“Would you still love me if I wasn't useful?”
Healer Cookie perks up, turning to her. Though she can't see his eyes, she knows they would be full of concern. That's what she likes about him. Always so caring.
“Of course I would!” He grabs her hand worriedly. “Why… Why are you asking?”
She lingers for a moment as she savors the physical contact. So warm, so soft… She sighs.
“...I'm thinking of quitting.”
Healer tilts his head as she continues.
“There's always so many cookies, always demanding something of me, never caring—They only care about themselves. ‘What's going on? What's going to happen to me? Please, my Fount of Knowledge, help us!’”
She tightens her grip on Healer's hand. “I'm sick of it! I hope they die, I hope Herald—or whatever he calls himself now—kills them all, I wish I could kill them myself! Maybe then they'd finally leave me alone.”
A hand brushes across her cheek. She didn't realize she'd started crying from the frustration. Instinctively, she holds the hand there, letting him cradle her cheek.
“Oh, Fount…”
She looks away. “Don't call me that. I don't want that title anymore.”
He frowns, before pulling her into a hug.
“Well, whoever you are, you're my friend! I'll be by your side, no matter what.”
She holds him close, burrowing her head in the crook of his neck to take in the scent of vanilla. It calms her, the way his presence always does.
“No matter what? Even if the Witches don't like what I do? Even if you don't like it?”
He hums. “Well, I don't want you to hurt anyone… but I wouldn't leave you. I know you're overworked, it's not fair how much you have to deal with. You don't deserve how they treat you. Other cookies, the Witches—I'll be right here, no matter what they think.”
Of course he doesn't want her to hurt anyone. Healer was a kind cookie like that, and besides, he has a far kinder experience with cookiekind than she does. As a member of the public instead of their idol, he gets treated like their equal.
No. No, he's different from the public. None of them care about her. They only care about what she can do for them. Healer… Healer is different. He's the only one who's ever cared about her—the only one who's ever truly seen her. If she corrupts, just like the Herald, would he still stay by her side?
Of course, of course he would. Healer never goes back on his word. That's what makes him different from all those selfish cookies that constantly take and take and never appreciate her. He's hers. And no one can ever take that from her. Not other cookies, not the Witches—she'd never let them. No matter what, he's all hers.
She relaxes into his embrace.
“...Of course you will. Because we're friends, right?”
