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“Ah, those ones are beautiful!” spoke wedding cake cookie cheerfully. Her eyes glistened with joy as she looked up at shadow milk. “So, do you have the ring sizes?”
Fuck.
-
Shadow milk pondered as he walked through the hall of the castle. I could just ask him… no, that’s too forward. Oh, whatever. I’ll take them when he’s asleep.
He stepped toward the bedroom door as the knob creaked under his hand. It opened slowly, revealing pure vanilla sitting at his desk scribbling away at documents. As the door slid further open, he glanced towards it.
A smile spread across his face as he began to make his way over to shadow milk. “Did you have fun talking with black raisin cookie?” Right. Thought shadow milk. I probably should’ve came up with an easier excuse, but I can still manage. “We had fun at the Inn.” He lied. “Oh, I’m glad!” Said vanilla, with his usual joyful tone. “So, whatcha workin’ on?” Shadow milk asked as he peered down at the work sitting on vanilla’s desk. Pure vanilla seemed to flinch slightly at the question. Odd. Shadow milk thought. Vanilla’s demeanor seemed to switch in that moment. He was tense.
Why?
“Oh, those aren’t really important! Just letters to friends I haven’t spoken with in a while..!”
No.
Shadow milk knew that wasn’t right. He could tell that pure vanilla was bending the truth. He contemplated it for a moment. Maybe he found out my plan to propose? No, that’s wrong. I was careful enough to not let him know.
He decided to dismiss the odd feeling, brushing it off as just being paranoid.
Vanilla wouldn’t do anything.
Right..?
-
As they walked down to the gardens, their hands intertwined, vanilla was chatting away about the birds. He talked on and on about how he fed them every morning. Shadow milk listened with care, smiling at his lover wholeheartedly.
He stopped rather suddenly.
Shadow milk was caught off guard by this, turning to face him fully.
He was crying.
Not a lot, for that matter. Just small delicate tears rolling down his cheeks like dew droplets. Instead of asking anything, or comforting with words, he chose the greater option. Shadow milk simply embraced him. He gently hugged pure vanilla as he slowly moved his hands along his back in a calming manner. Vanilla rested his head gently onto shadow milk’s shoulder as he shivered. His delicate, soft cry slowly turned to more as he sobbed, fists balled up and clinging to shadow milk. “It’s okay, it’s okay..” shadow milk spoke softly with comfort. “Van, what has you so upset? You can tell me anything,” he told pure vanilla.
“Oh- it’s just.. the birds… a- and,” he was interrupted by another sob.
“Hush, it’s alright, let’s… let’s go to bed now,” shadow milk told him as he kept weeping. Shadow milk scooped up vanilla, tucking one arm behind him and another beneath his knees. Vanilla sat with his face leaning against shadow milk’s chest, still lightly shedding tears.
He paced down the hall, while still carefully holding pure vanilla. He delicately swung the door open and placed him onto the bed, the sheets wrinkling under his weight. “Are you okay to be alone for now? I’m going to go make you something to eat,” shadow milk told him. “…Okay,” replied vanilla as his voice creaked with a slight sadness.
-
Shadow milk cautiously balanced the bowl of soup in his hand, carefully not to burn himself or spill any. He stepped down the halls, briefly stopping to gaze up at a painting hanging on the wall.
It was framed in shiny gold, adorned with small pieces of ribbon, tied neatly into bows on each corner of the portrait. The subject was, of course, pure vanilla. He sat, pretty, posed, and smiling like a little kid. The glint of sadness present tonight wasn’t there in the slightest. Shadow milk smiled to himself, and then slightly frowned. Maybe he just feels sick. Food should help with that. Right?
He walked to the door, pressing on it as it slid open under his hand.
The bed was empty.
He glanced to the bathroom door. It was shut. The lock neatly in place.
The water is running.
“Van, you alright in there?” He asked. Maybe he’s just getting ready for bed. Or maybe he’s taking a hot shower to help if he’s feeling sick. He’s probably ok. I should give him some space.
And so, shadow milk strolled over to the nightstand, placed the bowl down, flicked the lamp on above it, and stepped towards the bed. He pulled back the covers, moved over to his side, and laid there.
-
The water was still running.
It had been, what?… at least fifteen minutes, right?
It didn’t take that long to fill a tub.
He felt a pit in his stomach. An ache in his chest telling him that something wasn’t right.
He jolted up and glanced down to the floor. A large puddle covered it, seeping out of the bathroom. He barely thought as he hopped up and wobbled to the door. Water surrounded his feet as he stood in front of it. He tried twisting the knob, before realizing that the lock was clicked into its place. He called out:
“Pure vanilla, are you doing fine in there?”
No response.
He tried again.
“Van, did something happen? I’m going to come in if you don’t answer me. Van?”
He began to panic as he fidgeted with the doorknob. He clenched his fists and started to hit the door in an attempt to break it. Since shadow milk was never the strongest, it did nothing. He turned around and went back over to the nightstand as he slid the drawer in it open and started to rifle through its contents.
Where is the key.
His thought were clouded with worry as he shifted objects around, until finally, he managed to acquire the silver colored key. He faced back to the bathroom door again and turned on his feet. He fumbled with the key in his hands as he managed to push it into the slot and twist.
The door creaked loudly as it swerved open, slamming against the wall.
Oh god.
Oh please no.
Please.
In front of him was the overflowing bath, faucet still running. And in it, sat Pure Vanilla. His eyes were glossed over with sadness, yet still empty at the same time. His head was slumped to the side. He still had his clothes on. The water was stained in a dark crimson color.
No.
Shadow Milk couldn’t breathe. He could barely speak. He stuttered with a shaky attempt at a breath. “V- Van oh god please not this,” he stopped and realized his face was slick with tears. He fell to his knees in front of the tub.
Oh please.
He wrapped him arms around Vanilla’s shoulders and pulled him up. He didn’t move. Shadow Milk yanked him up and out of the water, pulling him over to lay his head in his lap. He sat as he cradled him. “You’re alright, you’re okay. It’s fine,” he shivered as he spoke, body racked with more sobs before he could continue. “Why, oh god why,” tears fell from his eyes as he gazed over the limp form of who was going to be his fiancée.
Pure Vanilla’s arms had deep gashes in them, still dripping with blood. His skin was beginning to turn pale. Shadow milk pulled him up and fully held him in a tight hug, not able to feel his heartbeat.
It’s too late.