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Dark Choco felt conflicted.
He was finally back home! Don't get him wrong, it felt great to be back, but… he has noticed a change.
One he wasn't sure was good.
After reconciling with his father, he reconciled with his father, he moved back into his old room in the Citadel. It was a little dusty, but nothing Dark Choco couldn't handle. The kingdom had welcomed him with open arms, celebrating that their prince had finally returned home.
His father was overjoyed to have him back, something Dark Choco found somewhat astonishing. The man was not someone who openly displayed his feelings, so such an act made Dark Choco feel warm. As the day passed, however, the prince noticed some subtle yet disturbing details.
For one, his father would occasionally forget that he had returned home, falling into a solemn mood. He would often stare off into the distance with such exhausted eyes that Dark Choco couldn't help but panic. It would take hours, but once his father noticed that he was, in fact, home, though, the king would tear up, holding his son close while muttering apologies one after another. It worried the man to have to console his father, yet he understood it well.
Guilt was a heavy burden, after all.
Another worrying habit his father had was that whenever Dark Choco told his father that something made him uncomfortable or upset, the man would bring his hand to his chest and close his eyes for a moment before speaking. The action appeared innocent, but Dark Choco knew better.
It was the exact spot where he slashed his father with the Strawberry Jam Sword.
It worried the prince greatly.
Those weren't the only concerning habits he'd noticed, sadly.
Whenever the King thought himself to be alone, he’d pace, seemingly lost in thought. Now, the pacing itself wasn't bad, but the muttering was. Dark Cacao would berate himself under his breath for insignificant details. It always had to do with Dark Choco, stressing over how he treated him and whether he did well that day.
Hearing those words felt like a stab at him every time, guilt clawing at him. His father was a strong man, yet it seemed he fell apart whenever he was around. It hurts to even think about it.
To make matters worse, Dark Choco realized that because of the constant stress over his actions, his father isn't eating as much, either forgetting his meals or only eating a small portion of what is served. It scared him to know that his father was essentially self-destructing while trying to mend their relationship.
The final habit, and most concerning one, only occurred once, yet it haunted him deeply. Not so long after he moved back into the Citadel, the father and son got into a small spat. Dark Choco knew that such a thing could happen; after all, his father was a headstrong man, and rebuilding a relationship from the ground up was bound to lead to setbacks.
That wasn't what scared him, however. After the argument, Dark Choco locked himself in his room while trying to cool down, not wanting to spark another argument. It was calming, and hours later, once he felt confident enough, he left his room and walked toward his father’s study.
He knocked hesitantly, taking a deep breath when he heard his father allow him in. Dark Choco slid open the doors quietly, opening the conversation, “Father, I wanted to talk about the argu…ment…” The rest of his words died in his throat as he took in his father’s appearance. The dough along his neck and hands was red and irritated, with a few areas even bleeding somewhat. It was clear the King tried to cover up the areas, but Dark Choco was raised to be vigilant.
Horror couldn't even describe what he felt at that moment.
Once everything clicked, Dark Choco rushed up to the man, grabbing his wrists and pushing the sleeves up. The skin on his forearms was also red, the irritation looking to be extremely painful.
“Appa…” Dark Choco whispered, voice quivering.
The man couldn't even look at him.
Dark Choco took a shaky breath, quietly getting up and grabbing some bandages he found in his father's drawers earlier.
He tried not to think about the implications.
They were both silent as he wrapped up the King's arms and neck, the atmosphere thick. There was a lump in his throat, preventing him from bringing up what he found.
They didn't speak of it, but Dark Choco made sure to keep an eye out.
It never happened again.
But now, Dark Choco stood outside his father's study, biting his lip as he tried to mentally prepare himself.
He knew this conversation was going to happen, but the thought didn't make it any easier.
It was now or never.
Dark Choco swallowed, raising his fist and knocking against the sliding doors.
“Appa…?” He asked, hesitating before continuing. “I think we need to talk.”
It was silent for a moment, one that felt like it lasted for an eternity.
Then, he heard a sigh from the other side.
“Very well,” his father's voice soon followed. Dark Choco took a deep breath (or a few) before sliding the door open, hands trembling despite the conversation not even starting. His father sat by his desk, papers stacked up high. It appeared that he was working, which made Dark Choco feel a little guilty, but he had to remind himself.
Now or never.
A quick glance over informed him that Dark Cacao hadn't been picking his skin again, to which he internally let out a sigh of relief.
The prince approached his father like one would approach a wounded animal, kneeling in front of the king with a nervous expression.
“Dark Choco,” his appa greeted, nodding his head. “What did you wish to speak about?”
Dark Choco dry swallowed, clasping his hands as he raised his eyes to look his appa in the face. “We need to talk about your habits.” He winced, his tone coming out harsher than he wanted.
Dark Cacao's expression closed itself out in an instant, his eyes wandering away from him.
“Appa… I've noticed some really concerning behaviors from you while back in the Citadel,” he started, trying to make himself sound softer than before.
The king didn't look back at him, narrowing his eyes at a random point to his left, but Dark Choco knew the man heard him.
“It may not be my place to say this, but I'm worried about you, appa…” he whispered, expression tightening.
Dark Choco watched as his father shifted, hands coming together. The man's gaze was unreadable, looking just like the face he would make when he was younger before he betrayed the kingdom. The sight made him nervous, but he pushed through.
His vision tunneled in on his appa's hands, eyes widening when he noticed how the Cacaoian's thumb and index finger began to pick at his skin roughly. Bile rose up his throat, his mouth tasting like acid, as he gripped his father's hands with his own.
“Appa,” he hissed worriedly, face scrunched up as he looked up at the man. His hands had stilled, holding a piece of his dough tightly between his fingers, and very faintly, he could hear the king's breath stuttering. “Let go of your dough.”
His father’s brows furrowed tightly as his eyelids snapped shut.
He didn't let go.
“Appa,” he repeated, “Let. Go.” He punctuated each word, his wine-colored eyes not leaving his father's face.
Nothing.
“Appa, please,” Dark Choco begged, voice cracking as his eyes started to sting with the prickle of tears.
Still nothing.
A tear slid down the prince's face, a quiet gasp escaping his lips. “This is all my fault…”
And it was, wasn't it?
He had caused his father stress, making him toe the line of self-sacrifice as he tried to appease him. His appa wanted to be there for him, to be better, but in the process, hurt himself gravelly.
Just for him.
Dark Choco began to sob.
He placed his forehead on their hands, trembling violently. “I can leave, appa. You'll never have to worry about trying to appease me anymore,” the prince choked out, hiccups making it hard to speak. “But please, appa, stop hurting yourself to make me happy. It only hurts us both.”
A loud gasp came from above him, and tentatively, Dark Choco looked up, and through his teary vision, he could see the horrified expression on his appa's face. He could see his own reflection in the man's purple eyes.
In a flash, his father jumped away, shooting up and dislodging Dark Choco, dropping him to the ground. The prince got up, looking at his father with both confusion and worry.
He could see the minute trembling of his father’s body, worsening the worry the prince felt.
“Appa…? Are you okay?” Dark Choco asked brows knit in concern.
His father's breath quickened, face looking even more terrified than before. “No… No, what…?”
“Appa?” Dark Choco asked again, concern even more palpable.
The king let out a gasped yell, crumbling into a broken mess on the ground.
“APPA!” Dark Choco shouted, pushing himself up. He was about to rush over when his father shouted.
“NO! STAY BACK!” His warning was broken up by pained screams.
Dark Choco froze in terror, watching as his father changed into the gigantic shadow monster from before their reconciliation. The terror he felt, however, wasn't because of his father, but for his father.
The creature let out a ferocious roar, the room trembling at the sound. Dark Choco couldn't move, simply staring at the creature.
It was horrifying.
It seemed to stare at him, its eyes almost sad-looking.
“...Appa?” Dark Choco whispered, distraught.
The creature let out a wail, sounding absolutely shattered. It took a step toward him and Dark Choco couldn't help but scramble away. It let out a sad whine, shrinking into itself and stopping its approach.
Before he could say anything about that, the door to the study flew open, the sliding door making a loud thud. Several warriors rushed in, one of them kneeling by him. A quick glance informed him that it was the Second Watcher, Dark Mocha.
“Warriors, be on guard!” A voice shouted. Caramel Arrow Cookie.
Her bow was drawn, the arrow toward the ground. The rest of the warriors got into defensive positions, drawing their weapons but not attacking.
The creature seemed agitated at the supposed hostility from the warriors, manifesting an enlarged version of the Grape Jam Chocoblade.
“Your Majesty! Please, calm yourself!” Caramel Arrow shouted, scanning the shadow creature.
A growl left its throat, the sound grating on the ears. A few warriors raised their weapons, preparing for an attack, which only served to aggravate the situation. Feeling threatened, Dark Cacao lifted the sword, preparing to land a devastating blow to the warriors, and Dark Choco knew he had to do something.
Pushing away Dark Mocha, the prince ran toward the beast, ignoring the panicked shouts of his name. Standing in front of the creature, Dark Choco raised his arms, trying to block the warriors from view.
“APPA! STOP!”
The creature froze.
Time seemed to freeze alongside it, and Dark Choco didn't dare breathe as he stared at what his father had turned into. In a surprising act of obedience, lowered his weapon. Dark Choco did not outwardly react, keeping his facial expression calm. He heard some of the cookies behind him gasp, but he paid them no mind, focusing on his father and the pain he carried.
“I know you are in there, appa,” Dark Choco reassured, reaching his arms out to his father. The beast twitched, moving away from his stretched hand.
“Please, come back to me,” he begged, still trying to reach the beast. With each step he took, the beast took one backward, eyeing the hand with a well-concealed fear. It was only because he grew up with the man that he could see what the beast felt.
“You are so strong, and I know you can overcome this. You are the leader and founder of the Dark Cacao Kingdom and my appa. You never give up, fighting for what you believe in, so please,” his voice cracked, the love and concern breaking through the cracks of his mask, “come back to me.”
Seeing the emotion, the beast froze, and finally, Dark Choco's hand rested on the cheek of the creature. Tears fell from the white void-like eyes, and an ear-piercing wail left the creature’s mouth.
All the pain his father carried with him was beginning to break free.
The beast lowered itself to the ground, its eyes looking into his.
Dark Choco looked back, his expression full of love.
The creature shrunk, leaving behind in its wake a weeping king, now a cookie once more. Dark Choco didn't hesitate in wrapping his arms around his father, holding the man close.
Arms gripped him tightly, his father crying into his chest. Dark Choco only held him tightly, simply being there for his dear father.
“It's okay,” he whispered into his ear, “I've got you. I'm not leaving you again.”
He repeated the same words over and over like a mantra, not letting go. He'd repeat it a million more times if he needed to.
It was when the weight of his father's body got heavier that he paused, shifting somewhat to check.
His father had cried until he fell asleep.
Dark Choco sighed, looking back at the warriors that stood behind them, watching with wide yet sympathetic eyes.
“Could someone help me move him to the spare bed?” He asked, chuckling sheepishly. Never did he think he would be grateful for his father's habit of working until he passed out until now.
Caramel Arrow and Dark Mocha moved forward, going on the opposite side of his father. They crouched down, bearing some of the king’s weight.
“On three. One, two, three!” The three cookies lifted the man up, their doughy bodies straining with the weight. Very carefully, they maneuvered the king onto his bed, laying him down as gently as they could on top of the dark purple sheets.
All three of them heaved a sigh of utter relief, almost completely collapsing. Dark Choco groaned softly, still holding onto his father. “Thank you, you two, and to the rest of you,” the prince nodded, smiling gratefully at the warriors. Not many would rush into danger like this without second-guessing themselves.
Well. It's not like Dark Cacaoian warriors are considered normal.
The warriors bowed, leaving the room one by one, leaving only Caramel Arrow and Dark Mocha.
“This may have happened before, but… it doesn't make it any less frightening,” Caramel Arrow admitted, her eyes trained on the king's sleeping form. “His Majesty always appears to be unwavering and resolute, so to see him at his lowest is… strange, to say the least.”
Dark Mocha only nodded, brows knit with concern. “He will be alright. His Majesty is strong, much stronger than we believe. All we can do is be there and ease his burden when his knees buckle and help him back up.”
Dark Choco only stared at his father, a million thoughts running through his mind. “I think… I understand now. Even the strongest of cookies have their moments of weakness, what matters is if they get back up again.”
Dark Mocha smiled. “Well said, your highness.” He turned toward Caramel Arrow. “Let's go. They need their rest.”
She nodded, “Understood.”
The two of them stood up, bowing respectfully, before leaving, sliding the door shut behind them.
Dark Choco watched them leave, his body going boneless as he sighed in relief. He looked back down at his father. They still had a long way to go, but Dark Choco knew they could do it. They'll have setbacks, yes, but what relationship didn't? His father was trying his best, so Dark Choco could only do the same.
Lying down next to his father, the prince buried his face into his chest, in the same way he did when he was a child.
There, in the quiet room, Dark Choco closed his eyes, lulled to sleep by the repetitive sound of his father's heartbeat.
Yes, they'd be alright.