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He hadn't noticed it at first. The sniffling from across the courtyard, If anything it should have gone noticed at all due to how muffled it was. But, Dark Choco still heard it and figured that he may as well see who it was.
Any cookie's natural first thought, including Dark Choco's, would think Onion was the one crying, and he was more than ready to take her back to Blackberry or Adventurer if it meant he could go back to a peaceful and quiet day. So he was shocked to see Licorice Cookie crying instead, sitting with his head between his arms, the heaving of his chest noticeable.
"Licorice?" Licorice raised his head to look at Dark Choco, his eyes were noticeably puffy and the yellow much duller. Realizing who he was looking at, Licorice stumbled to his feet to stand in front of the man.
"Ah, Dark Choco, what a pleasant surprise to see you here, how do you do?" He asked, pulling a forced smile Dark Choco knows all too well.
"I suppose I could ask you the same question" Dark Choco looked him up and down. Licorice noticeably swallowed, taking a few steps back before sitting down again.
"Oh, heh, ya know, just working on my magic, trying to get better than Pomogranet, usual business." Dark Choco sighed, taking a seat next to him.
"Licorice, why were you crying?"
"Why- no- I wasn't-"
"Licorice" Licorice looked up at Dark Choco and then after a few minutes of silence, let out a breath.
"Lobster was just saying things, it no big deal truly." Licorice tried standing up, only to be pulled back down by Dark Choco, causing the shorter to squeak.
"Like what?" Dark Choco hoped he was doing this right, him and Licorice where as friendly as cookies could get, and as much as he wanted to just let the man leave, he felt like it was his duty to listen to his problems.
"Oh just the usual, like, him and Pomegranate hate me, which I know, and how I'm the weakest member and most disposable which I also know, and- and how-" Licorice breathed in deep, begging himself not to cry, feeling the way his eyes began to burn.
"Licorice, look at me." He tilted his head up to meet brown eyes, god he wanted to cry, not here, however. If Dark Choco could just leave.
"Your not, um, you're not any of those things," God he hoped he was doing this right. "You're a great cookie and they just say those things to get under your crust." Licorice was speechless, that was the nicest thing anyone has said to him in years. "If it makes you feel any better I like you." Both cookie's faces heated up at that, eyes looking into different directions. Dark Choco could feel his face warm-up, trying to regain his breathing.
"Thanks, Dark, that means a lot." He could feel his smile slipping, the sniffling was back, and his eyes brimmed with tears again. Licorice wiped his eyes on the sleeve of his hoodie, silently begging for them to stop.
Dark Choco had no idea what he was doing, he wanted him to stop crying so he did the one thing that could work. Pulling Licorice closer, wrapping one arm around his waist, and having one hand hold the back of his head.
Licorice froze. A hug, Dark Choco, was hugging... him? It was nice, to say the least, they stayed that way for who knows how long. After some time Licorice wrapped his arms around the ex-prince. After what seemed like hours, the two departed, Dark Choco standing up and saying he has matters to attend to, before walking away. But even as Licorice watched him leave that warm feeling in his chest wouldn't leave,