Work Text:
Love was in the air, the kingdom was lively as ever. Cookies walk left and right trying to find the perfect gift for their friends or someone special. It was such a beautiful day filled with love, and Espresso hated it.
Holidays and silly events such as this were a mere waste of time. Espresso had better things to do than to buy useless pieces of cardboard or horrid bars of smashed cocoa beans, giving them cookies who probably don't even appreciate him. Just like other Holidays, Valentine’s day was just another excuse to sell products. Espresso has no business giving into such a disgusting excuse of a holiday. He was walking back home after purchasing some supplies for his newest experiment. He was exhausted, as usual, he could feel his mind fog up ever so slightly as he continued to walk home. Unfortunately for him, he heard loud footsteps, which belonged to none other than.
"ESPRESSO!" He stopped in his tracks and sighed, he didn't want to deal with his obnoxious boyfriend right now, especially not today. He's already exhausted just at the mere sight of these buffoons blabbing and laughing about this stupid holiday. Espresso could only be annoyed so much in one day, and today was the most annoying of all.
"Essy! Where are you going? Do you not know what today is?"
Espresso turned to face him, glaring with pure annoyance at his paladin boyfriend.
Madeleine was as radiant as ever, armor sparkling in the sunlight, his long white silky hair flowing in the wind. He seemed very excited for today, completely unaware of the mindless monopoly shit that's happening.
"Yes and I don't care. I'm quite busy."
He simply replied as he turned back around to continue walking home. Madeleine stood there in a daze for a good minute until running back up to Espresso.
"Essy! Hey! You're always busy, Essy come on!"
Espresso stopped getting irritated by the minute.
"Don't 'Essy' me! You know damn well as I do that today is just another shitty excuse to sell products! Just like every other holiday!"
Espresso snapped, Madeleine was taken aback for a bit.
"Of course, I know, but I don't care about that! Essy, Valentine's day is a special day! Every cookie is giving cards and stuff to their loved ones!"
"And they aren't doing that every day? Why only show it on a specific day when you can show your love every day? Why give in these mindless cash grabs?"
"Essy come on, I know you're using that as an excuse to hate every holiday, so you can hide away doing... whatever it is you do in your lab." Madeleine gestures his hands as he explains to Espresso.
"Experiment."
"YEAH! Come on, I know you like holidays too! These are fun days that I and many other cookies love! It makes some businesses give us a break! If it weren't for today I would be on patrol right now!"
"And I would gladly appreciate it."
Espresso flatly says as he turns back around and walks away, leaving Madeleine flabbergasted. He walks up to Espresso grabbing his shoulder.
"H-hey! Essy!!"
"WHAT." Espresso snapped, he was beyond irritated right now. This whole conversation was a waste of his precious time, he could've been in his lab by now.
Madeleine only stares into his eyes, taking in every detail of his boyfriend's face. After a moment of staring at each other Madeleine has come to a conclusion, Espresso's lack of sleep is the cause for his crankyness! He must have been up since last week, the only solution for Madeleine was sure to piss the coffee mage off, but it would help the both of them. Espresso caught on to Madeleine's sudden look of plotting and mischief, he panics for a bit before turning around to try to make a run for it. But as soon as he turned Madeleine grabbed at his waist and pulled him over his shoulder.
"WH?!? YOU BITCH, LET ME GO THIS INSTANT!"
Madeleine starts running towards their house, as he only smiles.
"Why? You seemed in a rush! I'm only helping! Besides, I live there too!"
Espresso only stuttered, having trouble figuring out the right words to reply with. His mind was fogging up, he was unable to fight back anyway so he just let Madeleine continue to carry him home.
The ride back was surprisingly calming for the coffee mage, the way the paladin takes big but soft steps towards his house and how his hunched over body over Madeleine's shoulders swayed back and forth in a kinda rough but soothing way, like a baby in a cradle rocking back and forth. Espresso tried his hardest to fight back the fog that consumed his mind, but he couldn't do it.
They made it home as Madeleine slowly walked in and shut the door quietly, making his way to their bedroom. As they arrived Madeleine softly placed the sleepy coffee mage on the mattress, tucking him into the covers as Espresso tiredly tried to leave to go to his lab. He tiredly waved his arms in the air, trying to grasp the air to his lab.
"Shhh, laydown sweetheart." Madeleine cooed, softly placing a hand on his cheek stroking it lightly.
"Your tired aren't you sweetheart? How long have you been up, you don't usually be this irritated at me."
"Mm always rritatd' at yuoh.." Espresso slurred, his voice becoming inaudible as his eyes started to feel heavy.
"havnn' slpped in siz weekkz...workkinn…"
Madeleine felt his heart twist in his chest, he felt bad that he wasn't there for his boyfriend. He's been on patrol that whole week, Espresso always saying that he was okay and that he had enough sleep. Maybe it was the stress of patrol or the fact that he didn't want to pressure him any further, believing what his boyfriend said. He obviously lied, right in his face but his thick skull couldn't see past it.
Madeleine felt his eyes burn, hot fresh tears stream down his face. Why was he crying? He shouldn't be crying, Espresso is the one who isn't well! Stop feeling sorry for yourself.
Madeleine squeezed his eyes shut, trying not to let the bad thoughts take over, but he couldn't help it. Was he really a bad boyfriend? Can't even take care of him or see past his lies? He knows Espresso lies about his health, Madeleine knows this! And yet Espresso hasn't slept in six weeks because of him, Espresso's health hasn't gotten any better. Espresso-
"Madelle...was wronn?"
Espresso softly cooed, weakly cupping the paladins cheek. Madeleine's eyes shot open and looked at the sleepy coffee mage in front of him. Madeleine’s eyes soften as Espresso gently caressed his cheek, wiping the tears from the paladins face.
“Donn cry…shcuhh a pretty facee soulnnt be ruinnnd..” Espresso smiled, which made Madeleine’s heartthrob in a good way.
“Mmmsorry, my faultt donn balmme ursfl…” Espresso’s leaned in weakly trying to reach the paladins face, noticing this action Madeleine leaned in as well. Both of them closed their eyes as the gap closed, Espresso’s lips were a bit chapped but soft and full of rich coffee flavor. Madeleine felt his heart relax as the tears stopped, kissing Espresso back softly and passionately. They both broke apart as Espresso patted the space beside him, signaling him to sleep beside him. Understanding the gesture Madeleine removed his armor as he slid right beside Espresso in bed, covering them both with the blanket. Espresso snuggled into Madeleine’s chest as he took a breath and relaxed into his boyfriend. Madeleine smiled at the sight and lightly tugged Espresso closer, giving him a soft peck on the forehead before resting with him. Both of them were knocked out and slept comfortably in each other’s arms.
The moonlight hit Espresso as he slowly woke up, feeling all groggily he slowly opened his eyes to meet with the paladins face. Blushing Espresso was about to remove himself from the grip before realizing what happened before he passed out. Madeleine was upset with himself about Espresso’s bad sleep schedule, If he were to leave and study again Madeleine would sure blame himself again. So with a change of heart, Espresso only cuddled into his lover more. The smell of vanilla was strong, he felt content and safe in his boyfriend’s arms. He felt an overwhelming amount of guilt hit him as he remembered the sudden irritation and rudeness he displayed earlier when walking home. He didn’t mean to snap, but Madeleine was right. Espresso had nobody to celebrate the holidays with, he would often be invited by his sister Latte but would decline as he felt he wasn’t worthy of her time. Last Valentine’s he was alone, the other cookies would send him letters but they were cheap pre-written cards bought from the nearest store, Espresso thought of these as thoughtless pieces of cardboard cookies would buy when they have no idea what to write. Espresso found these careless with no emotion or thought put onto them. The fact that he was always alone on these holidays didn’t help is an opinion on this at all, but the lack of sleep and a sudden feeling of loneliness he always felt on these days made him forget the most important person in his life now. He had to fix it, and he thought of one way to express his thoughts to his lover without saying anything.
Madeleine woke up to sudden soft pecks being placed on his face, Espresso filled his face with gentle warm kisses all the way from his head to his neck. Madeleine blushed at the sudden affection and let out a soft moan as he kissed all on his neck. Espresso looked up, dark brown eyes meeting bright blue ones. His eyes softened at the man beside him as he continued to kiss along his neck. Madeleine let out shaky breaths watching his lover peck along his neck.
“E-essy…? What’s gotten into you, s-sweetie..?”
Madeleine managed to get out as Espresso stopped to look at his face again.
“I’m sorry Madelle, I wasn’t being fair to you. I lased out for no reason, n didn’t sleep as you wanted.”
“It’s okay honey…I know you were just tired…but the sudden kisses?”
“I…well I didn’t buy anything for you for valentines day, so I thought this would be okay…Sorry.”
“Hey hey it’s okay Essy.” The paladin cooed. “I didn’t get you anything either, I just wanted to spend time with you love.”
“B-but today? What about exchanging chocolates and buying thoughtless cards?”
“Essy, I don’t have to buy any of that, well I could but I wanted to give you something better.”
“Better?”
“Yes!” Madeleine chuckled “I don’t need to buy anything to express my love honey, as much as I love being cheesy I wanted to surprise you today!”
Espresso looked at his partner for a bit before speaking, a slight frown forming on his lips.
“Ah…well as much as I hate to admit, I as well was going to purchase some chocolates for you. It was going to be a quick trip after my studies but…I seemed to fail to complete both tasks.
“Essy…” Madeleine cupped both of his cheeks, beaming brightly as he spoke.
“You didn’t fail, you gave me the best gift I could ever ask for!”
“I did?”
“Mhm! You were planning to buy me something even after the speech you lashed at me earlier, and gave me so many sweet kisses when I have awoken!”
Espresso’s eyes grew wide, his heart started to throb a bit as his lover continued his speech.
“Essy, no amount of chocolates are as sweet as you.”
In a swift motion, Madeleine caught his lover’s lips into his own. Passionately kissing him as he softly caressed his cheek with his thumb.
Valentines was still a horrid day for espresso, but he came to enjoy it if it means getting kisses from Madeleine. Not that he’d ever admit that though.