AN alternate awakening. Meant to just be cute and sweet, hopefully it comes across as such.

Untitled Fluff Piece

Something comforting was stroking her hair. A voice as gentle as the actions whispered to her.

"Morning sleepyhead. Time to wake up".

This dream again, Hiromi thought. Next would be…

"What's first for today? Breakfast, a shower, or sit-"

She knew her answer. "You."

But here the dream diverged. Soft, beautiful laughter. Hiromi's eyes fluttered, yet remained unaware. It was only brief, but after it was out, the voice returned, louder and more playful. "Gonk, you've been watching too much anime. I was going to say sit by the TV 'till I can get Jun to go out and get us something better."

That was off-script. Squinting, it took a second.

Hiromi felt her face flush as realisation dawned. And felt it flush further as warm metal 'booped' her nose to further laughter.

With a whine she hid further under the sheets, wrapping them tightly as she rolled to face away. This backfired.

"Wha- Hey! No burritos! Not even Hiromi-filled ones!"

Despite the sudden motion, it was surprisingly gently the way she found herself rapidly unrolled, but in the surprise of being de-covered she tried to protect her modesty by tucking her limbs in. However, this was a moot point as she was still fully clothed, and despite her indignated shout, her new position only made it easy for solid arms to slide under her knees and back.

Holding her in a princess carry, Motoko set off with her. "If you're not picking I am. Off to the shower with you."

Too scared to risk falling by trying to shake free, all Hiromi could do was shout angrily and enjoy it.

"Use what you need, it's all new". Though quick to stand on her own legs when let loose, it still took a moment to realise the situation. Hesitantly looking at the non-existent door, Hiromi stepped into the little corner covered only by a protruding wall.

She found herself going through her routine on autopilot while lost in thought until the clatter of plates brought Motoko's real presence back to her attention.

From the little kitchenette directly opposite.

Carefully leaning only her head out to check, the other girls indeed had out a stack of three bowls she hadn't known the brother and sister pair even owned. In her other hand a stack of takeout leaflets that she was scrutinising.

She always had such an intense gaze now.

Then the shower cut off as it detected no-one was standing under it, the change in sound causing her observation target to look over.

Cursing internally, she was too slow to hide.

With a wide smile, Motoko waved goofily at the floating head. "Need something?"

Desperate for an excuse, Hiromi thought hard. "...Coat pocket. On the couch." With some time bought, she disappeared back, and dried herself as fast as possible, racing against the rummaging.

"What's this?" Motoko called, likely holding the requested items.

"Post-Op meds. On a day a week for the inhaler, the other one is first one today, then another in three days." She paused, considering. "Help me with them?"

"Hmm," Motoko false-debated, "I'm happy you trust me so much, but man you're bold Hiromi."

Confusion.

Motoko continued. "I don't think I could ask a choom to help me with suppositories."

"What!?"

A second later, a fully dressed but with an inside-out shirt on Hiromi sprinted over and snatched the package out of her friend's hand. The giggle being poorly suppressed should have been a giveaway. "Ugh, it's just normal pills. Why would you say that?"

Dropping herself onto the couch, she tossed it back at the now openly chuckling girl, who bent back and caught it where it would have impacted her face. "Giving it back? Aren't you going to take it?"

In response, keeping her features as calm as possible, Hiromi leaned her head back open mouthed and let out an "aaaaaah."

She was rewarded as, while looking up, another face leaned over her, looking down. As a hand gently cradled her jaw, thumb absently tracing her cheek, this close she could see Motoko's focus aiming at her open mouth as she leaned directly over from behind. A pinkie at the back of her head prompted her to sit up slightly straighter for the next part, though still at enough of an angle to see above, as the cold plastic inhaler was brought to her lips. The inadvertent caress almost made her miss the countdown to activation.

To her relief, despite how thick her saliva felt in her mouth, no strands came out as it was taken away.

With her attention still on Motoko's eyes, Hiromi was able to see the moment they focused on hers.

"Wow, those corpo doc's give out the good stuff, your pupils just went massive, and they're not even organic!"

But Hiromi was too distracted by the thumb on her cheek, still absently tracing her jaw. As distracted and pliant as she was, she was unresponsive to another hand using the slightest pressure to open her mouth. Perhaps if she'd been more aware, she could have stopped her lips from closing around the tip of a finger when the small secondary pill was pressed onto her tongue.

Not enough to be in, but enough to be a kiss on the bare metal.

She was saved from having her blush seen as the finger lightly flicked her nose, and her head was manipulated upright.

The hand joined the other on its own side, mirroring the cradle.

"Can you swallow, or do you need a drink?"

With thumbs caressing both cheeks now, the big nervous gulp answered her.