Work Text:
Langue de Chat's hair is drenched from playing by the shore, his mother being the cause by shoving water at him. Yet he wasn't the slightest bothered by it, but actually rather happy. It's a deserved vacation, Cappuccino cookie had told him. He was slightly envious how seemingly easy Cappuccino cookie relaxed under the parasol whilst he was struggling to not think even about any potential cases.
"Watch out, a wave is coming!" his mother exclaimed before more water ultimately got on him.
"S-stop it!" he giggles, shielding himself with his hands. So this is how it's like to let loose.
They're all in the sea; waist-level deep. His father watches with a content smile, occaisonally snickering at them. Nothing's ever felt so alive. From afar, Walnut cookie excitedly waves at him, as well as Amond cookie but with far less enthusiasm. It's hard to imagine now that, about a few weeks ago, they were all in court with that bribery-receiving Judge Bear Jelly.
Suddenly his mother playfully shoves water to his father. "Don't think you're safe!"
With a grin, his father retaliates by doing the same. "You either!"
Smilling has never felt more natural. Langue de Chat cookie shook his head in amusement. "I'll dry up a bit. You guys keep on playing."
"Go ahead," replied his mother sweetly. Her husband immediately took the chance to splash water at her once more. Yet again, they start splashing water at each other back-and-forth. Langue de Chat giggles.
He made his way to the parasol where Cappuccino cookie lay under. Without him even asking, Cappuccino cookie hands him a towel. "Thanks," says Langue de Chat, as he rubs his hair using the towel. Cappuccino cookie mumbles "You're welcome". He seems quite tired. Now he's finally getting the rest he's been dreaming of. Being skilled in the court room seems exhausting to him, Langue de Chat was thinking.
"Can I sit on the edge of your lounger? You have a lot more space," he remarks.
"Sure," Cappuccino cookie replies simply.
Once he sat down, he saw the full view of the beach; from its sparkling ocean to the bright scorching sun. In front of him, his parents sat on the sand next to each other facing the sea. And yet, naturally, he thought of court again. The first impression he had of Cappuccino cookie was that he's a scary guy; though certainly admirable. Langue de Chat looks over his shoulder and Cappuccino cookie is practically snoring as his sunglasses drop to his nose... He grins. It's absurd in a good way.
To his left, he sees Walnut cookie digging by the shore with Almond cookie making sandcastles right beside her. Using the shells she just dug up, she decorates all of the sandcastles, one by one. Almond cookie grabs a camera from his pocket, and takes a picture of Walnut cookie alongside their proudly made sandcastles. Langue de Chat noticed how everyone seemed to be bonding with their favourite person. He felt a bit envious.
"Hey, Cappuccino cookie..." he mutters, turning to look at Cappuccino cookie.
Cappuccino cookie puts his sunglasses on his head. "Yeah?"
"Do you want to chat, maybe?" he suggests.
Cappuccino cookie lazily smiles. "Sure. Lay next to me."
On the same longuer? Langue de Chat hesitantly laid down, and got even more taken aback when the prosecutor, the one he once fought, puts an arm around his shoulder. He hadn't known the man to be so touchy-feely. It didn't seem feasible. Though odd, I can get used to it, he thought to himself.
Not even the slightest bothered, Cappuccino cookie grabs a drink on the table opposite to Langue de Chat. "What do you want to talk about? As long as it's not work, of course."
"It's kind of related to work, actually," he mumbles.
"Nevermind then," sighs Capuccino cookie. "Go on."
Langue de Chat crosses his arms. "Do you remember Judge Bear Jelly?"
Cappuccino cookie frowns, taking a sip from his drink. "Yeah. I can't believe I spent all those... tiresome days researching... just to find out the judge was bribed to put you at a disadvantage."
He nods in agreement. "I'm glad it's all over, though. He was getting on my nerves."
"Agreed. All I could think about after that was a vacation. Now we're finally getting one," Cappuccino cookie gestures around using his drink.
But at the thought of the judge, he felt his blood boiling. Langue de Chat gnashes his teeth. "Ugh, he was so... annoying! My first trial ever and it goes to waste with a bad judge..."
"Relax, buddy," Cappuccino cookie pats his back in an attempt to comfort him. "This is why I try to avoid talking about work."
Langue de Chat sighs. What's the point whining about it? "I'm sorry, Cappuccino cookie. That was rather immature of me."
He slowly shakes his head, and puts his drink back on the table. "It's fine, I'm furious at him as well. How about we take a walk around the beach?"
He nods. That sounds rather nice, Langue de Chat thought. Cappuccino cookie stood up first, yawning a bit, then gestures him to come along. But before they even began walking, Cappuccino cookie links his arm with Langue de Chat, proving Langue de Chat's 'touchy-feely' remark about him correct. Does he do this with everyone? he was thinking.
They walked right behind Langue de Chat's parents, who were chatting and laughing together, likely something about Langue de Chat, and that warmed his heart. He had such a soft spot for his parents and anyone could tell. Langue de Chat averted his gaze back on Cappuccino cookie, and almost jumped when he saw that the other cookie already has his eyes on him.
"W-what's with the look?" Langue de Chat stammers.
"Nothing," Cappuccino cookie replies teasingly.
He instantly grows flustered. "Don't 'nothing' me!"
Cappuccino cookie simply snickers, and that worsens Langue de Chat's embarrassment. They only continue walking, to Langue de Chat's relief, relishing the tropical resort and its well-made cottages provided for the guests from afar. He's still so aware of Cappuccino cookie's arm touching his, a bit overwhelmed by how they were in physical contact. He's immediately saved from his own racing heart beat when Walnut cookie comes rushing to hug Cappuccino cookie.
"Hey, Walnut cookie," Cappuccino greets happily, returning the hug.
Walnut cookie pulled away as fast as when she initiated the hug, and grins. "Hi, Cappuccino cookie! I'm having so much fun finding Jelly insects!"
Almond cookie stood beside her, and pats her head, smiling. "Hello, Cappuccino cookie, Langue de Chat."
"Hello to you, too, detective," says Langue de Chat.
Unpromptedly, Cappuccino cookie went beside Almond cookie, putting an arm around him. "Almond cookie, we're buddies, aren't we? Let's get a drink together."
"I knew you'd say that," Almond cookie chuckles. "But I'd like to spend more time with Walnut cookie, so I pre-ordered drinks for both of you instead."
"Really? Thank you, Almond," Cappuccino cookie sighs contently, patting Almond cookie on the back. "I love you so much, buddy."
"Likewise," Almond cookie replies casually, as if he was used to it. "Have a wonderful Summer."
Cappuccino cookie laughs and pulls away, going back to Langue de Chat, eagerly dragging him to the bar. "You too!"
Langue de Chat could hear Almond cookie talking to his daughter even when he was walking away, saying; "Do you want to find a Jelly Beatle, Walnut cookie?" and her replying with a cheerful "Yeah!" before she immediately went searching about right away, alongside Almond cookie shouting "Wait up!"
He looks down at Cappuccino cookie's hand holding his, making their way to the drinks Almond cookie promised. Looking back on the way Walnut cookie and Almond cookie acted towards Cappuccino, it seems that they are familiar with his affections. He's sort of disappointed. It's obvious now that he's just friendly with everyone, not that I'm any special... Langue de Chat thought.
It's sunset already. The bar wasn't that far, so they arrived rather quickly. Cappuccino cookie sits down by the counter and is instantly met with two drinks; one he hands to Langue de Chat, the other for himself.
"I'm certain your drink is non-alcoholic, if that's what you are wondering," Cappuccino ensures him. "I know you don't prefer drinking."
"That's true," he mumbles. "Thanks."
Cappuccino cookie raises his glass. "Cheers to our well-earned break."
"Cheers," he smiles.
"I still remember all those countless nights researching cases," says Cappuccino cookie, chuckling. "Almond cookie and I would stay up all night together talking over it. But I suppose this drink is enough to compensate."
Langue de Chat has never been anymore jealous than he was at the moment. The last time he was is solely because his friend had siblings; and it wasn't as jealous as he was at Almond cookie, for some reason. "Can I get some whisky?" Langue de Chat suddenly requests, surprising even himself.
"Are you sure?" Cappuccino cookie asks in worry. It was just so out of the blue.
Langue de Chat waves a hand dismissively. He needed to get his mind off of being 'special' to Cappuccino cookie. "I know what I'm asking for."
"If that's what you want..." Cappuccino cookie replied defeatedly.
The bartender hands Langue de Chat a glass of whisky, and he chugs it down, struggling to swallow with how it tastes. People had told me this is the easiest way to forget problems... I might as well try it, he says to himself. The diziness is instant, and he definitely feels more relaxed.
Without second thought, Langue de Chat props his cheek in his hand confidently. "So tell me more about what you and Almond do together."
Cappuccino cookie smiles, though it's just partly awkward. "We went to a sauna to relax after work once. It was nice for a while, until we both got a call from our jobs."
"Oh, I bet that's fun, doing something with just the only person you love," Langue de Chat replies. It's hard to tell if he was sarcastic, and he did intend to be.
He starts getting even more concerned. "Are you... being sarcastic?"
"Well, duh!" Langue de Chat retorts, not minding his words anymore.
He's never seen Langue de Chat like this before. "...I'll order you some water."
"No!" Langue de Chat interrupts, slamming the counter. "Bartender, I demand another glass of whisky!"
The bartender begrudgingly complies, and hands him anoher glass of whisky that Langue de Chat chugs down in a heartbeat. He asked for more until the fourth glass, where he just laid his head down on the counter, as if his head had became heavier than a bowling ball. By the time he stopped, the sky was dark.
"Langue de Chat?" Cappuccino cookie asks softly.
"Shouldn't you call out Almond's name instead?" he mumbles, slurring greatly.
Cappuccino cookie perks an eyebrow. "Is that what this is all about?"
With all the effort he could muster, Langue de Chat faced Cappuccino cookie and grabbed his collar using both hands, shaking him aggressively. "Yes, this is what it's always been about!"
"Calm down, calm down..." he mutters, gently hugging Langue de Chat. "Now tell me everything."
Langue de Chat sighs. "I-I seriously.. thought it meant something.. when you were all comfortable with being so affectionate to me! But when Almond cookie received the same treatment, probably more..." he pauses, then continues, "I suppose I just... wanted to be the only one you treat like that..."
"I'll spend my time with you a lot more, I promise," he says, trying to better the situation.
"I-if you really mean it... Let me sleep in the same bed as you tonight..!" Langue de Chat demanded shamelessly.
"Uh, sure," he agreed a bit unwillingly.
Langue de Chat huffs triumphantly. "And call my parents to tell them I'm with you tonight... I don't want to talk to them like this."
"Sure, I'll do it..." he agrees to another thing once more.
It's near eleven PM. After calling Langue de Chat's parents, telling them their son is simply staying over his cottage for 'a sleepover', and helping Langue de Chat walk, Cappuccino cookie is finally in bed; with Langue de Chat.
Langue de Chat inches closer to Cappuccino cookie, as if having him hug him wasn't enough. "Kiss... me goodnight as well..."
Without further ado, he kisses his forehead. "Are you satisfied yet?"
Langue de Chat practically nuzzles on Cappuccino cookie the more he edges closer. "I love you... Goodnight.."
"I love you, too," he sighs. Cappuccino cookie wasn't necessarily lying when he said it.
Later that morning, Langue de Chat wakes up red-faced and embarrassed, profusely apologising to Cappuccino cookie. But being too exhausted to care, as early in the morning as well, he told Langue de Chat cookie to stay in bed with him. Langue de Chat didn't refuse, and went ahead laying beside him again, attempting to inch closer without him noticing. Regardless, Cappuccino cookie notices. He's direct with it, and chose to be the one hugging Langue de Chat in bed this time.