Chapter Text
28 Days of Love
A Valentines Day Arena Anthology
Day 1: Dinner Date (Peppino Spaghetti x Taokaka)
Before his pizzeria managed to gain more success thanks to the Arena, the only joy Peppino could find in his stress-filled day-to-day routine was cooking. Even if he was a perfectionist that often stressed out over even the smallest imperfections in the meals he made, he always took pride in the finished product.
Heck, one of the major reasons his pizzeria was failing in the first place wasn't because his food tasted bad. It was because he couldn't find the right ingredients. Now, after the Arena AND his victory over the Pizza Tower, he had far more ingredients and he could make as many meals as he pleased, though he made sure there was enough for his growing business.
There was also now somebody in his life that enjoyed food even more than he did! Granted, she mostly ate pretty much anything edible that came within her line of sight, regardless if it was made well or not, but he still loved that part about her. That passion for cuisine, that is.
Her name was Taokaka and, while her hyperactivity could stress him out sometimes, he found that he enjoyed that part about her as well. Even if she caused a mess at the pizzeria while chasing after a light that the Noise shined on the floor (which usually ended with that trouble-maker getting reduced to ribbons by her iron-claws) or kept spacing out whenever she was told something, she always a big source of warmth and affection.
With the Kaka woman, she not only enjoyed the food that Peppino made, but she found his somewhat grumpy attitude rather endearing and his skill in battle also was a huge plus in her eyes. In her eyes, he was perfect.
Right now, the two were about to engage in yet another dinner date, but Peppino decided to put a new spin on this. Something that instantly got his girlfriend excited. "Alright...BEGIN!" He started a timer, rushing towards the kitchen, with taller woman following him.
"HUNGRRRRRRY!" She yelled that like it was a battle cry, her claws coming out as she sliced apart some mushrooms, the piles falling neatly around Peppino as he punched some sauce cans, the liquids flying into the air before landing flawlessly on some pizza dough.
Throwing several cannonballs she kept in her sleeves (she kept a lot of stuff in there, it seems), Taokaka flattened the dough before she slammed her claws down, slicing apart the cheese when she turned her claws into chainsaws. The grated substances flew onto the dough as the chainsaws whirred, some corks in the chef's ears as that happened.
Striking off a checklist, Peppino flipped an entire table with other ingredients to cut. "Think fast!"
"RIGHT! MEOW!" Leaping into the air, Taokaka zipped around like lightning, slicing apart some tomatoes, cheese, and other assorted ingredients. Peppino ran around with the pizza dough, catching them as they fell onto there.
"And now, the finishing touches!" He threw the pizzas like frisbees into the oven, with Gustavo giving a thumbs-up as he started up the oven. Brick was also there, causing Taokaka's fur to stand on end.
Her feline instincts kicking in (due to Brick being a giant rat, after all), she rushed at him, but Peppino and company were prepared. Getting out some cutting boards, Brick matched her blow-for-blow, the training session managing to distract her from her hunger as the pizzas cooked for just the right time. Peppino found himself getting a little distracted as this happened, watching as she fought with a series of lightning-fast movements.
He remembered a few times in which she convinced him to train with her and the two proved to be fairly evenly matched. While Peppino specialized in rushing attacks involving throwing and good old fashioned brute force, Taokaka's chaotic style was complimented by her nimble movements and impressive claw-like weaponry. Each training session proved unforgettable and really worked up a sweat in both of them.
Much like this moment, that is. As soon as the oven finished, Peppino whistled. "Dinner is served, my dear!"
"Nya?" Forgetting about Brick, she saw the pizzas fly through the air, her claws then cleaving them in multiple different directions...and causing them to be split into 8 pieces each. Molten cheese dripped from Taokaka's claws, the woman standing above the finished meal while panting heavily. It almost looked like she was finished with a mighty battle, sweat dripping from her skin.
Turning off the timer, Peppino looked at the clock with pride. "Best time! How do you feel, Tao?" He asked.
Smelling the meal, Taokaka's sharp-toothed smile grew wide, her head then moving down to nuzzle into her boyfriend's side. Purring loudly, she hugged him close. "Chef-guy, you're the best! This is gonna be the best meal Tao's ever had!"
"Ever had so far, you mean?" Peppino joked, a louder purr happening after that.
SPLAT!
Both of their expressions froze, looking utterly shocked, before their pupils looked to see that the Noise had dropped a humongous pineapple onto the pizzas. "Take THAT, lovebirds!"
"...okay, it's not that bad." Peppino shrugged.
"I got this straight from the dump!"
"TAO GONNA BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF NOISY-GUY!" Joining the enraged Kaka woman, Peppino let out his signature scream of rage, the two lunging at the terrified Noise before he was enveloped in a cartoonish ball of punches and dust.
As this happened, Gustavo and Brick looked at each-other. "I think that went well!" The latter stated positively.