Work Text:
An agonizing pain radiated from the King’s chest. His breathing was labored as he walked through the heavy snowfall that started not so long ago, the snow under his boots crunching loudly. His hand rested gently onto the crumbling dough of his chest, his fingers coated with red jam.
Approaching the gates of the Citadel, Dark Cacao looked for a nearby guard.
It was just his luck that Dark Mocha Cookie was instructing Caramel Arrow on how the Watchers did their job.
Dark Mocha just so happened to glance down, his senses better than most. It is what makes him an amazing Watcher; however, Dark Cacao couldn't help but mentally curse the cookie’s hearing. He watched as the man’s eyebrows knit with horror, eyes widening as he jumped from the wall and landed in the snow not far from him, the snow crunching under his feet.
“Your Majesty!” Dark Mocha shouted, rushing toward the King with a worried look on his face. He could hear Caramel Arrow shout at his state, turning and calling for healers.
“My king,” Dark Mocha whispered, lifting Dark Cacao’s arm and draping it over his shoulder, bearing some of the King’s weight. They approached the gate, where a panicked guard opened the doors for them. Their steps were sluggish as Dark Cacao essentially dragged his battered body into the Citadel, Dark Mocha’s assistance only alleviating the worst of it. Dark Cacao could feel his legs shake, then give out, falling to his knees as Dark Mocha fretted over him
A door to the right opened, revealing a Dark Cacaoian healer who rushed toward them with a gasp, eyes wide as they took in the state their king was in. Caramel Arrow trailed behind them, examining the King. The healer kneeled in front of the King, worried eyes scanning the large wound on his chest.
His body felt like he was on fire, eyes scrunching closed as a wave of pain pulsated through his body.
“Your Majesty, you require immediate medical attention,” the healer informed him. “First Watcher, may I ask you to carry the King to the healing pavilion. We must act qui–”
“No.”
The healer turned back to him, brows knit in confusion. “Your Majesty?”
“I am not going to the healers.”
I don't deserve it.
“My King, you are in critical condition! If you do not receive treatment, you could very well die!” The healer admonished, an incredulous look on their face. He could feel the stares of Dark Mocha and Caramel Arrow dig holes into his skull and imagine the horror on their faces.
“I’m not going to the healers,” he repeated, voice firm.
“Your Ma-”
“My King.”
The group paused, looking at Caramel Arrow, who had a pained look on her face.
“Caramel Arr-” Dark Mocha started, eyes narrowing in warning.
Dismissing the warning, she continued, voice smaller than normal, “Wasn't the Prince with you? Where… Where is he?”
Dark Cacai could feel his heart clench. Caramel Arrow was, at this point, his unofficial daughter, and grew to view the Prince as not only her teacher, but her older brother.
The news would ruin her.
The group was silent, waiting for his response. The healer chewed their lip, eyes flicking to the door that would lead to the healing pavilion.
“My Kin-”
“Dark Choco had betrayed us, attacking me outside of the gates.”
The silence that ensued was loud as the three took the news in.
“W-What…?”
Caramel Arrow sounded so small, unlike her usual confident self.
Dark Cacao took in a shaky breath.
“No one outside of the Citadel shall be informed of what occurred.”
It was a testament to the shock they all felt that they did not ask for more information.
Dark Cacao began to cough, his body shaking from both the strength of the cough and the pain that came along with it. He covered his mouth with his hand, hoping to silence the noise. The rest of their mini group looked at him worried, the healer grimacing at the sound. Once his coughing fit was done, he pulled his hand away, blinking at the crimson colored jam that coated his palm. He could hear Dark Mocha gasp next to him in worry.
“My King, you must receive treatment now, or it will be too late!” The healer begged, taking his hand and looking at him with a panicked expression.
“I already said that I-” His voice trailed off. Black spots began to fill his vision, the room spinning around him.
He could hear the voices of those around him call out his name, but it felt like his head was pushed underwater, their voices muffled and unintelligible. The sound of his jam rushing through his ears and the incessant pounding of his heart filled his head, drowning out his surroundings.
I’m sor–
His world went black.
His head was pounding, an excruciating pain as his eyes fluttered open. Light filled his vision and he screwed his eyes shut with a hiss. He gave himself a second before he tried again, opening his eyes much slower. The light was still strong, and he raised his hand to protect his eyes, but in a matter of seconds, he could finally take in his surroundings.
The healing pavilion.
From what he could see, the room was completely empty. He grimaced at the idea of being treated, but he was ultimately glad he was alone. Dark Cacao tried to sit up, but hissed at the wave of pain that came from his chest. Glancing down, he frowned at the sight of bandages wrapping around his chest, specks of crimson decorating where the injury was. He sighed and, using his arms, pushed himself into a sitting position, wincing at the ache he felt.
Dark Cacao took a deep breath, closing his eyes.
Dark Choco…
He didn't understand. Why did his son attack him so suddenly? His son had gotten so angry and swung a sword he had never seen before at him. It had caught him off guard, yet he still tried to block the blow, but failed, only managing to slash his son on the face.
The idea of hurting his son made his heart ache.
He never meant to hurt him, only wanting to stop Dark Choco from doing any harm. But here he was, with a large wound on his chest.
What made it worse was the fact that even then – even when his son had attacked and injured him – he could not bring himself to hate him, even going as far as just banishing him.
His son should have been killed for his actions.
Dark Cacao was just too weak to do so.
Too weak to raise his sword against his own flesh and blood, someone whom he watched grow up.
He opened his eyes.
He wanted to cry.
He doesn't even think if he could.
The door to his room opened, revealing the healer from before. Their eyes widened when they saw he was awake, shutting the door quickly before rushing over.
“My King, you're awake!” The healer exclaimed, their tired eyes shining. “When you passed out, we all believed it would be too late!”
Dark Cacao blinked slowly before asking, “How long was I unconscious for?”
The healer let out air from their nose, looking at the bedsheets in front of them. “One week, Your Majesty.”
One week.
Dark Cacao sighed, swinging his legs over to touch the ground.
“My King?! What are you doing?!” The healer panicked, blocking the king from getting up.
“I have work to do.”
The healer huffed, indignant. “Absolutely not. You need rest, My King. Your body has not healed yet, and moving will aggravate your wounds. The delay in treating you made you lose too much jam and any later, you would have died.”
“Good.”
Silence.
“What..?”
Dark Cacaio closed his eyes once more. “Nothing.” He pushed himself back into the bed, turning his body away from the healer and toward the nearby window.
“My Ki-”
“Enough,” he commanded, voice gruff. It was unfair to treat the healer like this, he thought, but he was done with this conversation.
He was tired.
“...Understood.” The healer sounded distressed, yet their footsteps got farther and farther.
Dark Cacao didn't know what he had done wrong. His son was not a violent person, so attacking him had to have some sort of purpose. A reason.
“I’ll be back to rewrap your bandages,” he could hear the healer hesitate before continuing, “Your wound will scar badly.”
And with that, the door closed.
Good, Dark Cacao thought.
If he had done something wrong to his son, then let this be his punishment.