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The crackle of the fireplace purified the bedroom with a comforting, wood burning smell. Dark Choco slept lightly in Dark Cacao’s quarters; it was the only place he could rest peacefully. Nightmares always haunted him, and he found solace sleeping with his father. The prince shifted in the grandiose bed uncomfortably, a small groan left his sleeping lips. Normally, hearing that, Dark Cacao would shift over, wrapping his arms lazily around his son.
That did not happen.
Choco’s eyes tiredly blinked open, and, automatically, his face molded into confusion. Rubbing his eyes, he adjusted quickly to the darkness in the room. Dark Choco sat up, his loose shirt sat unevenly on his body, he let his eyes roam the room; no Dark Cacao.
“Mhm...Father…” Choco called sleepily, his voice was strained and deeper than normal. He reached around the bed, trying to find his father as his hands grasped wildly in the dark. Hearing no answer, nor feeling him, he felt his stomach drop,
“Father…?” He called again, anxiousness making his voice crack, his throat feeling tighter. “...Father, where are you…?
Definite silence followed Dark Choco’s words; he felt more awake than ever. Throwing the sheets and comforter off his body, he shivered as the contrasting temperatures suddenly attacked him. Choco stood up suddenly, winced, and grabbed a hold on the nightstand next to him. Taking a deep breath, he shook the dizziness and nausea from his head, turning on the bedside lamp.
With the light of the lamp, and the burning fireplace, Dark Choco better studied the room. There were no sounds from the bathroom, nor were the balcony doors open; still, Dark Choco futilely looked.
Where was Dark Cacao?
“Father?” Clearing his throat, Choco’s mind was more alert. His voice was laced with confusion and fear; why did he leave? Where had he gone? Dark Choco pulled on a thicker robe and shoes to shield his bones from the aching frost outside. Frantically, he left the bedroom in search of his father.
Dark Cacao roamed the garden quietly, listening to his shoes thump lightly onto the ground. Snow fell hazardly outside of the greenhouse that was up-kept thoroughly within the Citadel walls; the walls shielded the king from some cold. He shivered, not nearly wearing enough to protect his weary bones. The vegetation that flourished in the greenhouse was nothing short of beautiful. The serenity and peace that radiated from the various flowers was calming.
How could something so fragile flourish in such hazardous conditions?
With the help of technology, the kingdom was able to produce nature such as this. Cacao had been very impressed by the recent technological advances discovered for the environment for such arctic weather.
Still, Dark Cacao felt out of place in the garden; he was not beautiful, he was not peaceful. He was anything but, feeling his battle-worn hands graze the precious life beneath him. The king made countless mistakes, none of which were reputable. Cacao sighed heavily as he let his mind wander to dangerous nooks and fearful crannies; he gave himself a headache.
Dark Cacao would certainly be his own demise.
He felt his body shiver again, rubbing his nose to keep it from freezing. He heaved another tired sigh, massaging the bridge of his nose to try and soothe his headache.
The mighty king was restless, he had been tossing and turning in bed all night long. Unruly regrets and responsibilities were nagging him, ripping his mind apart. He replayed haunting memory after haunting memory, his guilt as a king, as a father, eating at his decaying mind painfully slow. Afraid of waking his dearest son, Dark Cacao had removed himself from the bed. Time eluded him now; what time had he left his quarters?
He prayed Dark Choco was still resting.
Dark Cacao recalled his son, the boy he banished away years ago. Guilt pulled at his heart, making his chest tight. When he left the bedroom, he remembered the unusual, soft, smile that pulled at his cheeks, watching his son sleeping peacefully under his care. He had been cuddled behind Cacao for his body heat. Choco’s soft snores brought his restless mind peace, knowing that he was safe.
The wind dragged him from his happy memory, causing Dark Cacao’s momentary smile to drop, shivering harshly. He would be the first to know that roaming in the cold is dangerous, especially without the right attire. Cacao smiled a pitiful smile to himself, bringing his hands to his mouth to warm them.
He was truly an idiot.
Dropping his smile again, Dark Cacao listened keenly; something was coming. Keeping his hands to his mouth, the mighty king stopped walking amongst the little greenery on the ground. His sharp eyes scanned the greenhouse, nothing was there. He continued to hear the tapping of an approaching being, turning around, he studied all directions. Moving to draw his sword, gripping in the air, he blinked in surprise.
“Lovely…” Dark Cacao mumbled, groaning, realizing he did not have his sword. If it was a threat, he’d have to fight with his hands.
“What happened to always being prepared…?” A familiar voice called quietly, Dark Cacao automatically looked back towards it, sighing.
“Hello, Son…” Cacao gruffly answered the taunting voice, rubbing his face, preparing for his childish reprimands. He was grown, Dark Cacao knew what was right and wrong. He did not need Dark Choco to rub it in.
“What are you doing in here…?” Choco let his hand trace the flowers beneath him, walking closer to his father. The tiredness was present in his voice, Dark Cacao watched his face silently; tear marks stained his cheeks. He felt a sudden, stabbing guilt in his stomach, reaching his hand out to caresse Dark Choco’s cheek.
“...”
Dark Choco flinched at the hand coming to his cheek, Cacao's fingers were frozen. This made Dark Cacao hesitate, pulling himself away from his son.
“Your hands are just cold,” Choco mumbled, reaching for Cacao's arm, he pulled the hand back to his face. “...do not hesitate…”
Dark Cacao held Choco’s face gently, a contrast to his normal stoic aggression. He felt his eyes soften at the sight of his son. He felt it was peculiar that the boy was telling him not to hesitate, considering all the times Dark Choco did.
“...What are you doing outside, Father…? Come back…” Choco felt the tiredness return to his body, the adrenaline from before wearing off.
“ …Were you crying?” Dark Cacao inquired, ignoring Choco's question completely. Wind blasted the two of them, causing them both to brace themselves from it.
“This is a poor place to be, Father…The wind is relentless…” The prince shivered, moving closer to Cacao on instinct for warmth. He ignored Dark Cacao's question.
“‘Tis beautiful here…”
“...”
“Such marvelous little flowers, hm? Flourishing in this bitter cold…” Dark Cacao’s gaze wandered the greenhouse again, and Dark Choco’s eyes followed. They certainly were beautiful. Cacao's eyes continued to focus on the flowers, but Choco’s moved to his father's face.
He looked tired, even though he always did, it was a different tired. Dark Choco followed the wrinkles in his face, to his cold, dry lips, to the bags under his eyes, and to the small glimmer in those eyes that sparked hope into the people of their frozen lands.
“They are, Father…”
“...I wonder how such precious things grow in precarious conditions like these… ’Tis…much too cold…” Cacao’s words grew quieter, like his mind was processing something.
“You come to this greenhouse often, Father…”
“...” Cacao kept his gaze away from his son, biting his lip, “...I do, yes.”
“Life is quite like these flowers…” Dark Choco and Dark Cacao stood silently in the middle of a full greenhouse. The wind continued slashing into their bones.
“...They somehow, with facilitated help, figured out how to adapt to the freezing temperatures of this land…” Dark Choco spoke quietly, kneeling down to pick a flower from the ground. The two admired it as Choco turned it about in his hands with care. “And now, they simply exist; going from year to year replenishing themselves despite the deadly weather we face…”
“...Even if it may be hard…These little flowers have found a way…” Dark Choco listened to his own words, feeling a burning in his stomach. It was something he, himself, should abide by.
“...”
“Are you out here because of your restlessness, Father?”
“...I am, yes…” Dark Cacao swallowed the lump in his throat, finally turning back to face Dark Choco, looking into his red eye with care. He’d forgotten how grown Choco was; he did not expect words like that.
“...”
“...”
“Were you crying because I left?” Cacao raised his thumb and wiped the remaining tear marks from Choco's face. He watched Dark Choco avert his eyes, snickering, he sighed.
“...Yes, I…I panicked and rushed to find you…I thought something bad had happened…” Choco rubbed his arm, finding his reaction silly. He looked back down at the flower he held, rubbing his finger up and down the stem. Dark Cacao’s eyes fell onto the flower as well, picking apart its colors quietly.
Silence engulfed them, the blizzard outside was no longer as dangerous. The snowfall lightened up, and the winds, although still strong, felt not nearly as painful. They studied the same flower for what felt like hours, and each time a gust of wind hit, they moved closer.
“That was very well said, my son…” Dark Cacao randomly spoke up, looking at Choco’s face. His own face was filled with gratitude, it was honestly something he did not know he needed to hear.
“What was?”
“Your words, about the flower. That was very well spoken…”
“Oh,” Dark Choco blinked, placing the plucked flower down onto a lonely, carved, stone bench. He felt blush creep onto his face, more than his cheeks already flushed by the cold. A compliment. “...Thank you…”
“It was very wise, boy.” He patted Choco on the shoulder proudly, earning a sheepish smile from his son.
“I suppose…I did learned my words from you, Father…”
“Hm.” Cacao smiled proudly down at his son, watching his eyes light up and soften only made him smile more. Dark Choco smiled too, leaning into Dark Cacao.
“Do you know what also would be wise, Father?” Dark Choco’s voice was muffled by a shoulder. Another gust of wind hit them, making them shiver against each other.
“Going back inside. ‘Tis freezing out here…!” Choco slightly sassed the king, looking up at him with playfully, serious eyes.
“Hm,” Dark Cacao chuckled, “I suppose that would be, yes…”
The two walked back to the entrance of the greenhouse, Dark Choco rolled his eyes at Cacao’s previous remark. Dark Cacao stopped at the entrance, studying the place one last time.
“Come, Father…I am tired…” Choco called, standing by the door being held open by guards.
“Yes, yes, I am coming, child. Be patient.” Cacao followed Choco back inside, and the warmth greeted them wholeheartedly. He could fully feel his fingers now, rubbing his nose to speed up the warming process.
“I’ve been patient…Come, Father…” Dark Choco took his arms and began dragging the man back towards his quarters. The door of the greenhouse was shut behind them, as the guards bowed down.
“I’m sure you are tired as well? How long have you even been outside for…?” Choco hooked his father's arm as they walked down the silent, torch-lit halls.
“I…I am not quite sure…”
“Did you not check the time?” Choco mindlessly answered looking slightly up towards Dark Cacao
“I was more focused on leaving the room than checking the clock…”
“...Why?” Dark Choco yawned, daring to fall asleep on the walk back.
“I did not wish to wake you; you sleep lightly and not very well.”
“Oh...”
“You are very bleary, my son…” Cacao chuckled at Choco’s unfocus, taking his hand while Choco still held his arm.
“I awoke in a panic…”
“Then I wonder where those wise words came from, hm?”
“...Adrenaline?” Choco unsurely answered, shrugging his shoulders while Dark Cacao chuckled. “I’m not sure, I just spoke what I thought was right…”
“‘Twas spoken well…Very well…”
Arriving back to Dark Cacao's bedroom, two guards bowed, opening the heavy doors. Once inside, the frost that had overtaken their bodies was predominantly gone, relaxed by the warmth.
“...Next time, Father, you should wake me, too.” Dark Choco untied his outer robe and kicked off his shoes. Dark Cacao eyed his multitude of scars from the light of the burning fireplace, and the lamp that was left on. The sight of the nasty scars on his son made him forget to respond.
“Father?” Dark Cacao blinked, in front of him was Dark Choco shaking his shoulder lightly. “Have you heard me?”
“Hm?... Ah, why should I wake you?” Cacao shook off the feigning thoughts and guilt that dared to take over him once more; he wouldn't have that. Dark Cacao took off his own outer layers, leaving him with just nighttime pants.
“Well,” Choco, sitting on the bed, ushered Dark Cacao over, “at least you have someone to rely on…Quite like the times something happens to me… You are always there…”
Cacao turned off the bedside lamp, getting into the bed, he laid down. As soon as Choco saw him settle, he laid down next to him, cuddling close.
“I will think about it…” Dark Cacao smiled softly. Picking up his arm, he let Dark Choco shift over, wrapping his arm around him.
“Nothing to think about…I demand it…” Choco mumbled, wrapping his own arm around Cacao's torso, leaning on his chest. The rhythmic beating of his heart soothed him.
“Oh? You give demands now…?”
“Mhm…You do not have a choice…” Dark Choco sleepily snickered. Dark Cacao felt his tight grip loosening as Choco drifted in and out of consciousness. He tried his best to stay awake, blinking his red eyes every few moments.
“I see…Of course, Your Majesty…” Cacao placed a tender kiss on his son's forehead, scratching his back carefully.
“Stop.”
“If you give demands, I shall follow through, my prince…”
“...I just do not want you to be alone, okay? I’d rather us hurt together than alone…” Choco moved his head to look up at Dark Cacao, a sleepy sternness on his face.
“...”
“...”
“...For you, my son.” The king gave in, blinking back tears in his eyes. “I’d…I’d like that as well…Goodnight, my child, you can barely keep your eyes open…”
“Hmh...I love you…” Choco hugged Cacao tightly, letting himself drift back to sleep. Dark Cacao’s smile was warm, lit by the love of his only son.
“I love you much, much more, Dark Choco…”