Shadow Milk Cookie was extremely expressive. As a jester and actor who's stage is a great part of his life, it's a natural reflex.

C/N Cookie was a little different.

They weren't cold, or cruel, just serious. Always composed, always in control, even in the most disastrous moments. Their smiles were fleeting, their laughter like a precious gem. Shadow Milk Cookie had never heard it before, and he found himself growing more and more curious.

Then it became a challenge he took upon himself.

It started small. A dumb joke here, a sarcastic quip there. "What do you call a Cookie who's bad at hide and seek?" He had asked one day, arms crossed with a smirk.

C/N Cookie blinked. "What?"

"A crumb."

"...Alright." C/N Cookie gave him an unimpressed blink and walked off.

Shadow Milk Cookie groaned dramatically, dragging a hand down his face. "Tough crowd, eh?"

But he wasn't giving up that easily.

He tried everything. Slightly exaggerated movements during battle practice, playful nudges, even harmless pranks (though the flour trap had backfired, and he spent about an hour dusting it off their head with apologetic mutters).

C/N Cookie took it all in stride, their composed facade never cracking. If anything, they even seemed slightly amused but still refused to let it show.

Shadow Milk Cookie was starting to think he'd never win.

Then one day, it happened.

It was completely unintentional. He had been practicing for his next play, practicing one of his more dramatic moves, but he'd mistepped - his foot slipped, and he ended up spinning far more than intended. He was just so able to mutter out a curse before he was sent falling forward, arms flailing.

C/N Cookie turned just in time to see him land flat on his face.

Silence.

Then-

A chuckle.

Shadow Milk Cookie barely had time to process the sound before it escalated into actual, honest laughter. It wasn't mocking or mean-spirited, just pure, genuine mirth. Their eyes crinkled, their shoulders shook, and the rare, beautiful sound of their laughter rang through the air.

Shadow Milk Cookie forgot to get up. He just stared, utterly mesmerized.

So this was what their laughter sounded like.

He didn't even care that his pride was bruised. He didn't care that he had just embarrassed himself spectacularly.

Because he had won his little challenge.

A slow grin spread across his face as he rested his chin in his hands, still sprawled on the ground, looking up at them with awe.

"You're laughing."

C/N Cookie finally calmed down, wiping at their eyes as they caught their breath. They looked at him, still amused, and smirked slightly. "Guess you finally succeeded, huh?"

Shadow Milk Cookie's heart did a weird little flip inside his chest. He decided right then and there that he wanted to hear that sound, their laugh, again. As many times as possible.

And if it meant tripping over his own feet again, well...

So be it.

(this is short asf but whatev it's cute)