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Dark Cacao's footsteps echoed as he walked down the hall. Second Watcher stood at his side, going over the latest updates to the kingdom.
"And lastly, the kingdom's food storage is staying strong and stable," Second Watcher stated.
"That's good to hear. You're dismissed to carry on with your duties," Dark Cacao instructed.
"Yes, my Lord," Second Watcher nodded before leaving.
Dark Cacao stepped outside, shielding his eyes as the sun blinded him. The sound of clashing blades caught his attention and he turned his attention to the courtyard.
Red Velvet stood on one foot, balancing on top a large rock while Dark Choco stood on the ground below him. Both wielded their respective weapons. Red Velvet jumped down, his blade pressed in a stalemate against Dark Choco's sword.
Dark Choco stepped backwards, but stepped on a sheet of ice. His boots held no traction and he slipped backward.
Red Velvet quickly grabbed the sword and slid it away before wrapping his cake arm around Dark Choco's waist and spinning them around. Red Velvet wheezed as he hit the floor and Dark Choco landed face first in the ex-general's chest.
Dark Cacao quickly looked away, hiding his face with his sleeve as he struggled to keep his composure. His son was terrible at hiding anything from a bruise when he was a child to hiding his relationship with Red Velvet.
"Would you stop doing that, you idiot?!" Dark Choco exclaimed.
"Whatever do you mean?" Red Velvet playfully asked, titling his head.
"Stop throwing yourself under me like I'm a porcelain doll!" Dark Choco scolded, getting off Red Velvet.
"How can I when you're as handsome as one~?" Red Velvet smirked.
"Y-You-! Ugh... I'm going to go take a bath..." Dark Choco muttered.
"Alright, see you soon then," Red Velvet waved as he stood up and Dark Choco left.
"An impressive display, Red Velvet," Dark Cacao suddenly spoke.
Red Velvet turned around and immediately bowed his head before straightening up.
"Your words touch me greatly, sire," Red Velvet thanked.
"Won't you join me inside for some tea?" Dark Cacao offered.
"Tea sounds wonderful," Red Velvet agreed, sheathing his bread-knife sword.
Red Velvet followed behind Dark Cacao on the king's left with a small smile on his face. Red Velvet being personally invited to join Dark Choco's father for tea, alone? This could be his chance to get a good standing with the king. If he could impress Dark Cacao, perhaps the king would be more open to the idea of the letting him court Dark Choco.
Meanwhile, Dark Cacao kept a straight face, mentally smirking. He was going to put this cookie through the ringer to prove he had what it taks to stand by his son. Sure, he wanted Dark Choco to be happy, but that didn't mean he didn't want just anybody courting his son.
"Well, we've arrived at the tea room," Dark Cacao announced, opening the door. "After you, Red Velvet."
"Are you certain? It would be disrespectful of me to go before my elders," Red Velvet hesitated.
"Are you questioning an order, soldier?" Dark Cacao questioned, dropping his voice an octave.
Red Velvet's heart dropped to his stomach, but he kept a straight face. Crap, he was already screwing up. What's the right move here?
"My apologies. It wasn't my intent to offend you, hence why I didn't wish to enter before you," Red Velvet explained.
"I see..." Dark Cacao hummed. So, the boy knows how to respect his elders. But he wasn't from the Dark Cacao Kingdom by the color of his dough, so where'd he learn it?
Dark Cacao placed a hand on Red Velvet's back and entered the room alongside him.
"Have a seat," Dark Cacao gestured. "Might I inquire who taught you your manners?"
"If it doesn't lower the mood of discussion, my mo- m-my master, taught me. Dark Enchantress would always enter any room first so I assumed it was a matter of status. That and Pomegranate drilled it into my head to respect senior members of the Cookies of Darkness..." Red Velvet explained, sitting down cross-legged.
To Dark Cacao's surprise, Red Velvet didn't slouch despite the change to a heavy subject. Perhaps another manner he was taught, or maybe he simply hurt his back earlier when he took the fall for Dark Choco. (It's the latter)
"Would you like some Omija? It's quite the feast of flavors," Dark Cacao offered, picking up .
"I'd be pleased with anything you serve. I have no preference," Red Velvet bowed his head. He picked up his ceramic glass with his right hand, holding it on top of his left hand. He didn't want to accidentally shatter it with the strength of his cake arm.
Dark Cacao, mentally impressed at the correct hand placements, poured a small amount of steaming tea in Red Velvet's cup, before pouring an equal amount in his own. He repeated the process two more times before placing the pot of to the side.
Dark Cacao bowed his head, and Red Velvet copied. Dark Cacao took his own cup and sipped it silently. His mouth twitched as the sourness hit his tounge, and he placed the cup down without so much as a sound. He could handle bitterness, but not sourness. He must have made a batch with spoiled berries. But this would make for a good test, to see how Red Velvet would react.
"It's a beautiful shade of red," Red Velvet noted, sipping the tea without a sound. "The color reminds me of Dark Choco's eyes."
Dark Cacao's body went ridged. The taste didn't bother him? What the oven was wrong with the boy's sense of taste?
"Does it?" Dark Cacao inquired. "You make a fine point. Tell me, what do you think of the tea?"
"It's wonderful. I quite like It's sour taste. It's warmth is soul cleansing after being outside," Red Velvet praised.
"Thank you," Dark Cacao mumbled, thinking. "Tell me, what are your future plans? What do you intend to do with yourself seeing as too how you're now a citizen of my kingdom?"
"Hmm... If it's alright with you, I would like to be Dark Choco's bodyguard," Red Velvet answered.
"And why is that?" Dark Cacao inquired.
"Well... as odd as it may be, it's a mutual codependency," Red Velvet admitted.
"Elaborate," Dark Cacao instructed. This would a good chance to gain insight on his son's current state.
"During our time in the forest, we both suffered from nightmares. Forsaking our parents and living in isolation until we reunited. Our shared experiences lead to us relying on each other. Physically, emotionally, mentally, etc, etc. And after living together for almost a year with tht dynamic between us, it would be difficult to adjust to such a drastic change," Red Velvet explained.
"That would correlate with my observations, with you both practically being conjoined at the hip," Dark Cacao pointed out.
"I know it's selfish of me to want to be by Dark Choco so much but-"
"You needn't explain yourself, Red Velvet. I... can understand a sudden change in your routine can heavily affect a cookie, especially if it affects both parties' psyche. For the time being, you may be Dark Choco's bodyguard. But it would do you both well to try and curve this dependency, for both your sakes," Dark Cacao related.
"Thank you, sir," Red Velvet bowed before taking a second sip of his tea.
"The gratitude is mutual. It is good to see my son has someone by his side when I am not," Dark Cacao bowed back.
As Red Velvet took a third sip, Dark Cacao thought to himself quietly. Red Velvet was deathly loyal to Dark Choco, seeing as to how he braved the elements to save him. Red Velvet had skills is close combat. He had no issue with the temperature of he tea nor its sourness. He was somewhat analytical, using context clue to adjust to a situation. He knew how to respect his elders in terms of court manners. And Dark Choco genuine loved Red Velvet.
Dark Cacao nodded to himself.
He approved of this cookie for his son.
"Thank you for joining me for tea this evening," Dark Cacao bowed.
"Thank you for having me, sire," Red Velvet bowed back.
"There you are," Dark Choco panted, sliding open the screen door. "I've been looking for you for the last 20 minutes."
Dark Choco then noticed his father and the tea between them. He grabbed Red Velvet by the back of his jacket and dragged him across the floor, out the room, passing Second Watcher as they walked down the hallway.
"What did my father tell or ask you?" he sudden asked.
"Nothing really. We just had tea and talked about my plans for the future as a citizen here," Red Velvet replied.
"Boarwash. My father is a cunning man, I doubt it was as simple as that," Dark Choco huffed.
Second Watcher entered the tea room as Dark Cacao began cleaning up.
"You're verdict, my lord?" he inquired alongside a head tilt.
"See to it that Red Velvet is given a Cacao Warrior uniform. He will be joining us as my son's bodyguard and right hand by the end of the season. He's proven himself and he has my favor," Dark Cacao announced.
Second Watcher bowed with a small smile.
"As you wish, my king."