Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Stepping through an endless blanket of stars and hundreds of blinking blue eyes, Pure Vanilla Cookie looked around at his soul's abyss of regret—the Dark Side of the Moon. He squinted at the swirling golden suns burning in the sky, staring at them for a moment curiously. 

Those are new, he thought, trying to focus his eyes on them but he couldn't seem to. They remained blurry, shifty, and difficult to pin down.

The hum of a soft voice behind him shifted his attention. He went towards it, his movements slow and heavy, sluggish almost, following what was unmistakably the voice of the light of truth.

"You called for me?" Pure Vanilla asked into the void.

"Be wary, Harold of Truth," it warned, more a feeling than an actual voice. "For Deceit draweth near."

As the words faded, he could sense it: the moment an intruding and familiar presence entered the realm. Pivoting, he turned to see him appear—Shadow Milk Cookie—now floating in the air above him.

"Hee hee hee! You thought you could escape me?" the blue cookie cried out, face splitting with a sinister grin as he threw both arms out dramatically. "I did say we'd see each other again, didn't I, Vanilly?"

"You..." he murmured, trying to remember where he was in the real world, "when did you enter my mind? When did I..."

"Puzzling, isn't it?" he teased, lazily circling him. "And yet, not surprising at all. You know why I'm here."

"I... don't understand."

"It's simple really. Same old drill, only we're cutting out the long middle section. There won't be any delays this time—no offering you a place in my home, taking you under my wing, teaching you everything I know only for you to use it against me." He got into Pure Vanilla's face, baring his teeth. "No, no, no. We're not doing that again. This is just your basic cease-and-desist operation, except it's more I seize your Soul Jam and you become deceased afterwards. Ha! See what I did there..." 

Pure Vanilla's mind was muddled, unclear, and hazy as he tried to remember what he'd been doing before this. Shouldn't he know such a thing? How was he just... here without explanation? 

His eyes traced distractedly over the long billowing blue locks of Shadow Milk's hair while he tried puzzling it out. 

Was his hair always that long? he thought absentmindedly, then he realized the locks were ten times their usual length. The hair swirled and swished in the air all around them, flaring out and blending into the starry realm like dark clouds.

Then it hit him.

Shadow Milk's hair, the strange suns in the distance, the fact he could look down at himself in this realm when all the times before he couldn't... 

If his hypothesis was correct, then there was only one definitive way to be certain of it. 

Pure Vanilla grabbed the front of himself, and Shadow Milk blinked strangely at the action. Feeling a bulge there, he got his confirmation.

Ah, he thought calmly, mind easing. I'm dreaming. I must have finally dozed off. 

He sighed in relief. The Dark Side of the Moon shifted in response, changing into a grassy field shaded by regular stars.

"What's this?" Shadow Milk demanded, appearing by his side, looking around furiously. "Excuse me? The location was perfect already! Hello? Let's get back to the part where you were afraid—" 

"I thought you were truly here for a moment," Pure Vanilla interrupted calmly, not fazed by Shadow Milk as he walked over the cool green lawn. "It makes sense. I never stop thinking of you." He stopped, then turned to look at him. "I know it doesn't matter, but I miss you. I know I shouldn't, but I do." He paused, releasing a soft sigh. "Had you accepted my friendship, we could've been..." His words trailed off as his eyes idled over to the moon in the distance.

Floating on his back, arms over his head, Shadow Milk looked over Pure Vanilla with a quirked brow. "What's that? You miss me?" His tone was nonchalant, but there was keen interest in his mismatched blue eyes.

By the power of dream logic, Pure Vanilla was all of a sudden there under a tall tree, holding Shadow Milk's hand, the two standing close, facing one another. The blue cookie blinked around himself then down at their hands in shock. "What the—"

"Of course, I miss you," Pure Vanilla said calmly. "You're my other half. I... belong to you." 

Shadow Milk's eyes widened as he was pulled forward, and a tawny brown hand rested on his blue cheek. "I want you more than anything," he added in a whisper. "Perhaps... it's okay for me to indulge here, just this once, while I can." 

Shadow Milk stared at him in disbelief. He attempted to snatch his hand back as Pure Vanilla leaned in. "What are you—" he demanded but was silenced as soon as their lips met.

Grabbing his waist, Pure Vanilla pulled him closer, kissing him deeply. Without using his hands, the white and golden robe slid off his shoulders on its own, disappearing with the rest of his clothes into the void.

"Woah there—mm—Pal!" Shadow Milk managed between kisses. "A tad fast—mwa—don't you thi—"

Long fingers tangled in the expansive blue hair, Pure Vanilla kissing him harder, and Shadow Milk's clothes began melting away as well.

There was a muffled sound of protest, then he pushed on Vanilla's chest, pulling their lips apart. "N-now, h-h-hold on..."

"What's the matter, my darling?" Pure Vanilla whispered, searching his face. "Give into it. I have. Nothing here is real. You're not real, so let me indulge." He traced a hand over the bare blue chest, and Shadow Milk exhaled a little sound, his face turning a deep shade of blue. "All your usual bluster..." Pure Vanilla teased, grinning at the reaction. "Where's all your confidence now, Shadow Milk Cookie?" 

The blue eyes simply searched his face in shocked reply, and Pure Vanilla considered them for a moment, something about it not feeling quite right. Seeing the hesitancy there in Shadow Milk's face, his stomach dropped. He looked downward, first at his lips, then down further at his naked form. 

"Perhaps even in my dreams I know you can never be mine," Pure Vanilla's next words floated dejectedly all around them, his mouth not moving. "You think I don't deserve you—that my form is... unfit. You think yourself better than me, because of your manhood." 

Shadow Milk made a bewildered sound. "Wh-what?" 

Resting a hand on the blue hip, the blue and gold eyes trailed over him shamelessly. "I've always wanted a body like yours—your voice too—ever since I was little. But who am I kidding..."

The dream world shifted again. 

They were now on a bed that seemed to stretch on forever, Shadow Milk pressed into the sheets with Pure Vanilla crouched over him, long sheets of fair hair pouring down on either side of Shadow Milk's face. They were still both completely naked, their faces inches apart.

"I know you only like men," Pure Vanilla said, the words still not coming from his lips. "I saw it in your memories a while ago, in the tower. And me... Well, I know it's foolish. Why would someone like you want me? My feminine voice and girlish form, not to mention how we last parted ways..." 

He sighed, one hand curling in Shadow Milk's hair, the blue cookie staring up at him in stupefaction. 

"How I wish for you to touch me, really touch me, in a way that I know you see me for who I truly am. What I'd give for that, oh, and for you to be the one to do it..." 

Stroking a finger over the blue jawline, his eyes traced over the trembling face. "Beautiful," he said aloud, and Shadow Milk's eyes flared in surprise. "Always beautiful."

Shadow Milk Cookie did not move, and the sight of it made Pure Vanilla's chest heave in frustration. "Why won't you touch me?" Taking the stilled blue hand from the sheets, Vanilla brought it to his lips. "Please... I want you to. Take me." He brought the hand down, lowering it onto himself, forcing the trembling fingers around his throbbing cock. "Touch me."

Shadow Milk's lips parted, a small gasp leaving them.

"Yes! That's it," Pure Vanilla whispered, bringing their lips together again. "Give in. Don't be shy. Ah!" He gripped Shadow Milk's hand tighter around himself, pulling away to look down at the spectacle. "So that's what it must feel like. Oh, I can imagine it. The feel of it, the length of it, yes. The sensation of your hand all around it..."

Something twisted in Shadow Milk's blushing face. "Okay, that's it!" he cried, yanking his hand back indignantly, looking up at Pure Vanilla in pure disbelief. Wiggling out from under him, he pushed the blond off him. "T-this was a terrible idea! I'm... I'm leaving! I don't care. I... I didn't sign up for this. Whatever! I'm outta here!"

The blue cookie swirled and shifted, melting into the sheets until he was nothing but a pool of blue and black goop. Pure Vanilla stared at it in shock, then the bed began melting as well, the peaceful moonlit scenery bleeding like a painting that'd just been doused with a bucket of water. 

He began hurtling down into a swirling spiral in the ground, falling endlessly as the blur of shapes and colors devoured him.

Pure Vanilla Cookie woke up in a sweat.

He sat up quickly, looking around, his breaths coming in and out heavily. 

Then his eyes widened.

Throwing the covers off him, he reached down his pants and clamped a hand over his penis, only... Only, there was nothing to grab—the same vulva he'd had since birth meeting his fingers. 

Blinking down at it, his heart hallowed itself out. Sinking into the depths of the cavern it'd just created, his chest pooled with the agony of reality.

Putting his face in his hands, he wept. 

Chapter Text

Pure Vanilla lay on his back on a small blanket in a bed of yellow flowers. The sky was orange, the sun sinking behind the horizon, and the relieving shade he'd been laying under was now nothing more than cold, encroaching darkness.

Not that he was bothered by it. He didn't even notice as his eyes trailed over the complex text of an archaic scroll gripped in his hands.

The edges were tattered, the paper worn and near crumbling. 

It was a record written on the day Shadow Milk Cookie had angered the witches; the day he'd been stripped of his title as the Fount of Knowledge. Pure Vanilla had found it in the ruins of the Spire of Shadows, barely intact, the bottom half ripped off. 

That memory of Shadow Milk chained up and scared was constantly resurfacing in his mind. He needed to learn more about it, about Shadow Milk's past, and this document seemed to be the key. He was sure of it.

Taking a deep breath, he exhaled, focusing on the foreign language. 

Most of the text had already been translated, replaced with glowing words he understood written in golden ink. His eyes lit up with yellow light, and the remaining text began translating itself letter by letter. It was exhausting work, but he was so close to finally deciphering it. Just a little more...

The last word turned gold, and Pure Vanilla sat up quickly. 

Carelessly brushing his petal-filled, tangled hair out of his face, his eyes fell over the page. 

"...Fount of Knowledge," he muttered aloud to himself after a silent minute of reading. "Punished, captured and tortured for... something... Tormented for a hundred years before his escape..." He put a hand to his mouth. The script went on to describe in detail the horrifying acts performed on Shadow Milk to ensure retribution, to ensure he never disobeyed again. Everything from physical to psychological torture that went on without end for an entire century. Pure Vanilla couldn't continue reading.

It seemed too harsh, too cruel, even for everything Shadow Milk had done. He couldn't imagine why anyone would deserve to be resigned to such a fate. 

"You must have been in so much pain..." he whispered, scrolling up the ancient paper. 

No wonder Shadow Milk was so filled with rage and hate towards Cookie Kind, so erratic, so slow to trust... It didn't define who he was though.

Pure Vanilla had seen good in him, small glimpses of it in the tower. 

Perhaps... perhaps if he understood more about where Shadow Milk was coming from, he could turn him back to the path of light, show him that he didn't need to be alone, that he was safe with Pure Vanilla...

He remembered the dream from the night before. 

He doesn't want your help. He doesn't want you. 

Closing his eyes for a moment, he exhaled a trembling breath. "It's okay," he muttered. "I... I don't need you to want me. I love who I am, who I've become."

He glanced down at himself then his face fell, and he was forced to look away. 

"At least everyone uses my pronouns." 

Saying it out loud, he couldn't shake the feeling that they only did it out of politeness, that none of them actually viewed him as anything more than a pretender. Perhaps, because he was so ancient and powerful, no one questioned it, but deep down, the way they truly felt... 

Stop.

He shook his head as if the action would get rid of the thoughts. 

It doesn't matter what they thin—

There was a noise, a rustle. Pure Vanilla started, a soft gasp escaping his mouth. 

Whipping his torso around, he stared wide-eyed but didn't spot anything right away. Heterochromatic orbs scoured the dark trees and bushes, and he became very aware of how dark it'd become.

The sun was completely set. The blue-black shadows all around him blurred his line of sight, engulfing him. Standing, he grabbed his staff and lit up the area. Lifting it high in the air, the shining golden light flooded the darkness, exposing the dense vegetation. 

Inspecting everything closely, he searched and searched, but ultimately detected nothing, and his shoulders finally relaxed. 

He breathed out a wary sigh. Time for bed.

Gathering up his things, he promptly left the once sunny, welcoming-turned-eerie-grove.

Pure Vanilla felt more at ease now he was in his warm, candlelit house.

In his kitchen, he made himself a cup of lavender tea before heading up a winding staircase to his room.

Not soon after, he was shedding his robe, lighting all the candles in his vast, elaborately decorated bedroom, doing so with just a flick of his wrist. 

He was in his windowsill now. Wearing only his sleeveless, high-necked undershirt, his little white shorts, and his full-length fingerless white gloves, he gazed out the window as he sipped his tea. It had begun raining and the water slid down the glass panes, nothing visible beyond it. The atmosphere was cozy, comforting.

His thoughts drifted. The lavender brought a sense of calm and tranquility as his eyes closed. He set the delicate teacup to the side, breathing out and resting his head back against the sill. The pitter patter of rain seemed to run right through him as he slowly sifted through the events of the day, letting it all decompress. 

The setting sun and his studies, then before that, lunch by himself and a long walk through the fields, tending to his sheep. He couldn't remember his breakfast, but he did remember his non-waking, restless night before.

An image came to mind. Dream Shadow Milk's bare blue body and flustered, blushing face.

Pure Vanilla's eyes opened.  

It flooded in at once, completely against his will. He tried not to, tried to push it away, but the entire scene from that night played out like a movie in his head. The trembling lips against his own, the deep flush, the way Shadow Milk's body had felt against his own... Just thinking about it overwhelmed him with complicated feelings, amongst them being something hot and burning, nearly feral.

An idea popped into his head. A truly unbecoming one; one that made his body react in a way that felt like a betrayal.

Trying to resist, to reject it, there was a debate in his head, and he swiftly lost it.

Sitting on his knees on the large four-poster bed with the see-through lace curtains drawn around it, Pure Vanilla hesitated before removing his shorts.

In his left hand, he held a most lewd item indeed, one he'd been secretly gifted for his birthday by White Lilly Cookie of all cookies, who had explained, "I thought it might help you feel more like yourself. A man needs quality time now and again, after all! I had it specially made to accommodate your ahem needs."

It was a very thoughtful, admittedly awkward gift. White Lily had always been the most supportive of his coming out. It almost made the gift less inappropriate than it objectively was. Not that he was really complaining now...

Placing the large fake member over his mound, he strapped it in place around his waist. Secured, he pushed in a button on the side of it, letting the vibrating thing get to work. Inhaling quickly, he pressed another button and liquid leaked out of the tip. Rubbing his thumb over the end, he coated the edges. 

Well and truly lathered, he pumped the entire thing while the base of the toy tremored over his clitoris. It was the closest he'd ever get to the real deal, and it was actually the best gift he'd ever received in his entire life now that he was thinking about it, now that the pressure was building in his base and spreading up in jolts of excitement up his spine.

"Ah! Oh yes..." he muttered, soft exhales of pleasure leaving his mouth. 

Home alone, he didn't feel the need to hold back, his breaths of contentment sounding throughout the high-ceilinged room. He arched his back at a particularly good pulse, his other hand going back and grasping the bed's backboard behind him.

It'd been some time since he'd engaged in such activity, and it was only now that he realized how much he'd needed it. The vibration was leaving him melting into the toy, blush spreading over his face in hot, euphoric waves, all the while he was thinking of Shadow Milk's naked, trembling form, the blue hand grasped over Vanilla's very real and erect, leaking arousal.

As the toy continued building pressure, Pure Vanilla became more and more delirious, getting ever closer, his thoughts straight in the gutter, when a thought—or what felt like a thought—brushed over his consciousness like a shiver. 

Naughty Nilly... pleasuring yourself all alone? 

His hand halted, his eyes opening. 

Looking around the room quickly, he stopped the vibration on the toy. He didn't move, his hand frozen over the fake penis. Had he imagined it? 

No silly, you didn't imagine it!

With a yelp, he unstrapped himself, ripping the thing off him in one motion, standing quickly and nearly tripping as he became temporarily tangled in the lace curtains. Stumbling out of the bind, he grabbed a pillow, stuffing it over his bottom half with both hands. 

"W-who... What..." he stammered, unable to make complete sentences. 

A chuckle filled the space. "Who?" the voice repeated, no longer in his head but somewhere in the room with him. "Oh, you know who, Pure Vanilla."

Squinting at the drapes covering one of his windows, he narrowed in on the voice's location and began inching towards it. Lifting one trembling hand, his staff was summoned to his grasp. "Show yourself!" he shouted, pointing it out defensively in front of him. "You're here for the Soul Jam, I presume?"

"Well... I suppose I should be." 

Creeping up to the window, Pure Vanilla ripped the curtain aside. Only thing was, it was empty. He blinked at it, then turned around only to gasp loudly.

Shadow Milk Cookie was there, not hesitating as he took Pure Vanilla's staff holding wrist and pinned him back against the wall.

Too shocked, too vulnerable to properly react or defend himself, Pure Vanilla simply looked up at him in terror, his heart thundering in his chest as his other hand still held the pillow securely over the front of himself.

Shadow Milk held him there, leering over him. A grin crawled over his face. "I could take your Soul Jam right here and now, but I think I'll hold off on all that for tonight."

His whole body was shaking now. "You... When did you—"

Shadow Milk made a little humorous sound. "You made quite the move on me last night for you to be so terrified now. Now you know how I felt."

"Wh-what? Last night? I... We have not seen each other since the tower." 

"Hm?" He cocked his head to the side, then a truly evil grin split his face. "You really thought it was just a dream? Nilly, I was there."

Chapter Text

Pure Vanilla froze solid.

"Quite the dream really," Shadow Milk continued when he received no reply. "You took my clothes, caressed my naked body, made me touch your dream dick..."

He felt the blood drain from his face as he shrunk back into the wall with each word. "You... y-you...."

"Were there?" Shadow Milk finished, smirking. "Now you're getting it."

"N-no. No, no, no. I— It was a dream." His chest heaved, his body trembling more than ever. "I didn't. You weren't— I didn't mean to— Oh Maker..."

"Now, now," he soothed. "No need to freak out." Stepping closer into Pure Vanilla's space, he spoke inches from his face. "It's not like you saw the real me naked or touched me in real life, or should I say, made me touch you."

A flash of shame jolted through him like icy lightning, forcing him to look away. "I... You're right. I'm sorry. I didn't know it was really you. I-It wasn't real. I wasn't real. It was fake. Everything was fake." He physically turned his head away from him, resigning himself to humiliation. "Please... let me get dressed, and we can come to some kind of compromise, we'll discuss the Soul Jam and—"

"The Soul Jam?" he interrupted. "Darling, I told you already. I won't come after the Soul Jam tonight. That's for another day."

He looked up at him quickly. "What?"

That dastardly grin was back on his face. "I'm here for you."

Pure Vanilla stared.

Considering him for a moment, Shadow Milk let go of his wrist and turned from him, walking away.

"Wh-what do you mean, for me?" Pure Vanilla asked, then his face dropped. "W-wait, what are you—"

He watched in disarray as Shadow Milk began unbuttoning and shedding his clothes. The jester garments fell to the ground, and Pure Vanilla looked away with a gasp as soon as his eyes met a bare blue ass. He covered his face with his free hand, the other still on the pillow over his junk.

"What are you doing?" he shouted, and there was a low snicker.

"What, now you're horrified? Imagine what I was thinking when you got naked in front of me and began forcing yourself on me."

"That... that was a dream!"

There was the slow pitter patter of bare feet on tile as Shadow Milk approached him again. Pure Vanilla pinched his eyes shut, knowing frontal nudity was now directly in front of him.

"You're saying there was no truth to it? I heard your thoughts, Pure Vanilla Cookie, your feelings. How much you want me, and yearn for me." His voice was teasing, almost mocking. "The way you wish we could just be 'friends,' though what kind of friend does and says the things you did last night, is beyond me... The point stands. Nilly..." His voice dropped. "You made me touch you, wanted me to pleasure you not just as a lover, but as a man."

Pure Vanilla's chest seized up, stomach dropping. "I-I..." he stammered, horrified that this cookie had heard and seen his deepest, most guarded thoughts and fantasies; his greatest insecurity. Had Shadow Milk come all this way just to degrade him for what'd happened in the dream? The realization broke him. "Laugh all you want," he added in barely over whisper.

"Hm?" Shadow Milk hummed curiously.

"You've humiliated me enough already. No point in rubbing salt in the wound. I... I know you only like men. Real men. You don't need to injure me like this any longer."

"What?" He actually sounded surprised.

"You've had your fun, now please... just go." He dropped his staff to the ground with a clang. "I won't go after you. We can meet on the battlefield or whatever it is you want tomorrow, just..." A tear slid down his face without his permission. "Just let me retain some of my dignity..."

There was silence, then Pure Vanilla flinched as soon as a hand touched his face, the thumb wiping the tear.

Opening his eyes in surprise, he turned his head back to the blue cookie.

Shadow Milk stood before him, and to his confusion, what looked like compassion was in the mismatched blue eyes. "Don't say that about yourself," he said gently, in a voice that sounded completely foreign to Shadow Milk's character. "You are a real man, Pure Vanilla Cookie."

He blinked. "Wh-what?"

"Hmmm, I believe you've misunderstood me." Stepping back, Shadow Milk put hands on his hips, pushing his pelvis out slightly as he posed, and Pure Vanilla's eyes darted away quickly before he could see anything. "Look at me," he commanded, and Pure Vanilla made a little sound of distress.

"I'm not going to look at you, Shadow Milk!" he cried. "Y-you're naked!"

He exhaled a laugh. "You make no sense... Come on, Look at me."

There was dead silence, and neither cookie moved.

Hesitating, Pure Vanilla let his eyes waver, then quickly dart over at Shadow Milk for a split second then away again, then he blinked, and took a better look. His face went blank, and suddenly he was staring. "It's... you have..."

"You know, a cunt doesn't have to only be a woman's organ. I find it as manly as can be."

He couldn't stop staring. "But... but I thought..."

Shadow Milk giggled. "Oh, sweet naive Nilly. Do you know how many shapes I've taken over my lifetime? Male, female, and otherwise... All these forms, and I'm still just as much a man as those born solely as one. Even in my most feminine shapes, I'm still me. And as for you..."—he got closer, hand gripping one side of the privacy pillow gently—"Won't you show me your manhood?"

Pure Vanilla was speechless—frozen yet face bursting with heat. "Y-you mean my... my..."

"Does it look like mine?" he asked, and Pure Vanilla knew it was a baiting question since Shadow Milk had surely already seen the whole thing earlier when Pure Vanilla had blissfully ignorantly been on his bed.

He glanced away, unable to take it. "W-w-well... It's... it's not hairless... like y-yours..."

"Oh?" Shadow Milk questioned. "Well, perhaps you'd be more comfortable if I..." He took Pure Vanilla's limp, free hand and moved it.

His heart stopped when his fingers met soft little curled hairs. Looking up, he saw his hand tangled in swirls of white now on the front of Shadow Milk's vulva.

He stuttered again, this time his words completely incoherent.

"What's that?" Shadow Milk asked playfully. "You don't like it?"

Finding his voice, he said quickly, "N-no, I do. I-I do."

A giggle of delight rang out. "You're not saying wedding vows, Vanilly. Relaaax." He pulled lightly on the pillow's corner, and Pure Vanilla's grip on it slackened despite everything, despite the insanity of it all. "I just want to worship your perfect form in the sheets, no strings attached. You're willing to lend them, aren't you? The sheets, I mean. I'm afraid it'll get terribly messy..."

His brain short circuited. "Wh-what'll get messy?" The pillow dropped to the ground.

"The sex, of course."

"S-se...se..."

He tilted his head to the side. "Oh, Pure Vanilla... Where's all your confidence now?" He pressed both hands onto either side of him against the wall. Their crotches touched, Shadow Milk's thighs and chest up against his own... "Unlike you," he muttered, lingering just out of reach of his lips, "I'm going to ask before I kiss you. You will say, yes, won't you?"

Pure Vanilla searched his face.

This close, he could feel Shadow Milk's breath on his face. The scent was oddly intoxicating, inviting, tantalizing... He wasn't sure exactly what finally did him in, but he lifted his chin slightly and closed his eyes, giving in.

Chapter Text

The kiss was gentle at first, yet claiming.

Shadow Milk's scent was truly intoxicating, otherworldly, making Pure Vanilla's head swim as he lost a sense of reality once a tongue flicked at his bottom lip before sliding into his mouth. His hands quickly went to the blue chest, tracing over the masculine pecks, then sliding down over his ass, grabbing and caressing shamelessly while the tongue plunged down his throat.

With a yelp he was lifted into the air, carried from under the thighs and taken to the bed. The lace curtains were ripped aside as Pure Vanilla was thrown down onto the mattress. The wind was knocked out of him and that mouth was on his again. Hands began pulling up on the skin-tight white top he was still wearing.

In a second it came off, and Pure Vanilla was left in nothing but his full length, fingerless white gloves. His hands immediately came up to cover his chest, and Shadow Milk gripped him by the wrists.

"Don't hide your scars, darling," he whispered, leaning down to his ear before biting it. "I think they're so beautiful."

He hesitated, then allowed Shadow Milk to pull his hands away from himself while his ear was licked and nipped at. "You're beautiful," the jester added. "Oh, I can't stand it."

Shadow Milk's thumb grazed over one of two long scars that traced along the bottom of Pure Vanilla's pecks, ending at his Soul Jam, and the blond inhaled quickly. "Y-you... don't... mean that..." he managed, gripping the top of the bare blue thighs that straddled him.

"Oh, but I do." 

Their lips met again, and a hand ghosted down to tawny brown thighs, then tugged at one until Pure Vanilla spread both willingly, without resistance, without thought.

Shadow Milk pulled their lips apart. "That's a good boy," he cooed, and Pure Vanilla felt the other's mouth curve into a smile against his lips. "Now then..." a single finger drew inward from the thigh, stroking a teasing line over Pure Vanilla's outermost labia and the most indecent sound yet ripped from his throat. "May I?"

Pure Vanilla made a pathetic little sound in reply, then exhaled a frantic, "Y-yes. Yes—ah!"

A second finger was added, the two tracing gently around the rim, mapping out the edges of his entire vulva.

"Such lovely lips," Shadow Milk crooned. "Perhaps they'd like to meet... mine." As their eyes met, Shadow Milk licked a long tongue over blue lips, and Pure Vanilla stared.

"You mean... you want to... with your mouth...?"

"It'll feel so good, Nilly," he insisted. "Trust me. I know exactly what places to tease and lick."

"O-oh..." He inhaled a shaky breath as the fingers made a slow circle that slowly moved inward, poking briefly inside the deepest lips, pulling out wet. The slick was spread out over the other layers. A sharp sound left his mouth, his back arching as soon as they slipped and slid over his clitoris.

"Oh! Right there. That.... ah..."

"That could be my tongue if you let me..." Shadow Milk purred.

"Y-yes, do it. Please."

The pathetic plea jerked Shadow Milk into motion. He kissed Pure Vanilla on the lips, then traced wet pecks down his jawline, neck, then down his chest. The wet caresses made a cold, tingling trail all the way to his inner thigh.

Pure Vanilla kept his hands resting limply on either side of himself, head back, mouth open, eyes closed, breathing heavily as he anticipated what was to come next.

The sensation was too much at first.

All he could feel and think was heat. Eventually, he registered a long tongue slowly drawing over his entire cunt, the forked end flicking over his entrance. Then it was pressing inside, winding its way around the inner walls, poking around until it found a spot that made Pure Vanilla release a throaty sound. He registered something else as well, another slippery, moving something sliding over his clitoris, leaving him panting loudly.

Still feeling the tongue inside him, confusion won out and he opened his eyes.

Looking down, the sight was beyond sinful, beyond obscene, he could barely stand to look at it. 

There were two tongues coming out of Shadow Milk's mouth, one inside Pure Vanilla while the other pleasured his clitoris. Shadow Milk's hair surrounded the spectacle, the somewhat sentient eyes all blinking wide eyed at the sight, taking in every part of it.

Pure Vanilla watched as well, gazing mesmerized as the two tongues worked independently of each other, lathering and pulsating over and inside him, until all eyes, including the ones on Shadow Milk's face flicked up at him.

They made eye contact, and panic flashed through him, forcing Pure Vanilla to glance shyly to the side, his face beyond heated. The tongues halted and Shadow Milk considered him, a question on his face.

Frowning indignantly, Pure Vanilla breathed out quickly, "Well, don't stop!" and looked away again, flustered beyond belief.

A muffled chuckle sounded as Shadow Milk continued.

Putting his mouth up against skin now, he sucked on him, lips clamped over the entire thing while the tongues continued their assigned tasks. It felt like a mess of tentacles was writhing around his insides, and now that he could only feel and not see what Shadow Milk was up to, Pure Vanilla felt light-headed, near passing out at the sensation.

His panting was more vocal now, and he knew that the building climax would send him sooner than later.

Realizing this, he sat up suddenly, pushing Shadow Milk off him.

"Fuck me," he ordered, getting into his face.

"Huh?" Shadow Milk blinked, one of his tongues licking absentmindedly at the leftover slick on his face.

"You can make a penis, can't you?" he asked, all shame dead and buried by this point.

Shadow Milk titled his head to the side, then a smile spread over his face. "Can I?" He sat back on his ankles, one hand going to his hip while the other combed through dark blue hair, and Pure Vanilla simply watched with a blank, rouged face as the blue vulva transformed into a fully erect, already dripping, absolutely massive, throbbing unit.

His jaw dropped. "I-it's... big..."

"Is that a problem?" he demanded, putting both hands on his hips now, the movement making the penis dip down then up like a bobbing apple. "I'll change it if—"

"No!" Pure Vanilla exclaimed. "No, that's—" He cut himself off, clearing his throat. "Let's just continue."

Shadow Milk grinned. Coming forward on hands and knees, he pushed Pure Vanilla back down onto his back as he crawled over top of him. "If you insist..."

Struggling to make eye contact again, Pure Vanilla's eyes remained down and to the side.

His chin was grabbed roughly in Shadow Milk's grasp, his face forced to attention, so they were now locking eyes. "Look at me," Shadow Milk commanded, voice lowered. "I want to see your eyes when I ruin you."

Pure Vanilla's mouth fell open in surprise.

Smirking, Shadow Milk forced his chin up higher and kissed him.

In a moment, the tongues were in his mouth and Pure Vanilla got a taste of himself. He combed his fingers through the blue hair again, pulling their faces closer together as he sighed into the other's mouth, acutely aware of the hot hardness pressed against his leg, a tinge of cold from what must have been leakage from the tip oozing onto him.

He felt as Shadow Milk pulled his pelvis off him, the member leaving his skin, hovering, preparing. His eyes opened as he watched the other cookie line himself up, then with a jolt of panic, realized he hadn't specified something.

He pulled their lips apart quickly, gasping, "N-not in there...!"

"What?" Shadow Milk breathed out, sounding half-drunk as he searched his face hazily, his body halting.

"Not... in there..." he tried to clarify, his face burning somehow hotter. "If it's not a bother, I-I've already prepared and everything..."

Confusion lasted for less than a second on Shadow Milk's face before the smuggest of looks replaced it. "Ohhhhhh, I see... Well, well, well. My demanding little bottom. I suggest you turn around for that."

Before Pure Vanilla could even move, Shadow Milk got off him, slinking around and behind him, hand trailing over the tawny brown waist, both tongues lathering over Pure Vanilla's right shoulder. Shadow Milk's hardness pressed against his back, and he gulped.

"On your hands and knees," he muttered into his ear. "Let's make sure you're good and ready, shall we?"

Silently obeying, he did as asked, leaning down and staring into the sheets, supporting his weight on his forearms as a moment of realization washed over him. This is really happening? He's going to... He's really going to...?

"Mind if I loosen you up?" he beckoned, and Pure Vanilla closed his eyes for a moment at the hands that glided softly over his ass and down his thighs. "I want to melt into you," a thumb brushed over his rim, making Pure Vanilla inhale quickly, "without resistance."

"Y-yes. Yes, that's f-fine, I suppose—"

"You suppose..." The finger pushed at the entrance then retreated. "Hmmm, perhaps something wetter will do."

Before he could ask, a flush of heat shot through his entire body, originating in his ass where a flicking tongue pressed inside. The second tongue crawled into his cunt shortly after, writhing around slowly.

"O-oh... oh dear..." he managed, gripping the sheets. "Oh my..."

A hand pressed between his shoulder blades, pushing down until Pure Vanilla allowed his torso to sink into the bed, his face meeting soft blankets as his arms stretched over his head.

There was something so much more exciting, tingly, alert, intense about this preferred orifice, that made Pure Vanilla crumble into the sensual touch being applied to it now. Perhaps it was the generally taboo nature of it, or perhaps the fact his body was currently flooding with gender euphoria knowing another man was about to fuck him in the ass. It was not generally a spot utilized by most vagina owners, and perhaps this knowledge made him feel like he was almost transcending what his body looked like, what it was designed for.

The tongues departed too soon.

"Well, that certainly took no time at all," Shadow Milk said with a giggle, hands gripping and spreading Pure Vanilla's cheeks. "You're sooo loose, my Nilly... Could it be I've discovered your special fancy, hm?"

Pure Vanilla frowned, opening his mouth in protest when slick fingers slid promptly into his ass.

"Your walls are so pretty wet," Shadow Milk muttered through a grin. "I could spend an eternity painting them."

Speech was gone, Pure Vanilla passing away at the sensation, almost crying when the fingers were already slowly sliding out. There was a heinous squelching sound, and Pure Vanilla glanced back through his sheets of hair.

Shadow Milk pumped a hand over his dripping blue cock, a bottle of the liquid beside him, a satisfied little breath leaving his mouth with each stroke. Pure Vanilla returned his eyes to the darkness of the sheets, blushing harder than ever.

A dry hand gripped Pure Vanilla's ass, and he could sense the blue cookie was lining himself up, inching forward. "Let me know if you want it out, and I'll..." Shadow Milk began but never finished that sentence as the tip made contact with the fleshy entrance.

Pure Vanilla held his breath, his heart stopping as every nerve in his body flared to attention. A noise caught in his throat when the fat tip popped inside suddenly—and had his focus not been completely seized by the throat—he would have registered Shadow Milk's little gasp to match.

"Ah, yes—hah—k-keep going," Pure Vanilla moaned, feeling his back sweat. "I can take it, just—ah!"

"Ohhhh yes," Shadow Milk purred, sliding all the way down on him in one slick, gliding movement. No resistance indeed. "That's it. Hee hee! Oh, you are delightful, Nilly."

"D-don't stop..." he whimpered, needing the friction, his walls gripping the foreign object in delight, begging for more contact.

"...so demanding."

The thrusts sent Pure Vanilla pressing further into the mattress, his brain shutting off, filling with nothing but want and fire. He was burning from the inside out, the sensation almost painful, undeniably ecstasy. Rapturous pleasure coursed through him like lightning.

A choked little laugh sounded behind him, and he glanced up curiously, then blinked.

Through his lace curtains, in the full-length mirror on the other side of the room, was reflected the two of them, naked, flushed, sweaty and pressed together... and Shadow Milk—

The blue cookie was pulling in and out of him, a crazed smile on his face. The expression was delirious, drunk, borderline manic as his hips rocked back and forth. 

"Oh, dirty boy..." Shadow Milk muttered, his arms stretching over his head as his eyes lulled back. The smile deepened as he thrust harder, deeper. "You feel so good. So tight. So wet..." A high-pitched squeal escaped his lips along with loud, breathy little pants. "Oh... delicious!"

Pure Vanilla gaped, heart thrumming up against his chest, and his hand frantically flew to himself.

"Eh? Ohh!" Another giggle rang out. "Yes, yes, touch yourself, Nilly! Oh, you're so pretty when you're on the brink of ruination—ha—you're going to make me..."

Pure Vanilla's body seized up before Shadow Milk's had a chance. The pressure inside him throbbed and clenched, his entire body flooding with chemicals that left him feeling high and hazy. His moan was muffled into the sheets, raising in pitch as Shadow Milk pounded hard and fast through it.

The blue cookie made a throaty, girlish sound, squealing whimpers following the initial release that made shivers travel down Pure Vanilla's spine. A few more residual hip rolls were thrust into him before a sigh of relief escaped Shadow Milk's lips.

"Wowwwwwie!" he exclaimed, giggling drunkenly, hysterically, slapping Pure Vanilla hard on the ass. "Boy, did I need that! Ha! Oh, you are wonderful, Nilly."

Pure Vanilla was now a slumping heap on the bed, every muscle in his body sinking into the mattress, his breathing labored and heavy through all the hair that covered his face and upper torso.

"Tuckered out, huh? Well, let's get this out then. Relax for me, won't you?"

Pure Vanilla grunted in pain as Shadow Milk removed himself, though he was too deflated to really care, his head currently swimming in bliss. 

The clean-up was a blur. 

Shadow Milk helped him, magicking away the mess, lifting him with a laugh out of his collapsed position. They were soon under the covers, Pure Vanilla snuggled into his chest, eyes closed, fading fast. 

An arm wrapped around him, a chin resting over his head. Breathing in his scent, Pure Vanilla nuzzled closer, his own arm wrapping around Shadow Milk's waist. 

He knew this was temporary, knew it was wrong, knew that Shadow Milk would leave the next day and continue his plot to take his Soul Jam... 

He cracked his eyes open, locking onto the Soul Jam embedded in Shadow Milk's sternum inches from his face. He then glanced down at his own. Two halves of the same whole. Literal soul mates. 

What Pure Vanilla did know was this: whatever this was, it felt right, and at least for tonight, he wasn't about to let it go, wasn't about to think too hard about it. He wasn't about to let him go. 

He gripped Shadow Milk tighter, pulling their bodies closer together, and he was held more snuggly in reply, a kiss placed gently over his hair before another soft chuckle rang out.

At least for tonight, they could be whole.

Chapter Text

"You have failed, Fount of Knowledge."

The thundering voices spoke in unison, shaking Pure Vanilla to his strawberry-filled core. He froze under the intense gazes of the three looming, faceless witches who seemed to engulf everything, hovering in the starless, blue realm that had no ceiling or floor. Their twisted faces were vague, hardly faces, difficult to focus on or distinguish.

"I did everything I was supposed to!" a male voice shouted, and Pure Vanilla whipped his head to the side. The witches were in fact, not berating him, but instead the blue cookie beside him who wore a little crown on his head.

Shadow Milk Cookie? 

He couldn't call out to him, only watch helplessly as the witches glared down at the Fount of Knowledge hatefully.

"You have tainted the sphere we designed for you to inhabit, corrupted the minds of those you were meant to teach. Your punishment will be severe."

"I brought them deceit as well as truth!" Shadow Milk cried, throwing his hands out for emphasis, the large draping sleeves flaring outward with a whipping sound. "What is knowledge without both? How can you say I'm betraying who I am when I am doing exactly as I was told and fulfilling the exact purpose you forced on my shoulders? I never asked for this, but I did it anyway, and you still are dissatisfied with me? How can that be so?"

"Silence, Fount!"

Shadow Milk choked, then gripped at this throat. His breaths came out as squeezed raspy sounds as he desperately clawed at his neck, his body slowly lifting off the ground.

Pure Vanilla's eyes flared in panic. 

"We shall start by pulling you apart,"—the witches said in their united voice, surrounding the swirling blue void with black clouds—"cell-by-cell, then put you back together again. You will know every pain that has ever graced Cookie Kind, and you will learn what it means to disobey."

Striding forward, Pure Vanilla tried to reach him, tried to stop them, but his steps only seemed to bring him further away. He pushed and clawed, struggling against some heavy weight. He looked down at his useless feet.

When he did, his eyes widened. Then he halted.

He was naked. 

Staring, he blinked down at the unerect penis attached to his body.

Oh.

Another dream?

Glancing up again, he watched as Shadow Milk whimpered, still held up by the magic, tears streaming down his face. 

Than that must mean...

"Shall we start with your pretty little eyes?" the witches chided, laughter filling the void. "We made them after all. We can remove them just the same. Let us pluck them and squeeze them and—"

Pure Vanilla snapped his fingers.

The sound echoed through the realm. 

The landscape swirled, shifting with beams of golden light. All three witches looked over at him in surprise, but Pure Vanilla only grinned as his staff appeared in his hands. Waving it over his head, the ugliest, dumbest little mismatched hats appeared in a flash of golden light on each of the three withes' heads. One was an oversized chef's hat that flopped to one side, the other a three-foot tall, pointed cone with a balloon pony on the end, and the last a multi-colored hat with a pinwheel spinning on the top.  

Pure Vanilla giggled at the sight.

Shadow Milk blinked in confusion, still gripped by the throat by the witches' magic. Pure Vanilla waved his staff again. The blue cookie came crashing downward, gasping for air as the pressure around his throat released. 

Pure Vanilla was there, catching him delicately in his arms before he could hit the ground. They stared at one another, and he searched the face for any signs of further distress before the spectacle brought both their attentions upwards.

The witches' limbs began elongating out and turning into... egg noodles? Really? Pure Vanilla must have been hungry... Looking down at themselves in horror, the three hags screeched, trying to move, but with noodles for legs, they fell over uselessly, all while hollering and cursing him in their stupid hats.

They began warping, melting into the void, their screams and bodies dissolving and fading while the background morphed around them. The oppressive blue realm turned gentle, the moonlit glass fields Pure Vanilla had created during his last dream stretching out as far as the eye could see. 

It was quiet, and calm.

Shadow Milk blinked around, gaping. 

This was real Shadow Milk after all, despite the Fount's outfit he still wore. Pure Vanilla could tell. Something about his expressions, the disbelief in his face, and the fact that everything with the witches had happened independently of Pure Vanilla and his own consciousness and awareness before he'd stepped in.

He couldn't be fooled twice.

"Wh-what... How did you...?" Shadow Milk stuttered, his eyes finding Pure Vanilla's face again.

"Shh, it's alright," he cooed softly, nothing but the soft sound of crickets in the distance now as he continued to hold him in a gentle grip. "You're safe. Just a dream, Shadow Milk."

"A... dream?"

"Yes, my dear." His voice lowered to a whisper as he pressed their foreheads together, a warm smile spreading over his face. "I'll protect you here."

Shadow Milk stared at him, mouth agape, the most innocent and open expression Pure Vanilla had seen him make since the moment in the Spire of Shadows when he'd ask the blue cookie to be his friend. 

"Rest peacefully now. You're not alone. I'm right here."

Shadow Milk blinked, then something flashed over his face, his mouth turning downwards. His chest heaved in offense and— was that— embarrassment in his flushing cheeks? 

Just like the last dream, Shadow Milk melted into goopy liquid in Pure Vanilla's arms, leaving behind a blue and black mess as the field swirled and shifted, plunging Pure Vanilla down into the ground.

His eyes cracked open.

It was the early morning, the sun beaming through his windows onto the four-poster bed with lace curtains. He was still naked, slightly chilled, his hair a tangled mess around him, the smell of Shadow Milk's musk in his sheets... 

The mattress shifted, pulling his attention to the side as his blue bedmate quickly pulled himself off the bed. It was frantic, and Pure Vanilla realized he was bolting as soon as Shadow Milk snapped a portal into existence.

"W-wait!" Throwing himself over the bed, he grabbed his wrist in a fierce grip, promptly halting the retreat.

An annoyed look was shot over the blue shoulder, immediately replaced by an impatient half-smile. "Time for me to go sweetheart!" he projected loudly, dismissively. "I told you this thing was temporary, didn't I? Yeesh. Clingy much?"

He did not loosen his grip, tugging on the arm. "Not yet," he said gently. "Please, come back. I-I'm sorry for interfering in your dream but you were in pain and—"

"That,"—he turned on him, eyes growing dark—"was not your dream to interfere in! Why were you poking around in my head? Hm?"

His jaw dropped. "I d-didn't mean to! It just sort of happened, I'm sorry! I swear, my intentions were nothing but pure—"

"Tssk! Oh, I'm sure... It's not like you've ever had ill intentions before, or, I don't know, kept things from me only to deceive me later." Stepping forward, he got into Pure Vanilla's face. "This little thing we had, will be like it never happened once I leave, which, speaking of..." He turned away again, his long hair whipping to the side, but Pure Vanilla held him fast.

"But—" Pure Vanilla protested, opening and closing his mouth uselessly, not sure what he was even saying or trying to do. Gazing at him, resolution set in, and he gripped the wrist harder. "I want it to happen again. I want you again. I want—"

Shadow Milk interrupted him with a high-pitched laugh. "I was that good, huh..." 

"Not just the sex," he clarified, then hesitated as embarrassment settled in, his cheeks growing hot. Releasing him, Pure Vanilla opted instead to taking both blue hands gently in his tawny brown ones as he stood. "Please. Stay here, with me. Just... for a bit longer."

Shadow Milk eyed him in surprise. Something defensive quickly replaced the expression as he replied flatly: "No. I'm afraid not," and snatched his hands back.

Pure Vanilla followed him as he strode away. "Why not?" 

The blue cookie gathered his clothes from the floor. "Listen to yourself. Like an annoying puppy... You're asking your greatest enemy to... what exactly? Stay here forever? Be your boyfriend?"

"I-I mean..." He halted, turning on him quickly, and Pure Vanilla couldn't make eye contact. The smallest, quietest voice escaped his lips. "Not that exactly, but..." 

Shadow Milk blinked, then folded his arms with a frown. "But what?"

His hand went to his Soul Jam shyly, his eyes glued to the floor.

Never getting his answer, Shadow Milk exhaled an annoyed breath. "You know, you talk to yourself?" 

He looked up. "Huh?"

"When you were out in your flower fields..." He stretched his arms over his head casually, smirking. "And people call me crazy..." 

His eyes widened. "You were there! I knew it!" 

Shadow Milk shrugged shamelessly. "Perhaps. You were searching up on me. I'm hurt honestly." He didn't sound hurt as he got closer. "You'd consult a dusty old scroll over me?" 

"You... wish to talk about it?" 

"Ha! No see, like I said: It's none of your business, in fact,"—he snapped his fingers, and the scroll Pure Vanilla had been reading the night before appeared in his hand—"if you try digging up my past again; if you interfere in my dreams, I won't play so nice with you." 

The scroll lit up with blue flames, quickly turning to ash in his hand much to his horror. 

"Ah! Do you know how hard that was to preserve?" he shouted, but Shadow Milk simply smirked in response.

"Hmpf! Too bad!" Leaving his side, he floated up into the air, his clothes snaking around his body like eels before slipping into place, buttoning and tying themselves up. "You've gotten too comfortable, Nilly. When I see you again, you'd better have your Soul Jam waiting for me." 

Snapping his fingers, the blue staff appeared in his hand, and a sinister grin split his face. "Well, bye bye now! I'll claim what's mine soon enough."

With a wave, Shadow Milk stepped through the portal and was gone in a puff of blue magic. Pure Vanilla was left staring up at where he'd been, completely naked, disheveled; cheeks burning.

Chapter Text

The carriage rocked back and forth as Pure Vanilla Cookie leaned against the window, a book open in his hand.

His eyes weren't on the words however, wandering instead out at the landscape. 

It'd been a week since Shadow Milk's departure, and yet it only took two days for Pure Vanilla to realize he needed to get out of the house, to see people, to do something other than think about the blue cookie. 

It'd been a while since he'd visited his dear friend, Dark Cacao. Perhaps he'd have advice, or at the very least, be a welcome distraction and comfort. He was, of course, not a cookie one could just pop in on randomly. Five days of waiting for his letter to be answered had been actual agony... 

Anxiety laced his insides.

The impending threat of Shadow Milk's return certainly hadn't been helping his nerves and overall mood, and he couldn't exactly predict when the erratic blue cookie would come for his Soul Jam. Going about his life as though nothing happened was the best option.

Only thing was, he couldn't get his mind on anything else besides his other half, besides his night with him and the early morning. 

He sighed, pressing his face against the glass.

He couldn't remember the last time he'd slept so well, so comfortably, nor the last time he'd slept with someone and not regretted it, which, was decidedly insane considering he'd slept with the very cookie trying to rob and kill him. 

How could someone so violent and vindictive be so gentle and understanding? 

His face flushed as he remembered the hand tracing over his scars, the tender whispers and kisses, the patience and the understanding... 

It wasn't just the sex, as he'd told Shadow Milk. He'd never felt so... so seen before. He'd been such a shy mess, and yet he hadn't felt at all awkward with Shadow Milk. Quite the contrary. He felt entirely himself with him.

It was too bad Shadow Milk was so closed off emotionally, as he was the most understanding, open lover probably in existence. 

Closing the curtain, Pure Vanilla looked down at the book in his hand, needing a distraction from his distraction. Writings about the witches and their creation of the Soul Jams was written on the open pages. So far, it hadn't provided any new or useful information.

The scroll was gone, but Pure Vanilla had gotten what he thought was a glimpse of what'd happened back then, of the reason for Shadow Milk's punishment. From what he'd seen, Shadow Milk's side didn't seem unreasonable, though of course, it was only a dream, and who knew if it reflected perfectly the reality. If he could just find answers, maybe he could understand, and then maybe he'd be able to get through to Shadow Milk. Maybe the two of them could be...

He sat up straighter, clearing his throat, slamming the book shut. 

No, Nilla, you're not entertaining this again. 

There was no point, not when Shadow Milk was coming for his Soul Jam any day now. What was the point of learning more about someone he'd need to destroy? It would inevitably lead to that, after all. Shadow Milk would never be satisfied with Pure Vanilla existing with his other Soul Jam half. He'd never be satisfied with just Pure Vanilla as he was either. Overall, it just wasn't—

There was some kind of ruckus outside that drew his attention. 

He perked up, moving his hand to the curtain to investigate when a cry of fear from his driver made him startle. There was a heavy impact against the carriage, and all of a sudden, he went flying forward against the front of the closed box with a painful slam. The carriage came screeching to a halt, and he tumbled to the floor with the loss of momentum. Everything went still.

Groaning, Pure Vanilla pulled himself up slowly—pointed hat and book on the floor with him. 

In a daze, he slowly got back on the seat. Scooching towards the door on his right to see what'd happened, he reached for the handle.

His hand drew back as soon as a swirling, twisting sliver of shadow slipped from between the crack of the door. It slithered inside the carriage, growing with every second. Freezing, he recognized it at once. 

Gasping, he darted back. Shuffling away from the encroaching darkness, he exhaled in surprise when his back pressed against the opposite door, nowhere else for him to go. His feet up on the seat, he summoned his staff, holding it out in front of himself defensively.

He should have been far more terrified, on alert of his Soul Jam being taken, but that was not why his heart raced. He was far more concerned with the fact that his cheeks were heating up, and that the reason for them being that way was now entering this tight enclosed space with him. 

The shadows spilled out onto the seat, forming and shifting, making their way towards him. They rose up, stopping right in front of his staff before Shadow Milk appeared, floating above him with a grin.

"Terribly sorry for the roughness!" the cookie of deceit purred, smacking away the staff and flying into Pure Vanilla's personal space. Straddling him now, Shadow Milk pressed a knife to the tawny brown throat, making Pure Vanilla freeze. "You know violence isn't really my thing."

He stared up at him, his voice surprisingly calm. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

A high-pitched giggle rang out. "Oh, but you knooooow why I'm here! Come on! The time has come, my sweet Nilly. Hand it over then!" The hand not holding the blade caressed lightly over Pure Vanilla's Soul Jam, the touch sending shock up his spine.

"Why now of all times?" he questioned, heart pounding as he tried to ignore the heat between them, the familiar scent that had once lingered on his sheets back at home.

Shadow Milk cocked his head to the side with a smile. "Why not now?"

He searched familiar eyes, knowing too well the depth of them. "It took you a few days; a week even. Did... did you have doubts?"

"What?" Defensiveness furrowed his brows, then a coy smile replaced it. "Doubts? Ahahahaha! Of course not! I—"

"You could have taken it at any time this week," he interrupted, holding back everything from tucking away the stray blue strand of hair hovering between them. "Even now... Has your resolve faded, Shadow Milk Cookie?"

Something flashed across his face. With a growl, he lifted the knife and plunged it right past Pure Vanilla's face into the cushioned door behind him. "You should be more afraid! I could take my Soul Jam at any moment!"

"Could you?" 

"Eh?" 

He lifted his chin defiantly, feeling unreasonably brave. "I recall you being unable to at your spire..."

Shadow Milk snapped his teeth at him, getting into his face, but Pure Vanilla didn't even flinch. "Oookay, pal! Hand it over!"

This close, he couldn't help it. He made the mistake of glancing down at Shadow Milk's mouth, the same mouth that'd been against his own a week ago whose taste he could still remember.

The blue cookie blinked in surprise. 

"Make me," he whispered, daring another glance downward.

Shadow Milk's face neutralized, the different colored blue eyes searching his face. "You—" He considered him in disbelief. There was clear hesitation and what looked like confusion and something else in his face that Pure Vanilla couldn't quite read. 

They both stayed there like that, motionless, then the knife was pulled out and thrown to the side, clanging on the carriage floor. Seizing him by the front of his robes, Shadow Milk kissed him.

Pure Vanilla's heart stuttered, but only a second or two passed before he was grabbing him back.

The kisses were much more desperate than those given the night at Pure Vanilla's house, like it was out of Shadow Milk's control, like he was out of control. Blue hands moved to his jawline, and Pure Vanilla slid his fingertips over the thighs on either side of him.

A breathy sigh was released into his lips in response, and Shadow Milk quickly worked his hand under the pure white robe, snaking underneath. His tongue pushed inside Pure Vanilla's mouth, the hidden hand gripping his bare thigh. Then lips moved to his neck, and the blond gasped both at the light nibble and the feather light touch that glided over his leg. The fingertips made their way under his shorts...

"Shadow Milk!" he hissed. 

Biting his lip, Pure Vanilla closed his eyes as the touch floated up then over his mound, making his head swim. The hand then moved, pulling down his shorts, and Shadow Milk's lips left his skin as he pulled away, only to lower himself downward. Lifting one side of the robe, he tucked underneath, disappearing below.

"What're you...?" Pure Vanilla inquired, then covered his mouth, stifling a moan. 

He was melting, dissolving, and mercy, the tongues were back with a vengeance. It was reckless, impulsive, irresponsible, complete insanity, but Pure Vanilla didn't care. Shadow Milk was here. He was here and he wanted him, and that was enough for now.

His bare leg came up, resting over Shadow Milk's shoulder, and with it, he tugged the blue cookie closer to him, his hand tangling in and gripping the blue hair. A few quiet whimpers left his lips, making him grip the scalp harder, feeling like he might burn from the intensity and heat.

Right as the second tongue slid back inside him, there was a loud knock on the carriage door that made Pure Vanilla release a small yelp of surprise.

"Master Shadow Milk Cookie?" Black Sapphire's voice sounded from outside. "Everything alright?"

The licking continued without interruption, and Pure Vanilla frantically smacked his shoulder, signaling him to stop, but he wouldn't. The tongue weaved around in the depths, pulsing in and out, curling and twisting mercilessly, making Pure Vanilla close his eyes in both embarrassment and pleasure.

"It's just, been a while," Black Sapphire continued loudly, "and you did tell me to check in if the plan was failing..."

The tongues stopped, and there was a low growl. Shadow Milk pulled his head out from under the robe, cheeks flushed, face wet with slick. To Pure Vanilla's surprise, the frowning cookie got into his face without warning. He could smell himself on the blue lips as Shadow Milk whispered into his mouth: "I'll come for you tonight. Cancel your plans with Dark Cacao." 

"W-what?" Pure Vanilla stammered, staring at the blown-out pupils. 

"Wait for me."

Getting off him, Shadow Milk was a puff of smoke in an instant, departing through the cracks in the opposite door in the same way he'd arrived. 

"Dear me!" His voice rang out from the other side of the door, and Pure Vanilla blinked at it, unmoving. "Looks like we've got the wrong carriage, Sapphire!" 

"S-Sire?" 

"He's not here! Slippery gnat got away it seems."—Pure Vanilla's eyes widened—"He planted a decoy to throw us off. Oh, well now, that is unfortunate, isn't it?" 

"A decoy?" what was clearly Candy Apple screeched. 

"Indeed! A slippery devil parading as an angel. Well!"—He clapped his hands together—"Let's regroup, make a new plan and all that, have a cup of tea..." 

Why is he lying?

Wasn't this the perfect opportunity? Pure Vanilla was out in the middle of nowhere with no backup or help for miles. There was no better time. 

"Move along you two!" Shadow Milk sang. There was the sound of scuffling steps, a flash of magic, then silence. 

Pure Vanilla stayed in his position, hand over his Soul Jam as he breathed heavily, once again a confused, blushing mess.

Chapter Text

Pure Vanilla was in his house again.

His quill left a shining golden signature at the bottom of a frilly letter lined with lace and ribbon. He scanned over the words with a small frown. The formal language written in golden letters explained how an emergency had come up that'd forced him to return home, many apologies following after that along with a promise of rescheduling. 

Sighing, he put a hand to his forehead.

Dark Cacao does not deserve me as a friend...

It was madness. Returning home, all on a whim. Was Shadow Milk actually coming? Was he a fool for allowing this meeting, for completely backtracking on his travel plans? Shadow Milk had just come after his Soul Jam, and now he was trusting him back in his home? And all for what... sex? Really?

An hour later he found himself sitting on his bed, shamefully accepting his sins.

His clothes had been carefully put away, and he now sat kneeling in the middle of the mattress, completely bare, hands resting atop his thighs. Long loose hair pooled all around him, covering his lap like a privacy veil.

The air was still and quiet. The sun was faded, the sky filling his room not with orange and red sunset colors, but the blues and grays of dusk. He shivered slightly, the cool air teetering on the edge of unpleasant.

He quickly inhaled when footsteps approached. 

The door to his bedroom swung open. He turned his head to it, but there was no one on the other side. Breathing quickly, not in fear, but anticipation, he waited. The door closed again of its own accord. 

He returned his head and eyes forward again, his body stilling, heartbeat quickening. Then his eyes caught sight of movement.

A shadow formed in front of him beyond the curtains. Growing, it swirled and pulsated outwards, eventually solidifying into Shadow Milk's naked figure. Pure Vanilla's eyes trailed over the toned torso down to the half-erect penis, making him swallow. A hand pulled back the curtain, revealing more clearly, the sinful, mismatched blue eyes.

Shadow Milk came forward silently on hands and knees over the mattress, eyes never leaving Pure Vanilla's. Within kissing distance, he reached a hand out, brushing the blond hair out of his face, eyes half lidding. 

"Hello darling..." he whispered. 

His heart palpitated. Pure Vanilla needed to keep it together. This meeting meant nothing, just like the first one...

"Look at you," Shadow Milk cooed, tucking the hair behind his ear. "Beautiful as ever." 

He felt his expression lift, his eyes lighting up at the words. 

"Seems you were as excited to see me as I was you." 

Reaching out, Pure Vanilla gently stroked the blue cheek in reply. "I-I suppose," his first words since their encounter, left his lips in a whisper.

 "You suppose..." Shadow Milk mused, kissing the side of his face, hand gliding over his bare shoulder. "You're here, aren't you?" Fingers ghosted down to his waist, then slid further, resting over the top of the tawny brown thigh.

With a soft exhale, Pure Vanilla hovered closer, the heat coming off Shadow Milk's bare chest now radiating off his own. 

Hot breath tickled his ear. Shadow Milk's bottom lip brushed barely across the skin. "Do you still have that strap-on?"

He froze. "What?" A soft snicker rang out, and Pure Vanilla pulled away, looking at him. He searched the face in surprise, only able to repeat the same tonal: "What?"

Mirth formed into a little smirk. "You know; that little toy you play with when I'm not here to satiate you?"

He felt his face heat up in response to that. 

"Want to use it on me this time or...?"

Pure Vanilla's mind went blank. "Huh?"

"Unless... you don't want to..." 

Something in his chest screeched. "N-no, I just... I've..." He opened and closed his mouth uselessly, looking away, tucking more hair behind his hair in a fluster. "I've never done anything like that before. What if I... hurt you?"

Shadow Milk snorted, lightly brushing a finger over the tip of Pure Vanilla's nose. "You're so very different in your dreams, you know; when you think you have an audience of none... Oh, and when you're masturbating too..."—Pure Vanilla blushed further, frowning under the blue grin—"Why is that, I wonder?"

He was not expecting the very personal question considering this cookie had just threatened him with a knife not eight hours earlier, nor was he expecting that Shadow Milk wanted some kind of real answer considering the patient, expectant look on his face. 

Pure Vanilla blinked at him bewilderedly. "Oh, Well... Um..."

A hand laced gently with his own, making warmth flicker through his chest. "You know you can be more open with me in bed," Shadow Milk said gently, voice lowering. "I've already seen and touched most of your body, licked you in your most sensitive places, heard your cries of ecstasy, and you mine. If you want something from me, you should take it."

"O-oh." His eyelashes fluttered in embarrassed befuddlement. "I... Yes, that makes sense when you say it like that."

He snorted again. 

"Well... Uh, I guess... Um..."

"But of course," Shadow Milk calmly interrupted his babbling, "I'm happy to do the pursuing again if you wish, but I have this itching feeling you also want to take charge,"—his thumb rubbed sensually over the intertwined hand—"don't you?"

Seeing the dangerous eyes light up, he stared. Exhaling softly, he glanced away with a shy little grin. "You're not...completely wrong, no."

Lips were back on his cheek. "I thought so."

Pure Vanilla closed his eyes at the sensation, and the light pecks traveled inward. When their lips met, he sighed into them, gripping the hand in his, his other coming up and resting on Shadow Milk's chest. 

He felt uncharacteristically safe with this cookie, melting into him like he was his own flesh. 

Pulling his lips apart, he spoke bashfully into Shadow Milk's mouth. "I... don't really trust my sexuality with anyone besides myself," he admitted, and Shadow Milk's eyes slowly opened. "That's why I act so different. To truly let go... I've only ever done that alone, when no one can judge me for... what I am."

"And what are you?" the question was honest, no judgment behind it.

"Y-you know... My... body. I know you say you like it, but I'm not even sure I do. How can I be confident, or indulge in my fantasies with another when I feel so disconnected from myself, when I feel like... such an abomination?"

"You aren't an abomination." Fingers caressed his cheek. "The only reason I bring up your toy, is because you clearly like using it, and from your dreams, it's something you want present. It gives you euphoria. Why not indulge as you said? You already know I like what you have to offer—all that you have to offer—so there's no real reason to be shy with me. If you want to fuck me in the ass, I'll happily oblige you, in fact, I'll scream your name as you do it..."

Eyes widening, Pure Vanilla thwacked him on the shoulder in surprise. "Shadow Milk!"

He snickered. "What? As if you don't want that." 

Searching the smug face in abashment, he exhaled a flustered little sound. "Okay, but you don't have to say it like that..."

"How shall I say it then?"

The continued smirking was making him indignant, his face heating up again as he took the jawline in his hand. He kissed him, wanting to take that grin with his own. Shadow Milk hummed a soft, satisfied sound, then a muffled chuckle. Pushing on his shoulder, Pure Vanilla forced him onto his back, crawling on top and plunging his tongue down his throat. Maybe that'd shut him up. 

Feeling the stiffness on his leg, he pressed his hips into Shadow Milk's, rutting up into him, making another amused little sound form in his throat. 

"If, theoretically," he muttered between kisses, "I did say yes—Mm—and I use my—Mwa—ahem, toy." He pulled their lips apart for a moment to look into his face. "Wouldn't you need to prepare and such...?"

That damn smile wasn't getting any smaller. "Not an issue. I'm a shape shifter. Let's just say I can... move things around down there."

His eyes widened, and he glanced away, blushing. "Oh dear..."

"Oh dear is right," the words were laced with humor. "So then, tell me: what do you want to do?"

Pure Vanilla found his face again, and a half second passed before he answered intently: "Let me grab the er, item."

The blue face flushed, lighting up with a wicked air.

Chapter Text

Pure Vanilla bounced between fairly confident to timid as he took the lead, or more accurately, Shadow Milk completely left the ball in his court as the flustered blond led the two of them from one thing to the other, sometimes with great suave and at others, inexperienced clumsiness.

With Shadow Milk laying on his back, Pure Vanilla hovered timidly above before leaning down to press kisses to his neck. Breathing in the musky scent, he relaxed slightly, licking and lightly nipping at the skin. A smiling breath left Shadow Milk's mouth, ushering Pure Vanilla to continue while his hand lightly traced over the blue body. Drawing past a nipple and downward, his fingertips found the white happy line, following it to its source. Bumping into the member, he halted for a half-second, then his fingers enclosed around the shaft, and Shadow Milk made a little gasping noise.

The sound ignited something in him. 

Pulling away, he sat back on his heels, heart pounding. 

Curiosity crossed his bed partner's face. "Mm? What is it?"

Silently, Pure Vanilla parted his long fair hair with both hands and held it out of the way as he leaned down. Hesitating a moment, he went for it. Using just the tip of his tongue, he drew a long lick from base to tip, a bead of precum waiting for him at the end. 

"Hah! Oh, that's naughty, Nilly... I didn't think you would—"

He licked over the tip before closing his mouth around it, sliding all the way down to the back of his throat.

"O-oh Maker," Shadow Milk hissed, his back arching, arms stretching over his head.

Pure Vanilla gripped one blue thigh, tugging it over his shoulder as he bobbed up and down. 

"Ohhh that's—ah! Ha! Haha! Hee hee hee!"

He found a slow and steady pace, getting drunk off every sound and involuntary twitch he was causing. Something about watching Shadow Milk melt at his own hand—or in this case mouth—made something carnal rush through him. He wanted to make this cookie mewl and beg, wanted to make those lovely sounds Shadow Milk had made last time come out of his mouth again. 

If only he was more confident, he could do so much more, he could make him...

Pulling off him, Pure Vanilla blinked at the ruined features for a moment before asking gently: "Turn around for me?"

Sobriety flashed over Shadow Milk's face, then excitement, and he shot upward. "Certainly! Won't need to ask me twice."

In position, Pure Vanilla exhaled a nervous breath, gazing at the blue cookie presented ass-up to him, any previous gusto dying in the cold room's air. 

Carefully caressing the thighs then ass, his heart pounded. 

Who was he kidding? He didn't know what he was doing. He'd touched himself countless times, but this was so entirely different. He didn't know what Shadow Milk liked, hell, he didn't know what any man other than himself liked when it came to the ass. Everything about it felt completely alien—

"Take your time," Shadow Milk said gently. "No rush."

Eyes forward, the blue cookie waited patiently, and a sliver of Pure Vanilla's anxiety lifted at the kind, understanding tone and body language. 

Taking a deep breath, he magicked up lube over his fingers. Hesitating, he slid them over the entrance tentatively. 

There was a soft exhale at the initial touch that made his heart flutter. Recognizing it as a good sound, he continued. The little continued gasps and noises alone were keeping Pure Vanilla from aborting mission.  

He swirled first one, then two fingers around the rim, the way he liked to do to himself, before very gently putting pressure on the entrance with just one. It didn't go in, and he took another small breath before trying again, adding more lube to the finger. Pushing harder this time, a small inhale from Shadow Milk announced its breach.

It was warm and wet inside, and so so soft. 

Moving in a small circle, he explored with just the fingertip, the sensation sending excitement flooding into his chest and lower stomach. He pushed in just a bit further before he was pulling it out, adding more lube.

Oh so careful, still at one finger, he pressed in just barely to the second knuckle, enjoying the sensation when Shadow Milk's breathy voice pleaded: "M-more fingers."

Wordlessly and excitedly, he obliged, the first knuckle on both fingers pushing in, then he was pulling out again then— 

"You don't need to be so gentle!" Shadow Milk exclaimed, and... was he annoyed with him? 

"Oh! Yes, let me add more lube..." 

"Ugh! You don't need more... It's fine! Just—" Grabbing Pure Vanilla's wrist, he thrust it forward, plunging the fingers all the way to the end with a squelching sound, making Pure Vanilla squeak in surprise. "That's it!" he gasped, the edge in his voice turning upward into pleasure. "Oh... Now swirl... ah! Yes!"

"Oh dear..." Pure Vanilla muttered, face flushing. 

Following his requests, he pushed the fingers in and out, scissored them, curling them into a spot he quickly realized was the prostate.

The more he did it, the more emboldened he became with his movements. Seeing what made the other cookie gasp, he followed it, making him moan then backing off to see the frustration set in, and something about it—the demanding behavior, Pure Vanilla being the one who could either grant Shadow Milk’s desires or not—it made something inside him purr. 

If he were cruel, he’d have made him teeter on the edge forever. He wasn’t, however, and complied, giving in and giving him what he wanted—adding a third finger, plunging it downward, pulling the digits apart inside him. Shadow Milk trembled with delight, a sound of relief escaping from his throat. 

Pure Vanilla could feel the liquid heat from his labia oozing out onto the mattress, the sight and sounds of his bed partner ramping up inside his brain, rising, removing his inhibitions piece-by-piece. His chest bloomed with adrenaline. 

Pulling out, his hands fumbled for the strap on, hurrying to put it on, frantically lathering the cock. 

Shadow Milk turned his head all the way around to watch him, the eyes in his hair watching excitedly as well. Under observation, Pure Vanilla felt tentativeness flutter over him, glancing away from the provocative stares as he set it vibrating.

He lined himself up and without warning, buried the toy with a hard thrust. Shadow Milk’s head snapped back around, his hand flying back and gripping Pure Vanilla’s thigh to stop further entrance. 

Giggling through what sounded like pain, he screeched: “Hold onnn there, pal! Patience. Ha—You’re going to gut me like a fish if you do that..." Despite the hyperbole, he was gasping, blushing, panting... 

"Oh Maker, I’m so sorry!" Pure Vanilla exclaimed, positively horrified. "You said I was being too gentle and—" 

"Don’t apologize, you sap. Just slowly..." 

"O-okay." 

The vibration was distracting, pulsing over his clitoris as Pure Vanilla slid in at a glacial pace. When he got to the end of the toy, Shadow Milk exhaled a breath of relief. 

"That’s it... Now in and out..." 

Pure Vanilla followed his instructions, and like this, it almost... felt like it was his own dick pulling in and out of Shadow Milk. He took in the sight, wide-eyed and mesmerized by the way it appeared and disappeared into the fleshy depths. What felt like lightning sparked over his already flushed face down to his sternum. 

He felt so powerful, so... so... manly. Gripping the blue ass, he plunged harder and faster, and Shadow Milk gasped loudly. 

"Ngh! Yes! Ohhhh, that’s it. That's it!" 

Pure Vanilla’s brows furrowed upward, his heart feeling like it was in his throat, like it was going to burst out of his chest, like he was on the verge of a heart attack, but he wasn’t. No, he felt transcendent, giddy, in another world entirely. 

"You feel amazing," Smilk whimpered. "Ah! F-fuck... Imagine... it was really yours inside me..." A blue hand grasped blindly back at him before it landed on Pure Vanilla's Soul Jam. 

As soon as skin made contact, Pure Vanilla's breath seized up while his surroundings spun and spiraled. 

The next moment he was blinking into what he first thought was the Dark Side of the Moon, only to realize it was only a night sky, and stars that twinkled back at him instead of eyes. 

"Wh-where..."

He could still feel the sensation of the toy on him, though he could tell he’d stopped thrusting. 

"Create whatever you want here," Shadow Milk’s voice echoed throughout the space. "Do whatever you want to me." 

Pure Vanilla looked down, blinking at his already erect penis. "It's... It's like my dream world." 

Shadow Milk appeared before him, equally as naked. "That's right! Dream logic applies." He snapped his fingers, and the stars beneath them turned into a translucent bed, the night sky bleeding through the mattress and blankets. Taking Pure Vanilla’s hand, he placed it over his own throat. "I'm yours for the taking." 

His eyes widened. "I... But what if I..." 

"You can't hurt me here," Shadow Milk cut him off softly. "I'm also not adverse to much of anything."

Watching him in disbelief, a smile then crept over his lips. 

Removing his hand from Shadow Milk’s throat, he stroked his face instead before pressing soft kisses to his cheek. He ran a hand through blue hair, then kissed him hard on the mouth. His tongue pressed inside, and sighing, he pulled him impossibly close, his hands caressing down the blue torso, over his ass. 

Willing them both onto the bed that blended into the background, he was magically on top—the other cookie with his back pressed into the mattress—cradling Shadow Milk’s face, pressing light, wet kisses to his lips while the happy sighs continued. 

"Even when you’re domineering," Shadow Milk muttered into their lips, "you’re irritatingly gentle," though his cheeks were a deep blue color. 

Releasing a soft giggle, Pure Vanilla sat up, grinning down at him, his legs on either side of the blue hips. His fingers intertwined with the ones resting at Shadow Milk's side, gripping the hand and pulling it upward. Eyes half-lidding, he guided the hand over to his erection, exhaling softly when skin made contact with skin.

"I believe we were interrupted last time," he muttered slyly. 

A grin met him, the hand forced to stroke him up and down.

"You won't run away this time, will you?" 

Shadow Milk tutted. "What reason would I have doing that?" 

He could feel vaguely in the back of his mind, the vibration still going on his toy, but here it simply felt like his real dick. He was getting close; he could feel it.

Ripping the hand off, he breathed out: "Will you do oral?"

"Mm? Certainly."

Shadow Milk shifted, making to sit up when Pure Vanilla pushed him back down with a firm hand, winding him. Crawling over top of him, he sat on Shadow Milk’s chest, gazing down at him daringly. Blue eyes blinked up at him in surprise. 

Inching forward, hovering his dick a breath away from Shadow Milk's mouth, he muttered: "Two tongues again?" His hand went behind Shadow Milk’s head, gripping the hair lightly, and the blue cookie flashed razor sharp teeth. 

"Oh ho ho! I see now. Hm, you liked that the two tongues huh—" 

Moving his thighs to either side of Shadow Milk's face, he poked at the entrance, cutting off the other's words. 

Eyes half lidded, looking down at Pure Vanilla's excitement, Shadow Milk's lips parted. A little giggle left his mouth as he took it in willingly. 

Feeling one tongue, then two come up to meet his cock, Pure Vanilla slid further into the mouth, positively dissolving into him.

Hands clenched at his tawny brown thighs, the tongues lathering over him, and Pure Vanilla gripped the hair tighter. Using it as leverage, he began pulling himself in and out, plunging to the end of his length each time, and Shadow Milk didn’t gag; not here. 

It felt so exquisite, so beyond anything he ever thought sexually possible. He'd never felt so alive, so masculine, so himself. It made his body tremble and quiver with delight.

As he rocked back and forth, he felt himself do the same in real life. It was building past the point of no return, the dream realm shaking, becoming more and more unstable, and Shadow Milk was withering under him. The more he thrust, the more drunk with power and pleasure he became. 

"Y-you... should touch yourself... in the real world..." he muttered, and Shadow Milk’s reply swirled around him in the dream realm. 

"Wayyy ahead of you..." 

Faintly in the back of his mind, he could hear Shadow Milk gasping and moaning in the real world, little shrieks and giggles of delight ringing in the high-ceilinged bedroom. 

Knowing he was fucking him in the ass and the face at the same time was too much. 

It sent him from pure euphoria to ecstasy as his body seized up, at its limit. The little mews he released seemed to shatter the dream world around him, the entire realm crumbling around them.

He was back in his bedroom, and Shadow Milk was coming as well, gasping and squealing with delight, then laughing hysterically, giggling. "Th-that's... more like it, darling..." His face contorted with pleasure, his body continuing to tremble and convulse for several seconds while Pure Vanilla rode his own out into Shadow Milk’s ass. A relieved exhale marked the end of it, followed by heavy panting. 

Shadow Milk pulled off of him. Turning, eyes dangerous, hair disheveled, face flooded with a deep blue blush, he muttered: "Oh, my, my, my, you enjoyed it didn't you?" Coming forward, he left a clumsy, sloppy kiss on his lips, grinning with inebriation. 

Feeling instantly shy again, breathing heavily himself, Pure Vanilla blushed under his gaze, glancing away, stuttering: "Y-yes, I did," and Shadow Milk laughed. 

"Aaaand we’re in the real world again."

After cleaning up, they ended up under the covers, lazily tangled up in each other’s arms, gazing into each other’s eyes. 

"Will you... come again?" Pure Vanilla asked quietly.

A white eyebrow raised. "Oh? I’ve already cum enough for today." 

He smacked Shadow Milk lightly on the chest. "Not that! I mean will you come back here, to visit me?"

"Hm, if I want." 

He searched the avoidant blue eyes. "But... why are you even here now? Why did you approach me today of all times?" 

"Tssk! This again..." He ran a hand through Pure Vanilla's long hair. "I just thought ruining your travel plans would be the best time. Seems that moody Light of Resolution wasn’t worth it after all... considering you’re here with me." He grinned smugly as his fingers twirled around the strands of golden hair. 

Pure Vanilla blinked. "Wait. Are you... jealous of Dark Cacao Cookie?" 

The twirling stopped. "What? Of course not." 

He watched him dubiously, then giggled. 

"That’s not why!" Shadow Milk shouted. 

"I... believe you." 

He frowned. "It’s not!" Scoffing, he got on top of him, pinning him down on the bed. Pure Vanilla wouldn’t stop giggling which only upset Shadow Milk further. "Whatever! My timing is unknown to a lowly cookie such as yourself. I move in mysterious ways!" 

He grabbed Pure Vanilla's sides, making him shriek. His laughter was uncontrollable now as he tried to push Shadow Milk off him. "No, n-no!" he cried, writhing in his grasp. "S-stop, STOP! I’m ticklish!" 

"Teach you to sass me..." 

He was merciless as he went for the arm pits, holding him in place, and Pure Vanilla quickly became fed up. Shoving him off and crawling on top, he pinned Shadow Milk roughly down with his arms over his head, winding him. 

"Just admit you like me!" he hissed into his mouth, not meaning for it to sound so fierce, so confrontational. "Why else haven't you taken my Soul Jam already? Why not just take it now and be done with it?" 

Surprise and a half second something Pure Vanilla couldn’t quite read, flashed over Shadow Milk’s face. Then, calm settled over it. "What’s the rush?" he deflected coolly. 

The pressure on his wrists lessened, and Shadow Milk used the opportunity to push Pure Vanilla lightly off him. Back on his side, he pulled the blond in by the waist, their faces a breath apart. 

"I have eternity to extract it from you," he continued smoothly. "Besides, this is your fault really, since you came after me first." 

Pure Vanilla searched the mismatched eyes, getting an inkling of just how complex and numerous the layers this cookie shrouded himself with were, how much defense was stationed at his core. He'd have to earn his trust if he wanted to ask such questions, if he wanted to get closer to him, and Pure Vanilla... well, he wanted to get closer to Shadow Milk, at any cost. If eternity was all it would take, then he'd gladly wait.

Face softening, he lightly stroked the blue face. "Actually, you infiltrated my dream first, if I recall." 

"Pfft." Shadow Milk rolled his eyes. "A mistake I’ll never make again, clearly." 

He grinned slyly. "Starting after tonight of course." 

Shadow Milk blinked, then brought him in, nibbling his neck, making him squeak. "Yes, well, what a waste it’d be to not indulge as you said." He stroked a hand over Pure Vanilla’s bare leg.

"Well then... indulge all you want." Taking Shadow Milk’s hand, he brought fingers to his lips, kissing the knuckles, and blue eyes lit up. 

"Gladly."

Chapter Text

Pure Vanilla sipped distractedly from his teacup, morning light pouring into his dining room, shining on the delicate little pastries laid out on the table.

Shadow Milk was visiting him regularly now, every evening in fact. As soon as the sun disappeared from the sky, he was there in his bedroom, waiting. Their interactions ranged from light small-talk and gentle kisses, to cuddling and love-struck sweet nothings whispered between them, always ending in a night of heated passion.

The drunk high and star-struck infatuation was beginning to wear off, leaving behind the reality of their situation, leaving Pure Vanilla to wonder what they were exactly, what he meant to Shadow Milk, if Shadow Milk cared for him at all in that way. 

Sooner than later it'd either need to end or turn into something more, but for it do the latter, they'd need to talk about it, and that was the one thing Shadow Milk avoided at all costs.

Their time together was so easy, effortless, and that was the problem. Shadow Milk was actively pulling away, closing himself off outside of the physical side of things. As soon as any kind of substantial conversation seemed to form between them, he’d deflect away from it, and never once did he stay the night, not since that very first night when Pure Vanilla had somehow entered his dream. 

That was likely his reason for not staying. He feared Pure Vanilla getting too close, learning too much about him. Shadow Milk didn't trust him at all.

Sometimes when Pure Vanilla was asleep, Shadow Milk would visit him in his dreams, sometimes pursuing him all the way, other times, Pure Vanilla would have the confidence to take the lead—so dream visiting wasn't completely off the table. It just had to be on Shadow Milk's terms while he himself wasn't asleep, which was fine, except they seemed to have reached a point where they were going in circles, not moving anywhere, no trust at all on Shadow Milk's end.

If they could just... talk. Really talk.

He sighed, poking a small shortcake with a strawberry on top of it.

"Everything alright?"

Startling, he blinked up at White Lily Cookie who sat across from him, holding her own teacup.

"You love those shortcakes, Pure Vanilla."

An easy smile spread over his face. "I suppose I'm a bit distracted. A lot has been happening lately."

"I know. You almost missed our monthly tea party. What's been on your plate?"

He considered her, then finally took a bite of the cake, sighing before saying: "Well, it's not necessarily a bad thing. I've... felt a lot lighter than I have in months."

"Hm." She dipped a cookie into her tea, crossing one leg over the other. "Yes, you have been more chipper lately. Well, other than today. Even today though, you’re much livelier than when you first got back from that Spire of Shadows." 

Something in his chest seized up—something unresolved, terrifying, raw and forbidden at the mention of the place where he and Shadow Milk had waged psychological warfare against each other, where he'd been torn down, and made vulnerable.  Where Shadow Milk had been stripped of all his layers, left completely open to Pure Vanilla only to enact revenge against him. 

It was a messy whirlwind Pure Vanilla had neatly tucked away deep down inside where it wasn't supposed to ever resurface, and yet there it was, haunting him, filling his lungs with panic.

The reaction must have shown on his face, because White Lily added quickly: "Er, forgive me. I did not mean to mention it." 

"I... have been doing better," he admitted, calming his breathing. Taking a deep breath, he gathered up the memories and tidily put them back up on the shelf, promising them he'd be back for them later, though this pledge was doubtful... Finding White Lily's face, he heaved silent sigh of relief. "I've been doing a lot better. Actually, I’ve been... seeing someone."

She clinked her cup down in surprise. "You have? Who?" 

"A... gentleman." 

She gasped loudly. "Oh my! Have you used the toy I gave you then—" 

"Lily!" 

She covered her mouth, giggling. "Sorry! I’m just so excited for you! Oh, is he handsome? Does he treat you well?" 

"Yes, and y-yes." Thinking of their nights together, yes, he had to admit, Shadow Milk did treat him very well. 

"You stuttered."—He looked up and saw a probing look on her face—"Are you... blushing?" 

"What?" he exclaimed, feeling his face get hotter. "No!" 

"Don’t tell me..." Her eyes narrowed. "You’ve slept together already, haven’t you?" 

"Lily!" His face was surely scarlet now. 

"Oh my Maker, you have!"

He put his hands out placatingly, anxiety gripping his insides. "You can't tell anyone!"

"Of course! I won't tell a soul, but Vanilla, if you've taken this next step, it must be pretty serious then, right?"

He swallowed. "It's just casual right now. I... I don’t know if it’s anything." Glancing away, he tried not to look so devastated, but finally saying it out loud, that's exactly what he felt.

"Oh. Vanilla..."

"We mostly... meet up at night. Every night, actually. I..." 

"Oh." 

"I just... how can I... approach something else with him without scaring him away or coming on too strong?" 

"Well, have you been on a date yet?"

"Er,"—he looked at his hands—"no."

"Maybe take him out somewhere." 

"Um," panic shot through him at the suggestion, not exactly ready to tell the world about his nightly trysts with the cookie of Deceit. The Ancients would never approve, maybe even declare war against them. "I don’t want to go public quite yet..." 

"Well, then set up something at your meeting spot. You have one I presume." 

Embarrassed, he simply nodded mutely, face burning. 

"Do something simple. Something classy. Maybe cook him something?" 

"Mm?" His chest lifted at the suggestion. "Oh. Yes. Yes, I can try that!" Excitement laced his insides. "That doesn’t seem too forward. A nice little setup. Oh! I know just the dish too, and I’ve been saving up a really nice bottle of wine!" 

"There you go! And then you can finish up the night with something spicy..." 

"Lily!" 

"...and then try more dates the more he visits!" 

"I... Yeah. That’s..." He took her hand, eternally grateful for this cookie he clearly didn't deserve as a friend. "Thank you. I really needed this." 

"You’re welcome!" she said, beaming at him. "Just let me know if you need more advice or more toys." 

"Lily!" 

She chuckled at that before sipping from her teacup again. 

***

Hurrying around his bedroom, Pure Vanilla wanted to make sure everything was just perfect.

Little glowing candles floated in the air, leading outside to his balcony where the sun was setting. Walking out there, he smoothed the blue and white tablecloth that housed a bounty of food, treats, desserts, wine, as well as beautiful pitchers of flowers, and well, okay, maybe he'd gone overboard with the flowers.

Blue forget-me-nots surrounded the table in pots that were placed on the floor, hanging from the walls. Blooming honeysuckle draped down from the balcony's overhang, engulfing everything in beautiful spring blooms. The candles floated amongst them, making for a truly ethereal, fairy-like scene.

Even the chairs had little flowers on vines twisting around the arms and legs, and Pure Vanilla sat in one, exhaling an anxious breath.

He just needed to talk to him, perhaps not anything serious tonight, just... talk, like a normal couple.

His heart fluttered at that.

A couple? Are we...

He shook his head slightly. He shouldn't put pressure on them to be anything. This was just a harmless, low stakes outing. It didn't need to be anything big.

If he did this right, took it slow and slowly built trust with Shadow Milk, maybe he could bring the cookie of Deceit back to the path of light. If he succeeded in that, then maybe they could be together, in public, and be something... real. 

Blinking, his heart immediately sank at the thought. 

Shadow Milk doesn’t want to be saved. 

He didn’t even stay the night for fear of a dream invasion, always sneaking away after he thought Pure Vanilla was asleep. What if he didn't want anything more, and this little thing they had going on was soon going to end?

Putting his face in his hands, he sighed. The very thought of never seeing Shadow Milk again made his insides clench and scream in despair. Was he falling completely head over heels for someone who only saw him as a fun lay?

There was a knock on his bedroom door that made him spring upright, eyes wide.

"Oh, Nillyyyyyyy!" a feminine voice sang, and Pure Vanilla flew out of the chair. 

Hurrying back into the room, he halted when he spotted an intrigued and curious Shadow Milk floating in the air above his bed, glancing around at the candles. 

The blue cookie was in a woman's body today, blue cleavage busting out of a slit on the top of a jester's outfit similar to his regular one, except this one hugged his feminine curves, more slits cut out of the hips to reveal bare skin. 

"Hm?" Shadow Milk questioned, popping his hip out. "What's all this?" His eyes fell on Pure Vanilla, and he grinned devilishly, his eyebrows bouncing up and down. "Steamy candlelight?"

Chapter Text

"Oh! You um, changed your look." Pure Vanilla stared up at him, eyeline wavering as he took in the feminine form.

Shadow Milk folded his arms, raising his chin in the air. "That a problem?"

"N-no! Not at all! You look nice!" He paused to clear his throat. "Are your pronouns still he/him? I know you were saying—"

"Yup! Still he/him!" Sliding both hands down his curves suggestively, grinning, he added in his husky feminine voice: "And like I told you: I'm still as much of a man now as I was yesterday."

Pure Vanilla blinked at that. The declaration as well as the follow up wink made his cheeks heat up. Something about the complete confidence Shadow Milk had in his body and gender was so very... 

"Hot." 

"Hm?" Shadow Milk questioned, and Pure Vanilla realized he'd spoken aloud. 

Clearing his throat again, he offered his arm sheepishly, his face burning. "I have something to show you." 

"Oh?" Interest rose in his voice. "Well nowwww, this is fancy..." Flying down, Shadow Milk enthusiastically took the arm offered him, grinning as he pressed close. Pure Vanilla tried not to take notice of the soft plushness pushed against his arm. Instead, this close, he noticed Shadow Milk's eyeliner for the first time, the black and dark blue lines elongating the clever eyes, the rouged cheeks and dark blue lip... Had Shadow Milk dolled himself up a bit just for him?

Giving a timid smile, he led them both outside, his nerves ramping up. 

He needed to keep it together. They just needed to talk. That's why he was doing all this. A simple get-to-know-you conversation would be considered a major success at this point. Anything that made—whatever this was—more substantial, more... close. 

"Oh," Shadow Milk exclaimed softly, letting go of Pure Vanilla's arm. Standing under the flower and candlelit overhang, the blue cookie gazed around in pure awe. His lips parted, eyes large and innocent as he took it all in, silence settling over them.

"You... did all this for me?" His whisper carried into the cool, silent air. Looking back at Pure Vanilla, his eyebrows furrowed, a question there in his eyes.

Smiling gently, he came forward, taking Shadow Milk's hands in his. "Of course. Who else would it be for?"

Blue eyes searched his face, something vulnerable in the normally guarded expression. For once, the loquacious cookie appeared to be at a loss for words, simply gazing back at him, the rawness in his face not leaving. 

Giving the hands a warm squeeze, Pure Vanilla let go, stepping behind him to pull out a chair with a smile. Shadow Milk stared at the silent offer before blankly floating over and taking a seat. Scooching it forward, Pure Vanilla then came and sat beside him, their knees lightly touching under the table.

"I thought," he began, breaking the silence, "you know, I've never offered you anything to eat after all these times you've visited me. It seemed only fair— What?" 

Shadow Milk snorted, a white eyebrow quirking upward. "Oh, you've offered me plenty to eat, Nilly." Some of his suave oozed back in as he eyed Pure Vanilla humorously, a long tongue sliding over his lips. 

The poor flustered blond blinked away, the cold night feeling suddenly like an oven. "Y-you know what I mean..."

A giggle rang out. Propping his elbows on the table, hands laced under his chin, his face split with a grin. "Continue."

"That's pretty much it. I just wanted to do something nice for you."

Shadow Milk blinked at that, distrust flicking across blue eyes. "I see... and what sparked this?" He swished a blue hand, gesturing to everything at the table before snatching up a delicate little biscuit and popping it into his mouth, saying with it full: "You just randomly wanted to serve me an elaborate dinner under flowery candlelight just because you like me? I mean, I totally get it. It's me we're talking about here,"—he tossed his hair, putting his nose in the air—"but also, it's for another reason, isn't it?"

Pure Vanilla's heart pounded under the piercing stare. "I thought I'd change things up a bit," he replied avoidantly, popping the cork off a bottle of wine he'd bought in the Holly Berry kingdom decades ago, foam quickly rising to the top and spilling over.

Shadow Milk held out his glass, looking him over curiously. "Am I boring you?"

"What?" He almost spilled the wine. "No! Not at all, I just—"

"Good." Swirling his glass, Shadow Milk took a sip. "I still want to keep you around, my darling."

His hands stilled. "Y-you do?"

"Mm hm. I've never had such a generous lover. You spoil me." The glint of flirtation in his eyes set Pure Vanilla into motion again, clearing his throat as he mindlessly poured his own glass before sitting again.

"I... well, why shouldn't I?" He rested his arm around the back of Shadow Milk's chair, taking his own sip from his glass.

"Mmm. I do like this change of scene, and this more doting Pure Vanilla." Reaching out, he looped a single strand of blond hair around his finger. "Looks good on you, sweetheart."

Blue and yellow eyes flitted away, and he hoped to hide his blush in his wine glass. "Thanks." 

Shadow Milk giggled, the sound making Pure Vanilla's chest lift. "Well now, don't keep me waiting. What have you prepared for me?"

The night was young, and things were already going much better than Pure Vanilla had anticipated. Shadow Milk seemed to enjoy everything he'd cooked, taking little nibbles of this and that, leaving behind dozens of half-finished treats and appetizers in his eagerness to try more. 

He'd made a good call making all the food bitesize...

Watching him, a warmth flitted through his chest. "Have you ever had a dinner party before, Shadow Milk?"

"Can't say I have." He interrupted himself to shove more things in his mouth. "Mm! Oh, that is just delightful! What did you put in this?" He held up a mini treacle tart full of cream and berries.

"Lime zest, as well as coconut cream," he replied, reaching out and wiping a white dollop from Shadow Milk's bottom lip.

The motion made the long lashes flit up at him, the blue eyes lighting up. "Ohhh! That's what I'm tasting! That is clever, Nilly. You made these all yourself?"

He nodded, licking the cream off his finger. "Cooking is something I really enjoy, especially cooking for others. I'm glad you like it."

"Mm." Swallowing, Shadow Milk eyed him for a second, a dab of rouge—having nothing to do with the makeup—there on his cheeks, then he turned to grab something else, adding: "Never had someone make anything for me, and so many things too, hee hee hee!"

"Oh. Really?"

Grabbing a small puff pastry filled with cream cheese and bacon, he glanced back at him, a strange smile covering his face. "Nope."

Taking up his own miniature pie and leaning back in his chair, Pure Vanilla put it to his lips. "Well, we should definitely change that. I'll make you anything you want."

He giggled. "That's what I like to hear."

Releasing a humorous puff of air, Pure Vanilla was sipping from his wine glass again, Shadow Milk following his lead and everything about this soft date felt so calm, so easy. Things couldn't always be easy, not if this was ever going to go anywhere, not if he wanted to break down the titanium barriers guarding Shadow Milk's core, but at the same time... maybe this easiness was the key. Maybe he just needed to direct it into a productive direction and the rest would sort itself out. 

The blue cookie held a small cube of cheese between his fingers before popping it into his mouth contently, and Pure Vanilla watched him, hesitating, then a soft smile spread over his face.

We just need to talk.

Grabbing the wine bottle again, he poured them each a refill, filling his plate with everything Shadow Milk had left behind, finishing the leftovers in amusement. A few drinks in, and the night air soon filled with lively conversation. 

Shadow Milk's defenses and tight lips loosened, and he wasn't the only one...

Chapter Text

"So much has changed since that fucking tree," Shadow Milk said, downing his glass, setting it down where Pure Vanilla refilled it, as well as his own. "I hardly recognize Earthbread. Can't say whether I like the differences..." 

"What's the thing that's most surprised you?" he asked curiously, buzzed by this point, a soft, warm hazy feeling casting a veil over his senses, removing the usual anxious hum always present in his gut. 

"Ha! People wear underwear now."

Pure Vanilla giggled into his wine glass.

"They also bathe more. Let me tell you, do medieval folk reek..."

He giggled harder, and Shadow Milk grinned at him.

"Also, there are so many more towns and kingdoms I've never even heard of... I've had a time going around exploring!"

"Oh? Any kingdom you like best?" 

"Hmmm... Holly Berry's aesthetic is rather nice, only the aesthetic by the way,"—he shot Pure Vanilla a look before smacking his arm for the blond's continued giggling—"Shut it! They have really delicious wine there too..."

"Mm? Is this one okay?" 

"To tell you the truth, I can't really tell the difference. It all tastes the same to me." 

"But you just said—" 

"I prefer Holly Berry wine since there's a lot more of it there, and no one judges you if you buy twenty bottles at once."

Pure Vanilla was chuckling some more. "Ohhh, I see!"

"Also, if I didn't like your wine, I wouldn't drink it." With a toss of his hair, Shadow Milk floated lazily out of his chair. Holding his glass, he meandered over to the balcony's edge. "Hmm!" he exclaimed, leaning over the railing. "Well, now, look at that! A view and everything..." 

"Oh, yes," Pure Vanilla projected from his seat. "I do like the countryside." 

"Oh, are those your cream sheep down there?" He put a hand above his eyes, scanning below.

"Such little sweeties, aren't they? And what about you, Shadow Milk? Where do you live now?" 

The question evoked an immediate reaction. It was clearly the wrong thing to say as the languorous mood dissipated, something flashing over Shadow Milk's face. 

"I-I..." Pure Vanilla stuttered, his body fighting against the alcohol to regain some level of social decorum. "...Sorry. I didn't mean—" 

"Candy Apple, Black Sapphire, and I live in a fabulous meadow!" he declared loudly, turning with a wide grin to Pure Vanilla with his arms spread out, spilling a bit on the ground. "Only the prettiest of sights. My new spire is quite something to behold! You really should see it! Perhaps I'll take you there some time—" The bold smile froze, his words halting as he seemed to realize what'd he'd said. 

Something unpleasant, not quite yet anxiety sang through the hazy muddle, considering Shadow Milk's last spire was in fact, a place of torment for Pure Vanilla. There was silence in the midst of the spire elephant in the room as they both avoided eye contact. 

"But of course," Shadow Milk finally added, clearing his throat, "your room is just fine! It's a nice private little place. Not noisy at all."

"Mm." Glancing to the side, Pure Vanilla didn't know what to say. He wasn't really in the right head space to discuss such a topic, so instead he poured himself another glass.

Shadow Milk flew over, offering his own, muttering: "That goes double for me..."

Half an hour passed, and the bottle was nearly empty. 

The mood however, had shifted back to harmless giggling and light, random topics as they talked loudly, laughing at inappropriate volumes, both flushed under the moonlight. 

"You hid Burning Spice's axe in a library?" Pure Vanilla repeated, throwing his head back with laughter, well past tipsy. "What ever for?"

"It's the last place he'd ever look!" Shadow Milk replied, his leg resting over Pure Vanilla's lap, the other bouncing happily on the ground.

A tawny brown hand gripped the jester's knee, a thumb occasionally massaging it. "I assume he didn't take that lightly..."

"Well, how was I supposed to know he could summon it like Thor Cookie's hammer? I had to hide in the walls for weeks after that to avoid his wrath..."

They were both laughing, shattering the night air. 

"You're quite the prankster yourself," Shadow Milk continued, eyeing him with a grin, "with what you did in my dream with those hats and... were the witches' limbs worms???" 

"Egg noodles," he corrected, covering his mouth after snorting. 

"Egg noodles?" Shadow Milk cracked up. "Why?" 

"It's what came to mind first!" 

"Hee hee hee! Oh, that's good..." 

"I'm glad you enjoyed it!" 

Looking him over, a smirk on the painted lips, Shadow Milk set his glass down, leaning forward. Grabbing him by the chin, he lifted the tawny brown face to meet his gaze, and Pure Vanilla just let him, grinning back at him. "I've never been on a date before," he said softly, hand moving to stroke his face, the alcohol on his breath hitting Pure Vanilla's face, mixing and lingering with his own, "not with the whole tree prison."

"Not even before that?" he asked, leaning his cheek into the touch, eyes never leaving the blue ones in front of him.

"Before that... I was to only focus on my studies. Fount of Knowledge stuff and all that. Romance was strictly forbidden." 

"It was?" He gripped the knee still over his lap in consolation. 

"The closest I've ever had to a date are the little games we'd play together at the spire." Black and white eyelashes fluttered away from Pure Vanilla's face as Shadow Milk exhaled a small laugh. "But this is definitely the first date date, where I'm not tormenting anyone... I— Sorry... Everything with the spire... I..." 

His eyebrows furrowed, not even inebriation breaking down the walls on this one. 

"Fuck." 

Removing his hand, he got up quickly, stumbling a bit before hovering in the air. 

"I... I shouldn't be here. This... this was a mistake. This whole thing is a mistake!" Shadow Milk's hands came up, pulling at his hair as a panicked little laugh left his mouth. "You... you and I don't belong together, not after everything that happened, not after what I did to you; what you did to me... You shouldn't be doing nice things for me. It's not fair, it's—"

Pure Vanilla was there all of a sudden, struggling to keep his own balance as he took Shadow Milk's hand in his, pulling him back towards him, placing the blue hand over his own heart, right over his Soul Jam. Surprisingly, Shadow Milk let him, paused trepidation in his face. 

"You know..." Pure Vanilla began in the calmest voice he'd likely ever mustered, "I was terrified living in your spire,"—Shadow Milk searched his face in distressed response—"and yet, there was always something about you that intrigued me. I was obsessed with you just as much as you were with me. I still am." 

His eyes widened. 

"On some level, I knew you understood me, more than anyone ever could. Despite everything, I wanted to learn more about you, wanted to be near you always..." He exhaled a laugh. "Don't I sound insane..." 

"I... was always drawn to you too," Shadow Milk admitted, and Pure Vanilla's chest lifted. "Who wouldn't be. Everything about you is just so..." Searching his face, he never finished that sentence, stretching out a single finger, tracing it down the tawny brown cheek.

There was a pause.

Pure Vanilla watched him for a moment, then pulled Shadow Milk forward, very gently kissing him.

Pulling their lips apart, he spoke a breath away from the dark blue lips that surely had just stained his own. "I... like talking to you." 

The clever mismatched eyes flared in more excitement than surprise. "I like talking to you too." 

"I want to talk to you more often." 

"Okay." 

Pure Vanilla exhaled a small smile. "Yeah?" 

He leaned in. "Yeah." 

With Shadow Milk floating slightly above him, Pure Vanilla couldn't help but glance down for a split second at the pale blue cleavage that shone under the moonlight right at his eye level, his cheeks heating up as he quickly looked elsewhere. 

"You can touch them," Shadow Milk muttered. 

"H-huh?" 

Bringing his torso closer, arms wrapping around Pure Vanilla's neck, the blond was forced to take him by the waist, the bosom inches from his face. "You've been trying not to eye them all night." 

"H-have I?" 

Shadow Milk bent down, pressing a kiss to his lips before whispering: "I know you want to take this new body for a spin." 

"I-I..." 

He slid a thumb over Pure Vanilla's mouth, bringing it back with the dark blue smudge of his transferred lipstick. "There's no reason to hold back."

Taking one of the hands from his waist, Shadow Milk placed the trembling fingers firmly over his breast, and Pure Vanilla's breath hitched in response, face bursting with hot want. "I s-suppose." 

He released a little laugh, continuing drunkly: "You know... I held off showing you this form, worried you might not like it." 

"Why would I not like it," he all but whimpered. 

A vulnerable little grin appeared. "I thought you only liked men." 

He blinked up at him, at his own words said back to him. "But you are a man, Shadow Milk."

Innocence filled the blue face, eyes widening slightly.

"You've told me so; many times, in fact. I... never expected you of all cookies to be insecure of such things..."

"Pfft! I'm not insecure!" he slurred. "I just didn't know how you'd react."

He eyed the defensive expression. "I don't just like men, you know. I like... all types, but I don't quite understand. You thought I wouldn't like this form? And because of it, you felt you needed to hide it from me?" He found the blue eyes, searching them openly. "You're so beautiful, Shadow Milk, no matter what shape you take."

There was silence. 

Emotion and something sparkling swirled in the complex, mismatched orbs, then Shadow Milk was closing the gap, kissing him again. 

It was rough, claiming. Hands came up and pushed on Pure Vanilla's shoulders, forcing him to stumble backwards. The blond hummed in response, soaking up the touch and scent when he tripped, falling back into his chair with a thud, no time to catch his breath before Shadow Milk was climbing into his lap. His leg caught on the tablecloth and yanked it forward. Pitchers and plates of food coming crashing to the ground in a loud cacophony of sound. 

Neither of them seemed to care as they kissed, gripping each other desperately.

Shadow Milk began unbuttoning the front of his jester's outfit, more of the cleavage being revealed, pushing it forward so when their lips pulled apart, Pure Vanilla was forced to nuzzle into the bust; not that he was complaining... Feeling the silky-smooth skin, he kissed the top of the breasts, leaving remnant lipstick smudges on them, enthusiastically leaning into every inch of plushness meeting his lips and face. 

He pulled the shoulders of the black and blue outfit down, yanking it to the waist so Shadow Milk was in nothing but a black lacy bra on top. 

He unclipped it from behind, and Shadow Milk giggled, grinding into him, the underwear quickly sliding off his shoulders. The sight of a now topless, half-lidded, doe-eyed Shadow Milk had Pure Vanilla's labia hot and oozing. 

Nuzzling into the curves, his tongue found an erect nipple, and he held it between his lips, sucking. Shadow Milk gasped, lulling his head back, fingers tangling into blond hair. Pure Vanilla's hand came up stroking, cupping, then lightly teasing the other breast, and soft little spasms mixed with breathy little laughs escaped his lovely blue angel's lips.

Coursing with liquid courage, he gripped Shadow Milk around the thighs, lifting him, standing, pressing him down onto the table. Taking a moment, he removed his white and golden robe, sliding his shorts off, then promptly pulled the rest of Shadow Milk's outfit off much to the cookie's obvious delight. 

Putting his face between the blue thighs—his fingers immediately going to his own wetted clitoris—his tongue teased over the outer folds of Shadow Milk's cunt, forcing the cookie to writhe underneath him. 

It was all going so fast, so furiously, no inhibitions or anxieties holding him back as he ravaged him. 

Shadow Milk was loudly exclaiming, gasping, laughing. "W-where did all this gusto come from? Hm? You know, someone could walk by and see us—hah!" He was cut off by his own sharp inhale, Pure Vanilla tonguing precisely over the blue clitoris, swirling and focusing the tip over it, exactly the way he'd want his own done. Then he pressed inside, to the deepest folds. 

A leg wrapped around his head, Shadow Milk tugging gently on his hair, pulling him in closer, rutting up into his face.

It didn't take long for Shadow Milk to come, the little shrieks and mewls forcing Pure Vanilla over as well. 

Breathing out muffled moans into the pretty pussy, he gripped one thigh, his body trembling with pleasure. The effects of the alcohol made a dopey smile slide easily over his face as his hips twitched through the last remaining pulses. 

As it subsided, he lifted his head, getting up, the ground shifting as he did. Chest heaving, he hovered inches from the dazed blushing face of an equally, blissfully undone Shadow Milk. 

"Come tomorrow night," Pure Vanilla muttered, breathing heavily into his mouth, his thumb sliding over the smeared bottom lip. He was sure his own face was covered in the dark blue, just as Shadow Milk's vulva was. "We'll have dinner again." 

Shadow Milk blinked, then chuckled through his own labored breaths. "Well, alright, but only because of the head, darling. It was really something..." 

"I have more to offer," Pure Vanilla insisted seriously. "Much more." 

"Hm?" 

"I want to give you everything." 

He blinked, excitement there. "Everything?" 

He kissed him lazily, pulling away to mumble: "Everything. Everything you could ever want. I'm yours." 

Shadow Milk exhaled a bewildered sound, stroking his face, then a long tongue came out, licking his bottom lip. "You're mine."

Chapter Text

Truthless Recluse hovered at the river's edge.

Anxiety coursed through his body as he stared into the depths of the Yogurt River of Rebirth. The pure, milky water lapped lightly at the shore, beckoning him.

He had no choice. It was either him or his friends. 

His body quickly slipped below the surface, plummeting into the river's depths.

He sank and sank, unable to breath, unable to move at all, his heart hammering in his chest, panic rising up in his throat. It was all so heavy, pushing down on him, crushing him under its weight as he fell down, down, down...

 What had he done last time to escape?

Last time?

A part of him flickered with confusion.

This has happened before?

Whispers came into his mind—the many voices of the Yogurt River.

"Choose deceit or die."

No, he thought desperately. I can't choose deceit. Not again.

Again?

He began suffocating, trying desperately for air but only asphyxiating, the water pouring into his mouth, choking him, drowning him. He was not claustrophobic, but at that moment, he'd never been so terrified of being crushed, devoured by the milky water, swallowed up into nothing. He'd never known such terror, not since... not since he could remember.

Resigning himself, abandoning all hope, he closed his eyes, accepting the waves of desolation washing over him. As he faded fast, a sound, like movement in the water rippled above him. He managed to crack his eyes back open simply out of impulse.

A blue hand was extended out to him, right in front of his face. He stared at it.

"You must embrace deceit," the Yogurt River declared, the voices all around him.

Blinking at the unwavering blue limb, his body flooded with purpose, movement. Using all his strength, he threw his arm upward, grasping the hand firmly. 

Immediately he was pulled upward.

There was a rush of water and pounding in his head, then it all vanished—the sound, the terrible crushing of his body. His lungs filled with air, relief instantly washing over him, cradling him, embracing him.

Breathing heavily, he opened his eyes. Glancing around frantically, he realized he was being held by someone. Seeing the black and blue diamond motif, he recognized who it was and quickly pulled away, shoving the cookie off him.

"G-get away from me!" he shrieked, tripping and falling back against something hard. 

Grunting, he glanced behind him at the tree he'd backed into, then stared for a moment at the grassy landscape under the peaceful starlight. 

It was his dream realm.

"It's okay," Shadow Milk said softly in his feminine voice, kneeling down in front of him. "You're safe now." 

"S-Shadow Milk...?" His eyes found the blue face, then traced over the feminine form. Then he was glancing down at the dark blue robes still on his own body, and his chest heaved in panic. "N-no... I... I can't be in this form again. I..." 

He began hyperventilating when Shadow Milk took him by the shoulders, redirecting his focus to the swirling blue eyes in front of him. "It's not real," he reassured, and Pure Vanilla searched his face, completely distraught. 

"But it was. It was real... I was real." He choked up, swallowing back the emotion. 

"That's not who you are anymore," he replied gently. 

He stared at the gentle expression on his face, chest tightening. "Isn't that... who you want me to be though?"

Something crossed the blue features, then Shadow Milk was placing a gentle hand on his face. "No. Not anymore." 

Gawking, he watched as Shadow Milk leaned forward, placing the gentlest of kisses to his lips, feather-light and sweet. 

"Rest now..."

The calmest serenity washed over him as soon as those lips touched his for a second time. He closed his eyes, leaning into them, allowing the pulling of respite and calm to take him. 

Everything was going to be okay. He was safe now; safe to give into warm tranquility.

***

Sunlight warmed Pure Vanilla's face, shining in his eyes as he stirred awake.

A headache immediately took over, and he sat up, groaning, pushing messy sheets of hair out of his face. Holding his head, he sighed. 

His dream... he still remembered every part of it. Shadow Milk had... comforted him, and it'd been the real Shadow Milk as well. He knew that much, but what did it mean? 

Getting flashes of everything that happened at the dinner party, his eyes widened. 

Right. Things had gotten... out of hand, but not necessarily in a bad way. He glanced down at his naked body, at the blue lipstick smudges on the inside of his thighs, up his torso. 

They'd... moved things to the bedroom.

He sighed again. 

They'd gotten further than he'd ever hoped, both sharing things from deep within, even breaching the subject of the spire, but what did that mean for them now? Could he really make anything work with the Cookie of Deceit? What if last night was too much too fast? What if he spooked him, revealed too much of his own feelings, made himself too vulnerable? What if Shadow Milk never returned after this, or worse; the next time he saw him, what if he was completely detached and even more closed off than before?

He closed his eyes, the hangover not helping things...

As he ruminated, there was a rustle that made him jump. A soft gasp left Pure Vanilla's mouth as he turned. 

To his utter surprise, Shadow Milk was sitting up, hair equally as messy, naked, his entire mouth smudged down one side with blue lipstick, and he was still in his feminine form. The eyeliner was still mostly intact, though creased on one side. Sliding forward, he snaked his arms around Pure Vanilla's waist, burying his face into the spot where neck and shoulder met. 

"It's too early..." he muttered, kissing the skin there.

Pure Vanilla gaped, the touch heavenly, gentle, making his heart burst. "Y-you... stayed the night..." he said bewilderedly.

"Mmm, didn't have much of a choice after the amount we both drank." 

A little exhale left his mouth. "You... were in my dream." 

"I've been in lots of your dreams." 

"Yes, but you—" 

"What does it matter?" he deflected, a slight edge to his voice. "I'm here, aren't I?" 

He glanced over at the window filled with morning light, and a smile crept over his face. "Yes. Yes, you are." 

"Come here..." Shadow Milk pulled him back down onto the bed, taking Pure Vanilla into his arms, holding him by the waist, hand moving the hair out of the way so his fingers could stroke down his back. 

Sighing softly into the warm touch, he nuzzled into the soft breasts, right above where Shadow Milk's Soul Jam was embedded. 

"That's it," he cooed, stroking Pure Vanilla's back rhythmically.

It was so warm, so cozy. He let his eyes slide shut, breathing in his lover's scent. 

It was daytime and he still had this beautiful man in his bed. A man, who, had protected him in his dreams after declaring Pure Vanilla his own...

His eyes slowly slid open.

"Shadow Milk," he asked in barely above a whisper, and there was a pause, then a soft: "Hm?" in response.

Pure Vanilla inhaled slowly then exhaled, glad he was in Shadow Milk's chest and not looking directly into his face.

"What... are we?"

Silence, then a soft sigh rang out. "Alcohol is out of our system, darling," he answered tiredly. "The time for drunk confessions is over." 

"It's not a confession. It's... just a question." 

Getting no reply, he hesitated, then pulled away to look up at him. 

"I'm still yours. I meant what I said last night." 

Eyes trailed over his face. "So did I," Shadow Milk responded without hesitation, and Pure Vanilla blinked. 

"You—" 

"Shhh." He pulled him back into his chest. "So chatty... Can't you just relax and enjoy something for what it is?" 

Pure Vanilla stared into the bosom, then exhaled a small, content breath, wrapping his arm around Shadow Milk's waist. "I suppose." 

The gentlest laugh he'd ever heard escaped the blue cookie's mouth. "You suppose..."

They laid like that for a long while, soaking in the other's scent and warmth. Just as Pure Vanilla was drifting off again, the doorbell rang.

He stilled.

"Expecting someone?" Shadow Milk asked, and the blond sat up. 

"No," he answered curiously. "No one ever visits unannounced." 

"Well, just leave it then." 

He hesitated, then there was a pounding on the door that made him jump, and of all things, Dark Cacao's rough voice rang out. 

"Pure Vanilla! Pure Vanilla Cookie, are you there?" 

His eyes widened as he and Shadow Milk made eye contact. 

"Are you alright! If you don't answer in the next minute, I'm breaking the door down!" 

He threw the covers off. "Oh Maker...!"

Chapter Text

Dark Cacao continued his shouting, as well as his ultimatum to break the door down, much to Pure Vanilla's acute horror.

The poor blond hurried about his room, desperately searching for his clothes, realizing quickly they were still out on the balcony before sprinting over.

Snatching his things and returning, he struggled to yank them over his body, stumbling as he slipped on the shorts. That's when he caught himself in the nearby mirror and gasped. 

"Oh dear!" 

Coming up to it, he frantically rubbed the blue lipstick off his face, combing through the tangles in his hair with his fingers. 

"That's it, I'm breaking it in!" Dark Cacao shouted, and Pure Vanilla screeched, flying to the door, throwing it open. 

Before leaving, he stole a glance back at Shadow Milk. 

The blue cookie was still on the bed, still as a statue, an impassable look on his face as he watched him.

Blinking, Pure Vanilla didn't have time to interpret the expression as he promptly left.

Luckily, he was able to wrench the front door open before Dark Cacao could do any damage.

The enormous cookie immediately gasped.

"Pure Vanilla!" Stepping forward, Dark Cacao pulled him into a bone-crushing hug. "Thank the Maker you are alright!" 

He blinked into the thick coat, the fur currently up his nose, not expecting the affection nor the emotional voice from the stiff, formal man. "O-of course, I'm alright," he stammered, voice muffled against his shoulder. "What on Earthbread is the matter?"

"You did not visit!" he exclaimed, pulling back, now gripping Pure Vanilla by the shoulders, searching his face seriously. "I was worried." 

"Huh? I sent a letter, Dark Cacao! An emergency came up, so I had to return home!" 

"An emergency? Are you alright?"

"Yes, of course! I'm perfectly fine. I explained it all in the letter..."

"The letter... I left as soon as you did not arrive that night. I had to see if you were okay."

He blinked. "That's really sweet of you, but I'm fine, really. I was not expecting you at all." 

"And you're sure you're not hurt anywhere?" He looked him over in concern.

"I am perfectly well." 

He sighed. "That is a relief. I am glad you are okay."

Seeing the softened features, he stared. "Dark Cacao. Did you really travel all this way just to check on me?" 

The cedar-brown face flushed a deep color. "I did. I'm not sure what I would've done with myself had you been hurt. I had to see for myself you were okay." 

"Well, as you can see, all is well. Why don't you come in and have some tea?" 

The request was rather insane considering who else was still currently in the house, doing who knew what in that moment... but he couldn't exactly turn away his friend who'd taken a week-long journey just to check on him. "You traveled all this way. It's no trouble at all." 

"I'd hate to impose..." 

"Nonsense! Come in!" 

The two sat at Pure Vanilla's kitchen table, the same one he'd had tea on with White Lily just the other day. The atmosphere was completely different now, however.

His hangover was killing him, pounding against his head, and the tea and stress was hardly the antidote for it. Beyond their light conversation, the house was eerily quiet. It had him nervous. He kept thinking he saw Shadow Milk's shadows slinking around, darting out of sight from behind a corner, but after more than one double take, he'd quickly realize they were just normal shadows and breathe easy.

The jester was unpredictable, and this surprise visit surely wasn't going over well with him. He'd already admitted his jealousy of Dark Cacao, and they'd just hugged a second ago... not to mention, it was the first morning Shadow Milk had actually stayed, and Pure Vanilla was already spending it with someone else...

Perhaps tea hadn't been a good idea.

Dark Cacao held up his tiny teacup in a massive hand, the big man looking out of place at the delicate little table as he asked: "So, what was this emergency you had to return home for?"

Pure Vanilla blinked back into the present. "Huh? O-oh, well, it's quite the story... You see..."—he grasped for something—"Well, one of my dear friend's father... died, so I—" 

"Died?" he exclaimed. "Which friend was this?" 

"U-u-um. You don't know her. She's new in town." 

"I see. That is terrible news." 

"Mm. I am only sorry I couldn't get my message to you sooner, so you didn't have to come all this way."

"Do not worry. It is nothing. Just knowing you are okay is plenty worth it."

He blinked at that, often surprised by how gentle and compassionate Dark Cacao was under the stern exterior. "Do you have somewhere to stay while you're here?" 

"I am... visiting my son today then I'll travel back tonight." 

"Oh, perhaps we could take lunch together?" Lunch too? What was he thinking?

"Yes, that would be nice." He smiled softly, and Pure Vanilla noticed for the first time, the dark bags under tired eyes. 

"Did you not rest well, my friend?" 

Purple eyes flicked away. "No. I thought you were in danger and I... Well, I haven't slept since over a day ago."

His jaw dropped. "Dark Cacao! You need to rest!" 

"I will, in my carriage later—" 

"Absolutely not! I must insist you stay here and rest until you are rejuvenated." Inviting him to stay over too?

Dark Cacao blinked. "Pure Vanilla, I couldn't possibly impose." 

He stood. "I insist. I've created this mess. For you to come all this way... I have a spare room. It's no trouble at all. You should rest now so you may be rejuvenated when you see your son!"

Gratitude painted the rigid expression. "That... would be nice." 

He took Pure Vanilla's hand in his. 

"Thank you." 

He smiled, and a sliver of guilt and anxiety hit him for the continued hand touching. "O-of course, old friend." 

Dark Cacao considered him, not withdrawing his touch much to Pure Vanilla's sweating anguish. 

There was a long pause, then: "Pure Vanilla Cookie, while I am here... I believe now is a better time than ever. I must tell you something." 

"Oh, yeah?" He searched the serious face curiously. "What is it?" 

Dark Cacao squeezed the hand, keeping hold of it as he stood from his chair. He immediately took one knee, and Pure Vanilla's eyes widened. "So much has been happening lately with the beasts and both of our near deaths due to them, and before today, I thought something had happened to you. I thought you were in danger, or at the very least collapsed on the side of the road. I was worried... I've been worried, worried you were hurt, worried I'd never get to tell you." 

He blinked, really beginning to sweat now. "Tell me what?"

"I've known you a long time. Thousands of years now. I've always... felt a certain way about you. I care very deeply for you. I always have. You are the sunshine that pierces through the snowy tundra that is my heart." 

His jaw slowly dropped to the ground, face paling with every word. 

"If you would have me, I'd be the happiest cookie on Earthbread." 

"I-I..." What is even happening? 

At this point, Pure Vanilla wouldn't be surprised if a full-on battle broke out at any second there in his kitchen. He waited on the edge for some kind of disturbance, but so far, nothing of the sort happened, the house remaining silent as the grave, which was so much worse... 

He blinked several times, somehow getting himself to make words happen despite his complete disoriented stupefaction. "Thank you, Dark Cacao, for telling me. Um, I..." 

"You don't need to reply now," he said gently, kindness in those purple eyes. "I just needed you to know."

"I'm... really not sure what to say." 

"Then don't." He stood, letting go of his hand. "Now then, I should rest. Show me to this room."

Just like that. 

Just like that Dark Cacao was already moving on from the subject, and Pure Vanilla was still drowning in discombobulated anxiety.

It was so like and unlike the Cookie of Resolution.

Clearing his throat, he pushed through some of the frazzlement, saying politely: "Yes, of course. Right this way."

Every step he took, every moment he spent showing Dark Cacao to his room, felt like a funeral march, or a silent battlefield... the calm before the storm? He wasn't sure. All he knew was his heart wouldn't stop pounding, his head spinning. 

Handing Dark Cacao another blanket, he smiled warmly at him. "Tell me if you need anything else. I'm just down the hall."

The gruff cookie nodded in gratitude. "Thank you, Pure Vanilla. I will."

"Have a good rest then!"

He grunted, softness in his eyes.

As soon as the door closed, Pure Vanilla inhaled straight nerves into his lungs. 

He turned around, glancing down the hall at the door to his bedroom; the bedroom he'd have to return to. Where once had been calm serenity and sleepy snuggles, was now his hall of judgement. 

Would the unstable blue harlequin go easy on him?

He swallowed. What was he saying... Of course, he wouldn't.

"Oh Maker..."

Chapter Text

Closing his bedroom door behind him, Pure Vanilla turned around to meet the furious eyes of his fully dressed lover.

"S-Shadow Milk!"

The Cooke of Deceit hovered in the air angrily, arms folded, in his male form again.

"Sorry, I know it's last minute—" 

"Why is he staying here?" he demanded. "Get rid of him! And for him to confess like that... it's just tacky, unprofessional, completely disrespectful!"

He blinked at the passion in his voice, his hand coming up to his Soul Jam as he glanced away thoughtfully. "I... admit, I'm surprised. He's never forthright like that with his feelings... ever."

"So then," he spat, voice turning shrill, "you're both going to go riding off into the sunset together, happily ever after?" Barely contained rage visibly shook his whole body, and Pure Vanilla's lips parted in surprise. 

"What? Of course not! Dark Cacao is my dear friend, but I've... never thought of him that way." 

"Oh sure. That's why you invited him to stay in your house." 

"You heard him. He hasn't slept in days!" 

"Not our problem."

Our?

"Pfft. I can't believe he's even here," Shadow Milk continued, floating around the room in a tizzy. "To come all this way... he could've just waited a day for your letter to arrive!" 

He hummed in agreement. "Dark Cacao is a very intense man, but he's loyal and cares about his friends—" 

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." He could hear the green monster in Shadow Milk's voice. "He's the most wonderful, most amazing man ever. Now can we get back to the part where you think I'm all those things?"

Pure Vanilla blinked, and Shadow Milk looked away embarrassedly, tutting. 

"Whatever."

There was silence. 

Eyeing the defensive, indignant cookie, he walked up, taking his hand. Shadow Milk allowed it, allowed himself to be pulled forward through the air. Pure Vanilla rested his hands on the small waist, bringing him in, kissing him tenderly on the cheek despite the resulting grumblings. 

"My jealous cookie..." 

"I AM NOT—" 

Pure Vanilla's giggles in the blue ear halted Shadow Milk's rage in its tracks. "You know I like you, right?" 

The body froze in his arms. "You do?" 

More giggling. "Come here."

He kissed the ear, then Shadow Milk's neck right below his jawline, then over to his cheek again, making his way inward. As soon as they became lip-locked, Shadow Milk gripped him back, kissing him hard.

Pure Vanilla hummed contently in response, leaning into him. 

They held each other like that for a long while—Shadow Milk's arms wrapped around his neck as he floated there, stuffing his tongue down Pure Vanilla's throat, and the blond gripped his waist in reply, pressing their torsos as closely together as was physically possible.

Fingers tangled in his hair, gripping his scalp, little hums and squeals muffling against Pure Vanilla's mouth. The touch was more possessive than usual, and he wondered if perhaps it was a reaction to Dark Cacao being there that Shadow Milk was so desperately caressing him. It didn't take a genius to recognize the blatant insecurity...   

Before he could pull apart and inquire about such things, before he could tell the blue cookie he had no reason to feel threatened, Shadow Milk was moving things forward, sweeping Pure Vanilla into his arms, carrying him over to the bed. Plopping him down, he snapped his fingers, and both he and Pure Vanilla were made instantly bare. 

He gasped, his hands going to his naked form in surprise. "Shadow Milk!"

The cookie above took the tawny brown wrists, pulling them away from the nude form, leaning down and licking a long tongue from shoulder to neck. 

Pure Vanilla gasped again, withering as he whimpered: "S-Shadow Milk..." the continued licks making him feel light-headed, flushed.

"Yes... Say my name..." Shadow Milk purred, rutting up into him. "I want you inside me again... inside my pussy this time." 

He made a little sound at that. "You... Y-yeah, okay." 

Pulling away again, Shadow Milk snapped his fingers and the strap-on appeared in his hand. "Put it on," he commanded, and Pure Vanilla's heartbeat went up into his throat, all sense and thought leaving him. 

"S-sure." 

Pure Vanilla watched helplessly, breathlessly as Shadow Milk went down on the entire length of the strap-on. The mounter exhaled a pleasured sigh, not wasting any time pulling it from his vagina again. 

Hands gripping blue thighs, he watched in complete disarray as Shadow Milk bounced up and down on the toy, fully burying it each time, his speed steadily increasing.

Euphoria glided over his spine with each plummet, eyeing the sweating, shining blue form above him, Shadow Milk gasping, his arms stretching over his head. 

"You're so... beautiful," Pure Vanilla mewled. 

Those blues eyes found his face. "Not as beautiful as you." Leaning down, he left sloppy licks over his lips, his hand gripping Pure Vanilla's shoulder to hold himself up.

The intense pressure there gave him pause. Gripping the wrist, he tugged on it lightly until Shadow Milk was pulling away to look at him in inquiry.

"Will you choke me?" he asked innocently, eyes locking onto the blue ones. 

Shadow Milk searched his face in surprise. "Huh?"

"Choke me."

"You mean..." His fingers drew lightly over Pure Vanilla's throat, making him shiver. 

"Y-yes. Try it, please?" 

He snickered, visible excitement flashing over his face. "We've never done that before..."

"Please..."

"Are you sure you want that?" 

"Yes." 

A smirked met him as well as unrestrained lust. "Whatever my golden-haired angel desires... Tell me to stop if you don't like it." 

"I-I will." 

The hand gripped his throat lightly, and there was something instantly intense and acutely sexual about it. It sent a jolt of lightning through his body, sourcing to his erogenous zones. 

"Harder..." he begged, and a little giggle rang out. 

"Naughty Nilly..." 

The pressure increased, and as Shadow Milk continued his bobbing up and down on the toy, Pure Vanilla's eyes watered, but oh, he liked it. His hands came up, resting over Shadow Milk's wrist. He felt lightheaded, hazy, inebriated, face spreading with blush, a little drunk smile crawling over his lips. 

If he'd been paying attention, he'd have heard a knock at his door, and a soft: "Pure Vanilla?" followed by a second knock. 

Perhaps Shadow Milk had heard it, but clearly it hadn't fazed him as he continued shamelessly. 

The door creaked open. 

Pure Vanilla had never locked it...

"I wanted to apologize," Dark Cacao began roughly, but not unkindly, "for my directness earlier. I hope I did not—"

He gasped, and the two fornicators looked over at him, freezing in place, Shadow Milk's hand stilled on Pure Vanilla's throat. 

Fury flew over his face, and Dark Cacao drew his sword. "Pure Vanilla!"

He charged forward, and as soon as his blade swiped through the air, slicing through the lace curtains, narrowly missing Shadow Milk's head, the blue cookie yelped, flying off the gasping blond. 

Shadow Milk tangled in the sheets and curtains, plummeting off the bed onto the floor.

Pure Vanilla sat up, watching in horror as the unyielding warrior stormed around the bed, sword raised again.

"Dark Cacao, stop!" he screamed.

"He was trying to smother you in your sleep, Pure Vanilla! I'll take care of the devil! I'll make sure he never—" 

He halted, the blade stilled, pointed at Shadow Milk's throat. 

Then he blinked. 

"Why are you naked?"

Shadow Milk exhaled a sound that was a mix of exasperation and chiding indignation. "Why do you think, dumbass?"

He blinked again, then looked over at Pure Vanilla, who was in fact, only covered by a small amount of blanket veiling his lap.

Then realization spread over his wide-eyed face.

Chapter Text

"You... and... the Cookie of Deceit...?"

Pure Vanilla swallowed, completely frozen under the bewildered gaze of Dark Cacao.

Then the tall cookie furrowed his eyebrows. "What's that sound?"

His face flushed to melting point as his hand flew under the sheet, quickly turning off the buzzing toy. Luckily the strap-on was completely covered by the blanket, so at least that much of his dignity was spared...

"U-um," Pure Vanilla squeaked. "Nothing! Dark Cacao,"—he cleared his throat, trying to find the words as he moved the sheets to further cover himself—"p-perhaps we can discuss this after I am dressed?"

He gawked, then turned around sharply, his cedar-brown cheeks filling with a reddish flush. "F-forgive me. I-I did not see anything."

"Pfft, yeah right," Shadow Milk murmured from his spot on the ground.

Dark Cacao turned a glaring eye at him. "You heard Pure Vanilla. He needs privacy to get dressed."

"Wh—"

Bending down, he seized the blue cookie up by the arm.

"Woah, woah! Hey! I'm not going anywhere!" Transforming into shadows, he slipped from Dark Cacao's grasp, rematerializing in front of him, floating above, glaring down at him murderously. "It may implode your tiny dinosaur brain, but Pure Vanilla invited me here, unlike you. Why are you barging into his room anyway, huh pal? You trying to get a peep in?"

Dark Cacao made an insulted sound of disgust. "I would never! When I knocked on Pure Vanilla's door, I had not realized yet you were defiling him! We were talking but ten minutes ago, and in that time, you slunk in and..."

"If that's the story you're sticking to, pervert..."

He growled, swiping at him, but Shadow Milk drifted out of his grasp. "Leave, Beast! Why would someone as good and pure hearted as Pure Vanilla want someone like you anyway?"

He flinched, then a defensive smile spread over his face. "Ask him yourself! Why else would we be in bed together?"

Dark Cacao frowned at that.

During this whole dispute, Pure Vanilla slid a robe over his body, now tying it in the front as he walked over to them. "Dark Cacao," he interjected calmly, "I can explain..."

"No need." His eyes never left the blue cookie. "He's clearly got a hold of you again."

"Again?" Shadow Milk spat, getting into his face, still completely naked. "What do you know about anything?"

Dark Cacao's glare was mythic. "He's told me all about you, what you did to him..."

"Dark Cacao..." Pure Vanilla warned.

Shadow Milk's face twitched at that, and his voice lowered as he asked in a sing-song voice: "Oh, and what has he told you, exactly?"

His face hardened. "You tortured him, tormented him, broke him down until he was nothing." He strode forward, and Shadow Milk's confidence visibly faltered as he flinched back in response. "You're nothing but a charlatan who ruins people. You're a disgrace and plague on Earthbread!"

Pure Vanilla placed a placating hand on his friend's shoulder. "Dark Cacao..."

Seeing the gentle touch, Shadow Milk flared with anger. "If that's true, then why does he beg me to stay?" His voice rose in pitch, a manic laugh ringing out, his hair swirling around him as the grin split his face. "Why does he keep asking me here, hm? Why does he cry my name at night and not yours?"

Dark Cacao growled, flinching into motion, but Pure Vanilla held him back, stepping between them.

"That's enough!" he declared, and the all-out murder was temporarily postponed.

Red faced, heart pounding in panic and horror, Pure Vanilla wasn't at all sure how to de-escalate this positively explosive disaster nightmare... 

"I know it's hard to believe," he began gently, looking to the taller cookie, "but I'm alright, Dark Cacao. Shadow Milk has been nothing but sweet to me."

His eyes widened. "Sweet?"

"Yes."

Searching his face, there was a hint of confusion and hurt there. "Why... didn't you tell me?"

"Uh," Shadow Milk interjected, releasing a laugh, "because it's private—"

"Because I was scared of how you would react," Pure Vanilla burst out, and there was silence. 

The admission was one he hadn't yet realized the truth of until the moment it came out of his mouth. Taking a breath, he couldn't look either of them in the eye, knowing he couldn't take back his words now.

"I know it looks bad," he muttered, arms folding around himself. "I know he's done terrible things to me, and I know it seems like I shouldn't be with him, but I've... I've found solace in him. He's genuine, and good under all his layers."

Shadow Milk's eyebrows furrowed at that, and something like offense flashed over his face.

"If you just give him a chance, Dark Cacao..."

"How can you say that after what happened at the spire?" he hissed.

"What happened..." Pure Vanilla repeated softly. "I forgive him."

Shadow Milk's face lifted in surprise, and their eyes finally met.

"I hope he can forgive me for deceiving him in the way I did while I was there."

Blue eyes blinked back at him, Shadow Milk completely speechless.

Tearing his gaze away from him, he turned back to Dark Cacao. "I appreciate your concern, dear friend, but it is not needed." He put a hand on the enormous, muscular arm, and the cedar brown features softened.

"You can't trust him, Pure Vanilla," he said, voice lowering in volume.

"I can," he replied firmly, "and right now I need you to trust me. I can handle myself. He's my other half, not yours."

"I have my own Beast who tricks and deceives, and I cannot in good conscience leave you alone with him!"

"I don't question your decisions regarding Mystic Flour Cookie."

"Because I am not engaging sexually with Mystic Flour Cookie!"

His face flushed. "It's none of your business what I do!"

"It is if it's affecting your safety and all of Cookie Kind—" He blinked, his words cutting off as he looked over Pure Vanilla's shoulder, then his face fell. "Unless of course, he's the coward I know he is..."

Pure Vanilla turned around, then blinked. "Shadow Milk?"

He was nowhere to be seen.

"He left," Dark Cacao declared, and Pure Vanilla whipped back around.

"What?"

"Seems he isn't as reliable as you thought."

"Wha— What do you mean he left?"

"Slipped away, like the snake he is..."

"No, that's..." Blinking, he turned again. "Shadow Milk?" he exclaimed, but only silence met him, and pure dread filled his gut.

"You've been deceived, Pure Vanilla."

"Hush. He probably just got some air. I..." His brows arched upwards in distress as he searched the room. "Shadow Milk!" he hissed. There was a swift wooshing sound, and he looked over at the balcony. "Shadow Milk?"

He left Dark Cacao's side, rushing across the room. Bursting through the doors, he looked around quickly, seeing nothing, then heading to the railing, he searched the landscape for any sign of blue and black...

There was nothing, and panic rose up into his throat, every fear and every anxiety flooding in, coming to fruition, lacing every inch of his body with anguish. This wasn't just a step-out for air. He knew that. Deep down he knew...

"Shadow Milk!" he shrieked. "Come back! Shadow Milk!"

There was no response.

He closed his eyes as he gripped the railing. Gritting his teeth, tears streamed down his face as he exhaled a frustrated breath.

"Fuck."

He'd left. Just like that. He'd left as Pure Vanilla had predicted, and it was all his fault. 

It was his fault after all. He'd pushed Shadow Milk away exactly as he thought he would. Was it mentioning the spire? Was it because Dark Cacao was there? Was it just him in general? Perhaps all of the above... All lost. All ruined by his own hand...

"You need to get away from here," Dark Cacao said gently from his left at the railing. "It's not safe. He could return."

"Dark Cacao... I... I love him." The declaration made more tears fall.

His jaw dropped. "What?"

His insides carved out their own graves within him. "Leave me. This is my mess. I will be the one to sort it out. Just... g-go."

"But—"

"Please," he whispered, turning and looking up at him with shining eyes. "I will be fine. It was good to see you again. I'm sorry we couldn't have a more heartwarming reunion..."

"Pure Va—"

"Please, dear friend..."

There was a long pause, and in it, Dark Cacao searched his face seriously.

"Okay," he finally said, putting a firm hand on his shoulder. "My son has made me realize lately that I cannot control what the people I love do, but I can be there to support them."

He searched the compassionate brown eyes.

"I trust you will figure this out, even if I don't understand why you choose such a man. Know you can always lean on me if you need to. I want what's best for you, even if you do not return my affections."

More tears welled up and fell. "Thank you," Pure Vanilla whispered, "old friend."

Chapter Text

Pure Vanilla's idea of 'sorting out his mess,' was laying around the house in a motionless heap.

For four hours after Dark Cacao left, he'd waited on the balcony, finally moving out of necessity; perhaps also because a part of him had given up on the possibility of the blue jester returning any time soon. 

He didn't make it very far, slogging slowly over to his bed before flopping down face first.

He had no idea where Shadow Milk had gone, no idea if he'd ever return—and even if he did—if the return would even be a pleasant one. Whatever was left of... whatever they had, was now up in the air, out of his grasp, as hard to pin down as milk waves on a brown sugar shore.

All he could really do was wait.

So, wait he did.

Heaving a sigh, he laid there for another... well, he wasn't sure for how long. All he knew was that the sky began darkening by the time he woke up after not remembering falling asleep.

Groaning, he slinked out of bed, eyeing the slashed curtains. He didn't even have the heart to fix them, even though all it would take was a simple wave of the hand. The sight of them made his insides turn, and seeing the sunset, he realized this would be the first lonely night in a while.

Unable to sit there any longer in their place of lovemaking, their place of once peaceful solace, he got up and dragged himself to the bathroom. He did use his magic this time to fill the tub.

The heat from the steaming milk cradled him, threatening to crumble him if he stayed in much longer.

Washing the rest of the blue lipstick off his body was like washing away remnants of his own heart. He looked away from the little bruises on his inner thigh left as a result of a few overly devoted kisses. They were hard to ignore, and eyeing them, he sighed into the milk bath and plunged beneath, hoping that perhaps if he couldn't see the love marks, his entire collapsing world would magically fix itself.

It didn't. 

After getting dressed, he ended up in his bedroom window, staring out at the dark sky.

He'd left the balcony doors open just in case the blue cookie returned, and a cold chill swept into the room. The storm was violent with thunder and winds, and the carpet at his balcony's entrance was soaked, but he didn't care.

There was no lavender tea this time, though the rain crept down the windowpanes just like that first night he and Shadow Milk had...

His eyes were unfocused, distant and glossed over, red from crying. His legs were up on the sill, arms wrapped around his knees as he sat in the middle of the window, head resting against the cold glass. 

He'd once accused Shadow Milk of being lonely back in the spire, but it was only because he spoke from experience. The empty longing in those blue eyes was something he recognized anywhere, something he'd felt in his core for centuries. The only time the pain had ever waned was... well, when he was with Shadow Milk. 

Chest heaving at the realization, he could only guess how the blue cookie felt in return. 

Why, oh why did you have to leave...

Lifting his head from the pane, he looked away, eyes once again wandering over to his bed. He couldn't bear to return there, so the window would have to do. Maybe he'd never return... 

Out of the corner of his eye, there was movement by his feet, and his eyes lazily moved over to it, half-heartedly investigating.

Oh. It was his own shadow.

Staring at it hazily, he stretched his fingers out to touch it. The tips did not make contact with the windowsill however, but something else. Something warm.

He blinked, then the shadow moved from under his touch, and he gasped.

It swirled, growing outward before sinking and shifting, moving behind Pure Vanilla.

"Shadow Milk?"

The warmth was against his back now as blue and black legs appeared on either side of him and arms slid gently around his waist. Pure Vanilla froze up, mouth falling agape as a head was pressed into the back of his shoulder.

"H-how long have you been in my shadow?"

There was no response, the arms tightening around him.

He dared not press further, nor move for fear he might spook him. Instead, he soaked up the touch, fighting to keep his eyes dry.

Silence stretched on, and he thought they would stay like that forever until a voice barely above a whisper met his ear.

"I was tortured by the witches for bringing cookies Truth and Deceit."

Pure Vanilla blinked.

"It was as my dream depicted. I was only to show them Truth and nothing else, but with only 'Truth,' it soon became clear that all the witches had ever taught me was deception."

He listened intently, yet to move a muscle.

"I spent years, centuries, trying to understand the purpose they gave me, wondering why they created me, why I existed. I tried everything to be 'good' and full of 'integrity' like everyone wanted."

Pure Vanilla glanced down at the blue hand that was making air quotes.

"But nothing I ever did worked. When I thought I'd finally grasped it: that one needed to embrace both to have true knowledge, they stripped me of everything. They shattered my naive spirit and left me to rot. I vowed that day to never chase after something as silly and frivolous as 'good' and 'integrity' again."

"Shadow Milk..."

"I wanted them to hurt for what they did to me," he pressed on, his soft words growing in volume. "I wanted everyone to hurt. I still do. I don't have anyone's best interest at heart."

His voice became muffled against Pure Vanilla's shoulder.

"I'm no good, Nilly. Quite the opposite. You don't want me."

He swallowed, lifting his hand and resting it over one of the ones around his waist. "That's not tru—"

His middle was gripped harder as Shadow Milk muttered: "Can we just... snuggle tonight?"

There was a pause, and in it, Pure Vanilla's heart swelled with want.

Tonight? Does that mean—

"O-of course."

***

Under the covers, Pure Vanilla was trying to keep it together. 

Being in those arms again, the familiarity, the warmth; he feared it would disappear at any moment. If they didn't talk this out soon, they would just part again, and Pure Vanilla knew he couldn't handle that. He couldn't even handle it for half a day...

Shadow Milk was extra cuddly, quiet as he buried his face into the other's chest, and Pure Vanilla held him tightly, nuzzling into the blue, half-living hair that rippled in response. The hair eyes were downcast, solemn. He kissed the top of his head, stroking it protectively, the strands wriggling again in some kind of needy, appreciative response.

"Shadow Milk?"

"Mm?"

"Can I... bring you into my dreamscape? It's... not for sex."

To his surprise, the blue cookie didn't hesitate as he murmured quietly: "Okay." 

Chapter Text

Pure Vanilla brought them to a starry sky that spread out over an endless still lake of black, cosmic water.

Hovering just above the motionless, dark pool was a glowing, golden metal crescent moon that Pure Vanilla lounged in. Across from him was a similar metallic sun that Shadow Milk sat on the very top of, one leg crossed over the other. His head was turned away, eyes fixed somewhere out into the never-ending sea and sky.

They both wore their regular clothes, though Pure Vanilla's robes were extra long, flowing out into the void along with his impossibly long hair. Shadow Milk's semi-sentient locks were just as lengthy, though it was the two tails on his jester outfit that extended out forever, a non-existent wind taking them out and away.

Gazing at the avoidant cookie, Pure Vanilla's chest tightened. "I know there's good in you," he said, his voice carrying as a soft echo all around them.

"What?" The blue head snapped around like an owl's, the sound as well as his voice ringing high into the air.

"I know you yearn for it: to be good. True goodness, not the kind that's laced with malintent. I know you're still trying and I—"

Shadow Milk's hair visibly bristled, swirling around him angrily, deadening the light of the sun as he stood, glaring down at him. "I told you I'm not good," he snapped. "End of story. I don't want to be saved. I know that's what you're trying to do—to fix me—but this is who I am. I can't change that about myself!"

Pure Vanilla stood as well, floating up and landing on the top of the tip of the crescent, watching him warily.

"Stop trying to convince yourself otherwise," he continued angrily, stepping forward on the pointy ends of the sun's rays. "You know who you've been sleeping with and yet you delude yourself. How can you be so stupid to not see that?"

"Then why do you keep coming back here?" he exclaimed, feeling his own hurt and temper rise. "Why keep seeing me if you knew it was doomed from the start?"

"Tsk. What, you thought you were anything more than just a lay? A fun time?"

His eyes widened, stomach dropping.

Standing tip-toe at the edge of the sun, Shadow Milk reached across the gap and grabbed Pure Vanilla by the front of his robes. He gasped, nearly falling off the crescent as his face was brought inches from the other's.

"You're mine," Shadow Milk declared, "or have you forgotten? You pledged yourself to me. I may do with you as I see fit."

Panic rose and fell in his chest, his body one slip away from plummeting into the dark water below. More than the threat of the void, his insides melted with trepidation. He searched the darkened face before him, the demonic eyes, the flaring hair, feeling his agony, his anger, his... fear.

He spotted the clear hurt in those swirling blue eyes.

"Two halves of the same coin," he countered quietly, hand resting over the blue wrist.

Shadow Milk blinked. "Huh?"

"How can only one own the other? We are the same and opposites, Shadow Milk. If you own me, then I own you."

He flinched, letting go of him in shock, and Pure Vanilla stepped back before he could plummet downward.

"No one owns me!" Shadow Milk shouted. "Least of all, you." Emotion flooded his face and voice. "You made me think we were going to be together forever back in that tower, then pulled the rug, so forgive me for not jumping back into your arms and being vulnerable!"

"You tortured me!" he snapped back. "Did you forget that? You broke me down until I was nothing!"

"I—" He visibly deflated, pain crossing his face. "You said you forgave me!"

"I have, but it doesn't erase the damage you did."

He swallowed, the deepest shame filling his face as he looked away.

There was a long pause, the silent air deafening.

"I..." Shadow Milk finally whispered. "I'm sorry."

"What?" He watched him in surprise.

"I regret... how far I pushed you. I do."—he was completely turned from him now, hovering in the air, his hair darkening his entire form from view—"I regret everything I did to you. You d-don't understand. I was... so excited with who I'd met, who you were, who you are. I didn't know how to handle what I..."

He cleared his throat, voice somehow growing even softer.

"I didn't want anyone else to have you. I wanted you all for myself. I tried to control you. I was... wrong."

The realm went silent again.

Pure Vanilla watched the blue storm cloud, hesitating, ruminating.

"You know," he finally said softly, "you're the first person I've had sex with and not regretted? The first person to see me for who I really am. I'm not disgusting nor an exotic lay..."

Putting his foot out, he stepped over onto the sun.

"You see me. That may mean nothing to you, but it means the world to me."

Grabbing a shifting, shadowy shoulder, he turned Shadow Milk around to face him, though the blue cookie wouldn't make eye contact, and neither would any of his hair eyes.

"I know you have good in you," he whispered, squeezing the shoulder, "true, selfless, loving good that the witches never acknowledged. They were wrong, Shadow Milk. Perhaps I'll be damned for saying such a thing, but they were, are. You never deserved to be punished, especially in the way that you were. You never deserved any of it. Look at me."

Hesitantly, Shadow Milk complied.

"I see you too. You don't need to be fixed. You're perfect—beautiful just as you are."

Searching the big, open eyes, Pure Vanilla leaned in, pressing the gentlest of kisses to the blue cheek.

"You're also not alone anymore," he continued, his eyes becoming moist. "Stay... with me. We'll figure out how to tell everyone, or perhaps we never tell anyone. I don't care anymore. Just... stay with me and you don't need to hurt anymore."

The sun and moon began moving together as Shadow Milk's fingers curled around Pure Vanilla's upper arms.

"Please," he repeated into his ear. "Stay."

With a gentle kachunk, the sun slotted into the moon, and the sky burst with color, the vibrant streams of light raining down on them.

In a dizzying swirl, the dream melted away.

Pure Vanilla's eyes slid open.

Still holding Shadow Milk in his arms, he looked down at him, then blinked.

Tears were streaming down the blue face. 

As soon as Shadow Milk detected he was under observation, anger painted his features, eyebrows furrowing into a scowl. With a growl, Shadow Milk pushed Pure Vanilla onto his back, climbing on top, and the last thing he expected was for the blue cookie to kiss him.

He felt fresh tears fall down on his cheeks, and Shadow Milk pulled him in closer and closer, pressing muffled sobs against his mouth. With a heaving gasp, he pulled their lips apart, then hid his face in Pure Vanilla's neck, whimpering.

His arms immediately went around the quietly weeping cookie, one hand stroking the blue hair. "I-I've got you," he cooed, his own voice faltering. "I'm not going anywhere. We don't ever need to part again. Okay?"

"O-okay," Shadow Milk whispered, gripping him tighter, hiding further into the blond hair. "Never again."

Chapter Text

"Never again," Pure Vanilla repeated, running fingers through the blue strands above him, his own tears finally sliding down his face. 

As soon as a soft sob escaped his lips, Shadow Milk lifted his head from the tawny brown shoulder, finding the shining eyes with his own.

"Nilly..." He rubbed the wet cheek with one thumb. "That won't do..."

"I thought you were gone for good, that this all was... g-gone." 

"Shh. I'm here now."

He was kissing him again, and Pure Vanilla gripped him back, consequently crying harder.

Their lips pulled apart for a mere moment, enough for Shadow Milk to whisper: "Come here."

They were deep kissing, grasping, clutching, clinging to one another, Shadow Milk's hair corralling around both their faces, hiding them from view.

"Never leave me again," Pure Vanilla managed between breaths. "Never..."

"Mmmm... Never."

"Show me," he begged in a whisper. "I want more. Mm. I need more. I need you. Hah. As close as possible..."

Shadow Milk exhaled a soft whimper into his mouth. "Yes. Yes, anything you want. Anything. I will grant it."

Pure Vanilla drew a hand over where he felt Shadow Milk's Soul Jam was, making the blue cookie gasp. His eyes lit up with golden magic as his fingers trailed further down. The blue and black jester clothes melted away at his touch, revealing pale bare blue.

Breaking the kiss, Shadow Milk's hair retreated to its normal position, and with tears still shining on his cheeks, he snapped Pure Vanilla's clothes away then nuzzled into the bare shoulder, nipping, licking, kissing while his hand trailed over and gripped the naked torso.

Sighing at the doting, borderline obsessive affection, Pure Vanilla snatched up one of the hands, moving it, forcing it over his mound, encouraging the fingers to grip him. "Use me. Touch me. Devour me."

Obeying with a low hum, Shadow Milk didn't hesitate to clench his jaw, and a sharp pain pierced into Pure Vanilla's shoulder, making him gasp, then mewl, then finally moan in pleasure, all while blue fingers began stroking his outer labia. The razor-sharp teeth sank into his dough, yet the pain only made him want more, made him want him closer than was physically possible.

The energy was so frantic, so hungry and all-consuming, passionate between them. The rolling thunder that came and went, roaring from the still open balcony doors seemed to fuel and flood their desires.

Removing long, sharp teeth, a similar shriek then sigh rang out, and strawberry jam dripped down the blue lips that now pressed against his own. Pure Vanilla tasted his own jam as Shadow Milk began nibbling his bottom lip, pulling it outward before letting go. Then he was dragging his forked tongue over Pure Vanilla's entire mouth.

The blond exhaled at that, and the tongue licked some more, quickening with shorter bursts as Shadow Milk dragged it up each time, moving to the tawny-brown cheek and Pure Vanilla half-giggled, half-sighed in response. He lapped over his ear and down his neck, occasionally adding teeth, sometimes gentle kisses as he made his way down and down while Pure Vanilla wriggled beneath him...

Tawny brown fingers tangled into blue hair, and Pure Vanilla made a little sound when his hip was bitten. Lips kissed and sucked the fresh wound, moving on to his trembling thighs. His head fell back, his breaths coming in and out quickly.

Then lips met lips, Shadow Milk sucking and licking the oozing folds adorned with blond curls. Hands gripped under Pure Vanilla's thighs, his pelvis lifting off the bed and Pure Vanilla barely had time to react as the second tongue began caressing a different entrance.

His arms stretched over his head, complete euphoria spreading through his body, the rain and thunder concealing the most atrocious of his erotic exclamations.

One hand came down and pulled at a handful of blue hair, Pure Vanilla whining: "Please, please, please... Shadow Milk... I-inside. Inside me..."

To his dismay, Shadow Milk ignored him, the tongues continuing unforgivingly, and perhaps he hadn't heard him, but glancing down, Pure Vanilla noticed the blue cookie's fully erect penis was leaving a small pool on the sheets.

Seeing so much slick go to waste, he sat up, pushing on the blue shoulders, forcing the tongues out of him. Then he was pushing Shadow Milk down, forcing him onto his back, taking his place on top. Taking up the blue erection in his hand and using the remaining leakage from his tip, he began pumping up and down.

It wasn't enough.

Magicking up more, he lathered it, as much as he possibly could, and Shadow Milk watched him with sinful eyes, panting, his hair watching as well, the blue cheeks a dark shade of blue, his eyes blown out and half-lidded.

Then Pure Vanilla lifted his hips, lined himself up, using the remaining slick on his entrance to double coat the work his other half had already completed.

"N-naughty..." Shadow Milk began, then inhaled quickly when he made contact with the dripping entrance.

Biting his already bitten lip, Pure Vanilla let gravity take over. Lightning having nothing to do with outside, shot through him as he sank.

Shadow Milk gasped, gripping the legs engulfing him while Pure Vanilla's hand went to himself.

The jester allowed the blond exactly six bounces up and down before he gripped him around the waist and sat up. In a quick and breath-snatching motion, Pure Vanilla was slammed down on his back, the momentum shoving Shadow Milk further inside him.

Lifting both legs up and pressing down on them, Shadow Milk pounded mercilessly, forcing high-pitched whines and moans to rise into the air.

"Keep touching yourself, my darling," he commanded, and Pure Vanilla quickly obeyed. "That's it... You wanted me inside. You wanted me close.... Ah! Oh, Pure Vanilla..."

Seeing him unravel above him, he couldn't stop it. Pure Vanilla's exclaimed ecstasy was accompanied by tears of relief, tears that kept going. He couldn't help it, not when his sweetheart was here with him, in this place he'd accepted was his happiness's tomb but half an hour ago.

Shadow Milk was still going, his breaths coming in and out heavily. "My sweet Nilly, don't cry... My beautiful, ruined angel... Ngh! Fuck, I..." His body seized up. "I... love you!"

The tears stopped.

Pure Vanilla stared up at him in shock.

Moving through orgasm, Shadow Milk's eyes were closed, his eyebrows knit upward together, mouth wide open.

"Y-you... love me?"

Eyes sliding open, the blue orbs met him. "H-huh?"

His expression was dazed, and Pure Vanilla sat up, or at least, tried to.

"W-wait!" Shadow Milk said through heaving breaths before pulling himself out with a split-second grimace.

"You said you love me," he repeated, searching his face, his heart pounding in his chest as he panted.

"I..." Shadow Milk traced the other's face with his eyes. "So what if I do?"

Pure Vanilla considered him. Hesitating, he gently took the jawline in one hand, stroking the face softly with one thumb. "I love you too, with all my heart."

"I know." He tucked a strand of blond hair out of Pure Vanilla's face. "You said so on your balcony."

He blinked. "What? You... you heard me?" His face flashed with heat and shame. "W-why didn't reveal yourself?"

He glanced away guiltily. "I..."

"I waited all day for you!" he exclaimed. "You could have just answered!"

"I didn't know what you meant by it," he said quickly. "I was... scared you only loved a version of me that can never exist."

His heart sank. "No. No... I love you, Shadow Milk. All of you. The version that exists now."

Shadow Milk leaned his cheek into the tawny-brown palm. "You do?"

Releasing a soft laugh, he leaned forward and brought their foreheads together. "You love this current version of me too, don't you?"

A blue hand gently wrapped around his wrist. "I love every version of you, Pure Vanilla. Always."

"Promise?"

Grinning, he closed his eyes. "I suppose."

Pure Vanilla blinked, then giggled, closing his own eyes as he whispered tenderly: "You suppose..."

THE END