He was clumsy. Adorably clumsy. As he was being right now. Sure some times he'd set himself on fire, it always baffled you how flammable the man was.

As of right now he was trying to cook you breakfast. Trying.

You knew letting Roci near the kitchen was a bad idea, but you couldn't help it. You'd woken up that day beat up from the last and he said that you needed to take a break.

And you knew you did. You just didn't act on it.

So here he was, making you pancakes. Or was rather trying to make sure the kitchen wasn't engulfed in flames again. He remembered the last time that happened.

He wasn't allowed in the kitchen for the next three months and you had to get what he wanted. Need it be drink or snack. You wouldn't hesitate to do it again if you had too.

"Roci honey you can sit down, I can have some cereal."

You tried to persuade the tall bird, but he wouldn't have it. He just shook his head and swatted the spatula at you as he tried to pry it off of the pan.
You rolled your eyes with a slight smile, sighing.

"Rocinante Donquixote, I told you that I could cook breakfast today-"

You were cut short as a note was shoved in your face.

'Y/n, my dearest, I told you that I would make you breakfast and that is what I am going to do, you do everything around this house, I would like to help out with at least one thing.'

You looked up at him, his face was soft but held a stern expression. You knew that he wanted to help, but you were just so used to it you just couldn't help it...

"Alright, alright I'm sorry. Go ahead and finish.."

You sigh softly.

A faint burning smell filled the kitchen and your eyes popped open. You looked over to the stove and noticed a very nervous Roci.

"Is something wrong Roci?"

He quickly shook his head looking back at you with a frail smile.

You raised an eyebrow.

"Roci-"

You were stopped with the wave of the spatula in your face again. You held your lips in a line, with your brows furrowed.

"Corazon.."

He turned around and gulped thickly.
He sighed and turned everything off, pulling the pan from the stove and setting it on the table.

"I'm..I'm sorry Y/n, I just wanted to help. You're so overworked with everything nowadays and I don't want you to become more stressed than you already are."

You smiled softly. 'Oh I just love that voice of his'

"Roci, its alright. What I have told you? Just as long as you don't worry about me too much, I'll be perfectly fine. I'm capable."

He smiled and pulled you into his lap, wrapping his long arms around your waist and pulling you close to him.

"I know you're capable, you're more than able to do everything that you need too on a regular basis, and still come back and deal with me and my antics." He glanced down at the pan.

You only chuckled and shook your head.

"Mm yes I suppose that is true, given that your little 'antics' are the only things that keep me sane.."

You heard him chuckle softly before rising from his seat and walking into the living room, settling you down on the couch. He laid his coat on top of you, letting you burrow into the soft black feathers.

"You can stay there the rest of the day, you can take off can't you? I'm pretty sure you have a mass of sick days you've racked up."

You nodded and chuckled. He was about to leave the room, but you stopped him.

"Hey...Roci..."

"Yes Y/n?"

You fiddled with your hands.

"Could you go get my little black box on my desk down the hall? I need to reorganize it..."

Rocinante sighed contently with a soft smile.

"You really can't take off can you?"

You shook your head with a sheepish smile.

He made his way down the hall and quickly grabbed the little box off the corner of your desk and brought it back to you. Kissing your forehead, he sat down in the kitchen with his Den-den mushi.

When you knew he was occupied enough, you clicked open the box and looked around inside. These were all the notes that Roci had given you.

Sweet words of endearment, the occasional bad joke, all of those were in here. You kept hold of all of the memories, because you didn't want to lose them. You didn't want to think about losing Roci. Your Rocinante.

You picked up a note from the top of the small stack and turned it over. A little heart was drawn along with sweet words.

'Don't worry Y/n, I'll always be here for you, no matter how far I am, no matter how long I'm away, I'll always be with you.'

You cracked a grin. He was so cute.

You sat that note to the side and gingerly picked up another, smiling contently as you read the words.

'Cheer up Y/n! It won't be long now! Just a few more days and I'll be back home with you, I promise. I love you. c: '

You giggled softly, that smiley always got to you.

"What are you so giggly about? I didn't know work could be so fun to you."

You froze momentarily and chuckled softly and looked back to Roci.

"O-oh its nothing.."

He grunted knowingly and stood, walking to sit beside you on the couch as you quickly closed the box and his the two notes beside you.

He looked down at you with a confused expression as he scanned your face.

He looked down at the box and back to you.

"What's in there?"

You shook your head and looked up at him.

"Oh nothing really-"

"Y/n..."

You sighed, knowing better than to keep something like this hidden from him.

You handed him the small box and it clicked open. He peered in and his face lit up with a red blush.

"Y-y/n...you kept these...?"

He held up two of the notes, and you nodded. His eyes scanned over the written words and he softly smiled.

His eyes watered slightly and he pulled you to him and chuckled quietly as you kissed his cheek.

"Of course I did, I love your notes silly."

You wiped a tear away from his cheek and kissed him gently. He sighed and hummed in approval.

"I love you Roci, I always will."

"I'll always be here to love you Y/n.."

I'll always be here