The Phases of the Moon

Silent Salt’s breath hitched just barely audible, but enough. His eyes flicked up, uncertain, as Dark Cacao’s shadow crossed over him. Then he leaned in, his forehead meeting Silent Salt’s, the touch firm and grounding. The cold of steel met the warmth of dough where the cracks ran deep.

And he drew in a breath, the sound of it catching in his throat, his hands hovering uselessly at his sides, fingers twitching like he wanted to reach back but couldn’t bring himself to.

He closed the distance himself.

It was timid, but his lips brushed against Dark Cacao’s, cold and cracked, tasting faintly of salt and ash.

The other Cookie, startled at first, took a sharp intake of breath, breaking between them; his hand froze where it was resting against Salt’s jaw, yet he didn’t pull away. His fingers curled instead, steadying himself against the other’s cheek, his thumb pressing into the fractured surface. For a moment, the chill of Silent Salt’s touch sank into him, meeting the heat that lived behind his armor, and it was honest.

When they finally parted, Dark Cacao’s breath trembled and he didn’t move away, only lowered his gaze, roughened and dragged over gravel.