Tsume laughed and leaned against the counter, able to feel body heat on one side and the warmth from the coffee on the other. "As tempting as that offer is, I'd be afraid. I mean, my coffee service was terrible. I should probably practice first." She eyed his braced knee, skin showing on his kneecap though the brace ran high enough under his boxers to hide more flesh that way. Not that she'd noticed.

"But you--you're doing pretty good on those things. Definitely think you should start with the Crutch Corps. I hear they lose members pretty regularly. Tragic."

The coffee finished with a hiss of steam, and she turned away, pulling the tiny pot off its base and pouring inky black liquid into two cups. Enough caffeine to give her a boost for the morning. It seemed she was busier off active duty than she'd been on it--even if most of that busy was spending time with Kuromaru. Which reminded her--

"Kuro was asking after you. He was downright sulky when I told him he'd been awake to see you go, and he was too drug-addled to remember." She set Ryouma's coffee mug down between them and debated putting more grounds in to get another pot going. Anything to keep from looking at him, to give him whatever time he needed. His scent spiraled, nearly but not quite banished by freshly brewed coffee and newly peeled oranges. She didn't want to smell if he was hurting--it didn't help. It seemed like everyone was hurting.

Tsume glanced sideways and stole an orange section from broad hands as one came free. Biting into it released citrus, and for a moment she couldn't smell anything else.