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Espresso Cookie had been getting used to the strange feeling that was optimism.
Maybe it was seeing this young Cookie, who had grown on him as more than just a junior research partner, go to lengths he could never achieve. Maybe it was seeing another Cookie make him a coffee for the morning after being upset that said Cookie had dragged him into bed for what was simply conserving warmth while resting his eyes.
Strawberry Crepe Cookie had, initially, been hesitant to trust Madeleine Cookie. They were already very particular about who could enter the Wafflebot Hangar, so a guest that also distracted Espresso Cookie wasn't going over smoothly. However, similarly to Espresso Cookie, a few dozen sugarcoated donuts and some time to adjust made Madeleine Cookie's presence bearable.
Bearable. That was all it was.
Espresso Cookie could adapt to conserving warmth by having himself wrapped up in the arms of another Cookie while he closed his eyes to rest them. He could adjust himself to the adequately made espressos. It wasn't the worst coffee he'd had, after all. He could tolerate the softness in Madeleine Cookie's voice that crept in when he was tired. He could sit through the evenings where he worked with the extra challenge of being flattered. If it was truly necessary, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for Madeleine Cookie to kiss his forehead in the morning and open the curtains slowly enough to let in a dim light.
It was more than bearable. Espresso Cookie knew nothing was perfect, but he was certain he'd seen something pretty close.
Enough about Madeleine Cookie. Being in such close proximity to him started to help Espresso Cookie understand why so many Cookies were absolutely devastated to find out he was in a relationship.
After leaving the Crème Republic, him and Madeleine Cookie hadn't looked back. The minute news went public, they knew things could go downhill. Custard Cookie was notorious for going to great lengths to get his way, and they wouldn't put Grand Madeleine Cookie or Seaweed Cookie or any of the other Cookies close to them in any sort of danger.
Was he homesick? That was his secret. Did he love Madeleine Cookie? He would say it was a secret, but they announced it to an entire country as a political sacrifice, so he had to admit he did. As Espresso Cookie worked this morning, however, he was greeted by a familiar guest.
"Black Raisin Cookie!" Strawberry Crepe Cookie said, dropping their wrench to greet the other Cookie.
"Ah, Strawberry Crepe Cookie," Black Raisin Cookie replied with a smile.
Espresso Cookie had known that Black Raisin Cookie was a mother figure to Strawberry Crepe Cookie before he had met them. Black Raisin Cookie had guided Strawberry Crepe Cookie after they had finally broken from the control of Dark Enchantress Cookie, and that was the kind of bond that couldn't be broken. Espresso Cookie could only dream of how his childhood would have gone had he grown up with a figure like Black Raisin Cookie.
"I actually have some news for Espresso Cookie and Madeleine Cookie," Black Raisin Cookie continued, the smaller Cookie putting on a pout.
"Boring," Strawberry Crepe Cookie scoffed, walking back towards the Wafflebot they were doing repairs on. Espresso Cookie glanced at his watch. Madeleine Cookie should return with a half dozen sugarcoated donuts from the Crow's Nest within a few minutes.
Black Raisin Cookie continued walking towards Espresso Cookie, carefully stepping around the various parts scattered across the floor of the Wafflebot Hangar.
"Where's Madeleine Cookie?" Black Raisin Cookie asked.
"Wouldn't I like to know..." Espresso Cookie chuckled. "He's bringing some breakfast for me and my research partner."
"He'll want to hear this," Black Raisin Cookie sighed. "Perhaps I should-"
"Espresso Cookie!" Madeleine Cookie shouted, entering the Wafflebot Hangar with the coveted sugarcoated donut box in his hand. "Ah, Black Raisin Cookie! A lovely morning, isn't it?"
"Speak of the devil," she laughed. "Indeed. I was just about to pass a message from Pure Vanilla Cookie along to you two."
"From Pure Vanilla Cookie?" Madeleine Cookie replied, his face intrigued. "I'll be over there in just a moment."
Strawberry Crepe Cookie was already jumping up towards the box Madeleine Cookie held, trying to grab its contents for themself. The paladin opened it up, handing the young Cookie the precious cargo. They ran back to their work, already halfway through the donut by the time they sat back down.
Espresso Cookie watched this play out with a great sense of fondness. This was his life. He had moved to the Vanilla Kingdom for some space, but had found more than that. He had finally found somewhere he belonged.
"Here we are," Madeleine Cookie said, finally past the scrap metal scattered on the floor of the hangar. He set the box of donuts down next to Espresso Cookie's coffee, looking up towards Black Raisin Cookie. "You were saying?"
"Pure Vanilla Cookie has decided to host a celebration of our successes across Earthbread over the past year for Cookiesmas," Black Raisin Cookie explained. Espresso Cookie's face fell. "Believe me, both myself and the Ancient Heroes discouraged him-"
"I need to go write my will," Espresso Cookie sighed. Madeleine Cookie gave him a playful nudge on his shoulder.
"It's not your fault," Madeleine Cookie said to Black Raisin Cookie. "Besides, I'm quite curious to know what's going on in the Republic. My mother hasn't given me much about the political state."
That was certainly true. Espresso Cookie remembered when he had read one of Grand Madeleine Cookie's letters alongside Madeleine Cookie.
-- ★ --
"Espresso Cookie!" Madeleine Cookie called, holding an envelope in his hand.
"Yes, Madeleine Cookie?" Espresso Cookie asked, adjusting his glasses.
"It's a letter from my mother," Madeleine Cookie explained. "Take a break, dear."
Espresso Cookie glanced outside. The sun was nearly gone, and he wouldn't have much light to work with. He sighed, setting down the research paper he had been reading. As Madeleine Cookie began to read the letter out loud, he sat next to him.
'My dear Madeleine Cookie,'
'I hope it brings you peace of mind to know that House Madeleine is still on the Convocation. Custard Cookie hasn't even challenged our position, so our family is not going anywhere. However, I don't wish to burden you with politics. All I'll say is your actions will have a lasting impression on the Senate, Convocation, and civilian Cookies about what impact speaking out for your rights can change.'
-- ★ --
After that portion of the letter, Espresso Cookie had sort of tuned things out. While he knew he had been accepted by House Madeleine as part of the family, he still felt like he was intruding by listening to the rest of the letter.
"You have about a week until they're here," Black Raisin Cookie continued. "I'll let you know where they'll be staying once Pure Vanilla Cookie makes the arrangements."
Black Raisin Cookie excused herself, muttering an apology before she left. Espresso Cookie was still processing. It shouldn't be this big of a deal, but he was worried. He could have ruined the reputation of both Cookies in the Lower City and researchers at the Institute. Seaweed Cookie could resent him. He feared that he had sown chaos in the Republic and then abandoned ship.
"Dear Espresso Cookie," Madeleine Cookie said, his voice gentle, "we'll be alright."
"I didn't have a standing in the Republic to begin with," Espresso Cookie chuckled. "I worry for you. While your family was okay legally, what about socially? House Scone was in power for a good amount of time as the entire Republic turned on them."
"You're a Vanillian," Madeleine Cookie replied. "We are Vanillians. We may be Republicans by birthright, but this is our home. I love you, and I will never regret telling that to the world just to fix one of the many things broken in the Crème Republic."
"This could have made things worse for the Lower City," Espresso Cookie sighed. "What if I only made the Upper City resent them more for simply existing?"
"I won't pretend to come close to understanding what life in the Lower City was like," Madeleine Cookie said. "But I can tell you House Madeleine has done great things for them, and if you are a part of House Madeleine, then you are a part of that. You have long repaid your debt to them, Espresso Cookie."
Madeleine Cookie opened the box of sugarcoated donuts, grabbing one for himself. As he ate it, Espresso Cookie started to laugh. Madeleine Cookie scowled, playfulness in his eyes.
"What's so funny?" Madeleine Cookie asked, his mouth still full.
"You look ridiculous with the sugar all over your face," Espresso Cookie replied. He brought his hand up to Madeleine Cookie's face, brushing off the sugar. They shared a quick peck afterwards, and the tension from Black Raisin Cookie's news was dissolved.
Strawberry Crepe Cookie made a gagging noise, gesturing for Espresso Cookie to return to his work.
"Espresso Cookie!" Strawberry Crepe Cookie whined. "We have a deadline if the Custard-With-No-Custard Cookie is coming in a week!"
Strawberry Crepe Cookie was growing so fast. It made Espresso Cookie feel like an old Cookie, especially after seeing Wafflebots in the streets of the Crème Republic. While he had helped make efficiency tweaks to the design of the Wafflebots, he had left the younger Cookie to figure most of it out on their own. They liked the independence.
He didn't know when he had gone from the tired professor slaving away towards a nation that barely respected his right to survive to an independent researcher who had become a father figure and partner to two Cookies, one of which he'd sworn to never befriend. However, there was one thing for certain:
If time stopped here, Espresso Cookie wouldn't mind it at all.