*The art above is taken from pinterest, the artist is cookie creation.*

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„Well hello there Mister tall, dark and broody! What has gotten you looking so down?"

If anybody was asking, Conner did not struggle to retain his balance on his favorite rock overlooking the sea, thank you very much. It is also important to note that he definitely did not spend the next ten seconds staring at the handsome merman before him like he was Venus and Conner was witnessing his birth.

Percy, the apparent Prince of the entire ocean, sheepishly dragged a hand through his hair, leaving it pleasantly rumpled.

„I really should start announcing my presence sometime before I surface right in front of a person, shouldn't I?"

„Might save someone a heart attack someday", Conner managed to press out, „Why are you here?".

Percy cocked his head to the side in a thoughtful manner, his neck a beautiful arch. „Honestly, I'm not quite sure. I went for a swim to clear my head and somehow ended up here. Thought I'd say hello and ask how you're - Do you smell that?!"

Conner who had been pondering how best to explain the situation that had left him so irritated earlier - without giving away any sensitive information that is - startled at the sudden change of tone. Acknowledging the open concern expressed in the merman's furrowed brows and taunt body language, he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. Instantly his nose was assaulted by the biting stench of burned food and smoking kitchen appliances.

„M'gann!", Conner exclaimed in equal parts worried and exasperated. He turned to apologize to his royal aquaintance for leaving him to check on the Martian and the kitchen equipment when he caught sight of the merman's miraculously clothed backside just vanishing through the very secret and carefully hidden cave entrance that Conner did not tell him of!

As much as he wanted to question how the merman had gotten through the identity scan or when the fuck he had grown legs to walk in the first place, there was no time if he didn't want a stranger running unaccompanied through the team's headquarters.

Conner sprinted around a corner trying to catch up with Percy when he almost ran straight into him. The raven haired was standing stock-still in the door to the kitchen area, staring gobsmacked at the mess presenting itself to them. Several baking trays, a kettle, a colorful variety of fruits and a burning rag were levitating in the air. There was smoke coming out of the oven. Some unidentifiable lump on the hearth was on fire. The toaster was on fire. And right in the center of it, M'gann was frantically beating at the flames with a dish towel in one hand and an empty water pitcher in the other.

Percy recovered first. He raised his hand and suddenly there was a water stream bursting out of the sink and moving to smother one fire after the other. When the last flame extinguished, the three teens released a collectively held breath in relief.

After another moment of now increasingly awkward silence Conner felt like he should do something to make the Martian aware of her audience, but found he needed another moment to calm his nerves and regain control over his voice.

„Someday", M'gann muttered frustratedly while eying the black blobs on a nearby floating tray, „someday I'm gonna get it right. And then they are gonna be the best cookies in the entire world!".

Percy perked up: „You were trying to make cookies?!"

Kaldur was done. He was exhausted, he was tired and he desperately wanted his bed. If he could just make it there without another incident, he swore he wouldn't leave it for the next twenty-four hours, come what may.

The Atlantean was dragging his whinging body towards the living area with the general idea to snatch up a sandwich and a waterbottle before continuing to his room when he heard it.

Laughter.

Coming from the kitchen.

Kaldur wanted to rip out his hair in frustration. He so did not want to deal with any of the team's shenanigans right now. Or their loud voices. Or them. No offense to his friends. Alas, his hair was too short to get a satisfactory grip on. One more thing to be frustrated about.

Kaldur took a deep breath and steeled his nerves. Just get in, get a pre-packed sandwich and some water, say no to M'gann's cookies and get out. Easy-peasy.

With great effort and forced determination he opened the door and promptly froze. He could not believe his eyes. M'gann was sitting on the counter, stirring something in a large bowl and giggling softly. Standing next to her was Conner, looking more relaxed than Kaldur had seen him in weeks or like, ever, and sporting a splatter of what looked suspiciously like blue batter on his nose.

So far, so good. The blue was unusual, but didn't bother Kaldur enough to interrupt his quest for food and rest. The real issues were, firstly, the smell - it smelled delicious, like heaven captured in chocolate and dough, and wasn't that suspicious alone – but more importantly: Percy freaking Jackson, Son of Poseidon, Prince of the Seas, crouching casually like anything in front of the oven and proclaiming with a sort of childish glee that „the first batch was almost ready".

It had happened. It had finally happened. After all the cut-short nights writing reports for Batman, leading the team on missions, managing the team off-mission while simultanesly juggling his duties to his king, Atlantis and his family, it had finally become too much.

Kaldur spun around on his heel and resolutely marched off to his room. Imagining THE Prince baking blue cookies in the Cave, really, what else was he gonna see? Batman in a Hello Kitty costume offering free hugs? Kaldur shook his head. He needed a nap. Several days of sleep. Maybe a light coma. Hopefully his brain would accept the peace offering and put a stop to the hallucinations!

*Blue Cookie Aesthetic by @starellium on pinterest*

*"KEEP CALM AND EAT BLUE FOOD" by Meg Shortt on pinterest, but I don't know if she is the original creator*