Chapter Text
According to the books he'd read on the matter (not that he would ever admit to it, naturally), relationships were all about compromise. A complex game of tug-of-war between you and your partner, balancing the other's desires with your own, and attempting to emerge on the other side, together. Happy.
But mixed-up metaphors aside, Espresso had known for certain, from the moment Madeleine asked if they were 'official' a week ago, as they took their lunch al fresco on a sunny afternoon, the moment he'd answered in the affirmative, that this relationship would require... more compromises than most. And that was putting it charitably.
For starters, Espresso was a night owl, while Madeleine rose at the crack of dawn. Espresso liked his coffee dark and bitter, Madeleine took his with copious amounts of sugar and cream. More pressingly, Espresso needed the next few weeks to be completely clear of visits, of dates, of anything that’d distract him from making sure his experiments were completed to perfection. And Madeleine seemed intent on being a distraction.
They'd tread such conversational ground that very meal, as Espresso insisted (over a steaming cup of black coffee, the usual), that while they were now ‘an item’, it would be quite impossible to make that statement public just yet.
"It's an academic matter, so don't take this personally. Really," he added, as he saw the excitement on the paladin's face fade slightly. "The Parfaedia Institute is looking into renewing my tenure, and in order for them to consider my application, I have to show them the results of my latest research. Something sufficiently impressive for their lofty standards," he said, rolling his eyes.
Madeleine's smile faltered, but was back up in an instant. He'd patted Espresso's hand reassuringly. "I understand. If your magic is proof of anything, I'm more than certain you'll dazzle them!"
At the sudden physical contact, Espresso nearly pulled his hand away out of pure instinct, but caught himself, and slowly slid it back under Madeleine's. Compromise, compromise. "I will. But I will also need time, and that means no going out together. No dates, no impromptu chats, no barging into my laboratory unannounced and uninvited."
Madeleine's face pulled into a joking pout. "Not even to bring you coffee and donuts?"
Espresso shook his head. "Madeleine, I've grown... tolerant of your presence of late, and I know that any simple ‘visit’ of yours will stretch on for hours more than what you promise. Hours I cannot afford to spare. Besides, I've arranged with Sparkling to have meals brought to my door for the next few weeks. I'll live."
"Are you sure this is something you have to do? You can't find it pleasant, being cooped up in that stuffy dark room all day, not allowing yourself an opportunity to rest."
Strong, callused fingers intertwined with his own, long and thin, and Espresso softened. He knew that this, being unable to take care of the one he was so fond of, was a great compromise for Madeleine as well.
"I'll be fine," he said, trying to inject as much reassurance into those three words as he could (focus on 'tried'. Vulnerability, evidently, didn't suit him). "Allow me this time to myself, and once my application has been submitted, I assure you we'll have outings to your heart's content."
He saw doubt pinch at the corners of Madeleine's smile, but the paladin nodded, nonetheless. "As you wish."
"Thank you, Madeleine."
"Do take care of yourself, Espresso.” Their eyes met, and Madeleine squeezed his hand. Softly, he murmured, “I worry for you." Then, before Espresso could respond, "Now what about some seconds, hmm? I've heard this cafe does a mean strawberry cake!"
Espresso smiled, extricated his hand from Madeleine’s, and reached for the menu. “Strawberry isn’t typically my flavour of choice, but I suppose it wouldn’t hurt giving it a go.”