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It was the very first time Pure Vanilla saw Shadow Milk asleep.
Most definitely the last thing he'd been expecting that morning. The sun shining through their shared bedroom window, the bluebirds chirping as he arose from his sleep.
Once he blearily sat up and blinked the sleep away, he looked beside himself to see his own bluebird sound asleep, on his side.
It was odd.
One thing he quickly learned about Shadow Milk is he doesn't enjoy being in vulnerable positions such as this. He likes to have some feeling of control at all times. It was... A work in progress, to get him to lower his guard.
And yet, every morning, he was wide awake before Pure Vanilla was. Such trust like letting the other watch him sleep didn't seem to be one Shadow Milk would allow. He had questioned it, once.
"Of course I'm always up early." Shadow Milk had said, looming over Pure Vanilla's desk, his legs crossed in the air. "How could I not, when every morning the light burns through my eyes?"
Pure Vanilla had giggled, setting aside the documents in his desk and looking up at the blue jester.
"Well, I think the suns morning shine is quite lovely." He'd said with a smile. "It's a rather beautiful view, wouldn't you agree?"
Shadow Milk responded with an eye roll. "Oh, spare me the heartfelt semantics. You think everything is beautiful, Nilly."
Pure Vanilla couldn't help but giggle again, Shadow Milk always had that effect on him. "Of course I do, though no scenery could match your own beauty, my love." He'd stood up from his desk as he spoke, grabbing one of Shadow Milk's hands and gently landing a kiss on it.
Shadow Milk was not amused, as he recoiled his hand and looked at Pure Vanilla with disgusted annoyance, though the cerulean blush on his cheeks broke his mask. He then laughed and floated up higher.
"My my, how charming of you." He'd looked down at Pure Vanilla, smirk wide and blush still ever present. "Still, you ought to get some curtains in here. A highly esteemed king such as yourself can't be having his charming, handsome companion be assaulted by the sun each morning, now can you?"
Pure Vanilla had looked at him with nothing but fondness in his smile. "I'll make the arrangements soon, then."
"Good." Shadow Milk concluded, his amused smirk proving satisfactory.
So to see Shadow Milk resting beside him, knowing this, was surprising.
Pure Vanilla gently caressed his sleeping form, moving away a few hairstrands to get a better look at Shadow Milk's face, basked in the morning glow.
Shadow Milk, much to his relief, did not stir at the touch. Only slightly burying his head onto the pillow.
It was a rare, mundane moment he desperately wanted to bask in further, if time allowed so.
And yet, the lingering thought of his companions odd behavior edged into his head.
The sight in front of him is not something Shadow Milk would ever allow of himself, Pure Vanilla knows this. So, why is he simply... Letting it?
Pure Vanilla wasn't one to push, however, and certainly not when other nations worried letters started piling up at his desk. He supposed now would be the only time he would be able to write back, without a blue devil on his shoulder asking if he's allowed to send 'a small declaration of war' as a response.
Pure Vanilla stood up from the bed with a sigh, trying his hardest not to stir the other. He made his way over to the bathroom, then to his wardrobe, and got ready for the day.
He emerged 10 minutes later, to find Shadow Milk still sleeping tightly on their bed. He let a small sigh and a fond smile appear at the sight, but continued on.
He fed the bluebirds on his balcony, before remembering he needed a meal of his own. Goodness knows Shadow Milk would take matters into his own hands if he didn't, and he'd rather spare the jester the hustle.
He made his way downstairs, not before stopping at the bedroom door in order to look at his companions form, covered by the mattress, one more time, and closing it.
The castle was busy as usual, workers running around and occasionally bowing down at him, despite him repeatedly telling them they didn't need to, and then continuing on with their tasks.
He arrived at the kitchen, with two plates of food at the ready in the table. His staff were all well aware of Shadow Milk's stay, they couldn't not be after the jester made everyone walk on the ceiling once, or startled them with moving portraits, or many more of his other pranks.
Pure Vanilla had told them he was a guest and, most importantly, would bring no harm to them, which seemed to aliviate their concerns. His staff, bless their souls, were quick to adjust to the information. Even after Shadow Milk had played a few minor pranks, it was nothing more than a small bump in the road that, on a good day, would even get some of the staff to laugh.
It was safe to say they'd grown accustomed to the jester, which Pure Vanilla was relieved by.
The kitchen staff was still a bit on edge, however, after Shadow Milk had 'accidentally' set the kitchen on fire. But if the extra plate was anything to go by, they've been quick to forgive it, if not trying to prevent another fire to happen. Still, Pure Vanilla thanked them as usual, and started his meal.
As he ate, he was hoping Shadow Milk would appear and join him, maybe make a joke about how Pure Vanilla was "Oh so worried for little, ol' him!", but after he almost finished his plate, and looked around the room briefly, it would seem otherwise. It'd been so eerily quiet all morning, it was getting on his nerves.
He decided then to grab Shadow Milk's plate and bring it over to him. A breakfast in bed never hurt anyone, anyway.
He returned to their room with Shadow Milk's breakfast, and braced himself when opening the door. He must be up already, he thought, he may try to startle me.
And as the door quietly opened, he got a look around the room. No traps, no surprises, and no floating jester. He stepped in to inspect the bed and, yet again, there laid Shadow Milk, still fast asleep, just in a slightly different position than before.
Pure Vanilla frowned. It is almost noon, and he's still not awake?
Perhaps he's simply tired, he rationalized with himself, setting aside Shadow Milk's food on the bedside table and sitting down at his own desk.
He had work he needed to be done, and he would be here when Shadow Milk woke up. It was only a matter of time.
---
Noon turned to dusk before Pure Vanilla could notice.
All things considered, it'd been a relatively peaceful afternoon. A steady (if not strange nowadays) silence, aside from his own muttering and scribbling, was present all throughout.
The Creme Republic in particular had sent a lot of letters he couldn't brush over, mostly about sealing away the blue elephant in the room, which he once again had to decline. There were a few ball invitations as well, and a few letters from his friends he was most ecstatic to respond to.
Once the pile of unread letters had turned into a neat, small stack of his own responses, he looked at the bed.
Shadow Milk's sleeping form was still there.
Pure Vanilla considered, then, to wake him up. But the sight of him, oh so peacefully slumbering, was enough to convince himself otherwise.
Despite it, the sight of Shadow Milk being so quietly peaceful was just as endearing as it was eery.
He'd never looked so softly vulnerable in front of Pure Vanilla before. Perhaps he looked most similarly to when Pure Vanilla had 'defeated' him at the spire, but that event was nothing like this.
As wholesome as it may seem now, Pure Vanilla knows well and truly Shadow Milk could be trying to trick him. This could be his own doing, he has to remember. A kings jester is nothing if not mischievously entertaining, after all.
Still though, he didn't seem to be faking anything as of now. If he were, he would've grown bored hours ago, stood up, complained about Pure Vanilla "Not playing his part", and given up.
The lingering thought of 'How is he still asleep?' was getting harder to brush off the more he looked at him.
It couldn't be pure exhaustion. Shadow Milk had been well and lively the day before.
A spell, perhaps? It was the most likely answer, knowing Shadow Milk. But this then raised a new question.
Why?
Shadow Milk wouldn't go through all this struggle for nothing, would he?
A simple, innocent prank, wouldn't warrant the hassle... Would it?
Pure Vanilla sighed. Who was he kidding, it definitely would. Shadow Milk would go to the greatest of lengths if it meant mildly distracting the other, after all, this was truly nothing in comparison.
He sat down at the edge of the bed, and looked over his shoulder, to be greeted by Shadow Milk's resting face. Pure Vanilla started mindlessly playing with Shadow Milk's hair as he pondered his options.
If it truly were a spell, it would either be time based, or needed Pure Vanilla to figure out a cure.
Shadow Milk would most definitely pick the latter, he was cheeky like that.
Pure Vanilla tried to recall any sleeping spells, any he'd read or heard of, but none came to mind.
He's known Shadow Milk for a while now, so he knows his pranks usually have some sort of reasoning. There's always a cause, all he has to do is figure out what.
But what was the tricky part.
They hadn't done anything particularly out of the ordinary in recent memory, nothing to justify-
"That was a stupid ending."
Pure Vanilla sighed, closing the book they'd been reading.
It was late at night, yet they always managed to make time for reading and, in Shadow Milk's place, complaining.
"I thought it was quite a lovely story, though, no? It's a sweet fairytale." Pure Vanilla mumbled, eyes fluttering from drowsiness.
Shadow Milk grumbled and crossed his arms. "If by 'sweet' you mean 'completely meaningless' then I guess I agree." He'd grabbed the book from Pure Vanilla's hands and tossed it aside.
Pure Vanilla giggled. "Dear, it's just a children's tale-" He'd amusingly started before getting cut off. "It's not just a 'children's tale', Nilly! It's an embarrassment to art itself! I feel insulted as a playwright after reading such a tale!" He'd thrown his hands out in the air as enfasis before laying down in the bed.
"I mean, even the spell made no sense." He'd glared at the ceiling. "A spell of eternal slumber, only to be broken by a kiss, how ridiculous." He'd stated.
Pure Vanilla laid down next to him, eyes shutting as he covered a yawn. "Don't be so mean, it was a kiss of true love, it was a sweet gesture." He'd mumbled. "Wouldn't you like it?"
Shadow Milk snorted. "Bold of you to assume I'd be the princess. If anything, you'd be the fool who would fall under the spell."
Pure Vanilla hummed, before an idea popped up. He let himself smirk as he opened his eyes. "Perhaps. But," He started, his hand moving over to rest at Shadow Milk's jaw. "how am I meant to spoil you, then?"
There it was. A beautiful, cerulean blush showed up in Shadow Milk's cheeks. He'd snorted again, as he looked away from Pure Vanilla, his gaze landing on the ceiling once again.
"Don't get cheeky, now."
"Hmm, aren't you one to speak." "Shut it." Shadow Milk covered Pure Vanilla's mouth with his hand, the other giggling in return.
The more he recalled the memory, the more it faded away as Pure Vanilla felt his jam rush to his cheeks.
No... He wouldn't... Would he?
He looked at Shadow Milk again.
... Of course he would.
It wouldn't... He couldn't kiss him without Shadow Milk being able to refuse. He simply couldn't!
But... Shadow Milk wouldn't set this up if he wished Pure Vanilla did otherwise...
No, no! There must be another solution, one that doesn't require...
His thoughts scattered once he made the mistake of looking at Shadow Milk again. He looked... So gorgeous. To put it lightly. His features light and relaxed as he rested.
Pure Vanilla gulped, his fists turning white from grabbing his clothing so hard. He had to restrain himself.
Yet, he couldn't bring himself to. Every thought led back to a kiss.
Maybe... Just maybe...
A simple peck wouldn't hurt.
He swallowed as he braced himself.
Better get it over with.
He adjusted his position, moving over to look at Shadow Milk directly. He hovered over him, getting closer as he mentally prepared himself.
Their lips were so close now, he could feel Shadow Milk's faint breaths and, if the other were conscious right now, he'd probably be able to feel Pure Vanilla's nervous ones. He grabbed Shadow Milk's cheeks for any kind of stability and-
Their lips connected.
Pure Vanilla immediately retracted himself, sitting up proper as his hand gently hovered over his lips.
Good heavens...
There was that silence, the only sound being Pure Vanilla's ragged breaths.
Just when enough time had passed and he thought nothing had happened, he felt the sheets move, and heard a small grunt that could belong to no one else but his bluebird.
He closed his eyes, trying to restrain his blush, and he refused to meet the others gaze.
When he finally looked back, it was to the sight of Shadow Milk sitting up, his eyes still closed. As Shadow Milk fluttered them open, he immediately smirked mischievously at the sight of Pure Vanillas red cheeks.
"Hiii Nilly~" He sing-songed as usual, his smug nature showing right through, as he covered a small yawn.
Pure Vanilla swallowed a nervous lump rapidly forming in his throat. At his lack of response, Shadow Milk adjusted in bed, before seemingly noticing something and looking at the night sky outside the window.
His smug face quickly morphed into one of surprise, with a hint of annoyance.
"Jeez, took your sweet time huh?" He muttered. "I was expecting it to at least be the afternoon or something."
Pure Vanilla finally found his voice, his eyes finally meeting the others. "Shadow Milk..." He started. "How long have you been-"
"Like a week or so." Shadow Milk interrupted, averting his gaze to the window again. "I couldn't do it immediately, where would the surprise be?" He innocently added, fluttering his eyes in the way Pure Vanilla always found charmingly amusing.
Yet this time he could only find sheepish embarrassment.
He cleared his throat, organizing his thoughts. "How did you... I mean, where did you find a spell?"
Shadow Milk rolled his eyes at the interrogation, but was quick to answer regardless. "Um, hello? Previous Cookie of Knowledge in front of you? Jeez, Nilly, maybe you were the one who needed the nap."
Pure Vanilla let out a humorless laugh, as a faint smile settled on his face. Shadow Milk's antics never failed to deliver.
"Is there really such a spell, one broken with a kiss? I always assumed it was made up." Pure Vanilla asked sincerely, curiosity getting the best of him.
Shadow Milk laughed faintly. "Sleeping spells, there are plenty. But I couldn't recall one that required a kiss of all things." Shadow Milk explained, as he mindlessly played with the mattress edge. "So, I had to resort to Eternal Sugar."
Pure Vanilla blinked. "Eternal Sugar? Why?"
Shadow Milk grinned. "Of course. Her whole thing is her paradise of sloth, remember? She gave me a fruit from her garden, I enchanted it with a love spell, and that was that."
With the explanation, Pure Vanilla recalled the strange fruit he'd caught Shadow Milk eating the night before.
It had been heart shaped, with a bright pink outer shell, and faint pastel hues inside.
He'd never seen anything like it before, which made sense now. No text books could've possible captured it, not without their authors staying in that paradise forever.
Pure Vanilla felt, well. As Shadow Milk always said. Foolish, for not noticing sooner.
Speaking of, Shadow Milk had since scooted closer to him, looking into Pure Vanilla's gaze with lidded eyes.
"Aww, Nill. Were you worried for me?" He giggled, setting his arms around Pure Vanilla's neck, who let out a sigh. "Of course I was, Shadow Milk." He moved his hands to grab Shadow Milk's waist, settling his face to the others shoulder. "Though I suppose you were expecting me to."
"Worried, depressed, sobbing. All those were obvious from you. Maybe amused after this very conversation." Shadow Milk buried his own face in Pure Vanilla's shoulder as he giggled to himself.
Pure Vanilla couldn't help but laugh as well. They stayed in the embrace for a little while longer. Pure Vanilla felt his eye lids close, comfort and tiredness getting the best of him.
Before too long, he felt Shadow Milk's hands relax, his breaths slowing down.
Confused, he adjusted in order to look at him proper, and...
No way...
Pure Vanilla tried his best to control his giggles, only half succeeding.
Shadow Milk was asleep in the embrace.
Pure Vanilla did his best to hold Shadow Milk upright, all while his attempts at stifling his laughter failed miserably.
He heard Shadow Milk grumble, seemingly waking up again.
"Mm, something funny?" Shadow Milk blearily asked, eyes half closed and a smile on his face. Pure Vanilla, then, let out a loud chuckle.
"You've been asleep the entire day, love."
"And? I'm still sleepy." Shadow Milk laid back down, dragging Pure Vanilla with him, whose laughter didn't cease.
They both settled underneath the sheets, giggling all the while.
Shadow Milk's hands trailed over Pure Vanilla's form, sometimes giving him a squish, resulting in giggling from the other. He gently settled in Pure Vanilla's warm embrace, his faint scent of vanilla settling over them.
Pure Vanilla, meanwhile, found himself rubbing circles on Shadow Milk's back, head on top of the jesters own.
"Mmm, you reek of vanilla, you know that?" Shadow Milk finally said, after a long while of sweet silence. Pure Vanilla simply hummed. "Do I, now?"
"Mhm, you're sooo lucky I don't mind it." Shadow Milk concluded, his eyes shutting tight as he felt Pure Vanilla's gentle heartbeat against his face.
Not too long after, Pure Vanilla trailed his gaze down at his companion in his arms, only to find Shadow Milk sleeping once again, faint breaths escaping him as he rested.
Pure Vanilla smiled to himself, as he shifted ever so slightly to turn off the rooms light.
A faint, gentle light from the moon covered the room. Pure Vanilla heard the wind pass, the owls coo, and his companions breaths, as his eyes lidded close.
The night shall pass, and morning shall come.
Sleep embraced Pure Vanilla with open arms. His consciousness slowly slipping away from him.
He dreams of bluebirds and fruit.