The toaster dinged, the kettle whistled and Brady murmured nonsense words to her mother as Trudy tried to feed her porridge. Pride scrambled up fresh eggs at the stove, while Siva dropped bags into two teapots, filling them with boiling water. Sammy and Mouse sat; waiting expectantly, and May swiped a scoop of jam across each slice of toast before cutting it in half diagonally.
Ellie placed plates and silverware on the tables around the room, hesitating only when she reached the table where she knew Ebony and Jack were going to be sitting. For a fleeting moment a grimace of pain crossed her features, but as soon as it came, it was gone, the only evidence of its presence the way she almost slammed the two plates onto the table.
"Have a care, Ellie. Although trade has picked up at the market, it would still be difficult to acquire new dishware." Pride cautioned as he followed behind her, scooping eggs onto waiting plates. As if drawn out by the scent of the meal being dished out, Mallrats appeared in the café, ready to break their fast.
"Don't skimp on my portion, Pride. A man needs to start his day with a full stomach if he's going to work at keeping the peace within the City." Lex actually took the time to seat Siva before sitting down in front of an impressive pile of eggs.
Pride's eyes rolled over Lex's head. "Lex you say that every morning. It's way past tired, already."
"But true nonetheless. Thanks, mate." Without further ado, he tucked into his eggs, grabbing a couple of pieces of toast from the platter in the middle of the table.
Jay and Amber descended the stairs, greeting everyone before sitting at their usual table, with Mouse and Sammy.
"Did I come at a bad time?" A tall bespectacled boy spoke from the entrance of the café.
Trudy's face lit up as she grinned broadly at the newcomer. She ignored May's hissed "Work it!" as she approached the young man. "Mega, of course this isn't a bad time. Please join us, if you don't mind the chaos of the morning rush."
He looked around at the scattered tables where the Mallrats were eating, talking and in some cases, laughing. It was loud, disorganized and so different from mealtimes with the Technos, but it spoke to something inside him, answering a need he didn't even know he had. He smiled down at Trudy, replying. "I don't mind—I don't mind it at all." He followed her back to her table, sitting and helping her feed Brady.
Salene raced down the steps, pulling her jacket over her shoulders as she breezed through, filling a teacup and picking up a couple of pieces of toast. She leaned against the sink, chewing her toast and gulping mouthfuls of tea. Pride joined her, leaning close so their words wouldn't carry. "Sal, why the rush?" He was very close, the heat of his breath fanning across her face.
"I have a—um, morning meeting with some of the farmers." Pride was very close, his hands resting on the sink on either side of her waist. He had effectively trapped her in a semi-private embrace, his impressive bulk blocking her from view from the rest of the room.
"You were going to skip breakfast for this meeting? Don't you know it's the most important meal of the day? Look, you're rushing so much that you left a bit of jam on your mouth there." His breath was like a blast of steam against her skin, as he extended his tongue to lick away the bit of preserves from her mouth. He dragged his tongue along the crease of her lips, until her mouth opened to let him inside. Immediately, the kiss got hotter as their mouths slanted against each other, trying to get closer.
Pride's hands slid along the counter, coming up to rest lightly on Salene's hips. He moved them to her back to pull her closer and…"Salene and Pride, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G…" Mouse sing-songed, giggling at the pair. They jumped apart, Salene coloring to a shade just shy of her hair. She reached up a hand to run through her hair, realizing just in time that it still held a bit of toast. She colored even more, popping the piece into her mouth and gulping down the remainder of her tea.
Salene put her cup in the sink and dusted the crumbs off her fingers. "Ahem, well I have a meeting to get to, so I will see you all later." She was careful to keep her eyes from meeting those of her fellow Mallrats as she looked around the room before practically running out.
"See that, babe? The City Leader and the Interim Head of the Militia sucking face in the kitchen, and you won't even give me a little peck. C'mon." Lex leaned across the table.
Siva held up a hand in front of his face. "Not with those eggs on your breath I won't." She grimaced and turned her head away from him and taking a large sip of her tea.
Mouse and Sammy laughed at the entertainment being provided for them by the older Mallrats and Mega chuckled too, inquiring from Trudy, "Is it always this—boisterous in the mornings?"
May's eyes were on the couple coming down the stairs, a mischievous grin on her face. They darted from Ebony and Jack to Ellie and back again. "Nope." She replied, nodding her head in the direction of the new arrivals. "Some mornings it gets positively show-stopping."
Jack and Ebony approached their usual table, unaware of the attention they were receiving, not only from May, Trudy and Mega, but Ellie as well, following their every move with an unblinking stare. Ebony's mouth was opened wide, laughing at something Jack had said, until she saw and smelled what was laid out on the table. Her nostrils flared and she grimaced, looking horror-stricken. Her hand flew up to cover her mouth and her body jerked forward as she heaved. She straightened and it appeared she was going to be okay, but she then her gaze fell upon Lex devouring his mountain of the soft yellow food. It was just too much. The blood left her face and she heaved again, racing out of the café, a worried Jack following right behind her.
Absolute silence followed their departure, with everyone except Lex and Siva looking at each with 'Are you thinking what I'm thinking?' looks. Well, everyone else except for May who was beaming like a 100 watt light bulb. "So—is this what is known as a pregnant pause?"