#it's all

Roguefort makes sure she's safe, obviously, but then they have to run and it would be a cool chace scene ect yk. I was thinking they'd use some sort of self made flying.. contraption, but I couldn't think of anything realistic, so game logic flying will do. And after the chase scene where Roguefort as usual runs away as a genius they are, we go back to Walnut and Almond who's, you know, worried sick about his daughter almost falling from such height?

Almond would absolutely get Walnut home, it would be his top priority. He would stay with her, try to calm her down, bring her warm milk and read her a kind fairytale. But he can't stay with her for all night, he still has work. Almond is the best and unfortunately the busiest detective, so he leaves, making sure Walnut calmed down.

She can't sleep, not only because of fear, no, it's not that strong, but also because of conflicting feelings. Roguefort is.. bad? They saved her still, she's grateful. Grateful to the cookie that her family tries to get behind the bars.

Roguefort, for better or for worse, also worries. They, despite knowing better, follow Walnut and Almond, and in the middle of the night, they knock on her window. She opens. (Now that I think about it, it's all just ooc and weird, but oh well, my silly brain earn for fluff). Out of gratitude maybe, maybe she still can't think straight. But they mean no harm that's for sure. Not after what happened. Roguefort makes sure she's alright too. And it seems like they're really good with children for some reason. How did they make her talk so much? About her favourite food, games, detective strategies she read from a book her father wrote. How she missed spending time with him... They talk and talk, maybe even giggle sometimes trying to be quiet so Almond wouldn't hear. (Wait, wasn't that her goal to catch them?) Walnut was already too sleepy to think about that. They should repeat that sometime.

And they do! The next nigh Roguefort visits again with small treats. It's.. not bad that they're here. Walnut gets to watch them so they don't steal more stuff! Right! That's the only explanation for why she enjoys their company! Not because she missed having a second parent at all, nuh-uh.

It goes on for some time. They just.. allow each other in? Roguefort clearly has some sort of protective (parental?) feelings towards Walnut, and she in return feels safe, trusting even. To the point that she doesn't tell her dad about their meetings. (Wow that sounds bad now that I read it).

Still, she feels safe, they feel safe too. This silly feeling of belonging that makes Roguefort accidentally fall asleep with a book in their hands. (Of course a great rogue like them wouldn't let that happen).

Then they get discovered. Obviously, it's the.. what was the guy's name? Murphy's law. If it can go wrong it will. Before Roguefort knows it, Almond snatches them from Walnut's room to their office to hold them at.. fist? point? Oh boy he's sure gonna beat them up if they don't speak!

He's angry, rightfully so! As we all know the best defence is offence so Roguefort speaks and so they do. Everything that Walnut told them about how absent he was how lonely she felt how he didn't recognise her attempts at being a good detective just like her daddy. (Maybe they did over exaggerate a little, maybe a lot, but who could blame them? Almond will punch if Roguefort doesn't catch him off guard!). It works, although it shouldn't. These whispers do hurt because it's something that Almond tried to ignore, to hide from in work. It's true and he knows it. They keep talking and once Almond closes his eyes in disdain, opens them again to punch, Roguefort is nowhere to be seen, only an open window which lets the cold night air in gives a hint that he let go of them unintentionally.

He.. need to do something about it. He can't let his daughter get close with.. Them! How does he even approach this conversation? Interrogating criminals was much easier than that... Usually his wife was here to help... (Don't mind me, just headcanons)

He needs help. Where should he get it? Is there a person who knows his daughter's interests and is able to tell him how to actually be a present parent?... No... Not them, that's stupid, there has to be some other way. There is, which is.. communicating.. that should be easy, right?

Wrong it goes in a horrible awkward way that leaves them both confused and dissatisfied. Almond doesn't learn anything, she's worried he'll scold her for being so talkative with the one who's name shall not be called.

Unless it's totally necessary. If they know where he lives, just leaving a note should suffice. It's a necessary and most importantly temporary compromise to current situation. A trade offer if you wish to call it that. Untill he learns, until everything stabilizes, Roguefort will.. (he even wrote a little "please" in the corner) help Almond with Walnut. It's for... Her recovery from a traumatic event, for sure, yes, that's the reason.

To his surprise (and dread) they agreed. He could imagine Roguefort's sly, haughty smile when they wrote "of course" with a stupid heart on the cover.

--

Them getting together, co-parenting Walnut would, obviously, be the most lengthy and complex part of the fanfic, but it's the part that I thought the least of, so just imagine them going to the park, the cinema, Roguefort using their disguise abilities to their fullest, all the silly stuff that could've happened. Maybe I'll think them through some time later.

--

Back home. Roguefort made sure Walnut is asleep before slipping quietly into Almond's office. He was also asleep. Poor thing, with both family activities and truly horrifying amounts of work pressuring him into life or sleep situation. No wonder he collapsed on the table, face resting on the inside of his elbow while the other hand holds a pen, writing nothings on the dark wood table. The pen was soon removed to not make more mess and Roguefort, oh so considerably, tried to cover Almond with a blanket.

With a shudder, followed by a big yawn, Almond instantly reached for more coffee, drinking half a cup of black bitterness to shake him up.

"I'm.. not asleep... There's no need for that" — He shook the blanket off, avoiding it's sweet embrace that would make him only more sleepy

"You should be" — Roguefort said bluntly as they shamelessly sat on the table, crossing their legs.

They reached for the coffee cup, taking a sip and immediately making a sour expression.

"How do you even drink this?"

"That what wakes me up"

"Not my point, remind me to take you and Walnut to a proper coffee shop next time"

They set the cup aside, their gaze comes back to Almond's dark circles.

"You should sleep. Some is better than none"

"I'm fine. Just let me finish these."

"If you don't sleep now you won't have energy to go for a walk with us tomorrow. Well, today. Which is even worse if you ask me" — Roguefort poked Almond's forehead, trying to make him look up from the paperwork.

"Maybe that's for the better.. she likes you more anyway"

"Now that won't do." — Roguefort frowned, grabbing Almonds face by the cheek — "It's the lack of sleep that's getting to your brain, you're spewing nonsense"

He just sighed. After so much time it didn't feel like he got closer to understanding Walnut at all. The frustration was evident, and pushing his body to it's limits only made it worse.

It was probably it. The exhaustion caught up to him making him speak, whisper about how his wife used to take care of things like this. How much harder it became after she passed...

Roguefort worried for him, but they listened. Not because of some malicious intent, just because..

"I'm sorry" — Roguefort whispered before getting down from the table and offering Almond a hug.

Well, more like accepting it because he needed it, craved it especially now.

They stayed like that for some time. Untill Almond finally fell asleep deeply, allowing Roguefort to carry him to a couch.

Turns out, sleeping a little did improve his emotional and physical state. Fascinating.

They did go on a walk, stopped in a coffee shop where Walnut got a hot cocoa and Almond tried a latte for the first time. It was too milky, but Roguefort's cappuccino was... Acceptable.

--

That evening, while Roguefort was with Walnut, Almond decided to come by, witnessing probably the cutest scene in.. some time. Roguefort was singing a lullaby. Just like she used to do... No wonder Walnut was fast asleep. And after carefully closing the door to her room, Roguefort got dragged into Almond's office. Not like the first time, obviously. This time he had a soft smile on his face, thanking them for everything, genuinely.

"What, don't need my services anymore?" — Roguefort chuckled, once again taking their favourite seat on the edge of Almond's table as he stood beside them.

"No I.." — he couldn't quite find the words to express what he felt, but it was obvious. Maybe not for him but for them.

"Oh of course you do. I already guessed you have another baby to take care of" — They took a sip from his coffee cup, something that they, for some reason, got used to doing.

It was sweet this time. With milk too. Not a professional barista level but it was obvious why he decided to add all of that.

Roguefort smiled slightly, looking at Almond's confused and flustered face.

"I'm talking about you. Oh you should really sleep more" — They crossed their arms in sort of scolding manner.

He could only sigh and rub the top of his head in embarrassment. They were right: he needed them. Grew to need them.

They stood up, getting in front of him, almost as close as an embrace but their hands settled at the table instead. It was quite obvious now what feelings they both shared. And there was no chance Almond would tell.

"You're so lucky I have a lot of free time" — Roguefort almost rolled their eyes at his flustered expression, but still pulled him closer by the tie, giving him just a small kiss, nothing too deep, but enough to make Almond's heart jump out of his chest, leaving him stunned like a cornered animal.

"Well, see you tomorrow"