Work Text:
"Sora, I don't think I'm the right person to help you with this..."
"Cove, please."
Sora was pacing around the kitchen while his roommate, Cove Holden, watched him panic over Valentine's Day and what to do for his boyfriend, whom he managed to reunite with after five years of silence and pining: Baxter Ward.
That same Sora was begging Cove for his help on date ideas.
"You know I've never been in a relationship," Cove sighed. "Whatever contribution I could think of won't be impressive or anything. Especially since this is for Baxter."
"I know..." Sora groaned before finally stopping and giving Cove his full attention. "But this is my first time celebrating Valentine's Day with anyone in a romantic way! Even if it's Baxter, you'd help me!"
"Why not ask Terry and Miranda?" Cove looked at Sora with a raised eyebrow, "I'm sure their input would be more valuable than anything I would have to offer."
"I didn't want to bother Terry or Miranda with my Valentine woes, and I don't doubt they're already planning something for Valentine's Day," Sora explained, pushing his hair back. "The other option I could have asked about Valentine's advice was my moms! I don't think I'd live if I heard my moms embarrassing me over my love life..."
"Not to mention, this is Baxter we're talking about! I want to plan something—you know—perfect for the both of us!" Sora finally stopped his ramble and tried to calm himself down. "I got him back after years of silence on his end. I want to show my love for him. How much I care..."
Cove's expression turned into something more sympathetic. Cove remembered how Sora took Baxter leaving all those years ago. It was the first time Cove ever saw Sora in such a heartbroken state. It took days for Sora to stop tearing up whenever he thought about it. Cove could never forget how he'd let Sora rant about his feelings about Baxter and how devastated Sora became.
It made the fact that Sora and Baxter got back together again even more surprising to Cove.
"Besides, Baxter isn't that fancy!" Sora waved off Cove's past statement. "Your contribution is important, no matter how simple it is."
"Really?" Cove raised an eyebrow at the fancy comment, not believing much of the statement. Sora went quiet at that, pondering his statement as well.
"He is still fancy, but I doubt he wants something lavish. I want a nice date that we can both enjoy."
Sora pressed his hands together in a begging notion: "Cove, you've been my friend for years. I'll make you chocolate if you help me, alright? I'm clueless without your help!"
Cove visibly perked up at that before laughing a bit.
"Clueless without my help? I don't know about that," Cove smiled before shaking his head. "Because it's you, I'll help you, but you can't blame me if my ideas are boring and not up to Baxter's standards."
Sora visibly relaxed at Cove's confirmation that he'd help.
"This is why you're my best friend!" Sora said giddily, "I'll make the chocolate you like, alright?"
Cove slightly blushed at that, not surprised that Sora caught how he didn't deny wanting him to make chocolates as payment for helping.
"Where do we start?" Cove leaned over the counter, ready to hear Sora out on whatever his Valentine's plans held in store. "Good place to start!" Sora finger-gunned Cove's way before going into his ideas.
…
"...Since you're close to Sora, I was hoping you could help me with what to get for him."
Cove could not believe the situation he was in. He finished helping Sora with date ideas for his date a few minutes ago and is planning to help work on making chocolate for Baxter tomorrow with him. Now Baxter Ward was calling him about what to do for Sora.
Despite Cove's bafflement, he wouldn't leave Baxter without an answer.
"What ideas do you have so far?" Cove asked after a few seconds of silence. "Well." Baxter cut himself off, trying to collect his thoughts. "I'll let Sora handle the date since he asked me to be his Valentine. But I want to get him a gift."
"It just so happens that I don't know about Sora's preferences for chocolates or flowers." Cove could hear Baxter's expression tighten just by his tone. "Expected, but still. I should've known more about my own boyfriend's taste."
"Well," Cove hummed to himself. "What do you want to know? Do you have any ideas?"
"Do you know his preference for sweets?" Baxter exhaled. "I've never had the chance to know that too well."
"Okay," Cove hummed, thinking carefully. "Sora likes white or milk chocolate the best if you want to get him chocolate, but you should avoid anything with nuts in the chocolate."
Cove could hear Baxter shuffling around. Cove could only assume he perked up at his words.
"Hallelujah," Baxter let out a small laugh, "Good to know."
"As for flowers..." Cove had to think about that for a second, "Sora always loved hibiscus..."
"Really?"
"Yeah, though Sora has always liked flowers. I'm sure any flower you would get him he would love."
"I'll keep it noted," Cove could hear the smirk in Baxter's tone alone, but it felt more out of relief than smugness. "Anything else I should know before I start my gifts?"
"Sora isn't too materialistic," Cove hummed, "It feels like Sora wouldn't mind getting anything, so long as it's from someone he cares about."
"Sora loves you that just being with you would be enough," Cove noted. Baxter went quiet at that. "I see..." Baxter cleared his throat, "I'm flattered that Sora would see me like that, considering everything."
"And... please don't tell Sora about this," Baxter added, "If Sora knew I consulted you about this, I have a feeling he'd find a way to tease me about it. He's a big fan of doing that..."
"You have nothing to worry about," Cove answered, knowing how teasing Sora could get with his friends.
After a few quick goodbyes, Baxter hung up. Cove fell back against his bed and just let out a laugh.
"This is going to be an interesting week..."
...
As the days passed, Cove continued to help Sora prepare for Valentine's Day by offering ideas and talking Sora out of some, and whenever Baxter would call him, he'd tell Baxter about Sora's interests if he asked.
Cove got stuck between the two lovers as their little helper for each other unintentionally.
After what seemed like days, the moment finally came when everything would come together for the Valentine's date. Sora was messing with his suit and seeing if he had everything before leaving to meet with Baxter. Cove was watching Sora from afar with a satisfied smile.
"Do you think the suit looks okay?" Sora swiftly turned to Cove, "It's not creased anywhere, right?"
"You look good, Sora," Cove replied with a content smile.
"I remembered to get everything ready, right?" Sora pushed his hair back, "Are the chocolates-"
"We put the chocolates away in your car five minutes ago," Cove stood up to approach Sora. He put a comforting hand on Sora's shoulder, not wanting to go for a hug in case the suit got messed up by it.
If anyone would be allowed to mess up Sora's neat clothing, it would have to be Baxter. Cove didn't think he had that right.
"He's going to love what you have planned, Sora," Cove offered an assuring smile, "I know he will."
"You believe so?" Sora let out a nervous chuckle. "Don't worry - I know he will," Cove nodded before taking his hand off the other's shoulder.
At Cove's statement, Sora became slightly surprised before taking a deep breath. "You're right," Sora stood up straighter, "Thank you, Cove."
Despite Cove's previous hesitation, Sora pulled Cove into a hug, not caring if it messed up his suit.
"It's nothing, Sora," Cove returned Sora's hug. "For you? I'd do anything." After a few seconds, Sora finally let go of Cove and fixed his suit.
"Well," Sora instantly got giddy, "You got your payment already! Enjoy the fruits of our labor, Cove! I'll be back sometime soon!"
"You know I will," Cove beamed. With that, Sora was gone, and Cove watched him leave, satisfied with his work and chocolate.
...
It was evening when Sora arrived at the meet-up spot, eagerly awaiting Baxter. Sora would've started to pace around if he hadn't seen Baxter from afar. Without any hesitation, Sora ran over to Baxter.
Baxter immediately noticed Sora coming closer and just shook his head before opening his arms for him. Sora took that as an invitation to embrace him once he met Baxter halfway.
"Hello, darling."
"Hey, Baxter- oh my god..."
Sora finally noticed what was in Baxter's hands: a bouquet of hibiscus and roses. Sora gasped as his gaze switched between Baxter and the bouquet in his hands. Meanwhile, Baxter watched Sora's reaction with a fond smirk.
"You think I was going to let you be the only one to do anything for Valentine's Day?" Baxter teased. "No, but-" Sora cut himself off as he stumbled over his words, becoming flustered.
Sora met Baxter's gaze and smiled.
"You can be so..." Sora pondered his words carefully.
"Charming?" Baxter leaned a bit closer.
"Not my first choice of words to describe you," Sora's tone became lighthearted, "but I'll settle for it."
Sora noticed the proximity and pulled Baxter into a kiss, which Baxter quickly accepted. After a few seconds, the kiss eventually ended, yet neither left either's space.
"I missed you," Sora muttered carefully.
"The feeling's mutual then," Baxter's hand stroked Sora's cheek.
Both enjoyed each other's presence before doing anything else. "Wait," a realization came over Sora. He looked at Baxter, "When did I tell you about my favorite flower? I didn't tell you, did I?"
"Ah, that," Baxter stiffened before it disappeared instantly, "To be honest, I didn't know. I called Cove to ask about that detail and others before."
"Wait- what?!" Sora's eyes instantly widened. "You... so Cove helped you?"
"In a way - yes," Baxter nodded.
Sora thought about that before suppressing a giggle.
"If I'd known that, maybe I would've gone easier on Cove," Sora managed to say. It was Baxter's turn to be perplexed, and Sora immediately noticed.
"I also had Cove's help with our Valentine's Day," Sora rubbed his neck and laughed, "Unlike you, he helped me a lot more."
Like Sora's, Baxter's eyes widened in surprise as well.
Baxter and Sora shared a glance before laughing.
"I can't believe we both went to Cove for this!" Sora spoke through his laughter, "No wonder he was acting weird when I was leaving!"
"He was acting weird?" Baxter did a better job holding back his laughter, though he had a smile nonetheless, "How so? Did Cove give me away?"
"Nope," Sora shook his head, "What he said before I left did confuse me. Good for you, though - Cove kept your little secret until the end."
Baxter's gaze filled with affection and relief.
"Well then, I'll be sure to remember that whenever I'm planning something for you," Baxter brushed a bit of Sora's hair out of his face, making Sora instantly flustered.
"Anyways!" Sora cleared his throat and didn't meet Baxter's eyes, "Cove and I made chocolates, and he got some of them, so I'm sure he didn't mind helping us!"
"Chocolate?" Baxter tilted his head, "You made chocolate for me?"
"Yeah!" Sora beamed and took the hibiscus bouquet from his boyfriend before leading him somewhere, "personally made!"
"I'm excited to taste it then," Baxter went by Sora's side to take his hand in his. Sora squeezed his hand once before explaining the date he had planned out.
...
Hours later, Cove got a message from Sora while enjoying his Valentine's chocolate.
'Thanks Cove. For helping two lovestruck fools with their date.' was what the message said. Cove just smiled before sending a message of his own.
'It was worth it.'