#chilialch

[specified to be romantic]

So. Maybe stealing a girl’s credit card is not the ideal way to introduce yourself. Maybe her spilling chemicals all over you in retaliation was also not the best way to be introduced to her. Maybe, just maybe, proceeding to continue to steal her things was not the best way to get back at her. And maybe not the best way to keep seeing her.

But sometimes life doesn’t really give you what you expect. This is how Chili Pepper finds herself in an alchemist’s lab, holding a bottle of what she assumes is chemicals. 

She gives it a once over with a frown. At least it isn’t in her face this time.

“You’ve got to have something better than that!” She gestures with the bottle, the liquid swirling as she moves. “This won’t fetch anything.”

“You’ve obviously underestimated me,” Alchemist scoffs. “Am I getting my card back?”

Chili Pepper raises an eyebrow. “Who says I got it on me?”

“Obviously, no one.” Alchemist rolls her eyes. “But I don’t remember owning such a flashy wallet with my card inside.”

Chili Pepper’s eyes widen at that. In Alchemist’s hands is a shiny pouch. It glistens in the lamp light.

“Give me that!”

She lunges for the pouch. Alchemist tosses the pouch towards her pet, who giggles as it shakes it. The room is filled with the sound of coins.

Alchemist snorts, a ghost of a smile on her face. “Left your daggers behind, did you?”

“Tch!” Chili Pepper glances towards the scales, who have long made away with her wallet. “Of course I have them.”

Alchemist then really does laugh at that. “It’s a bit too late not to threaten me.”

“Who cares?” Chili Pepper fumes. “I’ve already got what I wanted!”

“That’s what you said last week,” Alchemist says, stifling a laugh.

Chili Pepper grumbles at that. Alchemist turns away from her, busying herself with her work. The sounds of chemicals bubbling and fuming fill the room.

The two of them are quiet, after that. Alchemist busies herself with her alchemy, mumbling and making note of things in particular. Chili Pepper doesn’t leave, seating herself on a empty table. She glances between both the other cookie’s chemicals and the one she was given.

She almost grumbles to herself, aloud. She didn’t think very far ahead in this plan of hers. Sure, she’s with Alchemist now, but she doesn’t think “stealing someone’s things” constitutes as a date.

She frowns, jiggling the bottle she was given. This probably wasn’t exactly the best substitute for getting some kind of love letter, either. Not that she knew much about that.

She almost wonders if she’s overstaying her welcome when Alchemist speaks.

“You’re not leaving?” Alchemist calls out.

Chili Pepper raises an eyebrow. “Not without my wallet!”

“I thought you would have stolen it back by now.” A pause, then a snort. “Or at the very least, tried to.”

“I can get it if I wanted to!” she protests. “I... just got no idea where the dang thing is!”

Alchemist gestures to the door. “Take a right, then go to the next door you see. That’s where it likes to hide my things.”

Chili Pepper raises an eyebrow. “No cat and mouse?”

“As much as I enjoy our daily chases,” she says, adjusting her glasses. “I’m actually in the middle of a breakthrough.”

Chili Pepper feels her stomach clench a little, but ignores it. Instead, she says, “Jeez, lady. Why didn’t you say so earlier?!”

“You waiting for me to finish was cute,” Alchemist smirks. “but you looked sad just sitting on the table.”

She flushes at that. “Who says I’m waiting, huh?”

“Who says you aren’t?”

Chili Pepper fumes and heads out the door. “Tch. Fine, I can see when I’m not wanted.”

She sticks a tongue out at Alchemist, who only laughs. 

In a few moments time reappears Chili Pepper, pouch in hand. She’s halfway through leaving from the window when Alchemist speaks.

“I’ll be finished by Tuesday,” she calls out. “But you’re always welcome to take me out before that.”

Chili Pepper nearly falls hearing that.

“What, like a life or death situation?”

An eyeroll. “It’ll spare me the embarassment.”

Alchemist goes quiet after that. It clicks, then.

“You want take out.”

“If you’re not willing to say anything constructive, just leave.” 

Chili Pepper laughs. It’s almost accurate to say she roared at that.