Set in the something furry universe...
For bloodywingz
Something Furry Drabble 10
"Come for a walk with me?"
Duo looked up from the book that Wufei had given him that morning. It was very technical and dry and though he felt that he was learning a lot, it wasn't exactly light reading.
His mate was standing there, Duo's coat in one hand, his boots in the other, a smile curving the corner of his lips. "Please come for a walk with me?"
Duo blinked, realizing that he'd been too caught up in his own thoughts to answer. "Of course!" He put the book down and reached for his boots. Heero's smile widened a little as Duo got ready. "Where are we headed?"
"No place in particular. I just know you haven't seen a lot of the places around here yet, unless we've had business in them. So I thought I'd show you some of the ones that you haven't seen yet."
Duo finished buttoning his coat and followed Heero out the door. Once they were down on the street, Heero offered his hand and Duo took it happily. The pace Heero set was unlike his usual one, leisurely and slow.
They waved at the girl working the counter at Ninja Noodles and then turned at the corner. Duo hadn't been in this section very frequently. It was mostly restaurants rather than shops, and other than the haunted tea house, they hadn't had any jobs here.
Duo took a deep breath, savoring the scents on the air. It smelled utterly delicious on this street, and even though they had already had dinner, his stomach made a faint grumble.
Heero heard it, his smile widening a little. "Want a snack?"
"Is there a good place for one?"
"Oh, I think so. Up a bit there's a bakery run by the local shrine. They have some really good cakes and things like that. Sound okay?"
"Sounds delicious- but you aren't that fond of sweet things...?"
"They have the best coffee in the city," Heero admitted and Duo laughed.
"And this is the first time you're taking me? How have you lived without it?" He was teasing, but he was also a little worried. What else had Heero given up since Duo had forced his way into his life?
"Wufei buys the beans for the store coffee from them. He can't brew it like they do, but it's close enough. Ah- here we are."
Duo blinked. The place didn't look like a bakery- it looked like a bookshop. The place was lined with overfull cases- but also with tiny tables where patrons perched on fragile looking chairs and nibbled on delicious looking treats.
Tantalizing scents of coffee and sugar spun out from a counter in the back where a few people were obviously waiting for orders. Duo eyed the case, trying to decide what to pick when Heero elbowed him gently in the ribs.
"What do you want?" The guy behind the counter snapped and Duo felt his hackles rise in response. The man slouched over the counter and snarled a little, showing a rather predominant fang. "A cat, hmmm? Feel like being chased up a tree?"
Before Duo could respond, an older woman appeared and smacked the younger man with a newspaper. "Bad dog! Get back up to the temple if you're going to be rude."
"It's a cat," the younger man protested and she raised the newspaper again.
"Do I have to call the boss?"
The young man slunk low and shook his head. "No, no. I'll be good."
"Then go fetch some coffee for these gentlemen." She turned towards them and smiled sweetly, putting the newspaper under the counter in a quick motion. "My apologies Master Magician, he's still being trained."
"New temple dog? What happened to the old ones?"
"With the temple getting so busy this time of year, the boss decided to get some help in. Once they are trained, they can go help at the smoke shop."
Duo wasn't sure that adding a bad tempered dog to the staff at the smoke shop was a great idea, but he decided to keep quiet.
"I'm sure they will appreciate the help."
The lady snorted. "Well, then you are more optimistic than I am, that's for sure. Their deity is way more cranky than the boss, but... well, you know that type. Always sure they know best. So, I know you want coffee and a few of the usual cookies? What about your mate?"
"Coffee and a sampler plate for him, please." Heero replied, and a few moments later, they were ensconced in a corner at one of the tiny tables. Duo was relieved to find the chairs were more sturdy than they looked- and the food and coffee were downright divine.
Then again, if the 'boss' was what he thought, then it would have to be, right?
Heero was practically meditating over his coffee on the other side of the table, so Duo took a moment to look at the shelves. Old scifi books were crammed in with classics and modern poetry. There seemed to be no organization at all.
"They lend books out," Heero said and Duo turned to look at him. His mate nodded at the shelves. "If you see one you want to read, it's okay to borrow it."
"I should really read the ones Wufei is assigning..."
"Duo," Heero reached out and caught his hand with his. "You've been working very hard. It's okay to take a break now and then. You've done amazingly well."
Turning his fingers so he could grasp Heero's hand, Duo admitted: "I just want you to feel better about all of this- the faster I can manage this power-"
"It's not a question of faster. You know enough now to protect yourself. Magic takes years to master- trust me," his mate smiled warmly. "You are doing great."
Duo lifted their hands to his mouth and put his lips on the pulse point on Heero's wrist. "If I'm going to take a break, there's something I'd rather do than read a book," he murmured and was rewarded with his mate's laugh.
OWARI
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