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Almond has never really felt this bored before. He had completed every major case he was working on and since Parfaedia thankfully has some local traditions of not using magic, there has been a major decrease in magical accidents. It feels too quiet, too calm. After living a life of complete chaos, Almond feels off whenever it's actually quiet.
He taps the mug he's holding, since M.E.H. is actually quiet and he's not going to be needed for a bit, it wouldn't be too much of a suggestion to go and pay his “partner” a quick visit. Lord, he's still stuck in a professional mind-space…
Almond signs out to go on break, it is the holidays and the receptionist was understanding enough that she didn't ask questions. He tightens his coat around him, fastening the belt that usually would just be hanging from the back around his waist. Parfaedia was much colder around these seasons and he was not going to risk anything. As he makes his way out of the centre of the city, he can eventually make out the office near the park. Making a detour over there, he watches as some families and groups spend their free days hanging out and interacting with each other. This was the reason why he was doing this, for people to feel relaxed and be able to breathe freely in their home…
Almond sighs, he was getting mushy and he needed to retain some professionalism if he wanted to avoid being interrogated by the L.C.A. receptionist; he's already pretty darn noisy and Almond did not have energy to be arguing. The building was more modern than where Almond was working but that was to be expected, the firm filled with tons of expert lawyers was bound to be wealthy with funds. As he enters, he notices the festive decor and also that the reception was empty, good, he was safe. He simply swipes his key-card and he gets access to the higher floors, the security here was also much more tight for reasons he's not exactly up to theorising through. The detective quickly walks up the stairs, equally as unwilling to accidentally stumble into one of the more younger lawyers who definitely will recognise him. The man was already shocked to find out that when new hires are guided through, they also are given a light description of common visitors (him being one of them.)
Almond finally reaches the fifth floor, turning left and keeping his steps very light so as to not alert anyone. Finally, reaching the fifth door he could rest easy reading the title: "Chief Prosecutor. Cappuccino Cookie.” He lightly knocks 5 times, 2 heavy, 3 light and is immediately met with a “Come in.”
Almond opens the door, folding at the sight of his husband. Cappuccino's face already has a smile on it, widening even more when he returns the gaze. The shorter quickly stands up and Almond closes the door behind him.
“Oh, honey, I was already beginning to think about calling you, but it seems like someone decided to surprise me instead.” Cappuccino grins as he walks up to the slightly taller man, one of his hands quickly making itself comfortable on Almond's hip while the other gently swiped hair behind the detective's ear.
“I could feel it, felt like an itch under my skin, and I just needed to come over.” Almond curtly responds, more eager to enjoy the other's prominent affection. Cappuccino continues to fawn over the other.
“Seems like we're both missing each other dearly, my sweet Mondo.” He giggles, almost like a schoolgirl, leaning closer to really soak up the other's presence. “I hope no one bothered you on your way here?”
“No, seems like everyone is either on leave or busy. It is unusually quiet today, eh?” Almond eagerly leans into the other's actions, but does attempt to appear more subtle. Cappuccino doesn't seem to care about it though. The prosecutor quickly checks that Almond's outfit is perfectly put, it being a common problem that Almond looks completely disheveled at the end of the day.
“Sugar, you don't have to-”
“Yes, I do. Stay put, let me look.” Cappuccino quickly orders and since Almond isn't one for arguing with his dearest, he shuts up. Cappuccino then finally finds what his instincts had been looking for.
“Did you walk through the park?”
“Yes, how'd ya know?”
“You have Christmas roses on your coat, sweetheart.” Cappuccino states clearly, pulling the branch off of the other. “You really were in a rush, huh?” The shorter smirks, gently waving the branch like a smug parent finding contraband.
“Fine, I wanted to come quickly, is that what you want to hear, darling?” Despite the faintly sour tone, Almond's words carry absolutely zero bite, only placing one of his hands on his hip since the other was already occupied.
“I already knew that was the answer, but it is quite sweet to hear it right from your mouth.” Cappuccino snaps off a specific branch before gently placing it in Almond's hair, much to the surprise of the detective. He then places the rest of the branch in the button hole of the coat lapel on the detective's coat. “Look at you…mio caro…” the Prosecutor coos, leaning close to place a soft kiss on the other's jaw. Almond didn't resist, folding immediately to the other's actions.
“Aren't you a bloody menace…?”
“God, why can't you spare the stupid British-speak when we're doing this?” Cappuccino teases with a tired tone.
“Shut it, sugar, you know you love it.” Almond chuckles, becoming even stronger at the other's non-verbal response of just nuzzling into his neck. “I'm right and you know it.”
The two stay in this silent embrace for a while, simply soaking in each other for who knows how long until Cappuccino notices something new.
“Your scent…it has returned.”
“Eh? Really?” Almond is taken aback by the comment, he was already under the impression that it was permanently gone.
“Yes…” the prosecutor leans even closer, taking a deep breath of the previously missing smell. “How I missed this…” he purrs, wrapping both of his arms around the detective. “Now that I feel you…you've gained a little weight no?”
“Finally had time for lunch…it was killing me even more than before when I didn't have it…” Almond simply responds, yawning a little and not paying it much attention.
“You wouldn't gain so much this fast, it's barely been a month or two…” Cappuccino muses, “Even more strange that your scent is back, even sweeter than before.”
“You remember what it was like before?” the detective inquiries, surprised at his husband's memory.
“Of course I do, I wouldn't call you my sweetheart for nothing.” He weakly flicks the other’s arm, going back to thinking.
“Mondo… you don't think…?” He quietly suggests, the words hanging in the air as the realization dawns on the detective.
“Oh…oh my god…” Almond simply blurts out, covering his mouth. “This quickly? I thought it'd take another month or two before…” his voice trails off, his eyes wide but his position still very relaxed. He simply trails off into soft giggles. “What an early Christmas gift…” Almond's giggles intensify at the prosecutor tightening the hug with glee.
“I knew it! I damn knew it!” Cappuccino happily proclaims, lightly shaking the other in excitement. “Walnut is going to be so excited…” he laughs, resting his face in the crook of the detective's neck.
“You can say that again, darling…” Almond muses, thinking back to Walnut suddenly asking for a younger sibling a few months ago. It was surprising at first, but the couple had already been thinking about expanding the family before and Walnut's sudden request just solidified that idea into action.
“Lord, that does explain the sudden exhaustion…” Almond giggles, pressing light kisses on his husband's head.
“We both really need to fix our routines now…” Cappuccino simply responds, his finger drawing circles in the other's back. “Can't be slacking with another one on the way.”
“No, I guess I'll also have to file for paternity leave.” Almond sighs, leaning onto the shorter.
“Mh-hmm…let's hope our little detective is excited about the news.”
“Cap, darling, she was the one asking for a sibling, she's definitely going to be over the moon…”
“I know that, kids are unpredictable though…” Cappuccino gives a light tap on the other's lower back, already probably thinking of ways to help the detective support it.
“At least you're always one step ahead… Ah, what would I do without you…?” The detective chuckles, relaxing into the prosecutor and thinking about their possible future.
•••
Although, what Almond didn't expect was that after the ultrasound he'd be met with the news that ,while he wouldn't know the child's gender, he'd at least get to know that he was actually expecting twins.
“Oh lord…” he sighs fondly, looking at the picture in his hand.
He was definitely going to have his hands full soon.