Chapter 2
The sun had barely risen, its rays casting a soft glow through the windows of Golden Cheese's palace. The quiet was almost serene, save for the faint sounds of nature outside—the birds singing their first songs of the day, the rustle of leaves in the wind. Golden Cheese Cookie stood at the balcony, her golden wings gleaming in the dim light. She sighed softly, running a hand through her long, golden hair, her eyes drifting down to the gardens below.
The molting season had arrived, and it had taken a toll on her wings. They felt heavier than usual, the feathers starting to shed in clumps that made her feel uneasy, vulnerable even. She hated feeling like that.
And so, she’d asked White Lily Cookie to come to her kingdom today, a request she had made quietly, a bit hesitant. Golden Cheese had always been fiercely independent, but today she didn’t want to face it alone.
When Lily entered, her footsteps light but deliberate, Golden turned to face her, smiling warmly. But Lily noticed the subtle shift in her posture—the way she stood a little straighter, as if bracing herself for something more.
“You’re early,” Golden Cheese remarked, her voice teasing as always, but there was something in the tone today that made Lily raise an eyebrow.
“I could say the same about you,” Lily replied softly, her eyes softening as she stepped closer. The two stood in comfortable silence for a moment, the air between them still warm from the evening’s previous conversation.
“Lily,” Golden began, her voice softer now, “I need your help today.”
Lily tilted her head, concern creeping into her expression. “Of course. What do you need, Golden?”
Golden Cheese hesitated, her eyes glancing toward her wings before she took a deep breath. “It’s... my wings. I can’t quite reach the places I need to groom myself, and I—well, I need someone to help me.”
There was no trace of pride in her voice, only a quiet vulnerability, an openness she rarely allowed anyone to see.
Lily's expression softened. “Of course, Golden,” she said, stepping closer, her fingertips brushing the edge of Golden's wing. “But you’ll have to show me how to do it. I’m not familiar with wing grooming.”
Golden smiled, the hint of a playful gleam in her golden eyes. “I’ll guide you, then. It’s actually quite soothing once you get the hang of it.”
But before Lily could respond, Golden reached out, her arms wrapping around Lily’s waist. Without warning, she lifted her into the air, holding her in a gentle yet strong grip, her wings stretching out with a powerful whoosh that sent a breeze through the room. Lily gasped, her hands instinctively clutching onto Golden’s shoulders as they soared upward, her feet dangling in the air.
“You’re flying?” Lily’s voice was a mix of surprise and awe.
Golden Cheese’s smile widened. “You didn’t think I was just for show, did you?”
As they ascended to a small platform overlooking the balcony, where the sunlight could bathe them both in its warmth, Golden carefully lowered Lily to the ground. She stepped back, her wings folding neatly behind her.
Lily stood still for a moment, still processing the fact that she had just been carried in the air as easily as if she weighed nothing at all. She wasn’t used to seeing Golden so vulnerable, but there was something so endearing about how her wings flickered slightly, shedding feathers that caught the light like little golden fragments.
“Ready?” Golden asked, her tone softening once more as she gestured to her wings. She sat down carefully, her wings stretching outward behind her like a regal display of beauty and power, though they were slightly ragged from the molting.
Lily stepped forward, her hands trembling ever so slightly. It wasn’t just the surprise of the flight or the soft sheen of Golden’s wings—it was the intimacy of the moment. She had seen Golden in many states before, but this was different. The trust between them had deepened in the last few weeks, and she was about to help her in a way that felt incredibly intimate.
“I’ve never done this before,” Lily murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I’ll guide you,” Golden reassured her, her voice soothing, yet with a tinge of playfulness. “It’s nothing to be nervous about, I promise.”
Lily knelt down beside her, her hands shaking as she reached for the first feather. She gently tugged it free, and to her surprise, Golden let out a soft sigh of relief.
“Is it... painful?” Lily asked, her voice tight with concern.
Golden shook her head, her gaze gentle. “No. It’s not painful. It’s just... a process I have to go through every year. And this time, I’d rather not do it alone.”
Lily nodded, her fingers delicately working to remove the excess feathers from the area near Golden’s shoulders. She worked in slow, careful movements, each one sending a shiver through Golden’s body. The silence between them was comfortable, filled only by the sound of the occasional feather being pulled free, the soft sound of Golden’s breath in the air.
It wasn’t long before Lily found herself lost in the task, her hands moving with greater ease as she worked. She focused entirely on Golden’s wings, on the way the feathers came free so gracefully. She could feel Golden’s soft gaze on her, but she didn’t look up. She didn’t want to distract herself from the task at hand.
Golden sighed softly as Lily continued. “You’re doing wonderfully.”
Lily flushed, the praise like a warm blanket over her shoulders. She never could get used to Golden’s gentle words, the way they made her heart flutter in her chest. But she focused, kept working. She could tell that Golden was starting to relax, the tension in her body slowly fading with each tug.
“Thank you,” Golden said, her voice softer now. “For this. For... helping me.”
Lily smiled, her heart swelling. “It’s nothing. I want to help you, Golden.”
Golden’s eyes softened as she turned her head to look at Lily. “I know. But still... it means more than you know.”
The words hung in the air between them, unspoken feelings that neither of them had dared to voice aloud. Not yet, anyway. But they didn’t need to. The warmth between them, the shared moment of care, said everything that words could not.
As the last feather was removed, Golden stretched her wings fully out, the sunlight streaming through them like gold-dusted light. She turned to Lily, her eyes gentle.
“Thank you,” she repeated, a soft smile gracing her lips.
Lily stood, stepping back and allowing her to fully stretch her wings. Her heart fluttered in her chest again as she looked at the beauty of the golden wings, knowing she had helped with something so personal.
“You’re welcome,” Lily whispered, her voice full of tenderness.
Golden leaned forward and, without thinking, pressed a soft kiss to Lily’s forehead. It was simple, a token of her appreciation. But to Lily, it meant the world.
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Golden Cheese pulled back slightly after the kiss, her golden eyes lingering on White Lily’s face. There was something in the way Lily’s breath hitched, in the way her fingers still trembled slightly, that made Golden’s lips twitch into a soft, knowing smile.
Lily, flustered but trying to compose herself, cleared her throat. “Your wings look much better now,” she said, her voice softer than usual. “They’re—well, they’ve always been beautiful, but now they seem lighter.”
Golden stretched them again, the faintest shimmer of gold catching the light. “They do feel lighter,” she admitted, rolling her shoulders slightly, enjoying the newfound ease of movement. “You’ve got a gentle touch, Lily. I think I might just have to keep you around for this every molting season.”
Lily’s face warmed at the praise. She busied herself with brushing the stray golden feathers off her lap, not daring to meet Golden’s gaze. “You’re just saying that,” she murmured.
Golden tilted her head, an amused gleam in her eyes. “Am I?”
Lily didn’t answer right away. She was too preoccupied with the lingering warmth of Golden’s presence, the soft golden glow of her wings. It was rare to see Golden so relaxed, so unguarded.
Golden, noticing Lily’s lingering flustered state, smirked playfully. “You like compliments, don’t you?” she mused, her voice teasing but warm.
Lily’s breath caught in her throat. “That’s—I—”
“Oh, you do,” Golden hummed, leaning in ever so slightly. “You just can’t handle them, can you?”
Lily’s face burned as she tried to form a response, but nothing came out except a quiet, embarrassed sound. She hated how easily Golden saw through her, how effortlessly she pulled reactions out of her.
Golden chuckled, her voice as smooth as honey. “Adorable.”
Lily groaned, hiding her face in her hands. “You’re insufferable.”
Golden laughed, a full, warm sound that sent a pleasant shiver down Lily’s spine. “And yet, you’re still here.”
Lily peeked up at her from between her fingers. “Unfortunately.”
Golden only grinned. “Liar.”
Lily let out a soft sigh, shaking her head, but there was no real frustration behind it. Only warmth. Fondness.
Golden stretched out one wing slightly, then patted the space beside her. “Come here.”
Lily hesitated for only a moment before obeying, settling next to her. The cool breeze that drifted through the balcony made her shiver slightly, and before she could even react, Golden shifted, draping one of her wings around Lily’s shoulders like a golden blanket.
The warmth was instant, comforting. Safe.
Lily stiffened at first, unused to such a gesture, but slowly, she let herself relax against Golden’s side. “This is… nice,” she admitted quietly.
Golden hummed in agreement. “It is.”
They sat like that for a while, simply enjoying each other’s presence. The world around them felt distant, the worries of their respective pasts and futures momentarily forgotten.
Golden turned her head slightly, resting her chin atop Lily’s hair. “Stay here tonight.”
Lily blinked, tilting her head up to look at her. “Golden—”
“No protests,” Golden interrupted, her voice firm but affectionate. “You’ve done so much for me today. The least I can do is make sure you’re comfortable for the night.”
Lily hesitated, but the warmth of Golden’s wing, the steady rhythm of her breathing, made the decision for her. “…Alright,” she murmured.
Golden smiled, satisfied. “Good.”