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Warm sunlight streamed through the Twilight Courtyard. Birds were singing as melodious humming filled the air. Not a single soul except for Hyacine was strolling through the area. This didn’t come as a surprise though. Everyone was too preoccupied with watching Mydei and Phainon competing against each other.
But it was unusual that she was completely alone. Somehow Hyacine had no patients or appointments to take care of. She didn’t mind though. It was a nice change of pace to have some time for herself.
“I guess I could clean up.” The pink haired girl sorted the shelves. A comfortable quiet draped over her as she diligently worked. Every now and again she could hear a bell, but she didn’t pay it any mind.
It didn’t take long until she finished arranging the lower shelves. Now Hyacine was well aware about her shortcomings when it came to height. So she usually kept a stool around to reach the upper cupboards.
But after looking for a while she wasn’t able to find it anywhere. ‘Strange. Did I misplace it?’
With the item nowhere to be seen she sighed, resigning herself to climbing up on the counter. It’s not like she never did this before. She just preferred to use the safer option.
‘Where is Ica when I need her?’
Hyacine huffed, hesitantly climbing up the counter. Now for the hardest part. Actually standing up. ‘Okay Hyacinthia! You’re a descendant of the sky, this is nothing.’
Even with her mental preparations her legs began to shake. Her nerves were flaring up as she hesitantly stood up. It took her a couple of moments to adjust until she let out a sigh. ‘Okay, I just need to quickly clean up and—’
Hyacine gulped, nervously standing on her tip toes to reach the upper sections of the shelf. Just as she grasped a flask of antiseptic, she lost her footing. Before she knew it Hyacine lost her footing. She snapped her eyes shut as she braced for impact.Only for nothing to happen.
Before she hit the ground a gust of wind blew through the room shaking up her hair. For a brief moment she felt like something was holding her hip. But the sensation vanished just like the wind that passed through the room. Hyacine gradually opened her eyes, the drumming of her heartbeat slowing down.
She was back on the floor. Feet safely planted on the ground beneath her. ‘Huh? Wasn’t I…’
Hyacine immediately checked every corner of her clinic. Nothing was out of place. All of her items were placed where she remembered. Except the stool she was looking for appeared in a corner. ‘Weird… I’m pretty sure I checked that corner earlier.’
A shudder ran through her body as another gust of wind ran through the room. The healer shook her head and lightly slapped her cheeks. ‘Back to work Hyacinthia.’
Now that she was able to safely stand, she could rearrange the upper shelf with ease. Once that task was finished, she wiped off the sweat on her forehead. Oddly enough cleaning the clinic proved to go quicker than expected.
‘Not much dust today….’ Hyacine felt a sliver of suspicion creep up as she moved towards the kitchen. She swiftly whipped up a small lunch and prepared a can of tea.
A small bell could be heard in the distance. Causing the healer to smile as she pulled out a tin of cookies. With a hop on her step she leisurely prepared a small tea table sitting in the sun. After she neatly arranged the cookies, Hyacine grabbed her sewing kit.
Upon returning she found a cookie missing from her plate. ‘Someone must be hungry.’
Hyacine sat down with a grin, diligently working on a chimera plushie. Every now and again she would sip her tea or nibble on a cookie, while working.
For a while only the rustling of leaves could be heard as the trees swayed in the wind. Hyacine stretched after she placed the last stitch on the plush head. Her hand reached out to take a cookie, just for the plate to be empty. She rolled her eyes, a giggle spilling out of her body. “You can come out now, Lady Cipher.”
Another gust of wind ruffled her hair, before she felt a weight on her head. “Doot doot.”
“I know you’re not Ica, Lady Cipher.”
“How did you know? Ica could’ve eaten all of them, no?” Cipher messed with pink locks. Grinning as she plopped down on the floor in front of Hyacine.
“Ica would’ve immediately eaten those cookies. All of them would’ve been gone as soon as I pulled out the tin.”
“Drats…I should’ve known.” Cipher grumbled as her tails swerved from side to side.
“Do you want some tea?” Hyacine smiled, moving to pour another cup.
“Don’t mind if I do” Cipher swiftly jumped up to sit down on the chair of the other side. “You don’t happen to have any more of those cookies?”
“Let me go get more then.” Hyacine left in a haste, returning with another tray of treats.
Cipher snatched a biscuit before Hyacine was even able to set down the tray. Happily munching on it as the healer sat down.
“Thank you for helping me out earlier, Lady Cipher.” Hyacine smiled at the other woman, who choked and hastily turned away.
“..Argh…”
“Are you alright?” Panic flooded Hyacine’s nerves as she rushed to Cipher’s side.
The trickster hackled before wheezing out. “I’m fine… Anyway, what were you talking about?”
“I wanted to thank you for catching me.”
“No clue what you’re talking about sunshine.”
“Pretty sure you’re the only one in all of Amphoreus, that’s quick enough to catch someone falling from a cabinet.” Hyacine giggled at the sight of Cipher flashing her a toothy grin. Before taking another cookie.
“Must’ve been the wind.” The Demigod of Trickery coughed into her fist, briefly hiding her face from the other.
Hyacine hummed “Is that so? Well tell the wind I’m incredibly grateful and happy about getting saved.”
“Will do, sunshine.” Cipher’s tone was stable. But her tail was blatantly showing off her happiness. It was standing up straight, while her ears twitched. Tell tale signs of joy.
‘Just like a little Chimera’ Hyacine giggled at the observation. Leisurely sitting back down on her chair.
Cipher avoided eye contact. Quickly snatching the cookie and again stuffing her mouth with it. A flash of red caught Hyacine’s eyes. Alarm bells immediately rang in her head. “Lady Cipher, could you show me your hands?”
“Huh?” Cipher cautiously glanced at the other woman. Hyacine’s stare caused her to swallow. “Why?”
“You’re hurt.”
“No…”
“Then there should be nothing wrong with showing your hands.” Hyacine gave the thief a worried glare.
“Fair point, sunshine.” Cipher grumbled as she held out her hands.
Hyacine carefully inspected them, gently tracing over small red cuts. Without hesitation she pulled out a small first aid kit out of her pocket. She didn’t look up as she opened up a bottle of antiseptic. “This is going to burn a bit.”
“Nothing the great Cifera can’t handle.”
As soon as Hyacine started cleaning the wounds, Cifer started hissing. “Where did you get these?”
Hyacine stuck out her tongue, focused on treating the wounds. Only after she finished, did she receive a reply. “I may have gotten into an argument with some Chimeras.”
The statement caused Hyacine to raise a brow. “I can’t imagine that they would be able to land a hit on you. Let alone leave marks.”
“Those little critters can get quite feisty.”
“Uh huh.” Hyacine nodded, clearly there was more to this story. “Did they take the stool?”
“Wait. How did you know?”
“They sometimes visit the Twilight Courtyard and take it. So they can feel ‘taller’. Or at least that’s what they tell me.” Hyacine chuckled, turning and picking up her Chimera plushie.
“Huh… That explains why they were so adamant on keeping it. Even after nicely asking them. ” Cipher hummed, scrunching her nose as she recalled the encounter. “Their claws really hurt. But hey they relented after a while.”
“Couldn’t you’ve just swiped it? I’m sure that stealing a stool from Chimeras is like child’s play for you.”
“Well it is.” Cipher averted eye contact as she whispered something under her breath.
Hyacine tilted her head in confusion.“What did you say?”
“You probably wouldn't like me stealing from the chimeras.”
“Yeah I wouldn’t. But I also don’t like you getting hurt over something so trivial as a stool.” Hyacine chuckled as she smiled at Cipher. “In the first place. How did you even know that I was looking for the stool?”
“...” An awkward silence permeated through the air. The only answer Hyacine received was the movement of Cipher’s tail swishing back and forth.
“Were you watching me?” Hyacine’s voice carried a teasing lilt as she leaned over the table.
Cipher groaned as she huffed out. “I was bored, okay! Mydei and Phainon’s competition was boring”
"Hmm, I see." Hyacine knew that this wasn’t the only reason. Cipher usually was the type to just aimlessly wander around. Only stopping if she found something that piqued her interest. The healer decided not to press any longer, smiling as she nibbled on a cookie.
“Where did you get these cookies anyway?” Cipher licked her lips as she grabbed another one.
“Oh, I made these myself.”
“You did? Maybe you should rethink your profession, sunshine.” Cipher flashed Hyacine a toothy grin, causing the healer to blush.
“Thank you for the compliment. But I think I enjoy my current job. But if you want I can bake you something every now and again. No need to steal them next time.” Hyacine giggled as she watched Cipher close her eyes in thought.
“It’s fun to secretly steal them though.” Cipher sighed before shrugging. “But you’ve got yourself a deal, sunshine.”
Ever since that day Hyacine occasionally leaves a plate of cookies on her desk. Out of Ica’s sight of course. Every time she’s gone for a bit and returns they’re gone. A little note left in their place.
‘Thanks for the snack sunshine. ( •̀ ω •́ )✧’
‘Love this flavour ♪(´▽｀)!’
‘Seriously what do you put in these (╯▔皿▔)╯?’
Hyacine always kept those little notes in a tiny box inside of her desk. Occasionally reading them whenever she found herself missing a certain trickster. This little ritual of theirs kept going on. Until the day she actually caught Cipher perched on top of her desk and munching the cookies.
“Looks like I caught you this time.” Hyacine smiled, while Cipher hopped off the table and dusted off her outfit.
“I suppose you did sunshine.” Cipher grinned as she leisurely walked up to Hyacine. “Perhaps this calls for a reward.”
Hyacine tilted her head in confusion. “A reward?”
Before she knew it a fluffy tail loosely wrapped around her hips, pulling her closer towards the taller woman. “What do you want, sunshine? Gold, gems, expensive jewellery. Just name it!”
Hyacine hummed, closing her eyes in contemplation. An idea popped into her head after a couple of seconds. The healer smiled as she hooked a finger underneath Cipher’s chin and pulled her down.
The trickster flinched as their lips met. Their kiss taste carried the lingering taste of cookies. Cipher’s lips were softer than the clouds that covered the sky and Hyacine found herself getting addicted to the sensation.
The trickster melted into the kiss, her face heating up as her tail stood up straight. After a couple of seconds Cipher broke away. Embarrassment evident on her face. “What was that for!”
“You offered a reward and I took it.” Hyacine grinned as she watched Cipher’s ears twitch.
Cipher giggled, covering her flushed face with her arm. While the other pulled her hood down.“You’re quite greedy, sunshine.”
“Maybe I am." Hyacine wrapped her arms around Cipher’s neck, whispering into her ear. “But you don’t mind humouring me. Do you, Lady Cipher?”
“...You’re quite sly, sunshine.”