Chapter Text
Prince Choco Caramel Drizzle paced impatiently in his room.
Pure Starberry was due any minute now.
Okay, well, actually it would be several hours before she would arrive, but he was too nervous to think about that small detail.
He wasn't even sure why he was so nervous. It wasn't as if the prince didn't have his share of friends and good company. He was well liked by almost everyone. And he’d known Pure Starberry for over a decade now. Her trips were a part of his yearly schedule.
But none of that stopped his heart from leaping into his throat every time someone walked too close to his door or a shadow passed over his window.
After hours of pacing, Prince Choco Caramel was calm enough to sit down and just stare out the window, as if he could will the Beast-Yeast airship into getting here faster.
His stomach was in knots.
Why was it in knots?
It was just Pure Starberry.
Oh, and his grandfather and the other ancient Heroes that had saved Earthbread from being razed to the ground by Beasts.
…
And Pure Starberry.
Prince Choco Caramel groaned and let his head hang limply between his shoulders.
When had this even started??
…
He knew when it had started, he just hadn't thought it would…persist.
It had been a few years ago, on his eighteenth birthday, his parents had very delicately let him know that some of the Dark Cacaoan tribes had written letters expressing interest in offering their own noble children to him for marriage. Prince Choco Caramel had reacted with all the grace and poise he’d been taught his whole life —
Which was to say he’d locked himself into his room and hyperventilated himself into a panicking spiral and wondered if perhaps his father had stashed away any cursed artifacts that might get him out of this predicament.
His mother had reassured him that he didn't need to answer any of them, but to just be aware that since he was of age more people would be trying to ‘get’ at him. And his father had promised him that the decision for if and when he wanted to marry would be up to him and no one else.
The Heroes of Earthbread had arrived a week later, providing a decent distraction as that meant playing host to them. And to Pure Starberry.
She was two years younger than him, full of energy and almost always smiling. The Prince had been relieved to see his old friend and had (subconsciously at the time) personally escorted her through the spring festival. He kept their arms linked, let her pull him this way and that, watched what made her smile —
Her smile…
Prince Choco Caramel sighed.
Pure Starberry had a smile that made his heart pitter-patter like a caged snow sugar hare.
But after she’d left with the Heroes his parents had received many upset letters. People had seen the prince and young Virtuous Hero arm-in-arm smiling and laughing too much together.
To Prince Choco Caramel, it was his escape. He could avoid the topic of marriage altogether with anyone in the kingdom if he pretended to be interested in Pure Starberry…
The problem was, he very quickly realized he was interested in Pure Starberry.
She was so kind and caring. Not to mention sharp as a whip and — at times — mischievous. He loved her smile and her laugh. Her dough reminded him of the sky on a beautiful day, and her golden eyes were always full of warmth and curiosity. Her hair, which he’d felt a few times whenever he’d tucked choco shoot hairpins behind her ear in jest, was softer than his finest silk robes and he could’ve carded his fingers through her hair forever. He missed her terribly when she was gone, and he ached for her in the gaps between her letters. He’d gone as far as to save every letter from her in his desk drawer and reread each one whenever his longing had grown to an insatiable degree.
She’d gone from the little girl he saw two days out of the whole year, to a friend he looked forward to seeing, and now…now he missed her for every second she was not in his kingdom.
When she was not with him.
When she’d skipped her father’s trip last year, the Prince felt his whole world shatter. He hadn't realized just how far he’d fallen until after the Heroes left.
But this year — this year Pure Starberry promised she was coming.
And his dough was practically vibrating in anticipation.
The sun had set and the sky had turned purple, then grey, then black before the lights on the landing pad lit up.
Prince Choco Caramel grabbed his spare cloak, spring or not, nighttime still got below freezing and Pure Starberry was likely to be cold, and tried not to run outside.
His parents were already waiting by the landing pad, eager to see Dark Cacao and the other heroes.
“What are you still doing up?” His father asked, but his mother just laid a hand on his arm and smiled.
“Just…eager to help.” He answered, grateful the bitter winds hid his blush.
The airship emerged silently from the fog over the Licorice Sea, turned, and very gently landed.
Dark Cacao was first off the airship after it had been secured to the landing pad.
The king embraced his father, each relieved to see each other still in one piece. Then the Hero embraced his daughter-in-law and grandson.
The other Heroes all filed off, offering their greeting and thanks for letting them all stay.
Prince Choco Caramel’s heart was beating in his ears as Pure Vanilla escorted his sleepy daughter off the gangplank.
He practically ran over and immediately draped his cloak around her.
“Oh, hello, Prince Choco Caramel.” Pure Vanilla smiled at him.
“Hello, sir. We’re happy to see you’ve made it here safe.” He at least remembered his manners.
Pure Starberry sighed and leaned against him, “H-how’d you kn-know we’d be c-c-cold?”
Prince Choco Caramel tried hard to remain composed, “It’s always cold here, lady Starberry.” He started walking her back towards the citadel while Pure Vanilla greeted his parents.
“Would you like something warm to drink? I could have the servants bring you some hot cocoa or tea?” Prince Choco Caramel’s dough burned where she leaned against him.
He might as well have just wrapped her in his cloak and not even bothered with his spare.
Pure Starberry shook her head and yawned, “N-no. I just need some sleep.” She reassured him. She continued to shiver as they walked through the darkened halls of the citadel.
“Of course.” Prince Choco Caramel walked her to her room. “Here's where you and your father will be staying.” He turned to face her.
Pure Starberry smiled up at him, “Thank you for the cloak.” She blinked tiredly and leaned against him with a sigh. “I missed you.” She said quietly.
Prince Choco Caramel’s eyes widened. Slowly, he rested his head on top of hers, “I missed you too, my Star.”
His dough tightened as her thin arms wrapped around him and her hands dug into his shoulder blades. She inhaled deeply and nuzzled his chest.
Prince Choco Caramel swallowed, his throat and mouth dry, “Star?” He carefully wrapped his arms around her, as if she were a fragile sugarglass statue.
She leaned back and looked up at him.
Prince Choco Caramel felt frozen in place as she reached up to cup his face. Her thumb ran over his lower lip and it took an incredible amount of self-control to not lean down and kiss her.
His face burned.
Where did that thought come from?!
Pure Starberry stood on her tip toes, her sleepy gaze flickering from his eyes down to his lips. “You're too far away.” She whispered.
Prince Choco Caramel blinked, “I -I’m right here?” He whispered back, confused. Her thumb was still resting on his bottom lip.
She frowned, “No…you’re not.” She pulled her hands back and rested them on his chest.
He was sure she could feel how fast his heart was beating.
Prince Choco Caramel was confused. Perhaps Pure Starberry was just tired. “I think you should go to bed.” As much as he wanted to just hold her, he could hear the Heroes making their way to their rooms.
Pure Starberry just hummed.
Prince Choco Caramel pulled himself away just in time as Pure Vanilla came around the corner.
“There you are, sweetie.” He smiled at them.
“She’s very tired.” Prince Choco Caramel chuckled trying to look as if he hadn't just been in a tight embrace with the Hero’s daughter.
Pure Vanilla wrapped his arm around Pure Starberry, “Come, my hearth, let’s go to bed.”
Pure Starberry kept her eyes on Prince Choco Caramel as her father led her inside the room.
It wasn't until the door was closed that he let go of the breath he’d been holding.
What was that about??
Prince Choco Caramel leaned back against the wall and laid a hand to his chest. His heart was going crazy out of control. He took a shaky breath, then pushed himself off the wall and returned to his room.
Pure Starberry was here, he could relax. He could get through the next two days and not make a fool of himself.
He stared at the ceiling above his bed, fingers pressed lightly to his lips. They were still tingling from when she’d touched him.
Why had she done that?
Prince Choco Caramel shook his head. He was being ridiculous.
He could do this.
He could go to bed and get through tomorrow without making his crush on Pure Starberry so obvious.
Prince Choco Caramel sat up, his heart in his throat.
This was going to be a long two days.
He inhaled and set his resolve. He could do this.
He could do this.
He could do this!
…
So, remind him, why did he wake up at the crack of dawn again?
Pure Starberry smiled as she looked out over his kingdom.
Right…
Because she’d asked to see the festival lights with him.
“We could have seen this later today.” Prince Choco Caramel wrapped his cloak around her, tucking the Virtuous Hero under his arm.
“But the sunrise makes it prettier.” Pure Starberry whispered.
Prince Choco Caramel agreed, but he wasn't looking at the lights.
Pure Starberry laid her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist. Prince Choco Caramel swallowed the lump in his throat.
“Aren't you cold?” He asked.
She was still in her nightgown, but she at least remembered to bring shoes and slip those on.
Pure Starberry shook her head, “Not at all.” But she shivered and stepped closer to him. He tightened his grip around her shoulders.
For a moment, they were silent.
Everything was covered in a blanket of silence.
Pure Starberry felt heavier in his arms and he looked down at her curiously. Her eyelids were drooping and she struggled to stay awake.
He smiled, “Ready to go back to bed?” He asked.
Pure Starberry blinked and frowned, “Choco Caramel?” She looked up at him.
“Yes?” He looked at her as if she was the only other cookie in the world. To him, there was no other cookie in the world.
“I’m sad.” She answered plainly.
Choco Caramel blinked in shock, “Sad?” He reached up with his free hand to brush her blue bangs back from her face. She gently grabbed his hand before he could pull it away.
“Why are you sad?” He whispered.
Pure Starberry’s eyes shimmer with unshed tears and her nose blushed a dark blue, accentuating her silver freckles, “Because you're so far away.”
This again.
“Star,” He intertwined their fingers together, “I’m right here.”
He didn't understand…
Pure Starberry’s lower lip trembled and she shook her head, “No…” she brought her other hand up between them and rested it on his shoulder. “You'll always be too far away.” Was all she said and she tugged him down towards her.
Prince Choco Caramel wasn't sure what he’d been expecting when he’d gotten out of bed this morning, but a kiss was well worth how tired he’d be later.
Pure Starberry’s lips were softer than he’d ever imagined. She was sweet and tart and spicy, it was a flavor he would’ve never conjured up, even in his wildest dreams.
Before he could return her kiss, however, she was already pulling away. His heart was ringing in his ears.
Did that just happen?
Prince Choco Caramel had only ever dreamed of being this close to Pure Starberry. And she'd just kissed him!
Pure Starberry’s breath hung in the air between them. She looked up at him expectantly.
Prince Choco Caramel wrapped his arms tightly around her, his hands feeling every curve of her back and her waist through her thin nightgown as he pressed her body close to his and leaned down to kiss her in return.
His mind was void of anything that wasn't the beautiful cookie in his arms. Pure Starberry’s hands balled into fists, gripping him tightly and tilting her head ever so slightly to the side to deepen the kiss. Prince Choco Caramel’s knees went weak and he stumbled forward, pressing her back into the great wall.
Pure Starberry gasped into their kiss and Prince Choco Caramel took the opportunity to lick her plump bottom lip. She let out a small whine that sent heat through his dough from the top of his head to the tips of his toes.
He wanted — he needed to be closer to her. His hands gripped her waist, tugging Pure Starberry until she was flush against him, pressed tightly between him and the wall. She couldn't seem to figure out what to do with her hands, alternating between pressing her palms up against his chest, and curling her fingers up into the hair at the nape of his neck.
Needing oxygen, Prince Choco Caramel pulled back and rested his forehead against hers.
“I,” he panted, “am right here.” He reassured her again.
Pure Starberry still looked sad.
“I will always be here.” He whispered, leaning down to nuzzle his nose against hers.
She closed her eyes with a mournful sigh, “That’s just it.” She whispered back.
“Star, I…I don't understand.” Prince Choco Caramel wished he could understand.
Being the daughter of The Fount of Wisdom and The Light of Truth, she always seemed to dance five feet ahead of him in conversations. But, if he could understand, then he could reassure her, comfort her, give her some kind of answer.
“You will always be here.” Pure Starberry wasn't looking at him, she was looking at where her hands were resting on his chest, “And I will always be with my people on Beast Yeast.”
Prince Choco Caramel’s brow furrowed.
Pure Starberry’s breath hitched as she suppressed a small cry, “And that means we can never have each other…”
Pure Choco Caramel’s eyes widened as he finally realized what she meant.
His duty was to his kingdom. His family. His people.
Her duty was to her realm. Her family. Her people.
Neither would ever give that up, not even for someone they loved.
Pure Starberry’s face blushed dark blue as she tucked herself against him. “You're too far away.” Her voice cracked.
He understood now.
And he hugged her back tightly, scared it might be the last time.
“Then, let me hold you for now.” He mumbled, resting his head on the crown of her head.
They only had a couple of hours before they had to be up, but the Prince snuck the Virtuous Hero into his room. His bed was plenty big enough for both of them to have their own space, but now that he had her in his arms, Prince Choco Caramel didn’t want to let Pure Starberry go.
They laid in a tangle of limbs under several fur blankets.
For a long time, they just stared at each other, subtly shifting to get more comfortable and closer.
Prince Choco Caramel cupped her face in his hands, feeling how cold she still was, and brushed his thumbs over her cheeks. “Star?” Her golden eyes bore into his, “May I kiss you again?” His eyes trailed down to her lips, crumbling to feel them again.
She answered by wrapping her arms tightly around his shoulders and pulling him forward.
Her lips fit perfectly around his.
Prince Choco Caramel sighed into the kiss, melting against her as his hands lowered to wrap around her waist.
He’d had a number of guilty pleasure dreams of Pure Starberry for the past few years that didn’t live up to the real thing. She was softer, warmer, and kinder than anything his imagination might’ve conjured up.
And she was real.
She was here, in his bed, and kissing him.
He tilted his head, deepening the kiss as he carefully rolled her onto her back and followed to cage her within his arms. Her hands found his arms, squeezing the muscles he’d spent the better part of the past decade cultivating. He held himself above her, not wanting to crush her under his weight.
When they broke for oxygen, she let out a breathy giggle, “I am not fragile. You will not break me.”
“I,” Prince Choco Caramel blushed. He swallowed hard, his saliva thick, “I am just trying to be respectful of —,”
Pure Starberry cut him off with another kiss. Prince Choco Caramel was fine with being silenced if it was by her lips.
When she pulled back, she whispered, “I think we’re past being respectful.”
Prince Choco Caramel’s eyes widened and his face burned hotter than the smoldering embers in his fireplace.
She had a point, as usual.
Respectful Prince Choco Caramel would have just escorted Pure Starberry back to her room, no matter how much he wanted to kiss her and hold her and touch her.
Respectful Prince Choco Caramel wouldn’t have given in to his daydreams and guilty pleasures to kiss her.
Respectful Prince Choco Caramel wouldn’t have testingly dug his fingers into her waist where he knew she was ticklish just so she’d gasp and arch her body into his.
But she was right, as usual, so when her body fell back on the bed again, Prince Choco Caramel pressed his body down against hers and placed a cautious kiss on her neck.
Pure Starberry inhaled and curled her nails into his arms. His dough tingled as he let go of her neck and she ran her hands down his arms.
“Wh-why’d you stop?” Pure Starberry’s voice was barely louder than her heavy breath.
Prince Choco Caramel squeezed his eyes shut and turned to bury his face in her neck, “We’re going to ruin each other…aren’t we?” He asked.
She was quiet for a while, her hands absentmindedly stroking his arms. “We can stop if you’re scared.” She said softly.
Prince Choco Caramel sat back and looked down at her. In all the times he dreamt of Pure Starberry being in his bed, he’d never imagine it’d break his heart so much.
Her cheeks and neck were flushed dark blue, her golden eyes wide with concern, and long blonde hair around her like a halo. She pushed herself up onto her elbows, “Prince?”
“I am not scared.” He managed to force the words out of his throat. His face burned, “I’m terrified.”
Pure Starberry looked him up and down, concerned.
“I’m terrified this is goodbye forever.” He admitted quietly.
Her mouth, with a protest on her tongue, closed.
Without meaning to, he blurted out, “I love you.”
Slowly, Pure Starberry began to shake her head, “No…”
“Star —,”
“No, no, you can’t.” She sat up and wrapped her arms around herself. She looked up at him incredulously, “You can’t because you have your duties here and I have mine at home.”
“We could try. We could make it work.” He wasn’t sure how, but Pure Starberry was smart, surely she could figure something out. “You could work here, live here,” He scooted forward and pulled her hands free to clasp them within his, “with me.”
“And just leave my family?” Pure Starberry asked, shocked he’d ever suggest such a thing.
“Star…”
“Would you leave your family? Your kingdom? Your people…for me?” She asked, her brows furrowing.
Prince Choco Caramel was quiet.
No.
He wouldn’t…
Not even for Pure Starberry.
He felt sick to his stomach.
Pure Starberry pulled her hands back from his and turned to get out of bed, “I have spent the better part of the past year trying to think of a solution.” She pushed herself up and wrapped her arms around herself to keep herself warm, “And…there is no solution.”
“We could travel back and forth, just as our toys have done.” Prince Choco Caramel stood up and stepped up behind her, “We could…we could simply visit each other more often —,”
“You’ve never even been to the Realm of Knowledge.” Pure Starberry scoffed.
“But I would, if it meant getting to have you.” Prince Choco Caramel wrapped his arms around her from behind. “Please…Star…I…” He buried his face in her hair, “I can’t lose you…”
Pure Starberry sniffled, “This will be my last visit to Crispia for the foreseeable future…Mama’s going to teach me Dark Moon Magic…he finally thinks I could handle some basics.”
Prince Choco Caramel’s ears were ringing. He tightened his grip on Pure Starberry, scared if he let go he’d collapse.
Or worse.
She’d leave.
“Stay.” He whispered.
Pure Starberry turned and looked up at him, “Let’s just…make the most of what time we have left.”
It was a goodbye.
And Prince Choco Caramel Drizzle’s heart broke.
He, somehow, convinced her to lay back down with him. He peppered her cheeks and nose and forehead with kisses, whispering his pleas for her to stay in between each one.
Occasionally, she would tilt her head and catch his lips with hers, and he would tighten his hold on her waist.
If this was goodbye, he wanted her to stay beside him for the next two days. However, when he woke up an hour and a half later to his servant coming in to wake him, Prince Choco Caramel found himself miserably alone.