@malamilkbeats - Tumblr Blog

May 17

Butter Roll takes care of a sickly Madeleine ❤️💙

fic to accompany this under the cut!

Mostly Butterleine but also some Espresseleine and even a bit of Espressoroll if you squint: good ol' Butterspresseleine party mix | words: 6.834 | fluff/sweet

Madeleine was perfect. Or at the very least he had to mantain an image that allured to perfection, which meant that if he couldn’t present himself as anything short of flawless to his own meter of judgement -which was absurdly high- he wouldn’t want to be perceived by a single soul.

Of course there were exceptions, although they had to quite force themselves to be because dear Witches, Divines and whole congregate of names to invoke, that paladin was terribly stubborn when it came to this in particular. It took years before Espresso was allowed to see him with even something as simple as a bedhead.

So, when Espresso had told Butter Roll that Madeleine would have been extremely reclusive while sick, the baker assumed it was going to be the ‘standard’ type of the kind. After all, when anyone is sick, they would rather rest on their own even if just for the privacy needed due to the discomfort of illness. He assumed the warning was simply a case of the coffee cookie’s habit to overworry considering how much he did on the regular when things regarded the paladin. Of course Madeleine wouldn’t reject the much needed helping hand if it was extended, right? After all the knight was the level headed one of the three when it came to personal care, no?

Oh, how wrong he was.

It was just a flu, a rather annoying one but nothing dangerous. At first Madeleine tried any and all ways to avoid contact with the excuse of being contagious which was reasonable. Butter Roll could understand eating and sleeping separately, especially with how sickness would effect in those regards. So, when Madeleine mentioned staying in the guestroom he didn’t have any concern nor objection to make, maybe only some small bits of sadness due to not sharing bed time. Now, he was not clingy alright, but when your boyfriend is on patrol all day and you have so much lab work yourself, sleeping together is that one small excuse to cuddle. And he liked to cuddle with Madeleine, a lot.

However he started to get…puzzled, to say the least, when from common hygiene practices such as those, Madeleine went full on in locking himself in the guest room and using its annex bathroom at all times. Basically, the two scientists wouldn’t see him at all unless they sought for him and even then it wasn’t easy. He’d take the fever measurements by himself and send the results to their group chat but that was it, no further informations besides some generalities.

It was all starting to get suspicious. Both him and Espresso were quite worried but at the same time due to the knight’s condition, they held back from pushing it.

It was the fourth day of flu and Espresso had to be out for the most of it due to a council with Clotted Cream, who was visiting the Vanilla Kingdom. The coffee mage did not like to not be there to help but there was very little he could do. So, after the tenth round up of checklist and to-do’s on how to take care of a sickly Madeleine (he felt flattered by the vow of confidence in his regards, really), Butter Roll was left alone with the knight for the day.

The scientist let out an amused huff the moment Espresso was out of the door. Truly he couldn’t be too offended: nobody but him at times saw just how much the coffee mage was smitten over the paladin -not even Madeleine himself- and the thought was very funny to him. He had so much material to (playfully) blackmail the coffee mage into actually taking breaks.

After staring at the door a for a little more, Butter Roll stretched and went to the kitchen. First thought in order was to arrange a good lunch that Madeleine would be able and enjoy to eat; some curry to pair with rice seemed a good option since the paladin’s appetite had gotten a little better throughout the days. Having taken mental note of that, the scientist got to prepare everything swiftly enough and set the pot to simmer on low heat along with starting the rice cooker. Hopefully Madeleine would be able to enjoy the food.

Once Butter Roll cleaned the kitchen, he decided to check on Madeleine. He hadn’t heard hear any coughing nor sneezing, so he assumed the worst was gone.

Once in front of the guestroom, he knocked on the door.

“Maddiecakes? How are you feeling?”

It took a second for Madeleine to respond.

“I’m…alright- everything is under perfect control!” he took a heavy breath while speaking, almost as if talking was tiring.

“That’s good! Can I come in?” he wasn’t fooling anyone, the tone gave away how he really felt.

“No need, we cannot risk you getting sick! I said I’m fine”

“Oh, I’ll be alright- it’ll be but a short moment- I just wish to check on you”

“Ah, there is truly no need! I promise I’m…fine” his voice came out a little too wobbly, like he was a little in between sleep and wake.

Butter Roll could understand Madeleine’s reasoning to a certain extent but in that moment he made up his mind; the scientist really didn’t mean to be forceful but he had to make sure the other wasn’t close to fainting or similar, least he got hurt.

So, while apologising, he opened the guest bedroom’s door to find Madeleine laying in what could be described a cocoon of blankets, shaking and whining quietly.

“I said am fine!” his voice betrayed the statement “There’s no need…”.

“This is non optional Maddiecakes, I’m sorry” he walked up to the bed and looked at him for an instant before moving a hand over Madeleine’s forehead to check the temperature but the paladin instantly pressed his face into the mattress.

“I only need to check your fever- what’s wrong?”

“Don’t look at me” a louder whine.

“Huh? What’s the matter?” it was all getting more confusing by the minute. Madeleine had gone quiet again but before Butter Roll could inquire, he spoke.

”I’m unpresentable” his voice was feeble and although it was very much due to the illness, the scientist’s trained ears sensed some emotional discomfort beneath the composed words.

“You have the flu, angelcake” Butter Roll laughed softly to ease the other, sitting next to him “Nobody is going to expect you to be in tip top shape and perfect for a parade”

A loud groan from the bundle of blankets.

“I don’t like to be seen like this, it’s disgraceful, really”

“Even if it’s just lil ol’ me?”

Again, there was a moment of quiet before Madeleine answered. Although the sickness was making him face this insecurity head on, this was something that clearly had quite the hold on him. Butter Roll made a mental note to be extra gentle.

“It’s not a problem of who the other person is, it’s me- I don’t like to be…perceived, I suppose, when I’m unwell- it’s always been like this, my aunties had to keep an eye on me when the doctor would come visit if I were to fall ill, otherwise I’d hide away” he changed position to sit but was still pretty much in a cocoon of blankets, so only his face was really visible. Well, that and his little tuft of hair.

“Let me guess, is that why you’ve hid yourself here for the past days?”

“I…yes”

“I see” while Butter Roll understood his predicament and feelings, there was the unmoveable point of him being sick and needing care. Both he and Espresso had grown uneasy with being unable to keep an eye on him; they respected his wishes, of course, but they’d be extra on the alert in case he’d call so they were constantly on edge.

He thought for a bit and choose his words carefully.

“I understand this must be awful to you but I’m afraid right now you’ll have to be a little strong- I need to keep a better eye on you, besides, I’m sure you do not enjoy being cooped up here alone” he gave a few gentle head pats which the paladin leaned into. Butter Roll was right.

“I do not” A much louder and annoyed groan. Madeleine slumped back on bed.

Yes, Madeleine hated being seen when in such condition but he equally loathed being alone, especially when his loves were so close. Divines knew how much he longed for them when he was over in the Republic! So to be like this right when he was visiting the two in the Vanilla Kingdom was awful. He’d have done anything to be at the very least in the same room as them.

But being in this state -it was horrid- his skin was worn out by days of sickness, not to mention his hair! Oh, and his gaze was not at all the usual bright and charming one. He couldn’t pull off his perfect smiles, either! This was nothing short of a catastrophe! He couldn’t bear being seen by anyone, let alone his beloveds.

“I’ve seen you in worse situations, if that can be of any reassurance”

“That’s a lie! Please tell me that’s a lie-” head wings popped out of the blankets and covered the paladin’s face in panic.

Butter Roll smiled, there was a certain gentleness to it that made Madeleine feel at ease. The scientist got back on his feet and leaned in, taking the knight in his arms. Madeleine let out a small sound of surprise.

“I can walk, there’s no need for this, truly…” he protested but was met with a small shake of the head from the other.

“You’re tired, allow me to help” Butter Roll secured the other (complete with cocoon of blankets) in his arms and walked out of the room.

One thing that always surprised Butter Roll was just how light Madeleine was considering his impressive height. One could make the point that the scientist had lots of strength in his arms and one would be right; however, if considering the paladin was taller than 2 metres, the fact that he could hold him up like a feather was still rather peculiar. It made things easier in times like these but he couldn’t shake off the feeling that Madeleine wasn’t eating properly at times. Surely even just walking around with that armour on the regular must be exhausting enough, no?

Espresso was no better in this regard either but to his credit, he was a coffee cookie and had espresso in his dough; caffeine was well known to be an appetite suppressor so made sense that all in all, the mage would forget to eat often. He simply didn’t get hungry as much as others. But Madeleine? He was a great cook too, so…

Butter Roll never inquired (and surely wouldn’t now, with how sick the other was) but he had gotten the habit to always get a snack or the like for him. Made sure he’d eat. It was a funny scene at times: Madeleine bringing food for Espresso and Butter Roll in tow bringing food for him. He surely hoped the knight didn’t find him annoying.

Little did he know that those small gestures meant the world to Madeleine. A reassurance, quiet and gentle, that put Madeleine at true ease. Food always tasted better when it was Butter Roll who brought it to him.

Once in the living room, Butter Roll laid Madeleine on the couch and fixed his blankets back in place.

“I’ll set up the table- do you feel like eating there?”

“Divines, yes please- I hate eating on the desk, or worse…in bed”

“Alright, just a moment then”

It didn’t take long, just enough to get everything in order. Madeleine had gotten up himself, leaving all the blankets on the couch (the paladin had nightmares of staining any sort of bed/couch related textile with food) and then sat down on the chair.

“The smell is very inviting” the way Madeleine’s head and wings turned towards where the pot was placed was very cute.

“Since you ate a little more yesterday, I made curry! Mild, worry not- I’m not going for any high level of spice today, least it upsets your stomach” he laughed as he set a plate in front of the paladin and then one for himself.

They ate in peace, exchanging small chatter that mostly consisted in getting Madeleine up to date with what was happening around the house and in the kingdom. He managed to eat enough to be able to take medicine after, which was more than alright. He even had few slices from an apple Butter Roll had peeled for himself.

Once done with the meal, Madeleine was sent back to the couch (because he was being stubborn in wanting to help with cleaning up) and sat there without moving. However, from afar, Butter Roll could see him sort of “deflating”.

“You can lay down, it’s alright”

“Laying down right after eating does ill to the digestion” Madeleine mumbled “I’ll stay like this for a little more…if only my head didn’t feel so heavy- crumbs”

“I think it’s time for medicine- here” the scientist handed the paladin a small blister pack of pills and a glass of water. After a moment of eyeing the medicine, Madeleine took it. With a sigh, he begun to wrap himself in the cocoon of blankets again.

Poor thing. Butter Roll always found very endearing when Madeleine allowed himself to be simply himself like this- he looked like a poor little sopping wet chick, sad and unwell. He’d admire him more but he knew very well there was no time to waste.

“I got something for you” he announced, coming in and setting another glass of water on the coffee table along with a small magazine of…

“…crosswords?” Madeleine squinted, looking at the cover and recognising the Republic’s emblem printed on it.

“Your favourite! I figure it’d be a nice way to distract yourself from the gloom of sickness, hm?” the scientist came in with a pencil and sat next to him “What do you say? Do you feel like it?”.

“Ah? You want to do them, too?”

“That was the plan!”

Madeleine leaned against the scientist’s side and gazed over the magazine. He normally loved crosswords and it wasn’t unusual for his boyfriends to chime in when he needed help with more scientific definitions but…

“…are you okay with it? Don’t you usually prefer other types of puzzles?”

“I’ve been wanting to try more my hand at these but I always get frustrated when I cannot figure the questions after a while, so trying with you is the best option”

“Mhm” Madeleine hoped he wasn’t forcing himself for his sake but he was way too tired to object “Alright then”

Butter Roll smiled brightly and set to start with the scheme on the cover page.

“Alright, let’s see…’It’s sound at battle’- trumpet? No, too many letters-“

“Charge” Madeleine commented.

“Charge? Oh-“

“Sound the charge, yes”

“It fits! Good job!”

They went on like that for a good while. Madeleine would fill in for anything that regarded wordplays and literary definitions while Butter Roll covered anything scientific and cinema, too.

“’In the middle of the museum’…two letters?”

“It’s the ’se’ - they do often these small trickery ones which are plays around the word”

“Ohh, I see! You’re really great at these, Maddiecakes!”

“I used to do these a lot with my aunties” he hummed, leaning his head properly over Butter Roll’s shoulder (he had to shift quite a bit to do that) “Brings back memories- during summer we’d all sit in the living room and do them together, just like this but with more brains at work” in the softness of his laughter it was very clear how much he held dear those memories, keeping them vivid in his mind just like how one would polish a cherished gemstone set in a family heirloom.

“Mhmm, well, we can do that as well- getting Espresso on it too when he’s around! He may do sudoku all the time but I’m sure he would gladly join, too”

“I would really like that” Madeleine smiled. He nestled his head further in the crane of Butter Roll’s neck and the scientist happily leaned against him. He was still very warm but seemed less taken away from the fever.

They continued their puzzles, eventually finishing the first crosswords scheme.

“That was faster than I thought it’d be! We make a great team!”

“Mhmm! Though we may want to try another one- the schemes on the cover are always easier” Madeleine pointed out. Butter Roll nodded and the two swiftly got engrossed in a new series of puzzles. It took a little more time but it wasn’t unpleasant nor frustrating. There was something very fun in talking and analysing things with Butter Roll- and vice versa for the other.

It was like a plaful tennis match with a continuous back and forth but with no aggressiveness nor competition to it. Maybe it was because Madeleine was so used to Espresso’s very straightforward way to voice his mind but he never seemed bothered when Butter Roll was blunt. Granted, the scientist was never bitter with it but still, he found ease in the fact that the paladin did seem intrigued by it, even.

On the other hand, Madeleine was just so fun because he was fundamentally clever. He always surprised with smart quips and reflections when one would least expect it; his beautiful looks and whimsical nature fooled so easily. He was always pompous and self-referencing but kept guard well from letting others know how truly smart he was.

This, the fact that he didn’t flaunt his intelligence, was what made him so appealing to Butter Roll, because it spoke for his self-esteem: the fact that he didn’t feel the need to shoo away any ill intended comment about him being airheaded but instead rolled with it and doubled down, having a laughter of his own. This was what he found so incredibly attractive about him more than anything else. That and the stars that lit up in his eyes everytime he’d be enthusiastic or whimsical.

But then again, there were many things Butter Roll adored about Madeleine, it’d have been hard to pick just a few.

Time passed and eventually they finished the second round of crosswords. Butter Roll noticed how Madeleine’s voice was getting quieter by the minute and could easily tell he was getting sleepy. He placed down the magazine on the far end of the coffee table along with the pencil.

“I hate being sick” came a small groan from the paladin, small tears budding at the sides of his eyes. It was the frustration more than anything else: he was so tired.

“Let’s take a nap together” Butter Roll gave a small peck to Madeleine’s temple; he begun to lay down and took Madeleine with him but the paladin grumbled a little, eyes looking up to the other with concern.

“Stop it, you will get sick too!”

“No, I won’t, I promise” Butter Roll hushed him gently, setting Madeleine’s head over his chest and shifting so the taller man could curl up comfortably -with their height difference it was always a bit of a jigsaw puzzle to fit on the couch for cuddling- so he could properly relax.

“I’m serious, Rollie, I don’t want you to fall ill”

“Oh, nothing to worry for” Butter Roll’s arms wrapped themselves around Madeleine’s back “Back when I worked for Dark Enchantress she had me develop a special supplement so we all could be at maximum efficency- I proof tested it on myself! Never got a cold again after that!”.

Madeleine looked at him with a gaze that could only be described of a mix of bewilderment, resignation and tiredness. He placed his head back on the scientist’s chest.

“I’m not investigating further nor arguing with that”

“Ahaha! You should see the look on your face! Is it that surprising?”

“In hindsight…no, it really isn’t” a small sigh “…are you sure you’ll be alright?” it was true that so far, Madeleine had never seen Butter Roll fall ill so perhaps there was a point in his words but he couldn’t help but worry.

“Positive” he gently patted Madeleine’s back “Do rest now, you need it”.

With a small hum, Madeleine begun to curl and try to find a good position to sleep but the illness made him uncomfortable, stirring him over and over. Butter Roll noticed and begun to massage his back in slow circles. That seemed to do the trick.

After a while of rustling and turning, Madeleine finally had settled properly with his head closer to Butter Roll’s neck. It wasn’t the first time that he did this, the scientist noticed, it seemed to be a spot he always favoured. He wondered why.

“Don’t worry, you’ll be good as new before you know it, you only need to be a little patient” Butter Roll filled in the silence, although he genuinely looked forward to speak with Madeleine again after days of having been ‘apart’. He had lowered his volume a little to make sure he wouldn’t disturb him.

“Mhm”

“Once you feel better we should have a little night out at the beach” he continued “Set up a little bonfire, I can bake your favourite treats, too…oh! And I got some new drinks we could try- Espresso mentioned trying a new brew, so there’s that too”

Madeleine replied with a small hum again, which the scientist took as a sign that he was falling asleep.

“Sleep well, Maddie, I’m here” he hadn’t even finished speaking when Madeleine stirred and looked up at him.

“Don’t stop talking…” quiet but firm came the protest.

“Hm? Don’t you want to sleep?”

“I like your voice” the knight pressed his face into Butter Roll’s neck again “Can you keep talking until I fall asleep, please?”

“I can, sure” a blink, now that was rather surprising “Is that why you always place your head there when we cuddle?”.

“Where?” Madeleine sounded funny, so confused and puzzled yet half asleep.

“My neck” a small chuckle “I always found it curious that you’d always place your face there- not that I mind, of course”

Madeleine was quiet for a moment, eyes blinking lightly almost as if he was turning his brain back on from the haze of sleep.

“I…do that a lot?”

“I’d say so, yes- why, you don’t do it on purpose?”

Another moment of silence. The paladin looked at the other’s neck a little more, then to his eyes as he leaned his head down again.

“Not on purpose, no” Madeleine turned his head so his cheek was squished against the scientist’s large chest. His head hurt, his body felt weak and achey and he found it so incredibly hard to think. He wasn’t in the right condition to keep small secrets, even in front of facing his own embarrassment.

“Your voice…it relaxes me, especially when I’m so close to you”.

Butter Roll blinked. He hadn’t expected that. Not that he was unaware that his voice was quite charming but he didn’t think it could have such effect. It was flattering, really, and surprising.

“You want me to continue speaking, then?”

“Could you, please?” Madeleine’s eyes were as pleading as they could be, considering the fever and exhaustion.

“Why of course” Butter Roll chuckled. He patted Madeleine’s head and started from the top to tell him all about the newest experiments and research he and Espresso had planned and worked on, then eased into small talk. Maybe it was the Aunties’ influence or Shadow Milk’s but Madeleine was rather fond of small (harmless) gossip, so he enjoyed getting the latest news considering he couldn’t leave the home at the moment.

The scientist continued for a while, one hand still gently holding Madeleine’s head while the other secured itself on the paladin’s back. He held him firmly but there was no pressure nor harshness to his hold.

“…like warm…” Madeleine mumbled before he went quiet.

“Oh?”

“…it’s like warm water” he continued; from his tone it was very easy to detect how he was already half asleep.

“What is like warm water?” the scientist asked, curious to see where this was going now.

“Your voice” Madeleine nuzzled in his neck, pressing his ear-wing against it “It feels just like when warm water is gently poured over my head”

A blink, then another. That was…curious. Butter Roll wasn’t sure how the connection made sense.

“Really? How so?”

“I don’t know, when you talk like this and I am this close…” a yawn, Madeleine was trying his hardest to make sense but words weren’t filtered by reason anymore; sleep was claiming him more and more “…the way your voice vibrates, it’s so warm and smooth, it makes my head feel like warm water is poured over it, like I am in a warm bath”

Butter Roll hummed, a low and pensive one. Unknowingly to the sleepy knight, he was smiling.

Normally he was rather sure that Madeleine would have never admitted such thing willingly, so he must have been really close to sleep.

“Is that so?” he lowered a little more his voice on purpose and got a little closer to his ear-wing “That’s why you like my neck so much?”

“Mhmmm”

“I see…well, no reason to stall, then” he begun to talk again, this time making sure to slow down his speech and take time in enunciating words well. He choose to dwell into more sweet talk rather than simple chat, calling the paladin all sorts of sweet names and showering him with compliments and affectionate coos.

Madeleine felt in heaven. In his ill state, this was finally making him feel better not only physically but mentally, also. His head wings slowly set and he closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of Butter Roll’s voice pervading him and warming him up from the centre of his mind to the tip of his fingertips.

“Rollie” the paladin called, voice thickly coated with sleep. In the midst of the fever he was still fragile and that meant mentally as well. Butter Roll could tell from the way the hand Madeleine had set on his chest lightly squeezed on his shirt. Perhaps some thoughts were bothering him.

“Do not worry- remember what you told me back then? I got you-” he repeated the last words, slow and tender “I got you, my Madeleine”.

That seemed to be the reassurance the knight was looking for; it didn’t take long from there for Madeleine to fall asleep. When he did, he finally looked more at peace. His hand was still squeezing Butter Roll’s shirt but it was less firm.

The scientist let out a fond huff and caressed his loved one’s back.

“Sleep well, Maddiecakes”

Butter Roll wouldn’t be able to recall how much time had passed from then on, he was far too busy basking in the moment. Not only because he finally got the chance to properly take care of his sickly boyfriend but also for the closeness this particular situation had brought.

He looked down at Madeleine sleeping soundly on his chest, wings closed and breath even. He looked so at peace…so safe.

Safe.

The word bubbled in the scientist’s mind for a good while because it brought so many thoughts with it. Butter Roll was level headed; he knew himself, his actions, everything. While he never considered himself as someone aggressive he knew how others could perceive him (somewhere along the line he stopped caring but the sting still annoyed him in rare occasions). So, for Madeleine to feel this safe to fall asleep on him…it did something to him.

Sure, someone could make the point that Madeleine was strong and able to stand to him intellect wise (which did raise his attraction metre for the paladin a lot) and they wouldn’t be wrong; however it wasn’t correct to assume that Madeleine trusted him this much solely on the base of that, either.

The thought that Madeleine trusted him to this level was something that stirred so many emotions that the scientist struggled to properly go through them. He was happy, overjoyed even! But also it made his chest feel tight, compressed.

He looked over the paladin once more and felt the slow breathing over his chest. The warmth of it along with the one of the hand laying over it, too. His eyes fixed on him, how his incredibly tall and imposing frame looked so fragile right now, how he curled up with his best efforts to make himself smaller than the other man.

The word echoed in his mind once more.

Safe.

Memories of a long time ago resurfaced to his mind vivid and clear as the day. If he focused enough he could even remember the smell of ashes and jam, the sound of a shield and sword being dropped to the ground and the feeling of strong yet gentle arms wrapping around him. Holding him with a strength that spoke only of care, not harshness.

“I’m happy to have met you”

He remembered how incredulous he had felt in that moment but the warmth of it all had stunned him, overwriting everything else.

He remembered the feeling of letting go of his whisk, dropping it to the ground.

“I got you”

Relief, shock, confusion and comfort came all at once like a tidal wave and overwhelmed him. He held onto the source of warmth in front of him for dear life just like one would hold on a rock when drowning. But in front of him there was no rock: it was light, warmth and even amidst the chaos and stench of burnt butter and jam, a sweet scent was there, still.

The warmth of those arms was the same that laid on him, right in that moment.

“I got you, I got you”

Butter Roll forced himself to not still nor alter his breathing, lest he woke Madeleine. Instead, he hugged the knight a little more all the while making sure he wouldn’t be too squeezed, just enough to feel him better. Hand caressing the back of his head, he inhaled deeply to ground himself.

Now he could relax.

…

More time passed -hours probably- when Butter Roll heard the front door opening and closing and light (tired) steps. The coffee aroma got stronger and upon tilting his head up, he saw Espresso leaning on the couch’s headrest.

“You got him out of the room?” the mage’s tone was slightly above a murmur to not wake the paladin “What did you even do to convince him?”

“Oh, nothing- I only had to pick him up and bring him here myself” he chuckled, earning an amused huff from the other.

“I see your strength has more merits than baking alone” Espresso mused “But you’ll catch his illness too, like this”

“Oh, no worries about that- you see, when I worked for Dark Enchantress I made a special supplement—“ Butter Roll started but Espresso instantly interrupted him.

“Nevermind, I got my answer”

The two shared a small laugh. By now, Espresso’s quips are familiar and welcome.

“Well, I’ll get changed then- we can switch, if you’d like”

“Nah, I’m good” Butter Roll hadn’t stopped caressing Madeleine’s hair “Been resting all day with him, really”

Espresso hummed and headed for their shared room to get into comfortable house clothes. He didn’t take long (he never did) and as Butter Roll could hear him coming down the stairs, he rose his hand to silently call him. The coffee mage leaned in again.

“I figure you haven’t probably eaten a thing since this morning- there’s a container of curry and rice in the fridge, do eat”

“Ah, thank you” Espresso was still getting used to this. Madeleine always made sure he was well fed but well, Madeleine was Madeleine. He didn’t find discomfort in Butter Roll’s care though, it was just…new.

Once he warmed up the meal he sat to eat next to the other two. He took a few bites before speaking again.

“How has he been? Has he eaten? Did he take—“

“Espresso, it’s just a small flu” Butter Roll spoke in an easygoing tone to reassure the other “He’s eaten a portion of curry and rice and a few apple slices, then took medicine. We did crosswords until he felt sleepy and here we are”.

“I see…that’s good” a few more bites of food “Temperature?”

“I haven’t checked it with the thermometre but it must have dropped down since this morning; he isn’t scorching like an heated pad anymore so it’s safe to say that the worst is over”

“That’s a relief” a small, uncharacteristic sigh from the coffee mage.

“You worry so much about him, don’t you?” although it wasn’t said with the intention of teasing, Butter Roll’s words did fluster Espresso. He sighed again and tilted his head back.

“How can I not?” his voice was so sincere, Butter Roll could feel the sentiment “He’s usually the one who looks after everyone, so to see him like this makes me uneasy to say the least”.

“We all have our moments, it’ll be alright”

“Mhm” Espresso quickly finished the rest of his food and headed to set everything in the dishwasher, after which he sat back next to the two “Thank you for the meal”.

“Not a problem” Butter Roll closed his eyes again, head tilted back towards the ceiling.

“We can switch when he wakes up-“

“I’m alright- he’s quite light” he said calmly but Espresso made note of that last statement. He’d have to bring more snacks to Madeleine during patrols. “Just thinking of something he said before”

“Oh?”

Butter Roll opened his eyes and looked down at the sleeping paladin before answering to that.

“He said my voice is like warm water” the words felt embarrassing out of his mouth; he could feel the warmth rising to his cheeks and his smile becoming wider “Turns out it’s because of it that he always presses his face in my neck”.

Espresso’s eyes widened a little. He looked over at Madeleine as well before a fond hum escaped his lips.

“He must be sensitive to hearing-” the mage would have liked to run a hand over Madeleine’s head but he decided against it, lest he woke him up “-and sensible to voices, one time he told me that my voice was like someone’s playing the piano to him”.

“Someone playing the piano, huh? I can see that!” the other scientist nodded in agreement “I wonder if he would link a sensation to yours, too- we could ask once he wakes up!”.

“Perhaps not” the thought was far too embarrassing for Espresso to consider, although he was curious.

“But a piano can be played in so many different ways- and Madeleine knows these things well, so he must have had a more detailed image in mind”

“Well, I had said it was like someone playing an andante, to be specific”

The two turned their heads towards Madeleine who had one eye open.

“Goodmorning, princess” Butter Roll chuckled “Slept well?”

“Mhmm, wonderfully, thank you” he looked still tired but less ill.

“How long have you been eavesdropping?” Espresso’s tone was amused, no sign of actual upset in his words.

“Who knows, it is a mystery, really” Madeleine smiled at the playfulness and placed his face back in Butter Roll’s chest.

“A mystery, huh?” Espresso got up and stepped closer to the two, kneeling just enough to be at Madeleine’s eye level. The second the knight heard the steps he had immediately moved his head to look at the coffee cookie.

“As a paladin of the Light, I am bestowed with knowledge that cannot be divulged so easily” Madeleine mused, playing along.

“Is that so? Very well” he cupped the paladin’s face with his hands and peppered it with lots of tiny kisses, making him squeal and laugh. Madeleine tried to get away solely for the scientist’s wellbeing (he was still sick, after all) but he had very little space to do so, especially with Butter Roll still holding him.

“Ess—!! Espresso! Dear!! You’ll catch my flu like this!” he laughed, very much enjoying the affections.

“As a scientist and researcher, it is my duty to pursue even the most arduous of feats regardless of the risks” Espresso said between the kisses, musing Madeleine’s earlier words. He stopped only when he gave a big smooch to the paladin’s forehead “Now then, how do you feel?”.

“I’d say the last 10 minutes have improved my day enormously” Madeleine’s expression was nothing short than blissful, especially when Butter Roll joined in and gave a big kiss to his forehead as well (to also check his temperature) “But in all seriousness I do feel much better compared to this morning”.

“That’s a relief” Espresso leaned closer and Butter Roll moved an arm around his shoulders to allow him to be.

“How did the meeting with the Consul go?”

“Oh no, no work for you today” immediate cut of the topic “You’ll get your brief when I see you fit for handling work”

“I was just asking” Madeleine snorted “Not even a general idea?”.

“Absolutely not” Espresso said firmly “You’re in no condition- if anything, go change your clothes into something clean while I set up dinner. Do you feel like eating?”.

“Yes and yes-“ even if both of them really didn’t want to, Madeleine got up and Butter Roll let him move ”I’ll be back in a moment, I can he-“.

“Absolutely not” the two scientists said in unison, the knight rose his arms in defeat.

“Very well- ah, but, for tonight” he looked a little more serious now “I should probably stick to the guestroom, for safe measure? Butter Roll will be fine, but you…”

“I’ll be fine- we can all sleep together tonight, the worst seems over now”

“Are you sure? I wouldn’t want…”

“Madeleine, I don’t care” Espresso huffed “Simply put- Butter Roll got his affections, I refuse to not have mine”.

The paladin blinked, then smiled fondly at the coffee mage. With a nod, he headed to change his clothes and took a warm shower while at it.

The evening passed with peace and calm: the three spent the time after dinner talking and doing a round at a three-brain effort at crosswords. Espresso was wonderful at it, as expected.

Once in bed (and after Madeleine asked for the tenth time if he’d be alright to sleep together with them), Espresso snuggled firmly to Madeleine, face pressed against his chest. Butter Roll hugged his back, allowing the paladin to be the little spoon.

They slept, at peace and without a worry.

And of course, the morning after Espresso begun sneezing.

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