The Weight of Gold

After a long day of work, caught between new hires with numerous errors on documents and his secretary double booking meetings, Nicholas was close to losing his temper. He thought he would call up his lover, but it seemed Fee was also busy doing his own things.

Nicholas wasn’t so childish that he would blame the other bun, but that was only another thing to put a damper on his day. He sighed heavily, undoing his tie with one hand as he plopped down on his couch. The leather squeaking with the sudden movement, but he paid it no mind.

However he did happen to hear something like a hinge creaking open and also felt little hands trying to search through his pockets. “You know better than that, Goldie.”

The mimikeeper froze, carefully retracting its hands as its golden eyes peered up at its owner. The treasure chest rattled with excitement and perhaps a little guilt for being caught.

Nicholas shook his head, reaching out to pat the chest lid. “You shouldn’t try eating things out of my pockets, it always makes you feel sick after.”

The mimikeeper seemed to grumble as it tried to go back into its chest.

“Hold on Goldie. I have something better for you to snack on,” Nicholas chuckled softly. “You were just being impatient as always.”

His imp perked up.

Nicholas reached for his suit jacket pocket, pulling out a small brown bag. “I thought I’d pick you up some treats on the way home, there was a pet shop offering a deal on those biscuits you like.”

Goldie began to rattle loudly, shaking as it waited for his treat. Already, their hands reached for their owner.

“Ah, don’t forget.” He muttered, pulling out a treat and holding it high above his imp’s head. “A trick for a treat.”

Nicolas snapped his fingers. “Close.”

The chest lid snapped close quickly.

“Open.”

The chest lid snapped open just as quickly.

“Good!” He set a treat in his imp’s outstretched hands, chuckling with how fast the treat disappeared into its chest.

Nicholas sighed contently, leaning back against his couch, “Here I’m in the giving mood, have another.” Another treat found itself quickly lost to the treasure chest’s void.

“I wonder if Fee would like that trick, or perhaps it’s time I taught you a few more? Although without leaving the box, it could present some difficulties.”

Goldie looked up, one of its hands sneaking out to hold onto its owner’s hand. It gently squeezed.

Nicholas smiled, rubbing his thumb over the small hand. “I doubt anyone has an imp as empathetic, can you tell I’m having a bad day?”

Goldie squeezed a little harder, the chest rattling again,

“Oh you can? What a smart little imp.” He teased, making sure to pay attention, less Goldie tried to make off with one of his rings again. He would rather avoid sticking his hand in the chest to fish out his ring before it was eaten yet again.

“I dare say I’ll count that as a trick, here you go.” Nicholas gave his mimikeeper yet another treat. “But this is the last one, I can’t have you eating so many treats every day. You’ll eat me out of house and home.”

The mimikeeper only tilted its head and continued to enjoy its treat, wherever it ended up since it was already in the chest.

Nicholas had to wonder if this was the magic of imps, he had been so upset when he got home and now he felt like he could actually relax. It was a good thing to have bought this little imp home.