Couldn't Care Less // Espresso x Madeleine // CRK

chapter eight

a/n: my version of sorbet speaking is "bubbling", in case anyone is confused. also, strawberry crepe sees sparkling as a father figure due to them being an orphan n stuff.

The fire crackled, sparks flying everywhere as stamina jellies roasted over the burning brightness.

Espresso patted his cape, where a small spark had charred the edge. Sorbet Shark bubbled. Hollyberry poured herself another glass. Herb brushed a section of grass that had been burned and Strawberry Crepe tinkered with metal.

Espresso considered it a peaceful night, considering the past days, spent with lots of arguing and cussing- the cause being Hollyberry and Strawberry Crepe. Espresso knew Strawberry Crepe still held a grudge against the ancients due to Dark Enchantress' teaching, but the two cookies had come to a standstill. Yesterday, Strawberry Crepe created a helicopter that had drove into Hollyberry's tent and squirted out fart spray. Needless to say, Hollyberry had been enraged. Thankfully, with a little lecture from Herb, Strawberry Crepe had agreed- though solemnly- to make peace with the Ancient. "Only because you're Sparkling's boyfriend," they'd said.

Espresso combed through Sorbet's hair as the shark bubbled about pirates and boats. The young cookie had gotten quite attached to Espresso these past few days since Strawberry Crepe had spent most of their time hanging out with Herb instead. Sorbet also seemed to be afraid of Hollyberry, much to Espresso's surprise.

Hollyberry raised her glass. "To out successful expedition!"

Nobody responded, but Hollyberry drank anyway, leaning back in her seat with a sigh.

Herb picked up a clover and spun it in his hand. "I heard two new cookies arrived in the kingdom yesterday. Eclair Cookie and Tea Night Cookie, if I recall correctly." Strawberry Crepe tugged on Herb's sleeve, holding a letter. "Hm? Oh, Sparkling sent it?"

As Herb skimmed the letter, Hollyberry hummed. "Ah, yes! Those two. I think I planned a welcome party for them... Yes, a masquerade... everyone's invited..."

Espresso startled. "A masquerade? That's quite rare."

Hollyberry twirled her cup. "Mont Blanc was happy to make outfits, so I didn't see a problem... actually, I think the invitations should already be sent... yes, they were sent yesterday..." Hollyberry's words began to slur as she yawned. "Well, I think I'll get to sleep now. Ta ta, Cookies!" And with that, she retreated into her personal tent.

Herb rolled up the letter and noticed that Hollyberry had disappeared. "Well, I think that's our cue. You ready to go to sleep, Strawberry Crepe?"

Strawberry Crepe nodded and the two entered their own tent, leaving Espresso and Sorbet by the fireplace. Espresso was about to ask the Latter if they preferred to sleep now, but only found Sorbet to be sleeping already. Espresso smiled warmly, removing his hand from the cookie's hair.

He'd never been fond of children, but Sorbet Shark was an exception. Espresso knew that the child had been discredited and shamed because of their species, reminding Espresso of his troubles as a coffee magician. Espresso also knew that they had never had any parental figures- which surprised Espresso. Most children who didn't have anyone to take care of them didn't make it into the kingdom. Maybe that was why Espresso admired Sorbet. Sorbet was probably the only cookie who had never shied away from Espresso or been scared of him. Well, except for Madeleine.

Espresso gently got up from his seat, picking up the child with ease and placing them in their tent.

He hoped that he would be able to serve as a model for the young cookie.

Maybe even a parental figure.

Espresso went to put out the fire.

Latte still remembered the first time Espresso broke down in front of her.

Of course, it wasn't the first time Espresso had cried- although an occasion where Latte's brother got upset to the point tears got involved was rare- but this was the first time Latte knew something was wrong. Espresso would cry over petty things- losing an object, forgetting something, getting injured- but never from an actually serious reason.

That's why Latte was throughly surprised when Espresso ran into their shared bedroom that day without a bad report card or an injury- no, all he brought was himself. Latte hadn't cared at the beginning, thinking it was one of his bad moods. After all, Espresso was unpredictable. But when he continued to sob, when he didn't retort when Latte told him to do the laundry, she knew something was wrong. Very wrong.

When Latte realized it, she started to get uncomfortable. This wasn't right. Espresso wasn't supposed to cry, even if Latte was the older sibling. Espresso shouldn't be emotional. Shouldn't be reasonable. And as a sibling, Latte had the rights to think that. Had the rights to be insensitive. She wasn't selfless enough to comfort him, but she wasn't selfish enough to ignore him.

"Are you okay?" She'd asked.

He'd replied, "Leave me alone."

Yet he remained red-eyed and sobbing.

Latte didn't know what to do.

Later that day, Latte would learn that this wasn't one of Espresso's usual breakdowns- much more complicated than that. This was a matter of Espresso's desire, instead of his logic.

Latte had dated before, plenty of times. At one point, she dated Almond Cookie. It didn't last long, and it didn't end well either. Latte wanted to say that Espresso had just been being dramatic- when Latte broke up with someone, she didn't cry like a baby and worry her sibling. Yet, she couldn't say that. Because she knew this was what Espresso was like. And she would just have to accept that.

The girl's name was Strawberry Shortcake Cookie. The tomboy. The cool cookie. Everything Espresso wasn't.

Latte would've never thought someone as prim and proper as Espresso would fall for someone like her, but he did. Hard. She could only blame it on one thing: opposites attract.

Latte had only met Shortcake once. One time, she came over to Latte and Espresso's house. Latte had seen her walking down the hallway- and Latte couldn't lie, Shortcake was worth Espresso's crush. She had luxurious white hair, threaded with pink and green clips. A body fit for modeling.

Latte was almost even jealous of Shortcake's form.

Shortcake took one glance at Latte and turned to Espresso. "Is that your sister?"

Espresso nodded.

Shortcake smiled. "I like her."

And that was the only dialogue exchanged between them.

Latte saw Shortcake and Espresso at school a few times, but she thought nothing of it. Shortcake hung out with any boy that she found an interest in- Latte couldn't assume anything. Not yet.

Then came the abandoning. Espresso would start going out without asking their parents. He'd tell Latte he was leaving, and Latte wouldn't say anything. Because she trusted him. Would this pay off later? Latte still didn't know. But she knew that he was with Strawberry Shortcake, and she trusted Shortcake too- even if Latte had only met the cookie once.

Latte thought they were seeing each other. But she couldn't be farther from the truth.

Latte still didn't know the full story. She didn't need to know. She also didn't want to push her brother to tell her. Even after 10 years, Espresso still wasn't over her. Still wasn't done with burying those feelings deep beneath the composed posture. Still wasn't done checking the mail. Still wasn't done sneaking out. And he still wasn't done with love.

Oh, Latte could tell Espresso was in love again.

She could tell from the way Espresso talked about him. She could tell from the way Espresso reacted when he was brought up. She could tell from the way Espresso looked at him.

She could tell that Espresso loved Madeleine.

She just wondered if that was for the better or for the worse.

a/n: oml this is actually such a short chapter, but i had no idea what else to add. like please help me. anyway i'm actually ok-happy with how this chapter turned out, just not the start. i really wanted to incorporate more Latte into this- which makes sense because she's Espresso's sister and siblings know each others' secrets. but honestly i think their relationship would be very wholesome, like they pretend to hate each other but they both care so much about each other.