Work Text:
In all the time that Truthless Recluse was locked away in the spire with Shadow Milk, no matter how much they danced together, he never smiled. The blonde had never joined in the festivities, never smiled or laughed with his jester. He never held him any more than when his hands were bounced along by the other. It stung much more than the deceitful beast would ever admit, but the lonely creature just wanted to have someone to perform with.
That was what felt like eons ago, and now Shadow Milk resided at the castle beside his beloved.
This particular evening felt strange, as he found the normally bustling halls were as silent as his old spire. That wasn’t the only odd occurrence, as he was unable to locate Pure Vanilla Cookie anywhere. Their coupling was still new like a freshly baked tart: tender and fragile. Shadow Milk was a bit embarrassed to say he’d never been in a relationship like this before, and he struggled to open up to the kind man. He always felt that he was too much for his dear at times. He bit back the old insults that bubble up, pulling back heady requests for affection.
It wasn’t that Pure Vanilla was against such touch, quite the contrary in fact, but he was also a very busy man. His royal duties had gotten much more taxing as of late to the point where he’d only been able to do little more than curl up beside him in bed... or at least when he makes it there. Most nights the man was passed out on his desk, drooling down his cheek and head resting on his arms.
It was late now, almost midnight, and the cold of his moon touched dough was overwhelming. The cool feeling wasn't always so as his Vinally’s warmth had been quelling the eons old solitude. Yet, the ice was creeping back with force as it had been so very long since they had communed in togetherness, and the dull ache he knew all too well was becoming more prevalent. Shadow Milk wanted to lash out in frustration, break something, scream even.... but if anything he just missed feeling wanted. The other cookies of the kingdom still feared him even after all the time he'd been at the castle.
Harsh voices burrowed deep in his Soul Jam, slithering like tight coils around his neck, hissing lies in his ears. Their whispered tones fed his mind with lies so rich he felt like one of his previous victims. They gnawed at his nerves, leaking venom on brittle thoughts so they would crumble and snap. It made his batter tremble, false fangs digging into the meat of his mind.
They prevailed that his previous Pure Vanilla had never loved him; that he just wanted to tame such a horrible beast. Now that he was an obedient puppy, his beloved wanted nothing to do with him. Shadow Milk felt his chest clench at the mere mental image and he buried his chin in his ruffles, fang digging into his doughy lip. That couldn’t be true.... Right?
Mismatched sapphires lifted from their grounded stare as a subtle melody grew where none had been before. The beast followed the strange noise, bits of magic helping him float over the cool tile of the corridor. He was currently located on the main floor, and noticed that the grand doors to the garden where standing wide open. The blue cookie followed the music notes that flowed from the outside, but landed when he saw the flicker of candlelight in the darkness near the old king’s gazebo. It matched his ridiculous waffle cone hat, but all the same it held his affections. The structure was an important place in their relationship, as it was where it all started. Shadow Milk stepped closer, tailcoats drifting slowly and eyes blinking in curiosity. He could make out the tired healer flitting around the small area; a worried brow knit together like he was thinking. His mouth was moving in muteness like he was talking quietly to himself.
The vanilla orchid garden surrounding the gazebo was delicately lit by candlelight; the flames dancing off the Soul Jam pendent both the man and the structure held. Even the small pond next to the gaudy building was decorated in floating wicks, each one expertly balanced on a lily pad. A small radio set on the stone steps near the entrance and most likely where the music came from. It was a soft tune, one of intimately calm delight. The shadowy beast was unnoted as the healer turned to face the small decorations with the intention of perfection; his long hair pulled back in a loose ribbon.
"Nilly?" Pure Vanilla jolted at the new voice, dumb cone crown jostled to almost fall of his head. The humble noble turned back to the jester, dull eyes squinting to find him in the dimness.
"My blueberry swirl?" A hint of nervous energy was laced in his sweetness, "What are you doing out so late? I...."
"I came looking for you, Silly Vanilly," Shadow Milk stepped closer, taking in the festivity of the garden. Everything sparkled so pretty in the twilight. "You didn't come to bed, and I couldn't find you in that coffin of a study....What is all this?"
A flush of rosy color came to the sun kissed dough of his better haft, and the grip on his staff fidgeted. A secret?
"It's...for you."
"For...me?" All those pretty blue eyes blinked. The curious beast came closer, looking up to match Pure Vanilla’s gaze.
"Yes, my dear blueberry, though I didn't anticipate it to take so long to set up. My meeting ran much longer than I had hoped, and I lost track of the day's cycles." The eye of his staff peered down to take in the beautiful creature before him, "I wanted to do something special for you, since I have been so distant as of late."
Cerulean and cyan widened at the declaration; the small eyes in his shadowed hair lighting up with tiny hearts. A small, bright smile grew into a wild grin of teeth, and a splash of midnight sky dusted his cheeks.
"Oh, Pookie Bear!" Shadow Milk leapt into the air, floating in a little twirl before tackling the healer with the force of a Brown Sugar Golem. He giggled and cackled like a little gremlin, nuzzling his chest and kicking his feet. Pure Vanilla chuckled lightly, smile soft on his features as his hands settled around his lover's waist, soul filling with warmth. He liked seeing the beast so happy and with no weight on his shoulders. The darkness haunted him so much, all the ancient asked is to relieve it, even for a few hours.
Black heels were set onto the ground as the magical being was lowered, feet meeting the dirt. The dusted blue cookie was befuddled for a quiet breath, but the exhale caught as Pure Vanilla smiled down at him with his signature kindness.
"May I have this dance?" He asked, holding his hand up to be taken.
Those cat like eyes widened at the invitation; a bit hesitant as his gaze flickered between the tender palm and those pastel pools. The feeling that radiated as their fingers brushed against one another sent a shiver down the beast's spine, and a splash of midnight dust colored his cheeks as the other hand was tucked around his waist.
The music swirled around them, candle glow illuminating their dough. Shadow Milk released a gasp as they swayed to the melody that played from the radio, notes tickling his ears. They were dancing! Yet, it felt so different than the jumbling dizziness they did in the spire. Before it was forced, chaotic and riled. This? This was slow, gentle....intimate.
Shadow Milk could feel the humming that reverberated in his other half’s chest as he mused along, leading the smaller with the grace of a noble. He had been a king for so very long, and dancing this professionally came from his many years of ballroom parties.
He leaned more into his dance partner, head resting just under the clothed chin of the man that held him. The ancient’s steady heartbeat is what made own skip as they lazily twirled to the smooth song. It wasn't exactly a sound that was foreign to him as he was a clingy sleeper, but the beats only amplified the floaty bliss that soaked into his batter. The ends of his hair curled in bouncy hearts as the tender palm on his waist soothed his sides. It was embarrassing just how responsive his hair was to showing his emotions, but the motion only made another breathy chuckle come from above him. The whole atmosphere was like the cradle of a comfortable blanket, and it made the beast’s brain tick.
"Why do this?” The question was just above a whisper, “....Why for me?"
"I have noticed that as of late you've been...preoccupied with your thoughts," Vanilla's fingers stroked the blue blushed ones he cradled, "I know it is mostly the fault of my absence and my duties but….I can feel the connection pulse with your worries. I can feel how tired you are inside. You no longer hold yourself like you used to." His cape shifted as he rocked Shadow Milk in his waltzing embrace.
"Back in the spire, when I was....when you were with Truthless Recluse...You used to love to dance around; your energy was like fireworks." It didn't go unnoticed how the beast grimaced a bit at the mention, ducking his chin down a bit, "I wanted to bring that back to you. Then I did not join you in your splendor, but now....Now I would like to give you what I couldn't before."
The palm that once laid placid on Pure Vanilla’s chest gripped slightly, nails digging into the fabric while the smaller trembled. The eyes in the shadows faltered from once infatuated hearts to something more melancholic. The lively curls flattened, and that pretty face was buried into his chest as if to hide. Pure Vanilla’s eyes widened at the action, worry leaking into his old batter.
"Darling?" Graceful steps seized and he brought their stance to one of care, holding him fully. His blue moon counterpart huddled closer, shoulders curling on themselves as the grip tightened just around the noble’s Soul jam clasp, forehead pressed against the gleaming gem.
"You're too kind to me..." The words were light, much softer than the jester’s normal grandeur, "I don't deserve this...I don’t deserve you, or this, or any of it...not after..."
A comforting heat was pressed against his marked cheek, holding featherlight. He couldn't resist leaning into the balm to his blizzard skin, eyes sliding closed for only a moment.
He hated how weak he was to the affection, but after everything he'd been through, it just felt nice to be so vulnerable. He trusted his good haft, Pure Vanilla had no intention to lie.
The holder of truth held no motive to maim him while his defenses were weak. He was the sun to his moon, the glitter in his stars.
Trust was extremely hard to form for the beast, and it took much work to be given it. Yet Pure Vanilla had scaled the high walls of his broken kingdom, and now resided in the spire of his heart. He mended the shattered glass, rebricked the fallen walls, and replanted the desecrated gardens. Pure Vanilla made the once ghostly abandonment a home, and now lived there freely.
"Shadow Milk, my sweet," His gently calm voice was hot on his ear, melting his ice cold worries, "You may have done much in your past, but even the hurt deserve to be taken care of. You are my love, and my soul. This is the least I could do for you. You are no longer alone, and I am right here for you."
The once king leaned down and ever so carefully pressed his lips against the other, eyes slipping closed. There was no fight as Shadow Milk softened into the peace, indulging further into the kiss. The touch was intoxicating to his millennium of solitude, and there was no way he would refuse it.
"I love you, Shadow Milk Cookie." The star kissed forehead rested against the blue sky it belonged in, gaze meeting a matching one of different hues.
"....I love you too, Silly Vanilly." A smile lined those mischievous lips, crinkle on his cat like eyes.
It only grew as one lined his beloved’s face, though much softer than the Cheshire that was quickly growing in size. Shadow Milk stepped back a bit before floating upward, taking the hands of his confused partner. A wave of gremlin giggles came from the jester as he began swing their connected arms about, light brightening in his pupils.
The dance was much reminiscent of Pure Vanilla’s days in the spire, with energy as vibrant as it was chaotic, yet he did not protest the fun. The ancient joined in the laughter as they spun and danced in mindless glee; the candle wicks whisking in the night breeze. The stars watched with their moon mother, smiling down at the lovesick pair.