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Pure Vanilla Cookie laid comfortably on the grass, the afternoon sunlight hitting his dough and warming it. On a calm day, a day off, he found the simple peace of just relaxing.
No reunions, no discussions, no cookies pulling him left or right, he simply was.
Not to be mistaken, he did love the cookies in the Vanilla Kingdom; he'd do anything if it meant they'd be safe. It was just that, sometimes he felt like he had to give them so much of his attention, that he forgot to have time for himself. Yet, today, at this moment of solitude, in this simple reprieve, he finally rested.
His closed eyes allowed him to focus only on the sensation of the breeze gently rustling the green blades around him, his hands caressing the ground, feeling the life around him.
He smiled. His friends were safe. Everyone was happy. Sated, fed, laughing, just like the dream he held for them.
He had found peace.
He felt the energy shift first. A presence that he knew had just materialized near him. Then, the light was blocked by a shade coming from above him. His smile didn't falter, instead, it grew fond. He knew it was not a threat.
"Hello, Shadow Milk Cookie," he greets gently.
He opens his eyes to find the other floating over him, blocking the sunlight. The cookie had his arms crossed and observed him with a nonchalant expression, before his lips formed the grin that he loved to use to tease him.
"You should know too much sun can hurt you," is the reply Pure Vanilla received.
Amusement glinted in his eyes and he reached out to cradle the other's face gently, feeling him leaning into the touch, although stubbornly maintaining his grin.
It was so cute.
"It is good, then, that you are here to protect me from it." It's a small joke, Shadow Milk scoffed at it.
"I should not have to. You should know this and protect yourself."
"Probably." He let his hand fall back beside his body, closing his eyes once more. The hand patted the grass next to him in invitation. "Although, I was quite enjoying the light of the sun. Still, you are free to join me. If it starts to burn, we can return to the castle together."
He heard a huff, "as if."
Shadow Milk laid next to him anyways.
"What are you doing here, even?" the jester inquired, "I figured you would want to spend your day off with those pesky little friends of yours," the grin in the voice was noticeable, " do not tell me you grew tired of them."
Pure Vanilla sighed again, this time with exasperation, "please do not call my friends that."
He received a hum in response, acknowledging, apologetic.
"And no, I am not tired of them. I love them all dearly."
"But?"
Pure Vanilla opened his eyes and turned his face to Shadow Milk, seeing the other looking at him playfully.
"There is no 'but', Shadow Milk. I simply wanted to enjoy some time for myself. Is that a crime?"
"You're no fun to tease." The blue cookie poked his tongue out, receiving a soft chuckle in return.
Their hands met on the ground, both cookies using this as leverage to touch, one hand enclosing on the other in a gentle hold. Pure Vanilla turned his head forward again, his eyes fixing on the blue sky before they closed again.
"You say you want time for yourself," Shadow Milk Cookie hummed, "but you have yet to ask me to leave."
"I might, if you don't let me enjoy the sun," he quips with no bite at all, keeping his fond smile on his lips.
"Is that the thanks I get for giving you such important information for your own safety?" His free hand went to his chest and he gasped dramatically, "I'm deeply hurt."
"Oh no," Pure Vanilla chuckled once more, affectionately, "the end of the world itself."
"Very! Here I am, caring for you, and you threaten to send me away. And you're laughing! Have you no shame?" He turned his head away, "Such friend you are. Making me regret my choices."
Pure Vanilla laughed at the overtly dramatic display and let go of the other's hand. The action immediately got the attention of the master of deceit, who looked at him as if betrayed. Pure Vanilla raised his back from the floor to hover over him, supporting himself on one elbow against the grassy field, "I love you, Shadow Milk Cookie."
The genuine tone of the truthful one's voice caused the other to blush a deeper blue. Whatever quick reaction he could have had, was blown away from him, leaving him with his mouth slightly agape before he looked away, as his brain finally formed a thought.
"Pssh," he murmured, "of course you do. I'm amazing."
Pure Vanilla reached out to touch the other's cheek once more, caressing it. He received a sigh in response, the blue cookie melting into the warm hand as soon as the crispy dough met his.
The two stay in silence for a bit, just the warmth of the afternoon and them. Just the field and the vision of Shadow Milk Cookie laid on the grass, under him, melting into his caress.
Peace. Love. As they both deserved it.
This position, held for too long, eventually made Pure Vanilla's arm tire. He tried shifting on his elbow, but it was too late. Shadow Milk had already decided that this was no longer a suitable moment, and they needed to change. A little bit of shuffling had Shadow Milk Cookie wrapping his arms around the other, pulling him back down so Pure Vanilla could lay his head on Shadow Milk's chest, under the cream ruffle of the jester's jumpsuit. The position, however, much to Shadow Milk's dismay, forced Pure Vanilla to pry his hand away from his cheek. Instead Pure Vanilla settled his hand next to his face on the other's chest.
They rest again, together. Eyes closed, under the sun and the breeze that blew faintly around them. The grass rustled, the occasional bird in the sky sang.
Shadow Milk's hand cradled the back of Pure Vanilla's head, tangling itself in the golden haircing of his lover. Pure Vanilla hummed in content, snuggling closer to the blue one.
He could hear his heart racing. That was how he knew Shadow Milk loved him. He rarely said it, even now. The words were too precious for him, too vulnerable. Still, Pure Vanilla never doubted them when they were uttered. Never doubted the small gestures of care. Never doubted the big ones, either.
Their Soul Jams hummed in unison. A brush from his hand, gentle, relaxes Shadow Milk even further.
Home. It felt like home.
Pure Vanilla lost himself in time – he was pretty sure that, at some point, he even fell asleep, because when he opened his eyes, the sun was already going down.
"Home?" he murmured gently, burying his face against the chest under him as the star slowly descended the sky, coloring it in orange and lilac hues.
"On the best part of the day? You're insane."
He felt himself being pulled closer and smiled, "something, something, the sun is bad?"
"Well, now it's going to set. It would be a shame to miss this vision."
Pure Vanilla looked up from the jester's chest to see his face, "I might have a better vision right here."
"We both know that's a lie. You're basically blind."
Pure Vanilla's face falls into a deadpan.
"Sorry, not sorry," Shadow Milk grinned.
Pure Vanilla buried his head back down, snorting, "I was being cute."
"I wasn't. I was being funny. You should try it sometime."
"Shadow Milk Cookie," he groaned against the fabric of the jumpsuit.
"What? Did I lie?"
Pure Vanilla laughs. He looks up to look at the sky, taking in the slowly darkening colors, "you're mean."
"You love me," Shadow Milk purred.
"I do, very much," he nodded, hand finding the other's to hold it once more.
"More than your friends?"
"Mmmmm," Pure Vanilla dragged in thought, receiving a gasp from the other, before laughing once more, "I love all of you equally, Shadow Milk."
He propped himself up to kiss the blue cookie's cheek, receiving a 'blegh!' in turn.
"But I do love, love you."
"Oh! Such lies!"
"It is not a lie, Shadow Milk Cookie," Pure Vanilla's hand left the other's to cradle the other's jaw, again, chuckling with amusement as he watched the other poke out his tongue once more, blowing a playful raspberry.
"Pssh." Shadow Milk's eyes met his. This time, his own hand came up to touch Pure Vanilla's face. "You are very touchy today."
"Do you want me to stop?" The truthful cookie hummed, turning his face to press a soft kiss to Shadow Milk Cookie's hand, although his eyes kept focused on Shadow Milk.
He grumbled in reply, "I didn't say that."
A little pull from Shadow Milk Cookie had Pure Vanilla lower his head, pecking the other's lips with sweet gentleness.
Both sighed in content, nuzzled their faces together, arms around the other, secure, protective, loving.
The sun lowered and lowered, soft lilacs, yellows and pastel oranges turning to bright reds and purples, the bright shining star beginning to bid adieu to this day to welcome the shine of the Moon and the little specks of billions of stars across the universe.
"We should have more days like this," to Pure Vanilla's surprise, it is Shadow Milk who offers, grinning, "Same time tomorrow?"
A low laugh bubbled from Pure Vanilla's chest, "Tomorrow we have to visit the Cookie Kingdom. We promised Custard Cookie III that we'd be there to watch the opening ceremony of the new Jewelry Shop."
He receives a loud groan in response, "we? When was we involved?"
"He likes you a lot, Shadow Milk Cookie," he kissed the other's cheek again.
"Oh, you hate me, you hate me so much."
"You don't have to go, but I do."
Shadow Milk rolls his eyes. "No, I have to go. Otherwise, you'll be sad and ruin the whole celebration."
"So nice of you to think of my overwhelming sadness in your absence." He presses one more kiss onto the other's cheek. Shadow Milk turns his face to kiss Pure Vanilla, lips brushing against lips, a soft prayer of love to each other.
There's hidden devotion in Shadow Milk's movements, soft sighs, both hands cradling the other's face, pulling him closer. No words of pretending he didn't care if he was seen could ever be proven by the way he touched Pure Vanilla. There was care, maybe fear of hurting him as he once did.
And Pure Vanilla gladly gave back the care and devotion. Words, touches, actions, time. Pure Vanilla Cookie loved Shadow Milk Cookie. And he knew that Shadow Milk Cookie loved him.
Breath was needed, so they pulled away from each other.
"I love you, too." The words were shy, rusted, whispered. But Pure Vanilla heard them as if they were the loudest in the whole world.
"Home?" Pure Vanilla asked again, with a breathy tone. He longed for warm cuddles in the comfort of their bed.
"Home."