Milk Cookie x Reader : By My Side

Morning hike

"HEY! WAKE UP!" Purple Yam Cookie said.

I let out a startled whine as I sat up, only to be 'greeted' by Purple Yam Cookie, who was staring down at me with a strange, confused look.

To my surprise, Milk Cookie sat up right next to me with a yawn, still pretty pressed against me. He still felt so warm and surprisingly comfy, for someone made out of crunchy dough...

Remembering how we ended up cuddling last night, I blushed in embarrassment, now understanding why Purple Yam Cookie was giving us that judging stare.

"What are you two DOING??" Purple Yam Cookie asked.

"Oh," Milk Cookie smiled. "Y/N had trouble sleeping last night."

Purple Yam Cookie frowned in disappointment. "Psh... And so they needed a HUG? Are they a BABY?"

Milk Cookie frowned back. "Oh stop that, Purple Yam Cookie... This land is still very new to Y/N! Besides, there's never any shame in needing comfort... Everyone needs it sometimes."

"Not ME!"

"Oh... Perhaps not!..." Milk Cookie smiled politely, choosing not to argue. He then stood up to stretch, leaving me to feel cold.

I sighed. I wished the morning could have lasted longer... but I knew it was important to keep moving.

"Did you sleep well, Y/N?" Milk Cookie asked.

"Oh, yeah! I did, Milk Cookie... Thank you!..." I blushed, hesitating. "Now I know why your siblings joined you when they had nightmares... You're uh... You're quite a natural at making people feel safe!..."

He looked a little surprised, his face turning pink. "Oh. Is that so??" He smiled brightly and chuckled. "Thank you!! I'm glad I could help you get proper sleep!.."

Seeing him all flattered made smile...

I stood up and headed into the woods.

"Hey! Where are you going??..." He asked.

"Getting breakfast...!" It was my turn to do something for them. I started filling my arms with jellies I could recognize. Luckily for me, this forest seemed pretty generous...

Eventually, I started to venture deeper into the woods to find more... I didn't even notice my friends were getting out of sight. And then, just as my arms couldn't hold anymore;

"Bark! Bark!"

"ACK!!" I jumped and spun around, struggling to keep the jellies in my arms. Before me was a little critter; a piece of strawberry cake with four tiny legs, a pair of eyes on only one side, and a big tongue sticking out. "...Daww...?"

Before I could do anything else, Milk Cookie jumped over the bushes to land between me and the little animal. "Y/N!! I'm here!" He frowned at the little piece of cake. "Shoo! Go away!" He puffed his chest in an attempt to look big, which, honestly, really worked...

The piece of cake kept barking, but didn't seem brave enough to get closer... It was adorable, actually.

"Awww, I think this dog is all bark and no bite, Milk Cookie!"

As I thought, the piece of cake ran away once it realized barking wasn't gonna make Milk Cookie move.

Milk Cookie exhaled, deflating his chest. "Ah... forgive me, I heard a startled scream, and I thought you were in need of assistance!"

I smiled softly, feeling myself blushing. There he goes again... Living up to his oath! "Heh, thanks..."

"Only doing my job!..." He blushed a little himself, but he quickly changed the subject. "Wh-what is a dog, anyway...?"

"Oh? Uh-... It's just... what we call these little critters where I come from! Totally."

"Huh... What a strange name for cake hounds!..." He blinked.

"Uh-huh, anyway, look! Look what I got!..." I eagerly showed him all the jellies in my arms.

"Hah!" He beamed, blessing me with the sunshine that always came with that face. "I noticed! It's really kind of you to help us with breakfast... And you found quite a bunch, too!"

"Thanks, I... I want to be more helpful... I owe you two a lot already!..."

He seemed surprised, then smiled a bit. "...You do not owe us. Help doesn't cost anything!" Yup, he definitely is from another world.

"Yeah, but... what if I become a burden..?"

He frowned now, still smiling a little, but a little confused. "Huh?"

"I'm not exactly the fittest, and-..."

"Y/N... What a silly thing to say. You've been doing great! It's been a few days now, and you're still kicking! I'd... I'd even say you're doing better!..." He smiled happily.

"...Really?" I guess, my mood had been getting better, but that was all because of him being sweet enough to distract me from my situation... wasn't it?

"Yes!! I'm even impressed! You seem happier, but you seem to move quicker, too!" He said.

That... might have been because I was in a constant sugar rush since our diet was primarily candy, but I really wanted to believe him anyway.

Watching me ponder, he added: "Don't worry, you have no reason to feel like a burden. And if you ever do run out of strength, I can easily carry you for a day or two!"

I blushed at the idea, and chuckled nervously. "Well I-... I'll do my best to make sure that won't be necessary!..."

He beamed again. "I have no doubt! Now, let's go back to our friend for breakfast now!" He started heading back to our camp, keeping a good eye behind him to make sure I didn't have any trouble following with my arms full.

I gave him a smile and followed closely, starting to believe that maybe the journey wasn't going to be as difficult as Purple Yam Cookie made it out to be a few days ago...

~~~

After a breakfast that would have traumatized any dentist, we were back on the road. A bad one... We found ourselves climbing a wide rocky hill (arguably a mountain, for the unexperienced), and although hiking uphill seemed to be nothing for Milk and Purple Yam Cookie, I had to take a couple of breaks to catch my breath...

Of course, it was getting on Purple Yam Cookie's nerves, but luckily for me, Milk Cookie was not the same. He waited by my side until I felt able to climb some more, and even eagerly offered me a sip of his ice-cold mace. Life-saving stuff... I didn't doubt the divine usefulness of that healing milk mace, anymore.

Finally, we arrived on top to admire the other side...

Ahead of us, an infernal red and smoking land. Complete with a few massive skeletons and a currently active volcano pouring a few rivers of lava... I could even swear I could see some thing flying around the mountain peaks in the distance... something that definitely wasn't a bird. This place screamed desolation. Your typical Mordor-like land.

"Ah! Thank goodness this is the right way! It would have been unfortunate if all this climbing had been for nothing!" Milk Cookie said.

"Uh... What?? That's where we're supposed to go??" I asked, horrified.

"Yup! We are finally entering Dragon Valley!! Where Dark Choco Cookie was last seen..."

Milk Cookie seemed oblivious to how anxious I felt about this, busy pondering about his quest, but Purple Yam Cookie was glancing at me.

"...Told you you wouldn't survive where we're heading..." Purple Yam Cookie said.