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It was all silent in the snowy expanse where Banoffee stood. The wind howled, pushing against the tall trees that surrounded the area. The branches rattled softly, parallel to a gentle melody.
Banoffee closed his eyes.
Listening closely to the tune of the rattling branches, he began to step forward. He struck his arm out, opening his extravagant fan. Slowly, he brought it over his head like a bird lifting up its wing. Banoffee then slowly swung his other arm around himself, the bottom half of his hanfu swirling as he turned. He then picked up his pace as he continued to dance, his moves graceful like a calm wave. The sounds of the forest guided his steps as he whirled around the expanse.
Banoffee finished his dance routine with an extravagant pose and a small smile. Slowly, he lowered his arms to his side. Pride permeated within his chest, the dancer being well aware of just how flawlessly he had performed. He stood still to catch his breath, letting the wind gently ruffle his hair. That was all until another sound broke through the soft melody of the forest.
As he heard a twig snap, Banoffee whipped around to face the intruder. His fingers grazed over his fan, ready to pull a dagger out from it if danger were to present itself. But there was no danger to be found, and Banoffee could only spot a flash of purple hiding among the brown trees.
Banoffee winced in annoyance. “Affogato.” He called out coldly. The name was almost like sores on his tongue. “I can see you hiding over there.”
Hesitantly, the purple-clad intruder revealed himself, stepping out from behind the tree. He smiled, almost awkwardly, and walked over to where Banoffee was standing. “Ah Banoffee, how good it is to see you. The weather is quite cold today, is it not?”
Banoffee’s expression soured. “Cease with the formalities Affogato. What are you doing here? I do not remember inviting you to my private rehearsal.” He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Strangely enough, he felt more bothered by the intrusion than who was intruding.
Affogato's eyes seemed to flicker nervously around, but he just raised his hand dismissively. “I was just rather bored, you see. I wished to strike up a conversation with you, but you slipped away before I could. I thought that was rather curious, so I followed you here.”
Without me even noticing…Banoffee sighed gently. He felt like his mind was stuck in the clouds lately.
“Do you wish for me to take my leave?”
“No.” Banoffee shook his head, closing his fan and pressing it to his mouth. “You have already disturbed me enough, so you may stay if you wish.” Perhaps it was for the better. Banoffee never liked straying his gaze away from the wily snake for too long.
Affogato grinned at his words. “And you are sure I will not skew your focus?”
“In case you have forgotten sir Affogato, I am a dancer. I have danced in front of an audience countless times before. Being watched while dancing does not bother me.” He quipped, turning away from Affogato.
Banoffee could hear Affogato chuckle behind him. “Ah, you misunderstand me little bird. I asked if you are sure that someone with such a radiant presence like me will not skew your focus.”
The dancer let out a huff, clearly not impressed by the other’s words. He opened his fan as he spoke. “I do not think you are someone worth skewing my focus over.”
Despite the harsh expression, Affogato continued to chuckle. As if he found the other’s taunts endearing. “Ah I see of course, how foolish of me.” He flashed Banoffee a charming smile. “As if the most regal dancer in all of Earthbread would ever bat an eye over someone like me.”
Banoffee's mouth wobbled under his fan. His concealing smile, one that he had spent so long mastering, had always been so easily broken by Affogato and his irksome attitude. “Most regal dancer?” His breath caught in his throat. “Why all this cajolery sir Affogato?”
“Cajolery? Oh no, I merely speak the truth. After all, moments ago I have just witnessed a most magnificent performance. You truly live up to your reputation.”
“Really now?” Banoffee murmured.
The words itched at Banoffee like ants on his skin. He was sure that all Affogato said was just sweet talk. Despite the blazing rivalry between the two, Banoffee knew Affogato better than anyone. He was aware of Affogato’s cunning silver tongue and his pride. Banoffee concluded Affogato only meant to flatter him because of the fact the clan leader chose to hide him during his exile. Perhaps it had scared him so much, the indisputable fact that his life was now in the clutches of Banoffee’s fingers, that Affogato decided to get in his good graces. There was no other reason why someone so full of conceit like Affogato would be acting like a clingy fool.
And yet…
Banoffee turned his head around, his gaze settling on Affogato once more. The latter had such a peculiar smile plastered on his face. It was a cheeky smile Banoffee was most familiar with, but it carried with it a different air than usual. One the dancer really couldn’t recognise.
Banoffee had thought he had figured out Affogato long ago, but he was still as puzzling as ever.
“You can watch.” Banoffee closed his fan and tapped it against his lips. “But do not disturb me.” Affogato's lips curled into a grin and an unknown feeling pooled in Banoffee’s stomach.
“Very well.” Affogato nodded and sat down on a nearby rock that had a somewhat smooth surface. Banoffee steeled his nerves, pushing the feeling away for the time being. He got back into the formation he was in before, listening quietly to the sounds of the forest. Affogato sat silently on the rock, his cat-like eyes watching Banoffee with every move he made.
Banoffee’s focus was impeccable as he began to dance again. His mind was fixated on his dance, carrying out every move flawlessly with perfect rhythm and timing. But for just one second, Banoffee's glance flicked over to Affogato’s face. Holding his head in one hand, Affogato’s cheeky smirk was now soft and gentle. His eyes shone with wonder, but there was a trace of something else hidden deep within those gleaming white depths.
Banoffee’s mind hit a blank.
He quickly realised that he had forgotten the next step and missed his cue. Thinking quickly, he covered up his mistake with a different, improvised dance move. Banoffee continued with his usual dance routine like normal, trying to refocus his mind.
It seemed like Affogato didn't notice the error at all, and just sat quietly pleased on the rock. For a master like Banoffee, making mistakes was unheard of. But his raw talent always allowed him to act quickly and smoothly.
The dance had finally come to a close, but Banoffee wasn’t quite satisfied with his performance, embarrassed by how sluggish he acted. He glanced towards Affogato, who just grinned at him. “Wonderful performance.” He clapped cheerily. Banoffee huffed and opened his fan under his eyes. He muttered a quiet thanks, feeling a lurch in his stomach.
Banoffee had been praised countless of times before, but when it came from Affogato's mouth, something about the words were just different.
The dancer let out a low hiss. “We are done here for today.” Affogato seemed disappointed, like he wanted to protest against it for a moment, but then Banoffee had already turned to head towards his apartments and Affogato followed in silence.
<~>
Banoffee sat down in his sizeable bed, the silky covers draped over his legs. He held his fan in one hand, gazing down at its intricate details.
When he thought back to what had happened earlier today, a tight frown pulled on his lips. His dancing skills were always pristine and refined, his feet said to be blessed by the heavens themselves. How could he, the most seasoned dancer in the kingdom, make such an amateur mistake? His hands were shaky as he gripped his fan.
Banoffee’s face grew sour. Unfortunately, he knew the answer already.
It was him. It had always been him. Even from when he first stepped foot into the citadel, Affogato had always been a hindrance. Banoffee’s charm was perfect, most cookies swaying to his demands as easily as counting to ten. But Affogato was unlike any other, cunning eyes seeing right through the persona that Banoffee had spent so long building.
He was like a cockroach, crawling all over his skin and exceedingly difficult to get rid of. In his head, Banoffee replayed all the debates and squabbles they had.
“Of course, I'm sure everyone loves to be around the king's little pet.”
“You..!”
“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?”
“Don't pretend like I haven't noticed how you look at him with such resentment. Perhaps you are even thinking treacherous thoughts-”
Banoffee had silenced him right there and then. It was an almost horrific thought to think about what more he would have said, how much more he had miraculously dug up from the depths of the dancer’s soul.
His eyes glanced over to the other side of the room, to the bed where Affogato slept. Currently, he lay with his back turned to Banoffee, snoring peacefully. Banoffee watched him silently. How did it ever come to be like this? It was a miracle when they came together to push that first watcher pest out of the picture. Letting Affogato take residence in his home would seem like a horrendous idea to Banoffee one year ago. What changed?
Affogato was an over ambitious fool, plain and simple. He plotted so long to overthrow the king, only to watch his dreams crumble to dust in one day. He had nothing, no power, no allies, not even a crumb of wealth. His life had no logical benefit to Banoffee, and he was just another mouth for the clan leader to feed. Banoffee could kick him out, and it would change nothing. At this very moment, he could grasp Affogato’s neck in his hands while he slept and put him out of his misery already. Like he wanted to do for all these years.
However…had his sleep not been peaceful since he was able to fall asleep to Affogato’s steady breathing from the other side of the room? Had the days not seemed subtly brighter, despite the cloudy climate of the kingdom? Had the gaping wound torn open years ago not been filled with such dewy-eyed sentiments?
Banoffee turned his gaze back to his fan and his trembling hands.
Perhaps Affogato had been right. Perhaps he really was a fool.
He let out a deep sigh and laid his fan down on his bedside table before lowering his head onto his soft pillow. Banoffee gently closed his eyes, hoping that sleep would claim him before these thoughts festered even more.
A while later, Banoffee’s ears caught a stir. He sat up slowly, his head spinning. The room had been consumed by darkness, and Banoffee strained his eyes slightly to see within the darkness. At first, he didn’t notice anything, as the night’s shadow clouded his eyes. However when he peered over to the other side of the room, he saw it.
Affogato’s bed. It was empty.
Banoffee felt himself get tense. It is probably nothing to fuss over, he reassured himself. Affogato had most likely just got up to do his business, and would return soon.
Banoffee’s eyes started to close again. His head found its way back down to his soft pillow. But he could not sleep. A minute passed. Then a few did. Then a few more minutes came and went. Affogato had still not returned.
A restless feeling started itching at Banoffee’s skin. This can mean no good. Tearing the silky bed sheets off of himself, the dancer quickly hurried out of bed. It would be too much of a hassle to change out of his sleeping clothes, so Banoffee just put on an outer robe to keep himself warm.
Banoffee hurried through the halls as quietly as he could. His feet hit the ground in quick little steps, but the haziness of his surroundings made him feel like he was walking on air. He peeked over every corner to see if he could spot a familiar figure among the halls.
Time ticked by. Banoffee felt like he had run circles around the entire house. The restless feeling grew overwhelming in his chest. Somehow his feet had led him to a narrow hallway. Opening the door brought him to the patio, and low and behold there he was…
Affogato was sitting on the pony wall at the edge of the patio with his back turned to Banoffee. He seemed to be staring straight at the inky black sky. Long brown and white locks draped over his shoulders and down his back like a curtain.
Banoffee felt a small fleeting relief wash over him. But caution still lingered in his senses. “Affogato?” He called out in a tense tone.
The exile did not turn over to look at him, only tilting his head slightly to indicate that he heard. Banoffee’s eyes narrowed. “Affogato? What in swan's name are you doing here so late?”
“I was watching the moon.” A whisper, so soft and genuine it almost made Banoffee flinch. It was so different from the Affogato he knew, that Banoffee was really at a loss for words. “This late into the night?” Banoffee mumbled softly. A silence hung over them for a while like a blanket.
“Say Banoffee…which one are you more fond of? The moon or the sun?”
“Pardon?” Banoffee’s eyebrows raised curiously. His mind grappled to understand the intent behind Affogato’s words, but he had no reason not to answer.
Banoffee’s chin lifted as he gazed at the moon’s shining surface. “The sun.” He answered softly. “Its radiance is far greater don't you think?”
His words were met with a few moments of silence. “I see…” Affogato finally spoke, resting his head on his hand. “I have always adored the moon.” Banoffee’s eyes narrowed. What was it with all his cryptic words? The dancer crossed his arms. “Why are you asking me this?”
“I just had a funny thought.” Affogato’s voice suddenly dropped to a low, wistful tone. “The sun and the moon. They are opposites are they not? Well, that is only but what the common people think of them. But have you not noticed? How night comes swiftly after day? Like they follow each other to the ends of the earth, but they could never truly be together.”
Affogato finally turned his head to lay his piercing white gaze on Banoffee. Suddenly at that moment, Banoffee felt a sinking feeling emerge in his stomach. The words of the man before him were cryptic and yet, it was almost like Banoffee’s body could subconsciously read the hidden intent behind them.
“What are you playing at?” Banoffee sputtered, nerves going tense as Affogato stood up and started taking slow steps towards his direction.
Step, step, step. “I am sure you are well aware of what I am playing at, Lord Banoffee.” His voice was silk bounds tightening around Banoffee’s neck. The dancer felt his feet instinctively moving backwords in rhythm with Affogato’s.
Step, step, step. “How could I when you have only spouted meaningless drivel?” Banoffee sputtered venomously as he glared at Affogato. “Meaningless?” Step, step, st-THUD! The clan leader glanced backwards as he felt his back bump up against the wall.
Step, step, step. Turning back to Affogato, Banoffee was a bit struck at how close the exile had gotten. Their noses must have just been a few inches away, Banoffee reckoned. He felt a wrenching feeling overcome him. This snake had him cornered.
Affogato tilted his head slightly, letting his loose hair fall off his shoulders. His eyes were deep pits of white smouldering into Banoffee’s own eyes as he spoke quietly. “Oh, you wound me, little bird.”
“…Wound you?”
“Do you mean to say…” Affogato leaned in closer. “…that you do not even recognise your own feelings for me?”
A silence so quiet that you could hear the wind rustling the leaves fell over the clearing. But inside of Banoffee, a storm was whirling around his head. Are you crazy? Why would you say that? How even- There were thousands of thoughts running through the dancer’s mind but he did not have the strength to speak any of them. Banoffee just quietly stared dumb-struck at Affogato.
Seemingly amused by his silence, Affogato took the slightest step closer - and Banoffee flicked into defensive mode. He brought his hand up to shield himself with his fan- Wait. Banoffee’s eyes widened in horror as he gazed upon his empty hand. His mind flashed to when he layed his fan on his nightstand before his slumber. His lips started to quiver intensely. Had he truly been so caught up in Affogato’s disappearance that he left his fan behind?
Banoffee glanced back at Affogato, who smiled after seeming to come to the same realisation.
Before Banoffee could even muster up a reaction, Affogato’s hand shot up and grabbed at his wrist, ripping it away from his mouth. “You know little bird…” Banoffee’s heart started beating quicker than light itself as Affogato used the pause to slowly inch in closer again. The tips of their noises had to only be a centimetre apart from each other.
“Without your fan-” Affogato’s voice dropped so quiet, but it felt like a pounding drum in Banoffee’s ears. The world itself seemed to tear and fall apart around them, becoming fragmented in Banoffee’s memory. Affogato’s hand. Banoffee’s hair. A gentle tug. A smile. “-you’re such a poor liar.”
A thousand things. There were a thousand things Banoffee could have said. Could have called him a fool, told him to back off, reprimanded him for his insolence. Unfortunately, Banoffee’s was silenced by the gentle press of Affogato’s lips against his own.
It was really like time itself froze. Banoffee stood suspended in place like the cold had frozen him into an icy sculpture. But how could one do anything else when the taste of coffee and ice cream blended together felt so good on his tongue?
Banoffee awoke with a start, lurching over in bed as he tried to steady his breath. He gripped his chest with his hand, feeling how his heart beat and clenched at a quick rhythm. His whole body was burning up like a furnace. Sweat trickled down his forehead, and he used his other hand to wipe the icy beads off.
Was that a dream? The thought came with some relief, but not enough. It still had felt so real, and the thought that Banoffee’s mind would even conjure up something so…so…unsavoury…it was harrowing!
‘No…’ Banoffee thought, scrunching his eyes up as if to block out the world. ‘That was not a dream, but a nightmare.’
Banoffee’s head slowly turned to the side. There neatly put on the nightstand, was his fan.
He picked it up with haste, holding it tightly in his trembling hands. What had gotten into him lately? What magic was Affogato using that was poisoning his mind like this? It had to be magic right..? He would never ever think such thoughts like that normally!
“Do you mean to say…that you do not even recognise your own feelings for me?” Nonsense. It was all nonsense. Utter nonsense.
Banoffee’s thumb rubbed gently over the blades of his fan. He never wanted to let it go ever again.
<~>
The sun shined brighter than it normally would in the icy Dark Cacao Kingdom, but Banoffee’s mood did not brighten at all. In fact, it had gotten worse with every passing second since he awoke. He had barely spoken a word to Affogato since then. Why would he? He always knew that snake was not to be trusted.
Banoffee supposed he should be lucky being quiet was more in his nature, so no one barely suspected a thing. But even so his mind was a whirlwind of flashing thoughts that bounced and crashed around his mind.
His feet guided him to his place of refuge: a tall dark tree that housed quite a few little blue birds. Banoffee’s lips curled into a sweet smile as he reached his hand out and one bird graciously flew towards him to perch on his arm. It was an elegant blue colour that soothed Banoffee’s heart. Birds would never betray him like a person would.
And then all of a sudden, thousands of wings opened and all the birds rushed back towards the tree in a panic, leaving feathers scattered everywhere. Banoffee whipped around, his eyes full of fury at whoever had disturbed such a peaceful moment. And it was exactly who he thought it would be. The one that always disturbed his peace, and would probably continue to do so until one or the other’s unfortunate end.
Affogato slowly stepped towards him, a small smile on his face. “Ah my apologies, am I interrupting something again?”
It was such a casual tone that made Banoffee bristle. He flicked his fan up to cover his mouth, his pale yellow eyes narrowing. “Affogato. I do not remember giving you permission to tread wherever you please.”
Despite the icy tone from Banoffee, Affogato hardly looked bothered. He merely came closer, his smile wavering for only a second. It infuriated Banoffee.
Affogato raised a hand to his heart. “My little bird, you know I do not mean to trespass. I merely wished to-
“Start a conversation? Like you did yesterday when you intruded on my private rehearsal?”
A small bit of surprise flickered in Affogato’s eyes. He tilted his head a little. “You said you hadn’t minded. You said it yourself you don’t mind being watched while dancing, no?” His eyelashes batted innocently.
Disgusting. What a shallow display of innocence. Banoffee’s hands clenched his fan like a lifeline. Without thinking, he suddenly stepped closer to Affogato, grabbing onto his collar and pulling him in, much to the surprise of the other man.
The dancer’s eyes were full of yellow thunder as they glared at Affogato’s wide, pale windows. The wind picked up, causing the snow to dance around them. Banoffee’s voice dropped down to a hiss, dripping with enough venom to kill a cream wolf. “I may not mind you watching me dance, but I certainly will not tolerate you going where you please. You are in debt to me. If it were not for me, you would be rotting in a cold cell. So know your place. You are nothing now.”
And with that, Banoffee let go of Affogato, causing him to almost stumble and fall. Banoffee pushed past Affogato, a sour look in his face.
Affogato however, was startstruck. He slowly turned around and stared at Banoffee’s retreating form, but didn’t have the nerve to say anything, only opening and closing his hand.
Banoffee stopped in his tracks, but did not look back at Affogato. That fool was not worth another look. Heart pounding in his chest, he clutched his fan with shaky hands and he opened his mouth. “Oh and I’m sure you know the fee to witness my dancing is quite costly, and I do not give out free services. So I hope to never see your face at my private rehearsals again.”
Not even sparing Affogato a moment to respond, Banoffee hastily walked away from the scene. He was half-relieved Affogato didn’t follow him at all, only staring at him with an unreadable expression.
But it was better this way wasn’t it? He let that good-for-nothing exile tread over him for so long, let him get under his skin and jeopardise all his plans. He even lied to his sisters just for that…that insolent snake! And now here he was, filling his head with all sorts of ludicrous thoughts.
The less Banoffee talked to him, the better it would be. The less his heart would stop beating so quickly. The less his facade will drop at every slightest jab. The less this god awful feeling would stop eating away at him!
After all, Banoffee had a role to play. The prestigious clan leader should never allow himself to be shaken by such filth. Yes, he was to remain the elegant, calm and cunning man who everyone couldn’t help but be bewitched by. The man with a goal that he could not afford to stop working towards.
That was all he was.
Banoffee stopped in the midst of his garden and looked up at the sky. His face was flushed and his lips quivered non stop, but all that shame was covered by the blades of his silky fan. If he kept his fan up like this always, no one would have to know anything about how he felt, about how his heart raged with turmoil. With this fan, he was but a serene man staring up at the sky in admiration. So perfect, like a painting.
That was all he should be.