Under_The_Whispering_Door_by_TJ_Klune

“I’m leaving now,” the Manager said. “I’ll be keeping tabs on all of you.
Consider it an evaluation of those in our employ. Reorient yourself with the
living world.” He glanced at Hugo before looking back at Wallace. “Do what
it is humans do when they’re enamored with each other. Get it out of your
system. I don’t want to come back and catch you two in flagrante delicto.”
He made an obscene gesture with his hands, something Wallace never wanted
to see a child do, even if said child seemed to be as old as the universe.
Hugo sputtered.
“Oh my god,” Wallace mumbled, knowing his cheeks were red.
“Yes,” the Manager said. “I know. It’s terribly vexing. I don’t know how
you put up with it. Love seems positively dreadful.” He turned toward the
stairs, antlers beginning to grow from his head, flowers blooming from the
velvet. He paused, looking back over his shoulder. He grinned, winked, and
descended the stairs. By the time he reached the bottom, they could hear the
sound of hooves on the floor of the tea shop. A blue light flashed through the
window that pointed toward the front of the house.
And then it—he—was gone.
They stood silently, listening as the clocks in the tea shop began ticking
once more.
Nelson spoke first. “What a strange day this has been. Mei, I think I could
use a cup of tea. Would you join me?”
“Yep,” she said, already heading for the stairs. “I’m thinking something
fancy to celebrate.”
“Great minds think alike,” Nelson replied. He hobbled toward the stairs,
Apollo and Mei trailing after him. Like the Manager, he stopped before
descending. When he looked back at Wallace and Hugo, his eyes were wet,
and he was smiling. “My dear boy,” he said. “My lovely Hugo. It’s your time
now. Make the most of it.”
And with that, he walked down the stairs, telling Mei and Apollo he was
thinking along the lines of the Da Hong Pao tea, something that made Mei
gasp in delight. The last they saw of them was the tip of Apollo’s tail as it
flicked back and forth.
“Christ,” Wallace said, scrubbing a hand over his face. “I can’t believe
how tired I am. I feel like I could sleep for a—”
“I love you too,” Hugo said.
Wallace sucked in a breath as he closed his eyes. “What?”