Jessa gathered a clean outfit and soap while Boober prepared to cook something to feed her.
"How many people have you invited in here before me?" Boober asked her out of curiosity.
"None," she replied." You're the first."
Something like pride shot through him, but he didn't let it show.
"This is the first time I've invited anyone into my home. My shield is invisible so nobody else knows it's there. Unless someone gains my trust, they're unable to see and touch it."
"Is that why you showed me this place?"
Jessa looked away before replying.
"Yeah," she said sheepishly. "Very few people, if any, have told me they don't care about me being a hybrid. It means a lot."
Before Jessa could continue outside, Boober approached her and held her hand.
"It means a lot that you trust me, Jessa."
Jessa shot him a surprised glance before smiling, to which Boober returned with his tail wagging. Jessa chuckled.
"I forgot how much I miss that wagging tail," she admitted.
Boober blushed but didn't say anything.
"I hope this isn't too personal a question, but what makes your baloobius glow?"
Boober glanced at his baloobius, which glowed for the first time in weeks. It dimmed the day Jessa left Fraggle Rock and when Boober got over his anger at Jessa's deceit, he became sad that she wouldn't return. The light in his baloobius remained dim and dormant. But now, it was glowing brightly.
"It glows when I feel happy about something, which for me, is strange."
"What makes you happy?"
"Clean laundry, people enjoying the food I make…"
Boober got closer to Jessa and wrapped his arms around her as he listed off the things he enjoyed, to which she blushed.
"And you," he said sweetly before kissing her.
Jessa's tail wagged while she returned Boober's kiss. He squeezed her upon feeling her fingers in his hair. Eventually, they pulled away and grinned at each other.
"I love you," they both said at the same time.
Jessa giggled knowingly before heading outside.
"I'll be in the river washing off. Feel free to make yourself at home."
Boober watched her leave before continuing his meal prep. He normally wouldn't have tampered in other people's kitchens, but Boober couldn't stand seeing Jessa so thin to the point of wasting away. She needed some food. Oddly enough, she didn't seem to mind that he was using whatever he could find to make a decent meal. Jessa's kitchen wasn't like his at home. While it was bigger and open concept, she lacked a few ingredients and utensils that Boober had in full stock. Beyond the kitchen area, Jessa's dojo was very bare aside from functional furniture. She didn't seem to own that much stuff in particular. But Boober understood why given what her sword was capable of. Why should she have so many items when the Holy Shazzlin Sword can turn into whatever she needs? Her place was minimalistic compared to his hole in Fraggle Rock, with his hoard of good luck charms, books, and whatnot. As attached to his stuff as he was, Boober hated that he couldn't sort his belongings out and organize them.
Jessa's POV:
I'm not sure why Boober immediately went into cooking mode the minute we both walked into my dojo, but I let him. Mostly because I was starving! I haven't eaten in so long that my head hurts and I feel sluggish. Hopefully, Boober would be too distracted with his cooking to see me strip off my clothes through the window. I then grumbled to myself, realizing how stupid it is to be so prudish of my body when I have fur covering my sensitive areas. Why do I think like this?! I let my hair down before stepping outside to bathe in the river, to which I noticed Boober blushing while his tail wagged. I sighed lovingly. He's so cute when he's all flustered! Maybe I can tease him after I'm clean.
I stuck my foot in the water, only to hiss in response to how cold it was. No matter, I'm half shazzle after all. I can warm the water by using my powers. I adjusted the temperature to my liking before dipping in, the warmth welcoming me like a sherpa coat in cold weather. I groaned loudly, not caring if Boober could somehow hear me through the walls of my dojo. Before I could allow myself to relax, I began washing my hair and scrubbing my body. Once I was sure every inch of me was clean, I finally took my sweet time soaking in the warm soapy water.
Boober's POV:
I was in the middle of dicing onions when I noticed Jessa in my peripheral vision through the window. More specifically, I noticed how she looked without her clothes covering her body. This isn't a big deal for fraggles considering our torso fur, but seeing Jessa in the nude was definitely a shock. Not in a bad way though. She looked hot. She had a nice hourglass build to her that perfectly fit the shape of her fur. I tried not to gawk at Jessa while I tried to put together a casserole, but it proved to be about as easy as convincing Wembley to decide on something. My tail began wagging again and my face turned hot from all the blushing.
"My god, she looks beautiful," I whispered.
It also didn't help that her hair was flowing in the wind—that long gorgeous black hair. I could feel my heart racing as I set my knife down and put my hand over my chest. I must look like the biggest idiot right now staring at her. My mouth formed into a grin while I watched her. I forgot what I was doing beforehand, only to remember once I saw how skinny her limbs looked. I went back to cooking my casserole. Good thing Jessa isn't a picky eater. Though she probably couldn't afford to be given how far away she lives from the gorg's garden. No direct access to radishes. Man, that would be terrible! No fraggle that I know of has ever lived on a diet without radishes.
I then opened the fridge to get something, only to be greeted by many large bottles of expensive alcohol. Some of them looked like they had never been opened, but most of them were half empty. Jessa had told me she drinks, but I didn't think it was this much. Why had she hidden this from me too? I took one bottle from the fridge and looked at it, wondering how much alcohol Jessa normally consumes. Panic struck me the moment I realized that she was an alcoholic. Given what she has revealed to me about her childhood so far, I can't say that I'm surprised. But still, Jessa has to know that alcohol is bad for her health. I then got scared at the possible state of her liver and kidneys.
My thoughts were interrupted by Jessa returning from her bath, donning her clean outfit, which was a pair of jean shorts and a mint green shirt.
End of Jessa's and Boober's POV
"I guess you found my booze stash," Jessa said in embarrassment.
"Why do you have so many?" Boober couldn't help but ask.
Jessa didn't reply, instead opting to look away. Boober sat the bottle he was holding back down in the fridge and closed the door.
"So this is how you spend your time? Skipping meals and drowning yourself in alcohol?"
"It's all I've got."
"You know booze isn't good for your health and it doesn't taste good from what I've heard."
"That's not why I have it. Granted, I did spend a good portion of the crystals I found in Crystal Caverns on this stuff. But I don't drink for the taste. I drink to forget."
Boober didn't even have to ask to know what Jessa meant.
"All that booze you found helps me forget how shitty my life has been. For a few hours, I can not be so angry and bitter. I can be… blissfully ignorant. Nothing bothers me when I'm drunk. I let my senses go to crap from ingesting alcohol and everything's fine. Until I sober up."
Boober looked down to the ground to let her words sink in. By the time he came up with a reply, Jessa had stepped out to the porch. She stood there glaring at the sun, which had started to set. Why couldn't she have created a wine cellar for her drinks when she made this home? While she was dwelling on this issue, a pair of arms wrapped themselves around her waist.
"I know you have a lot of tragedies in your life," Boober began softly while caressing her. "And I didn't mean to get upset about the alcohol. I'm just worried about what it's doing to your health."
"It hasn't killed me yet."
"Would you be willing to stop before it does?"
"It's not that easy."
Boober held Jessa's hand before she continued.
"Alcohol isn't the same as any other beverage where you drink to quench your thirst. It's a coping mechanism."
Boober offered a kiss on her neck as a form of response. The smell of her shampoo made him smile, and Jessa blushed at the kiss.
"If you ever think about quitting," Boober began sweetly while intertwining his fingers with Jessa's. "Let me know. I want to help you recover."
Jessa hadn't expected to tear up, but she did. Boober saw a tear run down her cheek, prompting him to comfort her. It was at that moment Jessa realized why she fell in love with Boober. He was sweet, caring, and willing to help her with her drinking. On top of that, he was intelligent. Jessa kissed Boober's cheek, making him blush.
"I don't deserve someone like you," she admitted.
"I beg to differ, Jessa."
Boober leaned in and passionately kissed her.
"I love you so much."
"I love you too, Boober."
They shared a kiss before heading back inside.
"I need to finish dinner so you can have something to eat. The last thing I want is for you to die of starvation."
Jessa chuckled.
"Want to hear what my personal best is for how long I survived without food?"