#ai-caramba

"Welcome, can I -- oh."

The front desk attendant clears his throat as you approach. You set your gift bag down on the counter. "Hi! I'm here to see [TOASTER NAME]."

The attendant blinks for a moment before turning back to his screen. "Oh, uh, I don't see you on his calendar."

"It's alright. I'm sure he won't mind."

He frowns. "He's got a pretty packed schedule. I'll send him a message, but, no promises." He glances back up at you. "Can I get your name?"

You give it and he jots it down and shoots a message to the CEO, staring after you as you step back to settle into the waiting area.

"Can I, uh, get you anything?"

"Oh, no, thank you."

"You sure?" he asks. "We have some famously mediocre coffee. Some people even consider it, 'alright'."

"Ha ha ha. What's your opinion of it?"

"I think it's perfectly terrible."

You laugh again and his heart skips -- why does your laugh sound so nice. And they way your eyes crinkle up... adorable.

"Do you work near here?"

You nod. "Yes, actually! Just down the road."

"Oh! Do you maybe want to catch a drink later?"

"...Pardon?"

"There's a nice dive bar just around the corner, if you --"

Toaster rounds the corner just then, a bright smile on his face. "Honey. You surprised me."

Honey?

You turn your attention to the CEO and stand, lifting your arms. "Just had to come say hi. I brought you something!"

"That I can see!" Toast steps into your arms and wraps you in a hug, chuckling into your hair. "Always full of surprises. Did you wait long?"

"No, um, not too long. Your secretary was nice enough to offer me coffee, though."

"Oh, that's nice of him."

Toaster turns to the attendant and their eyes meet for a half second, but it was enough to make the attendant's blood run cold and arch into himself behind the counter. The CEO's icy stare said everything it needed to.

Oblivious, you pick up your gift back and take Toaster's arm. "Come on. Let's get to your office so you can open it!"

He turns back to you and chuckles. "Of course."

——————————————

Quest stands on the doorstep for a moment, closing his eyes and taking a breath. He tries not to bring his work home with him — that means the stress, the deadlines, none of it. He’s always viewed his home with you to be a place he can escape to when the rest of the world falls to shit, and he’s not eager to harm the sanctity of that anytime soon.

So. Just as he’s done for several nights before, he stands on the doorstep and relaxes. He wills all the negative energy from the day out of his mind, down his arms, out of his fingertips and dissolved into the rainy air around him.

After a few more measured breaths, he relaxes entirely and unlocks the door.

The smell that greets him immediately brings a smile to his face. You did it again, didn’t you?

“Oh! Hi, babe!” You peek your head around the corner of the kitchen and grin, spoon in hand. “Just almost wrapped up in here.”

Quest slings his bag off his shoulder. “I’ll come help.”

“Nuh uh. No way.” You set the spoon down and untie your apron. He watches, mildly confused.

“You sure? I can —“

“Nuhhhh uh!” You walk down the hallway and take his hand. “You’ve had a long week. Come on.”

He lets you lead him down the hall and around the corner to the bathroom. Quest can’t help but curl his fingers against yours to hold your hand a little tighter. When you two are alone, he likes holding your hand whenever possible — when reading, watching a movie, or even just talking. You asked him about it once — he said it keeps him grounded.

Steam floods out when you open the bathroom door. You smile again. “For you. Take a bath. Relax.” You kiss his cheek. “Dinner will be ready in 45.”

You go to step around him and are stopped by Quest engulfing you in a hug. You giggle as he briefly lifts you off the ground before gently setting you back down with a kiss.

“Damn you. You’re too nice to me, angel.”

“Oh, please. Pot, kettle, you know the drill.”