Chapter Text
Strawberry Crepe Cookie was used to a lot of things, such as the cold. The resources they now had allowed for them to finally install heat inside the hangar though. Espresso Cookie was very thankful. He had initially stayed inside the magically heated castle, but, at Black Raisin Cookie's behest, he moved into the hangar to watch over Strawberry Crepe.
They didn't need watching in their opinion. However, Espresso offered to teach them more science and magic. They decided that that was a good reason to make the hangar more livable. They were currently installing wiring. The end point wasn't connected yet, so they could do this without gloves.
"Espresso Cookie? Can you double check this?" Strawberry Crepe called out. They found a second pair of eyes were much more reliable when it came to double checking something. This was a triple check actually, but nothing was too safe when it came to electricity surrounded by flammable material. Espresso didn't respond though.
"Hello? I need your help here!" they whined. Usually, Espresso would respond to them, especially when they whined. He couldn't stand when they whined. He wouldn't always drop what he was doing of course, but he never ignored them.
Strawberry Crepe let down the wires with a huff. They stomped to the add-on bedroom. They had a hammock and Espresso had managed to fit his bed in through the doorway. He was actually currently curled up in said bed. He wasn't asleep though. He was just staring ahead and being unproductive. That last part was incredibly unlike him. He wasn't always doing something.
"C'mon, get up. I need your help," Strawberry Crepe demanded. They stomped over to Espresso, shaking him roughly. Espresso groaned. He didn't even have his glasses on. Admittedly, he looked a bit weird without them on. Strawberry Crepe grabbed them and shoved them at him.
"What do you need?" Espresso mumbled.
"I need you to double check the wires. Do you want the hangar to burn down?" they snapped. They had patience for a small handful of things and this was not on of them. Espresso sighed. He grabbed his glasses and put them back on his nightstand. He pulled his heavy blanket up and over his head. Strawberry Crepe stared. They were at a loss.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" they muttered, confusion finally hitting them full force. It wasn't unlike him to be tired, but he was lying down and doing nothing: in the middle of the day no less. Strawberry Crepe felt something weird pull at their chest.
"I said, 'what's wrong with you?' I'm gonna fix it," they repeated. "So you can help with the wires." Espresso looked at Strawberry Crepe slowly. He sat up with a sound of suffering effort. Strawberry Crepe could now name that pull: worry. They were worried about him. They were hardly even mad at him anymore.
"I believe I have a cold. I'm… exhausted frankly. I just need to rest. I promise you that I'll be alright," Espresso assured. He sounded congested. Strawberry Crepe hated that Espresso could tell that they were worried. Little did Strawberry Crepe know, it was written all over their face.
"I'll get Pure Vanilla Cookie. Wait, I'll get you blankets first. It's cold in here," Strawberry Crepe rushed to their hammock and dragged their own woolen blanket over to Espresso. They threw it over him before hurrying out of the hangar. Espresso seemed to appreciate the extra blanket. He snuggled into it. His fever had fried his brain in such a way where he couldn't find the energy to care.
Strawberry Crepe ran through the garden to where Pure Vanilla was drinking his tea. Strawberry Crepe didn't even bother to try and get a word out. They grabbed Pure Vanilla by the sleeve of his robe and started to try and drag the ancient cookie. Pure Vanilla yelped, his tea spilling over his lap.
"Strawberry Crepe Cookie!" Pure Vanilla exclaimed. He managed to yank his arm back before Strawberry Crepe could topple both him and his chair over. Strawberry Crepe pouted. They wanted Espresso to be better now, but they'd settle for in a few hours. Pure Vanilla set down his mostly empty tea cup and began to dab at his robes. He was ignoring them on purpose. Not reacting to most of their tantrums was important.
"I need your help!" they blurted out. "Espresso is sick and I don't know how to fix it." They crossed their arms, trying to act all big and tough. Pure Vanilla paused. He stood up and gently put down the napkin he was using. He stood up and knelt in front of Strawberry Crepe. They felt patronized.
"He's sick?"
"Mhm."
"What is he doing right now?"
"Laying down."
"That's… interesting," Pure Vanilla hesitated. "Come with me. We'll bring him some medicine and go check on him." He led Strawberry Crepe into the castle and showed them what the different medicines he concocted looked like. Strawberry Crepe knew all of this because they had raided his medicine cabinet for themself quite a few times, but they played along.
"Thank you for coming to me. Let's try talking first next time though," Pure Vanilla gently corrected. Strawberry Crepe rolled their eyes as the two of them started to walk back to the hangar. They opened the hangar doors once they reached the building. They barreled inside and ran to the bedroom.
"Espresso Cookie, I brought medicine. You gotta wake up," Strawberry Crepe greeted. They peeled the blanket from Espresso's sweaty face. He glared at Strawberry Crepe. He had been dozing off. All he wanted to do was sleep. Strawberry Crepe sat on the edge of the bed, trying not to get too close. They'd for sure get sick too if they did.
"Yes, we brought you some medicine. It should help with the fever and congestion," Pure Vanilla added. He set the bottles down. One was in pill form and one was liquid. He poured the liquid into a cup and handed it to Espresso along with water in a cup he had brought along.
"Take this for now. You can take more in four hours," Pure Vanilla said gently. He took his leave soon after. He knew Espresso didn't want anyone to hover over him. Pure Vanilla was no different. Strawberry Crepe stayed though. They were wary of getting too close. Their own immune system was known, to them, for being faulty at best. They'd risk the proximity though.
As long as he didn't breathe on them, they'd be fine.
Probably.