Varian and the Seven Seas

Chapter Seven: Calm Before the Storm

Hugo lay curled up under the covers, fast asleep, when a golden, mechanical mouse scurried over his arm. He blinked awake, looking down at his pet.

Grabbing his glasses, he put them on before saying, "Sorry, Olivia." He held her gently in his hands. "I know I didn't come back to my room last night. You must have been lonely."

The mouse squeaked, nuzzling his thumb.

"Ruddiger!" he heard Varian shout from the other room. "That's too much, Bud!"

Hugo chuckled. "He's up early." 

He got up, leaning over the side of the bed to snatch his clothes from off the floor. Pulling them on, he glanced back at the mattress, a slight rouge spreading over his cheeks. 

He reached over and grabbed Varian's pillow, hesitating before stuffing his face into it. Breathing in the scent, he sighed. Olivia bit his finger lightly and he looked down to see her little arms folded, her face scolding.

"What? I am not being creepy! Shut up." He threw the pillow down as he said it.

The door that connected Varian's bed chamber to his lab room cracked open. 

Hugo stepped through the doorway to see the black-haired captain standing with his hands on his hips while wearing a long colorful apron, scrunching up his face at his raccoon. Ruddiger sat on the desk, pointing to a large jar of flour while holding up a small measuring cup.

"It's only four cups, not five!" he argued. The raccoon shook his head, jumping onto the nearby cookbook and pointing to the open page. "I know it says that, but I tweaked the recipe, remember?" Ruddiger stomped his foot and Varian sighed. "Ugh! Fine." The raccoon's ears perked up as he hopped over to the flour jar, scooping another cup into the large mixing bowl beside it. "If they don't turn out well, it's your fault though." Varian picked up the bowl and began angrily mixing the contents with a wooden spoon.

Hugo couldn't help but grin as he approached the captain, gently sliding his hands over his waist and hugging him from behind.

Varian froze at his touch, his mixing hand halting. "H-Hugo. You're awake."

"Did you sleep well?" he asked, whispering into his ear.

"Well, I uh—" He cleared his throat. "Not really."

"Hm? Why is that, my dove?" He leaned down, kissing him on the cheek.

Varian wriggled out of his grasp, pushing him away lightly. "You know why, Idiot." He began mixing again, his cheeks red. "I...assume you haven't eaten yet," he added softly. "I'm, ahem, making you something." 

He poured all of the mixture into a tall beaker which fed down into a complex contraption with a fire burning underneath it. Hugo watched as the little machine chugged away, then through an opening in the side, spat out a dozen or so heart-shaped pancakes evenly onto two white plates below it.

Grabbing both plates, Varian presented one to the blond captain, unable to meet his eyes. "There's uh...syrup over there—" Hugo grabbed one end of the plate, his hand grazing Varian's while he leaned down, giving him a gentle kiss on the lips.

"Hm, don't let your crew know how soft you are," he teased.

"I am not soft," Varian retorted haughtily.

"The color of your face says otherwise."

"Whatever." Varian grabbed him by the collar, crashing his lips into Hugo's.

They stood there kissing until Ruddiger made an angry bark from the top of the table. 

Pulling their lips apart, Varian turned to his pet who was eyeing the pancakes still in his hand hungrily. "Yes, we're going to eat, Bud, don't worry." He set the plate down on the counter next to him, grabbing two nearby forks and handing one to Hugo.