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Shadow Milk didn’t like mornings. At the spire it had never been something to even think about. He never slept and the only reason he knew night from day half the time was because of Black Sapphire and Candy Apple, who’d occasionally pop in to remind him of reality. Many cookies would probably find the idea of such an abstract concept of time concerning. He could think of a certain silly lightbringer who would immediately fuss over him if he heard such a thing. But he had never minded. They all seemed to forget he was created so long ago the concept of time was but a suggestion to him, or that his mind might simply work differently when it came to the matter.
Point being, Shadow Milk had never been one for mornings. He found them unnecessary and outright beneath a being such as himself. So he found it shocking when one morning he woke to find that Pure Vanilla was once again going to disregard that thought and indulge himself.
It was warm, like it always was when he woke up in the ancient’s bed. Light streaming through the windows bathing the room in the usual warm glow. He inhaled the scent of vanilla, blinking blearily before stretching with a soft sigh. It wasn’t unusual to wake up not curled up next to Pure Vanilla, him still being an important figure to the vanilla kingdom. But today he should’ve been free from his duties. They had planned to go tour the markets again. More like babysit the ancient while he oohed and ahhed whatever stupid trinkets they had, but whatever. Shadow Milk sat up, rubbing at his eyes as he looked over to the nightstand. No note, strange. It wasn’t like Pure Vanilla to leave without notice. Especially not when he had planned to go somewhere with the beast. Shadow Milk felt a pang in his heart. The ancient was loyal as a dog, he certainly wouldn’t have just left without telling him… right? Shadow Milk bunched the blanket in his hands. Trying to suppress the irrational fear he felt at the thought. Burying his face in the soft fabric, he once again breathed in the familiar hint of vanilla. Once he had enough thought again to be rational, he assured himself. He’s not like that. He’s not the witches, or the beasts, or those stupid faeries. He wouldn’t leave, not like this. So Shadow Milk waited, hands fidgeting and breaths stuttering as he closed his eyes.
When the door finally clicked open a few minutes later his eyes shot open, letting out a sigh of relief when he saw his ancient. Pure Vanilla was holding a tray, with two mugs filled with steaming tea and what seemed to be blueberry bagels. He had done this a few times now, brought him breakfast in bed. But it had usually been used as an unspoken apology for the ancient having to go somewhere. Ah, so he was ditching him. How kind. Shadow Milk's mood soured instantly. He watched Pure Vanilla set the tray down on his nightstand with a glare. only for him to yelp in surprise when the ancient slipped back into bed and wrapped him up in his arms.
“You- you fiend! Unhand me!” Shadow Milk's face burned, the rapid change in moods had left the beast vulnerable and unprepared for sudden affection, so the hug caught him off guard. Pure Vanilla only chuckled softly behind him, running his hands up and down his sides before… before placing a soft kiss to the juncture between his neck and shoulder! The- that beast! He deserved the title more than himself! Shadow Milk's face was bright blue by this point, even the tips of his ears felt hot. Pure Vanilla must have gone mad! To even dare to be this bold, to even think he’d allowed the ancient to indulge himself to the point he thought this acceptable, really! He gave Pure Vanilla an inch and now he was trying to take a mile. Shadow Milk turned, still in the ancients lap, ready to give him the most pissed off look and a harsh reprimand, but the words died in his throat when he saw the look on the ancients face.
Pure Vanilla was smiling like Shadow Milk had just given him the world. Teeth gleaming and eyes bright. He was smiling so wide he looked like an absolutely smitten idiot, but it just added to the effect. Shadow Milk started his sentence then stopped, then tried again. After a few seconds of him floundering at an attempt to glare angrily, he finally gave up and buried his face in Pure Vanilla's shoulder, wrapping his arms around the other. This seemed to make the ancient only happier, evident by the three other kisses Shadow Milk could feel being pressed to his hair before Pure Vanilla finally spoke up.
“Did you sleep well, my dear? You woke sooner than I had expected.” Pure Vanilla ran a hand through his hair again and witches, why did the ancient always have to be so affectionate with him? It made him want to go hide in a dark corner never to be seen again and simultaneously curl up next to him like a content, cherished, cat. If it weren’t for his pride he might’ve even been okay to stay like this, powerless and vulnerable, but so well cared for. Instead of voicing any of those sappy, sickening feelings though, he mumbled a ‘shut up’ into Pure Vanilla’s shoulder. Pure Vanilla just hummed, ruffling his hair.
Pure Vanilla let him stay like that for a while, pressing kisses to his hair just frequently enough that the blush never fully disappeared from his face. Eventually though, a gentle tug on his hair roused him from the pleasant haze he had been slipping into. Shadow Milked whined indignantly, stubbornly refusing to look at the ancient.
“Your tea is getting cold.” Pure Vanilla started, frowning when he still got no response. “Shadow Milk.” he coaxed, tugging gently once again at his hair. Still no response besides a muffled grumble from the beast. “I made you bagels." He tries again, and when Shadow Milk still doesn't respond he adds a soft, "they're blueberry.” Pure Vanilla feels the arms around him tighten, and he lets out a sigh. “You have to eat, Shadow Milk.” His tone darkens to something stern, the underlying care and concern strung through like yarn.
It makes Shadow Milk shiver, even as he mumbles a ‘hiporite’ under his breath. Faintly he hears shuffling around him, but it still comes as a surprise when he's pried from the ancient and a piece of bagel is shoved in his mouth. Shadow Milk tried to protest, but stopped as he found that the bagel was quite nice. The bread was sweeter than he was used to, but it was balanced out by the bitter blueberries. Pure Vanilla smiled when the beast didn’t fuss, handing him his tea and placing another kiss on his forehead.
“Must you do that?” Shadow Milk snapped, even though he knew it probably wouldn’t stop the ancient. As he expected, it of course didn’t.
“Would you like me to stop?” Pure Vanilla asked, in that sweet, almost teasing tone that he must have known got under Shadow Milk's skin. Shadow Milk took a sip of his tea, avoiding his gaze and trying to drown out the chuckle it brought the ancient.
…Beast
◦◦◦
The walk to the market was menial, Pure Vanilla took him through the flower gardens out to a trail that led to the outer edge of the kingdom. From here they plan to work their way back through town square. But for the moment, they've stopped to feed the cream sheep the ancient shepherds. Shadow milk is sitting propped up against one of the tall caramel apple trees, having decided that he did not want to hang around a bunch of smelly sheep and their ram-like caretaker. Shadow Milk giggled at the thought, quite proud of the comparison, he thinks it fits his stubborn yet gentle demeanor. He's taken from his thoughts by a sudden pressure against his legs. He looked down to spot a tiny cream sheep, curled up and resting peacefully in his lap. Shadow Milk blinked, staring down at the little bundle of fuzz on him. The beast scrunched up his nose, picking up the lamb and moving it to the side. Only for the small creature to nuzzle back against him. This left Shadow Milk stunned. Why would the creature do this? He wasn’t the safe beacon of hope that Pure Vanilla was. Hell, he was hardly approachable at all. He knew animals, especially young ones didn’t always have an idea for who was safe and not but still, it was hard to mistake someone like him for someone like the ancient. Shadow Milk stood up, waltzing away to go find another place to wait, but the lamb only followed. After him moving at least three times and the lamb still following him he finally relented. Settling back down against the tree as the lamb trotted after him with a happy bleat. It wasn’t much longer before Pure Vanilla came back from the main flock to find Shadow Milk and the lamb he had noticed missing from the group curled up. Pure Vanilla smiled, walking up to the two. Shadow Milk opened an eye, hearing the tapping of the ancients staff getting closer, and sighed in relief.
“I see you two are quite cozy.” Pure Vanilla cooed, giggling when the beast glared at him.
“This thing wouldn’t leave me alone, really Nilla, get a hold of your beasts.” He hissed. The words were meant to be sharp, but the effect was dulled some by the fact that he was still petting the soft fleece of the lamb as it nuzzled against him.
“Hm, well in any case. I'm glad the little guy didn’t wander too far.” Pure Vanilla crouched down to pick up the lamb, pressing yet another kiss to Shadow Milk's forehead in the process. Shadow Milk blinked, trying to think of an insult to spit at him, but Pure Vanilla had already gone to bring the lamb back to the flock.
◦◦◦
After another fifteen minutes or so, they reach the outskirts of the kingdom. Walking through the streets this time of day is nice. It’s a little later, not so much that it’s dark or the streets are empty but just enough that most of the crowd is dispersed, leaving him and Pure Vanilla to chat about whatever comes to their minds. It’s usually meaningless philosophical banter, but Shadow Milk will never say no to beating the ancient in a battle of wits. During one of his long winded explanations about the fascination of mortals and all their silly ideologies he noticed Pure Vanilla had wandered off. Shadow Milk groaned. This ancient and his obsession with worthless mortal goods. He scanned the streets, eyes landing on Pure Vanilla talking to a kind looking old woman running a jewelry shop. With a annoyed grumble, he turned to follow.
“Nilly~ I thought you promised not to get distracted.” He warned, coming up next to the ancient to look at what had caught his gaze. It was a necklace, beautiful crafted with silver and some sort of deep blue crystal. Shadow Milk tilted his head, giving the ancient a puzzled look. He would give credit where credit was due, the pendant was stunning. He just didn’t think it was Pure Vanillas style.
“I’m sorry my dear, just this one thing, then we can continue.” Pure Vanilla reassured, bringing a hand up to wrap around his shoulder as he talked to the old cookie. Shadow Milk could feel the tips of his ears warm, he just hoped the blush didn’t spread to his face.
With the necklace successfully purchased, they continued on their way. Shadow Milk once again delved into a rant, while Pure Vanilla pointed out the occasional bird that flew past them. It was… domestic. He hardly knew when it had become routine for him to engage in random discussion with the ancient but now that it had he found he quite liked it. Pure Vanilla was still holding onto him, but the hand that had been over his shoulder now lay intertwined with his own. He gave the ancients hand a soft squeeze, just testing the waters. Pure Vanilla squeezed back. He surprisingly didn’t mind. He hadn’t realized where they were going, only that they were walking until they were both seated in the outdoor booth of a cafe, hands still held together. He stared down at their hand, feeling the warmth on his face grow, until finally he couldn’t take it anymore. With a huff, he yanked his arm away, to crossing them over his chest and sitting back with a pout. The chuckle he got in response was becoming awfully familiar he noted as Pure Vanilla handed him a menu.
“Get anything you’d like. I’d give you a recommendation but I haven’t been back here since they updated the menus.” Pure Vanilla squinted down at the fuzzy letters with a thoughtful expression. Shadow Milk cackled at the sight, looking down at his own menu with a smirk. Anything you’d like, huh?
Pure Vanillas face looked utterly horrified when the waiter came back and Shadow Milk ordered practically everything off the menu. But he didn’t stop him, smitten Nilly. Pure Vanilla apologized for him, stating that he was new to the kingdom and therefore wanted to try the food, and that he would leave an extra large tip for the trouble. The waiter promptly responded that it was no big deal and that they were grateful to be able to accommodate such a favored guest of the king, which he knew Pure Vanilla wouldn’t leave at that. He leaned back, sipping on the glass of water he had been given and enjoying the show. After at least five minutes of back and forth between Pure Vanilla and the staff, finally the two were left alone again. Pure Vanilla rubbed at his temple, before shooting the beast a look.
“Did you have to cause a scene, Shadow Milk?” Pure Vanilla asked with a half exasperated, half fond tone. Shadow Milk grinned.
“You promised I could get anything. You wouldn’t go back on your word would you now, Nilly~” He crooned, smirking when he saw the faint gold dusting the ancients face.
“I suppose not, my dear jester.”
◦◦◦
It took some time for all the food to finally come, but they had nothing but time, content to converse and people watch.
“It saddens me sometimes, watching the sun rise and fall, knowing all these lives I protect are finite.” Pure Vanilla spoke up after a few moments of watching others in silence.
“Hm.” Shadow Milk hummed, he couldn’t relate to the feeling, not with his experiences with them, but he would listen.
“Yeah, I knew you’d think it was stupid. Maybe I just care too much.”
“Maybe you do. Or maybe I just care too little.” Shadow Milk regretted the words as soon as he said them. They were too personal, too much him and yet foreign on his tongue. Pure Vanilla looked at him with half pity, half understanding. He didn’t know which one was worse.
“You were built to withstand that kind of pain, they baked you to be numb so you would survive. That’s not your fault.” Shadow Milk felt a hand on his shoulder. He wanted to brush it off, wanted to tell him they built him for it and he still failed. That he cared too much for them but not enough for anyone else. Instead he stayed silent, giving a small nod as his only response. The ancient didn’t push. At least the now awkward silence was soon broken by the food arriving. He didn’t have much for an appetite anymore, but he would still sample everything. And maybe, if it was a particularly good day, he could coax Pure Vanilla to have some as well.
◦◦◦
The sun was setting by the time they finished up, the cool air a little chilly but not yet biting. It was only early fall after all. The two walked in pleasant silence, the only sound being the faint hum of the few others around them and their own breathing as they made their way back to the castle. Shadow Milk could swear he saw Pure Vanilla stealing glances at him, but maybe it was his imagination. When they finally made it back to the castle. Pure Vanilla bundled him up a blanket before heading down to get some more tea. He swears it is an addiction at this point, he just can’t prove it. He's wrapped up in Pure Vanilla's arms when he gets back. And as he slowly drifts off to the warmth of the blankets, the scent of vanilla, and the lovely brush of lips against his forehead. He thinks he might have to reevaluate his opinion of mornings.