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“Oyron.”
Oyron ignored the nazily voice coming from the person that loomed over them. They curled deeper into their bed.
“Oyron. You promithed.”
“I remember doing no such thing.” Its voice came out muffled from the piles of blankets, not relenting.
“I’ll drag you out.” The voice threatened, but Oyron still refused. “You brought thith on youthelf.”
Light blinded their vision as Oyron was suddenly pulled from their comfortable bed, blankets and pillows falling to the floor. They screamed as they were dragged across the room, hooking its claws into the doorframe.
“Bayker, please! It’s so cold out and I was so comfy!” They protested, but this didn’t stop Bayker from prying their hold on the door frame and picking them. It’d forgotten how strong they were. They decided not to dwell on that and continued to complain as they were carried out of their own home.
“You promithed that would help rake leavthe.” Bayker dropped them once they reached outside, a gust of cool air hitting them both.
“You’re cruel and heartless!” Oyron reluctantly stood up, seeing Saul and Goody were already outside waiting for them with rakes. The skool students were also with them, made by Pollina to help out.
“You’ll get a treat afterwardth,” Bayker shoved a rake into their paws, though their long sleeves pooled over them. “All you gotta do ith rake them back under the treeth. Got it?”
Oyron solemnly nodded as everyone was paired off. Bayker made sure to be with them, so they didn’t try to escape.
They worked in mostly silence. Bayker occasionally hummed a tune. Oyron glanced at them every once in a while, but remained silent.
After about half an hour, Saul and Goody came over saying they finished their section and were moving onto the next. Bayker nodded and gave them each a kiss before they went on their way. They briefly caught Oyron staring before quickly looking away and continuing to rake leaves into a pile.
“You okay, Oyron?” Bayker asked after a beat of silence, catching the librarian off guard.
“Huh?” Oyron looked up, realizing they hadn’t actually been raking any leaves. “Yeah. Still tired, I guess. Sorry. I’m not being a great clean up partner right now.”
Bayker hummed, a few thoughts running through their head. They smiled when they got an idea. They leaned their rake against a tree before walking up to Oyron.
Oyron blinked, confused as to what Bayker was doing. They suddenly froze when they leaned over and kissed its cheek.
“There’th your firtht treat. If you finish up quickly, you’ll get another.” Bayker smiled, resisting laughing at the other’s flushed face.
Oyron stumbled over their words as it suddenly dropped its rake. They stepped back, only to trip over their own tail and fall back into a pile of leaves.
Bayker’s hand flew over their mouth before rushing to Oyron’s side, kneeling beside them. They really hadn’t expected that reaction. It almost reminded them of Saul. “Oyron, uh, are you okay?”
Oyron blinked up at Bayker, their face and clothes covered in leaves. “Uh, yes. Yeah. Why, what’s up?” They sounded lost, like they’d been smacked in the face.
Bayker snorted and held out a hand. “Come on. Get up. We gotta finish.”
“Quickly.” Oyron nodded and accepted Bayker’s hand, being pulled up onto their feet. They helped remove any leaves stuck to it.
They huffed in embarrassment as they picked up their rake when they noticed someone watching. In the distance, both Goody and Saul witnessed the ordeal. They had each been laughing, but once caught, Saul went back to raking while Goody continued to laugh.
“Okay?” Bayker asked, reaching up to remove a leaf from their hair.
Oyron nodded silently and turned away to continue raking. The cold no longer bothered them.