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"Almost there. Come on..."
The small fennec fox made a growl of frustration, banging her fist on the pane of the vending machine and then wavering on her tiptoes for balance. She could just almost reach the button...almost, but not quite.
Fenneko sighed angrily and wobbled down to her feet, grateful that she was alone in the break room with nobody to make a snarky comment about her height- a comment like something she would say, most likely.
But dammit, that meant no tea. And she was parched.
"Damn!" She gave the machine another smack for good measure, and flinched back at the sting in her hands.
"You need help?" a calm voice said from behind her, and Fenneko felt her fur prickle with embarrassment.
"I'm fine. Wasn't thirsty anyway," she commented, turning around to look up at Haida. The hyena looked back down at her, unbelieving, and a smile curled on his lips.
"Alright then. Then you won't mind me getting a drink for myself."
Fenneko opened her mouth indignantly to mouth off, but shut it quickly. "Fine, like I care.
Haida gave her a smirk and with obnoxious ease, he punched in the buttons, slipped in his yen, and an ice cold drink rolled out into his hands.
"Ahhhh." He gave Fenneko a sideways glance, a smug smile, as the beads of moisture ran down the can. "Nothing for you?"
Fenneko's ears laid flat on her head with annoyance. She really wanted a drink. "Fine, I'll have something."
She grumpily walked back to the vending machine and looked at the options on the lower shelf, the options that she'd be able to reach. They all were trash. But...
She inserted some money and started to press the button for some rice crackers when Haida came up behind her, and suddenly his hand was on hers.
His hand was at least twice the size of hers, with great big claws and rough scarred pads in contrast to her small fingers. But it was still warm, and it was still gentle. Fenneko felt her face go hot, looking up at Haida. "What-?"
"You could have just asked for help, Fenneko," Haida said, shaking his head, and guiding his hand upward, dragging hers along to the second level of buttons. "If you can't do something by yourself..." He gave her hand a squeeze, and then let it go.
Reaching up, he pressed the button combination for Fenneko's favorite tea, and the can popped out and came rolling out the machine.
"...then you have friends to help." He finished, grabbing the drink and handing it off to her.
He smiled.
Fenneko couldn't stop blushing, and grabbed the drink from the hyena without so much as a thank you before chugging it down.
"Whatever. Wasn't that thirsty anyway, you nerd."
She thought back to his hand on hers, the way it felt, and bushed again. She reeled back her tone, and this time, smiled at him.
"But I guess since we're friends, you won't mind doing me a solid and joining me for break?"