Chapter Text
He was always immersed in his dreams, torn between the dream world and the waking world. The young man had a hard time waking up, so much his head hurt. He thought he was being hit with a hammer.
It was at a point where he did not hear at all the noise drumming against the door of his apartments. Light but deafening blows, they did not subside.
Finally beginning to emerge and realize what was going on around him, he sat up, holding his poor head in the palm of one of his hands.
He tried as best he could to replay the events of the day before, but in vain. It was the complete blackout. Yet he had not drunk, nor done anything he would have regretted the next day.
He continued to ignore the constant knocking and decided to tilt his head to the left: nobody. His breath suddenly stopped for a fraction of a second before he turned his head, this time to his right, and finally sighed with relief.
His -unexpected- guest was lurking in a corner of the room as if hidden and thus did not leave his eyes. He must have been awake for several hours and having heard the sudden knocks, he had to hide in a hurry for fear of being surprised. He had done nothing because, after all, no one except the man he was staring at was aware of his presence here.
He had come to ask for refuge the day before, to the great surprise of the chief of this place.
Still emerging, snatches of the past evening came back to him but he could not take the time to savor them again.
"My brother, please open this door!"
The voice came from a woman, also not very old. The man detected a panicked tone and frowned. He cleared his throat and answered her half groggily:
"-My sister, what's wrong with you?"
The knocking stopped, to his relief.
"-It's his majesty! He...He is here with so many guards...So is his 1st watcher!"
His guest's reaction did not comfort him. He hissed like a snake at the mention of these titles.
" -Give me a few minutes, I have to get ready.
-Fine."
His sister left quickly and then he was taken by unpleasant shivers. The King...He secretly hoped that this moment would not come.
He came to his senses and stood up abruptly and hurried to prepare himself properly. None of them said a word, the man in the shadows secretly admired his host combing his hair with his soft and delicate fingers. He was surprised to smile, his usual smile that everyone knew. But this time, his smile did not hide bad intentions.
As for his host, he was neutral. There was no question of letting his anxiety get the better of him. After all, maybe the reason for his coming was for something else. It was unlikely, but who knows. Usually he wasn't worried. He glanced at his mirror. He was worried about him . He felt his ears prickle.
He let out a falsely annoyed sigh as he picked up one of his fans and stopped in front of the entrance. He did not take his eyes off his hands and then addressed his guest:
"-There is a hidden trapdoor in this room, for once I beg you, hide and do nothing else."
So he went out and it was the Sun who welcomed him. He squinted his eyes, giving himself a few seconds of respite in order to get used to the blinding light that nature was offering him. The air was soft and pleasant and the place was completely silent. After all, it must have been very early, everyone must still be in the arms of Morpheus.
The leader did not waste another minute and went to the entrance of the place, where the King was waiting for him.
His six sisters were waiting for him, completely panicked and submissive in front of the power that was in front of them.
"-Your Majesty."
The young man opened his fan while bowing to him with a reverence. His expression was unruffled, almost as if seeing the King of the Dark Cacao Kingdom hardly impressed him.
"-May I ask what I am worth for this sudden visit?" He asked in a soft though dry tone.
He flicked his fan that covered half of his face. With one ear he could hear the 1st Watcher draw her weapon. He lingered on his gentle King. The latter, despite his tired look, was expressing a certain anger and impatience. No doubt something serious must have happened. The Watcher, Caramel Arrow, pride of the King's army, also had anger plastered on her face.
His sisters rushed up behind him, frightened.
Dark Cacao Cookie shook his head with a sigh and then nodded to the young archer.
"-We are actively searching for Affogato and his followers. The last time I saw him, he was heading straight for your clan, Banoffee."
At these words, the chief bit his lips and frowned.
"-Do you suspect our brother of betraying his majesty?"
Banoffee let out a small laugh and flicked his precious fan again. Caramel Arrow ticked, annoyed that Banoffee was still so true to himself.
"What about his followers? Did they run away with him?"
The King finally spoke up:
"-some have fled, others are our prisoners."
One of the sisters covered her mouth with her hand and asked:
"-But wasn't Affogato the second in command of his Majesty? What happened?"
Even Banoffee did not know the answer. In fact, the question had not even crossed his mind during their long night the night before.
It is true that none of his clan knew anything. Indeed, they lived deep in the forest, far from any city life.
One of the guards interjected with a hoarse, loud voice:
"-He is guilty of corruption, manipulation, treason..." He paused and looked at his King, who allowed him to continue. "And of attempted regicide, in a manner of speaking..."
Banoffee's eyes widened. The beginning didn't surprise him at all, knowing Affogato. But regicide...?
A breeze rose as the silence began to weigh on him.
"-Well, who would have thought it."
He paused and gave an amused look to Caramel Arrow, who was ranting even more.
"-What makes you think he's here? You and I know very well, that I would not have welcomed with open arms someone who wished more than anything for the destruction of my dear clan."
He knew that Caramel had the perfect counter-argument but she could not say anything like that, even less in front of her King. Decidedly she was lowering the esteem of the dancer, she who had never bothered him before. She became almost as intolerable as Affogato.
"Do you realize that you risk very much if you were to lie!
-What would happen to me? Exile? Torture? Or maybe death?" He chuckled into his fan as he listed these possibilities.
He closed his fan with a snap and held out his arm inviting the guard to enter.
"-You only have to search and you'll see." He continued to smile, seemingly unconcerned.
Dark Cacao signaled to his soldiers to search. Banoffee signaled to his sisters to make sure that no damage was done.
Inwardly he was about to explode. He was worried about Affogato and sincerely hoped that no one would find him. He didn't understand why he was reacting like this, everything had been confused since the night before.
His ears began to redden again, which Caramel Arrow did not fail to notice.
"Is everything all right?
-Why wouldn't it be? It's not like I'm accused of high treason after all. I, Banoffee Cookie, respected leader of this clan. I hope you won't anger my dear ancestors."
He ran a hand through his hair.
"-Again, why would Affogato come here? We hate each other, no doubt I would have chased him away.
-But still...!"
Banoffee approached Caramel's face, his smile gone.
"-Are you implying something I don't know?
-His little outings and the fact that he was spying on your dances..."
Her stream of words were just mindless snippets and yet the man broke down.
"-Moreover my King, was it not he who kept advising you to bring him to the citadel?"
His Majesty nodded.
The dancer thought:
"-So that was why we were often asked...?"
He sighed, proud.
"Lies, I don't see how that's my business.
-That's enough, Banoffee I'd like to check your apartments." Cut off the King.
His expression darkened:
"-My chambers? Follow me my King."
Caramel Arrow found it suspicious that Banoffee was being so cooperative. She knew he hated having his private life touched. But after all, he was the King, did he have a choice?
The young man took them to a more secluded corner. The building was hidden by bamboo and Sakura trees.
He let them in first. There was no one there.
*
**
From where he stood, Affogato Cookie could hear everything. He wondered why Banoffee had a secret trap door under his apartments. The traitor was in a terrible state. He was careful to hold his breath, he didn't want to be exposed. What's more, his savior would be condemned too. He let himself think. Why had he agreed to cover for him? Even though it had been a while since they had tried a more positive approach, they had always hated each other. Finally Affogato had sensed a certain sensitivity and attraction in Banoffee. Probably because they were almost like two drops of water. However, he knew that the latter hated him deeply and he understood why.
However what had happened the day before...It was strange but pleasant.
He tucked a lock of his hair behind his ear and sighed silently. That's when he heard the ones he didn't want to see.
"-See, there's nothing.
-Yet he couldn't fly away!
-Wasn't he a devotee of shamanism though? It is easy for him to disappear without leaving any trace.
-It is insane...
-Yet the facts are there. Your soldiers didn't find anything either."
Caramel Arrow started pacing back and forth, at the end of her tether. Without realizing it, she had stopped on the trap door, where Affogato was hidden. The latter sensed it immediately and began to silently beg Fortuna to be spared.
"-What do we do my King?"
He sighed loudly.
"-He is definitely not here. Let's go search around these parts.
-Let me escort you back then." A mischievous smile appeared on his face.
Back at the entrance, all the soldiers were present and had indeed found nothing. His sisters followed their brother with their eyes, who was still accompanied by Caramel and Dark Cacao.
The King greeted them while the Watcher bubbled inwardly.
"-Sorry for breaking the peace of this haven."
Banoffee flickered his fan:
"-Oh but that's nothing, for his Majesty, I would refuse nothing. Your watcher must have misjudged the situation that presented itself to her."
He directed his gaze, evil, towards the latter. She frowned but did not retort.
The King raised his hand and nodded.
"-Let's continue."
The six sisters and their brother watched them slowly make their way into the forest, silently and carefully.
Banoffee let out a sigh of relief. He was finally free of these nuisances. Neither one nor two he turned around and prepared to return to his apartments.
"My brother! Is everything all right?"
One of his sisters looked at him with insistence, worried. She knew her brother's temperament, but this time something was wrong.
He snapped his fan and cleared his throat nervously.
"-Yes, I just need some rest."
His sisters greeted him, sorry, and he hurried away.
Panting, he ran through the bamboo and Sakuras that stood in his way. Why did he react like that?
What was he afraid of?
He took care to close behind him and then put down his fans to look at himself in the mirror for a moment. Outwardly he was still impeccable, but inwardly he was brooding. His ancestors were definitely on his side, praise be to them that Affogato had not been found by his majesty.
He went to the hidden trapdoor and opened it carefully, not knowing what to expect. His eyes met Affogato's and again he sighed loudly in relief.
Banoffee took his hand and helped him up and shook his head annoyed:
"-I hope you realize what you made me do."
He looked at him again and saw him join his hands and bow to him, expressing his sincere annoyance.
"-Banoffee I'm sorry." He whispered.
Banoffee did not take his eyes off him. He straightened up and a ray of light allowed him to see him better. His hairstyle so impeccable usually, was completely upside down and the man posted a terribly tired expression and at the end of force.
"What it is pleasant to see you in a position of weakness." He said
Affogato did not retort, which surprised Banoffee. He was silent and decided to let his hair down, asking for a little more comfort. He then approached Affogato and stretched his hand towards him, which made the latter flinch.
"-Do you mind? You're in a bad way."
He nodded. Banoffee took off his fur and placed it in a corner of the room. Gently, he removed his gloves and completely untied his hair. Affogato revealed a particularly long hair, which Banoffee had never suspected until now. It looked awfully good on him, he thought.
"Is this better?
-Much better."
The dancer slid a table and two seats over and took a seat on one of them.
The traitor did not move, staring at his host.
"-I hope you're not waiting for my permission to sit."
He opened his mouth in surprise and sat down. It was comfortable...He thought to himself.
"-It's so confusing to see you like this Affogato. You who are usually so...
-Unwilling?" He answered him with a forced smile.
"-Pretentious." Corrected Banoffee, who was serving tea. High quality green tea.
He put the teapot on the floor.
"-Trying to commit regicide, finally Affogato, haven't you gone too far?
-I thought you didn't care about what I could do."
He was about to answer but nothing came out. He was right. He had discovered the sinister intentions of the King's Royal Adviser early on, and yet he had never done or said anything. It was a secret he didn't care about. He still didn't understand why he had kept this secret? Probably because it was indeed none of his business.
"-I wasn't planning to kill him directly. I thought the Prince had made it easy for me but the rejoicing was short-lived.
-Prince Dark Choco?!"
Banoffee abruptly raised his head. How long had it been since he had heard of the banished Prince? He didn't know him personally, but he had heard of the dark fate of the latter.
Affogato let out a small, amused laugh.
"-Himself. But the King still managed to survive.
-How unfortunate for you."
The caffeinated Cookie ticked.
"-My plan was perfect! Why did it take that watcher and those kids to get involved."
He took a sip of tea.
"But I swear, oh I swear, I'll be back.
-You're really going to stick with it...?
-Oh, you have no idea what I had to go through to get the crown? If only you knew."
He slammed his cup on the table, seething with rage.
"-I would never give up! I've always fought for my place in this world, why should I stop!"
He was cut off from his anger by the hand of his interlocutor that encompassed his own. His hand was soft and comforting. Banoffee wore a concerned expression. Affogato pursed his lips still filled with hatred.
"-Tell me then."
He had almost said it in a whisper.
"-Why do you even care?
-Because it's you ."
He looked away embarrassed and sighed, falsely annoyed. Banoffee hastily removed his hand from him, not understanding why she was there.
"-Do you know what happens to Cookies born of two distinct flavors? Especially when those Cookies come from the coffee tribe?"
Banoffee shook his head. He knew that Affogato was born with a bittersweet flavor and he didn't see anything wrong with that. In fact, he even found it...interesting.
"We are treated like slaves, like beasts of burden. We have no right to anything, unless we are allowed to."
Affogato drew circles with the tip of his index finger on the table, smiling. Banoffee made the connection to what had happened a few minutes earlier.
"-Do I really need to go into detail? This is going to be...bloody."
He stopped his finger and looked at his host. He still had that concerned expression and Affogato managed to detect some sadness in his golden eyes.
Banoffee found it hard to imagine that Affogato could have been tortured in his life. The opposite would have surprised him less, but he refrained from making such remarks.
"-I don't want your pity, what's done is done."
Banoffee sighed, he didn't want to add anything. But as Affogato started to get up, the leader abruptly restrained him by the arm.
"-Stay, please.
-Why?"
He was silent. He swept a lock of his hair away.
"Are you playing with me, Affogato?"
Affogato took on a touched expression.
"Why do you think this?
-Last night...
-You thought it was a bluff.
-What to believe?
-Did you smell my fragrance by any chance? I was far too weak to try anything. Why are you so concerned about this?"
He did not answer. Affogato sat down and looked him straight in the eyes with a passionate air and a smile.
"-Have I ever manipulated you even once?
-There's a first time for everything.
-I knew you would agree to hide me, Banoffee
-How?
-I just know it."
He squinted his eyes, the mischievous smile never leaving him. Banoffee couldn't look him in the eye without being embarrassed.
"-Moreover I don't need to manipulate you into bending to my wishes."
Banoffee turned red.
"-But you know I'd bend to yours too."
Not having his fans to hide him, the dancer covered his mouth with his hand, which had the effect of making his guest burst out laughing.
"If that is your wish, fine, I will stay a little longer. But the King and his Watcher lose nothing by waiting."
He gave him a distant kiss as Banoffee continued to hide.
No one had ever understood why these two cookies hated each other so much. For years they fought tooth and nail in the hope of getting as far away from each other as possible. But they never noticed that it had just the opposite effect.