Shadow Milk Cookie slinked through the grand halls of the Vanilla Kingdom, the scent of sugar blossoms trailing in the air. The golden sunlight filtered through tall stained glass windows, casting colored patterns across the polished floor. His steps were light, calculated, barely making a sound as he moved like a shadow beneath the high arches.

Just ahead, Pure Vanilla Cookie stood by a sun-dappled windowsill, humming softly to himself as he tended to a vase of freshly picked dream blossoms. His long golden hair shimmered in the light, and his expression was calm—peaceful in a way that always made Shadow Milk’s chest ache with unfamiliar warmth.

Shadow Milk crouched slightly behind a pillar, eyes narrowing with playful mischief. He licked his lips and crept closer. His heart pounded—not from fear, but from nerves. Affection was still new to him. Foreign. Strange. Sharp, sometimes. He hadn’t yet mastered the gentle touch, so he showed love like a warrior would—through surprise attacks, flustered teasing, and over-the-top gestures.

With a sudden spring, he pounced.

“Got you!”

“Ah—!” Pure Vanilla Cookie jumped slightly, nearly knocking over the vase as he spun around. His startled gasp turned into a soft chuckle as he pressed a hand to his chest. “Shadow Milk… You startled me.”

Shadow Milk grinned, arms still loosely wrapped around his boyfriend’s waist from behind. “I was quiet. Stealthy. That was a flawless ambush.”

Pure Vanilla Cookie tilted his head with a fond smile, turning just enough to look into his lover’s eyes. “You didn’t have to ambush me just to say hello.”

“I didn’t know how else to do it,” Shadow Milk shrugged, leaning his forehead against Pure Vanilla’s shoulder. “Still figuring this stuff out.”