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What should it take to be absolutely cherished by the king? To have someone so powerful so perfectly wrapped around your finger. Was it the strength with which you swung your sword? Was it the intellect and cunning used to sway them? Or was it perhaps, simple beauty? To be able to charm the most powerful people with just a smile. It was such a rarity, to be born so radiant, to have everything from the start.
Affogato wasn’t like that.
He had fought tooth and nail his entire life to get to where he is. So many long, graining years of his life had he spent not living, no - surviving. It could barely be said as that, having to pick himself up every day to prevent rotting in his misery. To have grown from such a pitiful little thing to being the sharp-witted, bewitching royal advisor. Standing beside the mighty king Dark Cacao himself - but it was not enough. All that Affogato had now, was not enough to make up for every gruelling moment he had to bear. He would not stop until he was at the top, with only gods to rival him. So he would never, ever, ever have to go back there again.
So Affogato had hatched a plan. One he considered absolutely perfect - if not for a few obstacles. Overthrowing the king was a little…fatiguing, especially with loyal fools surrounding him all the time. That First Watcher, that privileged goody two shoes, would be a pain in his side. But, she was one who ran on emotions and blind loyalty. He knew how to get rid of her. Rather, he was worried about someone more…enigmatic.
Banoffee. Someone who was unmistakably grand, with his long blonde hair cascading down his back, extravagant attire and a peculiar smile. A cookie dazzling enough to have caught Affogato's eye, but was always shrouded in a dark cloud of mystery. He stayed glued to the king’s side, but no one quite knew why. With every step he took, adoration and rumours followed him. As well as, for Affogato, a lingering memory like he’d known him before.
But, by the witches, did such an elysian cookie have such an ugly personality. Affogato had remembered the first day he met him, and the bitter taste that he had left in his mouth. (Perhaps it was because Banoffee’s smile reminded him a lot of the smile he saw every day in the mirror, though Affogato would never come to admit it). Nowadays, any time they met was filled with venomous insults and loathing glares.
Affogato sat at his bedroom window, pondering however he would get rid of this nuisance. Perhaps poison over tea? Oh he would, but it infuriated him just to spend another minute within Banoffee's presence. Staring out into the snowy outdoors, Affogato recalled a very specific encounter with the blonde cookie…
~♡~
Absorbing knowledge to forward his plans was something Affogato tended to do during his free time. On this day, it seems that fate had guided his path towards the citadel's library, to learn more about the customs of a kingdom he was strangely distant from (strange, for he had been born right on Dark Cacao land). The citadel's library was quite enormous, scrolls of scientific knowledge, historical knowledge and mythology littered around the shelves. Surprisingly, for its size, the library was quite empty and quiet on this day.
As soon as Affogato stepped into the library, the surprisingly pleasant smell of books hit his nostrils. Despite the cold atmosphere of the citadel, the library itself seemed quite cozy, somewhat dreamy. But alike the citadel, the walls were dark and the place was dimly lit. Affogato wandered around it for a while, his eyes scanning through the shelves as he paced between them. He swiftly turned a corner, before stopping abruptly. His eyes widened at the sight before him, a heavy feeling welling up in his stomach.
“Ah, royal advisor.” Banoffee turned his gaze towards Affogato, closing the book he had been entranced in. His tone was neither outright hostile, but nor was it welcoming. It was a mere simple acknowledgement, however Affogato grew tense where he stood. Gripping onto the staff, he returned the greeting with a faux smile. “Good afternoon Banoffee. How joyous is it that we keep crossing paths like this?”
Banoffee’s eyes narrowed, and for the first time Affogato took note of just how long his eyelashes were. “Not much.” Banoffee’s lips curled into a smile. “It’s either the gods disfavour me or you’re quite eager to be around me, it seems.”
This arrogant fool… Affogato’s eye twitched. “What a charming little fantasy.” He threw Banoffee a mocking grin. “Of course, I'm sure everyone loves to be around the king's little pet .”
Banoffee’s eyes slightly widened, and in a flash, he opened his fan and hid his face. “You…” Despite the coverage it was quite easy to tell he was upset, and this made Affogato chuckle. There was something so amusing about getting under this haughty cookie’s skin. Fuelled by the hatred blazing in Banoffee’s yellow glare, Affogato continued his ridiculing.
“Aw, it seems like someone is not quite fond of that nickname. But neither are you of the king, aren't I correct?”
“What are you trying to play at?” The blonde's once tranquil voice cracked with fury.
“Don't pretend like I haven't noticed how you look at him with such resentment. Perhaps you are even thinking treacherous thoughts-”
Banoffee suddenly sprung forward, thrusting his face just inches away from Affogato's. Affogato flinched, instinctively raising an arm in defense. But the awaited attack never came, Banoffee just closing his fan and pressing it against Affogato’s lower lip. “These lips…” Banoffee’s voice was husky as he pressed the fan harder against his lips. Affogato could smell a faint cinnamon scent just from the close proximity. “…are better off sealed lest you want to lose your head.”
Banoffee’s smile returned to its usual cheeky self, and Affogato’s heart quickened. “ I hate you, I hate you, I hate you.” It seemed to drum. Affogato struggled over his next words, too caught up in the other’s presence (and just how yellow his eyes were, like pools of honey) to form a coherent thought. And it got more difficult when you added the unknown, strange feeling that had begun to nest itself in his stomach.
When Affogato became king, it would do him good to put this brat in his place.
It was several moments before Affogato spoke again (although it felt like much longer, entrapped in Banoffee’s gaze). “Oh my, is that a threat?” Affogato lightly slapped the fan away. He continued to smile, hoping that his heart would stop beating so extremely fast .
“Not at all.” Banoffee replied and turned away. “Just a little word of advice.” Affogato watched him as he slowly put the book he was reading back onto the shelf. “Ah, the great Banoffee cares enough for me to give me some divine wisdom?” Affogato laughed, his voice edged with malice.
“Hmph.” Banoffee opened his elegant fan again, masking his expression. “It would just be a shame if I no longer have someone as pathetic as you to laugh at.” Was what he said, but it was quite obvious how ecstatic he would be at Affogato’s downfall.
Affogato clenched his fist as Banoffee walked past him and disappeared behind the shelves. He finally let his face fall, his nails beginning to dig into the flesh of his hand. “He…didn’t even say goodbye…” Affogato whispered, his voice shaky as all his pent-up rage started to flare up. A shaky hand slowly lifted and gripped his hair. And Affogato started to laugh, laughing and shaking extremely wildly where he stood. In one swift motion, he gripped a book from the shelf with his long slender fingers and threw it onto the floor.
THUD.
Affogato hated everything about this. Firstly he hated Banoffee, everything about him and the amount of insolence he seemed to have. And he also hated…this strange way he was making him feel. It must be a new kind of anger. His cheeks were sluggishly warm, his heartbeat pounding fast against his chest, and his forehead was slick with sweat. Not to mention that feeling in his stomach - oh that absolutely dreadful feeling in his stomach! - like hordes of ants gnawing at him from the inside. And he hated it even more not knowing why he felt this way.
And for so long, that little feeling (and his thoughts about Banoffee) persisted, unfortunately getting worse over time it seemed…
- °•~♡~•°•
And so there Affogato was, sitting at his bedroom window still experiencing that horrible feeling whenever he saw, or sometimes thought, of him. His presence felt like a poison, endlessly consuming his thoughts and draining him from the inside. Dear swan, however did one cookie manage to drive him so crazy?
He needed to get rid of Banoffee - and fast - but his brain struggled to find a solution to the problem. Affogato's various attempts were all failures, but surely there had to be a way to remove this annoying obstacle. Then, he would be able to take down the king with extreme ease. And maybe, just maybe, the horrid feeling in his stomach would stop.
As Affogato was thinking, he suddenly heard a little chirp. He looked down, only to find a bird landed on his windowsill, just a few inches away from where Affogato's arm nested. Affogato wasn’t quite fond of animals - birds were no exception. But this one…it had such charming black and white feathers, along with beautiful splashes of blue and dark, beady eyes. It kept its tail raised up high as it pecked at the dark wood. Affogato just sat there and watched it, quietly wondering how something so beautiful could be such a nuisance. Sighing, he shooed the bird away with his hand, and watched it spread its blue wings out like fans and fly away.
Perhaps one day, he'd find the missing piece to this puzzle. He'd claim the throne and have everything he'd ever wanted in life. Money, power, adoration. A luxurious, cozy life with nothing to bring him down. A role where all the fancy clothes he’d wear would be enough to cover up all his scars. Pawns that lived for nothing but to serve you, and worshipped your every move.
Perhaps he'd make Banoffee serve him on his knees too.