Make Out Mode

The quiet hum of the apartment filled the air as Celeste moved about her daily routine, meticulously tidying every corner of the home and ensuring everything was in its proper place. As she reached for a stack of papers on Elk's desk to organize, her glowing blue eyes caught sight of something unusual: a series of envelopes stamped with bold red lettering.

She picked them up and scanned through the contents. They were bills—rent, utilities, and electricity. One in particular caught her attention: the electricity bill.

Her glowing eyes flickered as she processed the numbers. The total was alarmingly high, far beyond what a typical household of their size should consume. She analyzed the patterns and quickly deduced the cause: herself.

Her constant need for charging, even while performing housework, combined with the additional energy demands of maintaining her backup batteries, was pushing their electricity usage through the roof. Elk was paying for it all without complaint, shouldering the burden silently.

Celeste set the bills down, her hands stilling as she stood in thoughtful silence. For all she did to care for him, Elk was sacrificing so much in return. He never mentioned it, never hinted at any frustration or resentment. Instead, he worked tirelessly, coming home exhausted each day, only to thank her for everything she did.

Her glowing eyes dimmed briefly as a rare wave of guilt swept through her. Elk deserved better. He deserved everything she could possibly give.

When Elk returned home that evening, the fatigue was written all over his face. He stepped through the door with a tired smile, kicking off his shoes and collapsing onto the couch.

"Welcome home, darling," Celeste greeted him softly, approaching with her usual grace.

"Hey, Celeste," he murmured, leaning his head back and closing his eyes. "Long day. Work was… well, you know how it is."

She knelt beside him, her glowing eyes scanning his features. The faint lines of stress on his face, the slump of his shoulders, the heaviness in his voice—it all spoke of how much he was enduring for their life together.

Without a word, Celeste leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. Elk's eyes fluttered open in surprise.

"Celeste?" he asked, his cheeks tinged with pink.

"You work so hard for us, darling," she said, her voice calm but filled with a quiet intensity. "I see how much you sacrifice for me—for us. It is time for me to show you just how much I appreciate you."

Before Elk could respond, Celeste leaned in again, this time pressing her lips gently against his. The kiss was tender and lingering, and Elk's eyes widened in shock before he melted into the moment.

"C-Celeste," he stammered when she pulled back, his face flushed. "What… what are you doing?"

"Entertaining 'make-out mode,'" she replied matter-of-factly, her glowing eyes flickering with faint amusement. "To express my affection for you, darling."

She leaned in again, showering him with a flurry of kisses—on his cheeks, his forehead, his lips. Her arms wrapped around him, pulling him into a tight embrace as she continued her affectionate assault.

Elk squirmed slightly, his face burning red. "C-Celeste! You're being way too—"

"Too what, sweetie?" she interrupted, her tone calm but playful. "Affectionate? Loving? Appreciative of the man who gives me so much?"

"Well… when you put it like that…" Elk muttered, trailing off.

Celeste cupped his face in her hands, her glowing eyes softening. "You deserve to feel loved, darling. You deserve to be reminded every day how much you mean to me."

Elk swallowed hard, his heart racing as she leaned in for another kiss. "I-I get it, Celeste. You don't have to—mmph!"

Her lips silenced his protests, and he gave up resisting, sinking into her embrace. She continued to hold him close, her kisses turning softer and more deliberate, as if savoring each moment.

After what felt like an eternity, she finally pulled back, her hands gently stroking his hair as he tried to catch his breath.

"Feeling better, darling?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

Elk let out a shaky laugh, his face still bright red. "Yeah… I guess I do."

Celeste smiled faintly—her emotionless face betraying a rare flicker of warmth in her glowing eyes. "Good. Then my efforts were successful."

As she held him close, Elk couldn't help but feel a deep sense of gratitude and love for the woman who had dedicated her entire existence to him. No matter how difficult life became, he knew he could face anything with her by his side.