Wishes of the Lanterns

the lanterns caught in the storm

Summary:

The annual Lantern Festival is considered one of the most renowned events in all of the city. To the citizens, they are the days when people send all their hopes and dreams for the year.

But to a certain household, the festival is a reminder of the hardships they had gone through to keep the small family safe and sound.

(Or, Second went missing after the festival, as Chosen and Dark frantically tried to find their little bundle of joy.)

====================

Chosen looked up at the grandfather clock displayed by the window as the chime rang out in the small apartment. The final orange ray of sunlight had disappeared behind some of the skyscrapers in the city. His husband, Dark, had just returned from work and was now lying on the couch, watching the news on the television.

It was six in the evening, yet somehow the house was not as noisy as the atmosphere outside. That day was a big lantern festival in the town, and the couple dared not get involved in it, or they would have much trouble getting back home. Except for their kid, Second, who had asked, if not begged, for the parents to agree to let him crash at his friend's house for the festival.

They should not be worried, but Chosen was sometimes concerned or overthinking about everything. He knew he shouldn't be, but this time, an uneasy feeling soon settled into him as the clock chimed again at seven.

"Hey, Cho?" Dark suddenly rose from the couch and marched towards him, his eyes closed as the red-haired man took in the scent of the boiling stew. "That potato stew smells good, when am I able to taste that?"

"Dark, you know too well that you are not supposed to stick your spoon in there and eat it while I am cooking, right?" Chosen glanced back at Dark, and a playful frown appeared. "Just a little spirit for the festival today, I made this stew. But no, you don't get to eat it unless you behave yourself."

"All right, my housewife~"

The raven blushed for a quick moment before brushing that flattering sight away carefully pushing Dark back to the couch. "Now please don't disturb me while I am cooking, I might as well cut you into pieces like some kind of meat if I am having a kitchen knife right now."

"As if," Dark retorted and yanked the knife off of Chosen's hands. "I bet my whole company that I can use a knife better than you."

"Technically, it's our company, so no use threatening me."

"Whatever... You always ruin all the fun by teasing you, you know?"

"Just go back to your sofa and lay down like a lazy human being."

Dark finally obliged while fake pouting before going back to his lovely resting place after work, while Chosen only knew to let his sigh out. Who else would know what to do with a husband like this? Chosen was glad that he could tolerate it. He was ready to tolerate it, and even if that might be difficult, he wouldn't complain.

Chosen placed the final plate of food on the table and sighed. If that was not going to happen, that was a relief. He eyed the clock and noticed that thirty minutes had passed without any disruptions. Turning towards the window, he saw that the street was silent, with only the occasional flicker of the lamps. He opened the window and peered outside, before closing it again with a frown.

Why did it feel like something was up?

"Hey... Dark?"

"...what's up?" Dark replied lazily from the couch, his eyes glued to the phone.