Swallow Your Affection

Home Sweet

He took in the gesture, if the stock still standing was anything, and waved back, muttering his own tired, "...Hulloo.." to you.

You wished you could see his expression, but you supposed staring at the blank mask would have to do.

He tread down the steps, pausing a few feet away and giving another quiet stare.

"I suppose you've taken up Wilbur's invitation?"

"More or less- got a bit paranoid, so decided to move in." You side glanced his intimidating form. The mask was still bone. His tusks were still sharp.

"Coffee?" You questioned, turning back to the pot you were brewing, grabbing a few cups and setting them in a convenient place to pour.

He hummed, walking up to see what you were doing before answering with a, "I suppose that could be nice."

He sounded tired.

Grabbing a filter, you placed it on the cup and poured, letting it get close to the top before stopping and removing the filter.

"I don't have any milk or cream, but I have sugar if you want some sort of a sweetener."

He hummed again, merely reached an arm past you to gently grab the rim of the cup.

For a moment you both paused. Techno glanced at you, leaning against the wall, steaming cup in hand.

You glanced at him, half paying attention to the cup you were pouring yourself.

The way he was slumped set you off a bit. His head nodded, ever so slightly, every few seconds, and you couldn't help but be suspicious.

"....When was the last time you slept?"

His response was slow. Head and mask, that were previously looking at the swirling steam of coffee swiveling up to look at you the slowest way possible.

"Yesterday." He deapanned.

"Was it a nap? Or an actual night of rest?"

Another pause.

He did not want to give you clear answers.

"Remember that day you pushed me over a nether cliff?"

You nodded.

"Yeah." Was all he said after that.

Your reaction was immediate, a disbelieving, "Techno!" Coming out of you mouth, as you gave him another solid, and this time disapproving look.

"What the heck dude- you need to sleep! Give me your coffee back- go to bed!"

You snapped your arm out to reach for his cup, to which he moved it to the right, just far another to avoid your initial snatch.

"Sleep is for the weak. and if there's one thing I'm not, and let's be real here- it's being a weak nerd."

His grumbly voice stayed monotone the whole time he said that, no humor even though it was clearly meant as humorous, and try as you might, he chugged the coffee without a second thought.

"Oh my gosh. Techno. Did you literally just chug a boiling cup of coffee to prove you didn't need to sleep." The seriousness in your voice faltered with laughter when he did another slow turn to look down at you.

"...Mmm....." he hummed, "....Perhaps I did, perhaps I didn't."

"Do you need some water?" You said, chagrin etched into your face, "For your now burned mouth and throat."

He set his empty mug into your outstretched hand, "...perhaps..."

Turning from him, you couldn't help but shake your head and laugh. Was he always like this?