A little fic I've been wanting to write for a while now. Bite-Sized AU stuff! but oops its angst / hurt/comfort
Warnings: Contains discussion of self harm and sh scars
Word count: 1198 words
Jay sat the on the edge of the bed numbly, staring straight ahead at the wall with a blank expression. He didn't dare look Pure Vanilla Cookie in the eyes as he revealed his secret. For the first time, he was actually feeling guilty. Seeing the look of horror dawn on Pure Vanilla Cookie's face when he saw the hundreds of long, deep scars adorning his thighs made everything a bit too real. Jay ran his fingers over them absent-mindedly, tracing the bumpy, imperfectly healed flesh.
"Baker..." Pure Vanilla Cookie whispered. The little Cookie stood on the nightstand, but even from there he could see all too well. His mismatched eyes began to water.
"They're old." Jay quickly pointed out in an effort to comfort the Ancient Cookie. Pure Vanilla Cookie hopped the short gap between the bed and the nightstand before Jay could offer his hand. He quickly scurried on top of the pillow and climbed onto Jay's thigh with surprising speed. Jay watched him curiously as Pure Vanilla Cookie walked and examined his scars. The little Cookie knelt down, running his hand over a particularly deep scar.
"Oh... Baker. Why would you..." He struggled to get the words out, as if they were physically painful to say. Jay shrugged half-heartedly.
"Why didn't you come to me with your troubles?" Pure Vanilla Cookie asked gently, turning to face him the little Cookie gazed at him sadly. Jay avoided his eyes.
"They're old." He repeated. "From before I started playing the game." Jay paused. "Well, some of them are old at least." He added sheepishly. Pure Vanilla Cookie gripped the fabric over his heart like Jay's words had struck him in the chest. His heart ached painfully. Pure Vanilla Cookie's mind raced back to all the sleepless nights where he would be forced to silently observe his Baker's break downs through a tiny screen. All those nights where Pure Vanilla Cookie was powerless, unable to dry his Baker's tears and tell him that someone did love him. He thought back to all the times when Jay would leave his phone face down and disappear for hours at a time in the middle of the night, Pure Vanilla Cookie now had an answer to what he was doing and the truth broke his heart.
"Does anyone else know about this?" Pure Vanilla Cookie questioned. Jay shrugged again.
"No. No one's ever cared." He said. This made it easier for him to cut at the time. With no one to worry, Jay had no regrets for hurting himself. But now, looking at the worry etched into Pure Vanilla Cookie's soft face it made his chest tighten with anxiety.
"I care, Baker." Pure Vanilla Cookie said softly. He leaned down and his lips caressed Jay's skin, kissing along the length of each scar with all the tenderness and care in the world. Jay jumped and blushed, he quickly picked up Pure Vanilla Cookie by the back of his robes.
"You... You don't need to do that." Jay muttered.
"Dearest-" Pure Vanilla Cookie began but Jay interrupted him.
"It's fine. I... I probably shouldn't have shown you this anyway." Jay admitted. He pulled his shorts back down to hide the blemishes. "Its not that important." He muttered.
"It is important. Your health and happiness are the upmost importance to me, Baker." Pure Vanilla Cookie said. Jay's eyes slid downwards and he gently lowered the Ancient Cookie onto his thigh. Pure Vanilla Cookie sat quietly on Jay's leg, soothingly running his hand across the fabric of his shorts, knowing underneath were the numerous marks of his Baker's pain. He wished he could kiss each and every one of them. They were silent for a while, Pure Vanilla Cookie could tell that there was something Jay wanted to say, so he patiently waited for him to gather the courage.
Jay stared down at Pure Vanilla Cookie idly petting his leg, tears began to form in his eyes as his heart swelled with pent up emotion.
"I'm... I'm..." Jay stammered, as he fought to control his tears. Pure Vanilla Cookie gazed up at him lovingly.
"It's alright, my darling. You can let it out, I'm here to listen." He cooed. Tears slipped down Jay's cheeks and his quickly wiped them away to keep them from raining down on the little Cookie in his lap.
"I-I'm just so afraid... that no one will love me because of these scars." He sniffled. "No one will love me, which is why it was easy for me to cut. No one cared. And no one will ever care." Jay whimpered. Pure Vanilla Cookie pet Jay's hand in a soothing motion to calm him, he then tapped on his thumb to signal he wanted to be picked up. Jay opened his hands and Pure Vanilla Cookie climbed onto his palms. He lifted the Cookie up closer to his face and Pure Vanilla Cookie tenderly dried his tears with his long sleeve.
"Oh, my darling." Pure Vanilla Cookie sighed. "You know I will always love you, right?" He said. Jay bit his lip and hiccuped, avoiding the Ancient Cookie's gaze. Pure Vanilla Cookie was so sincere, it made Jay want to start crying all over again.
"I'm sorry..." Jay whispered. Pure Vanilla Cookie kissed his cheek lovingly, and slowly worked his way to Jay's lips.
"Please don't apologize, my love." He said sweetly. "I will say it as many times as you need. I will remind you as many times as you need. I love you, and you are worthy of love." Pure Vanilla Cookie said, sweetly pressing his lips to Jay's. His Baker was a giant to him, but that didn't stop Pure Vanilla Cookie from showing Jay his affection. He knew that, despite how big and strong his Baker was, he needed to be protected. Pure Vanilla Cookie couldn't stand seeing his Baker cry, and desperately wished he could bring Jay into his arms and hold him for hours while he poured out his heart. He would promise him that everything would be okay. But because of the incredible size difference between them, all he could offer was a small reassuring touch.
Pure Vanilla Cookie wobbled in Jay's hand as he turned and rolled over onto his bed, lying down on his side. Jay curled up and sniffled as tears rolled down his flushed cheeks, soaking into the pillow. Pure Vanilla Cookie held Jay's finger as he laid down next to him.
"Do you mean it?" Jay said, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Of course I do, my blue bird." Pure Vanilla Cookie answered firmly. Jay opened his mouth, but it was like the Ancient Cookie read his mind and he added. "And you are not a burden on me. I love you, and I want to carry this weight." He reassured and squeezed Jay's finger gently. Jay closed his mouth and a small laugh escaped him. Pure Vanilla Cookie knew him so well.
"Can we stay like this?" Jay asked hesitantly.
"Yes, there's nothing I want more." Pure Vanilla Cookie sighed. "I'll stay for as long as you need me." He said.
Word count: 2130 words
Fandom: Original
Relationship(s): Jay/Pandan
A/N: I've been very bored recently without art so I decided to write a shot mer!Pandan one shot cause I've been thinking about my orca merman Pandan a lot hgfjgfh I got the idea from the prompt "Reverse Siren"!
A lone house sat atop the sea cliff. A winding path led from the stoop down to a secret beach below, where the tides couldn't reach. The small beach was an escape for Jay, a solitary artist who lived alone in the house overlooking the sea. He would visit the beach almost every day to unwind. Sometimes with an easel, sometimes with a lounge chair and a book to enjoy the sounds of the lapping waves while he read.
The tide was at its highest, but it didn't threaten the cove, and the sands remained warm with the setting sun. As the sun dipped behind the cliff, the shadow swallowed the beach in twilight. Jay closed his book and decided it was time to head back home. While gathering his things, the small radio crackled and began playing one of his favourite songs. Jay sat back down and listened happily as he mouthed the words. The cove was very secluded, so Jay often felt comfortable enough to sing to the waves without a worry that anyone would hear. He belted out his favourite lyrics along to the radio and danced in the foamy surf as it lapped at his ankles. A sudden sound of spraying breath startled Jay for a moment, and he went quiet. He stared out at the ocean and located the source of the sound. A pod of orcas was passing by in the bay, their dorsal fins poking above the waves momentarily before their mighty tails slapped the surface as they dove deeper. Jay smiled and continued singing as he gathered his belongings.
But just when he turned his back to the sea, a big wave crashed against the shore, and it brought something along with it. A hand suddenly grabbed Jay's ankle, and he yelped as he was dragged down to the sand and pulled towards the water's edge. Jay dug his fingers in the soft sand, but it did nothing to slow him down.
"What the hell?!" He shouted in alarm. The waves licked at his body and soaked his clothes as he was now in the surf. "What the fuck are you doing?!" Jay demanded angrily. He twisted around onto his back, desperately trying to figure out what had taken hold of him, and he froze when two strong arms pinned him to the sand. The incoming tide rose with every wave hitting the shore, and his hair began to get wet. But the tide was the least of his problems as Jay stared up at a handsome man with long black locks staring down at him. His body was well-toned with large muscles, and his skin was pale. Sleek black scales covered his upper arms and back, a dorsal fin decorated his lower back, and instead of legs like Jay had expected, there was a massive black tail resembling an orca's tail fin. Jay stared dumbfounded up at the merman that had pinned him. The merman's mouth opened slightly in a smile, revealing rows of intimidating, sharp teeth.
"Hey there, babe~" The merman greeted smoothly. His voice was deep and sultry, sending shivers down Jay's spine. Or was that feeling the cold sea water creeping up his back?
Jay stared up at him with wide eyes. He attempted to move back slightly, seeking to gain some distance from the waves, but the merman held him firmly in place. The orca merman moved closer to Jay's face, barely holding back a breath of excitement.
"Your voice is so pretty." He complimented sweetly. His lips brushed over Jay's ear softly, causing goosebumps to erupt across his entire body. Jay could feel the heat rising to his cheeks, and he was sure the dark merman had noticed, because a grin spread across his face. Jay watched in horror as the merman lowered his head, and his large fangs grazed across his neck.
"Don't-!" Jay whimpered in fear.
"Don't worry, babe. I don't eat humans often, only the bad ones." The merman reassured. But this still did little to stop Jay from trembling.
"But I may reconsider this time… you're so cute. I could just eat you up~" He grinned. Jay tried to shove the mythical beast off him, but it was like a solid wall. The merman held onto him firmly and nuzzled into his neck.
Amidst the merman's wavy hair, Jay spotted a floppy ear. His hand darted for it, and he yanked on the sensitive appendage as hard as he could, pulling him down to the sand. The merman yelped in pain, and this gave Jay enough time to scramble to his feet and run farther up the beach.
The merman looked up, clearly confused, and he seemed almost hurt. Jay panted and stared at the creature wearily, but he still didn't turn his back and run up the cliff path. His curiosity about what and who this creature was overpowered his desire to escape.
"Come back! I'm sorry, babe, I wasn't going to hurt you, honest!" The merman shouted. Against Jay's better judgment, he approached the shore tentatively. But kept a good amount of distance between himself and the merman.
"I meant what I said about your voice!" The merman said. "When I first heard it, I couldn't resist coming to listen to you." He smiled. Jay smiled back a little awkwardly, but jumped back when the merman dragged himself further out of the water and onto the dry sand. He looked up at Jay hopefully.
"I'm Pandan! What's your name, babe?" Pandan asked charmingly. Jay crept backwards towards the stairs.
"Uh…" He muttered.
"Wait! Please, don't go!" Pandan begged. He attempted to follow, using his strong arms to pull himself along the sand, but Jay only retreated further up the stairs. Pandan huffed, out of breath. He glanced at the water as he began to cough. The merman tried to turn himself around, but when out of the water, he was a lot less graceful and his body much heavier. He floundered, his long, bulky tail flopping uselessly against the white sand. Pandan had run out of strength, and he struggled to drag himself back to the sea.
Jay saw the merman straining, and he felt a little bad. Seeing a potentially bad situation if the mercreature stayed on the sand any longer and hearing Pandan's gasps for breath made up Jay's mind for him.
Jay raced back down the stairs and around to the merman's side. He grabbed hold of his black and white tail and pulled him back towards the surf. Pandan pushed with his arms to give Jay a hand, the best he could manage. The waves crashed against his legs as he dragged Pandan into the cold water. As soon as there was enough water under him, Jay let go of the merman's tail and let him swim out into the bay. The sun had fully set, and the sea was an inky black, deep and eerie. Jay remained there for a moment, staring out into the waves, trying to see any movement. A part of Jay was still wondering if all that had really just happened or if he had woken up from a dream.
Jay left his chair on the beach and grabbed his book and radio. He was heading back up to his home for the night.
Dawn crept along the coast, caressing the gentle waves with morning light and making them shimmer as the sun rose above the horizon.
Jay woke up groggy and disoriented. From the weird events yesterday, it took him a few moments to realize where he was. He was safe in his bed, and not out on the cold beach. His deep sleep made Jay certain that everything that had happened the previous evening was just a crazy dream. Or heatstroke.
Jay got up, made some coffee, and opened the patio doors to take in the early morning sea air. He breathed deeply through the nose, smelling the fresh air and salt of the sea. He poured the steaming brew into a mug and headed out to the porch. The sun cast its warm rays over the horizon in dazzling orange and pinks. A seagull cried loudly as it circled overhead, its wings flapping against the wind at the cliff's edge. Jay took a sip of his coffee and enjoyed the calming warmth. He leaned against the railing and gazed at the peaceful ocean, lost in thought for a while. Jay gazed over the porch and realized his chair was missing. He swore quietly when he realized he had left it on the secret beach last night. Jay reluctantly put his coffee mug down on the railing and headed down the stone stairs leading to the cove. The rocky stairs were cool in the shadows of the cliff and slick with morning dew. From where he was, Jay could see that his chair, mini table, and umbrella were luckily still where he had left them. Heading down to the beach to collect his things, Jay noticed something else. A little bundle of seaweed at the water's edge. Normally, Jay wouldn't pay any mind to a pile of seaweed on the beach, but it was too neatly placed.
Like someone had put it there intentionally. Jay approached the sopping wet pile of plant matter and untangled the fronds. In the middle was a large scallop shell tied shut with twine. Jay tilted his head curiously as he picked up the bundle. Untying the string, Jay lifted the top shell and found a small stash of treasures. Inside were two sizeable pearls and a green piece of sea glass carved into the shape of an orca. Jay's eyes widened in wonder, and he held up the glass orca to what little light there was in the shadow of the cliffs. It was polished until it shone, and lime green light was reflected through the carved relief. Jay's attention was grabbed from the treasure when he heard a splash from the bay. A black dorsal fin glided gracefully through the shallow waters. Immediately, Jay knew it wasn't an orca.
The dark shape in the water rose up, and a man threw his head back, flipping his long, dark hair and spraying water droplets across the bay. Jay's eyes widened as they met the merman's bright grey ones, and his mouth dropped open. Despite the shallow waters, the merman swam right up to Jay. Jay yelped and jumped back, which made the merman pout.
"Aw, don't be scared!" Pandan cooed. Jay thought it all had been a dream. Or heatstroke. Either way, he couldn't quite believe that the merman in front of him was real. He always thought that merpeople were nothing but fairy tales or old sailor stories.
"Did… you make this?" Jay asked nervously, pointing to the carved sea glass. The merman got a sly smile on his face.
"I did. Just for you. And I collected a few pearls too." He said sweetly.
"Why?" Jay questioned pointedly. Pandan paused for a second.
"As thanks for helping me yesterday!" He said cheerfully. Jay narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the merman.
"This stuff isn't cursed, is it?" He muttered. Jay held the trinkets at arm's length and threatened to drop them into the surf. Pandan's eyes widened in surprise.
"What? No, of course not, babe!" He replied. Jay frowned.
"Not sure why you would give me a gift when you beached yourself trying to chase me in the first place." He replied bluntly, raising an eyebrow.
"B-because…" Pandan hesitated, his eyes darting around the cove nervously. His cheeks began to heat up. "Ok, it's a courting gift." He confessed. Jay blinked slowly in disbelief.
"Courting?!" He blurted out, blushing furiously.
"I want to court you!" Pandan said excitedly. "Your voice is so beautiful, I just couldn't help myself!" He whined cutely. Jay felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him as he blushed even harder at the idea that someone had been secretly watching and listening to him when he thought he was alone. Jay had no idea what to do. He had never been courted by a merman before.
"Look… this is really sweet, but…" Jay started awkwardly. "I don't know if it would work between us." He said. Pandan's face fell slightly at the rejection, but a look of determination overtook his expression. He grinned slyly.
"We'll see about that. When I get my hands on you, you'll change your mind." Pandan said confidently. He smirked and winked at Jay before taking off deeper into the water, splashing the surface with his powerful tail strokes.
Jay stood still for a moment, stunned. Then he shook his head and sighed heavily.
Word count: 3912 words
Fandom: Garten of BanBan
Relationship(s): Jay/Bittergiggle
A/N: finished the gobb fic I started a month ago!! I made up a lot of lore as I was going along, but I tried to keep it short. This is mainly how I met Bittergiggle and some fluff I had stuck in my head for a while <3
Jay was neither a therapist by any standard nor qualified to call himself one. While he could describe himself as empathetic and compassionate, those traits were where the similarities ended. But still, these bare-bone qualities were enough to convince his potential employers that he was good for the job. Jay had been hired by a somewhat shady company as a "handler" for troubled and stressed personnel at this special company that specialized in mascot creation.
Jay knew how stressful the creative process could be. If all he had to do was sit around and listen to people's concerns about deadlines for a few weeks to enhance his resume, he was willing to do it, despite the questionable nature of the situation. He really needed the extra money, and they would be providing free lodging and accommodations anyway. It was a sweet deal.
Jay approached a cream-colored brick building resembling a daycare, adorned with various bright mascots and vibrant rainbows and clouds painted on the exterior. At first, Jay was a little confused. He expected an office, not a kindergarten. He looked around awkwardly, trying to see if he could spot the real entrance somewhere else. But unfortunately, the bus he took to get here had departed, so Jay had no choice but to commit. He took his key card and ID badge from his sweater pocket and flashed them in front of the scanner. There was a brief pause before the scanner beeped and the door locks buzzed, allowing Jay inside.
The inside of the building was eerily quiet. There were no sounds of children like expected, and the only thing that lingered was the chemical smell of new furniture, antiseptic, and fresh paint. Considering his surroundings, Jay grew a little calmer. This place seemed brand new; it had just been built. So he could forgive the company for seeming a little shady since they were still setting up and were a little disorganized.
The hiring process had been one of the most odd ones he had been through. A lot of waivers.
From down the hall, Jay heard the distinct sound of footsteps echoing off the brick walls. He glanced around the corner and spotted a man in a lab coat. As soon as their eyes met, the man quickened his pace. Jay offered an awkward smile and a hesitant wave. He really hoped he was in the right place.
"Uh, hi there! I'm Jay, I'm here for… the handler position?" Jay greeted. The man in the lab coat stopped in front of him with a tight, rigid smile. They shook hands politely.
"Ah, Mr. Wasken, thank you for being here. I'm Dr. Uthman; it's a pleasure to meet you," Dr. Uthman said, his thick accent was difficult for Jay to place. "Please, follow me," the doctor urged quickly. Jay nodded and followed Dr. Uthman as he led him deeper into the building.
They stepped into an elevator, and Jay was surprised by how many sub-floors there were. A nagging feeling in his stomach began to tell him that something wasn't right. He brushed it off as first-day jitters.
They rode the lift silently down to the bottommost floor. The walls were a single shade of lavender with a retro rainbow pattern running along the bottom, and the floor was a polished white tile. Dr. Uthman didn't explain anything, nor did he bother with polite small talk. He walked off the elevator, and Jay struggled to pick up his bags and race after him. They walked through various offices, multicolored hallways, and conference rooms, and Jay thought this seemed much more in line with what he was expecting. But he didn't understand why they would build an office like this underground, much less under a kindergarten.
They came to an out-of-place industrial lift. Jay hesitated in front of it as Dr. Uthman casually opened the gate and stepped onto the platform. He stared at Jay for a moment before gesturing him to follow.
"It's right this way." Dr. Uthman reassured.
"What's with the lift? How deep is this place?" Jay questioned in confusion.
"It's not much farther." The Doctor replied. That didn't answer his question, but Jay decided to step onto the industrial elevator anyway. It was a little weird, but he was already in too deep to back out now.
The lift lurched with a loud clunk before they descended deeper into the facility.
Once they reached the bottom of the second elevator, Dr. Uthman, to his credit, showed Jay to his lodging. It was a modest cabin, with a small kitchen, bedroom, and an office. The interestingly designed mascot characters plastered all over the walls left much to be desired, however. Jay tossed his belongings onto his bunk and joined up with Dr. Uthman outside the cabin.
"You will be starting right away, your patient is waiting for you." He said hurriedly. Jay's heart jumped a little and he could feel his stomach start to twist with a hint of anxiety.
It'll be alright. He just has to do his best as a handler for a few weeks, and if it was too outside his abilities, he could say he tried and resign. Dr. Uthman led Jay to what looked like an interrogation room, he tapped his ID card against the reader and the door slid open. Jay peeked inside, the room was empty except for a single table and two cheap chairs. The doctor silently gestured inside and Jay cautiously tiptoed into the bare, featureless room. He sat down at the table and waited as the door slid closed. Jay jumped when the locks engaged, and that nagging feeling that something was very wrong came creeping back into his brain.
Jay's new co-worker's voice came in over the intercom, and Jay turned around to the one-directional window at the back of the room.
"Now, don't worry, Case 17 is one of the more friendly mascots." Dr. Uthman reassured.
"Mascots? W-What- wait a second!" Jay piped up nervously. He whipped around in a panic at the hiss of a door slowly opening. A dark void lay beyond the open door, and something slithered out.
A purple appendage that looked like a snake appeared from the darkness.
"Hey, What do bees do if they need a ride?" The snake asked playfully, a giggle in its voice.
Jay just stared in disbelief.
"What?" He said, confused.
"They wait at the buzz stop!" The voice said, crowing with laughter. It watched Jay sharply for a moment, waiting for his response. Jay cracked a smile, and let out an awkward chuckle, anxiously laughing more at the absurd situation he was in rather than the joke itself.
Suddenly a multi-colored jester sprang forth from the dark room, nearly making Jay jump out of his skin.
"You laughed! You really did, didn't you!" The Jester said excitedly. Jay just stared, at a loss for words as the giant creature dressed like a jester politely pulled out the tiny chair and sat down in front of him.
"Y-Yeah." Jay nodded, taken aback.
"You don't know how good it feels to hear someone laugh at my jokes." Case 17 went on. "You must be my new Handler, this is a happy day indeed for me to be assigned to someone so understanding!" He said.
"Uh, yes. I'm Jay." Jay introduced himself, and he held out his hand.
"It's nice to meet you, new friend, I'm Bittergiggle!" He said cheerfully. The Jester's hand was enormous compared to Jay's tiny human one. Bittergiggle's hand completely enveloped his hand as they shook politely, and Jay was surprised at the soft, sleek fur covering the creature's hand.
They sat there for a minute quietly, Bittergiggle stared at him expectantly while Jay nervously played with his fingers, completely unsure of what to do. Thankfully, Dr. Uthman came to the rescue through the intercom.
"Case 17, why don't you tell your Handler about your goals as a mascot." He prompted.
"Oh right!" Bittergiggle laughed. "My goal is to graduate so I can spread fun, and happiness, and tell jokes with kids every day!" He recited.
"And what do you have to do in order to graduate?" Dr. Uthman questioned. The Jester's smile faded slightly, and he gazed down wistfully at the tabletop.
"I have to work on myself until I'm stable." He answered.
"That's right. Which is why your new Handler is here so that someday you won't be a failure." Dr. Uthman went on. Jay could see Bittergiggle visibly shrink at the doctor's words.
"Hey!" Jay snapped. Bittergiggle jumped and looked up in surprise. Jay cast a disapproving glance at the tinted window behind them before turning his full attention to the jester.
"I may be new here, but I will not tolerate the word "failure" from now on. Bittergiggle, you are actively trying to better yourself, that is a tough and admirable thing. That does not make you a failure. You are not a failure." He said firmly.
Bittergiggle gawked at Jay for a moment, completely stunned by his words. A shy smile spread across his face, and he looked down again.
"Yeah…" Bittergiggle agreed bashfully. From behind the one-way glass, a buzzer sounded, and Dr. Uthman's voice sounded from the intercom after a pause.
"That will be enough for this session for today. Say goodbye to your Handler Case 17." He instructed. Bittergiggle stood suddenly, his bells jingling and causing his chair to clatter to the ground.
"He has to go already?!" He whined. "But that's not fair!" He exclaimed.
"Today was your introduction. Real sessions will start tomorrow." Dr. Uthman explained.
"Yeah, don't worry. I'm not going anywhere." Jay reassured gently. Bittergiggle glanced at Jay and pouted slightly, but he ultimately accepted their answers.
"Alright… see you tomorrow, new friend!" He said cheerfully. Bittergiggle picked up the knocked-over chair and set it upright before retreating back into the dark room. The door closed behind him automatically, leaving Jay by himself.
Dr. Uthman met Jay outside the meeting room, and they walked back to the apartments.
"What you said in there," The Doctor said after a moment of silence between them. "You might not want to get too attached. Case 17 is friendly, but they can still be dangerous. You should be careful." Dr. Uthman warned. They stopped outside of the cabin, and Jay frowned.
"I'm not a professional. But maybe you should treat him a little better if you want to see results." Jay muttered.
"They're monsters we created," Uthman replied simply.
"Whatever. Even if you classify them as such, they still deserve to be treated with decency and respect. Or else they're going to keep acting like monsters instead of friendly mascots meant for children." Jay said, crossing his arms. Dr. Uthman seemed tired of this conversation, he shuffled through his clipboard and handed Jay a document to fill out.
"I'll speak with the other researchers." He replied dryly. And with that, Dr. Uthman walked off.
Jay retreated into his cabin and looked over the paper Uthman had given him. It was an assessment of Bittergiggle's behaviour during their introduction. He sighed and sat at his desk to fill it out.
Alarms blared throughout the facility as Jay ran down the long hallways and twisting corridors as fast as he could.
"Handler Jay to classroom 7. Handler Jay to classroom 7." The automated voice called over the speaker system. Jay skirted around a corner to a hall of numbered doors. Sounds of crashing and shouting were coming from classroom 7.
When Jay burst through the door, he only had a second to dodge an incoming flying dictionary aimed at his face. He ducked, and the heavy book smacked the floor with a resounding thud.
Bittergiggle gasped when he realized he nearly hurt his Handler.
"Jay!" He exclaimed worriedly.
"Bittergiggle, what is happening?!" Jay demanded. He looked around at the wrecked classroom. Child mannequins were torn apart, papers fluttered to the ground, and the teaching aide cowered under the desk from the jester's rampage. Bittergiggle glanced around the room, looking guilty.
"I'm sorry! I-I just-" He squeaked, but Jay interrupted him.
"It's alright. You're ok." Jay said softly. "Let's calm down, and we can talk about what happened, ok? You're not in trouble." He added reassuringly. Bittergiggle slowly straightened up, released the tension in his body using the deep breathing techniques Jay had taught him, and walked stiffly towards the door.
"Ok…" He breathed.
Once Bittergiggle was in the hallway, Jay went to check on the staff member playing the role of a teacher in the class. He helped him to his feet.
"You ok, Frank?" Jay asked. Frank pulled his arm out of Jay's hands and dusted himself off.
"Just great," He grumbled. "I should count myself lucky that thing didn't maul me to death." Frank spat. Jay frowned and quickly turned to leave the mock classroom. He straightened his tie as he entered the hallway and was immediately met with Dr. Uthman and a few armed guards. Bittergiggle sat on the floor looking dejected.
"Jay, what happened?" Uthman questioned sternly, clearly already put in a bad mood by the incident.
"I don't know, I'm going to talk to Bittergiggle and find out." Jay said calmly. He gestured for him to stand up. Bittergiggle reluctantly got to his feet and the towering jester made the guards tense up and take a step back.
"Tell the guards to relax. I have it under control," Jay told Uthman firmly. The Doctor gestured to the guards, and they lowered their weapons but still seemed on edge.
Frank stormed out of the classroom and gave Bittergiggle a wide berth, grumbling to himself, he stomped up to Dr. Uthman.
"About time you got here with the guards. That thing could have torn me apart!" He shouted.
"Frank, you have to remember the guidelines about the names," Uthman responded coolly.
"Do you think I give a shit about that?! What else am I supposed to call that monster?!" Frank barked, pointing an angry finger at Bittergiggle. The tall jester shrunk behind Jay, trying to make himself as small as possible.
Jay took Bittergiggle's hand gently and squeezed it to calm him. He pulled him down the hallway away from Frank's nasty tirade.
With the crisis averted, the sirens and emergency lights were turned off. In the interview room, where they had first met 4 months ago, Jay sat Bittergiggle down, and they stared at each other for a long moment.
"So, tell me what happened." Jay prompted gently. "Did Frank say something to upset you?" He asked. Bittergiggle nodded sadly.
"He said all you do is coddle me. And that I'm a mistake, a monster." He frowned, the anger coursed through him and he balled his fist.
"Eh, Frank's always been a shithead." Jay huffed. The hot core of anger faded in Bittergiggle's chest, and he snorted.
"It's ok, you can laugh." Jay chuckled. "But you will have to apologize to Frank later. I know it sucks, but you can't let your anger get the better of you like that, Bittergiggle." He said seriously.
"I know, I know…" The Jester groaned.
"Don't you remember what we talked about? Did you use your grounding techniques?" Jay questioned.
Bittergiggle's body flushed hot as anger rose in his belly, and he hated the feeling. Emotions were still raw like a wound and any prodding regardless of who it was only made it hurt more. Bittergiggle didn't want to get angry, but he couldn't control himself.
"Yes!" He blurted out angrily. "I don't know what happened, I did the techniques, but I saw red and the next thing I knew I had wrecked the classroom!" Bittergiggle exclaimed.
"It's alright, remember your breaths," Jay said calmly. The two-toned jester growled and cradled his head in frustration.
"And if I don't get any better they'll deem me a failure, and I won't be able to get out of his hell! I won't be able to graduate!" Bittergiggle cried.
"It'll be alright, Bittergiggle. I'm not blaming you for what happened, it wasn't your fault. And I'll make sure Dr. Uthman knows that in the report." Jay reassured gently.
Air had trouble getting to him, it felt restricted like a rope was being tightened around Bittergiggle's throat. He huffed and gripped the edge of the table. Jay suddenly grabbed his hand and squeezed, anchoring him to the ground.
"Breath Bittergiggle, use your breathing technique." Jay reminded. "Take a deep breath and hold it for 5 seconds, ok?" He said soothingly. Bittergiggle wheezed and did as Jay instructed. He took a deep breath and filled his lungs until they would burst, and held it before slowly exhaling.
After repeating the process a few more times, Bittergiggle could feel himself become lighter and the rage flowing through his veins cooled. He held Jay's like it was his only life line.
There was a pause as Bittergiggle caught his breath.
"Thank you, friend." He said gratefully. "No one understands me like you do." The jester sighed. Jay smiled, and petted Bittergiggle's fuzzy hand with his other hand.
"That's what I'm here for." He said. "Now face me for a second, I want to do quick exercise with you." Jay prompted. The jester blinked in surprise before adjusting his position on his chair and facing his Handler.
Jay gestured for Bittergiggle's other hand and held the snake-like appendage softly on the tabletop. The jester blushed slightly.
"Now, close your eyes." Jay said. The bells on his costume jingled as Bittergiggle tilted his head in confusion. But he did as instructed and closed his eyes lightly.
"I want you to imagine the life you will have when you graduate and all the things you will do. What does it look like, and what do you want to do?" Jay questioned.
Bittergiggle imagined a clear spring day, with the wind gently blowing through the grass and blooming clover. His head rested on Jay's lap as he looked down at him lovingly, playing with his purple fur. They lived a peaceful life together outside the facility- no tests, no experiments- just a simple existence where they were truly happy. Bittergiggle would tell Jay a joke, and Jay would laugh. He had a job as a mascot, earning money while bringing joy to children who adored him and his humor. Everything felt right.
"It… would be perfect." Bittergiggle sighed happily.
"And? What else?" Jay asked. The jester's eyes snapped open as he realized where he was, his beautiful dream drifted away. It felt so real, like he could touch it. But one part of his dream was still sitting right in front of him, their hands intertwined. He began to blush brighter.
"Uhh… I have a job as a mascot, and… uhm, I get to go on a picnic with my friends." Bittergiggle said awkwardly. Jay nodded in understanding.
"That's a good start. After our session try making a list of all the things you want to do when you get out. Use it as motivation, and don't lose hope, ok?" He advised. Bittergiggle smiled tenderly and nodded.
Jay pulled his hands away from Bittergiggle, and his heart sunk a little. His smile turned sly and he avoided Jay's gaze for a moment.
"Do I still have to apologize to Frank?" The jester asked. Jay smirked.
"Yes, you still have to apologize. But I'll be there to make sure he keeps his comments to himself." He said with a chuckle.
As a buzzer sounded in the other room, Jay stood from his chair, signalling their session was over. Bittergiggle sighed sadly and got up.
"That's it for today. I'll see you tomorrow, Bittergiggle. Be sure to think about what I said." Jay said, patting his shoulder reassuringly. He turned to walk to the door but Bittergiggle stopped him.
"Um, wait!" He called. Jay turned back curiously, and Bittergiggle smiled bashfully. He opened his arms and gestured for Jay to come closer. "If it's ok..?" The jester said uncertainly. Jay smiled warmly and stepped into the hug, pulling Bittergiggle close. The jester wrapped his arms around him. Bittergiggle, being much taller and larger than Jay, could practically wrap his arms around the shorter man twice.
"Of course it is, Bittergiggle." Jay hummed into his chest. Bittergiggle rested his cheek on the top of Jay's head. His dark hair smelled like sandalwood and sage.
"When is a door not really a door?" Bittergiggle asked. A smile crept onto Jay's face.
"I dunno." He replied.
"When it's ajar." Bittergiggle laughed, his chest filling with butterflies as he heard Jay erupt into giggles.
"Hey, that's a good one!" Jay praised. Bittergiggle didn't want to let Jay go, he wanted his moment to go on forever. He buried his face into Jay's hair and breathed deeply. As much as he hated that they had to let go, Bittergiggle knew that Jay had other responsibilities, and they reluctantly broke apart.
Jay patted the jester on the shoulder and grinned.
"I'll see you tomorrow, buddy." He said cheerfully. Bittergiggle smiled softly and nodded before the other man left the room. The door closed behind him, leaving the jester alone.
Out in the hallway, Jay gathered a blank behaviour assessment document and an incident report sheet on the back of the door to the interview room. He had gotten used to all the paperwork in the last few months.
Right when Jay was returning to his cabin, he was approached by Dr. Uthman.
"Did you talk with Case 17? I mean- Bittergiggle." The Doctor asked. Jay shuffled through his papers to avoid looking the other man in the eye.
"Yes, Bittergiggle is sorry for what happened." He replied. "It's as you said, animalistic tenancies in the mascots are triggered by intense anger and high stress. But Bittergiggle is slowly getting better. This outburst was entirely triggered by Frank harshly insulting him, and it wasn't nearly as bad as his last one a few months ago." Jay pointed out.
"That is all well and good, but we need results." Dr. Uthman pressed. Jay frowned.
"This kind of thing takes time." He huffed. "Bittergiggle, as well as the other mascots, are showing a lot of promise!" Jay argued.
"While I do agree with you, we're running out of time, Jay." Uthman said solemnly. "If we don't have them perfected in time the company will pull out and we'll have to abandon these cases." He warned.
"What will happen to them if that does happen?" Jay narrowed his eyes at his co-worker. Dr. Uthman was quiet and didn't respond for a moment.
"You're getting very close to Bittergiggle." He commented dryly. Jay rolled his eyes.
"Hey, you're the one who hired me cause I scored high in empathy." He muttered. "They can do it. We just need to keep working with them. We can't give up just yet." Jay said firmly. He pushed past Dr. Uthman to his cabin door and retreated inside.
As Dr. Uthman sighed as he lingered in front of Jay's door for a moment, pinching the bridge of his nose and adjusting his glasses. As he approached the interview room, he noticed the door ajar, propped open just enough to invite curiosity. In a swift, single motion, a snake slipped silently back inside, disappearing into the darkness before he could fully grasp what he had just witnessed. The jingling of bells faded into the case holding room.
Word count: 2790 words
Fandom: CRK
Relationship(s): Jay/Almond Cookie
A/N: its finally finished!! I said I would write this a while ago and I did a majority of the writing for this fic when I was on vacation! and yes, it made me tear up like two times while writing it hjfhjgf
Winter had settled in Parfaedia like a giant, white blanket. Puffs of white escaped from your mouth when you sighed, and hands were hastily shoved into warm pockets in the cold weather.
Time had passed, almost a year, and Jay had fallen deeply in love. All thoughts of returning home had faded as he found himself settling in with a coffee-loving detective in the ever-lively magic city. Jay knew there was no hope of getting himself back to his dimension even with all the cunning in the world, and decided to take one special Cookie's offer at a real relationship. A relationship, of which so many Cookies had coveted.
Jay had everything he had ever wanted here. He couldn't deny his true feelings any longer, how miserable he had been back in his world and how the Cookies had saved him. He ultimately accepted Almond Cookie's proposal. Shortly after a nationwide period of silent mourning for the Baker's newfound relationship status, Jay moved in with the detective, and they began a steady relationship.
Despite the chilly weather, Jay's hands remained warm. One was intertwined with Almond Cookie's hand, and the other was wrapped around a hot latte. Jay shivered and shook his head slightly to shake loose the large snowflakes that had piled in his dark hair. Almond Cookie smiled fondly.
"Brrr… It's so cold! Quick, let's get inside already!" Jay exclaimed. Almond Cookie unlocked the front door, and the two shuffled inside, dusting snow from their clothing. Peeling away layers of coats and sweaters, they finally rested in the warmth of their home. Jay took another swig of his coffee and sighed happily as it warmed his belly.
"Don't forget, we have a reservation tonight." Almond Cookie reminded him as he hung his coat on the coat rack beside his boyfriend's. Jay quickly backed out of the fridge, in the middle of looking for a snack.
"Oh, that's right!" He said. "I'm so excited, I've never had a reservation at a restaurant before!" Jay chirped. Almond Cookie walked into the kitchen and smiled.
"I'm happy to celebrate this occasion with you." He said. Jay's eyes went wide for a moment as he rapidly tried to remember if he had forgotten something important.
"Is it… Your birthday?" He asked sheepishly.
"No," Almond replied smugly.
"Is it Walnut Cookie's birthday?" Jay said in confusion.
"No." Almond Cookie answered.
"Did I miss our anniversary somehow? What's the celebration for?" Jay questioned impatiently.
"The occasion is that I want to take my loving boyfriend out on a date." He said with a smirk. Almond Cookie leaned forward, trapping Jay against the counter's edge with his arms caging him in. Jay stared at Almond Cookie's smug smile for a second before waving him away and playfully pushing his chest.
"Oh, you- You seriously made me think I forgot something!" He laughed, becoming a little bashful.
"I just want to give you everything you never were able to have. Treat you like you deserve." Almond Cookie said huskily.
Even though they had been dating for a year now, when Almond Cookie got like this, it always made Jay weak, and he would melt like butter under his boyfriend's gaze. Jay blushed.
"Oh, baby… thank you," Jay whispered sweetly. He tugged on Almond Cookie's tie and pulled him into a kiss. Almond Cookie pushed and deepened the kiss for a moment, but he restrained himself and pulled away. The excitement and nerves were jumping around in his chest like a live wire. Almond Cookie could barely contain himself. But he had to wait for the surprise.
Jay and Almond Cookie readied themselves for their reservation ahead of time, picking out their most stylish outfits for the special occasion.
Jay reflected on his clothing in front of the tall standing mirror and felt giddy inside. Everything was so exciting. A part of him still couldn't believe where he was right now. It still felt like a dream, a dream that could possibly come to an end. But before the thought could wander and stray any farther, Almond Cookie appeared behind Jay and wrapped his arms around his shoulders affectionately.
"You look so handsome, honey." He complimented sweetly, leaning over and kissing Jay on the cheek. Jay's mind returned to reality, and with that one kiss, it was like there was nothing wrong in the world. Jay turned around in his embrace, smiling and biting his lip as his eyes shamelessly wandered down Almond Cookie's slim frame.
"Babe, you look stunning." Jay sighed dreamily. Almond Cookie leaned in further, already hungry for another taste of his boyfriend's lips.
"You're tempting me too much." He said quietly. Jay snickered, tugging playfully on Almond's tie in an enticing rhythm.
"We should get going now, hmm?" Jay said. He teasingly traced circles on Almond Cookie's chest. "Then you can have me all to yourself when we get back~" Jay said suggestively.
"Deal." Almond Cookie agreed with a smirk.
Out front, there was a car waiting for them. They entered the cab, the dashboard's dim lights illuminating the darkness. Streetlamps powered with magical blue flames passed by, illuminating the streets of Parfaedia in a cool glow.
When they stopped in front of the restaurant, Almond Cookie tipped the cab driver, and Jay could see the envy on his face when their eyes met briefly. Jay held onto Almond Cookie's arm and snuggled close to him as they made their way inside. Many Cookies were jealous of Almond Cookie because he was the lucky one who got to have the Baker all to himself. Jay knew it; he could see it in the way other Cookies stared at them. He didn't care, he just cuddled closer to his lover, happy to show the world that they belonged to each other.
The waiter guided them to their reserved table and seated them, bringing menus and a pitcher of water.
"Wow, I had no idea this place took reservations." Jay mused. "Thanks for picking my favourite restaurant, honey." He beamed.
As soon as the waiter left them, Almond Cookie smiled and took Jay's hand tenderly in his.
"Of course, love." Almond Cookie said. "I need you to know that I am so grateful that you decided to come into my and Walnut Cookie's lives. You've changed both of us for the better." He sighed. Jay's eyes became misty, and he placed his hand over his heart.
"Oh… honey." He cooed. Jay held back the rising emotions bubbling up in his chest and squeezed Almond Cookie's hand. "You've changed me for the better, too…" He replied.
"Out of all the Cookies after your heart, you chose me. You don't know how much that means to me." Almond Cookie went on softly, his eyes holding the kind of affection and softness that was only reserved for the moments where they were alone together and intimate. It was so clear, and Almond didn't care if anyone else saw. His normally stoic exterior melting for the one Cookie who captured his old, cold heart and ignited it like a flame.
"Of course I would choose you, Almond Cookie," Jay replied. "You're just… everything to me. Everything that I needed and wanted, but never thought I would be lucky enough to find." He said with a sniffle. Jay quickly wiped a tear forming in his eye and chuckled.
"Why are we getting so sappy?" He asked.
"Because there isn't a time when you don't make me feel this way, Jay Cookie." Almond Cookie replied quietly. Jay fanned his face, trying to hold back his tears from overflowing.
"Ooh, stop! Almond Cookie, you're going to make me cry." He huffed. Almond Cookie smiled softly as Jay used a napkin to dry his tears. Everything was going as planned. Almond Cookie had been planning this for almost a year, ever since he and Jay officially started dating. But it was on his mind from the day they met, and now it was almost time. He could barely wait.
The waiter came back after a few minutes and took their dinner selections. As they ate their meal, a server brought them a special bottle of sparkling juice and poured it into tall, delicate champagne glasses.
"Why don't we make a toast?" Almond Cookie said in amusement.
"Really? What for?" Jay asked curiously.
"How about… a toast to us, and our relationship." Almond Cookie suggested. He raised his glass, and Jay smiled, following suit. "May we live long, happy lives together." Almond Cookie said. They clinked their glasses together, the sound resonating as clear as a bell, and drank. The champagne was dry and bubbly, with a hint of sweetness.
"That was a good toast," Jay said warmly. He fidgeted in his seat slightly, and Almond Cookie immediately knew that Jay had something he wanted to say, but was unsure of himself.
"What is it, darling?" Almond Cookie prompted.
"Oh!" Jay said in surprise, "It's just- can I say something?" He requested meekly.
"Of course, love. What is it?" Almond Cookie replied. Jay blushed and fiddled with his napkin, unconsciously folding and unfolding it as his mind worked to process the words he wanted to say.
"I don't know if it's too soon to say this, but… I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Almond Cookie." He confessed bashfully. Almond Cookie's heart fluttered in his chest. He felt a sense of triumph, knowing that he had chosen a perfect time to propose.
"It's not too soon. I want the same thing." Almond Cookie replied. Jay's eyes lit up, and his face grew hot.
"A-And that means, would you- would you want to get married? Someday?" He asked nervously. Almond Cookie's hand retreated into his pocket, his thumb running over the smooth velvet box. He desperately wanted to propose right then and there, but they would be swarmed by reporters before they could make it out of the building. Almond Cookie would have to stick to the plan. He smiled warmly.
"Yes, love, someday soon." Almond Cookie said sweetly. Like he expected, Jay became teary-eyed, but he smiled widely.
"Ohh… honey-pie…" Jay whispered. "This all feels like a dream." He sniffled slightly.
"A good dream?" Almond Cookie asked. Jay nodded, avoiding Almond's eyes for a moment because he knew he would cry if he caught that loving look in the detective's eyes. His heart was soaring higher than ever before.
"The kind I hope I never wake up from," Jay replied, his voice wavering.
After they had finished their meals, they bundled up in their coats to brave the cold, snowy weather outside. Almond Cookie offered his arm, and Jay happily took it as they made their way to the waiting cab. The cool night air sent shivers through Jay's dough, and the warmth of the car was like an oasis in the desert.
They returned home from their night out, laughing and chatting as they walked in through the door. Almond and Jay Cookie paid the babysitter and thanked her for watching Walnut Cookie. They were pleased to hear that she had been well-behaved and was already in bed, sleeping soundly.
Jay unwrapped a scarf from his neck before Almond Cookie pulled on it, tugging him closer against his chest. With Walnut Cookie asleep and the babysitter now gone, they had the rest of the night to themselves. They kissed hungrily, stumbling as they undressed their outerwear clumsily and tossed it on the floor. Jay and Almond Cookie laughed quietly and hushed each other as they made their way up the stairs, kissing and caressing as they went. More and more clothing was being left behind.
After some playful kissing and groping, they fell into Almond Cookie's large king-sized bed and lay tangled underneath the duvet, making out passionately. They slowed, kissing languidly, enjoying the soft sounds of their love and the feeling of their dough against one another. Almond Cookie reached down and lifted Jay's hands, wrapping them around his waist and guiding their lips together again sweetly.
"I love you, Jay Cookie." Almond Cookie said quietly between kisses.
"I love you, too, darling," Jay replied with a sigh. Their dough flushed and warm, a stark contrast to the howling wind outside.
In a fresh robe after a nice, hot shower, Jay gazed out the window, watching the snow fall with a blissful smile on his face. He glanced at the door where Almond Cookie was standing nervously, the ring box hidden behind his back.
"Hi, baby~" Jay greeted sweetly. Almond Cookie walked up to Jay and handed him a chilled glass of iced tea. He knew Jay enjoyed a cold drink after a hot shower.
"Here." He offered.
"Oh, thank you!" Jay replied happily. He gulped down the iced tea gratefully while Almond Cookie watched silently. The detective swallowed and rubbed his thumb over the box to soothe himself. Despite what they had talked about during their dinner date, Almond Cookie's nerves were getting the better of him in that moment. He shook the nervousness away; he had planned this for a year, and he knew his Baker.
"I have a gift for you, dear." Almond Cookie said finally.
"After a wonderful night like that, and you have a gift for me? Honey, you're spoiling me." Jay said in surprise, his face flushed. Almond Cookie chuckled.
"You deserve nothing less than the best. Now close your eyes." He instructed. Jay nodded and closed his eyes, shifting in the chair as he waited excitedly. Almond Cookie slowly brought out the ring box, and he gently placed it on Jay's lap. The box was decorated with a white bow on the top.
"You can open your eyes." Almond Cookie said. Jay opened his eyes and looked down at the little black box. Like Almond Cookie had expected, Jay hadn't realized what the box meant yet.
Jay stared at it for a moment before turning the box around in his hands curiously.
"Open it." Almond Cookie hinted. Jay smiled up at him, completely unaware, but simply happy to receive a gift at all. He delicately pulled the white ribbon off the box and opened the lid. Inside the box lay a beautiful diamond ring. The ring wasn't anything extravagant or flashy. It was simple but elegant, just like the man who gave it to him. Jay's eyes widened in disbelief, slowly turning his head up to meet Almond Cookie's eyes, only to see that the detective's smile was wide and joyful. Jay's hand flew to cover his mouth in shock. Tears began to well up in his dark brown eyes.
"Almond-!" He gasped.
"Well, what do you say, Jay Cookie? Will you marry me?" Almond Cookie asked. Jay couldn't even reply, tears streaming freely down his cheeks as he let out small squeaks of happiness and joy, which quickly turned into louder sobs of delight as he threw himself into Almond Cookie's arms. Jay wrapped his arms and legs around Almond Cookie's lanky body, and the detective clutched him tightly, spinning around with him in his arms.
"Yes! Yes! Yes, I will!" Jay cried. "A thousand times, yes!" He exclaimed. Almond Cookie smiled lovingly and pressed his lips to Jay's, savouring every second of it. He could feel himself becoming misty-eyed. This was everything he had hoped for, every single day since they had gone on their first date together.
"I love you so much." Almond Cookie said softly, nuzzling Jay's neck and holding him tightly against his chest. Jay hummed contentedly. He stood on the tips of his toes pressing wet, happy kisses to Almond Cookie's neck and shoulder. Almond Cookie leaned his forehead against Jay's.
"I love you so much, too." Jay sniffled. They broke apart momentarily, and Almond Cookie plucked the ring from the box. He took Jay's left hand tenderly in his and slipped the engagement ring on his finger. As Jay stared at the ring, tears began to slip down his cheeks, and he started to tremble in the detective's arms.
"It's alright." Almond Cookie whispered.
"I never thought… I would ever be so lucky…" Jay whimpered. Almond Cookie wiped away Jay's tears gently with his thumbs. Jay sniffled, taking in big breaths as he tried to regain his composure. After a few moments, he smiled warmly and looked up at Almond Cookie.
"What did I do to deserve you, Almond Cookie?" He mumbled, wiping the last of his tears away from his face.
"You didn't have to do anything, my love. You are enough for me." Almond Cookie replied. Jay smiled, and Almond Cookie's heart soared. They embraced, holding each other tightly as they both shed silent tears of happiness.
Word count: 1034 words
Fandom: Cookie Run
Relationship(s): Jay/Strawberry Cream Cookie
A/N: YIPPIE!!! Very quick and short one-shot to help myself get back into the swing of writing after artfight! :D Maybe ooc and fluffy as hell but GOT DAMN!!! I need it hgjfhj /lh gotta give more love to the autism4autism ship 👉👈🥺
"Can you teach me to read?" Strawberry Cream Cookie asked quietly. His clear and gentle voice, like a bell, carried a note of hope.
The Holiday Cookie inched a little closer to him on the floor as Jay bashfully hid his face in the book he was studying. Strawberry Cream wanted him to teach him of all people? Jay did want to help but...
"I… I don't know, Strawberry Cream Cookie." He muttered uncertainly. He kept his eyes on the pages of his book so he didn't have to look at Strawberry Cream Cookie directly. The fox-like Cookie stared at him curiously, his big grey eyes trying to read his face and expression as he waited for the answer. "I wish I could help… but I'm not the best teacher," Jay answered sadly. Strawberry Cream Cookie didn't miss a beat.
"I think you're really smart, Baker." He said, his eyes finally leaving Jay's face, and trailing down to his lap almost bashfully. "If you and Stollen Cookie helped me study, I could pass the exam." Strawberry Cream Cookie replied.
"Well… If I helped, you would fail for sure." Jay tried to joke lightly, but Strawberry Cream Cookie just stared at him, the self-deprecating humour going over his head.
"Why?" He asked with a tilt of his head.
"U-Uh… I-I- because..!" Jay stammered nervously, unable to come up with an excuse. He quickly clammed up, and his face flushed in embarrassment. Jay hid in his book. "I… it's because…" He whined quietly in frustration.
He was getting way too comfortable with these Cookies. There was no way Jay could let it slip about his "problem," it was way too embarrassing to admit. Especially since Strawberry Cream Cookie said that he thought he was smart.
"J-Just… because. I can't." Jay finished weakly. Strawberry Cream Cookie stared at him and blinked. He scooted closer, his shoulder pressing against Jay's in a small act of reassurance.
"You… can tell me. I promise I won't tell anyone." He said quietly. Jay paused and stared at Strawberry Cream Cookie over the top of his book uncertainly, attempting to find some fault in his face. Still, the Holiday Cookie's eyes only held patience and curiosity.
Jay sighed and glanced around sheepishly. The landing of the stairwell where they had retreated to study was empty and quiet. No other Cookies or teachers were around. Well, if there was one Cookie he could tell his secret that would understand his struggles, it would be Strawberry Cream Cookie.
"Ok… just don't laugh, alright?" Jay mumbled. Strawberry Cream Cookie's ears perked in surprise.
"I would never laugh at you…" He replied softly. These words caused Jay to blush, and his heart began to race. Anxiously, he swallowed and mustered the courage to speak.
"I- actually… u-uhm… I-I actually have a learning disability. I… have trouble reading, spelling, and doing math too." Jay admitted meekly. "S-So-! Don't feel bad for struggling, c-cause I get it!" He stuttered. Strawberry Cream Cookie's eyes widened in surprise and he looked back at Jay, but he remained silent. His expression made Jay's stomach twist with anxiety, immediately making him regret saying anything at all. After what felt like forever, Strawberry Cream Cookie slowly nodded in understanding.
"… We're alike." He whispered, turning away from Jay, hiding the blush dusting his cheeks. "We both struggle a lot." Strawberry Cream Cookie said.
"Yeah, I guess so." Jay chuckled awkwardly to try to lighten the mood and soothe his own anxiety.
"But… despite that, you're still so smart. I still want you to help me study. You understand what it's like." Strawberry Cream Cookie went on. The distant droning of voices further in the school did nothing to drown his soft voice echoing through the quiet landing of the stairwell. Strawberry Cream Cookie turned slightly toward Jay, locking eyes with him. His warm, gray eyes shimmered with sincerity as he gently placed his hand on Jay's and gave it a tender squeeze. Jay's face grew redder by the second but he was unable to look away from Strawberry Cream Cookie's affectionate gaze.
"Please…?" Strawberry Cream Cookie pleaded softly. "We can learn together." He said. Strawberry Cream Cookie's eyes softened as he gazed at Jay, smiling at him as he watched Jay's face flush even darker than before. It was as if he saw something sweet behind Jay's embarrassed expression. It made Strawberry Cream Cookie chuckle softly and Jay's heart fluttered in his chest.
Jay couldn't resist any longer and pouted shyly, tearing his eyes away from Strawberry Cream Cookie's expectant look.
"Ok, ok… I'll help." Jay sighed. "You can stop giving me puppy-dog eyes now." He said. Strawberry Cream Cookie smiled brightly at him and Jay felt his heart skip a beat at the sight.
"Thank you, Baker." Strawberry Cream Cookie replied gratefully. The fox-like Cookie wasted no time cuddling up against Jay's side and resting his chin on his shoulder, peering at the book in his hands. Jay blushed and tried to focus on the words on the page rather than Strawberry Cream Cookie's closeness.
"U-Uh… yeah. No problem." Jay answered hesitantly. "I-I guess we can start by me reading to you. It's easier to get the hang of pronouncing words when you hear them spoken out loud first." He suggested. Strawberry Cream Cookie nodded eagerly in agreement. Jay adjusted his position, moving closer to Strawberry Cream Cookie for comfort, and positioned the book so they both could see as he began reading aloud. Strawberry Cream Cookie listened intently to Jay's voice and followed along silently, mouthing the words as Jay spoke. Even when Jay stuttered or had trouble pronouncing a word, he continued to listen attentively and carefully. Strawberry Cream Cookie was mesmerized.
Jay was surprised at how easy it was to do this with Strawberry Cream Cookie, especially since he usually got embarrassed and disheartened when he often messed up while speaking. They were so different and yet somehow so similar at the same time. It was like Strawberry Cream Cookie knew exactly what Jay needed. It made Jay feel warm inside, and it warmed his heart whenever he thought of how caring and understanding Strawberry Cream Cookie was.
