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Shadow Milk Cookie strutted into the dimly lit spire, his eyes scanning the area with a cunning glint. He was searching for Pure Vanillas Room, as he was told if he needed anything to come find him. Yes, yes, Shadow Milk had decided to Move into the Vanilla Kingdom after his own Spire had collapsed, very tragic indeed.
"What brings you here, Shadow Milk Cookie?" Pure Vanilla Cookie's gentle voice echoed through the hall, his door open—as he had heard his pouting to a random guard earlier—, his eyes still mostly closed in a serene smile. "Mm? I'm surprised you've decided to stay here."
Shadow Milk Cookie turned to face him, his own smile forced and sharp. "Oh, nilly." he said, his voice dripping with sweet sarcasm, "how kind of you to greet me so warmly. Anywho, I wanted to chatty chat, so if you could just..”
He trails off with a grin as he slips around pure vanilla, entering his room with no regards to if he would prefer he not.
The room is filled with warm light, despite it being almost midnight, the walls adorned with tapestries of past triumphs and the floor lined with plush carpets. A king sized bed sat in the middle of the room pushed against the wall, beige and light yellow comforter’s adorning it. The air smelt faintly of vanilla and cinnamon, a comforting scent that shadow milk couldn't help but find irritating.
"Make it hasty, I’ve grown quite tired," Pure Vanilla Cookie said, his tone a mix of curiosity and exhaustion as he followed shadow milk into his own space.
Shadow milk, who had just ever so gracefully thrown himself onto pure vanillas bed, sighed dramatically.
“Tired? Nilly~! We don’t need to sleep,”
Pure Vanilla Cookie's smile remained, though a slight frown of concern marred his features. "Just because we don't need to, doesn't mean we shouldn't. Rest is essential for our well-being."
Shadow Milk Cookie rolled his cyan and white pupils dramatically. "Pish-posh. I've got more important things to do than waste my time on something as trivial as sleep."
Pure Vanilla Cookie crossed his arms and leaned against the bedpost, his expression unyielding. "Sleep is not a waste of time. It is essential for rejuvenation and mental clarity, even for us, Shadow Milk. Without it, our bodies will weaken, and our minds will grow clouded."
Shadow Milk Cookie's smile faded slightly as he sat up, his eyes narrowing. "Weak? Me? Don't be absurd. I am the epitome of power, the very essence of deception!" He paused, his gaze drifting to the tapestry of the ancient battle where he had fought against Pure Vanilla Cookie. "…But I suppose even the mightiest of us have our... limitations." He muttered, the eyes in his silky hair lidding.
Pure Vanilla Cookie noticed the subtle shift in his demeanor, his own eyes opening slightly wider. "If you do not sleep, You do atleast eat , don't you?" He asked softly, the concern in his voice growing.
Shadow Milk Cookie looked over at him, his expression a mix of irritation and something else—something almost vulnerable. "I don't need to," he said curtly, "I'm not a mere mortal cookie, remember?" He gestured to the tapestries on the wall with a wave of his hand. "I have the power of the ancients, the knowledge of the universe. I am beyond such trivialities."
But Pure Vanilla Cookie wasn't fooled. He had seen that look before, the one that slipped through the cracks of Shadow Milk Cookie's theatrical façade. It was the same one that had crossed his face during their fights, in moments where he had almost allowed himself to feel anything other than hatred or anger.
“Shadow milk,”
He started, Moving to sit on the edge of the bed, ignoring how the eyes in his hair moved to look up at him in curiosity.
“Please, if not for you than for me, try to eat something tomorrow. I’ll even take the responsibility of helping, but you aren’t invincible. You need food, as it gives—not just your powers,—but your body, energy.
Shadow Milk Cookie scoffed, his eyes flashing. "I'm not your pet to be cared for, Vanilla. I don't need your pity," He spat out, though the tremor in his voice betrayed his words.
Pure Vanilla Cookie's expression grew solemn. He knew the dark history that shadow milk had endured, the pain of being the Beast of Deception, and he couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity for his former comrade. "It's not pity, Shadow Milk. It's concern. We may be adversaries, but I don't wish to see you fall because of your own stubbornness." With a sigh, he propped his staff against the nightstand and slipped his robe off, shuffling under the covers of his bed—and shadow milk, who had been laying on his stomach, flinched slightly at the proximity of the two.
The silence grew thick, the only sound in the room the soft crackling of the fireplace. Shadow Milk Cookie stared at the wall, his mind racing with thoughts he didn't wish to admit. The idea of someone caring for him was almost alien—his existence had been a series of betrayals and deceit. Yet, here was Pure Vanilla Cookie, extending an olive branch despite their tumultuous past.
With another dramatic sigh adorned with a flip of his body to lay on his back, shadow milk frowned at pure vanilla.
“Plus, even if I did want to sleep, I’ve never been able to— uh, for reasons that don't concern you of course-!”
He scoffed, waving a hand at him.
Pure vanilla cookie remained silent for a moment, his eyes studying shadow milk's face for any signs of the truth behind his words. He knew that shadow milk wasn’t one to easily show his weaknesses, especially not to him.
“If it’s your past that keeps you up, I am more than willing to lend an ear,” He offered, his voice gentle and soothing, much like the vanilla scent that lingered in the room.
Raising a brow, he laughed.
“Oh, nilly, if anything would help, I’d be asking you to just pet my hair and hum a lullaby to help me drift asleep!”
He snickered, lifting his head up to rest it on his palm, mocking a pouty voice.
..he wasn't sure what made him say that, and he was also unsure if he himself was joking.
Pure Vanilla Cookie's expression remained unchanged, his eyes still soft. "If that's what it takes, I'd be happy to oblige."
Shadow Milk Cookie's eyes widened, his heart skipping a beat. He hadn't expected such a genuine offer , not after all the trouble he had caused. "Don't be ridiculous," he said, though his voice was weaker than he had intended. "What, are you expecting me to confess my undying love for you next~?” He snickered, albeit not quite as sharp as usual.
Pure Vanilla Cookie chuckled, the sound warm and comforting. "No, I'm simply offering my friendship. We may be on opposing sides, but we share a bond through our Soul Jams. I can't ignore that." He leaned over, placing a hand on shadow milk's shoulder, the weight surprisingly gentle. "Now, if you wish to stay up all night plotting the downfall of the world, that's your prerogative. But if you ever need a shoulder to lean on, or even a lullaby, I'm here."
Shadow milk—embarrassingly— had to hold back a purr at the warmth he got from such a small touch, biting the inside of his cheek.
“Hmm.. tempting! I must say, How would all your friends feel knowing you are suggesting the master of deceit lay in your bed, As you sing a lullaby? I’m sure they would go ballistic!”
Pure vanilla Cookie’s smile didn’t waver. “They know me well enough to understand that I care for all cookies, even if they are lost in the dark. Besides, I trust you won’t do anything... Unbecoming of your nature while you’re a guest in my kingdom.” He said with a wink, and shadow milk had to admit, his heart did a little flip at the sight.
Using every bit of logic he had in him, he heavily resisted the urge to just crawl onto pure vanillas chest and lay there with their soul-jams touching.
“But I’m not lost, Vanilla~ I’m right here, in your room, in your bed, in your face~!”
Shadow Milk Cookie teased, though his voice had lost some of its usual bite, his eyes had softened, and his smile grew a bit more genuine.
Pure Vanilla Cookie just chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "Indeed, you are. Now, if you truly wish to stay up, I won't force you to sleep, but I'd recommend at least resting. It's important to keep our strength up—and..if it’s true you never take the time to rest, then you really, really need it."
Shadow Milk Cookie rolled his eyes, but there was something in the way he shifted his weight that suggested he was considering it. "Fine," he muttered, "I'll 'rest'. But only because I'm feeling particularly gracious today." He huffed, moving to crawl under the covers beside pure vanilla, ignoring how he could feel the heat radiating off of him.
He also tried to ignore the fact that he is actually lying down in pure vanillas bed.
Pure vanilla watched him, his eyes mostly closed as he leaned back into his pillow. "Good night, Shadow Milk Cookie," He murmured, his voice thick with sleep.
He jolts slightly, watching pure vanilla carefully.
“…Night, nilly..~!”
He hums, suddenly very pleased by the thought of laying his head on pure vanillas chest.
As the minutes tick by, shadow milk cookie’s eyes remained open, staring up at the ceiling. His mind racing with thoughts, his heart thumping erratically. It had been ages since he felt something so... Warm and safe. The room was quiet, save for the crackling of the fireplace and the faint snores of pure vanilla beside him. He could feel the warmth from his body, and the gentle rise and fall of his chest with each breath.
…okay, he really wanted to get closer to him.
Maybe..later in the morning he could blame it on the fact he probably moved a-lot while sleeping.
The silence stretched on, Shadow Milk Cookie's thoughts racing. He had never felt this... peaceful around another Cookie before, not since his days as the Fount of Knowledge. It was strange, and yet, it was comforting. The warmth from Pure Vanilla Cookie's body was soothing, and his slow, rhythmic breaths were almost hypnotic. Shadow Milk Cookie found himself leaning closer, his head slowly tilting towards his chest. He told himself it was just to hear his heartbeat, to reassure himself that Pure Vanilla Cookie was truly there and not just his own shadows playing some trick on him.
And..He actually found himself drifting off to sleep atop of His chest. Such a scene would be unbelievable to any other cookie, the Beast of Deceit and the Form of Truth itself asleep together.
Pure vanilla Cookie’s arms slowly wrapped around him, pulling him closer into his embrace, his breath even and gentle against his ear. Shadow milk cookie stiffened for a moment, unsure if he was dreaming or if this was a trick, but the comfort was too real to be denied. He relaxed, letting the warmth of pure vanilla’s body lull him into a deep slumber.
Pure vanilla smiled softly, peeking down at the now sleeping Cookie.
"Sleep well, Dearest," He whispered, placing a gentle hand on Shadow Milks forehead.