Archive of Our Own ^beta

Heat waves were nothing out of the ordinary during the summer season in Pallet Town, but Mother Nature had other plans in mind and increased the heat dial that evening. 

Delia’s bedroom was gripped with thick, humid air that clung to her and Jessie’s skin like blankets. Her bedsheets were kicked off to the side and abandoned. Their pyjamas were coated with sweat, and their hair was glued to their foreheads. The room was silent except for their panting and the fan's gentle hum. Of course, Delia could open a window, but to her utter disappointment, there was no breeze. Besides, an open window wasn’t going to provide much relief anyway. The fan wasn't aiding either. It only seemed to spread the penetrating heat rather than cool them off.

“...Jessie, are you awake?” she managed to muse through her heavy breathing.

“Yeah.”

“Do you think it’ll ever cool down?”

“How should I know?” she responded in a light, snarky manner, which then transformed into a whine. “I can’t take this heat anymore!”

“Me neither.”

“Plus, I’m sick and tired of smelling like dirty gym socks every time I sweat!”

Delia chuckled softly at her comment before kicking away the sheet that once enveloped her feet. She sighed deeply, trying to close her weary eyes. The girls lost track of how long they’d been awake, but it was the last thing to worry about. All they wanted was some sleep. The silence didn’t last long until Jessie spoke again. 

“Delia?”

“Yes?” she asked, opening one eye. 

“...I want ice cream.”

The brunette’s eyes widened at her request, and she sat up almost immediately.

“What?!” she asserted, turning to Jessie. “At this hour?!” She turned again and looked at the blaring red numbers on her alarm clock, then back at Jessie. “It’s almost 2 a.m.!”

Jessie groaned and rolled over, grabbing Delia’s hand and intertwining her fingers. “I know it’s late, but I need something cold to cool me down. Pretty please?”

Puppy eyes were one of Delia’s weaknesses; they communicated every desire with a single glance. It was both endearing and irresistible, a silent language that tugged at her heartstrings, and she couldn’t help but oblige Jessica’s unspoken requests (every time, that is). She loved spoiling her lover after all.

“Okay, smoochum,” Delia sighed heavily, implementing a smile. “We can make some ice cream.”

“Yay!” Jessie squealed blissfully. “Thank you, deerling~!”

She leaned forward and gave Delia a little peck on the cheek, making her giggle and blush.

Upon entering the kitchen, Jessie immediately rushed to the sink and poured herself a glass of water, chugging it in one giant gulp. The icy breath of the freezer danced across Delia’s skin, sending a satisfying shiver down her spine, marveling at the swirling mist that accompanied her face. She reached for the frozen bananas behind the towers of meat and poultry.

“Jessica, can you get two bowls for me, please?”

“Sure!”

Nonchalantly, she swung open the cupboard doors, revealing a selection of kitchenware and utensils neatly arranged inside. She placed two delicate ice cream dishes on the smooth, wooden kitchen table as Delia laid the frozen bananas on the countertop. Afterward, she knelt and opened another cupboard, searching for her food processor. Meanwhile, Jessie ventured into the freezer in search of ice.

“What are you gonna be making?” Delia questioned, plugging in the food processor.

“I’m gonna make some shaved ice,” Jessie responded, closing the freezer and placing the ice on the other side of the counter.

“Ooooh, that sounds delicious! Want to use some of the bananas?”

Shaking her head, the magenta head generously declined. “No, thanks. I’m going to add soy sauce to it.”

Delia’s beaming smile swiftly turned into a quizzical expression as she was frozen in thought, attempting to comprehend the words that had spilled from her mouth. Bewildered, she arched an eyebrow.

“U-uh…” Shaved ice? With s-soy sauce?

“Do you know where you keep it?”

“Uhm, I-it should be on the shelf on top of the stove.”

“Thank you!” Jessie squeaked, clapping her hands.

As she went for the soy sauce, Delia reached for the blender planted on top of the fridge and placed it on Jessie’s side of the counter with the ice, plugging it into a different outlet. She dragged herself back to her station and put the bananas into her food processor, pulsing it first, before blending continuously while scraping off the sides. The persistent thought of the soy sauce lingered in her mind, filling her with countless questions that grew stronger with each moment. It was a feeling she couldn’t escape.

Jessie planted the soy sauce next to her bowl and returned to the counter. She popped open the lid and poured a cup of ice into the blender, closing it afterward. There was one issue: she had no idea how to use a blender or any other kitchen appliance, and she didn't know how to cook either. She stared blankly at the blender with maximum levels of anxiety coursing through her veins. She had always lacked confidence in the kitchen, and seeing an appliance she didn't recognize made her feel even more intimidated. During her Team Rocket days, she relied on ramen or splitting biscuits and onigiri with James, Meowth, and Wobbuffet. The thought of cooking and using kitchen appliances seemed like an insurmountable challenge.

“Uh, Delia?”

“Yes, dear?” she pondered, halting her food processor.

Jessie placed her hand around the back of her head, tilting her body acutely, fuming with humiliation. “I don’t know how to use a blender.”

Sighing compassionately, Delia showed her the appropriate button to press. “You hit ‘ICE CRUSH,’ and you blend it until you get to your preferred consistency."

“That’s it? That’s all I have to do?”

“Yep!”

“Oh, okay,” Jessie said with a sigh of relief. “At least, I don’t have to do a laundry list of extra steps.”

“Well, once you become more comfortable with tinkering in the kitchen, you can experiment with different settings and ingredients. It’s all about practice and learning as you go, and I’ll be here every step of the way,” Delia reassured her, patting her on the back, winking. “Don’t be too hard on yourself; everyone starts somewhere.”

With encouragement from her wisdom, Jessie cautiously pressed “ICE CRUSH” and watched as the ice inside the blender transformed into a powdery, snow-like consistency. The initial anxiety she felt dissipated, and she became more confident in using it. As the blender hummed and worked its magic, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment. Maybe cooking wasn’t as daunting as she had always thought. Deep down, she could sense the foreseeable future in expanding her culinary horizons and truly embracing the joy of creating dishes. 

With the successful completion of her first blender experience, a small grin tugged the corners of Jessie’s lips as she poured the blended ice into her bowl. 

“I’m so proud of you, Jessie!” Delia beamed as she poured her banana puree into her bowl. “Small steps lead to big accomplishments!”

Both ladies went in for a big kiss before they made the final touches to their concoctions. 

“Now, it’s time for the best part!” Jessie snickered, pouring at least four or six tablespoons of soy sauce into her shaved ice, making Delia’s eyes twitch dubiously. She promptly brushed it off and took a first bite of her ice cream. 

“Mmmmm,” Delia cooed. “So, good!”

Jessie’s eyes lit up with contentment as she took her first spoonful. The cool, refreshing taste danced on her tongue as her eyes rolled back, and she couldn’t help but smile. “Oh my gosh! This tastes amazing!

“See? You’re a natural already. Just imagine what other delicious creations you’ll come up with once you get more comfortable with cooking, with help from me, of course.”

Silence engulfed the room as Jessie and Delia continued to indulge and savor their sweet treats. The soy sauce thought reentered the brunette’s head, still skeptical of how and why it would go with something sweet.

“Jessie?”

“Hm?”

“This may be awkward of me to ask, but is there a specific reason you used soy sauce? Just out of curiosity.”

A small smirk formed on Jessie’s face, predicting she would’ve asked her that question at some point. “I’ll tell you one of these days.”

Delia acknowledged her response with a nod and took another bite of her ice cream. 

“Wanna try a bite?” Jessie inquired, scooping a small portion. Delia sealed her eyes, preparing herself for the unexpected flavor combination. With some hesitation, she took a bite, and her eyes widened in astonishment.

“Wow, that’s pretty delicious! I don’t know how this combo works, but it’s surprisingly good!”

“Told you it’s not as strange as it sounds!” Jessie chuckled triumphantly.

“Wanna try mine next?” 

Delia carefully scooped a spoonful of her ice cream and brought it to Jessie, who closed her eyes in anticipation just before the spoon touched her tongue. The sweet, fragrant notes of ripe banana danced on her taste buds, sending her a wave of delight through her senses. The girls continued to indulge until they heard footsteps approaching, growing louder as they got closer to the kitchen. Through the entryway peeked Wobbuffet, drenched in sweat. Both Jessie and Delia noticed it and greeted it with warm smiles. The Pokémon wobbled closer, clearly interested in what they were enjoying.

“Hey, Wobbles, do you wanna try some of our desserts?” Jessie questioned, holding out a spoonful of her soy sauce-infused shaved ice.

Nodding enthusiastically, Wobbuffet extended one of its appendages, ready to taste her creation. As the spoon approached its mouth, its eyes glistened with delight and relief while musing on a charismatic “Wobbuffet”. Its joyous expression confirmed his approval, much to her delight. Delia offered Wobbuffet a spoonful of her banana ice cream, and its eyes lit up again, savoring the creamy texture and sweet banana flavor. 

The kitchen soon became a full house once Ash and Pikachu entered the room. They leered at Jessie, Delia, and Wobbuffet with sarcastic envy. 

“Hey! How come we weren’t invited to the party?!” he smiled, placing his hands on his hips. Pikachu mimicked his trainer. “Pika-Pika!”

“Don’t worry, Ash!” Delia giggled, hiding a mischievous smirk. “There’s plenty for you too!”

“All right!” he beamed as he fist-pumped.

“Pi-ka-chu~!”

Delia went to the cupboard and placed another dish on the kitchen table for Ash and Pikachu to share. She scooped some of her leftover banana ice cream onto his dish, and the sweet aroma made their mouths water. Pickachu’s eyes sparkled with delight as it hopped onto the table, eagerly desiring a first bite. It took a little bite, savoring the burst of flavor, and then looked at Ash with a cheeky grin. “Pi-ka~!”

Ash chuckled and reached for his dish, scooping a spoonful and reaching the same level of contentment as his Pokémon. “Mmmmm, thanks, Mom!”

“You’re welcome, sweetie!” she grinned, tilting her head.

Ash turned and raised an eyebrow as he stared at Jessie, taking another bite of her dessert.

"Jessie, did you seriously put soy sauce on your shaved ice?" he asked, sounding both confused and impressed. Pikachu tilted its head and gave the bowl a curious sniff.

"Well, what can I say?" she boasted, tossing her hair. "Only someone as fabulous as me could come up with something so bold. It's called a secret recipe for a reason, twerp."

"I'll try anything once! Right, Pikachu?"

"Pika-pi!" The electric mouse cheered, tail wagging.

Delia chuckled, scooping another bite for herself. "Ash, you may be surprised. Give it a taste."

Ash eyed the bowl and then took a small spoonful. He paused, face scrunching up, then grinned. "Whoa! That's... weirdly tasty!"

Jessie sniggered and placed a hand on her hip. "See? I told you, only someone with a refined palate can appreciate my genius."

"Or someone who's really hungry!" Ash laughed.

Soon, the kitchen was bubbling with laughter, with Pikachu and Wobbuffet joining in. The intense heat became less noticeable as the refreshing feeling of conversation and camaraderie took over. Delia glanced at the people around her—her son, Pikachu, Jessie, and Wobbuffet—all brought together by a simple craving. 

"I guess late-night desserts really are the best," Jessie mused, leaning her head on Delia's shoulder.

The brunette smiled as she brushed a stray lock from Jessie's forehead. "Maybe we should make this a summer tradition."

Ash raised his spoon in agreement, mouth full. "Best idea ever, mom!"

"Pikka!"

"Wobba!"