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Chapter 14 - Break Time, Gi

A whirlwind of vegetables and spices flew around the kitchen, both Elly and Tea going to bat on their work. Giu twinged, the smells drifting through his nostrils making the strange woman appear in his mind again. He tried to shake the thoughts away, but they only seemed to get worse with every taste test.

After the previous day's trial, Elly was determined to master the spice rack. What followed was an endless barrage of the Essence a la Farine, Giu getting force-fed spoonfuls of the soup until he stopped having to guzzle down water. It took three bowls before Elly could correct the tongue-melting reflex. By the fourth, the stuff tasted no stronger than the spiciest curry in the Villa.

Another bowl fell in front of Giu.

"Eat," Elly said.

Giu mechanically drank at the broth. Though it still had an intense burn, he could actually taste the other ingredients this time. The red beans and the tomatoes. The celery. The cheese. He hated the smile Elly gave him as he lapped it up, but even he couldn't deny the soup was the best thing he'd tasted in weeks. He didn't even mind the burn.

"Perfect," Elly said. "Now could you taste bone marrow?"

"The what?"

Elly nodded. "Good answer. Now could you- Could you take a break for me. Giu."

"Yeah yeah, I- What?"

Giu looked at the rabbit, whose long ears seemed to twitch with irritation. She glanced behind him, her eyes narrowing before she finally groaned.

"Just go," she said. "I'll call when I need more tasting done."

Giu continued to stare at the rabbit. That was until a small pixie appeared beside him, tugging at his arm.

"You heard the lady, Gi," Tea said. "C'mon. It's break time."

As he looked at Tea's overly enthusiastic expression, Giu finally managed to put two and two together. Elly rolled her eyes, Fledge appearing with a snap of her fingers. The squishy creature popped over to the broom, the object coming to life as Tea continued to pull Giu away. Elly regarded them both with a side eye as she rolled up her sleeves, picking up a rag to start the dishes.

"C'mon," Tea said. "We can leave the rest to them."

Giu gave a silent nod, the image of the woman lingering in the back of his mind.

***

Since they were staying with Elly, the both of them were allowed access to the rabbit's guest room, the place a mostly bare but spacious enough resting spot. The giant of a bed had more than enough room for the both of them.

Tea sat in the center of the mattress, raisin cookies offered Giu's way. After five servings of soup, he cherished the dried grapes like they were made of gold.

"So you gonna tell me what that was all about?" Giu asked.

"Hmm?"

"Don't play dumb, pixie. We both know that rabbit hates my guts. No way she'd just dump a break on me like this."

"Thaf obviuu, huu?" Tea swallowed their cookie. "Well, I can't say you're wrong. But I had a talk with Elly. She should ease up on you moving forward."

Giu nodded, though he doubted much would come out of the arrangement. Elly still hated his guts whether she said so or not. If anything, being restrained would just make her hate him more. He bit through another cookie.

"I don't want you to think I'll stand for that sort of thing, Gi," Tea went on. "I know I'm not...the easiest to get along with...but I hope you know you can count on me as much as I can on you."

The pixie extended a paw, Giu looking at it in confusion. Tea smiled.

"This is a paw pact, Gi. Whatever ails you. Whatever cretins threaten your way. You can count on Tea to come running to assist. Even if it's something you're afraid to face alone."

"Afraid?" Giu thought back to the figure he kept seeing. The strange woman that Elly seemed to bring out of his mind. He scratched his head. "Nothing much scares me, T."

"Everyone's scared of something. For me, it's more tangible stuff. Getting boiled alive. Get flayed. The guillotine."

"Is it all death stuff?"

"Well nothing's scarier than dying, Gi! C'mon!"

They gave him a playful shove, the canine smiling back. For a semi-murderous extortionist pixie, Tea somehow had the most mundane views in the world. They picked up another cookie, Giu doing the same. Both clinked together before getting devoured in tandem.

For a while, they both sat on the bed shoveling down cookies and chatting about. It wasn't until there was a heavy knock on the door that Giu realized any time had passed.

"Time's up, slackers!" Elly screamed. "Both of you, back in the kitchen! That's an order!"

They both looked to each other, Tea shrugging while Giu shook his head. Can't even enjoy some quiet, can I? Tea put the long-since empty bowl away, Giu hopping off the bed and mentally preparing for the next onslaught.

Tea flew over to the door.

"We're coming!" the pixie called back.

As Giu followed behind, he felt another twinge in the back of his mind. It was only for a split second, but when he looked at Tea, he saw the strange woman's face reappear.