Chapter Text
You hate me.
Pure vanilla reached his hand out, as if trying to ground the beast from their breakdown. Almost like calming down a child from their tantrum. Like calming down a sheep going rampant. Like calming down…calming down Shadow Milk.
You should hate me.
Shadow Milk felt himself blinded by the bright light of their other realm being taken over, the bright white and bright yellow colors blinding their delicate eyes. Their body aching from fighting so much.
You do hate me.
They could hear the bickering between those stupid brats behind Pure Vanilla, saying that they should just get rid of them now. That they were too dangerous to keep alive.
Like they were a wild wolf finally wounded by the town that it terrorized.
You should hate me.
“ Please calm down. “ Pure Vanilla urged the three bickering behind him to finally calm down. Once silence fell between them all, Pure Vanilla turned his gaze back to Shadow Milk, the now fallen beast.
“ Shadow Milk..Please. “
He was desperate, it showed in his voice. Shadow Milk wanted to believe it, they wanted to believe it all. Yet that voice in the back of their head made them think that Pure Vanilla was lying to them.
“ Y-You’re lying! YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING! “ The grasp on their staff getting tighter and more desperate, they were desperate to believe their blinding lies.
Lies that they plucked from the drowning truth and wrapped around his eyes, like a blindfold. A Bird in a box.
You have to hate me.
“ YOU KNOW NOTHING OF ME! YOU ARE BLINDING YOURSELF WITH YOUR OWN COMPLEX! HOW DARE YOU TRY TO UNDERSTAND ME?! “ Their yelling louder and louder the anger in their eyes denied the emotions that the eyes that scattered in their hair. Inky tears leaking and dissolving, like a sad child after being denied their favorite toy, their favorite item.
“ YOU SHOULD HATE ME! YOU SHOULDN'T WANT TO PROTECT ME! I AM NOT A FRAIL CHILD! “
A frail toy. A frail doll. A frail..cookie.
Decades of being locked away, rotting away. Nothing to entertain them besides their own insanity.
They were but a sad child.
A sad child without a friend.
Just a broken toy in their hand.
No adult to help mend it, no adult to guide them, no..nothing.
They were one compared to an injured dog. A Dog that was never taught to bark, only to bite anyone who got too close. Anyone who was far too close to knowing their truth.
“ You..You… “ They stutter over their words, a dizzy gaze in their eyes as their other eyes still shedded Inky Tears. Their hair crazed, all over the place as if they were just waking up almost.
“ You should hate me. “ They gasped out, they felt their knees getting weak. Why were they bending at such a will. They were never this frail. They weren’t this weak—
They fell to his knees, eyes glossy and dizzy. They felt overwhelmed by his true emotions. they felt overwhelmed by the amount of people seeing him in this state, they felt their minions gaze on them with sorrow. A gaze of sadness, empathy, care, anything under such.
How dare they look at them like that—
They like it.
No. They don't. They Hate being looked down on like this.
They needed someone’s help to stick the landing.
They don’t need help. Help is foreign to them.
They should accept it.
Shut up!—
Embrace it.
“ Shadow Milk… “ Their breathing hitched as they looked up at Pure Vanilla. That gaze that made them feel cared for.
“ Y-you’re lying to me…you have to be. You want to use me..You don’t want to be my friend, not anything with me..You just want the power. You have to. “ Their delusions blind them from the absolute truth.
“ I’m not. I care for you. “ He mumbled back, leaning down on his knees as he brought Shadow Milk into a hug. Watching as the jester froze, not squirming, nor hugging back.
Absolutely frozen in the grasp as they sniffled before finally sobbing.
Like a child crying in their parents arms after being lost in a forest.
A child free from their forest.
“ I hate you I hate you I hate you— “ They sniffled as they hiccuped. They mumbled the words over and over as the ancient just continued to hug them. Never letting go as they continued to sob as well.
“ It’s okay. I won’t let go. “
“ ..Promise. “ They mumbled out, desperate for an answer from the awakened ancient.
“ Promise. “ He whispered back, smiling softly as he held onto Shadow Milk. Feeling as the other changed into a more Plushie-like form.
Their size was much smaller but still able to move, seemingly hugging onto Pure Vanilla still. Their form being similar to a doll.
“ Ah.. I didn’t expect that. “ Pure Vanilla said gently as he held the other cookie, almost as if he was holding a fragile doll. A Fragile child.
“ Master Shadow Milk Cookie!! “ Candy Apple whined out, clearly worried for her master as Black Sapphire stayed silent. “ Where are you taking them!? “ She yelled out, almost as if she was threatening to throw a tantrum right then. About to run towards Pure Vanilla before Black Sapphire stopped her.
“ We can..visit Master Shadow Milk Cookie when they’re better. “ Black Sapphire said firmly as he stared at Pure Vanilla who stared back.
“ Take good care of them. Please. “ Black Sapphire pleaded lightly, a light gaze in his eyes which was quite different from his usual egotistical personality which was similar to Shadow Milk’s.
“ I will. “ Pure Vanilla confirmed as he turned away, walking away with the three who were still reluctant to leave the two minions alone without supervision.
“ Don't worry about them. They can’t do anything in their current state, especially without Shadow Milk Cookie. “ Pure Vanilla said gently, holding the now asleep Shadow Milk in his arms.
“ Whatever you say, Pure Vanilla Cookie… “ Wizard mumbled reluctantly, followed by a nod from Strawberry and an uneasy gaze from Gingebrave.
With the conflict resolved, and Shadow Milk..under control at least. It was safe for the trio and Pure Vanilla to leave beast yeast.
And all Pure Vanilla could do was hope White Lily was okay…