- Drawing drawn by me :) ————-————-————-————-————-————-————-————-————-————-————-————-————-———

Dark Cacao opened his eyes, blinking a few times while looking up at the ceiling.

"Since when was I in my bed...?"

Dark Cacao thought to himself in deep thought. He would breathe slowly... The warmth he used to feel has parted his side... He kept a frown on his face, sucking his teeth in pain as he sat up. Dark Cacao would look around the room of hopes of seeing Pure Vanilla Cookie, but he was nowhere to be seen. He looked upset with his eyebrows furrowed, looking down at his legs in the blanket covering up most of his body. He would let out a low sigh, digging his face into his hands, and letting out a groan of exhaust.

"How did... I end up here...?"

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It had been hours... Dark Cacao laid in his bed with a warm towel on his forehead. Other guards and milk villagers had entered into the room a few times, making sure their king was ok... But no Pure Vanilla Cookie in sight. Not even once. Dark Cacao felt upset again, with his head aching like a hurricane... He just couldn't think straight. (Because he ain't 🤨)

Dark Cacao sighed, blaming himself for letting his guard down. This wouldn't have happened if he had been more careful. Dark Cacao just closed his eyes, hoping that this would pass over soon. As soon as he closed his eyes shut, he suddenly heard footsteps outside his door, and the door slowly opening. He quickly sat up as he opened his eyes, in hopes it was Pure Vanilla...

But, it was Caramel Arrow Cookie.

Dark Cacao frowned as he slumped back onto the bed. It wasn't like he didn't like Caramel Arrow... He just wanted to see Pure Vanilla, since they always got caught up in their own kingdom duties, they barely got to see each other.

"My king, is everything alright?"

Caramel Arrow asked as she stood in the doorway. Dark Cacao let out a groan. "Yes..." Was all he could say. There was some silence between the two...

"Caramel Arrow... where is Pure Vanilla... is he ok?

Dark Cacao asked in his usual deep voice, breaking the silence.

"Yes your majesty, he's doing alright to say in the least... he's a bit busy at the moment taking care of everything around the citadel for you, I've been helping as well."

Dark Cacao paused, not expecting to hear that at all... A small smile would slowly appear on his face.

"Hm... well... tell him I said thank you... oh, and thank you as well Caramel Arrow... you're very much appreciated in your hard work."

Caramel Arrow would smile, almost trying not to squeal in excitement by the compliment.

"Thank you my king, please feel better soon, everyone misses your company."

Caramel Arrow said as she cleared her throat, trying to calm down a bit. Dark Cacao would give her a nod, with his smile slowly fading away again.

Caramel Arrow slowly closed the door, leaving Dark Cacao alone to himself once more.

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Pure Vanilla was outside, in the training grounds, watching the cookies train for upcoming battles and wars. He would help a bit here and there with the younger cookies... He even went to the Milk Village to visit some of the villagers. Mostly everyone knew Pure Vanilla... and everyone liked him!

Pure Vanilla sighed, still watching some of the cookies... He never forgot how it felt to be here... it was always one of the best feelings being in The Dark Cacao Kingdom.

Caramel Arrow would look around trying to find Pure Vanilla...

"Pure Vanilla Cookie...!"

Caramel Arrow found him a soon as he turned, walking up to him without wasting time.

"Oh, hello again Caramel Arrow. How is Dark Cacao..? Is he alright?" Pure Vanilla asked in a soft tone. Caramel Arrow gave him a nod as she smiled. "Yes, he is doing well... he looks better than before." "Good! I was quite worried about him... so I'm glad he's doing better..."

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Dark Cacao Cookie, still laid in his bed hopelessly... Looking up at the ceiling with a blank stare. Like he had nothing else better to do... He couldn't sleep so he might as well do this instead. Dark Cacao sighed, feeling so stressed... even if he wasn't doing his casual duties... This somehow felt worse.

Dark Cacao would hear soft footsteps approach his door... Soon with his door opening, leaving Dark Cacao to turn to look towards the doorway... And there he was.

Pure Vanilla Cookie.

Dark Cacao would quickly sit up to look at him in a better angle, but ended up making his back ache instead.

"Ack!"

Pure Vanilla wouldn't say a word as he quickly rushed over to Dark Cacao, slowly laying him back down onto the bed. "Are you alright my friend...?" Dark Cacao blushed a bit as he was set down by Pure Vanilla's soft hands touching his back. "Mh... yes... I'm ok." Dark Cacao answered, with his blush slowly fading as Pure Vanilla's hands left his back... Feeling the soft pillow on his head, and the soft mattress underneath him.

"Pure Vanilla..."

"Yes Dark Cacao?"

"Is it ok if you stay here for a bit... to keep me company? I seem to have trouble falling asleep as well..." Dark Cacao asked in a softer tone.

"Of course, whatever you need my friend... I'll be here for you." Pure Vanilla answered back, with a warm smile as he held Dark Cacao's hand gently.

Just hearing Pure Vanilla's words made him blush once again...

Dark Cacao smiled back to Pure Vanilla, enjoying his presence. He loved everything about Pure Vanilla... His way with words... His voice... His eyes... His smile... So many lists of things he could think of... Yet it was so hard to explain how much he loved Pure Vanilla. But he couldn't let his guard down... he had to keep it together.

Pure Vanilla had an idea... he didn't like it whenever Dark Cacao didn't sleep, neither did he like seeing Dark Cacao so tired... So he might as well help him, it was what he was best at after all.

Pure Vanilla would scoot onto the bed, sitting near Dark Cacao now... being quite close. He would reach his arms out and gently scoop Dark Cacao up into his grasp.

Pure Vanilla would chuckle softly seeing Dark Cacao's face turn completely red.

"Is this better?" Pure Vanilla asked in a calming voice... slowly caressing Dark Cacao's hair.

"Mhm..." ————-————-————-————-————-————-————-————-————-————-————-————-————-——— After some time... The two stayed close together... Dark Cacao finally got some rest as he closed his eyes, falling into a deep slumber. While for Pure Vanilla, he had just been trying to get Dark Cacao asleep, even though it wasn't hard to do... it still made him worry. He always worried for Dark Cacao. But for now, he would just put his worries behind him and enjoy this moment right now... After all Dark Cacao was one of his closest friends. ... "Sleep well my friend..." ...

End of Chapter 18 ————-————-————-————-————-————-————-————-————-————-————-————-————-———

Author note- Thank you for 2k reads! I didn't think I would get to that point... but thank you so much! I'm still trying to improve on my writing as I continue this story to work with me here. 😅