Work Text:
Almond Cookie grumbled tiredly. Dawn was starting to set in, setting his tired tone. He had been working on a case all day, trying to figure things out. Driving to places, investigating, interrogating.. This wasn't the first time he'd spent a whole day working on a case like this. He was tuckered out in those cases, too. He yawned. He tried to focus on his work, but he just couldn't. He laid back in his chair, frustrated. "Goddamn, I'm tired." He mumbled. He forced himself to take a sip of the cheap coffee his department gave. He smacked his lips a couple of times.
Still so much time, yet he felt like crashing onto a bed. He shook his head, looking at the files and documentations of the case he was working on again. "Let's see.." he muttered, starting to think again.
As soon as he had started, though, a noise snapped him out of his thoughts. Someone knocked at the door a couple of times. Almond Cookie sighed, sitting up straight. He donned on his coat and straightened his tie. "Come in!" He shouted.
A moment later, another Cookie walked through the door, closing it behind her. "Oh. Hey, Latte." Almond greeted her.
Latte set her staff down, leaning it next to the door. "Hey, Almond. Are you alright?"
Almond laid back in his chair again, feeling a little more relaxed. He made a stretching noise and said, "Yup. All good, Latte."
Latte looked at his desk, looking at all the things he was working on. He felt bad for the guy. So much work, almost all the time. He hardly ever had a moment to himself. "Almond," She started, although trailed off when she noticed an image on the corner of his desk.
"Hm?"
Latte looked at the small picture, picking it up softly and turning it right side up. "You still have this image, Almond?"
Almond felt a little embarrassed. It was the image Cream Puff Cookie had taken of him and her during her graduation. It had been a few months since then. "Yeah, I do." He said slowly. "I've been meaning to get it framed."
Latte chuckled a little. "Months later and you still haven't gotten it framed?"
Almond sighed, leaning forward and using his desk as support for his head. "Been too busy with work to get it done."
Latte's face morphed into a slightly concerned one. "Almond.." she quietly, softly said. "Have you been overworking yourself?"
Almond rolled his eyes, shaking his head lightly. "I wouldn't say that, Latte. Just doing what my job calls of me." He yawned.
"What about Walnut Cookie, Almond? Have you been taking care of her, too?"
Almond growled lowly, closing his eyes. "I've been.. doing my best, Latte. Trust me."
Latte sighed. "I trust you've been doing your best, dear, but.." she looked at his eyes. "With how much you've been working, especially recently, is it enough for her?"
Almond grunted, balling his hands into fists.
Latte looked at him, sadly. She then looked at his closed curtains, behind him. She walked behind him, he watched her. She opened up the curtains. "Isn't the sunset so beautiful, Almond?" She looked at the scene in front of her with a bright smile. "You oughta take a break."
Almond shook his head. "No, Latte. That'd be foolish."
Latte grabbed the chair in front of his desk and dragged it behind him, in front of the window. "It's more foolish to not take care of yourself, old man." She teased. "Sit with me for a while. Enjoy the view, would you?"
Almond grumbled. "You're so persistent." He turned his chair around and rolled it by the window, next to her.
"Yet you give in." She laughed.
Almond sighed, a small smile forming on his face. "You know, you are right. It does look really nice out there." He admitted.
"Take some time to enjoy yourself once in a while, Almond. We're all worried about you." She looked down at the town below. Cookies roamed the streets, walking in and out of stores, walking with one another. "The citizens, Cream Puff, Walnut," she sighed, a more somber look on her face now. "Me." She looked at him. Almond looked at her. "We're all worried, Almond. Everyone's noticed your change in demeanor, your tiredness. We rarely see you interacting with everyone out there."
Almond took a breath. "Yeah? Well.. when the duty calls, I can't ignore it, you know. I swear to keep this place safe. If it means it's the death of me, then at least I did what I swore to do." He spoke softly.
Latte frowned. She touched his face, his cheek. "Please, Almond. Don't say that. I couldn't imagine you dying." She sniffled once. Almond felt his heart hurt, hearing that. "You're already working yourself to death, Almond. You've proven already how much you do for everyone. You don't need to keep proving it. Please.." she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him. Her giant chocolate hat almost fell off. "Don't keep doing this to yourself."
Almond didn't know what to say. He wasn't very good when it came to emotions like this. He felt a few tears stain his shirt. Fuck, now she was crying. He started to pat her back a little. "Latte, don't.. don't cry." He breathed shakily. "I'll be fine, I promise."
She sniffled. "That's not the promise I want to hear." She breathed very shakily, letting a couple of wet sobs out. "Promise me you'll take a break. Promise me." She hugged him tighter, her hat falling to the floor, her white, flowing hair now being shoved in front of Almond's face. "Please." She said desperately.
Almond stared at her, her hair. He hugged her back. "Okay, Latte." He whispered into her ear. "I promise." His voice deepened. "You have my word."
"Thank you." She said, still holding him. A couple of moments passed, and she stayed like that. Almond allowed her. Then, she sat up in her chair again, letting go of him, but touching and slowly caressing his cheek. She looked out the window again, the sun almost completely gone.
She stood up, walking over to her staff. Almond watched tiredly. She walked back to her seat, staff in hand. She used her staff to open the window, a cool autumn breeze pouring in the room. "Look." She touched his chin, and made him look out the window.
Out the window, a bunch of milk formulated in front of the two. It flowed throughout the air, circling, forming two separate puddles of milk in the sky. Those puddles then started to circle in a pattern, like some sort of light show, custom made for him, by Latte.
He watched, completely focused on what was happening. Then, the two puddles splashed against each other. Then, the two puddles, symmetrically, formed a symbol in the sky. Both puddles curved up and away, then curved back down and joined back together.
A white, milk liquid heart in the sky for him to stare at.
A second later, Latte planted a small kiss onto his cheek, then resting her forehead into the side of his head. She smiled happily, a few tear stains on her face.
Almond couldn't help but smile. He stopped himself from chuckling. He stared at the heart happily, until it disappeared from the sky, the sun finally setting. "Thank you, Latte."
Latte closed her eyes, and shifted herself to lean on his shoulder. Her staff rested on her lap, and his. She had both hands on top of the staff. "Love you, Almond."
Almond sighed happily. He took a hold of one of her hands. "Y'know, I've always loved you, too."
She giggled, opening her eyes to look up at him.
The two stared at each other in the eyes. "May I?" Latte whispered.
"..." He smiled. "Sure." He said quietly.
The two leaned into each other, giving each other a kiss. They softly felt each other's lips. Latte's lips reeked of sweet, sweet chocolate, with a pinch of milk. Almond's lips were relatively tasteless, but she could sense a hint of almond. All the work must've tainted that taste away. But she still loved kissing him, regardless of it.
The two separated, happily looking each other in the eyes. "You dropped your hat." Almond teased.
She looked down at her hat on the floor. "You lost yours."
Almond laughed. "Wh-ha-hat? I don't wear a hat, Latte."
She picked up her hat from the floor and placed it onto him. "There's your hat back, Almond." She smiled, leaning onto him, closing her eyes.
He laughed. "It looks much better on you, Latte." He took it off and placed it onto her resting head. "It fits you perfectly, beautiful."
"You're such a charmer." She said happily.
"I don't know if that is entirely accurate." He chuckled.
"You're charming to me."
He rested his head on hers. "You're just as beautiful and sweet as I always remember."