Chapter Text
Strawberry Crepe Cookie and Espresso were occupied treating a wafflebot’s injuries. Espresso never regretted moving to the Vanilla kingdom. Life was better in the kingdom: lower taxes, minor distractions, and most importantly, no Madeleine Cookie. Much to his dismay, however, Madeleine had started to visit from time to time.
“Ugh, I ran out of cream! I guess I'll have to go grab more. Don't go anywhere!” Strawberry Crepe called out as they left. He didn't reply since they were already out of earshot. Unfortunately for him, the quiet ambiance of the lab was short-lived.
Madeleine Cookie suddenly barged into the laboratory with an idea already in mind (as always). Espresso took a deep breath as he mentally prepared for Madeleine to speak.
“Allow me to treat you to a night out at the aquarium!” Madeleine announced, posing with unnecessary confidence. Espresso always turned down Madeleine’s invitations to spend time together without hesitation, but this time felt… different. Had it been his tone?
Espresso paused his work abruptly and turned to Madeleine; he needed to make sure he heard the other correctly.
“You know I am always very bus-”
“Exactly! It's been so long since we’ve spent time together… like… just the two of us.” Espresso felt an emotion he couldn’t pinpoint. What could Madeleine have meant by this?
His brain quickly connected two and two before coming to one likely conclusion. “...Are you asking me out?” Espresso finally asked bluntly.
Madeleine stood quietly for a moment as he processed what he had just asked of Espresso Cookie. “Y-Yes! Yes, I am!”
The response came out as a nervous stammer. Madeleine had responded far more honestly than he would've liked. Espresso could see Madeleine’s “confident” facade falling apart and couldn't help but let out a quiet laugh under his breath. “Well, I suppose a day off wouldn’t hurt.” He felt the weird tingle in his chest again. He was unsure of what it was.
“Then it's a date!” Madeleine exclaimed happily. As he was standing up, Espresso couldn't help but wonder one thing—would he have turned down Madeleine again if he didn't specify this as a date?