A Little Coffee for the Road

    Yukio was silent as he followed Dove around the gardens of the Embassy. The duo had recently checked up on the flowers he was helping take care of and grow, but he had no clue as to why they were here today. He thought maybe it was to check up on the flowers, but they had gone in a different direction from where they were located, so he was completely lost as to what was going on. He had asked earlier as well, but Dove had only told him not to worry about it and that it’d be made clear soon enough. Considering who was telling him that, he didn’t really question it but he was very curious nonetheless. He also noticed that they were carrying an empty bag with them as the two were traversing the gardens, which also didn’t answer any questions for him. “Ah, there they are!” Dove spoke up again and ran forward toward a small section of what looked like, to Yukio at least, some strange looking beans. He’ll tilt his head, even more confused, but will quickly run to catch up with them. When he finally caught up, he saw Dove carefully collecting the beans from the plants present in the garden. He’ll quietly walk over to them and squat down next to them, watching them harvest the strange-looking beans.

    “Um… Dove? What are these?” They glanced over at him with a smile as they placed the beans into the bag they were carrying with them. 

    “These are coffee beans! They aren’t grown in the heavenly meadows but Beanny convinced Primrose to grow them here in the gardens.” 

    “Willingly?” Dove’s smile turns a bit exasperated at the question. “Well, that answers it, more than you realize. Next question… Who’s Beanny?”

    “Ah! Beanny is one of the cherubuns that followed shortly after my endeavor down to Burrowgatory. She’s really nice and cheerful! A bit out there for some, but I promise she’s great.” Yukio will let out a light hum as he listens. “She runs the Paradise Cafe here at the Embassy! Makes fantastic coffee.” 

    “Oh yeeaahh, I heard Kit mention the coffee thing awhile ba---” He pauses as a thought clicks into his head and he slowly tilts it, looking at Dove. “...Dove. Are these coffee beans for Beanny?” They will nod their head, though they currently aren’t looking at him and continuing to harvest the coffee beans. “And they need to be delivered to her?” Another nod, squirming a bit from their spot on the ground. “...Did Primrose put you up to try and convince me to deliver said beans?” They shrink a bit, even turning their head away from Yukio so that he couldn’t see their face. “Oh, for fuck’s sake…” He’ll let out a heavy sigh and now sit on the ground next to the small cherubun. 

    “I’m sorry, Yukio. But he doesn’t have anyone else to deliver them and considering the last time he asked you to deliver something…” 

    “He figured he’d go ‘round about and use you to get me to do it cause he knows if you asked, I’d do it.” The wintery bun tilted his head back to stare at the ceiling of the greenhouse, feeling the slightest bit exhausted from a mental standpoint. “I know you say he’s a good guy, Dove, but he has yet to prove that to me and just feels like a prissy stick that wants to piss me off.” 

    “To be fair, you do make it easy for him to upset you…” 

    “Hey!” He returned his head to the upright position to look back at Dove but paused upon hearing their giggle at his reaction and seeing the slightest sign of tears in their eyes. He’ll be silent as he stares at them, several thoughts running through his mind at once. The light bluenette will wipe at their eyes and then tilt their head upon noticing their friend’s stare. 

    “Yukio? Are you alright?” Said bun still didn’t say anything. “You’re worrying me, is it that much trouble to---” They were cut off by Yukio removing his jacket and gently placing it over them. “H-Huh?” 

    “Stick around the Embassy. Once I deliver these, I’ll come back and walk you back home.” He picked up the bag of coffee beans and stood up from the ground, though Dove quickly followed suit.

    “W-Wait, I don’t mind going with you to deliver them!” He immediately shakes his head at that. 

    “No, he’ll get pissy if I don’t do it by myself. Besides, with my jacket, it’ll confirm that I’ll get the delivery done and that I went by myself to do so. Practically don’t go anywhere without the thing…” They quietly shifted the jacket off of their head as he continued to speak and slipped their arms through the sleeves, the jacket very clearly large on them. “Look, I’ll be fine and I will be back soon. As long as Beanny ain’t the chatty type.” Dove let a few giggles slip at that, making Yukio’s shoulders droop a bit. “...Alright, maybe it won’t be as soon as I want to hope it will be.” 

    “It’s okay. It’s like you said, you don’t go anywhere without this, so I know you’ll be back when you can.” They’ll look at him with a small smile. “And I promise, Beanny is friendly. So, can you promise me that you’ll be nice to her?” 

    “You ask as if I’m an asshole to everyone I meet.” 

    “Yukio…”

    “Alright, alright. I promise.” As he says that, he’ll pet the top of Dove’s head. “I’ll be back soon.” They’ll nod then he’ll begin walking off to the greenhouse exit and down the path to the cafe. 

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    “I can’t believe I’m actually doing this…” He’ll let out a heavy sigh as he sees the cafe in the distance after about 20 minutes or so of getting a bit lost trying to get here. “I told myself I wouldn’t be an errand boy for him and I’m still delivering something for him despite that… Even though he didn’t directly ask me. Damn, the fact I have a soft spot for Dove…” He continued to mutter to himself as he got closer to the front door of the cafe. Once he got to it, he stood in front of it and took a deep breath. “...Here goes nothing…” He pushes the door open, hearing a light cling of a bell as he walks in. Taking a glance around as he walks further in, a very warm and inviting vibe pulling him in. “...Huh… Definitely a much more appreciative feeling compared to most bars.” 

    “Why thank you very much~” Yukio flinched badly upon the new voice entering the silence. “Oh, sorry about that friend! Didn’t mean to make you jump!” He’ll let out a light sigh as he calms down his heart. 

    “...It’s fine…” As the new bun’s footsteps echoed throughout the currently empty cafe, he glanced up to see a bun with curly white hair, darker skin and bright pink eyes walking up to him. “Is it safe to assume you’re Beanny?” 

    “Yes, I indeed am~ May I ask your name?” He’ll shift a bit, his nerves slowly going up as he’s speaking with her. 

    “...I’m Yukio. A friend of Dove’s.” 

    “Oh, yes, I’ve heard about you! Both from Primrose and Dove!” 

    “...Two varying opinions I assume?” Beanny let a huge grin appear on her face at the question. “Yeeahhhh… I figured…” He’ll let out another sigh, though heavier this time. “Well, anyway, here. I have been tasked with delivering these to you.” At that point, he’ll hold the bag of coffee beans to the cherubun, whose eyes will light up as she takes the bag from him. 

    “Ah, thank you! I was wondering when the next batch was gonna come around.” She goes to skip along to behind the counter and start setting up the coffee beans in their respective containers. “How about a cup before you head back?” Yukio will be quiet as he thinks about the offer. One cup wouldn’t be that bad… 

    “You know what? Sure, why not.” Beanny will grin again as she begins brewing up some of the beans. 

    “So, out of curiosity, those opinions they have mutual?” He’ll let out a low hum as he sits on one of the stools next to the counter. 

    “...Probably? Primrose has a stick up his ass and Dove is a very dear friend.” Beanny will let out a light-hearted hum as she pours some coffee into a mug before handing it the wintery bun. 

    “Yeah, that sounds like mutual opinions of one another. Thouuugghhh…~” He’ll take the mug from her but will look at her a bit confused. “From how you sounded, it seems like Dove might be more than just a friend~” He’ll stare at the cherubun in front of him for a minute before taking a sip from the mug. 

    “...What my feelings are matter not. Even if they were more, they’ve got someone.” Beanny will let out another hum, now leaning on the counter. 

    “If you say so~ I’ll drop the topic for now. You can tell me a bit about your fun times in Burrowgatory instead~” 

    “Heh… As long as it’s not for long, I’ve got a friend to get back to.” 

    “Of course! Wouldn’t wanna keep them waiting~”