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Truthless Recluse had noticed a change between himself and the Sage. It was only small, almost imperceptible, but undeniable. If the blond had to pinpoint when the change occurred it was probably the day he'd found the Sage crying outside his Spire. The day the recluse remembers, with embarrassing clarity, that he had kissed the Sage. Had such possessive thoughts about the other cookie. The hermit was immensely grateful that the scholar was asleep when it happened. Otherwise he was sure he'd have never heard the end of it. Things had changed though. Making him wonder if the illustrious Sage of Truth had been awake and heard, and felt, everything.
The first change was the most obvious. The Sage would constantly find ways to be in Truthless Recluse's presence. More frequent trips up to the Peak, or days he would drag the recluse down to the village below to see one interesting thing or another. The second was the main reason he had come to this realisation. When Truthless Recluse had come downstairs this morning and taken a good look at his living area, he finally noticed all the changes. The little things showing how much he had grown to accept the Sage's presence in his humble Spire. Books he never recalled owning were piled neatly on a table. The inky blue blanket embroidered with silver threads to look like the night sky that the recluse, on more than one occasion, would drape over the Sage's shoulders when he would fall asleep in the middle of his work. The ostentatiously ornate tea cup sitting in one of his bare cupboards he would never be caught crumbled owning, but knew it was the Sage's favourite. It was so painfully domestic. It made Truthless Recluse feel sick. He was not meant to have domesticity, he was not meant to have softness. He was sharp words and tainted magic. Meant to be alone, solitary, in his self-imposed duty to protect other cookies from the truth. Yet here he was, letting the very embodiment of that virtue, make himself at home in his world. Truthless Recluse took in a shaky breath and let it out slowly. It would be okay. Why was he panicking? He was being over dramatic. No one had managed to reach the top of his Spire. The Sage encroaching in his space wasn't preventing him to do what needed to be done. So what if he was starting to get comfortable? Everything would be fine. At least he desperately tried to convince himself of that.
"Oh Recluse! My dear Recluse, are you awake?" Speaking of said cookie. The joy in the Sage's voice was undeniable. The hermit couldn't help the whisper of a smile that graced his face at the sound. Soon enough the Sage burst through the door. His brightness almost taking the reminder of the blind cookie's limited sight.
"Ah there you are! Perfect timing, we should head out. Come, come, we can't be late!" The Sage began to drag Truthless Recluse before the other had fully registered what was happening. The blond shook the blue cookie off and glared at him.
"Shouldn't you tell me where we're meant to be going first?" The words barely held any bite to them. The scholar's eyes widened as he realised he had skipped a few steps in his own exuberance.
"Oh, yes, yes, right of course! I want you to come see my lecture today."
"Why?" The Sage gave him one of his infuriating smiles. The one that meant he wasn't going to tell the recluse anything.
"You'll know when we get there!" Truthless Recluse was sure this was going to be a long day.
Once they had reached the village square, the Sage dropped the recluse on the fringe of the square. Half shrouded in darkness, it was Truthless Recluse's usual spot to spy on the others lectures. He tried very hard to contain the little flutters in his stomach at the gesture. As the Sage made his preparations happy and excited chatter filled the square. Cookies trying to guess what the lecture of the day would be. One cookie's voice floated over the others. A voice the recluse remembered very well.
"Hey would you look at that! He's back. That weird cookie who haunts the Peak." While the words were supposed to be hushed, the hermit heard them clear as day. He glanced over and his suspicions were confirmed. It was that red haired cookie from before. Still with his group of cronies. It seemed he hadn't learnt his lesson. Truthless Recluse tried to ignore them. While he could give the group another reminder, it would distract from the Sage. He couldn't allow that to happen. The red haired cookie, it seemed, still couldn't keep his mouth shut.
"I told you. He clearly has a thing for the Sage. It's kinda pathetic really." If they thought something that banal could get under his skin, they would be sorely mistaken. He'd heard far worse from others. Their, not so hushed, words had a ripple effect. Other cookies in the crowd were giving him wary glances. Less and less cookies were paying attention to the Sage, who was still setting up his lecture for the day, blissfully unaware of what was happening. The gossip started to hit him like a wave.
"I've seen that strange cookie before…"
"Isn't he the one against the truth?"
"Didn't he once come down and threaten the Sage?"
"Oh yeah, demanded that he stop preaching about the truth."
"Do you think he's here to harm the Sage?"
"Harm him? Have you not heard, he's smitten with him." One of the gossipers made a disgusted sound.
"How could the Sage keep such… unsavoury company." Truthless Recluse glared at the offending red haired cookie. He seemed quite pleased with the gossip mill he'd created. The red haired cookie opened his mouth to speak. His voice a little louder this time, but still under the pretence of a 'hushed' whisper.
"If the Sage is close to such a cookie, are you sure he's really on the side of truth?" So that was their game this time. Trying to ruin the Sage of Truth's reputation. To Truthless Recluse's growing disdain, it seemed to be working. The gossip slowly turning questioning. It made the hermit's chest feel tight. Was his presence really that much of an issue that people would believe this so readily? With a single tap of his staff on the cobblestones, the recluse sent out a pulse of magic towards the red haired cookie. The next time he tried to speak only bleats came out. The noise making others look around. Even the Sage looked up from what he was doing. The red haired cookie glared at Truthless Recluse who only glowered in response, his staff posed to strike again. Next time it would be the full transformation. The cookie's friends dragged him away, but the damage was already done. In fact, the hermit's actions only seemed to condemn he and the Sage even further. The whispers getting harder and harder to drown out.
"Alright, settle down my good cookies. It's time to start today's lecture!" Despite his words, only some of the cookies stopped speaking. The others simply lowered their voices. The Sage seemed to continue as if none of this was bothering him. Perhaps it wasn't, but if the last time was anything to go by, the recluse couldn't be so sure.
The tightness hadn't left Truthless Recluse's chest. He could barely focus on the Sage's lecture. It seemed to be about the magical properties of plants, but the words felt like water slipping through his fingers. Impossible to keep hold of. While most of the whispers had died down once the Sage had started in earnest, every so often a cookie would look, and sneer, in his direction. Was his friendship… or whatever he and the Sage had, really affecting the scholar's audience this much? It hurt. While the recluse had known his existence wasn't exactly tolerated, he hated knowing that it was affecting the Sage. A realisation hit Truthless Recluse like a harsh pulse of magic to the chest. The longer he and the Sage interacted… the worse it would be for the starry haired cookie. The worst part was, the hermit knew why the realisation hurt so much. The rumours might have been started in malice, but that didn't make them a lie. By the Witches… He was in love with the Sage of Truth. His opposite, the one cookie he should have never fallen for.
Flashes of faces raced through Truthless Recluse's mind. All the cookies he'd ever loved in his eternal life. All of them ended up the same way. Dead or, corrupted so deeply, they might as well be. He couldn't let the Sage end up the same way. No. With a firm resolve the hermit made a decision. The kindest thing he could do was to walk away. The Sage would not be tainted by his caustic love. With that singular thought in mind, Truthless Recluse melded with the shadows and vanished from the square. During his spiralling thoughts, he didn't notice the fleeting look of upset on the Sage's face as he disappeared.
It was inevitable that the Sage would come straight to the Peak. Truthless Recluse looked down at the scholar from the window in his room. The sight causing another feeling of tightness his chest. Given how exhausted he looked, the idiot must have raced here the second he was done answering questions. Knowing he'd have to deal with this one way or another, the recluse headed down to meet the other at the door. A harsh knocking awaited the blond as he reached it. He was smart enough to lock it as soon as he returned.
"My dearest Recluse! Would you please open up? Why did you leave so quickly, did something happen?"
"There was a truthseeker approaching. I had to come back to stop them." The lie flew out of his mouth so easily.
"How curious, but I never saw anyone heading that direction." Oh so now he was observant. The blond changed the subject.
"What are you doing here Sage? You need to leave."
"I needed to make sure you were alright, and besides, you left so quickly that I never got the chance to give you my surprise."
"Whatever it is, I don't want it." The words came out fast and harsh. "In fact, I don't want to see you here again."
"Have I… done something to offend you?" There was hurt in the Sage's voice, and an uncertainty that felt so wrong to hear from the other cookie. Truthless Recluse closed his eyes. He had to end this conversation, and quickly. The Sage would eventually find a weak spot in his arguments and use it to his advantage. There was always the option of saying something cruel to make him leave. That thought was abandoned almost as instantly as it appeared. He would never have the stomach to do something like that. There was always one other option. Truthless Recluse created a portal underneath the unsuspecting Sage. Sending him directly back to his home. It was cowardly, but when had the recluse been anything other than a coward?
As soon as the Sage had been teleported away, Truthless Recluse came out of the Spire. With an impressive burst of magic the hermit created a ward around the Peak. It would only keep out one single cookie. He couldn't let the Sage come back here again. As he drew the ward he could feel droplets of something against the dough of his cheeks. It must have started raining. When the hermit looked at the sky, it was perfectly clear. Then what…? As he touched his cheek and it came back wet, he finally understood. For the first time in centuries, Truthless Recluse was crying.
The hermit was a fool to think the Sage would stop trying. It all started again, like most things, with an intruder on the Peak. The recluse met the newest seeker head on. He spoke before the seeker had a chance to do anything.
"Leave this place now. There is nothing profound awaiting you here." The truthseeker seemed… perplexed? That didn't seem right.
"Uhh… I don't know what that means. I'm looking for someone called…" The cookie looked down at a card in his hands. "Truthless Recluse?" The blond blinked. This was definitely nothing like he was expecting.
"That's me," the recluse answered; suddenly very wary.
"I was asked to deliver this to you." The cookie handed Truthless Recluse an ornately decorated box. Without waiting for anything else the cookie began his descent down the Peak. Leaving a very confused hermit in his wake.
Still reeling from the odd encounter, the blond headed inside and placed the box down on a table. The first thing he did was scan the box for any enchantments or magical signatures. Finding none, he deemed it safe enough to open. A small gasp escaped him at seeing the contents. Moving his staff to the crook of his elbow he, delicately, lifted the item out of the box. It was an exquisite replica of a cream sheep made entirely of crystal. The thin beams of sunlight refracting off its form showering the din of his living area in a dazzling array of colours. There was no question who it was from. Only one cookie would be brazen enough to send him a gift, let alone such an elaborate one. Truthless Recluse couldn't help but melt a little. It was so beautiful, so thoughtful. For a single, fleeting, moment the hermit considered opening his heart. He shut that down quickly. No. He was doing this for the Sage's benefit. No matter how sweet the gesture, it wouldn't sway him. In a decisive movement he placed the sheep back into the box and sent said box through a portal. Straight to the Sage's front door. Return to sender.
If only that had been the end of it.
The next few weeks were a true testament to Truthless Recluse's resolve. The crystal sheep had only been the beginning of the onslaught of gifts being sent his way. The hermit wasn't sure what he preferred. His solitude being interrupted by truthseekers, or the constant delivery cookies sending up the next new gift the Sage had decided upon.
Exotic seeds, new books on botany and animal husbandry, trinkets, jewellery, flowers, pastries. Almost any gift you could possibly think of. The most ridiculous, and his begrudging favourite, was definitely a doll of the Sage. When squeezed, it would blurt out silly catchphrases in the blue cookie's voice. Each one was sent back. It was just as much endearing as it was infuriating. When was the insufferable cookie going to finally give in? No matter how hard he tried, Truthless Recluse would not allow himself to be swayed. It was for the Sage's own good.
Truthless Recluse had woken up in a particularly bad mood. The constant disruptions from the deliveries was starting to get to him. When there was yet another knock at his door, he was done being polite.
"Whatever ridiculous thing the Sage has asked you to bring me, send it back." The hermit didn't even bother to look up at the cookie standing there.
"I do hope you haven't been this rude to all my students who've come to deliver my gifts!" All the rebuttals on the tip of the recluse's tongue died at the sound of that voice. He looked up and saw the Sage of Truth in all his ostentatious glory.
"Well, aren't you going to invite me in? I came all this way." After his momentary freeze, Truthless Recluse went to slam the door in the blue cookie's face. He wasn't fast enough. A polished shoe stopped the door.
"Please, my dear Recluse, won't you just give me a moment of your time?" Truthless Recluse glared at the blue cookie.
"How did you manage to get up here?" His ward was supposed to be faultless. At the question the Sage visibly brightened. Delighted to educate the other.
"Oh that, it was actually really quite tricky. Your ward was very clever! I would love to discuss it with you some other time…" Realising he was getting off track the Sage trailed off and cleared his throat.
"While you were distracted with my students I was very slowly picking through your ward. Not unlike a lock! It took me quite a bit of time. You're really quite talented." The Recluse sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He was starting to get a headache.
"Just get straight to the point. Why are you here?" As he spoke he let the other inside. The sooner he heard the other out, the sooner he could get rid of him.
"I'm here to offer you something I should have the last time I was here."
"And would that be?" Oh yes, the recluse did not like where this was going.
"My truth." At his words, with a flourish a piece of parchment appeared in front of the Sage. "Won't You Be Mine?' A poem, by the incredibly talented Sage of Truth." With an over exaggerated readjusting of his monocle, he began to read aloud.
There are many things I am able to deduce,
Except you who came to me from nowhere!
Oh won't you be mine, dear Truthless Recluse?
Your disdain for truth I can excuse
As cookies like you are far too rare
This, is one such thing I am able to deduce
My love for you is so profoundly profuse
Even when you give me that sullen glare
So please, give me yours too, dear Truthless Recluse
I know you cannot be so obtuse
To not see my feelings, my love in the air!
That my dear, is easy to deduce
I know your heart has fallen into disuse
And that you hate all my fanfare
Still, would you be mine, o' Truthless Recluse?
Despite my best efforts you're still so abstruse
But no matter what, I'll love you, I swear!
Of the many things I can deduce
Is your love one of them, my precious Recluse?
As the Sage continued to speak Truthless Recluse could feel his face heat up with every word. This was easily the most romantic thing anyone had ever done for him. Naturally, his self-destruction had to ruin it.
"It's nice to know you're not good at everything." The Sage of Truth placed a hand on his heart. An exaggerated look of hurt on his face.
"I write you a wonderful and heartfelt poem and that's all you have to say to me?" The hermit couldn't look at the scholar. He had no idea how to process his emotions correctly in this situation.
"You know the version of 'excuse' used in the context doesn't rhyme with 'recluse'." Came the defence of his previous statement.
"Do you have any idea how hard it to find words that rhyme with 'recluse'?! Couldn't you have chosen a moniker easier to work with?" If only the Sage knew. 'Recluse' was a far easier word to find rhymes for compared to 'vanilla'. The starry haired cookie shook himself.
"Regardless of all that, you still haven't replied to my confession." The hopeful expression on the Sage's face made the blond feel guilty. While he might return the other's feelings, he had to remind himself of what happened in the square. If the only way to save the Sage's reputation was to steer clear, then that's what he'd do. Sacrifice was nothing new to the recluse. This was his own form of love. Truthless Recluse turned away. The action causing him almost physical pain.
"I don't feel the same way." The hermit forced the words out. Amazed he could keep his tone as cold as it needed to be. "Please leave me alone." The final words a whispered plea. Before he managed to get even a few steps away his arm was grabbed and he was forcibly turned around. The Sage's face more serious than he'd ever seen.
"I don't believe you." The recluse tried to shake him off, but the other held fast.
"Let me go Sage, you can't force me to have feelings for you when I don't."
"Not until you tell me something real. A confession deserves as much." Now the blond was starting to get irritated. Why couldn't he just leave this alone? Leave in heartbreak and never come back. Hate him the way he was supposed to.
"Just because you refuse to agree doesn't mean my denial isn't real." This time he managed to shake the other off. Heading back to the safety of his room in the Spire. Where he could hide under the covers and pretend that this whole exchange was just a bad dream. Pretend that the Sage hadn't just done something that made the long dormant Pure Vanilla's heart swoon.
"What about that kiss you gave me?" Truthless Recluse stilled. So the other had been awake after all. The Sage clearly wasn't done.
"Do you really think I didn't notice what you did for me that day? That my dissenters suddenly disappeared for a few days? That afterwards they never said a bad word about me again?" The hermit's heartbeat was rabbit fast. He really didn't want to have this conversation. Didn't want to have these feelings. It was so much easier when he was completely numb to the world. Truthless Recluse felt the Sage against his back. The blue cookie's hands wrapping around his waist. He wanted to run. The staircase was so close. Only a few steps away, so why wouldn't his feet move?
"As the arbiter of Truth in this world, I will not stop until I get your truth." In the Sage's arms he felt so small. Vulnerable in way the hermit hadn't felt in centuries, possibly longer.
"I-" Truthless Recluse felt as if his throat was closing. Choking on words he was far too afraid to speak.
"I'm waiting," the Sage's breath was hot against the recluse's ear. It was only making things harder.
"You can't love me."
"Unfortunately, that isn't up to you. I'm horribly and irrevocably in love with you. Whether you like it or not." The blond shook his head, dislodging his tall hat.
"I will only hurt you."
"You and I both know I can handle anything you throw at me." The Sage's rebuttal was cheerful. As if he was dealing with one of his usual debates in the square. "Try again." With a steadying breath, Truthless Recluse managed to escape the comfortable cage that was the scholar's hold.
"Being with me will only ruin your reputation." The poisonous truth had finally be uttered. When the Sage hadn't spoken for a few moments the hermit positioned his staff to try and see the expression on the blue cookie's face. To his surprise, and annoyance, it looked as if the other cookie was barely holding in laughter. Truthless Recluse scowled at him.
"Is this funny to you?" He had finally bared himself and this was the reaction he got?
"Is that truly what you're so worried about?" The almost unbridled joy in his voice was infuriating. In one moment to the next the Sage launched himself at the Recluse and bundled him into a hug. The other not expecting it, let out a startled squeak that he would deny until the day he crumbled.
"Oh my dear Recluse, I never knew you cared for me so deeply!" He nuzzled into the other cookie while the hermit tried, in vain, to remove the irritant.
"Would you let go of me!"
"How could I? I'm just so happy, elated, positively jovial! Your concern is all the proof of your feelings that I could ever need!" Accepting his fate, the hermit sighed.
"Why are you not worried about this?" The scholar pulled himself away just to look into the eyes of recluse.
"You think the opinions of ordinary cookies would bother me?"
"They already have." Came the deadpan reply. It was what had started this whole thing after all. The Sage waved his hand dismissively.
"That was about my teaching methods. An entirely different situation! If being with you causes people to trust me less, then I'll just have to prove them wrong! It is my life's mission after all." Speaking of that…
"This won't stop me from preventing cookies from reaching the Peak." That was his own mission in life.
"I wouldn't have it any other way." The Sage's smile softened into something more fond. "So, is there anything else you want to say to me?" There was that infuriating cockiness he knew from the other.
"I…" Truthless Recluse closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them there was a certainty there the Sage had never seen before. "I love you too Sage." The scholar gently tipped the hermit's chin up and sealed the declaration with a kiss. Chaste and sweet. The Sage of Truth pulled away, placing his hand into Truthless Recluse's.
"Come now, my love, we should celebrate! I know a cafe in the village that makes the most exquisite vanilla desserts this side of Earthbread." Before he allowed himself to be carried away, the recluse paused. The Sage looked back at him with an adorable look of confusion.
"My dear, what's wrong?"
"What was your surprise?" The starry haired cookie cocked his head to the side. Still very confused.
"Whatever do you mean?" Truthless Recluse looked away at the question. Trying to hide the colour in his cheeks.
"That day of your lecture, you said you had a surprise for me… What was it?" The dawning look of understanding quickly turned into something more coy. He swept the hermit into an embrace and kissed him once more.
"That, was my surprise. I was going to confess my feelings to you, but you pushed me away." The Sage began to pull him away again. Towards the awaiting desserts. "Now come on! The best desserts sell out quickly, so we should hurry." Truthless Recluse couldn't help the gentle smile on his face. Maybe some truths weren't so bad after all.