Beyblade Burst Adventures

Special Ingredients

In which Shu is making pasta, and Xander asks the wrong questions. (Xander may be OOC. Inspired by the Creepypasta Cupcakes and my own Undertale AU, Muffins!)

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"I never knew you knew how to cook, Shu," I comment. He smiles at me and glances up for a moment before he goes back to cutting the meat for the pasta.

"Yeah, that's what Valt said," He chuckles. I smile at Valt a moment before I look back to Shu.

"So where did you learn to cook?"

"No place, really. Since my parents are always away, I learned it on my own, and I got good at it through experimenting with different spices and stuff."

"He's the best!" Valt chimes in, bouncing in his chair. "His pasta carbonara is, like, the most amazing food ever!"

"Even compared to Beybread?"

"Yeah!" He pauses, then he grins sheepishly. "But don't tell mom I said that."

"Ah ha ha ha! Don't worry, I won't!" I laugh and pat his shoulder. Then I start to watch Shu again, wondering what kind of meat and sauce he's using. The meat seems fine, but the sauce is strange. It's dark red and in an unlabled jar.

"Hey, Shu?"

"Yeah?"

"What kind of sauce is that? I don't think I've seen anything like it in the store."

The second I ask that, I can sort of feel the atmosphere of the room change. Shu falls silent for a moment, his expression going blank, and out of the corner of my eye I can see Valt shifting uncomfortably, his own face turning pale.

"... It's my own special sauce," He answers in a cryptic manner.

"Oh, okay." I glance at Valt to see what he makes of that response, but he won't meet my gaze. When I turn back to Shu, I'm startled by the creepy smile on his face. "Uh, m- mind if I ask what's in it?"

"Yes-" Valt starts to say, but Shu interrupts by shushing him.

"I don't mind at all, Xander." He closes his eyes and holds up his fingers for each ingredient, his grin becoming toothier as he lists them off. "There's garlic, basil, parsley, some salt, a bit of tomato paste, and- ygh, I can never remember the last one!" He turns away from me again, muttering to himself, "No, that wasn't it. That wasn't, either. Oh, wait! I remember now!"

He whips back around, bearing a Cheshire Cat grin and eyes that glow psychotically. "Blood."

"What?!" I gasp, feeling the color drain from my face.

"You heard me. It's blood. Human blood, to be exact." He cocks his head to the side again, giggling softly.

"T- Then the meat is-?!"

"Human flesh. Don't worry, I pick only the best for it." He lifts his head up, gaze turning to the other person in the room. "Right, Valt? You've seen me harvesting before, you know the high quality of the prey I pick."

"... Right," Valt sighs, his shoulders sagging.

"You're in on this?!" I snap, shoving myself up from my seat and turning to Valt. He still refuses to meet my gaze, dark eyes darker with shame.

"I am," He answers in a too-quiet voice. "But only because I don't want anything bad to happen to Shu..."

"But... But it's disgusting!" I turn to Shu and growl, "Have you really been feeding people human flesh and blood this whole time? How can you sleep at night? How can you even look at yourself in the mirror?!"

He stares at me for moment and shrugs. "Probably because it's not actually human flesh and blood."

"... What?"

"I'm just joking, Xander." Shu chuckles sheepishly, the supposed insanity fading away. "You know, a little prank like we used to play on each other back in the day."

"Yeah, but we never went that far," I sigh, gritting my teeth. "That was the worst joke ever. Never do that again, Shu, or I'll tell your parents to send you to therapy."

He nods a little, gaze falling to the floor. "Sorry, Xander. I- I understand if you don't want the pasta anymore... But would you at least like maybe an omelet, or something?"

"Nah, I've lost my appetite." I push the chair back into the table. "I think I'm just gonna go home now."

"Sorry, Xander. See you later," Valt murmurs to me.

"Bye, Xander. Be careful on the way home, please," Shu mumbles.

I glance between them both, their shamed expressions, and heave a sigh as I decide not to be too hard on them. They seem to have learned their lesson, at least. "Goodbye, guys. I'll text you when I get home."

And with that, I finally leave the apartment and can breathe again.

(Valt) After the apartment door slams shut, we wait until we're sure until Xander is out of earshot before we say anything.

I turn to Shu, mumbling, "You should have lied, man."

"Technically, I did. It just wasn't about the ingredients," Shu hums, then he looks to the door sadly. "Besides, I- I wanted to see how he'd react, so maybe he'd join us."

"Well, you saw it. He thought we were both disgusting cannibals, 'cause that's what we are..."

"I know, I know. But just give him a few days, and he'll barely remember this. Besides, as long as he believes it was a bad joke, we'll be fine."

"I guess," I sigh, laying my arms on the table and resting my chin on them.

Shu sighs softly, quiet for a few minutes. Then he tilts his head up and grins. "I know what will make you feel better. Pasta?"

Even with how the shame makes my stomach twist, the thought of eating some delicious pasta still has me perking up, smiling sheepishly. "... Aw, Shu, you're too good at manipulating me through my stomach!"

"Well, you know how the expression goes: "the fastest way to someone's heart is through their stomach." So? What do you say?"

"Yes, please. I'm starving!"