple times before he was brought back to his senses by the strong but delicious scent of vanilla. He shook his head, not sure if the peanut butter display was disgusting, fascinating, or merely just Hunter.
Hunter stopped digging for peanut butter, and cleared his mouth with much chewing and gumming of the sticky residue… “Arsk Bwake”
“Pardon me,” Cam turned again toward Hunter and watched him down half a glass of freshly poured milk. Cam noted that peanut butter was smeared on both the glass and the milk jug.
“Blake,” Hunter mumbled, “he might know.” And then he wrenched his finger into the jar again.
“Know what?” as the younger Thunder strolled into the room.
“Cam wants his cocoa back,” Hunter looked at Blake and tossed his head toward Cam. He then thrust the newly scooped peanut butter into his mouth.
“Oh, yeah… Here…” Blake put down his Old Navy canvas backpack and sorted through. Finally, he pulled out the container of Ghirardelli cocoa and handed it to Cam. “Sorry. I meant to return this to you earlier. I used all of yours so I bought you a new one.”
Cam tilted his head. “Why did you … do I want to know?” He looked from Blake to Hunter, and then back to Blake again. Blake smiled. Hunter shook his head with a smirk, raising an eyebrow. Blake looked down, still smiling.
“So, what were you doing with it again, bro?”
“It’s a secret.”
“Come on, it’s the man’s chocolate. You borrowed it without asking. You owe him the reason as well as the apology.”
“Yeah… my bad. Here. You’ll probably want this too,“ Blake handed Cam a package of powdered sugar. “You remember that sweet glaze you made and poured on that white flavorless cake for our Spring party?”
“You mean the Angelfood cake?” Cam nodded. “Yeah, it was a simple chocolate glaze… made of cocoa and … powdered sugar… What did you need the chocolate glaze for?”
“That I can’t tell you… I wasn’t able to make it work anyway. I kept getting the thing too watery or too stiff. It just wouldn’t pour right… so I had to give up.” Blake nearly blushed.
“Stop! I don’t want to know any more. I’m not even sure I should give you the recipe now.”
Blake snickered. Dustin strolled in, stopping just behind Hunter. “Is this another cooking lesson? Didn’t the last one end in a food fight?”
Hunter chuckled through his peanut butter filled mouth as Dustin reached around to bogart some peanut butter from the jar.
“Enough! If you keep this up, the recipe is doomed.” Cam wrenched the jar from Hunter. “You and you,” Cam pointed first at Dustin and then Blake, “Go to the store for more peanut butter.”
“Why do I have to pay for Hunter’s peanut butter crimes?” Snickered Blake, as he turned toward Dustin, grabbing his backpack.
“You’re not. You’re paying for your own chocolate ones.” Cam snapped as he began melting the butter in the pan.
Hunter watched the two walk out, and then turned, eyeing the jar Cam still held in his hand. Cam looked over… watching as the elder Thunder mulled over ways to retrieve the precious jar. He had to smile when Hunter finally shifted his eyes toward some Fig Newtons on the counter.
Hunter tore into the package. Cam cringed, making a mental note to get a sealable bag out in which to store the Fig Newton survivors.
Hunter watched Cam sort through and measure each ingredient, dropping each spoonful diligently into the pan. “So, what did you say you’re making, again?” Hunter mumbled after swallowing more milk.
“I didn’t,” Cam snarked, “but I’m trying to make Chocolate No-Bake Cookies. I am determined to eat these cookies today and I need what’s left of the peanut butter, so hands off.” He slammed the jar onto the counter.
“Ok… Don’t get all riled,” Hunter smiled, as he reached for more Newtons. “Somebody may get the wrong impression.”
Cam froze after dumping the last spoonful of cocoa into the pan. “Whatever do you mean?” Cam looked up to find the Newton survivors as his only audience.
