"BEETEE!" Opening the bathroom door, Wiress scowled smelling the burnt pancakes from the frying pan on the stove. She watched in apprehension as Beetee turned off the stove and poured his coffee from his mug on the table onto the burning mess in the now ruined frying pan. "BEETEE! FIRE!"
"Yes, Wiress, I know!" Beetee yelped grabbing the fire extinguisher from under the sink. Aiming for the base of the flames, he sprayed the pan. Coughing and sputtering, he opened the window near the kitchen. Huffing, Wiress opened the three other windows in the shed.
"C'mon, Wire, let's get some fresh air." Beetee muttered as he tugged on his coat. A light February rain was falling.
"Wait." Wiress commanded. She checked the work area. Luckily, no smoke or burnt food stained her notebooks. Just to play safe, she tucked them under her coat as Beetee helped her tug on her rain gear.
"Just around the block. Let the place air out." Beetee said taking her hand.
"Beetee, you weren't watching -" Wiress scolded.
"The stove. I'm sorry." Beetee muttered. "Wiress? Dear?" He paused and turned toward Wiress as they leaned against the brick wall of a nearby factory. "Forgive me?"
"You could've burnt my -" Wiress gestured to the bulge in the front of her jacket where her notebooks were nestled safe between her sweater and coat.
"Your notebooks. I know." He relented knowing the fastest route to resolution was to admit he was wrong.
"No, Beetee, our shop, our things - our - what we have - of us." Wiress yelled.
"Wiress -" Beetee began before being silenced by Wiress shaking her head and waging her finger at him.
"Everything, Beetee! You - could've burnt it all - shed, machines, you - and my heart." Wiress whispered.
"Your - heart?" Beetee asked puzzled.
"You. Are. My heart." Wiress whispered. "The shed. Is you too." Beetee nodded.
"Oh." Beetee whispered looking into large eyes that still shone with mixed emotions, Beetee sighed as his girlfriend stared pleadingly at him. He felt a blush creep into his cheeks knowing the morning work crews were gawking at the two most famous inventors in the district having an argument of sorts. Staring at the color in Wiress' cheeks contrasted with her large dark eyes and flowing black hair, Beetee realized Wiress was cute even when she was upset. More importantly, he knew she demanded a response. Therefore, he did the only sensible thing: wrapping his arms around Wiress' middle, he pulled her close. Moving his hands from her waist to her cheeks, he cupped her chin in his palms and tilted her face upwards. Their lips brushed for a milisecond before Wiress was enveloped in his warm kisses.
"I love you, Wiress." Beetee whispered.
"Beetee - mmm - BEETEE!" Wiress yelped pulling away.
"What - What - dear?" Beetee stammered as Wiress pulled away.
"In - public -" Wiress gasped. Several passers-by chuckled.
"I always figured those two would fall in love." A woman said to her co-worker as they entered the nearby factory.
"Do you mind?" Beetee asked nervously. To his surprise, Wiress shrugged.
"No." Wiress giggled before pecking him on the cheek. "But let's go home -" Wiress tugged on his sleeve to coax him back toward the shed.
"More kissing?" Beetee asked hopefully earning an eye-roll from his sweet girlfriend.
"No! Breakfast!" Wiress yelped as she pulled open the door. "You still cook." Eyeing the stove warily, Beetee pulled the milk out of the refrigerator. Filling the two metal bowls with cereal, he served his giggling girlfriend who was at the table waiting for her meal. "Oh, Beetee." Wiress giggled before eating her meal. "Now you are afraid to cook." In response, Beetee blushed a dark crimson.
"Let's take a day off." Beetee suggested after he did the dishes. Wiress gazed at him intrigued. "I was thinking, maybe we could get some things for the shed."
"Curtains?" Wiress asked hopefully. "And maybe -" Following her gaze, Beetee looked at the worn blanket covering her - their bed.
"Blankets?" Beetee asked as Wiress nodded eagerly. "Ok, dear." He said grabbing his coin bag jingling with Panem Monetary Units. Following him smiling, Wiress wore her small purse over her jacket as the two inventors left the shop.
Beetee's heart skipped a beat as he felt small fingers against his as Wiress laced their grip together. "Wire -" Beetee asked as Wiress hummed happily swinging their entwined hands back and forth.
"Beetee - we're making a home." Wiress whispered happily.
"Yes, we are." Beetee agreed as they entered the home improvement store.
"Hello, Beetee." Steve, the store manager said as he placed boxes of lightbulbs on a shelf. "How's that new surge protector working in that power strip we installed along the wall?"
"Good. Fine." Beetee said before feeling a tug on his hand. "I think we're going to look at - something - over there." He pointed in the direction where Wiress was eagerly tugging. Looking to his left, he saw the home decor section where cans of paint, curtains, linens, and other household accessories were sold.
"Yes, you are." Steve said chuckling looking at the young twenty-something inventor. "You let her have her fun, ok, kiddo. Your best friend are the words, 'yes, dear.'"
"Thank you." Beetee said to the middle-aged man who waved them off. "Though you didn't need any encouragement." He muttered as Wiress eagerly pulled him toward the curtains section.
"Oh -" Wiress gasped running her hands through a navy blue set of curtains.
"Those look nice." Beetee said midly. Pulling her tape measure and a small notebook out of her purse, Wiress measured the curtain length and compared it to her notes.
"Yes. For the bedroom." Wiress replied.
"We have a bedroom?" Beetee asked.
"Yes." Wiress insisted showing Beetee a drawing in her notebook. He recognized the layout of the shed with the kitchen and work areas sketched out. His area where his mat was appeared to be converted into a reading nook with beanbag chairs surrounded by an L shaped bookshelf. "The plywood -"
"The plywood would be the back of a shelf." Beetee said, the lights coming on. "And the bookshelf would run along the back wall. Wiress, I like it!"
"Good. I'll get the curtains and towels then we get the wood -"
"To make the shelves." Beetee said. "Well, I could get the wood." Beetee suggested looking at the multicolored items in the housewares section puzzled.
"Take this, and I want to see your items -" Wiress began.
"Yes, before we check out. I know, dear." Beetee muttered. Tearing off the drawing, she sent Beetee on his way before going back to decorating. After choosing the curtains, she picked forest green blankets and lighter green sheets. She found some purple bath towels for herself and replaced Beetee's ratty black towels with softer brown ones. Meeting Beetee in the lumber aisle, they went over her drawing, her calculations for the bookshelf, and the amount of lumber Beetee had picked up before they headed for the checkout lane.
"Well, it's nice to see you two are redecorating." The woman said. "I mean, goodness, I know you live in the invention shop, but this will definitely make it homey."
"Her idea." Beetee said simply causing Wiress to beam as she set a handful of coins on the counter. Beetee maintained a smile even as he emptied almost his entire bag of coins.
"Thank you, dears. You two come again soon."
After unloading the cart they rented to take the items back to the shed, the two got to work. Wiress hung the curtains and replaced the bedding and towels. Walking over to the Community Home, she gave the items that could be re-used to the staff. Using Beetee's bath towels as rags, she gave his former sleeping area a good dusting and washing before helping him build their reading nook. The beanbag chairs would be purchased at a later date, so for now, Beetee's mat was in the center of the area. As the sun went down, the two inventors placed their books on the shelves and admired the shelving space elsewhere that was free for notebooks or small models of machines in progress.
"Oh, Beetee," Wiress whispered wrapping her arms around her boyfriend as they stood in the middle of the shed. "We're home." Chuckling, Beetee kissed the top of her forehead.
"Yes, we've lived in the invention shop for four years." Beetee remarked.
"No, Beetee," Wiress began. "Before, we were just - two inventors here. Now -" She paused before taking his hand. "Now we're us. Home. Together."
"I know." Beetee whispered before kissing her gently. "I know what you mean, Wire. We were like friends who were roomates and co inventors and people who took care of each other, but now, love has been added to that equation."
"Makes it stronger." Wiress whispered before getting lost in Beetee's hugs and touch. "You plus me plus love." She whispered around their shared kisses. "This equals home."