Chapter Text
Summer had always been his favourite season. After the harsh winters of the Cacao kingdom and Spring that always kept him busy, whether it was helping people rebuild their homes after a bad snowstorm, planting seeds on the soil of farmers, even simply helping his father’s affairs.
But in the end, it was always worth it. When the crops had started to grow and the weather became as hot as it could in the north, when a prince wasn’t as busy as he would be later in the year, he could finally visit one of his favourite people.
The trip had always been long, but he still enjoyed every moment of it, ever since he was as young as a baby. He would remember his father walking through the tall mountains of the Cacao kingdom, traversing the harsh desert of the cheese kingdom, and riding through the fresh berry filled waters of the hollyberry kingdom. All of it to see one person: his father’s love and his other father, Pure Vanilla cookie.
Dark Choco can’t remember his first meetings, for the simple reason that he was a baby, an infant that couldn’t even walk. But even then, he could still feel how gentler the touch of his other father was compared to the strong grip of Dark Cacao, the lingering smell of Vanilla every time he came back and the soft voice who sang him lullabies. It was always peaceful. Quiet.
There weren’t the shouts of troops training in the yard, there weren’t servants or nobles gossiping in the endless citadel. The noisiest place in the entire kingdom was the markets, and they were nothing compared to the endless negotiations he had back home. It gave Dark Choco the tranquility, the care he needed after the harsh year they just faced.
“Isn’t he adorable?” Pure Vanilla exclaimed, tickling the edge of Dark Choco's nose as the baby started giggling, agitating his hands everywhere. The man, sitting crisscrossed in the White lily garden, leans further into the side of his lover, whose firm hands grab his waist.
“He has your laugh.” He remarks, even though the man doesn’t smile so often, especially in front of other’s, he lets a curved line on his lips in the presence of Pure Vanilla. Whilst other’s never seemed to see through his cold demeanor, The vanilla scented man always warmed his heart, always saw through the walls he had spent years building.
“Thats the least he could do,” Pure Vanilla remarks, his gaze lingering back to the baby “He looks exactly like you!”
“Yes but, while I do love the resemblance, I wish he had some of your characteristics.”
They both stay silent for a moment, all the attention going to the baby who’s small hairs get so easily carried away by the gentle wind.
“He will make a great king.”
“Ill make sure of it.” The dark man says, planting a kiss on his lover’s cheek..
Dark choco had many memories these summers, some better than others, yet the furthest one he could remember was his first trip alone. He had turned 7 years old and his kingdom had faced one of the harshest winters yet. Licorice monsters had destroyed many parts of the town and, in his opinion worst of all, he had started training alongside his peers.
The Dark Cacao army usually wouldn’t train kids under 12, and even then, those were the lucky cases who had great potential for the future, most training started at around 15 to 18 years old due to the brutality and roughness of the exercises. Yet, as prince of the kingdom, his father found it suitable to start as soon as possible.
“You will become king one day, therefore, if you want to keep your head, you must learn to be the fiercest warrior amongst them!” He announced just before leaving the throne room to deal with more concerning affairs, keeping his son without room to argue to him.
Dark choco clearly wasn’t as good as the other kids. He looked at the other teenagers around him, the skinnier ones sorted to become agile and precise archers, gliding around the obstacles while shooting at targets as if they were flying. The strongest would be put in Sword combat, heavy lifting, jogging around the training grounds while wearing the biggest armour. Their muscles contract as they keep hitting their opponents, analyzing for any weak spots their eyes could follow, always trying to get the advantage.
Dark Choco could barely lift a spear.
Thankfully, he had caught the attention of his uncle, Chocolate bark cookie.
While the man didn’t miss out on the harshness of his exercises, Dark Choco quickly grew accustomed to the wooden sword his uncle had carved out, learning the basics of sword fighting on a far bigger practice dummy that couldn’t stop swinging at his face.
At the end of every day, Dark Choco would run to his father, tugging at his robe excitedly to tell him about what he’d learn, about the progress he’d made during training. While it truly was exhausting, as it should be for a seven year old, Dark Choco took pride in making his father proud.
And every day, his father would tell him how “wonderful that is” without sacrificing a glare or a pinch of pride, sometimes he wouldn’t even respond, too caught up in his kingly duties.
Dark choco never felt like he was enough. Maybe that was his father’s motivation, if he isn’t enough, then he’ll just have to work harder, harder than the last day to win his father’s attention.
But at the end of the day, it ended the same. Dark Choco would feel emptiness inside, emptiness that was only fixed when he would cross his family portrait.
He loved that portrait because it was the only portrait with his other father in it.
A painting of his Father, Dark Cacao cookie, with his hand placed on his other parent’s, Pure Vanilla Cookie, shoulder, sitting on a yellow rocking chair holding a small baby, him.
Even though his father never listened, he often talked to this picture, often being found asleep near it. He talked to the portrait as if his two parents were there with him, listening to him, proud of his accomplishments.
They never responded, never talked, yet their gentle, warm glances, the way they stared at him. Even though his other parent's eyes were closed, he could feel how gentle his gaze would’ve been.
When the first day of summer finally came and his father announced that he would not be coming with him on the trip, Dark Choco didn’t care.
Without hesitation, he immediately started packing, desperate to see Pure Vanilla, desperate to take this vacation.
The trip had taken as long as it usually did, 3 days on foot. Dark Choco was accompanied by two guards and a servant who helped him carry his things. Though in all honesty, he didn’t need them, he would’ve been fine on the trip alone. He knew the way almost perfectly, each step of the way memorized in his head. Though he understood why they were here, at least why the soldiers were there. Despite all the training he had done these past few months, Dark Choco was still a child, and the only heir to the Cacao Kingdom. His safety had to be ensured.
When they reached the Vanilla kingdom, there he was. Standing impatiently by the gate. Pure Vanilla cookie. At the sight of the cookie, Dark choco took all the strength he had left from the trip and started running, his parental figure soon realized who was coming and quickly embraced him for a hug.
“Mother!” Dark Choco screamed.
There are many words to describe a father figure other than the word “Father”. Dad, daddy, papa. But he remembers as a child Dark Cacao had insisted those words weren’t adequate for Pure Vanilla’s stature, Mother was far more polite, and for once in his life, Dark Choco whole heartedly agreed. A father disciplines, a mothers cares, and that's what Pure Vanilla was to him, someone who truly cared about him.
“Oh look at you Dark Choco!” His mother says, grasping his staff to get a better look at his son.
“Well someone has been at work! Look at those muscles!” Pure Vanilla realized. It's hard for Dark Choco not to tear up. He had spent months trying to show his father his hard work, weeks of discipline and training, only for his mother to realize and acknowledge it within a few seconds of their reunion. Dark Choco doesn't shed a tear though, he is far too overwhelmed with pride.
“I’ve been training with uncle Chocolate Bark Cookie!”
“Training already? I thought you had to be a little older.” Pure Vanilla exclaimed, with a hint of worry and curiosity, still, he kept that gentle smile while taking the hand of his son and leading him through the streets of the Vanilla kingdom.
“Father thought I should start early so I can be better than the other kids.”
“Well, If you are okay with the decision, I will respect it, but remember:” Pure Vanilla stopped abruptly, bending down in an upward sitting position to get eye to eye with Dark Choco “Life is not a competition, but no matter what you do” he ruffled Dark Choco’s hair, "I'll always be there to support you. Now, why don’t you tell me all about your training over dinner? It's been over a year since you’ve tried our famous Vanilla ice cream has it not?” He smiled, standing back up and pointing towards the ice cream store. Dark Choco nodded excitedly as they entered the store.
This had been another thing he loved about the Vanilla kingdom, he wasn’t treated like royalty here, he wasn’t special, he was just another cookie, another member of the Vanilla kingdom, and so was Pure Vanilla. He treated everyone as his friends.
He licked on his ice cream as passersby made quick chatter with his mother, all the way until they reached the castle.
“Will your Father be joining us at some point?” Pure Vanilla asked as they entered his room, helping Dark Choco unpack for the stay. Though the young child shook his head.
“He said he’d try but knowing him, he probably won’t come”
Pure Vanilla cookie didn’t say anything but he could sense his disappointment. That was to be expected. He hadn’t seen his lover or his child for a year, while Dark Choco was pleasant to be around and he loved seeing him, it must’ve been terribly lonely, being all alone in a kingdom far away from his family, Dark Choco thought.
His father in fact, never came that year.