[Chr24] Hot Cocoa

After yet another night of burning the midnight oil to look over what seemed like never-ending paperwork and research Yuki’s eyelids slowly began to droop. Time seemed to pass ever so slowly on nights like these when it appeared that she had reached a dead end in what she was looking for.

“Is there anything else I can learn from studying you?” the buck quietly asked the potted plant sitting tauntingly on her desk. After a few more moments Yuki let out a loud huff before standing to stretch out her limbs.

I need to finish up for the night quickly so I can join Rhea in bed. That name Rhea, stuck in her head. The pink buck had wormed her way into her heart, so much so that the mere thought of her could occasionally pull her out of her hyperfocus on work. That line of thought was certainly a new one for Yuki, someone that she wanted to at the very least share the number one priority slot with work in her life. In the past, some of her ex-partners found themselves…disgruntled with the fervor that Yuki threw herself into her research. However Rhea…Rhea understood or accepted it, maybe found it a little endearing? She wasn’t quite sure herself.

She stepped away from her desk taking in the sight of papers strewn about, deciding a break was in order. Might as well get myself something to sip on if I’m gonna keep it up. Yuki peered out from her study down the hallway, stepping carefully to not rouse Rhea from her slumber. 

Her hoofs met the cold tile of the kitchen floor, the clack of them echoing in the quiet of the night. The winter months had arrived in Ttatkor, always making the world seem more still. 

I suppose there's no better time to break out that hot cocoa. Rhea had insisted Yuki buy some to keep at her place for the holidays. While she booted up her coffee machine her thoughts wandered back to her partner. The pink buckleo had been staying over more often as of late, leaving behind little traces of her presence, hot cocoa included. The mental image of more of Rhea’s belongings becoming scattered through her home caused a smile to creep onto her face.

The shrill ding of the coffee machine signaling her drink was done brought Yuki back to the present. I wish she was awake so that we could share a drink.

While the grey furred buckleo yearned to spend this quiet moment with her partner, she took the handle of the mug into her hand beginning to move back into her study. 

Rounding the corner she jolted at a sudden collision, causing her scalding hot drink to fly out of her hands spilling onto her clothes and skin. Yuki winced, sucking in a sharp breath of air. “Ouch!” she hissed.

“Yuki! I am so so sorry!” Rhea’s exclamation dripped with immediate worry, her usual quiet and soft-spoken demeanor nowhere to be found. She rushed past Yuki into the kitchen to grab ice for her burns and rags to clean up the mess. 

“Are you alright? Does it hurt?” 

“Rhea…Rhea!” Yuki called out, trying to calm her partner as Rhea gently held the ice pack to her skin. “I promise that I’m fine, it's just going to take a little bit for the pain to settle down.” She spoke in a gentle voice.

Worry continued to crease Rhea’s brow, seeing Yuki suppress small grimaces.

“I’m mostly surprised that you’re awake right now, I thought for sure that at this hour you’d be asleep.” Yuki began to speak, hoping to spark a conversation that would distract Rhea from her worries.

“Well…” She started “I was asleep, but I heard you leave your study and wanted to come see you if you were taking a break.” The pink buckleo gave a soft smile, her eyes turning down to the ground in slight embarrassment.

“I was just going to get myself a drink and go back to looking over…the same papers I’ve looked over dozens of times to see if something new stuck out to me. Althouggghh, I think I could afford to take a break just for you,” A teasing tone sneaking into her voice. “Just let me get out of these clothes into something more comfy, and we can make some of that hot cocoa you insisted I keep around. Though maybe this time we keep it in the mug”

Rhea leaned her head on Yuki’s shoulder, and briefly wrapped her arms around her waist, “I’d really like that Yuki.” She whispered before pressing a kiss to her cheek and letting go.