Caffeine Addict
Etno woke to a knock at her door. Her mayoral duties didn't start until noon, considering there was going to be a small event introducing the newly finished tower project. It was about ten a.m. Wonderful.
So who was at the door?
Etno groaned, changing quickly from pajamas to her usual black and grey plaid dress, replacing the bandages on her face, and spiking her pixie-cut, white hair. She sighed, reaching the door as it was knocked on again. Every villager knew it took her a moment to reach the door, with such a large house... Sometimes moving furniture, getting her stuck in a compromising position.
"Hey Chickpea!" The large bear-figure grinned, ruffling some of his blue hair, clearly having changed her nickname again, "Just wanted to stop by!"
The mayor rubbed her tired eyes, "Didn't you just get up...?"
"Well yea. I dreamt about you all night, I had to come by! Ha ha." Groucho gave a wide, fangful grin.
She sighed, never too tired to admire his animalistic features, everyone had their own, but she always loved that he was like a teddy bear, "Alright come in. I've got nothing to do until noon anyway. But then I'm gonna be pretty busy."
"Yeah yeah. I know your schedule, chickpea." He pushed past her easily, flipping down on the mermaid-themed couch, "Did you move your TV?"
"The HD one? Yeah it's in the back room." She yawned, pouring herself some coffee, made with the beans and coffee maker Brewster had given her, "Doesn't mean you're allowed back there yet." She smiled lightly as he crossed her mind, the smell making her feel as though he was near.
"I think you've got an addiction, chickpea. Mrr..." He glanced to the coffee cup, with Brewster's initials on the bottom.
"Would you rather me not be awake?" She glared, going to sip the fresh cup of coffee. It was always perfect.
Groucho stood, placing his arms on either side of her on the table, his chest pressed to her back, causing her to bite her lip. His claws raked down her arms.
"Groucho- I'm not even half awake-" she sighed, placing the cup down carefully on the purple harvest table.
"And you kept me up all night. It's payback." He chuckled, moving the sleeve of her dress to reveal the pale skin of her shoulder, and he kissed it, biting down after, causing her to writhe against him, holding back a whine.
"Groucho-" she sighed, feeling his hands caress her in a certain way, shortly after, a small gyroid alarm went off, and she maneuvered away, "Oh crud-I-I forgot I have a hair appointment at Shampoodle!"
Groucho gave a deep, warming, growl, grabbing her wrists and pinning her to the nearest wall, causing her to smile slightly, and he pressed his forehead to hers, gently, "it can wait."
"I have no obligation to you," She shook her head, "It's to my town, and myself. This is just a friends with benefits thing, no matter how many chocolate hearts you send me on Valentine's day."
Groucho simply pouted, letting her go, "Alright," he folded his arms over his built chest, "I'm coming by tonight though. Mrr..."
"If you say so." She smiled, kissing his cheek before leading him out of the house.
She found her back to the door, heart racing as she quietly groaned. He was getting too close, and she was too. Heading back to her cup of coffee, she sat in the harvest themed chair, sipping it... She groaned.
It cooled down.
Stepping through a patch of lilacs, Jacob's ladders, and snow, she hopped up onto a short metal bench, yawning. With how tired she was, she could care less that she was sitting next to Groucho's house. Listening to the chirping of regular birds, and the trickling of the river. The soothing sounds lulling her to sleep.
It was late afternoon. And then it was getting dark. And cold.
-
She was woken up by the smell of coffee brewing, causing her to sit up, alarmed. Noting she had a suit jacket on. And that she- they were in her back room.
"Brewster...?" She called out, making out the tall figure that had tucked her into her gorgeous bed, "What..."
"You... Fell asleep on a bench. Isabelle told me... Coo. Found you shivering, with fever..." He looked to her, "We didn't want you to get hypothermia."
"Oh... Did you carry me here?" She asked.
He simply nodded, "Yes..."
She smiled, she always loved how calm and collected he was. Unless someone preferred her coffee over his, "Guess I've been a bit too stressed..."
"Quite." He sat next to her on the bed, handing her a hot cup of coffee, two sugars, as usual, "I haven't seen you in the café as much as I would like to... Or as often as before."
"I know... I'm sorry." She sighed before drinking the entire cup in a few gulps, causing him to smile gently. She then placed the empty cup on the bed stand.
"No need to be sorry, Etno..." He glanced away, pushing his spectacles up the bridge of his sharp beak-like nose, "You're under a lot of stress."
"It's..." She sighed, "I mean, with a new project every week that I'm doing most of the funding for, helping the museum collection, maintaining solid friendships, and then Groucho is always literally on my ass-"
She had simply started playing with his dark gray locks of hair, which were pulled back in a pony-tail. He cleared his throat, standing, and she frowned.
She bit her lip, hiding under the covers, "your coffee is hot... But you can be so cold to me..." She whispered. He was silent.
"Etno... You don't understand-" He turned, facing her as she peaked over the blanket.
"Forget it." She sighed, embarrassed. Covering her face again, she grumbled. But soon she found the blanket being pulled away, and his lips pressed to hers, his dry hands, cracked from constantly washing them, on either side of her face.
Before she knew it, her arms were wrapped around his shoulders, and she was pressed against the bed, head on her pillow, sharp teeth soon finding her neck, but only leaving soft marks, gentle hands caressing her arms.
The kisses slowly became rougher as the soft sounds escaped her lips, shivering from his mustache tickling her, his nails raking down her sides, having trailed up inside her dress. He lifted his head, their eyes meeting. And she saw him genuinely smile, which made her smile, the butterflies in her stomach going crazy.
"Etno... I-" he hesitated, then opened his mouth, as though to say something, their hearts racing in unison.
Knock. Knock.
"Chickpea!?"
She froze.
Brewster looked to the general direction of the doorway, eyebrow raised, "...Groucho...?" He mumbled.
She nodded solemnly, having forgotten Groucho said he would come by. Brewster stood, Etno trying to grab after him, barely able to reach his tail feathers. She fell forward, tumbling out of the bed as he left the room, "Ow-"
Answering the door, Brewster looked up to the tall bear-like figure. With roses in his claw. Her neighbor. Friend.
Lover.
Groucho looked past him, "Where's Etno? Mrr..."
"Coo... Sick and resting."
"She's sick?" Groucho looked somewhat panicked.
"Yes. We found her asleep. In the cold. With a fever. Next to your house."
"Next- I didn't notice. I was at the museum-"
"Clearly. She had been out there for hours."
Attempting to push past him, Brewster put his arms out, blocking his attempt, "She's resting."
"I told her I'd be by." He snarled.
Brewster rose his brows, "She is stressed. You would be no help to her."
"What's that supposed to mean you damned feathered rat!?" The volume of voice rose.
"Tempt not too much the hatred of my spirit, for I am sick when I do look on thee." Brewster simply sneered, Groucho giving him the strangest look.
"What did you call me?"
Brewster opened his mouth to speak, ready to really tell him off but Etno stood by the back room entrance, "Its Shakespeare, Groucho."
"Etno!" Groucho jumped, shoving past Brewster, to take her in his arms.
Brewster looked back solemnly, his eyes meeting hers over the large man's shoulder. He simply turned, and left.
Relieved that... At least he could wake her up.
"Happy birthday, Margie." Etno smiled, giving the pretty, larger woman a wrapped mochi pestle.
"Oh! Thank you Etno!" She grinned, her pink and blonde hair bouncing over her fair skin, unwrapping the gift, she squeaked in glee, causing the Mayor to smile, "This is awesome! I'm gonna keep it forever!"
The conversation continued, and the two sat at the table with Biskit and Rosie.
"Great idea having your party here at the Roost, Margie!" Biskit barked, wagging his short orange tail.
"I just figured my house was too small." She giggled, looking over at Marshal, who was attempting to carry all the coffees over at once. Biskit quickly rose, and went to help him.
Rosie whispered, "You invited both of your crushes?"
"I didn't see why not. Wouldn't you?" Margie asked the blue-haired cat-girl.
Rosie's face flushed, covering her naturally pink cheeks, "Well, my crush moved away. So no. Bob's kinda cute I guess..."
Margie looked away awkwardly, "What about you Etno? Got your eye on anyone special? I've heard Groucho's got a thing for you."
"I thought he liked Pheobe? Mew... Wait she moved too." Rosie's ears perked from the gossip.
"Nope, they were just friends, tootie."
Etno looked away, blushing. She glanced up, looking to Brewster, who as usual was cleaning coffee mugs, "Groucho and I are just friends."
"With benefits." Margie added, smiling. Etno simply glared at her.
"Ohh, sounds like trouble kitten!" Rosie shook her head.
"Oh it is." Etno grumbled, looking to the squirrel and puppy fighting over who actually spilled the coffee, watching Brewster as he calmly grabbed a mop.
"Oh boy." Margie cringed slightly, "One of you developing feelings?"
"Groucho and I have always liked each other." She continued to watch Brewster, "But I've run into some emotional compromise ever since a certain project came about."
Both of them paused, and then followed her gaze. Directly to look at Brewster, he looked up that moment, and pushed up his spectacles, raising a brow. They turned in unison, giggling violently.
"You're in love with Brewster, tootie?" Whispered Margie, Rosie squirming and biting her lip.
"L-love?" Etno shook, her face turning pink, "N-no. I mean... It can't be love..."
The two others squealed and shook with glee. Rosie biting her lip, "Do you think he has feelings for you?"
"Well there was this moment a few days ago... I fell asleep in the snow, apparently, and he brought me home... Took care of me." She glanced at him again, keeping certain details to herself, as he began to calmly scold the boys, who now had to pay for replacement cups, "B-but Isabelle only asked him because he was near by."
Rosie wiggled in her seat, "Have you kissed yet?"
The mayor let out a quiet, squeaky noise, "Well... About a month ago-"
"Shh!" Margie covered the mayor's mouth and then removed it soon after as Brewster came over, handling the coffee himself, Marshal and Biskit huffing about the barista scolding them. Rosie pouted, annoyed by the interruption. He carefully placed a cup in front of each member of the group, each to their taste. As he was going so, he placed a gentle hand on Etno's own, just hidden enough behind the platter he had sat down which had carried the drinks. Without a word, he turned, simply nodding at the 'thank you's from the others.
"Ew." Marshal blurted out, having seen the occurrence.
"What?" Margie asked.
"You didn't see?" Marshal seemed panicked, running a hand through his silver hair, " Brewster was holding Etno's hand!" He whispered only loud enough for the group to hear.
Rosie and Margie gasped in unison, squealing quietly together.
"Shhh! It's not a big deal!" Etno whispered harshly.
"Etno, if you wanted someone to hold your hand you coulda just asked me, sulky!" Marshal swept his bangs to the side, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
Biskit elbowed him, "Aren't you being a little blatant? And loud, dawg?"
"What? I'd be a better boyfriend than Groucho currently is." He shrugged.
Etno groaned, throwing a coin at his head, seeing Brewster glaring at the boy, "Groucho isn't my boyfriend."
"Guess that's good for us right Biskit?" Marshal nudged him knowingly.
"Huh? Oh uh... I like someone else, dawg. Sorry Etno." He looked away shly, briefly glancing at Margie, and placing his paw on the top of his carrot colored hair.
"No, seriously, thank you, Biskit." She shook her head.
"Everyone knows its nothing serious. Besides, someone else likes you anyway, Marshal!" Rosie blurted out, receiving a glare form both Margie and the Mayor.
"Really?" Marshal perked up, "I bet it's Soleil..."
Margie rolled her eyes, changing the subject. "So, about that cake!"
"I'll cut it for you Margie!" Biskit hopped up excitedly, grabbing the plastic knife on the table.
"Maybe I wanted to do it!" Marshal argued, causing all three girls to sigh.
Instead of settling the argument like grown men, they fought over the sharp, plastic knife- only for it to go flying... Cutting straight into the mayor's arm, causing her to shout and curse, grabbing the wound.
"Oh! Oh no!" Marshal and Biskit rushed over, not even noticing that Brewster hopped right over the counter, quite dramatically to go examine the wound himself. The entire party stared at him quietly in surprise, moving away, and allowing hint I examine the wound.
Wordlessly, he took her into the back room to treat the cut himself.
All she could hear was a smack and a yelp from Marshal when the door closed.
With Brewster quickly kneeling in front of her place on the small, sleek couch, Etno seethed in pain when he placed a cotton swab of alcohol over it.
"I don't want it to get infected like your last ones..." He mumbled, reaching for a bandage, "it's deep, but I doubt it will scar."
Sighing, her gaze drifted down to his face, "At least you know how to properly treat a wound... Heh."
He became eerily silent, as though he was hiding something, carefully treating the wound with a bandage, then standing.
"You're being awfully quiet again..." She bit her lip, "If you're mad at me, then why did you-"
"My silence is unrelated. But, I may be upset, but I still care." He stated flatly, turning on his heel and heading to a small fridge, to get her a bottle of water.
"I'm sorry..." She whined, immediately placing the bottle on the sleek table beside her, "I mean- I know it's not fair but even you said you didn't want anything serious."
"I believe the only thing I can agree upon with that monstrous bear is... Is how we feel about you. Undeniably." His voice stayed calm, as usual, almost monotonous...
"That's not my fault, Brewster." She pointed out, standing, "I just can't be in a serious relationship right now!"
"You just don't want to be tied down. Neither do I." He looked to her, "You have a valid reason, being mayor, being busy keeping the villagers happy." Their eyes met, and his sent a cold chill down her spin, but he sighed, "I suppose... No... I want you to be happy. I'm being selfish, Etno. Forgive me."
"Brewster..." She reached out to him, only for him to retreat away from her.
"I'm a man who enjoys his peace, and coffee.." He tilted his head, "But, I also do not want to lose you. Thinking about it, I would prefer if we kept everything private between us. If you insist on continuing to see the bear, I would like for you to pretend we are no longer seeing each other."
She became silent, sitting back down, "I don't even see how this could happen, we haven't even-"
"Been intimate?"
She cleared her throat, "Uhm... Yeah."
"That would only make things more complicated."
"Right... I mean, we don't even ever have to if you don't want to-"
Knock knock.
"Hey Etno! You better not be havin' a party of your own in there, sulky!"
"We'll be out in a minute, guys." She responded, rolling her eyes.
"Quite the smug one, isn't he?" Brewster smirked, leaning against the wall in front of her.
"Trust me, he's not my type."
"I would assume so, he's shorter than you."
It wasn't too long before she headed back to her mayoral duties. Actually in her office for once, she decided to start sorting the requests for public works projects. It would be impossible to do them all, so considering the state of the town and its ordinance, she decided a theme to fit in with its beauty would be best. Illuminated structures, flower themed structures-
"Etno?"
She looked up to source of the deep voice, seeing Groucho.
"I brought you dinner." He stated, grinning.
"I didn't think Isabelle would let you back here."
"...I may have bribed her with a cookie." He gave her a shrug, causing her to giggle a little bit. He placed the container in front of her, hopping up to sit on the desk, "It's just spaghetti and Alfredo sauce but it least it's home cooked- and before you ask it never touched my fridge. It's fresh."
She sighed in relief, hoping not to get any on her desk, "Thank you, Groucho."
He simply nodded in response, "Organizing things?"
"Public works projects. Gotta pick and choose. Too many an we may end up without room to walk."
Groucho chuckled, "Gotta leave that to the big cities."
"I could never live in the city again. Uhg." She shuddered.
"What's wrong with the city?" He asked.
"People, mostly. Often rude, careless." She shrugged.
"I lived in a small town as a kid, lived in a city very briefly, before moving here. Heh, I remember this girl that I used to like. She wasn't too find of me though..." He hummed, "said she wasn't fond of muscular men. Or bears."
"Did you ever find out what she was into?"
"Human girls."
"Oh. Well, good for her."
"I guess so." Groucho grinned, only for her to smile back at him genuinely but briefly.
Moments later, feeling awkward in the silence, which was needed considered she was eating, he spoke up again, "So... How're you and bird-boy?"
Etno coughed, almost choking on a noodle. She paused, taking a sip of water before responding, "We..." His words came back her, "We're not seeing each other anymore."
"Like I believe that, hmph." He retorted, folding his muscular arms over his built chest.
"And why's that, Groucho?"
"Well, he's too kind to call it off, and you're too selfish-"
"I'm selfish?" She scoffed, annoyed by his words.
"We're all a little selfish, Junebug. Some more than others."
"Do you know much work I do for you guys?" She stood, her eyes now meeting his, as he still sat, raising his brows, "Night and day all I do is work to keep everyone in this village happy. Rarely do I get a moment to myself, let alone sleep! This town was almost barren when I got here, and I didn't even have a choice in becoming mayor-"
"Etno-" he stood, grabbing her arm gently, only for her to retract her arm in pain, "I barely touched you."
Looking away, she placed a hand over the large bandage on the back of her arm, "it's an injury. It's really nothing though..."
"What happened?" He rose his brows, grabbing a lower part of her arm to size of the bandage, now frantic.
"It's stupid, Groucho it's nothing serious-"
"What. Happened." He demanded to know, and she whimpered hearing his voice become low, placing her forehead on his chest as he gave a deep growl.
"Marshal and Biskit argued over who was going to cut Margie's cake, but when Marshal tried to grab the knife, it flew from his claw and sliced the back of my arm..."
When she looked up, she could see the rage in his eyes, his breathing becoming heavy, "Did he... apologize?"
"Well- I think he tried to- Groucho wait!"
Before she could reach for him, he was already out the door.
Isabelle took off her head phones, and looked to the mayor, suddenly concerned.
"Isabelle, grab Booker. We'll need him at Marshal's house." She tried to stay calm, but her voice shook, Isabelle agreed without question, following her out the door.
"Groucho!" She called out, grasping in the darkness, and hearing no response, "Marshal!"
Marshal perked up, leaning on the outdoor wall of the café, conversing with Margie, who was blushing fiercely.
Luckily she was able to see him, but Groucho had him up against the wall before she could make it.
Margie started to shout at him, as well as he could, thought it was more scolding haphazardly, like not knowing how to tell a pet they've done something wrong.
Marshal could barely understand what Groucho was shouting at him about as he began to struggle out of his grasp, only to be thrown down several feet away into the snow, Margie quickly jumping to stand between them with only sheer force of will, though scared, and not shaking from the cold.
Etno tried to catch her breath as she made it over to the commotion, not noticing that Brewster had ran out to see what all the noise was.
Groucho easily picked up Margie and sat her out of the way, not even bringing harm to her.
"Groucho! You're over reacting!" Etno shouted, "You've already done enough damage!"
Marshal only coward in the snow, looking up innocently at the bear.
Groucho growled, turning away from them, and pinching large hole in the wall of the café, Booker and Isabelle arriving just in time to see it.
"I'm so glad that wasn't my face!" Marshal cried out, being helped up by Margie.
"Groucho..." Etno shook, backing away from him, legitimately frightened. She knew he was strong, but...
"Etno." Brewster whispered, causing her to jump, wrapping his jacket around her he cleared his throat, "It is snowing."
She simply stared at the large man breathing heavily in front of them, he gaze softened slowly, seeing how frightened she was.
Silently, he pushed past the others, heading home, ready to shut everyone out for a while...
"Bears are protective over those they are for." Marshal smiled slightly, as cute as ever, "It's okay, Etno. He was just trying to protect you. He wasn't thinking clearly."
"Seemed more like he just can't control himself," Brewster's brows rose, piquing the curiosity of those who weren't used to him speaking, "Fitting for a bear..."
Margie chuckled awkwardly, "I guess, as part pigeon that's why you named your café The Roost."
He simply nodded his head.
"Breaking away from our instinct is not something so easily done..."