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The Princess Trials went as poorly as expected. They were able to progress a good amount through before getting disqualified, and before a Dragon broke down the side of the castle. Any effort of getting ahold of HollyBerry Cookie’s shield was quickly abandoned as Licorice Cookie and his companions decided it was safer to evacuate the castle with the rest of the crowd. He could have stayed and tried to steal the soul jam, but there were no plans for that and when he lacked a proper plan he tended to be far worse off. Instead he decided to drown his sorrows in the free confections outside in the palace garden. The crowd was more calm now that everyone was outside of the castle, the dragon situation seemingly under control by now. It was…odd being around this many cookies. He despised crowds let alone crowds of snooty aristocrat's, but everyone was being surprisingly kind to each other now, aside from the occasional conflict between houses who didn't seem to get along anyways.
Licorice felt out of place. He wanted to leave but Choco Werehound Brute and Bat-cat seemed to be enjoying themselves. Poison Mushroom Cookie had still been half asleep which was expected, they had been rather tired from the journey so the necromancer cut them some slack. The climate was humid and Licorice despised it. He ended up pushing down his hood and trying to roll his sleeves up a bit to keep from passing out.
Once the dragon had seemingly been defeated the party resumed as if nothing had happened, Licorice watching with wrapped attention as the music continued and the juice flowed freely, pairs dancing happily together and simply enjoying themselves. Brute was even having a good time dancing about with Bat-cat, a smile forming on Licorice's face. Seeing everyone so happy…so comfortable left his heart aching. He wished he could have brought Dark Choco along. He knew his colleague would have complained about the weather and the crowds, he probably would have hated it, but Licorice would dare to be selfish. Watching the couples dance made him wonder if he asked if Choco would have accepted. The memory of their kiss tingled through his body, making him bounce his leg nervously which had Poison Mushroom being jostled in the process, waking them up. Licorice apologized quickly, coaxing them back into their slumber before his mind returned to its thoughts.
It felt…odd…truthfully he didn't expect them to ever kiss, let alone for it to be so sudden. He was not complaining by any means of course. He had been wanting to and they had come close to it a few times, usually something interrupting them or Choco shifting away uncomfortably. He understood the concern of being found out but he couldn't help but wonder if Choco was worrying too much about it. He didn't linger on that concern long, instead going back to the memory of their kiss…their kisses. The necromancer had been planning on confessing for some time now, a stack of love letters tucked away inside his room that he was planning on gifting him but never seeming to find the right time to do so, but now it seemed that wasn't necessary. He still wanted to give them to Choco. The warrior was usually fairly uncomfortable with any sort of praise or kindness and the idea of absolutely drowning him with every saccharine thought he had was very inviting. It felt odd having a partner…well…they hadn't exactly outright agreed to date, had they? Licorice convinced him to allow them to at least give it a shot but Licorice was unsure. The idea of Choco being his lover had pure affection flooding his chest, around his very heart.
As his attention was brought back to the crowd celebrating before him he was drawn back in by a particular couple dancing. Two cookies in beautifully adorned dresses whisking each other around to the music, like everything around them had ceased to exist. It felt romantic. Perhaps…Licorice could ask about their relationship status over a dance? They had just danced though, he didn't want to seem uncreative, he needed something else. His pale golden eyes scanned the crowd for some sort of ideas. When he noticed a couple enjoying some food at a table together an idea sparked in his mind. He snuck a bottle of expensive berry juice into his satchel before calling for Brute and Bat-cat to return to him, the group making their way off of the palace grounds and through the town.
The scenery of the Hollyberry Kingdom was lush and tropical, a far cry from the crimson badlands the Cookies of Darkness resided in. The copious amounts of flowers was a bit overwhelming to his senses, the strong aroma of florals making Licorice feel a bit dizzy as they quickly traversed through the winding streets adorned with merchants and cookies. Seeing everyone so happy was starting to annoy him, picking up the pace of his walking with Choco Werehound Brute and Bat-cat in toe behind him. They managed to make a decent amount of progress before nightfall, eventually stopping to set up camp in the darker parts of the dense tropical forest that surrounded the kingdom. Licorice tasked his two familiars with gathering firewood while he fought to get a tent set up for Poison Mushroom Cookie, whom was excitedly exploring the area around them.
It was yet another moment where Licorice found himself wishing Choco was there, he loathed fixing tents, every time he tried it resulted in the necromancer having a near meltdown until someone else did it for him. Choco on the other hand was, like he was with everything, quick and efficient. Licorice had once watched him set up a tent and tarp in under three minutes when it was raining. The same thing with setting up a fire or hunting for a meal, despite his princely background Choco had a talent for most things survival oriented. It made sense given the incredibly unforgiving terrain and weather of their homeland. Licorice was pulled from his thoughts as Poison Mushroom scuttled over to him to show off their finds, consisting of several glowing mushrooms and one with black ink oozing from its cap.
“For…dinner!” They explained, eyes wide and just barely seeing as they looked up at the necromancer.
“Where…uh..W-why don’t you just hold onto those for now, maybe you can give them to Pomegranate Cookie when we get back.” Licorice stumbled through his words, genuinely puzzled by where they would have even found such things. He saw them deflate a bit as they turned to sit by their bag, dumping the contents out onto the floor to compare the new additions to their collection. A soft smile tugged at the corners of Licorice’s lips at the sight of the little one contently observing their mushrooms, his smile fading as his two familiars returned, Choco Werehound Brute carrying a hefty amount of deadwood and Bat-cat carrying two sticks in its mouth. He felt embarrassment burning his face as he realized how little progress he had made on his end, the tent not even remotely set up properly. “...We don’t really need a tent tonight, right?” Licorice asked, eyes glancing between the two as the pair placed down the wood. The Werehound chuffed as they stomped over, Licorice scooting out of their way as they took a turn trying to set up the tent. Bat-cat fluttered over and perched itself on the necromancer’s shoulder, nuzzling against his face as he walked over to the pile of wood to begin making a small fire. There were no signs of rain, at least not from what Licorice could tell, but the jungle’s heavy foliage and humidity made him doubt himself. The last thing he wanted was to not only return with news of his failure but with a sick Poison Mushroom Cookie as well.
Soft rumbles sounded from Bat-cats skeletal form as it crawled down his shoulders into his hood. It tugged the neckline of his robes back but Licorice dealt with it, not having the energy to start a fight over it at this point. He tried to remember how Dark Choco would set up a fire, he remembered one of their first missions together he watched him do it, jealous at how quickly he was able to do it. It was odd thinking back to the time before they were on good terms. The disdain didn’t seem to be mutual when he thought about it, most of it was Licorice being mad or jealous of Dark Choco, either for his skills or looks or anything really. By now any ill feelings had disappeared into love.
Love.
His face flushed and hands shook as he tried to strike a spark into his collection of tinder. Would Choco be upset if Licorice told him he loved him? Was it too soon to say something so sincere and honest? He did love Choco, he loved his kindness and stability, his honesty, his handsome face and strong body. He took a deep breath as he steered his mind back on track, striking a match onto the tinder and watching as it slowly took hold, scooting it under the deadwood to start spreading. He knew Choco was flighty when it came to affection and the idea of confessing his love causing him to distance himself again was enough to make Licorice doubt it being a good idea. He didn’t want Choco to push away, he wanted him close. Now that he knew their feelings were mutual all he wanted was to spend his time showering the morose man with all of the affection he had been bottling up for the past several months…or had it been a year now? Licorice didn’t have time to try and calculate it as Poison Mushroom nudged his arm.
“Hungry?” Licorice asked, the child nodding, some spores floating about them as they did so. Licorice waved them away with a hand before leaning over and dragging his bag over. “Fine, I suppose I can use my amazing cooking skills to make you a measly dinner.” He said confidently, his smile seeping into his words.
The process of cooking was tedious of course, despite his haughty words the food he prepared only looked half edible. He ended up tossing it and trying again, this time focusing on making at least one portion consumable for Poison Mushroom. Once that was done he made more for Bat-cat and Brute, still burnt but not as charred as his first attempt. There were no ingredients left by the time he was done, but he did not mind, his failed mission weighing on his appetite. When Brute and Bat-cat tried to offer him some of their meals he declined, lying and saying he wanted to study instead of wasting time eating. Licorice could tell by the way they glanced at each other that they saw through his lie, they knew him too well.
As he sat by the fire, hunched over the tome in his lap, he couldn’t help but wallow on his mistakes. The notion that he should have done better gnawed at him. It was a different mission, a different failure, but he knew the reaction would be the same. Pomegranate Cookie didn’t even yell at him anymore, he wasn’t worth the hassle, she would just calmly inform him how disappointing his lack of capability was and that she couldn’t understand why Dark Enchantress had kept him around this long, sometimes even adding in a ’Perhaps this stumble will be the turning point for you, the Dark One only has so much patience you know.’ Hiding her smug grin behind her mirror as she would stare at him, watching him struggle to stay composed. Then he would cry and run off to Dark Choco, begging him to make him feel better like the pathetic creature he was. He knew Pomegranate was right, everyone had their own limit of how much disappointment they could handle, and Licorice disappointed often. If Dark Enchantress were to get tired of him…heavens forbid if Choco got tired of him…
Licorice felt bitter tears burning at the corners of his eyes, threatening to spill onto the pages of his tome. He managed to remain silent, his body language not giving any signs of his despair. Dark Choco was practically a pillar of self discipline, always seeming to strive for perfection in anything he was passionate about. Licorice wondered if he would expect the same thing from him as his lover…if Choco even wanted him as a lover. Maybe he was just something fun for Choco, a warm body to fulfill a want for physical touch and closeness. Licorice had next to nothing to offer him and he could not grasp why he would reciprocate his feelings so…maybe they are not the same kind of feelings? He began biting his nails as he sank into his own despair, it felt familiar and he knew no better. He was only drawn from his thoughts when he started seeing blotches of purple through his blurred vision. He blinked away his tears and when his vision cleared he saw a small hand placing little mushrooms on his tome, a pile of them in the center.
“Poison.” He grumbled, sniffing quietly as he scooped them up and moved them to the floor.
“Helping…” They said slowly, their wide eyes fixated on the mushrooms he moved, starting to pick them up and put them back on his tome.
“...Thanks..” Licorice mumbled meekly, voice sounding raw as he fought to hold back his tears again. As his vision began blurring, hsi tears returning, he heard Bat-cat purring again as it nudged its way into his arms, Licorice holding it tightly. Tears streaked down his face as he felt Poison’s small arms hugging his legs and then Choco Werehound Brute’s arms engulfing them all in a sweeping and tight hug, drawing a laugh out of Licorice. He felt his guilt lessen its grip on his heart, the aching pain in his throat easing as he accepted the comfort from his companions.
The night ended with Poison sleeping inside the tent with Bat-cat curled up beside them protectively, Licorice staying up for some time with Brute before falling asleep while trying to resume studying next to the fire. He awoke inside the tent, gently waking up Poison Mushroom Cookie and Bat-cat. After preparing some assemblance of a breakfast they were on the road again. It was a bit far but Licorice was determined to get back to the castle in a timely manner, partly because he wasted half of their food last night on dinner and also partly so he could get his punishment over with. It was still eating at him, doing a better job of hiding it this time as they kept moving, letting Poison Mushroom nap as he and Brute took turns carrying them. Bat-cat would occasionally soar higher in the air, checking to see if there was a better route for them to take or of anything they needed to avoid and look out for. Licorice was exhausted once they finally reached the dry and ominous badlands, seeing a spire of the Castle of Chaos in the distance between the daunting mountains.
It was dark when they arrived, the moon twinged red from the clouds above as they pushed open the heavy doors of the main foyer. Licorice made a stop by Poisons room, laying the sleeping cookie down in their bed and tucking them in before heading out and up the staircase to his own, his familiars behind him. It was a slow climb, his feet dragging as he used his strength to haul his lanky frame up each step. The candles along the walls provided a comforting light, soothing his nerves. He enjoyed his room. It was the one place inside the castle that felt far enough away to be safe. Once he reached the door of his bedroom he opened it, eyes lazily moving to look at his bed. He was eager to flop face first on it and pass out for however long he desired, but he suddenly felt more awake when he spotted a sleeping form on his bed, curled into a pillow. Licorice swiftly closed the door, looking between Bat-cat and Choco Werehound Brute who both seemed puzzled.
“A-ah, you know what I think I want to be alone tonight! “ His words came out fast and clumsy as he opened the door just enough to let himself inside, quickly shuffling into his room. “I-I’ll come find you first thing in the morning!” He added, closing the door and locking it, his body against it as his ribcage shuttered with his labored breathing. He heard the two groan and mumble complaints as they began descending the stairs again, Licorice relaxing against the door as more distance was between them. The necromancer turned his attention to the bed, seeing the others frame unmoving aside from the gentle signs of him breathing. Choco wasn’t a deep sleeper and Licorice briefly wondered what would have exerted so much of his energy to sleep through his noisy entrance. He quietly stepped over to a nearby table, setting down his bag and kicking off his boots. His feet burned against the cold ground, blisters no doubt already forming on his skin from the lack of proper breaks on their trip back. It was when he set his bag down that he realized the mess that usually was on top of the table was absent. His eyebrows furrowed as he turned to scan his room.
It was practically spotless. The usual clutter of books and papers on his floor had disappeared and his shelves were neat and orderly. As he stepped over to one he noticed they were organized, alphabetically by author. There was not a single book missing, everything seemingly put back in its place and if it had no place it was assigned one. His desk was cleaned and organized as well, everything from the bookshelves to his desks and shelves were dusted and pristine. A broom was leaned against the wall by his desk, the window above open wide and blinds up, letting in the night air, the moonlight bleeding into the room along with the candle light dancing along the walls pleasantly. The mirror against the adjacent wall to his bed had even been cleaned, Licorice staring at it and seeing only his spotless reflection. It became clear why Choco had been passed out in his bed, his room was always in a near constant state of disarray, it must have taken him hours to put everything away alone. Licorice’s gaze shifted as he stared at the mirror, looking down to Choco’s sleeping body in the reflection, turning around to look at him properly. He felt the guilt that had been weighing down his heart melt away once he laid eyes on the other. Choco’s face was buried in his pillow, arms wrapped around it and legs curled up. He was wearing his casual attire thank the heavens, Licorice would have lost his mind if he were in his armor. Instead of the usual dark Jeogori over a black turtleneck, a band of darker fabric around the waist, he was simply wearing his undershirt instead. It was sleeveless and Licorice blatantly let his eyes take their time looking at his strong arms. His dark sepia skin was marked with numerous scars on both arms. It felt like they were everywhere. Some on his hands were fine and thin aside from one large one on the top of his left hand. His forearms and one of his upper arms had what looked like bite marks or scratches of varying severity. Licorice briefly toyed with the idea of asking him about them, but knew better. He rarely saw Choco with his armor off which led him to believe this happened before his time with their organization. He knew how his colleague was and knew if he asked he would most likely not receive an answer. As much as he desired to know everything about him, the last thing he wanted was to potentially upset the already fragile dynamic between them.
Licorice quietly shifted to an ancient looking vanity in the corner of his room, taking off his plethora of necklaces and rings, tossing them into a drawer and closing it. He opened another drawer and pulled out a change of clothes, a simple pair of pants and a baggy shirt to sleep in. He double checked that Choco was asleep before quickly changing. He tossed his robe on the floor, pausing, then quickly bending down to pick it up and set it on the vanity. Once done he rolled his shoulders as he moseyed over to his bed, a dull ache setting in through his body as he finally felt the price of refusing his body of proper care. He ignored it easily when he looked down at Choco, still sound asleep. It felt worth it, sure his body hurt, but he was able to get back sooner. He sank down onto the bed on his knees, shifting to sit besides the other. His exhaustion gave him courage, not hesitating as he used a hand to cup Choco’s face. He flinched hard, eye snapping open. A beautiful carnelian red eye fixated on Licorice almost instantly, seeming startled for a moment before being able to recognize the necromancer. Once Choco realized who was touching him he leaned into it fully, tilting his head into Licorice’s hand. Licorice found it sweet how relaxed Choco was after waking up, seemingly more willing to be affectionate.
“...Licorice.” His voice was rough from his slumber, Licorice shivering at the sound of his own name being said at such a register.
“Awe, what? Did you miss me?” Licorice asked teasingly, savoring the sight of Choco’s usually stoic demeanor faltering for only a moment as he became flustered momentarily. “Actually, I don’t even need you to answer that. Even when I’m not here you can't help but sneak into my bed.” He mumbled, lying down behind Choco and wrapping an arm around his waist, their bodies fitting together perfectly. Licorice tucked his face into the other’s neck, feeling himself relax as his senses were taken up by Choco. “ I had to kick out my own loyal constituents before they could see you.” He murmured, humming with satisfaction as Choco tilted his head, pressing a kiss to Licorice’s cheek.
“Mm…no.” Choco said flatly, voice still tired. Licorice looked down at him, sitting up a bit. Choco's face was expressionless.
“No? What do you mean no? You totally missed me, you fell asleep in my bed, all curled up and comfortable!” Licorice countered, voice confident as a smug smile formed on his lips.
“I have never slept in your bed.” Choco replied in the same cool tone.
“...What? You’re in my bed right now!” Licorice snapped. Choco simply shook his head, still unphased by Licorice’s growing distress. “ Why are you shaking your head?! “ Licorice wailed. He began going on a rant about how Choco was lying and how clearly he was correct about the other missing him, but he paused when he noticed the slight smile curling at the corner of Choco’s lips. Licorice made a sound of agitation as he began punching, gently of course, the others stomach, a chuckle slipping from the warrior. “Why are you giving me a hard time already?! I just got back, ready to smother you with attention but clearly you don’t want that!” He said indignantly.
“I enjoy getting you riled up, it is…endearing.” Choco mumbled, his smile audible in his voice. Licorice felt himself flush. His smile was minute and the necromancer was grateful, if he smiled fully Licorice might not have been able to control himself. He was stunning like this already, the candlelight softening his features beautifully. Licorice wanted to kiss him.
“Such a tease.” Licorice mumbled, his arms wrapping tighter around the other as he pulled him closer, tucking his face away in the crook of his neck to nip at the soft skin. Licorice could feel his body going from somewhat tense at the contact before relaxing against him and it felt divine. It was something for only him to feel, Choco was only this close with Licorice. His arms tightened around Choco almost possessively. Having such a close bond with someone who was distant to everyone around them felt special, and the idea that Choco saw him as worthy of something so treasured such as his vulnerability had Licorice’s mind reeling. The memories of failing the mission bled away with the weight of Choco in his arms, the knowledge that he could at least get this right made it feel like nothing else mattered. “I will forgive you for now…heh, I actually rushed to get back sooner…I..I was hoping to find you here.” Licorice admitted shyly. He could play the part of an overconfident necromancer and lover, but it was only a front. The idea of expressing a thought so tender was enough to have his breath stuttering in his throat as he waited for a response. He only eased when he felt Dark Choco’s hand on his forearm squeeze gently, his body leaning back into him more.
“I missed you dearly…” The words were barely a whisper, Choco exchanging his own gentle feelings. The way the words fell from his lips felt a bit clumsy, as if he had never said something so honest before. Pride nestled itself in Licorice’s ribcage. The necromancer didn’t think much as he gently guided Choco to lay on his back, one of Licorice’s knees beside his hip and the other between his legs, looming over him and mindlessly leaning down to pepper his face and neck with affectionate kisses, eager to reward Choco for expressing something so kind. His bony hands found themselves on him as well, one holding the small of Choco’s waist while the other cupped his face. “Enough, enough..” Choco complained, Licorice could hear the smile in his voice.
“ Never.” Licorice mumbled with a grin, despite his words he did ease up. He moved his hand off the others waist and instead used that arm to prop himself up, leaning down fully over Choco. “...Can..can I kiss you?” He asked a touch quieter. Choco’s eye opened again, looking up at Licorice with a glint of amusement, the corners of his usually static lips curling up. He was breathtaking.
“mh..so now you’re asking permission?” Choco murmured smugly, Licorice giving him a glare. “I suppose you may, only because of your politeness.” Licorice laughed as he leaned down, pressing a kiss to Choco’s lips. They were surprisingly soft and the hint of Choco’s flavor had Licorice’s mind muddling.
“You adore how impolite I can be.” Licorice said playfully before leaning back into the kiss, eyes closing as their lips connected. His flavor was delightful, he tasted bitter but there was a sweetness underneath that felt addicting. As they kissed Licorice moved to lay more fully on Choco. He could feel his heart flutter as he felt Choco's warm hands cupping his face, one of his hands reaching back to gently caress the back of his neck. It felt like everything ceased to exist around them, Licorice becoming lost in the feeling of closeness. As the kiss broke he was guided with gentle touches to lay down, his face burying into the crook of the others neck. Choco’s strong arms held him close and despite the silence Licorice knew what Choco was going to ask before he said it.
“How did the mission go?” His voice was quiet and careful, like he already knew the answer but wanted confirmation. The necromancer felt worry wash over him like cold water. He knew his failures were expected amongst his colleagues but letting them down was normal, something about possibly disappointing Choco felt more severe.
“...I failed again…who would’ve thought.” Licorice answered bitterly, curling into the warmth of the other’s body. “Schwartz, Bat-cat, everyone was doing what they were supposed to but I still held us back…” He admitted lowly, eyes sliding closed as a warm hand rubbed circles between his bony shoulders. “ The dancing was fun though, I wasn’t really good at it but Schwartz..Brute I mean, really took to it.” He mumbled, his eyelids starting to feel heavy as he relaxed more fully against Choco. “Oh, Schwartzwalder wants to be called Choco Werehound Brute now.” He added, correcting himself. He heard the rumble of Choco humming against his ear, a sign of acknowledgement.
“You are too hard on yourself.” He finally spoke. Licorice felt himself be shifted onto his side, Choco laying on his side as well facing him and pulling him in close.
“I don’t think I'm hard enough on myself sometimes…I try my best every time but it feels like I can just never get it right.” Licorice admitted quietly, feeling pathetic tears burning at the corners of his eyes. He scooted closer, curling into Choco as much as he could. He wanted to disappear. “ Pomegranate Cookie is going to be so furious with me…” His voice was weak and small as he felt humiliation wracking his body almost painfully.
“ Do not worry about her right now.” Choco said firmly, holding the necromancer closer almost protectively. There was that familiar edge in his voice that he would get whenever it came to the priestess. “If you tried your best then you did not truly fail. You will become stronger, but not by discouraging yourself.”
“...Are you disappointed in me?” Licorice asked, voice barely above a whisper. His hands shook as he felt the tears blurring his vision finally built up enough to trail down plains of his face.
“Of course not. I do not care about the mission, I am just happy you returned safely to me.” Choco answered honestly, pressing a kiss to the top of Licorice’s head and the necromancer savored every second of it. They laid together for some time, a peaceful silence between them that felt comforting instead of worrying.
“I believe I may have been distracted during the trials..” Licorice mumbled, his lack of rest beginning to sink into his body making him feel heavy. “ It was so humid, you would have hated it.” He laughed softly, hearing Choco make a quiet sound of disgust. “ Everyone was...it was so happy. Everyone was dancing and drinking, even during the trials all of the other contestants who lost the earlier rounds were kind of…content?” He rambled. “I kept thinking about how it would have been more fun with you there…I wish we got missions together more often…I wanted to dance with you, the music...you would have loved it.” Licorice’s babbling was a bit slurred as he grew more tired, feeling the hand on his back starting to rub his shoulders again. “The band…was right on the dancefloor..”
“That sounds lovely.” Choco replied calmly, his voice a touch more soft than usual.
“I stole a bottle of berry juice for us…it’s in my bag.” Licorice mumbled lazily, eyes closed as he began drifting off in the warriors arms.
“What? Licorice you cannot just steal.” Choco sounded mildly alarmed and it made Licorice chuckle.
“Oh please, spare me. They have enough of it to go around, they won’t miss one bottle.” He teased, earning a huff from Choco. “I wanted to..surprise you.” He admitted gently. Choco pressed a few kisses to his head once again. Their bodies were entwined perfectly, as if they were created to fit together no matter how they held each other. It felt heavenly finally being able to share his feelings, to share his love and to have it reciprocated whole heartedly.
“You need to rest…I will be there tomorrow for the meeting, I promise. Just get some sleep for me.” Choco spoke and his voice was silken and divine, Licorice practically melting into his arms. He was warm, something Licorice’s lithe body adored as he regularly struggled to keep his own body temperature up. Despite the amount of muscle on the other, there was a layer of softness over it that made him comfortable to cuddle with. Licorice fell asleep rather quickly, the sound of Choco’s heart beating soothing him greatly
Morning came as it always did, the pair sleeping well into the morning. Throughout the night they had both moved around and exchanged sleeping positions, Choco now in Licorice’s arms. His body was heavy but the weight atop him was soothing, along with how peaceful the usually tense cookie looked. Licorice had been awake for some time now. It was a habit as usually he felt too guilty to move Choco off. His eyes opened slowly, a yawn slipping from the necromancer. The morning light was tinted pink from the scarlet clouds of the badlands, the light resting on the sleeping Cookie’s features beautifully. Licorice admired each detail of his face, how sweet it looked with one side of it squished as he laid on Licorice’s chest. His eyebrows which were usually drawn together in mild disdain were relaxed giving him a much calmer appearance. Licorice slowly lifted a hand and smoothed his fingertips along his arm. The scars on it were rather jarring, purely because he had yet to see them. He knew Choco was roughed up a bit before during battles and missions, but rarely did he bleed, let alone on his arms where his armor provided a good amount of coverage.
What looked like bite marks were on the insides of his forearms and upper arms. Some were shallow, light impressions on the skin, but there were a few that looked deep and painful. His fingers trailed up and carefully dragged over a particularly bad one on his right arm. It looked like if he had been bitten any harder a chunk of his skin would have come off. Licorice was no expert but he had examined animal skulls before but no animal seemed to fit the teeth marks. If anything it looked like someone else had bitten him but the orientation of the marks threw him off again.
Perhaps self-inflicted?
Licorice felt distressed at his own thought, sure Choco had some issues unique to him but it didn’t seem like anything that extreme.
Licorice…he knew him well enough to come to that conclusion…
Didn’t he?
It felt like an ice cold poker being stabbed through his chest, radiating its chill through his limbs and settling in his bones. He hated hated how little he knew about Dark Choco. His love bordered on obsessiveness and while he had gotten part of what he wanted, confirmation that his love was mutual, there was still that distance between them. They were more comfortable around each other, yes, but Licorice wanted everything Choco could give him. The idea that he hadn’t earned as much of his trust as he wanted felt painful. He knew Choco cared about him, that he felt safe around him to some extent, but did he not feel safe enough to talk to him about sensitive topics? Had Licorice done something to express that he wouldn’t be able to handle a conversation like that?
His fingers lingered on the scar, smoothing down until his palm rested flat against it. His feelings shifted from criticizing himself to worrying for the other. He tried to think of it from Choco’s point of view. Perhaps he was embarrassed by it? Maybe it was done out of frustration or anger? He knew his sweetheart was never very forthcoming about his feelings but surely he had to let them out somehow right? If not through talking or writing then maybe he took out his frustration by more physical means? Given his upbringing Licorice supposed it might make sense, he tended to overwork himself with his training, doubly so when he was frustrated or upset about something. He had recalled when Choco was struggling with his thoughts, finding him passed out with his knuckles bleeding through his hand wraps with how hard he had been training. Even as he tried to understand it through this lens it all still came to a halt when he tried to equate it with the bites. Yes Choco showed disregard for his health and physical state in some areas…but biting himself? Biting himself hard enough to surely taste his own jam? He just couldn’t fathom it. The mere concept of Choco being harmed was nerve wracking. He was pulled from his spiraling thoughts as his muse shifted, moving off of Licorice to lie on his back beside him, not saying a word other than letting out a soft sigh as he relaxed against the bed.
Licorice sat up slowly, wincing as his back cracked from the movement. He stretched, sighing as it brought some relief, his eyes returning to gaze down at Choco. Relaxed. He looked so relaxed…safe. His previous worries eased somewhat. Choco felt safe here, in his room and in his arms. He was certain if he asked gently he might be graced with an answer and if not…he would accept it. He craved the gift of being close to him but he knew Choco, he knew he ran when scared and the last thing he could think of wanting right now was to be away from him. Licorice moved a hand to cup his face, his heart swelling as Choco did not flinch but instead tilted his head towards it without hesitation. Yes..he could be patient for Choco if it meant seeing him like this, he would make it work. He leaned in, pressing a kiss to his forehead, lips lingering against his skin simply soak in his warmth. A soft hum sounded from beneath him, Licorice smiling as he felt Choco tilt his head up, feeling a kiss press against his throat in return.
“You can rest longer darling.” Licorice murmured, easing Choco to lay back down. He could tell from the bags under his eyes that he most likely hadn’t slept much since he left for the Hollyberry Kingdom, urging him to take care of it. Licorice shifted and pulled a few blankets over Choco, grinning as he didn’t fight the kindness this time, perhaps too tired to. Instead he turned onto his side and brought his knees to his chest, effectively curled up and already falling back asleep. Licorice chuckled quietly, taking a moment to soak in the sight of his usually cold and indifferent partner so uncharacteristically comfortable. He resisted the urge to pepper his face with kisses and forced himself up and out of bed. His body ached from the exertion of the day prior, groaning as he moved over to his book shelves. He pulled out a few tomes he had been studying from before leaving that Choco had kindly put away for him, walking over to his desk and carefully pulling out his chair, trying his best to not disturb the other’s sleep.
As he got situated at his desk, setting out his books and getting his writing utensils which Choco had also organized for him, he set off to work. Studying magic was enjoyable for him but it could quickly become tedious. He found himself often having to reread material or relearn spells as they just didn’t stick as well for him as they seemed to do for others. He didn’t have a formal education with his magic use but he believed he did well for himself, all things considered. It was not like any school taught the magic he was inclined towards anyways. There would be the occasional thought that he was so poor with his abilities because he never properly learned. It was partly why it took so long for him to muster the courage to ask Choco to help him practice it, assuming his frayed nerves and many many failed spells would only prove how useless he was. Choco seemed to enjoy watching him practice however, usually he would sit with him and read or simply watch him cast, asking the occasional question about what he was doing or why something was the way it was. Licorice paused his reading, glancing at Choco’s sleeping body on his bed.
It felt…good, something foreign to the necromancer. They were not even talking, there was no pressure to entertain or to try and lead a conversation well, not that either of them were very good at speaking. It felt natural, enjoyable to simply be around each other. Licorice felt satisfied. It felt good knowing someone cared about him…that someone needed him and relied on him. After watching the other sleep peacefully for some time he dragged himself back to his studies, hoping to have a new spell ready to show off to Choco by the time he woke up.