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Five Virtues.
Turned into Five Beasts.
Those who had once been deemed as the saviours of the Cookiekind had never been quite the same as normal cookies even in how they were built physically.
The original Souljam wielders had been created with unique traits and instincts, each one being a hybrid of a specific animal.
This peculiar situation was repeated with the next wielders, making them develop their hybrid features when they awakened and further resonated with their souljam.
Pure Vanilla was well aware of all of this.
Though with his beast being a shapeshifter and constantly shifting through many animal disguises, he was never quite sure of the true animal counterpart of Shadow Milk Cookie. He was not one to complain though, what with how he hid his own traits below his massive hat and robe, as well as with magic...
Nevertheless, he had only ever assumed that his other half's counterpart must either be a wolf or a snake.
After all, there was no way that the Beast of Deceit wasn't a predator hybrid, no?
As Shadow Milk slowly got accustomed with living in Vanilla Kingdom and became more tolerant of Pure Vanilla's presence and approach, Pure Vanilla was blessed with his other half more often than not accepting his gestures to get closer or invitations to spend more time together. It felt like they understood each other more and more. Even more so when they started exchanging physical contacts, he was further pleasantly surprised by the beast's descent into being quite the affectionate one.
At first always floating higher than any other cookie, consistently being out of reach, but nowadays he would float at Pure Vanilla's eye height. Accepting Pure Vanilla's hand. Allowing their shoulders to touch. Evolving into persistent contacts, draping himself over the Ancient in one way or another.
Shadow Milk showed more and more clingy tendencies, as if the dam finally broke and the touch-starved beast couldn't help but to soak up Pure Vanilla's warmth as much as he discreetly could. Pure Vanilla knew it to be a sign of trust.
And as their bond kept deepening and vulnerabilities were steadily unfurled, Pure Vanilla noticed strange behaviours from Shadow Milk Cookie.
1. Binky and Circling
Pure Vanilla stood awkwardly, visibly troubled and intrigued as Shadow Milk flew in circles around him, occasionally stopping to look up at Pure Vanilla's expression before he would then smile gleefully and proceed flying in circles again.
Pure Vanilla was not exactly sure what had brought this on. He had just been walking through the hallway when he spotted Shadow Milk who noticed his presence right away as his pointed ears flicked, somehow beaming as he found Pure Vanilla in his eyesight.
And just like that, this had started. The other had immediately zoomed to where Pure Vanilla was, circling him. Sometimes so fast that Pure Vanilla couldn't follow him with his eyes. And sometimes consideringly slow as if the other wanted him to trail his gaze after him.
"My pookie bear!" he would exclaim and then afterwards float farther to somehow fly around near Pure Vanilla in a chaotic manner, zipping here and there while kicking his feet back in the air and laughing.
Pure Vanilla had to hold back the urge to catch Shadow Milk into his arms while he frolicked just like that.
He only waited until the other stopped and acted like nothing had happened, chattering away to the beacon of Light.
Pure Vanilla sighed, deciding to just strike it as Shadow Milk being Shadow Milk.
2. Flopping
Pure Vanilla gulped as Shadow Milk slept with his back pressed against the hero's side, suppressing his movement so as to not disturb such a peaceful―and dangerously adorable―state. Even breathing felt like it might rouse up the other any time and destroy this privilege.
He had been hanging out with Shadow Milk that afternoon at the gazebo, the jester floating by his side as he listened to his stories of how the vanilla cookie's day had gone with an admittedly bored look. Nodding off by the time that Pure Vanilla had reached the part of the stories where the villager kids had bribed Black Raisin Cookie's crews.
It had taken a few moments passing by before suddenly Shadow Milk lowered himself and flopped onto his side to lay down against Pure Vanilla, all eyes closed.
Pure Vanilla's focus had then derailed to gape at his other half and watched him settle comfortably on the flooring just like that, curled and on his side, unbelievably small beneath Pure Vanilla who fretted over him internally.
Shadow Milk yawned widely. Too wide. And stretched his arms.
"Ngh..." Pure Vanilla bit back a whine.
He wanted to pin him down. Trap him. Why?
Shadow Milk perked up at his stifled noise, lazily sitting up and grabbing Pure Vanilla's shoulders.
Pure Vanilla blinked slowly as Shadow Milk then flopped onto Pure Vanilla's lap this time, looking up at the Ancient as he made himself comfortable.
"Then? What happened next?" Shadow Milk tilted his head.
Pure Vanilla nodded stiffly, trying his best to continue while shutting down the deep rumble that resided in his chest.
3. Fussing and Purring
As much as Pure Vanilla enjoyed Shadow Milk's company, his other half had a habit of trying to insert himself into whatever Pure Vanilla was doing, especially when the activity required him to focus. The jester would try to pull his attention no matter what, as if offended that Pure Vanilla would ever prioritize anything else other than him.
When the constant prodding, pulling, and goading didn't work, Shadow Milk would fly down to the ground just to stomp his feet while crossing his arms. The thumping sounds only made Pure Vanilla even more confused as he furrowed his brows and smiled nervously. Shadow Milk would huff, turning away, and Pure Vanilla for the life of him could not figure out how he was supposed to react. It seemed like there was an expected answer to it.
Other times, he would bite Pure Vanilla's hat and throw it away from its place, repeating the action more harshly when Pure Vanilla would grab it and put it back on his head right after it. The more diligently placed it was, the more chance of Shadow Milk throwing a tantrum and yanking it away with his teeth. Pure Vanilla had learned to take off his hat whenever Shadow Milk was around, saving it from its fate of getting chewed on when Shadow Milk didn't deem Pure Vanilla gave him enough attention.
At last, it was mostly calmed down with Shadow Milk just plopping to sit on Pure Vanilla's lap and letting him do his job. It seemed to earn Shadow Milk's approval, even if Pure Vanilla had to wonder if their personal distance with each other was appropriate. It still was much preferable and Pure Vanilla couldn't say that he hated having Shadow Milk protected in his arms.
It brought them ease to be pressed close and then another weird thing would kick in...
Especially when Pure Vanilla would comb through Shadow Milk's hair aimlessly as he read, scratching his scalp and just basically petting the beast.
A subtle clicking sound and tiny vibration would echo. Pure Vanilla would realize that Shadow Milk was softly grinding his teeth together, eyes half-lidded.
"Shadow Milk, are you cold?" Pure Vanilla would ask.
And it would cause Shadow Milk to freeze, halting the soft teeth sounds. He would look terribly flustered somehow, murmuring, "No, it's fine."
And every time, Shadow Milk would retreat to somewhere else after being called out.
He wasn't angry, was he? Pure Vanilla would worry.
He had since then decided to not bring any attention to it whenever Shadow Milk would make those sounds. It hadn't taken long until Pure Vanilla noticed that it only happened whenever Shadow Milk seemed pleasantly out of it, almost too soft and happy. So whatever it was, Pure Vanilla gladly accepted it.
Unbeknownst to himself, Pure Vanilla's throat rumbled with similar sounds, purring in answer to Shadow Milk's contentment.
4. Apology and Kisses
As much as they had grown closer, arguments were not a thing that escaped them. With how different their personalities were, even the ever patient Ancient of Truth couldn't simply let Shadow Milk do anything he wanted. In which the reprimands would then be retorted with much more irritation by the beast. Often making them refrain from talking to each other for some time.
Most often than not, Pure Vanilla would relent first. Because not having Shadow Milk's presence in his every day always felt wrong at this point. Because it made him want to hunt his other half down, tail swaying low. Pure Vanilla would usually relent first with a gracious offer of having tea together with the other.
But if Shadow Milk were to be the one to break the silence first―
Thud.
Pure Vanilla squeezed his eyes closed as he fell backwards when Shadow Milk pounced on him. A groan as his back met grass, peeking his eyes open to Shadow Milk who grasped his shoulders tightly. "Bluebird? What are you―" A question just at the tip of his tongue before he was roughly surprised again.
Shadow Milk licked the bridge of his nose as Pure Vanilla jolted beneath him. The latter widened his eyes as he watched in astonishment for how the other had plastered a serious expression on his face while doing so before soon enough brushing their noses together. Soft at first and then frantic but still gentle as Shadow Milk repeated the motions in a way to convey something.
Pure Vanilla felt his brain fail to process in real-time on what is happening. Shadow Milk glared at him for it. Clearly signaling that the Ancient was supposed to be doing something. A whine escaped from Shadow Milk's throat. Absolutely adorable and so, despite his confusion, Pure Vanilla leisurely copied Shadow Milk's movements, trying to reciprocate whatever Shadow Milk was doing.
It earned him a coo.
"Nilly, Nilly, Nilly―"
Calling out to him.
Shadow Milk gave small―almost affectionate―licks to his face, Shadow Milk's lips tracing whispers on his dough, while Pure Vanilla flushed bright red. He was... happy? He certainly looked so. The small and relentless licks tickled him but he found that he didn't mind as much even if he was sure it crossed the line of them being friends.
And if Pure Vanilla reciprocated even that particular gesture, licking Shadow Milk's cheek, Shadow Milk would laugh and comment on what a beast he was.
Pure Vanilla would just lick him again, liking Shadow Milk's taste on his tongue.
5. Chinning
Pure Vanilla stifled a giggle as Shadow Milk tucked the ancient's head beneath his chin, rubbing it against the crown of his head and unnecessarily tickling the ears on top of Pure Vanilla's head as it flicked involuntarily to the contact. The practically-nuzzling by the chin carried a sort of mission with it and Pure Vanilla couldn't help but detect it, especially as Shadow Milk switched to rub his chin firmly onto Pure Vanilla's shoulder this time.
"What is this you're doing, bluebird?"
This did feel familiar somehow... but nothing seemed to appear right off the top of his head.
Shadow Milk scoffed, shaking his head. "Nuh uh, you don't get to question the Master of Deceit, you silly cookie."
Pure Vanilla hummed, his voice lilting like honey wrapped around his tongue viscously. "What am I supposed to do then, dear?"
Shadow Milk tightened the arms wrapped around the hero, his dark and glowy hair joining to make sure that Pure Vanilla wouldn't escape, clinging to him as a clothing would and curling like snakes on his limbs―Pure Vanilla wanted to run his hands through the strands like always, he had a sneaking suspicion that he had accidentally conditioned himself to do so whenever it would come near, but it could just be that he enjoyed Shadow Milk vibrating happily from his touch.
"Be a good doll and stay still, hm?" Shadow Milk murmured, starting up that soft clicking sounds that Pure Vanilla had started to love so much again as he nuzzled the other fervently.
Pure Vanilla willed himself to relax, leaning back against the other's chest as the beast busied himself with his strange task. The scent of his other half started to become more potent, the milky and sweet-sour note of overripe blueberries enveloped him in its capturing embrace. Making his mouth water as he desired to roll them down his tongue and take it all, his own scent also reached out in turn, wrapping itself around the beast who almost faltered from the heavy vanilla scent but soon melted into it.
"Nilly..." Shadow Milk whispered in a bated breath, hot breath fanning against Pure Vanilla's ear as the jester rubbed his chin back on top of Pure Vanilla's head, murmuring something incoherent against the blonde locks.
Pure Vanilla's tail hit the surface below it with a resounding thump that Shadow Milk did not spare attention to, not noticing the furred tail that peeked out of the long robe, swaying low as it grew in size.
Whatever this was, Pure Vanilla loved that their scents seemed to mingle with each other, stoking a heat with their entanglement.
He really felt like he knew the answer somehow...
What was it?
Pure Vanilla closed his eyes as the opposite scent made its mark on his dough.
+1
Ah.
Pure Vanilla blinked his eyes a few times in disbelief.
So this was what he had missed...
Pure Vanilla stopped at the edge of his bed, finding an anomaly that wasn't there when he had left for the meeting.
Curled up and flopped onto his side like always, the Beast of Deceit slumbered amidst the bundled up and messed sheets around him, pillows strewn haphazardly in a circle. Soft clicking of his teeth grinding pierced the silence wrapped around them in the room.
Just his Deceit counterpart, in an absurdly vulnerable state, on his bed.
Nothing else.
Except for the new features that Pure Vanilla had never seen on him before.
A soft, fluffy, and small tail twitched from under the beast's loungewear, the untouched fur looking positively enticing while, instead of pointed ears, long dark-furred ears flopped down the side of his face as it almost ended up chewed in the other's mouth that kept grinding its teeth. Purring, he realized.
A bundle of prey.
Soft.
Inviting.
A terrifyingly small and so, so alluring bunny.
Then those behaviors that Shadow Milk had shown...
Pure Vanilla felt a smile tugging at his lips without care, slowly climbing up the bed and over the peaceful little thing. The creak being enough of a noise to rouse up Shadow Milk, ears standing up before it went down again when he realized it was only Pure Vanilla right there.
It only further made everything flip upside down inside of Pure Vanilla.
Shadow Milk grunted, arching his back and complaining, "Can't you see that someone needs their beauty sleep?" he yawned with all teeth on display, scrunching up his nose when he noticed that Pure Vanilla was smiling too widely. "And why are you so happy?"
Pure Vanilla tilted his head, his hair falling over his shoulder as he leaned closer to the cookie that he had caged below him with both arms beside his head. "Because I just learned something great."
Shadow Milk quirked a brow, languidly shifting to lay on his back, still barely awake as the purring continued. "What is it?"
Pure Vanilla gently grasped one of the ears that flopped uselessly on the bed when Shadow Milk turned, bringing the tip of the furred ear up to his lips as he placed a chaste kiss on it. He watched in real time as the realization dawned on Shadow Milk's face.
Shadow Milk was horrified to say the least. Curse his instincts and the Witches that made him. How did he even forget to―Argh! Enough!
"Let go," Shadow Milk growled, a honking noise masked behind it as he tried to appear intimidating and bared his sharpened teeth. He pushed the other's chest but no room was given whatsoever. "I need to―" He needed to hide it away.
Pure Vanilla wouldn't let go of the ear, rubbing at the softness as it flinched in his grasp, Shadow Milk whining with irritation. Still, he couldn't just let go. Who knows when he would get another chance to see them not shapeshifted away? "Stay like this at least for now." He made sure to dig his thumb into it just to coax more reactions out of Shadow Milk.
Shadow Milk glared. What was his aim here? "Yeah, yeah, you just have to savor it, huh? The great Beast of Deceit's hybrid counterpart is a little prey animal! What a plot twist! How exciting! Oh fuck you, at least I'm not a dumb puppy!"
Pure Vanilla stared and blinked slowly. Oh? "Puppy?"
"Yeah, you. Silly doggy. Makes sense though with how much you try to lick everyone's feet. Bet your tail is always wagging at every attention," Shadow Milk taunted, a manic grin tugging at his lips.
Yet, Pure Vanilla didn't react like he wanted. He stared in a thoughtful expression that slowly morphed into amusement as the ears on top of his head flicked and stood tall, eyes crinkling softly like a new youth. "Ah, so that's what you thought."
"Huh?"
"It's a fair assumption. I suppose it's also because I'm masking my scent."
"Your... scent?"
Pure Vanilla's pointed and fur-filled ears flicked again as he laughed, Shadow Milk's eyes following the movement. Wait... "I can't be scaring the flock with it after all. It's subdued to the most baseline form. I assume it's quite similar to a dog's."
No... this couldn't be happening...
Shadow Milk already had his eyes blown open, shrinking in on himself as the massive tail underneath Pure Vanilla's robe curled up to touch his side.
Pure Vanilla gave him the brightest grin he had ever seen as his scent grew stronger and carried over an unmistakable essence that had Shadow Milk's instinct going mad with a paralyzing terror.
Wolf.
Pure Vanilla had been a wolf all this time.
Immediate panic triggered as Shadow Milk tried to jump up and run away, making Pure Vanilla press him down firmly, hands on both of Shadow Milk's shoulders.
"Nilla..." Shadow Milk whimpered, shuffling in place as a quiet plea to release him.
Pure Vanilla purred to him, deep rumbling right against his ear, happily watching it twitch helplessly. Such delicacy right under him.
No wonder how he had desperately wanted to chase Shadow Milk down, trapping him within his palm.
"It's okay, bluebird," he assured. "I'm only planning to return your wonderful gesture."
"What are you talking about...." Shadow Milk murmured, trailing off as a squeak crawled out of his mouth when he felt Pure Vanilla nuzzling the crook of his neck. His natural instinct made a deep unease cling to each of Pure Vanilla's actions even as the bunny cursed the shiver that ran through him.
Pure Vanilla's nose brushed Shadow Milk's throat until it reached underneath his chin, kissing the spot gently. "Your scent gland is around here. That's why you kept tucking me under your chin and rubbing on me, right?" he sweetly asked, savoring the more shivers that his other half wheezed through. They were so close to sealing the deal. He couldn't wait. "You were claiming me as yours."
"I..." Shadow Milk's voice was caught, hindered by the nerves in him that were actively being fried, clutching the other's chest, his gaze swimming in fear and an addicting high. His heart rate spiked dangerously. "I want to...."
"You want to make me yours, my dear?" Pure Vanilla purred, tail thumping behind him.
Shadow Milk nodded numbly, he could tell that his flight response was screaming at him but all his other senses were quickly shutting down in favor of drowning in this terrifying scent.
It's still Pure Vanilla Cookie after all. For better or worse, who knows?
The hush in the predator's voice made him freeze completely, mouth parted slightly in an attempt to suck in a deep breath. Pure Vanilla seemed too giddy on where he was. "I'll do the same as you. Don't worry, it will only hurt a little."
Feeling a hot tongue lick a stripe up a column of his throat, Shadow Milk gasped as he realized what Pure Vanilla would do next. Dread gripped his chest and panic shot back into him but there was not enough time to react before sharp teeth dug into his neck, immediately breaking dough in its effort and letting blue jam stain his clothing and the sheet.
Shadow Milk screamed, holding on tightly as his loud voice eventually tapered into whimpers and gasps. A keening noise occasionally left him as Pure Vanilla dug deeper, eagerly leaving a mark that tore into dough and wouldn't so easily be healed perfectly. Was he truly sure that his other half wouldn't just crumble him like this?
"Nill―Ah!―stop... hrnghh―" he hiccuped, tears welling in his eyes. He couldn't bother to not let it travel down his face, sobbing as the pain and scent only overwhelmed his senses on different fronts. He could claw his other half's back and make him into a jam-stricken painting but he was sure that even that wouldn't stop him. His mismatched eyes glazed over as more tears kept obscuring his vision and breathless gasps kept wrecking his lungs.
When Pure Vanilla finally let go of his neck, Shadow Milk made an embarrassing noise that had the other chuckling. Jerk.
Pure Vanilla lapped at the jam that flowed out of the claiming bite, healing it just enough to only stop the bleeding and nothing to fix the ruined dough. "There. Perfect," he proudly announced as he leaned back to capture Shadow Milk's countenance. His tail wagged from what he saw, marveling at the tears like silver jewels that still hadn't stopped.
"Don't cry," Pure Vanilla kissed the pretty tears away, licking the salty liquid. Please cry more.
Shadow Milk screwed his eyes closed as a weak snarl was all that he could afford, wheezing from the tender affection that contrasted the throbbing ache on his neck. "Y-You brute..."
"Mmh, but finally you're mine." Pure Vanilla purred loudly, almost vibrating in place as he pecked Shadow Milk's parted lips a few times in a row, not stopping as the bunny hybrid sighed petulantly.
Shadow Milk tried to answer with his own purr, even when strained from the instinct to still be afraid of the wolf hybrid. But Pure Vanilla didn't seem to mind, purring and wagging his tail harder.
Wrapping his arms around Pure Vanilla Cookie, Shadow Milk giggled, brushing their noses together. "You're wagging your tail like a dumb puppy after all."
The glint in the predator's eyes made Shadow Milk question whether this was a good idea.
"Only for you, bluebird," Pure Vanilla replied smoothly. His gaze seemed to hold a myriad of things.
Yep, he was going to be devoured, sooner or later.
Shadow Milk closed his eyes, accepting his fate.
At least it would be him and no one else.