Chapter Text
Ever since Custard III started staying in the Vanilla castle, Pure Vanilla had taken it upon himself to personally tuck the boy in every night. It quickly began to be a standard routine, and something the both of them looked forward to. Some nights, Pure Vanilla Cookie would tell Custard a story, whether it be from a book, an anecdote of one of Pure Vanilla's own adventures, or one he made up on the spot.
And tonight, as the little one's bedtime draws closer, Pure Vanilla makes his way into the castle's playroom to check on him. He slowly opens the door, poking his head through the crack. “Custard Cookie III?” He calls gently as he scans the room for the boy. His eyes quickly land on the child. He's sitting in the middle of the playroom, a wooden toy block in hand. He turns to Pure Vanilla at the sound of his own name being called.
Pure Vanilla could see the tiredness in Custard's eyes. He chuckles as he steps inside, careful to avoid stepping on the toys littered across the floor.
“Having fun, are we?” Pure Vanilla asks as he approaches Custard, peering down at the unfinished toy castle that he was building. Custard nods and places another block down as he rubs his eyes.
“I think it's time for our little king to get some rest,” Pure Vanilla says. He gently scoops the boy up with one arm, the other hand still holding his staff. Custard doesn't resist, only yawns as he leans against his guardian's chest. Pure Vanilla lightly bounces him in his arm with a loving smile. “Come on. Let's get you tucked in.”
Custard grips Pure Vanilla's robe with his little hand as he carries him back to his bedroom. The domesticity of the scene isn’t lost on Pure Vanilla, and he can't help but feel a warmth in his chest. He didn't think he'd be here, taking care of a child, but he couldn't ask for more. He can feel Custard's heartbeat, the way his chest rises and falls with his breathing. He keeps him close as they finally approach the bedroom.
The boy is already in his pajamas, so Pure Vanilla can take him straight to bed. He slowly opens the door and steps inside.
The room is what you'd expect from a seven year old boy. Toys littered across the floor, bed unmade, and childlike drawings adorned on the walls. There is a little nightlight in the shape of a crown by Custard's nightstand beside his bed. Pure Vanilla turns it on.
He gently places Custard on the bed and tucks the blanket up. The little one reaches out for the teddy bear that sat on the nightstand, and Pure Vanilla gladly hands him the plush toy, watching as the child hugs it closely.
“Sweet dreams, little one,” Pure Vanilla says softly as he leans down to kiss Custard's forehead.
“Teddy needs a goodnight kiss, too!” Custard says. He presents the toy before Pure Vanilla with a smile.
“Oh, of course,” says Pure Vanilla with a chuckle as he takes the little toy in his hands. “How could I forget?” He places a gentle kiss on the bear’s head before placing it back in Custard's waiting arms. The boy smiles contently and nuzzles the toy.
“Goodnight, my little king,” Pure Vanilla says softly. “I'll see you in the morning.”
And with that, he stands up, leaving the room and gently closing the door on the way out.
Once he makes it to his own room, Pure Vanilla lets out a tired sigh as he practically stumbles into bed. Today had taken quite a bit of energy from him, having to watch over little Custard and tend to his needs. As much as he loves taking care of him, he can't help the wave of relief he feels at the thought of finally being able to settle down.
But it's not long before he hears the child's frightened cries from down the halls, calling out for him. It causes the king to jolt awake, blinking the sleep out of his eyes.
“Custard?” Pure Vanilla rushes out of bed and out the door, sprinting down the halls to Custard's bedroom. Without his staff to guide him, his vision is blurred, and the darkness of the night only worsens his predicament. Still, he refuses to cease his search for Custard's room. He gropes around the walls as he tries to find his way there. “Custard, I'm coming! Just wait for me!”
After what had to have been about a minute or two, he finally feels a door handle. Letting out a sigh of relief, he swings the door open and turns on the light. He can vaguely make out Custard's silhouette, sitting up in bed. He frowns as he steps closer, sitting down at the edge of the bed.
“Custard?” He reaches out to cup the child's face, feeling the tears streaming down his cheeks. He quickly wipes them away and holds him close. “Sweetie, what happened?”
“N-nightmare,” is all the boy murmurs. Pure Vanilla feels him hug him. His grip is tight and desperate, as Pure Vanilla is the only thing anchoring him.
“Oh, my sweet boy.” Pure Vanilla rubs Custard's back in a way he hopes is soothing and pecks a small kiss on the top of his head. “It's alright. I'm here. I've got you.”
“It was awful!” Custard whines as he tightens his grip on Pure Vanilla. The king can hear the boy's heart hammering against his chest. “You- you disappeared! Just like Dad! I even searched the whole palace! Everyone was so sad. I tried to rule, but I couldn't make it better!”
Pure Vanilla takes a deep breath. He can't pretend this doesn't make sense considering what the poor boy has been through, but the thought of Custard being haunted by such a troubling nightmare still feels like an iron fist around his heart.
“Little one,” he begins, speaking slowly. “I promise you that I am here to stay. I will never disappear.”
Custard hiccups and sniffs. “But-”
“No buts.” Pure Vanilla's voice is more firm now. He shifts Custard in his arms. His grip becomes tighter. “I will fight to stay here with you.”
There's a pause before Custard just leans against Pure Vanilla's chest. The king places a hand on the back of his head, leaning down once more to plant another kiss on his head. The room is silent, but no words need to be said.
Is Custard really this scared of losing him? Pure Vanilla barely thinks of himself as someone worth crying over. But if he truly was this important to the child, then he has to stay in his life. He can't allow him to experience another loss.
Pure Vanilla soon feels Custard's hiccups and sobs begin to subside. He lets out a relieved sigh as the child finally calms down.
“Pure Vanilla Cookie,” Custard says after a moment, voice still slightly shaky. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” Pure Vanilla gives a slight smile. “I will always be here to protect you.”
Custard yawns. Pure Vanilla takes that as his sign to tuck him back in. Despite his reluctance to part with the other, he places him down in the bed and tucks the blanket over his body. Custard lets out a content little hum.
“Sleep tight,” Pure Vanilla says, but Custard tugs at his robes. He turns back to him.
“I have a question,” Custard says.
“Ask away.” Pure Vanilla shifts a bit as he waits patiently for the boy's next words.
“Can I call you ‘Papa’?”
Pure Vanilla could swear his heart stopped for a second. For a moment, he says nothing, just stares down at the child in awe.
Then he crumples like parchment paper.
He lifts a hand to clasp over his mouth, but he's already sobbing. Tears gather in his eyes, and he sniffs, trying and failing to maintain his composure.
“Pure Vanilla Cookie?” Custard sits upright as he peers up at the adult. “Are you okay? Did I upset you?”
“No,” Pure Vanilla quickly answers, holding back another sniff. He wipes his tears. “No, not at all, little one.” He takes a shuddering breath. “I was just delighted. Of course you can call me ‘Papa’.”
Even if Pure Vanilla can't see very well, he can sense that Custard is smiling.
The boy settles back into bed. “Alright. Goodnight… Papa.”
Pure Vanilla is suddenly very glad he's sitting, because he's sure his knees would give out if he were standing.
“Goodnight, my boy,” Pure Vanilla says, leaning down to kiss the child's forehead. “Sleep tight. I love you.”
“I love you too,” is Custard's sleepy response.
Pure Vanilla stays there for a while longer, even after the child falls asleep. He smiles down at the child- his son- before letting out a content little sigh.
And even when morning does come, even when Custard is jumping around with boundless energy as if he hadn't been haunted by terrible nightmares the night before, all Pure Vanilla can think of is the sound of his voice calling him ‘Papa’.
And as he holds his hand as they walk through the kingdom as it's being rebuilt, he feels that perhaps he is ready to take care of a child.