Just Ask Him, I Bet He Forgives You!! (Remake)

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(Originally Made 11th October 2023)

From the second Madeleine and Latte made a mutual agreement to begin 'dating', time had seemed to freeze for Madeleine. The passing month felt like the same day and days felt only like hours. His mind was still wrapping itself around that midnight where Madeleine and Latte agreed to be together for Espresso's attention, giving Madeleine a sliver of hope that Espresso might just like him.

But ever since the two cookies have been flaunting and boasting about their relationship and love, Espresso has shown no interest in their life. He almost looked painful while he watched it with an unsatisfied cringe on his face. And then his work hours would grow much longer, only ever coming out for toilet breaks and a few ingredients before hiding away again in the extravagant room that is his laboratory.

And honestly, Madeleine hated it. Every time he saw Espresso, or even made eye contact with him, Espresso would rush quicker than lightning back into the safety of his laboratory as he slammed the heavy, wooden door until the only thing left outside was the echo of the door's slam ringing tunefully through Madeleine's ears in a glass shattering hum, leaving Madeleine utterly confused on what he did wrong.

Madeleine expected Espresso to be annoyed at his and Latte's lovey-dovey behaviour around him, but he didn't expect Espresso to just flat out ignore the two. And though both of them had noticed for a while, it was definitely affecting one more than the other.

Look, he absolutely loved Latte from the bottom of his heart (in the most platonic way he could), but the way she was so apathetic of his helpless pining was actually beginning to hurt. Physically and mentally. Last week, she began dragging him by the leg out of his front door while he scrambles to get up just because he didn't answer her calls. He didn't even know she had that much muscle! And to be honest, he didn't know Latte was so persistent until now.

But then, he didn't also know that Latte would be his best friend. They didn't really talk enough before to even be considered friends, but ever since they began their 'relationship' they've been connected by the hip. At first, they only hung out for the purpose of their fake dating relationship, but then a week later, they're just hanging out because they just like each other's company.

However, recently Madeleine hasn't been in the mood to hangout with Latte. In fact, he hasn't been in the mood to hangout with anyone or do anything. Doing anything with the thought that his one true love was mad at him was like ignoring the fact that something so valuable was being destroyed.

He acknowledged that he was sulking, terribly so. But when your hypothetical husband doesn't talk to you for god knows how long, wouldn't you end up in the same exact place?

God, he was pathetic, being so miserable just because he hadn't seen his crush in a few weeks. But truth be told, Espresso was the only thing that kept Madeleine sane, composed. And he felt himself growing crazier each day he didn't see Espresso's dark waves of hair and highlighted skin in the morning sun and how his face would adorably scrunch up when his glasses were falling up his face and how he wanted to organise his tangled hair like the contents of a library-

A piercing ring echoed throughout his living room as he jumped from where he laid on the couch, his lovesick thoughts being broken into two as he picked up his phone. As he opened his phone, he flinched from the brightness as the phone presented him with a picture of Latte Cookie, flashing white on the screen. He took an embarrassingly long time to hit the green button on his screen.

"Hello?" he whispered groggily into the speaker, he could hear Latte audibly grimace across the phone.

"Madeleine, one of the strongest knights of the Republic?" Latte scorned as her pure white nails lightly tapped the plastic of her phone case, echoing into the speaker, "Is that you? Or has someone kidnapped you and is forcing you to speak to me?"

Madeleine rolled his eyes as Latte continued to scold him for something she couldn't even see. He pinched the bridge of his nose as he furrowed his brow, enduring Latte's rather bothersome voice.

"Latte, what do you need?" Madeleine said bitterly. Surely Latte didn't call him just to chastise him like a clueless child, "You can't just call me and begin to scold me like I'm younger than you."

Madeleine listened as Latte made an audible show by sighing heavily and dramatically slumping down onto a seat nearby, acting like he was completely wasting her time. He could feel every ounce of tiredness leave him and proceed to be replaced with irritation. They stayed silent on the phone for a few seconds as Madeleine waited for the absurd reason why she bothered to interrupt his very personal time.

"Espresso began talking to me again." she stated nonchalantly. Madeleine immediately shot up from his place on the sofa, slightly wincing in pain from the sudden movement as he felt all of his joints rejoice in pain from finally having a different sitting position. But he quickly pushed the painful feeling aside.

"Really?" Madeleine said, straining his voice as he stretched. He got up off the sofa only to start pacing circles around it. So many things were running around Madeleine's mind, a million of which he could not identify.

"Yes really!" Latte gushed, all the previous tension disintegrating faster than it appeared, "I went into work and he was like 'hi!' so I said hi back and I think..." she paused to catch her breath, "he's finally noticing us."

There was a semi unexpected pause before both of them erupted into school girl giggling as Madeleine silently thanked the Republic that there was no one with him to see him jumping extremely happily on the spot.

As he fell back on the couch, he and Latte stayed quiet on the phone before anyone spoke again.

"So," Madeleine spoke up, "Anything new with him? Is he okay?"

He could hear Latte turning from where she was, "Well, yeah he seems fine," Latte explained, her words unsure, "But I know for a fact that he's free."

Madeleine once again thanked high above, "So what are you thinking?"

Madeleine could hear her smug smirk from across the line, and knew whatever it was, it would be the best decision or his worse choice.

"Say," Latte grinned, "How fond are you of jewellery?"

To say Espresso was mad wouldn't be all that false, but that's only because saying Espresso was livid would be much more accurate.

Firstly, out of all the outcomes that Espresso has worried about and laid awake at night thinking about, Espresso would have never thought that Madeleine Cookie and Latte Cookie would ever be an... item. A thing. A...couple.

Espresso doesn't mean to terribly insult his bestest friend (he doesn't care), but the fact that Madeleine chose Latte over Espresso is like saying that putting milk in black coffee makes it better. Because, no, it does not and sorry to tell you this, but those two things don't mix as well as you think they do.

But who is Espresso to judge? He's been actively avoiding the two like the plague. Especially a certain blonde critter who dug his way into his heart.

Look, he's totally fine with Madeleine dating who he wants, when he wants. He could probably date everyone if he wanted, not that Espresso cares. But does he have to shove it in his face every time he's with Latte?!

Seriously, does he always have to sling his muscular arms around Latte or give off that sweet angelic laugh that overrides Espresso's heart for days?! Always shoving himself in his line of sight just to shatter his hopes.

But in these two weeks of total isolation Espresso had, he came to one conclusion:

Madeleine's a dimwit.

Was this choice made only because Latte was his only real friend and he missed talking to her? Maybe. But is it true? Absolutely, 100%.

And even though it was a very last minute assumption, Espresso was just grabbing for anything plausible to stop himself from being numbed by the pain of his unrequited desire. Seriously, sometimes it hurts laying awake at night knowing that Madeleine sleeps in peace while you're tortured with the fact you can't even keep him.

It had been a week since Espresso had begun talking to Latte when Latte asked a favour of him. Obviously not grabbing for redemption, Espresso may or may not have answered too eagerly without even hearing where he was going. He cursed his younger self.

If he knew he was going to a jewellery shop, he would have never come. Apologies if this sounds utterly pathetic, but if there's one thing Espresso is scared of other than wealthy men with long hair, it's jewellery stores. And this fear does NOT have to do with the first fear, it really doesn't!

... Fine, it does.

Blame him for his 'creative interpretation', but the way the golden lights of the displays make the jewels and gems gleam like sunsets and moonlights or blue summer days and rushing winter lakes makes him think of a certain cookie who he knows all too well.

Not to mention that every time Espresso even steps one foot into the store, he's practically ring shopping. Believe him, he's tried millions of times to convince himself that stalking every single ring in the store is normal but the worrisome looks from the workers tell him otherwise.

Luckily, Espresso has been able to avoid all of the jewellery shops by taking different routes! Who cares if you're late to work, or that it's through a dark alleyway, or that it stinks? Because what would you rather have? The worst walking experience of your life or anything remotely resembling your crush?

Anyway, it's too late to reminisce about past decisions. He's already walking there so what's even the point?

The mall is bustling, full of people and customers. Latte had sent him on an errand to go pick up a commission from the jewellery store. It was extremely new, just opened up about a month ago. Apparently Latte had some kind of connection with the owner, so they're giving her a free necklace as a thank you.

Espresso shoved down any fragments of envy he felt at Latte's unbeatable charisma. He just restored his relationship with her and just got confident enough to begin helping her, he doesn't want to reset everything due to his inability to keep his fantasies away from his realities.

Walking around the corners of the stores, he could see the glittering of display lights incoming. Just from the sight of the shop, he could feel his stomach churn and twist in unfathomable ways. Maybe he should just leave, never should've done this. The order can go on hold for a while, can't it?

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his buzzing nerves. It's not gonna be that bad. He's not gonna die. It'll be fine.

He continued to walk attempting to reassure himself that everything would be fine. He felt calm. He was calm. Why wouldn't he be? Just ignore that little bit of your mind in total panic mod. Nothing will happen.

With a final breath, Espresso stepped into the bright light of the store. He fixed his glasses and-

... Oh my gosh.

(Something happened.)

From where Espresso stood at the entrance, he saw it. The graceful wave of light blonde hair in the golden beams of spotlight. His mind felt 20,000 different emotions flood him in less than a millisecond as he glared at the man who was intently looking over a display of sculpted gold rings.

Alright, this isn't going as planned. That's fine. Espresso tried to remember everything he has done to explain his hatred for the taller cookie. But as he looked at him snuggled up in his blue letterman jacket with a white scarf covering his neck, he couldn't help but burn his eyes onto the other. Especially his hair. Was it always up?

Espresso could definitely get used to it.

What is he thinking?! That wasn't spiteful at all! He quickly rearranged his thoughts as he finally looked for strategic way to get the package AND avoid Madeleine. Preferably, just avoid Madeleine.

His foot stepped back, backing out of the store. But as soon as he made his choice to attempt to run out of the store, crowds of people rushed by in a giant hassle to quickly get to the other side of the mall. Espresso cursed fate as he was forced to confide back into the store.

He groaned as he inspected his chances to getting to the counter without Madeleine noticing. They were extremely slim considering Madeleine was right next to the counter. But there really was no going back now.

Sneakily, Espresso lurked through the store trying to ignore all the concerned looks from other customers. He was walking on thin ice that was eventually going to crack under his weight. Ducking behind glass displays, surprisingly, did not give Espresso the best coverage as he depended on his agility to get through.

And considering all of his hours and days are spent curled up in his laboratory, he wasn't as fast as he thought he was.

Somehow, Espresso was able to get through the store with Madeleine being totally distracted by the glimmer of jewellery in front of him. He was just right across from the counter, he could taste his success as he savoured the moment a bit too much. He looked over at Madeleine and thanked Earthbread that he was still distracted.

This was it, a proud grin on his face. It was right in front of his. His confidence and glee was through the roof. He prayed once more that Madeleine would not turn as he strode over to the glass and-

"Espresso!"

Espresso stopped dead in his tracks, instantly recognising the voice. Without moving, he turned his eyes over to Madeleine as he realised he was practically right next to him. He mentally slapped himself at his obvious lack of attention.

Espresso averted his eyes away from the other, his face already giving away all his bitterness as it scorched red. He didn't respond as he saw Madeleine's joyous smile slowly disintegrate into a faint frown. He turned back forward with a guilty look on his face. Espresso's heart ached with absolute contempt for himself, sending immediate sorrow through his nerves.

They stayed silent for a long while before anyone talked.

"I'm," Madeleine began, "sorry."

Espresso's guilt grew so large in his mind that it felt like it would come shooting out his eyes in a salty waterfall. He gripped tighter on his trench coat, the texture of the felt digging into his skin. He dared to steal a glance at Madeleine who was looking at nothing at the corner of his eye with a small frown playing at his lips.

"I'm sure I've been doing something wrong, or something wrong to you." Madeleine explained, hints of an apology in his voice that pulled Espresso's heartstrings so hard that they might snap, "And if you've been avoiding me for something I've done; please tell me. Because I know you wouldn't leave me hanging."

He finally turned to look at Espresso who didn't realise he was staring, taken aback by the richness and shine of Madeleine's eyes. A smile tugged at Madeleine's cheeks, "And no matter how cold you act, I can always trust you to tell me the truth."

Espresso hates how Madeleine could read him like and open book in bold, clear handwriting. It went against everything Espresso ever wanted to be. To Madeleine, the mysterious, cold, and dark Espresso was a facade as he understood and welcomed Espresso's unseen vulnerability. And every time he does that, it doesn't help that Espresso feels like his whole body is on lockdown.

Espresso stood silently, leaning on the glass. Millions of jewels below him dazzled in his eyes. His mind was playing hundreds of words of hatred and apologies and Espresso was left trying to grab anything that made complete sense. He felt humiliated by himself.

"I..." Espresso tried to explain, sentences running from his tongue. It felt like hot shivers were writhing through his spine. His mind wanted to wash the truth from his tongue. His jealousy. But his mouth felt paralysed by the idea, frozen at the words. He could feel his throat constrict, "I'm sorry."

Madeleine looked at him surprised. Faint shades of sadness painted his face as he looked at him with furrowed brows and mouth slightly agape. The expression brought Espresso to his knees as he prayed Madeleine didn't see how he gripped onto the unmoving glass just a bit tighter and how his face became a bit more sore.

"Espresso," Madeleine said, his voice so quiet as if he was trying not to scare Espresso away. Espresso would only keep to himself that he loved when Madeleine treated him like that, "I assure you that you've done nothing wrong."

Espresso felt utterly humiliated by many things. His voice, his speech, his attitude. But in this moment, the biggest thing he stupidly loathed was himself for thinking he was ever smart to even meet Madeleine. Madeleine's so generous and generally genuine even when he knows Espresso would just hurt him again and again. Madeleine would give Espresso all the chances that his body could give for Espresso just to break every bit of him.

God, Espresso is the worst person ever.

"I just wanna be assured that you're okay." Madeleine comforted him gently, Espresso heart crushed harder, "Because knowing that you're okay is the best thing I could know." Madeleine carefully placed his hand on Espresso's stiff shoulder which made Espresso both freeze like stone and melt like ice. Espresso wasn't very believing in a higher power up above, but when Madeleine touched him it felt like all the angels of the heavens had bonded together to bring Espresso the most anointed touch that could ever be created, "And I wanna help with it, maybe make up to it."

Oh my gosh, Espresso thought to himself, he really is the worst person ever.

"I can see you stressing Espresso." Madeleine admitted in a sweetly sombre voice, Espresso felt all the static of negativity around him suddenly stop and become clear as he realised that the royal blue eyes of Madeleine were gazing at him in patient comfort, "You don't need to tell me. I just need to know if you're okay."

Espresso paused. He knew that he shouldn't leave Madeleine hanging onto the suspense of the problem, but revealing too much would fracture the heart of Madeleine and leave Espresso unworthy and unwanted. And Espresso already felt that way without Madeleine, his only hope and biggest regret.

"It is your fault." Espresso quietly said, guilt overloaded his body in a great wave of hurt as his mind practically shouted sentences that tore Espresso apart into nothing but a ball of shame. He dared to sneak a look at Madeleine, expecting a face of anger, shock, or outrage. But instead when he met those eyes, they were the eyes of pure understanding and compassion.

Madeleine took his hand off his shoulder and Espresso pulled himself to not beg to have it back on his shoulder comforting him, "I'm sorry that I made you feel like that, Espresso." Madeleine apologised sincerely, "You don't deserve to be treated or affected in a way that hurts you." Madeleine faced him with eyes of confidence and safe strength, "You shouldn't ever be hurt by me or my actions."

Now Espresso felt like the monster he truly was. Bringing a man down to a final apology when he had nothing wrong. Apologising for his fantasies and crushing the other man's dreams. What a sin he is to think that he is worthy for the love of such an elegant elite like Madeleine.

"You don't need to forgive me." Madeleine said with an understanding smile, "But

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