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The nameless hermit drags their feet against the floor as they exit the bathroom, gripping their abdomen with a whimper. They should've eaten today, but all they did was sleep, and that was the best they could ever do these days.
After a timeline mixup and a memory scramble, the Truthless Recluse had ended up in a different place. It resembled the old kingdom they used to run but happier and brighter and oh so significantly warmer, really different from the Spire. They weren't too big of a fan when it came to the heat in summer, usually residing in the Peak of Truth on hotter days and refusing to budge from their spot. The Peak adored Recluse, so it made sure to keep them at least comfortable with the climate up there.
They weren't at the peak, though, so no escaping the heat this time.
The Vanilla Kingdom was always warm, being in the sky and close to the sun and all. There were cooling spells thrown around all over the place but it doesn't really make it less bareable. Liveable, but not bareable, for them at least. The heat was making the hermit feel worse, not just because they wore baggy all black clothing so their wardrobe had to make slight adjustments, no, it was something just far worse and flat out annoying...
Seasonal depression..
Summer was supposed to be the time when you are happy and winter is when you're supposed to be sad!! So why do they get the inverse?? What a load of bull it was. Why couldn't their mind follow such basic rules that were in place for everyone? This just sucked, it all sucked, no sugar coating it.
They were blessed enough to at least have enough energy to shower since it seemed as soon as they learned what it was like to be clean for the first time in, they wanna say, eons, they could never go back.
Being able to shower doesn't mean anything was better for them, not at all. Sleeping for hours on end in the day, not sleeping at all at night, forgetting meals, doing nothing but laying in bed all day... eugh. This sucks.
Truthless Recluse slowly sits down on the edge of the bed, knees popping slight which causes them to hiss. They felt awful, utterly awful, no better word to describe it. They wanted to fizzle away already, but they force themself to stay around.
Why?
Well.. because of the cookie sitting next to them with care.
Pure Vanilla Cookie, the hermit's reversed self from this timeline. The two mirrored each other despite a few slight differences, as well as the two overall being the exact same cookie. Well, not exact, Recluse was shorter, skinnier, sun-deprived, frail, weaker, overall worse looking than the other. The Souljam wielder of Truth from this timeline was the biggest ray of sunshine that the other has ever met, and they thought Sage was the bigger ray before they met this beautiful man.
However, unlike that sporadic truth-marrying freak Sage, Pure Vanilla actually took time to understand cookies, which is something the hermit has been deprived of for so long. You see, everything they said was held up for debat, even the gentle lies he would slip to someone when they needed hope. Instead of jumping to conclusions, the Beacon of Truth sat and listened, gently coaxing the other out of their shell. The first time Truthless Recluse properly cried in far too long was when Pure Vanilla had brought them iced tea instead of the regular kettle warmed tea the other always drank. It was the first time someone had listened to their preferences and they sobbed for hours.
They were so happy to be here in this timeline, nowhere else. It's a shock Sage hadn't gone timeline jumping yet. Then again they were still practicing.
No time to think of Sage when the literal man of your dreams is sitting right next to you.
"How was your shower, sweet love?" Pure Vanilla spoke gently, as soft as silk and as smoothe as honey. Oh how they shutter from the comforting warmth that washes over them.
"Mhm." Truthless Recluse nods with a hum. Witches, they could just fall asleep like this, but they stay awake.
"I apologize deeply for all my business lately." He gebtly pets their hair. "I wish to take care of you first but when duties call, they call in advance. I hope this night and the following day make all this up to you, my dear."
The beautiful man had promised to finish up his work early and take the day off tomorrow to spend time with Recluse, which already got their heart racing as is, but he also wanted to spend the night with them? The nameless hermit?? Spend the night??? With the Beacon of Truth???? No way that's true.
Ever since Recluse fell into this timeline, it was very obvious that they had a crush on Pure Vanilla, judging by the jumpiness and overwhelming blush that covered their face whenever they were around him. And Pure Vanilla could tell too. So, as the days went by, the Ancient Hero gently slipped in little praises and pet names towards the other to see if they stick the landing, of which they all did. After the pet names came the hand brushes. After that was the longer embraces. Then the kisses. Cycle repeating until what the two have now.
Oh how Recluse loved Pure Vanilla so, and how Pure Vanilla loved Recluse so. They felt like two pieces in a puzzle that connect. They don't want to ever let the other one go.
"It's okay.." They state simply, rubbing their tired eyes with a crackled yawn. "You're here now.. that's all I want."
With a fond chuckle, Pure Vanilla gently coaxes Recluse to lay down on the cooling silk sheets, to which the hermit lets out a sigh of relief. He gently places a hand on their stomach, letting a bit of soothing healing magic leave his fingertips.
"Stomach still hurting, my raven?" He asks gently and patiently. "I promise you a wonderful breakfast tomorrow to get that horribly empty stomach of yours full and happy again. Don't want you to be in pain like this."
"I'm used to it... but it still hurts." Their voice wasn't as confident as his, this place being the only one that helped them just start to speak up once more. Before that, it was a few words a month or, if cookies were lucky, a week. No one wanted to truthfully and earnestly listen to them until Pure Vanilla. Again, dream man.
"I'll make sure that stomach never hurts again." He leans down and presses a kiss to their forehead. "Or, as much as I can. Getting sick is a curtail part of living, you need to at least get sick a few times to be healthy. How else will your body know how to keep you safe?" Casual info bumper he was about health.
Truthless Recluse lets out gentle giggles. "I am aware.." Pure Vanilla giggles back, placing one last kiss to their forehead before lying beside them.
Pure Vanilla's chambers were so different compared to Recluse's. It was so big and so soft. All the colors were gentle creams and yellows, some blues as accents. It made them feel like a princess to be sleeping here in this beautiful room in a big castle with the love of their life right next to them. There was even a nice big balcony that the two always shared tea at. Wonderful place...
The Ancient gently guides the blankets over the fallen one. Thick, heavy quilts cascade around and cover both of them. Recluse could just melt here. Pure Vanilla gently guides Truthless Recluse into his arms, their head placed under his chin.
To which, they let out a happy squeeing noise as they let their face sink further into his chest, causing him to chuckle quite heartily.
"I adore it when you make that noise, sweet love! You're so cute." He pats their back before running it up and down in slow, soothing motions.
"Mmm.. You're kind to a truthless hermit like me.."
"I just want you to be aware that you are worth every little bit of my time, sweetheart. You are the most loveable cookie, I can not resist you." Pure Vanilla places soft kisses into their hair, slowly slipping his hand under their night shirt and rubbing picking up again, this time sticking mostly to circles. This causes the hermit to shutter before relaxing. "You're so sweet and full of love, you deserve all the love you can get. My sweet love mmmmm I love you." He speaks into the other's hair. "You just needed someone to help you out of your shell, and I will help over and over again."
Truthless Recluse grips onto the back of the other's night gown, nuzzling their face into his neck and taking in that sweet, warm vanilla scent that always calmed their mind. To bask in this glory is one to behold. If they could drown in it, they would.
Pure Vanilla whispers gentle praises to the other, just wanting them to feel appreciated and loved. The rubs shift into soothing scratches, well trimmed nails running against tender dough that may scratch an itch the other can not reach.
"Mmm.." Recluse hums in comfort, shifting slightly in his arms, lifting their head from his neck to look at him eye to eye. "I don't understand.. but i don't want you to leave.."
"I won't."
"But.. everyone leaves."
"I'm not a quitter." Pure Vanilla leans in, gently capturing Recluse in a kiss. Both sets of heterochromic eyes close, leaning in a little deeper. The pair holds each other close, lips moving slowly but calculated with each other. The first time they kissed, the truthless hermit was fumbling the whole time, leaving the truth-teller to help them warm up and learn. Now, they were almost a natural, but he was always better. They disconnect, slowly catching their breath. "Let us go to sleep, sweetheart. I will take care of everything in the morning." He places one last kiss to their forehead, leaning their head against his shoulder once more.
Truthless Recluse lets their heavy eyelids fall closed after a few moments, listening to Pure Vanilla as he hummed a soothing melody. There was nothing else except the two of them in the moment, alone, with each other.
That's all they needed.
Recluse's breathing evens out, caught in a deep slumber. Their dreams run with fields and cream sheep, Pure Vanilla holding their hand all the way.