#hatsrus

Eunice hummed softly as she cooked. Brodik watched her from the kitchen door, marveling at how lucky he could be. Eunice was so sweet, so caring, and he felt he could fly every time she looked at him. They had spent the night together, a chaste thing, just sleeping beside one another and waking up in each others’ arms. Brodik swore it was something he could get used to.

“Breakfast is almost ready, darling,” Eunice called. Brodik felt his face heat.

“Wh-what did you just call me?” he asked. Eunice turned to him.

“Darling? Why should I not have?” she asked. Brodik shook his head.

“No, I mean, yes, I mean,” he stuttered. “I mean, no one’s ever called me that before. I like it.” Eunice smiled wide, skipping over to him and catching him in a warm embrace.

‘Well, sweetie, there’s more where that came from,” she said. Brodik wrapped his arms around her, blushing furiously.

“Yeah?” he said.

“Of course, honey,” she said. “Dear, love, pumpkin, schmooples...”

“Okay, now you’re just being ridiculous,” Brodik laughed. Eunice laughed with him, hugging him tight once before letting go.

Lest and Doug sat on the edge of a protruding boulder, eating their lunch after hours of adventuring. Around them sat a group of ducks, too full of their scraps to bother to attack them. They shuffled among themselves as Doug and Lest threw pieces of their sandwiches to them, watching them squabble over them. Lest laughed, nudging Doug’s arm. 

“Look, the colorful ones must be the male ones,” he said, pointing to the ducks with bits of colorful plumage on their heads. They were the ones fighting over the bits of food, carrying off their prizes to the less colorful females. The females seemed larger, more round, and Lest wondered if it was perhaps almost their breeding time.

“Hey look, that one’s bringing his food to a male one,” Lest said, pointing to a couple of the male ducks. The one carrying the food nudged it into his partner’s mouth, fluffing up and sitting near to him as he ate.

“Huh,” Doug said. “Gay ducks.”

“Same,” Lest said with a wink. Doug playfully punched his shoulder.

“Come on, we’re not ducks. We’ve gotta be something cooler,” he said. Lest laughed.

“Like what?” 

“I don’t know, like buffaloo’s or something,” Doug went on. 

“Maybe gay dragons?” Lest offered. Doug lit up.

“Yeah! Even better,” he said. Lest laughed again, pressing a kiss to the side of Doug’s face.

Eunice walked down the path from the town plaza, a small bundle in her hands. The icy air turned her breaths into clouds as she walked, humming a small tune to herself. She clutched the bundle closer to herself. She sure hoped he liked it.

As she approached Brodik’s house, she hesitated, hoping her present wasn’t too forward. She swallowed hard before rapping on the door. She heard a shuffling, a thud, and a curse, before the door was opened, Brodik standing in the threshold looking frazzled. He just about shouted, until he saw her, then bit his tongue. 

“Uh, hello?” he said, looking down at her. Eunice smiled.

“Hello, Mr. Brodik,” she said brightly. “How are you today?” Brodik blinked.

“I’m doing alright I guess,” he mumbled, rubbing his bare arms. “No one mentioned how cold it gets here. I would have packed better.” Eunice brightened.

“About that,” she said. “I’ve brought you something.” Brodik perked up, looking down to the bundle in her arms.

“Something for me?” he asked. Eunice nodded, holding up her gift.

“It’s a sweater! You mentioned the other day you were cold, so I knitted one for you.” She handed the sweater to him, and he ran his fingers over the stitches. 

“You knitted this...for me?” Brodik said, his voice softening.

“Mmhmm! I hope it keeps you plenty warm,” Eunice said. Brodik looked back at her.

“I...thank you,” he said. Eunice waved her hand.

“Don’t mention it. I have to get back to work now, but feel free to stop by if you’d like,” she told him. “Goodbye!”