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[They don't dare draw attention to the shift. This is Casey's time. Besides, it will be good to make some real food for April as well.]

Waffles it is. Will you track down a mixing bowl then? I'll grab the eggs and milk and butter.

[Hope you like waffles, April, because he's about to make way too many.]

Sure. [He starts poking through cupboards, searching for a big bowl. He's cooked in Peter and Leo's kitchen before, but not the apartment where April, Raph, and Donatello share, so it takes a bit longer.] Oh. How do you make the shape?

[It occurs to him he's never made waffles before, he has no idea how it works.]

[Who doesn't like waffles!!!

Casey turns to his task and Rue turns to theirs, gathering wet ingredients before arranging them out on the countertop.]

It's a waffle iron. There's one just under the cupboard there. I gifted it to the boys for exactly this purpose.

[Surprise mother waffle party.]

[Casey pokes around after finding the bowl, emerging a moment later with the iron.] Oh! Look at that. [He sits on the floor and just kinda open-shuts it a few times. Distracted? Maybe a little. Let him zone out with a waffle iron, he's had a weird week.]

[...Honestly? He deserves a chance to just zone out in peace.

So Rue will do a quick little inventory of ingredients, measuring things out and preparing them to be dumped into the mixing bowl, but waiting right before that last step to finally drop a paw on top of Casey's head, ruffling his hair.

And then there's a peck of a kiss to his cheek from behind.]

Shall we plug it in? I have an inkling it works better when the griddle is hot.

[He turns bright red and nearly drops it, hastily scrambling to his feet. Right, waffles! They are making waffles. He's a perfectly put-together young man and he's fine, because fine people make waffles.]

Sure does!

[And he will do that now! Plugging in the waffle maker, look at him go.]

Got everything else?

[As much as Rue may want to just scoop Casey up and smother him in kisses, they know how desperate he is to feel normal after everything that's happened. So instead, they'll just drop a comforting hand to his shoulder, smiling down at him as he plugs the waffle iron in.]

What about chocolate chips? Shall we put them in today? I feel as if we deserve an extra treat.

[Okay but counterpoint: being swept up and smothered in mom-kisses is completely normal for him now!!

He does brighten at the mention of chocolate, though. Nailed by the sweet tooth again.]

I think so, yeah! And how about, um... cinnamon sugar?

[This is turning out to be more like dessert than lunch but maybe today's the day to get away with it.]

[Shhh, sometimes your adorable son deserves to suck down as much sugar as possible.]

Wonderful idea, Casey! Would you like to work on the batter while I find their cinnamon? Start with the dry ingredients, then add the wet.

[Whether he deserves it or not, it's happening today.]

Got it! Okay, that's easy.

[He'll do just that, mixing everything thoroughly as directed. The good thing about him being the main cook in his household for more than a year now is that he's gotten pretty good about following recipes and mixing things.]

It already smells nice. [A handful of chocolate chips go into the batter! ...And then a little one goes in his mouth. Mixing man perks.]

Doesn't it? Nothing smells quite as wonderful as breakfast.

[Waffle batter? That's simply too easy for Casey Jones, baker extraordinaire!

Though when Rue finishes finding the cinnamon hidden in the cupboard, they lean in close to Casey and open their beak, waiting for a chocolate chip of their own.]

[He doesn't even need to look, just sees that beak in his peripheral, and in goes no less than three chips. No stinging for mama-san!]

Did I tell you I tried to eat cinnamon one time? Like, on its own.

[Mother Chocolate Chip Rights!!]

You did not! [But there's already a giggle bursting up out of them at the very thought, Rue gently nudging Casey's shoulder with their own.] You mean like a tablespoon's worth of pure cinnamon?

No, a stick! [It's even worse than you think, Mom.] I thought it was like a spicy candy.

[IT IS LITERALLY WORSE BUT ALSO SO MUCH FUNNIER]

Casey! [Forgive them, they just need to dissolve into giggles over the imagery] I can not believe it!

You should! [It is in the top tier list of embarrassing things he's attempted with new food but probably not the highest.] Should I try a spoonful of the powder instead?

[oh, they will never stop laughing now]

Only if you'll let me film it! I want a video to keep forever!

[He nods, half-reaching for a spoon, then halts and lifts a finger at them.]

Only if you promise to stop filming and save me if I start choking!

[Please, he knows they'll save him. But if he starts dying on camera he may actually die of embarrassment instead.]

[Oh, they are grabbing for their relic!!!]

I already have a spell at the ready, my love!

[Well, there's no safer promise. And it'll be fine, probably. It's just some powdered spice. While Rue fusses with the relic, Casey fetches that spoon, scoops out a heaping pile of cinnamon, and stuffs it right in his mouth. He's eaten worse! So much worse! How bad can it-

POOF, there's an instant cloud of cinnamon dust exploding around him as he starts coughing it out. IT CAN IN FACT BE VERY BAD]

[OH it somehow is SO much funnier imagining it than watching their poor son struggle!!

The poof of the cinnamon cloud blocks view of the relic after that initial inhale, so Rue immediately abandons their filming to press a glass of water into their son's hand.]

Oh Casey! Drink you, darling!

[He accepts the water, chugging a big mouthful and lunging to hang over the sink, spitting out liquid brown.]

Oh my g- [COUGH, COUGH, WHEEZE, another mouthful, another spit.] There's so mu- ha- [CHUGS MORE, how is there so much!? It wasn't even that big a spoonful!]

There, there, dearest.

[And while he coughs and chokes and gulps down water, Rue will just rub some soothing little circles against his back.]

That's going to be a wonderful video to share with the family.

[Casey coughs a few more times, chugs another mouthful and spits. So much. There's so much...

And then he tilts his head to look at Rue.]

...Did... did you get the whole thing?

[MOM YOU GOT IT, RIGHT, YOU GOT THE BIT ON CAMERA. He's crying a little. Teenage priorities.]

[He really IS a teenager.]

Every last second! I'll have to send it out to everyone soon. To show you, ah, "doing it for the vine". Is that the phrase?

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