Chapter Text
The former king was concealed with a constant pondering mind.
A nervous tugging at his pristine robes, perhaps even picking at his soft dough as he drifted into a labyrinth of thoughts that could’ve been set for the rest of his life to endure.
And what his mind contained was the one thing he wished to seek something deeper within. Shadow Milk Cookie.
It wasn’t long after facing such an individual and discovering a side of himself that he had been searching for a long, long time, a waltz with deceit and even his own life on the line. Pure Vanilla Cookie went on with the warm smile laced with serenity that continued to dress his face.
Even if he knew it was only a porcelain mask, awaiting its moment to shatter.
He extended his open arms, sheathed with a desire to become that of a friend for this Shadow Milk that seemed to want nothing to do with the ancient. And yet, Pure Vanilla Cookie was notorious for his inability to give up on what he believes for what you would call a second chance. Another opportunity at life, even if the other would only bare its teeth with insatiable malice and rejection.
First try, and he had taken in the sight of the angered beast scurrying into the void of a portal he summoned upon himself, concealing his emotions away from the ancient for good. Or so he thought.
Pure Vanilla’s nauseating kindness that made the other nearly gag was something he had yet to let go of. A persuasion that did not wish to wither.
You could begin to think it was laced with desperation, maybe even a tinge of mania as he would find himself looking up to the sky, wishing to know what he could do to make his intentions clear.
After all, he had so much love to give.
And how it was far from an easy journey would be an understatement. Days on end, would relish in nothing but disappointments thrown the ancient’s way. Absent hope, as empty as the bottom of a barrel.
That, until Shadow Milk chose to not take this as an opportunity of salvation, but for his own exploitation. Such will, such desire that Pure Vanilla so vulnerably displayed was in his grasp to use of advantage.
And with that, he went into action.
Holding the form of a dark serpent, the beast would pursue, lurking around wherever the ancient had waltzed around. From the fields that endlessly stretched with lush grass to his warm chambers that seemed to await another's arrival, Shadow Milk was there. His hunger was potent, needless to say. Eventually that impatience had blinded the beast, who finally made his move.
With a soft slither, he eventually realized that the startled bleats that left from the ancient’s pampered cream sheep were a simple tell-tale that perhaps his choice of shape-shift was not very appealing.
Shadow Milk grinned, shifting to a lamb adorned with dark fleece, an unusual color that contrasted within the flocks of white fur.
Perfect.
Bound to catch that fool’s eye.
It was easy— a little too much. It wasn’t long until his gaze met with the other’s, the ancients lips slightly parting in awe as he took in the sight of this mysterious cream sheep that had such an interest in him. His eyes do not waver, eventually greeting Shadow Milk with a gentle smile.
“Why, hello there. You must be new,” He doted, not even taking a moment of consideration before his hand began to caress the dark lamb. “Such a gorgeous shade of wool you have. I don’t think I’ve seen this yet.”
Shadow Milk froze.
He couldn’t move, a breath hitching in his throat as the beast could only gaze up at the other that drowned him with a warm embrace his body couldn’t ignore that it ached for.
With a soft nudge, the smile that graced the ancient only deepened. “Come, little one it won’t be long before rain will pour, my orchid garden will be a nice shelter, hm?” He murmured, his soft hushed to a gentle whisper.
Shadow Milk chose to comply.
Draped over the gentle mixes of white and yellow that adorned the fabric of the other’s lap, Shadow Milk found himself with his small eyes fluttering as he continued to bask in the affection he was so revoltingly spoiled with.
Was he enjoying this?
Low, idle hums reverberated within Pure Vanilla’s throat, patient eyes closed to a shut. His hand lazily teased the beast’s fur, who didn’t make much efforts to resist the temptations of giving in.
He closed his own eyes, a darkness enveloping him that seemed to only spiral in strength as his body grew heavy. A settled serenity that hung in the air, the singing silence save for the soft pattering of rain against the healthy lilies adorning the ancient's small garden.
And it did not stop, growing vigorous yet steady. Shadow Milk felt Pure Vanilla slowly but gradually bringing him closer into his arms as he shielded this unknown lamb within his embrace, the quick water drops that tapped against the shelter that hung over their heads showing no signs of coming to an end.
The absentminded humming that came from the ancient had trailed to a sweet melody, dancing with the loud rain that echoed throughout the world. And Shadow Milk would do nothing but live up to his title as the beholder of deceit if he denied that even a feeble feeling of peace did not course through his body.
Ah, yes.
Peace.
Something he did not have the luxury of basking in for much of time. Perhaps from the beginning of his life, thrown into responsibility he was meant to learn for himself, such a word did not exist to the beast.
Shadow Milk did not want to open his eyes. He wanted to continue feeling this. Perhaps later on he will go on with plotting against the ancient, but for now,
Why not rest? An exploitation of sloth in this form can’t hurt.
His body shifted, satisfaction washing over his face as he melted into the other’s embrace. A fleeting breeze of tranquil that would leave sooner or later was bound to pass by.
Might as well put it to use before it’s over.
…
Shadow Milk’s eyes shot open right as he heard a soft gasp escape the ancient’s mouth, meeting his gaze with Pure Vanilla. He felt heavy. A little too heavy. How his arms had dug into the other’s lap ever so slightly, the strands of blue hair that twirled in the corner of his vision.
Shit.
Slowly, Shadow Milk’s gaze shifted onto himself, raising the small dark paw that was now a blue hand.
He was back in his normal form. And no words could serve as an alibi, for the beast was comfortably sprawled out over the ancient’s lap he so easily accepted to lay upon.
Ugh.
There was no backing out of this.
He only pretended as if this was a part of his grand plan, accepting Pure Vanilla’s rather annoying requests that had been rejected time and time again for once.
Shadow Milk did not take him seriously. If anything, he enjoyed laughing in the ancient’s face, ignoring the vulnerable itch that lingered within the depths of his soul, begging for the beast to submit to what had truly wished for.
But Shadow Milk would rather crumble than be taken for some little “project” of that thief.
‘Rehabilitation.’ A term so easy to shatter, something so simple yet prior to faltering with ease.
Pathetic.
Pure Vanilla did not give up. Even as the darkness that began to hang beneath his milky eyes only grew, the more his appearance became apparent of the toll Shadow Milk was putting on him, his willpower was revolting to the beast. Every insult that lingered along Shadow Milk’s tongue, awaiting to be spat, all the times he’s put in a try to push such a caring person to their limits.
It did not work.
The ancient was not afraid to voice his wishes for the other. The nauseating kindness within his intentions, his lingering gaze whenever he would attempt to interact with Shadow Milk as the days passed within the home the beast so reluctantly agreed to stay concealed within — for his own safety, apparently.
Definitely not a hostage.
Shadow Milk’s frustration only grew.
Perhaps this was a waste of time, as it was getting apparent it would’ve been a lot easier to simply summon a portal with a flick of his wrist, putting an end to this game of cat and mouse that was seemingly one sided on his part.
There’s no bother.
And he knew it was. One could only take so much love without eventually slipping within its warm cracks that leaked with allure, could they not?
And he did. Soon enough.
Another dreary evening.
Pure Vanilla sat in silence, his eyes shut per usual before. Within the distance could’ve heard the soft bleats of idle cream sheep.
It wasn’t much of anything new that for the past couple of weeks, if not months on end he had been MIA.
You’d think the former king had gone and crumbled with how his presence felt absent amongst his ancient friends. Save for the scarce times of exchanged letters, coated of empty small talk, devoid with any detail of Pure Vanilla’s whereabouts.
A sigh escaped his lips, momentarily intertwining his fingers as a gentle breeze brushed through his blonde tresses. Supposedly a small walk to clear his head wouldn’t have hurt.
Often, the base of his thoughts would simply be related to Shadow Milk, and a lingering feeling of uneasiness that he has not done enough quite yet to help the other. He never felt enough, despite the clear burden this rehabilitation process has put onto him.
But to say Pure Vanilla did not choose to drag himself into this, that it was not his own choice would be a lie. A gashing wound inflicted upon his own self.
He was tired.
Exhausted, even.
Not even the warmth of the gleaming sunlight that embraced the ancient was enough to put an end to his desire to fall into a deep slumber, perhaps for even a few days or so.
Slowly, Pure Vanilla could feel his head lowering as his body drifted, immediately catching himself to a stop. Bringing a hand to his temples, he slowly began to massage them with a weak grip.
Unfortunately his peace left as quick as it had come, Pure Vanilla not even quite awake enough to notice that a familiar group of individuals stood by him.
His body jolted as a familiar, feminine voice cut through the silence that hung in the cool air.
“Pure Vanilla Cookie..”
Drawn out of his thoughts, he blinked his milky eyes momentarily before fixing his gaze upon the ancients. It was Hollyberry Cookie who had brought his attention, while Dark Cacao, Golden cheese and White Lily were practically gathered behind her.
And it would take a fool to not register that the expressions on their faces were far from joy.
But still, he smiled.
“Ah, my dear friends. What troubles you?” He finally spoke, his gaze eventually faltering. Pure Vanilla knew deep down what was the matter, though. Only, he did not want to come to the point of confrontation on it. Not yet.
Hollyberry placed a hand atop her chest, returning Pure Vanilla’s smile with a reluctant grin, unable to conceal her clear disdain.
“To tell you the truth, we’re worried about you. Again. After everything that had happened — it’s hard not to,” Hollyberry began, so much as making reference to the events with Pure Vanilla and Shadow Milk, a memory he only wished to bury.
It set a point for concern, given this information was only reported to her alongside the others with a tardiness.
“That’s not all. And then you run off somewhere and practically cut off contact?—“ Hollyberry’s words were put to a halt as Golden Cheese loomed beside her, her arms crossed over her torso. White Lily lingered by, her eyes filled with unease.
Golden Cheese fixed her gaze onto him. “You’re being weird again, Pure Vanilla. If not anything else, think of the looming threat of the war. We need you!”
Pure Vanilla swallowed again, trapped within an uncomfortable set of silence that was now his responsibility to break. They needed answers from him.
With a reluctant sigh, he finally mustered up the courage to confess with even a brief reference as to what he had been up to.
“My friends..! How I’ve let you down..” Pure Vanilla rasped, flashing a low grin. “Though, do not worry, for I am doing just fine! In fact.. I’ve been, well, wrapped up in a little project of my own.”
His confidence wavered for just a fleeting moment. “I just know you’ll all love what I’ve done, we may even have ourselves a powerful new ally!”
Another fit of silence, unbearably uncomfortable.
Eventually Hollyberry blinked, hands shifting to a rest over her hips as she perked a brow. “Huh…Alright.” Her face was retorted to a mix of confusion and concern. “But, just what might this project be, pray tell?”
In an instant, Pure Vanilla beamed with an enthusiasm that only contrasted with the unnerve hanging over the remainder of the ancients that stood before him. With a raise of his arms his smile deepens, a joy that never left his face.
“The rehabilitation of my beastly companion, Shadow Milk Cookie!”
And Nothing could prepare him for the dismay that twisted amongst his friends' faces.