Work Text:
sweetness and warmth
"And what, pray tell, is this?" Garak asks, looking with some distaste at the brown liquid in the mug Julian's just handed him.
Julian blinks. "It's hot chocolate?" he says uncertainly. "It's nice. It'll make you all warm and snuggly."
Garak raises a doubtful eye-ridge. "I think you are altogether too optimistic, doctor."
"You might want to blow on it a little before you taste it, I don't want you to burn your tongue."
Garak shoots him another suspicious expression, but does as he's bid. He can't help noticing, as he blows (he suspects somewhat ineffectively) at the surface of the drink that it smells... not unappetising. He takes a very cautious sip. "Oh!"
"See?"
Julian's now rather smug, so Garak does his best to hide how pleasantly surprised he is. He takes another, larger sip. It's sweet, smooth and rich, with a touch of spice that seems familiar.
"I used the same spices I use in that chai you like so much," Julian says, as if he read Garak's mind. "With hot chocolate, it's a bit cosier."
"Hmmm."
It is, as usual, hard for Garak to be sure whether it is the drink itself or the company and kindness. Either way, the chill of the station recedes; for once he does, indeed, feel quite warm.
"Thank you," he says, very quietly.
Julian, to his credit, barely gloats. "You're welcome."
~ fin ~