Work Text:
"You really didn't need to..." Black Raisin Cookie spoke bluntly, glancing away from Raspberry Cookie to focus on the crows pecking at the ground.
"It was very necessary! One of your crows just flies up to me and starts squawking like crazy, I thought you were dead!" Raspberry Cookie sighed at the crow owner's stubbornness, her brow furrowing in frustration.
"It's just a fever." Black Raisin Cookie spoke up again, her gaze set in that defiant way that she would get when she thought she didn't need help. Raspberry Cookie hated that she loved that look.
Both of them looked up at probably the 20th crow that flew over in concern, its cawing insistent in the quiet forest. It landed less-than-gracefully, squawking as it stumbled. Black Raisin let out a soft laugh, before a cough escaped her. Raspberry Cookie observed her and the crow (mostly her), looking at how red she looked, and how unusually gravely the other's voice sounded. Raspberry crossed her arms and looked away, feigning irritation.
"Oh, don't be like that..." Even with the teasing lilt in Black Raisin's voice, she could never bring herself to actually be mad. Her friend was sick, for Earthbread's sake! Raspberry Cookie opted to stare at her intensely instead, but almost immediately regretted that choice as Black Raisin tilted her head to meet Raspberry's eyes. She felt warmth creep up her cheeks, suddenly finding the grass extremely interesting. It was just too bad King Pure Vanilla Cookie was out on an adventure, otherwise she was sure he would've healed Black Raisin by now. Although... The thought of another cookie helping Black Raisin made her feel sick, for reasons unknown. In that scenario, she should be relieved that her friend wasn't sick. She would be relieved.
Black Raisin Cookie was too occupied with speaking to her crow to notice Raspberry's reaction to her own thoughts, or her red face. Her crow flew away after a few brief sentences, leaving Black Raisin and Raspberry alone. Its loud call collected the murder, the sound of multiple birds flying into the air. The silence after Black Raisin waved goodbye stretched so long that they both could feel how awkward it was. It was almost hard to miss when Raspberry was being ridiculously cute while avoiding meeting her eyes.
"You should leave." She blurted out without actually meaning it, watching Raspberry Cookie's reaction.
Her expression went surprised before it steeled into something more familiar to Black Raisin, stubbornness.
"You're crazy if you think I’m leaving you like this." Raspberry shook her head in exasperation, sitting down beside the protector with a huff. Black Raisin Cookie scooted away from Raspberry, not wanting to get her sick.
"Oh no, you aren't getting away from me." She immediately moved towards Black Raisin, pressing their shoulders together.
Now it was Black Raisin's turn to be blushing, though she would never admit that. Leaning on Raspberry just the tiniest bit, she sat quietly for what felt like an hour with Raspberry Cookie before a small, crunchy cough escaped her.
Raspberry jumped, realizing she was so focused on being so close to the other cookie that she had forgotten she was sick in her daze. Focus, Raspberry!
“Right! Let's get you to the Pure Vanilla Kingdom!” She stood abruptly, startling the protector when her voice cut through the silence.
Black Raisin Cookie pushed herself up with her arm, wobbling slightly before regaining her balance. Raspberry didn't overlook the time Black Raisin took to stabilize herself, the swordbearer glancing over with a barely concealed look of concern before taking a step towards her.
“Ah... How could I be so inconsiderate?” She chided herself mentally before moving to support Black Raisin Cookie, holding her up and steady.