Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

The jolt of the plane hitting the ground jolted Pure Vanilla awake. It took him a second to register that he had fallen asleep, and as the color and light flooded in, the truth of where he was came just as fast.

The plane had just landed in the worst place in the world, the Shadow Kingdom. Just as he came to that conclusion, an announcement was made to the passengers:

“Welcome to the Shadow Kingdom. Local time 4:29 PM and an outside temperature of negative 15 degrees Celsius outside!" A cheery voice came, “Please start gathering your bags as the plane has stopped moving.”

Negative 15 degrees? Pure Vanilla cringed and slid off his seatbelt, standing up and pulling his bag out from under the seat. He checked the extra legroom area for anything else and made his way to the open door

He thanked the pilot and flight attendants before making the slow tread through customs before finally finding baggage claim. He pulled out his phone and sent a message to the driver that was to take him to hell… or in other words, boarding school, which was where he was to stay until his eyes healed.

His eyes.

That’s why he was even there. The dark and gloominess of the Shadow Kingdom was supposed to help speed recovery after the surgery.

Now, Pure Vanilla had been blind all his life, his staff giving him the ability to see the basics, but it wasn’t the same. That’s why he agreed to it. That’s why he was there.

The phone buzzed in Pure Vanilla’s hand and he noted that the driver was there.

He looked up (via staff) to see the driver walk towards him.

“What bags are yours?” He asked without preamble.

“Just that one,” Pure Vanilla said, pointing out the big suitcase and pulling his backpack onto his shoulders from where it was resting at his feet.

“The car’s out front,” the driver said, walking towards the door.

Pure Vanilla followed, zipping up his jacket and tucking away his phone.

The freezing air hit his face with a sting as he stepped into the parking lot. The sky was dark, but hints of color were peaking through.

There were a bunch of tall towers, Spires, as they were called out here, all dusted with snow.

Snow.

It was usually too warm for snow in the Vanilla Kingdom, and the sight of the small white flecks amazed the blonde. Not like he could see very well, but all of the sensations of cold and snow almost made up for the lack.

“It’s the black car over there,” said the driver.

“Umm, yeah,” Pure Vanilla muttered. With the snow, he could barely see 20 feet in front of him “I’ll follow you,”

The man shrugged and walked into the gloom. Pure Vanilla followed and they made it to the black car. He opened the door to the back seat before opening the trunk and putting in the suitcase.

“You can go in,”

“Oh- okay. Thank you,” Pure Vanilla mumbled, sitting in the backseat and closing the door.

A few seconds later, the truck closed and the man went back to the driver’s seat. “About a three-and-a-half hour drive to your destination,” he said professionally.

Pure Vanilla nodded and the car started to move.
—— —— —— ——

“Thanks for driving me,” Pure Vanilla said.

“It’s my job.”

Pure Vanilla smiled and closed the door before crossing the driveway to where a staff member with a clipboard was standing.

“Hello dear, what’s your name?” She asked.

“P-Pure Vanilla Cookie, from the V-Vanilla kingdom,” he stuttered.

The woman looked down at her clipboard. “Vanilla,” she muttered before finding his name, “alright, let me show you to your dorm.”

Pure Vanilla followed her into the school and she pointed out where the dining hall was, the different classrooms. He tried his best to remember where everything was, but the place seemed to go on indefinitely.

Finally, they got to the dorms.

“The curfew is in dorms at 9:00 and lights out by 10:00” the woman said before handing Pure Vanilla a key and a copy of his schedule

“Okay, thanks,” Pure Vanilla said, taking them.

“Well, I’ll see you in class,” she said and walked back down the hall.

Pure Vanilla took a deep breath and opened the door.

The room was big and symmetrical. Two big windows, two desks, and two beds were on opposite sides, mirroring each other, with a big fireplace in the middle. Someone sat on the bed that was on the left side, an open suitcase in front of him.

“Hello,” Pure Vanilla said, setting his suitcase on the desk on the right side.

“H-hi,” he said, “I took this side, by you can have it if you want,”

“You can have it,” Pure Vanilla said to his new roommate.

They unpacked their stuff in a silence that wasn’t bad. Pure Vanilla could tell that his roommate, Dark Cacao Cookie, as was listed on his housing form, also didn’t want to be there, even though he hid it well.

Once they finished unpacking, Pure Vanilla had some free time, probably the only time until the holiday break.

He climbed onto his bed and pulled out his sketchbook. He really only drew when nobody was around, but Dark Cacao was already under a pile of blankets with his phone, probably not to come out for a while.

Since he couldn’t see, Pure Vanilla drew without his staff, picturing the paper and drawing with his eyes closed. It was how he wrote, but writing and drawing were two different things.

He let all of his homesickness onto the page. Now that there was nothing to do, all he could think about was the sadness.

He really missed home.

He had let a few tears escape on the car ride, but in the dark when there was nothing but the glow of the fireplace, the tears dripped freely from his unseeing eyes, down his face, and onto the paper in his lap. His breathing soon became unstable and he had to bury his face in his pillow to not be heard.

It was just the prospect of staying in this dark, frozen world that was so different from the bright, warm, happy place that was so far away.

Chapter Text

“Beep, Beep,” his alarm sang.

Pure Vanilla groaned and rolled over, slamming his hand onto his phone.

When nothing happened, he grabbed it and shut it off. He really didn’t want to get up, but he had to.

He grabbed his staff and stumbled to the bathroom, showering and getting dressed in the school uniform in a haze.

Once he had woken up enough to assess that his skincare was still in his suitcase, he was almost ready for the day. He went back into the room to see that Dark Cacao still hadn’t woken up.

He wondered if he would have any time to get ready, grabbing his skincare from the suitcase.

As he started back to the bathroom, he caught sight of the sketchbook from the previous night. On the slightly water damaged paper, there was a big, unforgiving eye.

Pure Vanilla shuddered a little before continuing to the bathroom to keep getting ready.

—— —— —— ——

Pure Vanilla skipped breakfast. Not because he wasn’t hungry (he had missed dinner at the school because his flight was delayed) but he didn’t want to be confronted with the challenge of where to sit. He had no friends so far, and he wouldn't just sit down with strangers.

Instead, he went to the library and found some books in braille to read.

There wasn’t much, but he read until the bell rang, eventually getting up and walking to where he remembered the English classroom to be.

He managed to find it, and he found a spot to sit in the front, as well. A little bit later, someone sat down next to him.

“Hi!” Said the mystery person, “you’re new, right?”

He turned his staff to see who his new desk partner was. “Yeah I’m-“

“Oh my GOSH! You’re like, so hot,” she interrupted, “Wait- I fucking said that out loud.” She blushed.

Pure Vanilla didn’t have a response, he just ran a hand through his shoulder-length blonde hair.

“Uhh… I’m White Lily Cookie, you can call me Lily if you want,” she said quickly, still a little red.

“Pure Vanilla Cookie,” Pure Vanilla introduced himself.

Just then, the professor stepped up and started the lesson.

“Open your books and read the first chapter. Then answer the questions on the board.” Said the teacher.

Pure Vanilla pulled out his textbook and started to read the braille.

“Wait, you’re blind?” Asked White Lily.

“Uh… yeah,” Pure Vanilla said, turning back to face her.

She had long, white hair with red highlights braided down her back with crimson eyes to match. She batted her long lashes at him.

“I’ve never met someone who was blind before,” she said.

Pure Vanilla again didn’t have a response to that.

She continued to ask random questions during the class that Pure Vanilla tried his best to answer. The assignment wasn’t that challenging, but White Lily’s questions definitely made it harder.

At the end of class, they found out that they had science and history together, too.

“What kind of magic do you have?” Asked White Lily during science.

“Healing,” replied Pure Vanilla.

“Wait, if you can heal people, why don’t you heal your blindness?” She asked.

Pure Vanilla cringed at the rude question, “it… doesn’t work like that,” he muttered, turning his staff away.

Chapter Text

By the time the bell announcing lunch rang, the pair were quite well acquainted. Pure Vanilla was going to sit with Lily and her group of friends. One was his roommate, just so it happens, and he was also in science with them as well.

Pure Vanilla walked with them to the dining hall, getting his lunch, and sitting with White Lily, Dark Cacao, and their two other friends.

Hollyberry was tall (taller than all of the girls and at least half of the boys) and muscular, playing almost every sport and having medals in most.

Golden Cheese was short and had bright gold hair, a contrast with her dark skin. She also had wings that she had a habit of flapping whenever she wanted to say something.

They were all descendants of Ancient Heroes, like Pure Vanilla, and it was a relief to actually have friends in this cold place.

Hollyberry pointed out all of the social groups:

The nature guardians, who were powerful and chaotic (not to be messed with on Mondays)

The religious kids, who were smart and made good seat partners.

And- “who are they?” Asked Pure Vanilla, for a group of people had just entered.

“Don’t look at them,” hissed Golden Cheese, “those are the Beasts, and they are horrible. Don’t ever mess with them!”

“Not all of them,” Hollyberry hissed back, “Eternal Sugar Cookie is actually very nice,”

They continued to bicker, so Pure Vanilla turned to White Lily.

“Who are they?”

She scowled, “the big beefy one who needs a haircut desperately is Burning Spice Cookie. Golden Cheese hated him because he jumped her last year and they both got suspended.

Pure Vanilla winced in sympathy.

“And that tall pink bimbo with wings is Eternal Sugar Cookie.” Continued White Lily, “she honestly does nothing but sleep in class, but Hollyberry swears that she’s the hottest thing ever.” She rolled her eyes because, indeed, Hollyberry was entranced by Eternal Sugar just resting her head on the person next to her’s shoulder.

“And that emo guy who looks really lonely is Silent Salt Cookie. He owns a horse at the stables and just like aura farms on it,” white Lily sighed, “so not my type, like”

Pure Vanilla snorted, “A… horse?”

“Yeah, it’s crazy, right?”

She then turned her attention to the other girl, “that one with the earring shaped like wheat is Mystic Flour Cookie. She’s like on crack or something, always saying that things will ‘return to flour’” White Lily finished.

Just then, the last one, a man with blue-and-black hair, the one Eternal Sugar was using as a pillow, turned his head to look at them staring.

White Lily turned red and looked down as his eyes bore into hers. He then turned to look at Pure Vanilla, his eyes narrowing in confusion at Pure Vanilla’s closed eyes.

His eyes. One was half covered with a white lock of hair that was a sharp contrast to the black and deep blues of the rest of it. The other eye, however, was a cyan color with a black pupil and eyelashes, the same eye that Pure Vanilla had drawn the previous night.

Pure Vanilla shivered and turned back to White Lily, leaving his staff to face him. “Who’s that?” He whispered.

“That’s Shadow Milk Cookie. He jumped us last year just because we questioned his power. Please try to stay away from him. For all of our sakes.”

“I’ll try,” Pure Vanilla said.

The bell rang, dismissing them.

“I’ll see you in history,” said White Lily.

“Bye,” Pure Vanilla said.

Pure Vanilla walked to math class with Golden Cheese only to find out that they had assigned seats, and, of course, they were on opposite sides of the room.

Maybe it was better that Pure Vanilla was away from distractions, and at least he was by the board.

The late bell rang, and Pure Vanilla got out his books, setting up his notebook.

Suddenly, the door opened and Shadow Milk Cookie ran in, out of breath.

“Sorry I’m late I was… uhh…” he trailed off.

“Seat by my desk where I can see you,” the Professor barked at him.

Shadow Milk mumbled something unintelligible under his breath and took his seat next to Pure Vanilla.

“Why do I have to sit here?” He grumbled

“I know what crap you pull during my class,” retorted the professor.

“Hey, I don’t bother anyone.” Interjected Shadow Milk.

“Mhmm…” the professor mused skeptically.

Pure Vanilla was silent throughout the whole ordeal, but his head must have been tilted toward them because suddenly Shadow Milk turned on the blonde, “What are you looking at? Keep out of other people’s business.”

“I- I wasn’t,” Pure Vanilla said quietly, turning his head forward.

The whole class was really quite boring, for Pure Vanilla had already studied most of the content back in the Vanilla Kingdom.

Instead, most of his attention was on the person next to him.

Shadow Milk had no notebooks or anything with him, instead, he just pulled out his phone and began texting someone. He occasionally glanced at Pure Vanilla quizzical glances.

Something was off about him.

Under all of the walls of whatever ‘tough-guy’ persona he showed to the world, there was a soft weakness.

Other than that energy (which was a very common one) there was something else.

His Soul Jam glinted from a ring on his index finger. A deep blue crystal that closely resembled Pure Vanilla’s, although it was in the shape of an eye.

Pure Vanilla reached up to touch his own Soul Jam from where it huh from a chain around his neck. Its energy was sitting and reforming, still the same, but more alert.

Just then, the bell rang, so Pure Vanilla got up and started to walk to his next class. However, a hand on his forearm stopped him. The point of contact felt like an electric shock, and Shadow Milk quickly dropped his hand as Pure Vanilla winced.

“Hey, I don’t know what you’re playing at, but stop it, alright?” Shadow Milk said angrily, fighting with the ring on his finger uncomfortably. His face was contorted into a mask of rage, his eyes showing nothing but rage at… Pure Vanilla?

“I’m not doing… anything- what are you talking about?” Pure Vanilla was very confused, and at least a little scared by the other’s hostility.

“My Soul Jam! It was like-“ he broke off and covered his mouth with his hand.

His face suddenly seemed a bit green.

“Excuse me- I think I’m going to be-“ he turned and ran from the room, his mouth still covered.

Pure Vanilla debated following him to see if he was okay, but something about Shadow Milk’s hostile attitude made him seem like he didn’t want help.

Adjusting his bag up onto his shoulder, Pure Vanilla continued to walk out of the class and to gym class. As he walked, he wondered why the Soul Jams had been acting so weird. Shadow Milk couldn’t be doing it, considering that he had asked Pure Vanilla about it.

It was strange, definitely, but it was probably nothing to worry about considering Shadow Milk was also not feeling well, as he was about to be sick. It was probably his powers acting weird.

Pure Vanilla pushed open the door to the big indoor gym. He had a doctor's note to not do anything in the class because of his eyes, so he avoided the groups of students messing around with the gym equipment and sat on the bleachers against the far wall.

On the far end of the bleachers, Eternal Sugar Cookie sat, phone in hand, and posture stuff. Burning Spice Cookie sar on the bench below her, facing her. They were conversing, voices low, but Pure Vanilla unintentionally still caught words. “Worried”, “attack”, and “Shadow Milk”

Just then, the door opened and Shadow Milk stumbled in, his color pale, and his hair disheveled, a few strands sticking to his sweat-dampened forehead.

Burning Spice jumped off the bleachers and ran to Shadow Milk’s side, steadying him as he almost fell over. Burning Spice led him over to the bleachers where Eternal Sugar was sitting, eyes full of concern.

“Are you okay?” Eternal Sugar asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Shadow Milk said dismissively, “I just got nauseous. That’s all,”

“Do you need to lie down?”

“Yeah…”

They continued back up to the top of the bleachers and out of earshot.

Pure Vanilla didn’t like eavesdropping on personal matters, so it had felt dirty listening in.

Suddenly, a basketball hit Pure Vanilla in the side of the head with enough force to make him fall off of the bleachers. And drop his staff, cutting off his sight.

“Owww,” he muttered, rubbing the side of his head.

“SORRY!” A voice called.

“It’s fine,” Pure Vanilla said.

He felt around the floor for his staff, but was unable to locate it.

“Crap,” he mumbled, continuing his search, but coming to no avail.

“Hey, are you looking for something?” A deep voice asked.

“Y- yeah, my staff,” Pure Vanilla said.

“This?”

He felt it tap his hand.

“Yeah, thanks,” Pure Vanilla took it and, given his sight back, looked up into- Burning Spice Cookie’s eyes.

Pure Vanilla involuntarily froze in fear at the look on the other’s face, the fire in his eyes.

“You’re welcome, little-“

“SPICE! WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT PICKING ON PEOPLE THAT ARE SMALLER THAN YOU?” Interrupted Eternal Sugar from the top of the bleachers.

“To not to,” Burning Spice muttered.

“Apologize for scaring him!”

“I’m sorry…” he turned and went back up to where the others were.

“I’m sorry about that!” Eternal Sugar called.

“It’s fine,” Pure Vanilla said back.

He glanced up at her. She had her finger pointed in Burning Spice’s face. Shadow Milk was lying down next to her, his head in her lap.

“Spice, why can’t you leave people alone?” Shadow Milk sighed from where he was lying. “I told you not to-”

He was cut off by the bell. Pure Vanilla hot up and grabbed his bag, rushing off to history.

Once he got there, he sat in the spot next to White Lily and huffed a sigh.

“You good?” She asked.

“Yeah… just a very weird first day.”

She snorted, “Real,”

Hollyberry Cookie came in through the door and walked over to them.

“Sorry for hitting you with that ball…” she apologized again.

“It’s fine, I’m not hurt.” Pure Vanilla reassured.

“Okay then,” she continued towards the back of the room.

Chapter Text

“Well I can eat a whole bag of those with NO REACTION!”

“Sure you can.”

“You say that… but it hasn’t been proven!”

Hollyberry and Golden Cheese wouldn’t stop bickering. The spicy food (subject of the argument) sat on the table in front of them. Dark Cacao was on his phone, uninterested in the debate.

“Do you like spicy food, Pure Vanilla?” asked White Lily.

“Oh, no, my spice tolerance is not good enough for that, heh.” Pure Vanilla replied, chuckling.

“You should still try one,” White Lily said, holding up a bag of Takis.

“Yeah, do it!” Piped up Golden Cheese.

Pure Vanilla grimaced and gave into peer pressure, taking a chip and holding it gingerly between his fingertips.

“Eat it!”

“Fine,” Pure Vanilla muttered, bringing the bright red chip to his lips.

He felt his eyes water and tongue burn from the heat. He coughed and covered his mouth, ignoring the others as they doubled over in laughter. He coughed harder as his nose began to run.

“You okay?” Asked White Lily.

“Can I have some water?” Pure Vanilla coughed.

“Oh, for sure,” Golden Cheese said, a smirk concealed in her tone.

There was the sound of a water bottle being opened, and Pure Vanilla reached out for it. Instead of the water bottle being put in his hand, the shock of cold water splashing onto his head made him jump to his feet.

“What the fuck?” he exclaimed, grabbing his staff and attempting to dry it off.

The table exploded into laughter again.

Pure Vanilla felt a blush creep up his neck. “Whatever,” he muttered, grabbing his bag before walking out of the common area that they had been sitting in.

He pushed open the door to the bathroom and went into the handicapped stall. At least he had some spare clothes to change into with him. He quickly took off his soaked jacket and shirt, pulling on new ones.

He had just tied the school tie when he heard the bathroom door open and someone panting heavily. Then came a gasp of pain.

Pure Vanilla peered through the gap in the stall to see a figure leaning over the sink, coughing and spluttering. They looked up at their reflection, a crazed smile on his face.

“This CANNOT be happening right now,” He muttered, sinking his hands into his hair.

It was Shadow Milk Cookie. His hair was disheveled, and a black substance dripped from his mouth into the sink that he had just spat more of it into.

Shadow Milk closed his eyes and opened them slowly to reveal that they were pure black.

“Fuckfuckfuckfuck” He gasped, clutching the sink in desperation.

Almost in slow-motion, the mirror shattered and Shadow Milk collapsed to the ground.

He began to thrash around uncontrollably, unseen eyes in his hair now open and glancing around desperately.

Acting on impulse, Pure Vanilla unlatched the stall and ran to Shadow Milk’s side, working bits of healing magic into the other’s brain to stop the seizure. More black liquid, which as the healer took a closer look at, was magic, was seeping from Shadow Milk’s eyes, his mouth.

Pure Vanilla had just got him recovered enough for his eyes to become normal before the door to the bathroom flew open and a professor took in the scene.

He grabbed his radio and spoke into it.

“A student had an attack.”

— — — —

Shadow Milk cookie didn’t show up to class the next day. Or for the rest of the week, for that matter.

Pure Vanilla was planning to find him and ask if he was okay, but he wasn’t there.

“Why were you in the office yesterday?” asked White Lily the next day.

They were in History class, waiting for the bell to ring.

Pure Vanilla remembered when after the nurse had escorted a weak, drowsy Shadow Milk to his office, the headmaster had summoned Pure Vanilla up to the office to tell him to not mention to anyone about what happened with Shadow Milk.

“It’s about my magic class,” Pure Vanilla said, “They’re assigning me to a new one to tutor a student on magic.

That was only partly true. Pure Vanilla was to tutor Shadow Milk because of the attack. It happened from a buildup of magic that hadn’t been released enough. Pure Vanilla was to help him.

White Lily seemed satisfied with that answer, “I knew that you were smart.”

Pure Vanilla blushed, “What?”

The bell rang then, and White Lily stood up.

“I have to go to my magic class now,” She muttered, leaving Pure Vanilla to pack up.

He left the room, wondering why White Lily kept dropping lines like that.

Sighing, he entered the classroom to his magic class and went to sit at his desk.

At least the week was almost over.

Chapter Text

“How was your first week, sweetheart?”

“It was great. I made friends and the classes are interesting.”

“That’s good. I miss you, my little vanilla wafer.”

“Mom! Don’t call me that.”

“Sorry- it’s just hard not to with you so far away. I guess you’re all too-cool-for-school now, huh?”

Pure Vanilla sighed, “I love you mom. I’ll see you for the holiday break, right?”

“Yes, of course. I have to go now, though, sweetie.”

“Oh. Bye.” Pure Vanilla was surprised at the sudden departure.

The call disconnected and Pure Vanilla leaned back against his headboard
.
“Are you coming or what?”

He looked up to see Dark Cacao waiting by the door. “No, sorry,”

“Oh, okay,” he left.

The last thing that Pure Vanilla wanted was to go out and socialize with the group. Instead, he had waited for a call with his mom that came way faster than expected.

Whatever, at least Dark Cacao didn’t force him to go.

Pure Vanilla pulled on his pajamas and collapsed back onto his bed. He had class again the next morning, and he was exhausted from socializing with people that White Lily dragged him around to meet. Especially the people in the neighboring town.

The town had different stores and restaurants, as well as a bunch of houses. White Lily had known all of the people their age who went to the public school. Pure Vanilla hadn’t remembered any of their names, but it had all been so draining.

Pure Vanilla turned off the light and curled up on his bed, holding his Soul Jam between his fingers.

He couldn’t help but think about Shadow Milk. He must have dropped out, or was his heart attack that bad?

Pure Vanilla had researched it a bit, and magic attacks happen when powerful people don't release the power buildup enough, causing the magic to force its way out. Sometimes it resulted in seizures that could be fatal.

If Shadow Milk was at school, Pure Vanilla would need to work with home to ease the power buildup during tutoring sessions.

Pure Vanilla rolled over and tried not to think about it.

Eventually, he fell asleep.

—— —— —— ——

Pure Vanilla sleepwalked his way through English and science, not fully waking up until he was seated at the lunch table and White Lily snapped her fingers in his face.

“Earthbread to Vanilla.”

Pure Vanilla jumped, “Sorry, I was…”

He trailed off as his attention slid to the table that again had five people clustered around it.

“Are you okay?” White Lily asked.

“Yeah,” Pure Vanilla said quickly, “just a little tired.”

She shot Pure Vanilla a look before returning to her sandwich.

Pure Vanilla couldn’t stop worrying about what would happen during his next class and when he had to tutor Shadow Milk.

The bell rang and Pure Vanilla stood up.

“See you in history,” Pure Vanilla said to White Lily before walking to math.

He sat at his desk and pulled out his notes. The class hadn’t started, so he pulled out a book and ran his hand over the braille.

He distinctively heard the chair next to him when it was pulled across the floor and someone fell into it.

“Hi,” he heard a voice say. “I’m sorry I didn’t get to speak with you last week, but as you know, I wasn’t feeling my best.”

Pure Vanilla touched his staff, angling it so that he could see the other.

“Uh… hi, I’m Pure Vanilla Cookie,” he said.

“I’m Shadow Milk,” he said even though Pure Vanilla already knew, “I wanted to thank you for helping me last week. It wasn’t something that someone would usually do.”

“It’s no problem,” Pure Vanilla said, his cheeks turning a light shade of pink.

Shadow Milk smirked and leaned back in his chair, running his hand through his long, blue-and-black streaked hair.

Just then, the professor explained the assignment. They were to work with their desk partners to solve a sheet of problems.

The paper was placed on the table in between the two occupants. Shadow Milk wrote something on the paper, but left it on the table.

“Uhh,” Pure Vanilla started, sounding very dumb to himself, “I’m… blind and uhh… umm.” He took a deep breath before saying the next part very fast. “Icantseethepapwrsocanyoureadtheproblems?”

“Come again?” Shadow Milk asked.

“I can’t see the… uh… paper… and … uh-“

“Oh, you need me to read it?” He interrupted.

“Yes,” Pure Vanilla said, face turning red again. ”I’m sorry to be a burden.”

“It’s fine,” he said, picking up the paper and reading the first problem.

“X is 28.31,” Pure Vanilla said.

Shadow Milk wrote it down on the paper before going to the next one.

They finished the paper in less than 10 minutes, Shadow Milk correcting Pure Vanilla’s wrong answers with questions. Pure Vanilla scrawled his name on the top and pulled his book back out.

“How long have you been blind?” Shadow Milk’s question came unexpectedly.

“My whole life,” Pure Vanilla said, “I was born with it.”

“Thats why you’re here?”

“Yeah, I had surgery, but I can’t look at UV rays until it heals completely.”

Why was Shadow Milk asking these questions? Why was Pure Vanilla answering?

Shadow Milk looked at the staff, “do you see through that?”

“Yeah,”

“Curious,” he mused.

“So, um why are you here? If you don’t mind me asking.” Pure Vanilla asked.

The other shrugged, “I’m the queen’s child and heir to the throne, giving me horrible titles like ‘Fount of Knowledge’ like who wants that?” He blew a tuft of hair streaked white out of his eyes before continuing, “She sent me here out of either spite or revenge or some sort of blackmail thing, I don’t really know.”

“Oh… that’s...” Pure Vanilla didn’t have a response, so he asked another question, “What can you do with your magic?”

“I can shape-shift,” he said, “I can change my form, other people’s forms, and create things out of other things.”

As if to demonstrate, he plucked a bit of shadow from the corner and molded it into a doll that had closely resembled himself.

“Here,” he said, placing it in front of Pure Vanilla.

“Oh, uh thanks,” Pure Vanilla said, picking it up.

“Those were the first things I learned how to make- heh,” he snorted.

Pure Vanilla smiled, “I bet you have a bunch at your house.”

“Oh, there’s a whole room full of them.”

It was hard to tell if he was joking or not.

“What magic do you have? Something Disney princess-esque like talking to animals, right?” Shadow Milk asked.

Pure Vanilla raised an eyebrow, earning a chuckle from the other. “No, I have healing magic, and I can do other-“

The bell rang, cutting them off.

“Oh, gym,” Pure Vanilla sighed, grabbing his bag and heading to the door.

Shadow Milk followed him to the gym but broke away to sit with his friends on the bleachers as soon as they got there.

Pure Vanilla sat on the bottom per usual until the bell rang.

By the time he had to tutor Shadow Milk, he wasn't sure what would happen.

He took his place in the study room to wait, five minutes went by. Then ten. He was about to call a professor when Shadow Milk came in fifteen minutes late.

“Why are you late?” Pure Vanilla huffed.

“Calm down, Vanilly.” Shadow Milk said, sitting across the table from the blonde.

“What did you just call me?” Pure Vanilla asked.

“Vanilly. You seemed like you needed a nickname.”

“I do not need a nickname!”

“Everyone needs a nickname!” He leaned back in his chair, “Mine is ‘The Great and Honorable Shadow Milk Cookie of the Shadow Kingdom, Fount of Knowledge, Sage of Truth, and Puppet master.’ People call me Shadow Milk for short, though.”

Pure Vanilla just looked at Shadow Milk.

Shadow Milk just looked at Pure Vanilla.

“Uh… anyway, we have to work on your magic now.” Pure Vanilla said, “You mentioned shapeshifting other things.”

“And demonstrated it,” Shadow Milk interjected, pulling out a bag and eating something from it.

“Uh anyway, why are you eating? We’re working on magic right now.” Pure Vanilla asked.

“Uh, I’m hungry. Also, I’m eating HEALTHY!”

Pure Vanilla pinched the bridge of his nose, “Tell me what you’re eating and I’ll decide if it’s healthy.”

“You aren’t my mom,” Shadow Milk scoffed, flicking something at Pure Vanilla.

A sunflower seed. Huh.

“Change of plans,” Pure Vanilla stood up, “Plants. You can change the forms of things, so I’m going to teach you how to grow plants from seeds with magic.”

Shadow Milk raised an eyebrow.

Pure Vanilla worked his magic through the seed, germinating and growing it until a five foot tall plant with a big yellow flower on top sprouted on the table.

“Like this,” Pure Vanilla said.

Shadow Milk stood up and examined the flower. “That’s interesting, I could have sworn that packaged seeds for eating were baked, rendering them dead.”

“If you use your magic, you can change the fact that it’s dead because of the property of-“

“Yeah, yeah,” Shadow Milk interrupted, “science.”

Pure Vanilla sighed, “you try it.”

Shadow Milk set another seed on the table and weighed his black magic through the seed. Eventually, a little sprout peeked out.

“It’s a start!” Pure Vanilla said.

“It’s blue,” Shadow Milk said.

And, indeed it was.

“Keep trying,” Pure Vanilla coaxed.

Shadow Milk continued, magic seeping from his hand onto the seed.

“Lift it up more,” Pure Vanilla said, pushing Shadow Milk’s wrist up and guiding his hand until it felt right. Again, a small electric shock sparked between them.

Pure Vanilla let go and soon, a flower sprouted. It opened, and the center of the blue petals…

There were eyes in the center. Three eyes.

“Woah, a me flower.” Shadow Milk smirked.

It was sort of cool and sort of scary at the same time. Pure Vanilla was sort of relieved when the bell rang, dismissing them.

“See you tomorrow,” Shadow Milk said, disappearing down the hall.

The last image in Pure Vanilla’s brain was of the two flowers, side by side on the table.

Chapter Text

“The FitnessGram Pacer Test is a multistage aerobic capacity test that progressively gets more difficult as it continues.” a male voice came from the speaker against the wall. “The 20 meter pacer test will begin in 30 seconds. Line up at the start.”

It was deep into December. The testing day in the gym. And even though Pure Vanilla was excused from the activity, he still watched the other students run.

By ‘other students,’ he meant Shadow Milk whenever he was close enough. His tall, subtly curvy form was somehow hard to look away from. He was actually kind of hot.

Wait, what? Pure Vanilla wasn’t gay, right?

Over the past few months, the two had gotten closer, working together in math and on magic. Pure Vanilla had also been sitting with the other and his friends during gym class.

Today, however, everyone had to do the Pacer Test.

Pure Vanilla had felt Shadow Milk tense as it was announced that he would have to do it, but it was quickly masked as he went down the bleachers with the others.

Eternal Sugar had also seemed annoyed at the prospect of leaving her usual spot on the bleachers, but there was something beyond that about Shadow Milk’s energy. Scared? No, that couldn’t be.

The instructions continued, “The running speed starts slowly, but gets faster each minute after you hear this signal.” A beep “A single lap should be completed each time you hear this sound.” a ding, “Remember to run in a straight line, and run as long as possible.”

“Guess you can’t do it then, huh Shug?” Pure Vanilla heard Shadow Milk say to Eternal Sugar, “I don’t think ‘straight’ is a concept that you-”

A muffled sound of a blow cut him off and he laughed.

“The second time you fail to complete a lap before the sound, your test is over. The test will begin on the word start. On your mark, get ready, start.”

The test was rather boring, but after a few minutes, it had sped up, and Eternal Sugar, as well as a few others, purposefully messed up to get out as fast as possible.

Shadow Milk, however, seemed to legitimately be struggling.

His movements weren’t very restricted, for he was athletic. However, he didn’t seem able to breathe correctly. His short, shallow breaths weren’t normal for someone exercising.

He eventually stopped and went over to the bleachers, panting quick and shallow.

“Did you take a break today?” Eternal Sugar asked under her breath, already at his side. “I told you not to show up if you hadn’t mastered your shapeshifting.”

“Maybe…” Shadow Milk struggled to catch his breath, “I feel dizzy. I might black out.”

“Of course you do,” Eternal Sugar, pulled him back up to the top of the bleachers where he laid down on her lap again.

Pure Vanilla didn’t want to be nosy, so he pulled out his book and waited for the bell to ring. He couldn’t help but be curious and full of worry for the other, though.

— — — —

Pure Vanilla’s alarm beeped the next day. It was the morning of the solstice, the shortest day of the year. He hopped out of bed and pulled on his uniform. Classes were optional that day because people liked to sleep in to prepare for the tradition of staying up all night.

Pure Vanilla didn’t plan to, so he crept past the sleeping form of Dark Cacao, careful not to wake him up while he got ready and went down to the cafeteria for breakfast.

He took his toast from the buffet line and started to his usual table when a voice stopped him.

“Hey, Vanilly,”

Pure Vanilla turned to see Shadow Milk sitting at his otherwise empty table.

“Sit with me.”

Pure Vanilla sat down across from him. “This is new,” He remarked.

“Yeah, well you seemed lonely,” He took a sip of his black coffee.

“Where did you get coffee?” Pure Vanilla asked, for no coffee machine was available to students.

“Forbidden espresso machine,” Shadow Milk grinned.

Pure Vanilla smiled, but it dropped quickly. “Hey, so about yesterday… Are you okay?”

Shadow Milk seemed to have expected this. “I’m okay, Sugar helped me. But not to be rude or anything, I’m not ready to talk about it with you yet.” he said slowly, watching Pure Vanilla’s expression carefully.

Pure Vanilla just nodded and took another bite of his toast to try and calm the dull ache eating at his stomach from the words.

“No hard feelings, okay?” Shadow Milk asked, “I would just not rather get into that at the present.”

Pure Vanilla nodded, he wasn’t even sure about what exactly had happened. It wasn’t his business, though, and he definitely wasn’t going to pry.

“Anyway,” The blue one continued, switching subjects, “are you going to the party later?”

Pure Vanilla swallowed his toast and shook his head, “Too many people.”

“That’s too bad.” Shadow Milk mused, “I would have asked you to dance, you know.”

Pure Vanilla raised an eyebrow, “Tempting, tempting.”

Their relationship had also subtly shifted to be like this over the past few months.

Shadow Milk pressed a hand to his chest, “Come on, ‘Nilla, I’ll be sooooo lonely."

“So lonely with all of your friends and girlfriend,” Pure Vanilla’s tone dripped sarcasm, “So sad.”

Shadow Milk frowned, “I… don’t have a girlfriend- who are you talking about?”

“Uh… I- isn’t Eternal Sugar your girlfriend?” Pure Vanilla asked, glancing away.

“I’m sad that you think so low of me.” Shadow Milk placed a palm on the table. “Let me make this clear, we kissed maybe once in middle school. MIDDLE SCHOOL! It doesn't matter anyway, that’s how we both figured out we were gay.” He smiled crookedly and popped a few blueberries in his mouth. “So anyway… would you please go with me?” he said through his mouthful of fruit, batting his eyelashes as he rerouted the conversation.

Was Pure Vanilla gay? Well, there wasn’t any shame in it. Shadow Milk was funny, nice, hot, and brought out a side in Pure Vanilla that he didn’t know existed.

“Okay, I’ll go with you.” Pure Vanilla smiled.

“Yes! I have a date to the dance!” he muttered under his breath.

Pure Vanilla chuckled and finished his toast, “What are you doing for the break?” he asked.

“I’m going home. I dunno, nothing special.”

Just then, Pure Vanilla’s phone buzzed. It was time for class.

“I’ll walk you to your first class,” Shadow Milk said, standing up to dump the trays.

Pure Vanilla took a handful of Shadow Milk’s blueberries, and after getting rid of the trays, walked with him to the English classroom.

They stood outside, waiting for the bell to ring.

“Are you going to class today?” Pure Vanilla asked.

“Only math and magic, I guess. Math because you need help solving multi-step problems-”

“I can do them faster than you.”

“And magic because it’s required.”

“If you aren’t going to your morning classes, why didn’t you sleep in?” Pure Vanilla asked.

“I can’t… I have insomnia. It’s hard for me to sleep at all, yet alone sleep in.”

Pure Vanilla sucked in a breath of sympathy. “I’m sorry about that.”

The bell rang.

“See you later,” Shadow Milk said softly, brushing his hand across the other’s cheekbone as he left. It was a simple, yet distracting motion that left the blonde blushing as he stumbled back into the classroom.

“I’ll uhh… s-see you later,” Pure Vanilla mumbled, flustered.

Shadow Milk smirked, and Pure Vanilla went to his desk, his face still bright red.

“Are you… having a stroke?”

Pure Vanilla jumped. White Lily had appeared without notice.

“I’m… fine,” Pure Vanilla muttered.

White Lily suddenly grabbed the other’s hand and took his pulse.

“Wha-”

“High blood pressure,”

She peered into the blonde's face.

“Slightly flushed,”

She pressed the back of her hand to Pure Vanilla’s forehead.

“High body temp…”

Pure Vanilla grabbed her wrist. “Stop it.”

Her eyes welled up in tears, “Y-you have a crush on someone who isn’t… me?”

Pure Vanilla opened his mouth, closed it.

White Lily wiped her eyes, “I really thought we had something going on!” She got up and ran out of the room.

What the hell had just happened?

“Wow,”

Pure Vanilla spun around to see Fire Spirit Cookie across the room. “I thought Middle School was like a soap opera, but this…” He trailed off as Pure Vanilla growled, getting up.

He could not do class that day.

He practically ran back to his dorm. Flopping down in his bed, he got out his phone and called the first person he thought of.

He picked up on the third ring.

“Hey, Vanilly, in case you were wondering, floccinaucinihilipilification is spelled f-l-o-” Shadow Milk started randomly.

Pure Vanilla cut him off, “I don’t need help spelling big words. I’m not in class right now. I…” he sighed, “I don’t think I can go to the dance,”

“What? Why?”

“Well, I made White Lily mad, and I don’t think that I can face her until she calms down a bit.”

“Come to my dorm, we can talk in person.”

“What floor is it?”

“Fifth floor, only door.”

“Okay, I’ll see you soon.”

The call disconnected and Pure Vanilla went to the stairs, climbing the two flights to the fifth floor. He knocked on the only door, relaxing a bit when Shadow Milk opened it.

“Long time no see,” Shadow Milk smirked, “Come on in,”

Shadow Milk walked back into the room and sat at his desk. “So why did that flower get angry at you?”

“Um… she… got a rude awakening.” Pure Vanilla said, sitting on Shadow Milk’s unmade bed.

Shadow Milk snorted, “So you don’t want to face her, reasonable.”

“I’m sorry if this ruins our plans,”

“Well, why don’t we go to the town? It’s probably better since the school won’t have alcohol…”

“What?” Pure Vanilla furrowed his brow, “We can’t get alcohol, we’re only seventeen!”

“There’s a place that doesn’t check.”

Pure Vanilla sighed, “There’s no talking you out of this, is there?”

“Nope!” Shadow Milk grinned. “Would you mind if my other friends come too?”

Pure Vanilla shook his head.

Shadow Milk grabbed his phone and sent a text.

“Now that’s all cleared up,” Pure Vanilla said, “Let’s work on magic.”

Chapter Text

“Nilly, you can’t wear that,”

“What? Why not?”

“Because you can’t wear Vanilla Kingdom attire to a Shadow Kingdom party! It’s just wrong!”

Pure Vanilla laid out the long, waffle patterned robe out on the bed and sighed, “I don’t have anything else,” He admitted.

“Hmmm… I might have something that you can wear.” Shadow Milk mused, “You don’t mind feminine things, right?”

“No, not really,” Pure Vanilla said.

Shadow Milk got up and disappeared into his closet. He came out carrying a garment bag on a coat hanger. “My mom told me to wear this, but I feel weird in dresses.” He said, unzipping the bag.

Inside was a midlength, deep blue gown. Shadow Milk held it out to Pure Vanilla, and he took it, feeling the embroidery since he couldn’t see it up close. There was ivy, stars, eyes, and phases of the moon intricately woven there.

“It’s really pretty.” Pure Vanilla said, “Thank you!”

Shadow Milk nodded, “You can change in the bathroom,” he said, going back into the closet to get his own outfit.

Pure Vanilla stood up and went into the bathroom. He slipped off his school uniform and pulled the gown carefully over his head. It was made of a soft, silky, yet stretchy fabric that clung like a second skin from halfway up his neck, down to his waist, where it flared out in a skirt that hung halfway down his thighs. The sleeves were almost as long, flaring at the elbows and hanging to his fingertips.

Pure Vanilla ran a hand through his blonde hair and left the bathroom.

Shadow Milk was sitting at his desk, a makeup mirror balanced carefully in front of him on top of the clutter on his desk. When he caught sight of Pure Vanilla in the mirror, he spun around, eyes lighting up.

“Woah, that fits you great!” he spun back around and continued to add mascara to his black lashes, “If you want, there are stockings to match,” he indicated a pair of stockings still in the garment bag.

“Oh, okay,” Pure Vanilla picked them up and pulled them on. They came up to just below where the dress ended, so that there was a sliver of skin revealed in the gap there. He stood back up to see Shadow Milk looking at him.

“Want me to do your hair?” Shadow Milk asked.

Pure Vanilla ran a hand through his hair again, feeling the small give as the knots caught on his fingers, “Sure.”

— — — —

Pure Vanilla hadn’t expected to be in a dress with heavy glitter eyeliner and hair styled in waves, but there he was, about to leave for a party that definitely would have definitely been marked “unsafe” by either of his parents. The only thing stopping him was the argument he was having with Shadow Milk about- shoes.

“Why won’t you wear them? They match!”

“They look like a Saw trap for a toxic fashion model!”

“C’mon! If you wear them, you’ll be tall enough to ride the big-kid roller coasters!”

“There won’t be any roller coasters… hey, are you calling me short?”

Shadow Milk snickered, “Sorry to break it to you, but you are short.”

“I’m average!”

“You’re shorter than me, so you’re short.”

“That doesn’t make sense- 5’4 isn’t that short! The author is 5’4!”

Shadow Milk sighed and held up the shoes again, “C’mon, I’m wearing heels too!”

“Yeah, well yours are like, ten inches shorter!”

“Well you’re like ten inches shorter than me!”

Pure Vanilla grimaced at the prospect of the platform heels.

“I’ll carry you…” Shadow Milk tempted.

Pure Vanilla raised his eyebrows, “What?”

“C’mon Vanilly! I need a dance partner tall enough to touch my shoulder.”

Pure Vanilla huffed a sigh, “If you stop talking about my height, I’ll wear the stupid shoes.”

“My lips are sealed.”

Pure Vanilla took the shoes and put them on. They bent his feet and held them in place.

“I don’t think I can stand up,” he complained.

Shadow Milk held his hand out to Pure Vanilla, “Use me for balance.”

Pure Vanilla took his offered hand and got to his feet. “It’s not that bad, actually,” he said, stepping around the room.

“A natural,” Shadow Milk smirked, handing Pure Vanilla his staff that had been temporarily transformed so that it matched the dress. It now resembled the flower that Shadow Milk had grown that first magic class.

“Are we ready to go?” Pure Vanilla asked.

“Just about,” Shadow Milk said, surveying Pure Vanilla, “twirl for me first.”

Pure Vanilla smiled and spun in a circle, the silky skirt brushing around his thighs.

“You look pretty,” Shadow Milk said, straightening the collar of his deep blue jacket.

His jacket matched Pure Vanilla’s dress. It was the same color, and it had the same embroidery, although it was over a black shirt. His shirt was a bit oversized, folding unevenly as he held out his hand for Pure Vanilla.

Pure Vanilla blushed a bit, taking the other’s offered arm. They walked out the door and down the stairs, eventually making it to the main hall where the party that they weren’t attending was taking place.

“Hey, Vanilla!”

Pure Vanilla turned to see Golden Cheese walking towards them. Her face was sleeved up in laughter. “What are you wearing?” She snickered. Only then did she notice Shadow Milk on his arm, her laughter disappearing, “Wait- why are you-”

“If you’re just here to make fun of him, then I’d appreciate it if you'd go run off to your friends,” Shadow Milk interrupted, “Come on, Nilly, let’s go.”

They walked away, but not before Pure Vanilla heard her mutter, “Nilly?” Under her breath.

They went out to the driveway, where a car waited, Silent Salt Cookie in the driver's seat. Shadow Milk deftly opened the back door for Pure Vanilla, following him in after and shutting the door. Burning Spice was in the front next to Silent Salt, arguing with him.

“I don’t see why I can’t drive.”

“It’s my car.”

“Still, you’re so slow! It will take us an hour to get there!”

“It’s called a speed limit. And I don’t want you driving my car.”

“But you literally have a horse.”

Eternal Sugar then stuck her head forward between Shadow Milk and Pure Vanilla, “They won’t stop.” She hissed at Shadow Milk.

“Don’t worry, I got this,” Shadow Milk whispered back.

He leaned forward, “lemme drive.”

Silent Salt glared at him, “No way.”

Burning Spice also seemed offended at the idea, “what-“

“I’m a GREAT driver!” Shadow Milk interrupted.

Eternal Sugar was laughing, “Great? Last time you nearly ended up like my mom, wrapped around a pole!”

“I dodged it!” Shadow Milk snorted.

“Barley,” Mystic Four said.

Burning Spice sighed, “I guess you can drive, Salt. I would rather you did it than ‘mister I-took-one-drivers-ed-class-that-was-really-a-YouTube-video’.”

“Wow, rude.” Shadow Milk leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms and giving Eternal Sugar a sly high five as the two in the front started up their own conversation.

“How long are we staying out?” Asked Pure Vanilla, unconsciously messing with a lock of hair that waved to just below his jaw.

“Until dawn, probably,” Shadow Milk said.

Now, when he said ‘dawn’, he didn’t mean when the sun rose like in other regions of Earthbread, but when the sky turned from the pitch black that it was then, to a dark blue streaked with other colors. It wasn’t like Pure Vanilla could see, but he did get more aware to the amount of light that was outside.

“The whole night?” Asked Eternal Sugar.

“Uh, duh,” Shadow Milk sighed, “I think that’s what’s ‘dawn’ means.”

Eternal Sugar stuck her tongue out at him before turning her attention to Pure Vanilla.

“Where did you get that dress?” She asked, examining Pure Vanilla’s outfit.

“Uh… Shadow Milk gave it to me.” Pure Vanilla said.

She glared over at Shadow Milk, “Why don’t you give me any of your dresses, but are so happy to give them to him?”

Shadow Milk rolled his eyes, “He needed it, and you have enough of my dresses.”

“Yeah, but this one’s so pretty,” Eternal Sugar sighed.

“Yeah, well it’s his now, no backsies,” Shadow Milk crossed his arms across his chest.

Eternal Sugar sighed and flopped back onto her seat, earning a small sympathy pat on the head from Mystic Flour.

Just then, the car jolted and Silent Salt stopped it.

“What happened?” Asked Pure Vanilla, clutching his staff a bit tighter.

“I think,” Silent Salt squinted at the rear view mirror, “That we hit a squirrel.”

“Aww. Poor squirrel.” Eternal Sugar looked out the window in the back at whatever was outside. “It’s not moving,” she sounded sad.

“It’s just a squirrel,” Burning Spice sighed as Silent Salt stated driving again, “it was probably purposeful, if that makes you feel better, Shug,”

“How is the fact that the squirrel committed suicide supposed to make it any better?” Eternal Sugar said, exasperated.

“Well, maybe it was having a bad day. Or maybe it just pulled a Shadow Milk and decided-“

“It’s not dead,” Mystic Flour interrupted Burning Spice, for apparently the squirrel had moved.

“Woah, attempted.” Burning Spice snickered, “Even more like you, huh Shad-”

“WOAH, THERE!” Shadow Milk exclaimed, snapping his gaze forward at Burning Spice. His voice was suddenly more high pitched and nervous, “WHY ARE YOU SHARING THAT WITH EVERYONE?”

“Doesn’t everyone- oh.” Burning Spice looked at Pure Vanilla, “Sorry, I didn’t… I’ll shut up.”

The silence was heavy, and nobody broke it until the car rolled to a stop.

Shadow Milk was staring out the window, tense from Burning Spice’s comment. Pure Vanilla was about to ask if he was okay, but knew it might be better to leave it alone and let him talk with his friends about it.

“We’re here.” Silent Salt said.

Shadow Milk seemed to recover from whatever had been happening in his brain, getting out of the car and beckoning Pure Vanilla out, pulling him to the side as the others went inside of the bar that they were parked outside of.

“Let’s not talk about this until I’m drunk,” Shadow Milk sighed, “okay?”

“No, you don’t have to if you don’t want to.” Pure Vanilla said, “Talk when you’re ready. I don’t want to make you feel pressured into sharing heavy stuff.”

Shadow Milk smiled, “That’s what I like about you, Nils.” He took the other’s hand, “Come on, let’s go in and have fun, before the bar fills up!”

Chapter Text

Shadow Milk and Pure Vanilla were outside of a small dive bar. The latter had passed it a few times while walking around town with Lily. There were neon signs in the windows advertising different brands of beer, and as far as Pure Vanilla could tell, it was the kind of place that he would usually like to avoid.

They walked past a group of cookies that were also clad in blue and black before entering the place. The bouncer at the door looked the pair from over his newspaper for a second before pushing the door open for them without asking for an ID just as promised by the others.

Eternal Sugar was already sitting at a booth with Mystic Flour and Silent Salt. When she saw the two enter, she waved them over.

“What took you so long?” She asked.

“Never you mind,” Shadow Milk said, sitting down next to her and gesturing for Pure Vanilla to do the same, “What are you looking at there, anyway?” He continued, peering over her shoulder at her phone.

“Never you mind,” Eternal Sugar echoed, putting her phone back in her pocket.

Just then, Burning Spice strode over, six empty glasses in one hand and a pitcher in the other. He set them on the table before poking Mystic Flour in the shoulder, “Move it.”

Mystic Flour glared at him coldly, “Why do I have to sit next to him?”

“Hey, pity me! I have to sit next to this one!” Eternal Sugar waved a hand at Shadow Milk.

Shadow Milk pressed a hand to his chest in mock outrage, “Rude! And here I was thinking you were my friend.”

Eternal Sugar rolled her eyes and flicked her tail at him disgruntledly.

Burning Spice chuckled at the exchange and poured himself a glass from the pitcher and passed it to Mystic Flour, who sniffed it and wrinkled her nose. “Of course you got the cheap stuff.”

“Hat are you talking about? This is the finest aged beverage in the whole kingdom!” Shadow Milk grinned, taking the pitcher and pouring himself and Pure Vanilla a glass before passing it along.

“Hope you bought enough,” Eternal Sugar muttered.

Pure Vanilla accepted his glass, then paused, “Thanks, but I don’t drink,” he said.

“Come on, Nilly,” Shadow Milk said, “It’s the solstice, live a little.”

Pure Vanilla wrapped his hand around the glass, feeling the icy condensation against his fingertips. “I guess I’ll have one drink,” he said.

It wasn’t like he hadn’t had alcohol before, as he was the prince of the Vanilla Kingdom, he had made toasts and the like in the past before. But in his rather sheltered lifestyle, he hadn’t really drank recreationally.

With a tentative smile at Shadow Milk, he brought the glass to his lips.
The drink burned Pure Vanilla’s throat a little bit, the sort of thing that he usually wouldn’t like much. However, it sort of felt good in a way that he couldn’t describe.
“I.. kind of like it,” Pure Vanilla said.

Shadow Milk grinned, “Knew it,”

The booth continued in general chatter that Pure Vanilla sometimes joined in on, still not quite sure what the others thought of him.

He eventually finished his glass and had just taken the first sip of the second when the music on the speakers changed.

“Who requested Charli xcx for a fucking bar party?” Asked Burning Spice

“I love this song!” Shadow Milk cut over him, starting to get up.

“Seventeen years old and he still hasn’t grown out of his Brat phase,” Eternal Sugar cracked up, “get a load of this guy.”

“Wha- Shut up!” Shadow Milk scowled at her.

“I’ll go dance with you,” Pure Vanilla said, not wanting Shadow Milk to be put off by his friend’s attitudes. Maybe the booze was making him more confident than usual.

All the same, Shadow Milk’s eyes lit up and he smiled at Pure Vanilla like he had just saved his firstborn from a fiery death.

Pure Vanilla blushed a little and stood up, a little unsteady from the alcohol and heels, but it was nothing that he couldn’t manage. Shadow Milk got up as well, pulling Pure Vanilla over to the crowded dance floor. Pure Vanilla grinned wider and stumbled along after him.

Everyone was dancing and knew the song, for they were singing along. Pure Vanilla had heard the song before a few times, but was surprised to know that Shadow Milk (or at least a drunk version) liked and knew it.

Pure Vanilla and Shadow Milk danced with the crowd, intoxicated on the high that it gave out. They danced for at least five more songs, eventually stumbling back to the booth to have another drink.

Pure Vanilla was now far past tipsy, his mind fuzzy.

They went back to the dance floor and kept dancing, the loud music and people all around not bothering Pure Vanilla for once.

Eventually, they stumbled out of the crowd for another drink, and Shadow Milk disappeared into the bathroom after giving the blonde his jacket, claiming it was ‘too hot’. Pure Vanilla waited outside for him, but before the taller man returned, a random guy came up to the blonde.

“Did it hurt?” He asked.

“What?” Pure Vanilla’s speech was a bit slurred, “I don’t have any piercings.”

“No, did it hurt when you fell from heaven?” The man said.

Pure Vanilla winced, “if you’re trying out pickup lines, maybe get good ones.” He didn’t know where the confidence and snark came from, but it was there.

The guy smirked, “Yeah, it was bad, but you really are pretty.”

Pure Vanilla’s already flushed face somehow became redder, “What are you-?” His thoughts were cloudy.

“Anyway,” the many continued, “would you want to-”

“Excuse me!” Shadow Milk had suddenly appeared.

“Excuse yourself, I’m talking to the lady.” The random guy continued.

“I don’t know who the fuck you’re talking about, but I would appreciate it if you left.” Shadow Milk said, narrowing his eyes.

The guy rolled his eyes and turned back to the blonde, “So? A pretty girl like you can’t be alone tonight…”

“He’s not,” Shadow Milk cut in between them, “and I don’t think he would want a 45-year-old incel for company.”

“Listen here, pal, but this doesn't concern you.”

“It actually does, and I don’t think he likes it when you continue to misgender him- I sure as fuck know that I don’t!”

Shadow Milk was angry, his hair dripping down his shoulders as if it was liquid.

“Hey, I don’t fucking care!” The stranger said.

Pure Vanilla could practically feel the waves of anger flooding off of Shadow Milk. He was surprised that the guy could not.

It happened so fast that Pure Vanilla almost didn’t catch it.

Shadow Milk’s fist connected with the side of the man’s face with a loud thwack!

The guy stumbled backwards and hit the floor.

“Oops… my bad.” Shadow Milk turned around to face Pure Vanilla, “We have to go. Now!”

He grabbed the blonde’s arm and rushed over to find the others quickly.

Burning Spice, however, was in the middle of beating up another random person.

“Spice! You’re not helping!” Shadow Milk sighed, grabbing him as well.

“He told me I needed a haircut…” Burning Spice complained.

“Well, you do.”

Eventually, they stumbled out of the bar.

“I’m hungry,” complained Burning Spice, his hair disheveled.

“Then get a girlfriend,” Said Eternal Sugar.

“That doesn’t even make any sense.”

“I know…”

Just then, the door opened again and Mystic Flour stumbled out.

“There’s a huge fight happening in there,” she said.

“Okay, we really have to leave,” Shadow Milk said again.

“I don’t think Silent Salt can drive…” Mystic Flour observed.

And, indeed, Silent Salt was pulling his guts up in a snow-covered bush by the side of the completely full parking lot.

“Hmm… I swear he drank nothing,” Eternal Sugar muttered.

Just then, a person stumbled out of the bar, blood dripping, and bruises blooming across their face.

“Did I… start that?” Shadow Milk asked.

“Yes, now come on! Before the cops show up!” Mystic Flour said.

Burning Spice Grabbed Silent Salt, and they drunkenly made their way to the only open establishment nearby.

They went inside of the mostly empty McDonalds just as the sirens started.

“That can’t be good,” Pure Vanilla mumbled.

“It’s not, but they won’t check in here,” Shadow Milk said.

They sat at a table, Burning Spice standing up to order a giant meal, “What do you want?” Asked Shadow Milk, counting cash to buy food.

“Nothing for me, I’m vegetarian.” Pure Vanilla said.

Shadow Milk snorted, “Waste of time, if you ask me.”

“Shut up. Animals feel pain, too.”

“There’s no use arguing with him,” Eternal Sugar sighed, “he doesn’t understand.”

Burning Spice returned and started eating a huge burger.

“Eww, don’t chew with your mouth open,” Eternal Sugar complained.

“But ‘m h’ngru” Burning Spice said.

Just then, a police car pulled into the lot of the bar down the street.

Shadow Milk saw it, glancing at Silent Salt again.

“Yeah… he can’t drive. I’ll call an Uber.” Shadow Milk pulled out his phone, “Hope it’s not too late.”

“Why? What time is it?” Asked Pure Vanilla.

“About half past one.”

“It’s not too late,” Eternal Sugar waved her hand through the air dismissively, “you’ll find something.”

“Yeah, I did.” Shadow Milk said, “but the car only has five seats.”

“Leave Spice behind.” Mystic Flour said almost instantly, “I vote Spice.”

Burning Spice hit the table, “Hey! I bought the drinks!”

“But you sort of count as two people,” Mystic Flour reasoned.

“I think Sugar counts as two people with her wings!” Burning Spice said.

Eternal Sugar frowned and tucked her wings in tightly as if to prove him wrong.

“This isn’t a vote on who stays back!” Shadow Milk exclaimed, “We need to figure out who sits on whose lap. It’s easier that way with one car.”

“Who’s the smallest?” Asked Burning Spice.

“Uh, clearly not you,” Mystic Flour examined her fingernails, “you probably need a whole other seat just for your hair.”

“RUDE!”

“I think Flour is the smallest,” Eternal Sugar said.

“How tall are you?” Asked Mystic Flour.

“5 ’11,” Eternal Sugar answered.

“5 ’7,” Mystic Flour responded.

Pure Vanilla blushed. He really was short.

“I’m not sitting in any of your guy’s laps.” Mystic Flour said, looking around at everyone else.

“What about Vanilly?” Shadow Milk asked, “he’s like 4 ’11 or something.”

“I’m not that short!” Pure Vanilla exclaimed.

“Then how short are you?” Asked Eternal Sugar, “without your stilettos.

Pure Vanilla felt his face go red, “F-five foot… four.” He mumbled.

Eternal Sugar and Burning spice burst into laughter. Pure Vanilla hid his head in his hands.

“He can sit with me, I don’t really mind,” Shadow Milk said.

The other beasts seemed to share a collective smirk. The other two ignored them.

“The car’s here,” Shadow Milk said, checking his phone.

They all got up and made their way out to the car waiting for them. Mystic Flour instantly got in the front seat next to the clearly exhausted Uber driver, and a complaining Eternal Sugar got in the middle with Burning Spice and Silent Salt.

Shadow Milk opened the trunk and hopped in, sticking a hand out for Pure Vanilla. Pure Vanilla adjusted his grip on his staff before taking it and climbing in. Shadow Milk closed the trunk and sat on the singular seat that was there.

“C’mere,” he said, holding his arms out for Pure Vanilla, “I don’t bite.”

Pure Vanilla hovered, uncertain by his knees. Shadow Milk impatiently reached up and grabbed the blonde’s hips, pulling him down onto his lap before securing the seatbelt around them.

The car started to move, and the motion pushed Pure Vanilla backward into the other’s chest. Shadow Milk just rested his head on Pure Vanilla’s shoulder and grinned at him.

“You seemed awful reluctant to sit with me,” he leered.

“Are you still drunk?” Pure Vanilla asked.

“No… a little.” Shadow Milk admitted, “but the night’s still young. Are you still drunk?”

Pure Vanilla’s head was indeed started to hurt, and he was a bit nauseous.

“Yeah…” he said, “I think so… my head hurts.”

“Yeah, that happens.” Shadow Milk said, “Just wait until we get out of the car to puke, okay?”

Pure Vanilla nodded, his attention more on the hand that Shadow Milk rested on his thigh so casually. If he turned his head ever so slightly, the other would be there, his face, his warm lips. But what if Shadow Milk didn’t kiss him back? It would be too much and ruin their friendship.

No, he wouldn’t kiss the other unless he asked or kissed Pure Vanilla’s first.

Just then, the car stopped and everyone got out.

“Come on, get up,” Shadow Milk said, unstrapping the seatbelt.

Pure Vanilla unsteadily got off of the other and out of the car onto the driveway to the school. Shadow Milk was at his side quickly, taking his hand as they walking back into the school where the party was still going on.

They started up the grand stairs but Shadow Milk stopped Pure Vanilla at the top.

“Let’s go up there!” He pointed to another staircase that Pure Vanilla hadn’t gone up before.

“Okay,” Pure Vanilla said, shrugging.

They went up the spiral stairs to a small drifty spire with clear glass windows and ceiling. Plants in pit were everywhere, but the room wasn’t cluttered. Sounds of the music wafted up the stairs and into the room.

“Dance with me?” Asked Shadow Milk, holding out a hand to Pure Vanilla.

Pure Vanilla grinned and took its resting his and on Shadow Milk’s shoulder, but still being at arms length, for he wasn’t going to cross any boundaries.

“We’ll have to be a little closer, you know.” Shadow Milk said, pulling Pure Vanilla from the hip so they were closer together.

“Isn’t that the line from that boat movie?” Asked Pure Vanilla.

“Yes, I’m Jack,” Shadow Milk said, appraising the other for a second before continuing, “Would it be okay if you put your staff down?” He asked, for it was still in the blonde’s hand.

“No, I need it,” Pure Vanilla said.

“Do you trust me?” Asked Shadow Milk.

The answer came to Pure Vanilla quickly. He did trust Shadow Milk. “Yes.”

Shadow Milk took the staff.

“I’m putting it right here,” his voice came from across the room as he set it on the wall.

He came back just as fast, taking Pure Vanilla’s waist again.

Pure Vanilla rested his hand on the other’s shoulder, and Shadow Milk began to lead them in a waltz of o the song drifting up the stairs.

It was a little weird to dance without sight, but he got used to it quickly. The music only got faster, and soon they were spinning around the room as the music and the other’s presences made them giddy as they twirled into the night.

It was amazing how fast two hours went by.

Eventually, they stumbled their way back to Mystic Flour and Eternal Sugar’s dorm, where they had more booze from an unknown source.

Pure Vanilla got more drunk than he would like, but he didn’t care, it was the solstice. He should really do this more often.