AN: Happy New Year to all.
SwordStitcher-True enough. (Although Crane would probably fail at that too, to be honest.)
Jasmine Scarthing-Laugh all you like. You didn't see what she did to the wall.
He could do this! He drank the stuff every morning-or else-how hard could it possibly be?
Tea he could make, no problem. Kitty had made sure of that. 'I want to have a sick day that I don't have to make my own.' she'd said. 'God knows I've made it for you enough times.'
Coffee, on the other hand…neither of them had seen any reason for him to be near the machine. He injured kitchen devices. Their first microwave, for instance, had somehow caught fire when he tried making ramen in it. After that, he was allowed near the kettle and one burner-the front left-and that was it. Everything else, he was banned from.
But now Kitty had broken ribs-the Batman's fault, as usual-and was forbidden to do much movement. Doctor's orders.
More like doctor's pleas, eh, Jonny?
It was more effective than pointing and intoning.
Coffee…
I'm working on it! God!
Scarecrow made a groaning noise and Jonathan sighed. Okay. Water first. Than coffee grounds. A spoonful should do it. Really, how much could it possibly take?
It took three attempts before he was satisfied with what came out. And look at that, nothing was on fire!
Now what? He knew she took sugar in it-two spoons. Problem was, her definition of 'spoon' was not the same as his. To hell with it. He would just take the sugar bowl with him and she could put her own sugar in.
"Kitty?" He nudged the door open. Maybe she'd gone back to sleep.
"Hullo, love."
"Coffee?"
Her eyes lit up and she put a hand out, but promptly drew it back.
"You didn't drug it, did you?"
God! Drug a drink one little time and never hear the end of it!
"No."
"Promise?"
"Yes."
"Thanks, love."
He was right. Her spoonfuls were rather large. Ick.
"Not bad."
"It took a few tries." he admitted. That got a laugh out of her.
"Not bad, love."
"How are your ribs?"
"They hurt." she acknowledged. "I'll be fine."
"You're sure?"
"Yeah." He would believe her when her breathing wasn't so shallow. "Sit down."
"Kitty, I…"
She set the cup down, leaned over, and placed a kiss on his nose.
"I'll be fine. I promise. Don't fuss."
Well, maybe he'd believe her now.
"All right."
Well, he didn't really need to be down there for another hour or so. Maybe he'd settle back down and enjoy his coffee this morning, instead of just gulping it.
You just don't trust her not to get up.
No.
Something was off about this coffee…oh, no.
"Kitty."
"Yes?"
"I think I made decaf by mistake."
THE END