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The day started slow, a calming respite from the demands of yesterday's battle that still needed to be attended to. Most of them were just formalities, but they were tiring nonetheless. Unwilling to get ready for the exhausting day ahead, Pure Vanilla Cookie turned over in his bed. He frowned at the absence of a body on the other side. He was certain that Dark Cacao Cookie had stayed the night, so eventually he came to the conclusion that he had sneaked out of the room moments before Pure Vanilla Cookie woke. It must've been what stirred him - he was usually quite a heavy sleeper.
While Dark Cacao Cookie's reasons for staying in his kingdom overnight were dubious at best, Pure Vanilla Cookie imagined that it was because of the events of that evening. He supposed that he was worried that he wouldn't be able to do the things that his body needed him to do to stay healthy after the battle's events. He was right, of course. Losing White Lily Cookie for what felt like the second time over was what finally broke him, and he knew Dark Cacao Cookie knew it.
It was why he had spoken to him in the gentlest manner he had ever heard from him. It was why he had ensured that he ate, and it was why he slipped into bed beside him, holding him as he had sobbed into his chest. Dark Cacao Cookie, despite being mostly emotionally unavailable, always seemed to know what to do when he was upset. It was an aspect of the other man that he adored, a softness to his rough edges that only he got to love and appreciate.
Pure Vanilla Cookie lifted himself out of bed, feeling around for his staff. He made an effort to look at least slightly presentable, using his staff as an aid. He wasn't dressed in his usual robes for strolls around the kingdom, figuring that if it was early enough for Dark Cacao Cookie to not even attempt to wake him up, then it was far too early for the Vanilla Kingdom to be awake.
The scent of a jellybean latte hit his nose immediately as he stepped out into the palace hallway. As he walked, he allowed himself a moment where he thought about the battle between Earthbread and Dark Enchantress Cookie.
He should've been able to stop her. He should’ve been able to draw her from such a destructive path. They had been friends once before, hadn't they? They had once wanted so badly to search for the same answers, the same truth of how to make cookies stronger. When the experiments became too dangerous, though, Pure Vanilla Cookie had stepped away. He had hidden himself from the consequences so that he didn't have to bear the weight of them. That was his greatest regret. A regret that led directly to the death of his closest friend. His closest friend, who understood him deeper than he even understood himself.
Pure Vanilla Cookie stepped into the palace kitchen, where Dark Cacao Cookie was preparing the jellybean latte he could smell from his room.
“Dark Cacao Cookie,” the words came out less strong than he had intended. More raspy, hoarse, to the point where Dark Cacao Cookie seemed to have not even heard it. Probably from all the ugly sobbing he did last night. With a twinge of embarrassment, he cleared his throat and tried again. “Dark Cacao Cookie.”
He heard it this time, and turned. He wasn't dressed in his armour, by the sound of things. Whatever he was wearing, it sounded soft. Which was odd, because Dark Cacao Cookie would be leaving soon, right? A hand touched his face, causing him to flinch with a startled noise. He hadn’t even heard him approach.
“Have you been crying again, my friend?” He asked, his gruff voice betraying only a hint of worry, though it was enough for Pure Vanilla Cookie to know that he was deeply concerned.
Pure Vanilla Cookie lifted his hand to feel his cheek, and sure enough, it was damp. He must have started again at some point and hadn't even noticed. He let out a soft laugh, because of course Dark Cacao Cookie would've noticed before he did.
“I am sorry, Dark Cacao Cookie. I never meant to keep you from your kingdom,” he said, clumsily sidestepping the conversation that he knew they needed to have. “I suppose you will be leaving as soon as possible?”
As Dark Cacao Cookie moved back towards the kitchen counter, he made a noise, something that Pure Vanilla Cookie had learnt was supposed to be a chuckle. “Ah, I am sure my Kingdom can handle themselves for a few moments more. They are fine warriors.”
Each time Dark Cacao Cookie had visited the Vanilla Kingdom before, Pure Vanilla Cookie had woken to him either being completely gone with a note left behind, or just about to leave. He wasn't sure when their relationship turned from friendship to whatever this was, but he welcomed it with open arms. Waking up in the morning seemed easier when it was in the arms of Dark Cacao Cookie. It was a feeling Pure Vanilla Cookie couldn't even begin to try and explain.
“Are you feeling any better? I made you a jellybean latte, they always seemed to cheer you up before the Dark Flour War.” Pure Vanilla Cookie smiled softly, ignoring the way his heart ached at the mention of the War. He took the cup from Dark Cacao Cookie, delighting in the way it warmed his hands.
“Thank you, my friend,” Pure Vanilla Cookie took a sip of the drink, taking a moment to appreciate the warmth that spread throughout his body before he spoke again. “I do apologise, though. I am not quite sure what came over me last night.”
“Grief works in mysterious ways,” Dark Cacao Cookie responded, a hint of sadness in his tone. “Sometimes I find myself wishing things had ended differently, before I can remind myself that this is the way the war had to have ended.”
“I have been thinking the same way.” Pure Vanilla Cookie nodded, lowering his head. “Distantly, I think I always knew that White Lily Cookie had to die for Dark Enchantress Cookie to do the same. I think I just…” his voice broke before he could finish his sentence. Embarrassment rushing through him, he raised an arm to cover his face before he dissolved into meaningless sobs. It was stupid. Crying over it now was not going to bring her back. Nothing would.
He was surprised when Dark Cacao Cookie took the cup from his hand and placed it carefully on the table beside him. He was even more surprised when he wrapped his arms around Pure Vanilla Cookie in a hug. Touch was never something that Dark Cacao Cookie willingly sought out. With everyone else, a hug was treated as a personal insult against him. Even Pure Vanilla Cookie rarely hugged Dark Cacao Cookie, mostly out of respect for his boundaries.
For Dark Cacao Cookie to make the choice to hug him because he knew it made him feel better? That just made him cry even harder.
They stayed like that for what felt like forever, until the sniffles finally subsided and Pure Vanilla Cookie felt like he could breathe again. He moved slightly to get up, hoping that they could both ignore it and move forward. However, Dark Cacao Cookie didn't let him go that easily. He simply pulled him closer and whispered phrases of comfort that were probably half meant for himself, too. They were both grieving, after all.
Despite the shame he felt for his second tearful fit in the morning alone, he leant into the touch, allowing himself to be held for a few moments more.