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They were only 13 when they'd first met, akeno remembers it clearly.
Seeing other princes was rare for akeno, because he was the youngest boy out of the entire family he had no reason to interact with visitors in any way.
But today, his mother tells him the guest is special, a young prince from a kingdom by the ocean. This would be the princes first travel, the first time he'd be seen out of his palace, so this was a big deal.
She asked akeno to meet with the boy, and become friendly with him while the adults talked politics or whatever it was they talked about.
And even though akenos social skills were subpar due to the fact his only companions were his guards and the maids. He agreed to keep the other boy entertained, if only to ask about the ocean.
Though akenos kingdom has a shore, where boats dock, he's never seen the ocean, no matter how high he climbed its never in view. And even then, they have no beaches, only shore at the edge of the kingdom.
Akeno puts on some of his best clothes, as per his mothers request, its nothing fancy, because as a teenage boy he finds extravagant clothing useless, uncomfortable, and inconvenient. So this white button up, vest, random pants he'd found in his closet, combination would do.
Its comfortable, he can run and dance and climb in it, and even if the clothes weren't beautiful and princely, even at his young age, he'd already gained minor fame for being extremely good looking. His face would make the outfit seem like a good outfit. And he banked on that.
Akeno ran through the hallways as fast he could (not very, he was still a weak boy), he was late, the other family was probably already in the throne room waiting for him to arrive and he'd been out in the gardens, thinking he'd have time to look for flowers or berries to impress the prince.
He did find strawberries in the garden, and he did find sunflowers that he could pick. Both of which he'd handed to his guard for safe keeping, pleading that he didn't ruin his gifts.
But technically he didnt have time since he was now taking the servants corridors as a short cut, because running for long periods of time hurt his lungs and made him teary eyed.
When he reached the large doors he breathed heavily and tried to smooth down his clothes as best he could.
He cracked open one of the doors and sneaked through, calmly walking to his seat and grabbing the crown off of it to put on his head. He kept his back turned the the other royal family until he sat, embarrassed by his tardiness now.
His father looked over at him disappointingly and then turned to the marie-saintes and put on his best smile " our youngest has finally arrived, so we may begin introductions and then the princes can be on their way. " he sounded so serious, like he wanted akeno gone as soon as possible before he did something rash and causes more embarrassment for the menzies.
The king, only known to akeno as mr. Marie-saints due to the fact that he was an adult and adults first names were of no importance to him. Moved to the side to expose his son who'd apparently been standing behind him this whole time.
The air kind of knocked out of akeno then, and he didn't even catch the kings words of introduction. The boy was so...pretty. that was the only way he could describe him, which was lame, of course because he deserved paragraphs upon paragraphs of praise.
He bowed at akeno and akeno kind of bowed back a little in his seat, it wasn't what he was supposed to do, but the boys beauty really threw him off in a way he'd never been thrown off before, especially not by another boy.
His father nudged him gently, breaking his trance " you and andrew may take your leave. Dont forget to appear on time for dinner " he said, waving him away. Akeno nodded, his crown slipping on his head, and ran down the steps to meet andrew, apparently.
They both stared at each other for an awkward minute before akeno beckoned andrew to follow him out of the door and down the hallways to his room.
Andrew did not speak, and neither did akeno, trying to come up with something was alot more difficult than he would've thought. And even as they reach akenos room and enter it, he has nothing to say. All he could do is call the guard that held his gifts for andrew over so he could atleast make himself likable in the eyes of the other prince.
The guard came, gave him his things out of andrews view and left just as quickly. Akeno spun around his gifts sitting in a little basket along with things from others, knights his age he imagined, they always liked visitors, smiling dumbly " i got you something, a welcome gift, if you will. " he said holding the basket up to andrews face.
Andrew smiled, it'd be a smile that akeno would never forget, a smile that would torment his every waking moment. And grabbed the basket from his small hands " thank you, your majesty " he starts to bow before akeno catches him mid way " oh you dont… you dont have to do that stuff with me ! I'm just akeno- " he rushed out.
Andrew blinked at him, as if it took him a minute to process what akeno had said. He smiled then and said " okay, thank you akeno. " akeno felt his face go warm and he took his hands back quickly, tucking them behind his back.
" would you like to sit on the window? The view is..nothing like the ocean, but its pretty sometimes " akeno tried to calm himself down and gave andrew the best spot in his room to sit. Andrew nodded already heading over to the window and sitting on it, not a care in the world as he munched on a strawberry from his basket.
Akeno walked over and sat next to him, trying to put as much space as possible, which was futile as his window while large, was not large enough for that. He thought andrew was a boy of very few words, it was unnerving, as akeno himself was a boy of few words. He'd found himself having to start every conversation they've had so far.
Andrew placed a strawberry in akenos lap, looking out into the woods at the edge of the palace " whats down there ?" He asked. Akeno took a bite out of the strawberry and hummed " beasts like you've never seen before and a nice waterfall-lake thing, but besides that nothing " akeno saw andrews eyes light up at the mention of beasts, for whatever reason.
" are we allowed to see them? The beasts i mean? " andrew asked again, looking over at him. " i couldn't protect us, i know no swordsmanship " akeno answered as he looked away from andrew and into the woods.
Andrew squinted at the side of akenos head " but i know how to use a sword quite well? Is that not enough?" Akeno just shook his head in disbelief " we're thirteen andrew, your little skill will do nothing against the beasts of the woods, im sorry." He heard Andrew sigh loudly, but he nodded in understanding " alright, alright."
And that was that.
They never mentioned it again, and akeno preferred it that way.
Instead they talk about things they like and eat the rest of the sweet things in the basket. Andrew tells akeno that next time he comes to visit he'll bring gifts from home. He says, now that they're friends akeno must promise to write to him everyday . And that akeno must pick up swordsmanship for his next visit as well.
Akeno agreed to everything andrew said, and only asked him to stay out of trouble, and to not die before they saw each other again, because andrew seemed like the type.
Then it was dinner, andrew and akeno decided to race to the dining room, to see who was fastest amongst the two. Though akeno knew it'd be andrew, he found it a fun idea.
They raced and andrew let akeno win, though its obvious akeno takes his win with a cheer and two high fives from his opponent as they entered the room.
" menzies, marie-saintes, i see you're getting along well " comes the voice of akenos father, once again breaking his bliss. He didnt even know how he's supposed to answer that, and he glanced over at andrew who also seemed to not know. They nodded in agreement and ran to their seats, andrew across from akeno like he'd wanted.
The dinner kind of mushes together in akenos mind, the only important thing said is that the Marie-saintes were to go back to BÉL early tomorrow morning. Which akeno found stupid, why travel all this way just to leave the next day? He doesn't ask out loud but he thought it harshly. And he assumed andrew thought somewhat the same with the way his face had scrunched up.
Whatever else happened between the dining room and now, andrew laying next to him in his large bed with a sleepy smile on his face as he described the beach to him, akeno couldn't remember. But he thinks, mesmerized by andrew once more, that the other boy really was special. Nobody would ever make him feel as content as andrew did, he thought, even at 13.
They dont see each other again until they're sixteen. present day.
They only write to each other everyday the first few weeks. Before akeno throws himself into combat training and his studies. He goes with the knights everywhere and fights with them every chance he gets. And he only goes to his room to rest for the next day.
The next month of the same year, hie father goes out to fight a war that is not his own, and never comes back. His mother takes his place as ruler, and akeno has to help everyone, and himself grieve. He writes to andrew twice That month, and he doesn't read the second letter he receives because he's busy, again, training.
The year passes, and at the fresh age of 14 akeno is dubbed prouvias best warrior in centuries. He does not fight anyones wars, as he'd promised his mother, but he's more than capable now.
He writes to andrew once a month then, since things have calmed down, and he learns that as akeno is his kingdoms strongest, andrew is his kingdoms smartest. They both find it funny that in just one year, they've grown more than the adults do in decades .
At 15 akeno gets antsy and he travels everywhere he can on foot and horse. He becomes popular amongst the people of not only his kingdom but others as well and then he becomes not only his kingdoms strongest but the strongest of them all.
He thinks it funny, because he gained literally no muscle from any of it, only skill. He chalks it up to luck and sleepless nights or just puberty and never questioned it again.
He writes to andrew only once that year as he is always busy again and he learns that not only is he being called something like the god of warriors but he has also been called the prettiest prince of their time, with andrew being right next to him in whatever scale decides that.
He finds the information of little importance. But he does believe that Andrew is the prettiest not him, they don't remember his face well, but he never forgot his smile and that alone was prettier than akeno ever would be. He knew it as fact.
The next letter he gets is not from andrew but from his mother, telling him he's had enough adventure, that she misses him and he must come home at once.
And he is no man to deny his mother, so he packs all of his things and he gets home right before winter starts, out of pure luck alone.
Then its next year. And its his 16th, which means the real story begins, and he's now old. Old enough to be betrothed if he wished it, which he didn't. But he knows he cant just send away the dozens of young women that are already on their way. Plus, balls are fun, from what he could tell anyways, and even if he had to dodge everyone that had interest in him, he would atleast be having fun.
He sat in the bath and read a book he'd found laying in his room, not a care in the world as he flipped through the pages half heartedly. He felt himself finally relax for once, and he kind of wanted to just sleep here, but someone knocked on his door.
"Come in " he said tiredly. A maid walked through her eyes strictly up at the ceiling " prince menzies your mother asked me to inform you that his majesty prince marie-saintes would be coming for the...for the ball- so...yes ill leave now. " the maide ran off, slamming the door behind her.
That woke akeno up.
Andrew would be coming, why would andrew come? Maybe he was sick of the ocean...yes, or maybe, he'd missed akeno so much that he itched at the appropriate moment to visit.
It was a silly thought, but a thought that made akeno feel smug.
He dressed himself appropriately this time, not that he had much choice, he thought he looked kind of ridiculous in this princely get-up. But for his mom he'd wear it ten times over.
Just like always he was running late, he ran through the halls, crown in hand, as he tried to get to the ballroom stairs in time to walk his mom down them, he really didn't want to break this tradition too.
And thank god he didn't, he thinks as he quickly loops his arm around his mothers before they reached the public eye, and the stairs. He placed his crown on his head and huffed out a breath he'd been holding " almost didn't make it there " his mother said lightly, patting his arm.
" i got nervous " he chuckled in response.
His mother nodded in understanding and then they were off, walking into the spotlight and down the stairs, as elegantly as akeno could manage.
His eyes scanned through the sea of heads, looking for his one and only, the only person he wanted to see tonight, andrew marie-saintes.
Calling andrew his one and only while they hadn't seen each other in three years, and their friendship was technically held together by a single thread. Was funny to akeno, but it made sense. He wouldn't dwell on it. It just did.
He couldn't find him.
He walked through the crowd of people, uninterested in every girl that was introduced to him, he smiled and nodded and shook hands. But he really could care less.
Akeno had no real interest in woman, when he thought about it. Its not that he didn't like girls because last time he checked he did. Girls were pretty, and soft, and they smelled nice, what was there not to like?
He just...didn't want to marry one.
He didn't know why, but really just the thought of marrying some random pretty blonde made him feel almost ill in a way.
He already knew he liked boys, that was something he knew since he was thirteen, which was only solidified on his year away from..experiences.
Even then, those experiences were just as underwhelming as they were with girls. So maybe, he just didn't like anyone.
Andrew was nowehere to be seen
Maybe he didn't come after all.
Maybe he was held up somewhere, doing something.
Akeno took a swig of champagne he grabbed from a random tray a server walking by them held.
Maybe he did need a wife, or...significant other, to keep his mind free of thoughts of a boy he's only ever seen…
Twice.
Akenos eyes finally land on him, prettier than anything he's ever seen before, walking through the door with his arm lopped around a..a womans.
Why would andrew marie-saintes bring a girlfriend to akenos birthday? Had he no shame?
For some reason akenos heart hurt at the sight of them together, he chose not to dwell on it, and took another swig, emptying his glass and putting it on the nearest table as he walked over to them.
He had nothing smart to say, once andrew was really only two people away from him, in a panic he thought maybe he could run away, andrew hadn't spotted him yet, he could pretend he grew ill all of a sudden and hide.
Andrews eyes met his as he started to turn, his face lit up so obviously that akeno couldn't just run away like he'd planned. Andrew slipped in between people, leaving the pretty woman behind in favor of getting to him quicker.
He got to akeno faster than he'd hoped, and smiled widely as he just said " hey. " this smile was even prettier than akeno remembered, he felt dizzy all of a sudden at the realization. " hi " he breathed out, almost hoping andrew wouldn't hear him over the music.
Andrew pointed to a spot behind them, and walked past him. All akeno could really do was follow after andrew, much like he imagined a dog would follow afte their owner. To the seating area, right next to the snacks and infront of the dance floor like akeno had wanted.
They sat down next to each other, facing each other instead of the dancing crowd " wow..you're really here " is all Akeno could think to say. Andrew laughed a little " did you think i wouldn't show up for your sixteenth? " his voice was alot softer than akeno remembered. It made him feel embarrassingly warm, " i heard you were a busy man so i thought your schedule would be full " he said trying to explain himself.
Andrew shrugged " i am, and it was. But youre more important than any of that to me " he says it nonchalantly, in a way that makes it same like he hadn't just told akeno that he's more important than all of his duties.
Thats not something you typically tell your friends, akeno knew as much.
He smiled dumbly, opening his mouth to say something before he felt a light tap on his shoulder that made him turn around.
It was a girl, a pretty blonde wearing a large black dress. " im audrey, hope, i was wondering if i could ask you for a dance and...talk? " she asked in a way that somehow didn't feel like asking. Akeno glanced over at andrew then back at her, pretending to think of the answer that he'd already decided on as soon as he saw her. " sorry i dont really feel like dancing right now " he answered sheepishly.
The girl, audrey, looked visibly upset as she nodded in understanding, and she walked away slowly, as if hoping akeno might change his mind and run after her.
He turned to andrew who had this kind of look akeno couldn't really understand " if you dont want to dance….why dont we just go somewhere else?" He says smoothly. Andrew knew him so well, suggesting they escape this ball to talk somewhere quiet and private, akeno thought.
His thoughts cut short as he remembered something.
" but what about your date?" He asked. Sitting with andrew in a corner was one thing, running off and going with him somewhere entirely different, was another.
Andrews eyes widened almost in disbelief " she's not...i mean, she came Because she heard there'd be plenty of young maidens here and..yeah " he tried to explain himself, and this was arguably the dumbest andrew had ever sounded, and akeno ever felt.
He felt at ease for some reason, even though he'd completely read everything wrong, and thought poorly of andrew for a moment, and even tried to run away at the sight of andrew and his friend who actually liked girls.
" oh..hah well- " akeno looked anywhere but at him. Andrew chuckled under his breath, standing up " c'mon " he already started to walk off through the crowd, and again akeno wordlessly followed.
Somehow they reached akenos room, where the birthday boy shrugged off most of his top layers so he could sit next to andrew on the window in just a white button up. Like the first day they'd met.
They stared at the woods once again, knees bumping into each other now. " i was thinking " andrew started after a stretch of silence " i dont know how to say this.. uhm. Would you..what do you think of going back to bél with me? " it all sounds kind of mushed together, he's clearly nervous about asking akeno this. But they just couldn't understand why.
Akeno smiled the biggest he'd ever smiled and turned to look at andrew, who'd already been staring at him " id love that, when? Tomorrow? "
The other boy looked relieved, he nodded a yes " as early as possible. "
Akeno couldn't believe it, he'd finally, finally be able to see the ocean.
Despite his travels, itd been then only place he'd never tried to see.
He knows, deep down, that if it wasn't andrew introducing him to the sea, he wouldn't have wanted to meet it.
They go to sleep not soon after, backs turned to each other in akenos not so large bed.
The next day mostly goes in a blurr for akeno, he packs, tells his mom he's to leave again, and walks away before she pleads him to stay. He rides with andrew, and his friend, who's name akeno never catches in his excitement to be away from prouvia again.
Theres a point where akeno can smell what he imagines the ocean smells like, he doesn't think about how its familiar. Because he dosen't feel like it right now, but he wants to look out the window of the carriage he'd been forced to ride in and see if he could catch a glimpse of the waves.
However andrew occupied the window seat, and he was sleeping, head resting on the wall right next to the closed window. And no matter how excited akeno was, he wouldn't dare move and accidentally wake him up.
They reach the dock, its definitely larger than akeno thought itd be. and the ocean was...beautiful, it was vast, and the blueist shade of blue he'd ever seen.
He imagined now, what the beach would look like.
He turned to look at andrew, who stood next to him as their things were packed into the boat. " how do you not get lost ?" He asked, always curious " the ocean and i are one, in a way. " is all andrew said as an answer, though akeno didn't fully get it, he thought it the best answer andrew would give him so he didn't ask anymore.
On the boat all akeno did was sleep, after the first five minutes of sailing he got bored, and even a little uneasy as the sun disappeared and they were in the dark. So he decided resting would be his best bet till they got to their destination.
Reaching bél takes longer than akeno had hoped, two weeke and then some before they could even spot land. And another week before they touched land.
Jumping off the boat and on to the dock feeling the weakest he's ever felt akeno got why andrew had never visited him again after his first travel.
Andrew laughed at him as he walked past " c'mon god of warriors, cant handle a little boat ride?" He teased light-heartedly. Akeno squinted, grabbing a hold of andrew as he walked so that the boy was dragging him along " you call that little? I can barely feel my bones andrew, ill never go home so i dont have to get on that boat " he whined, only half-joking.
" dont act like such a big baby now, we have to walk to the palace " andrew patted akenos arm reassuringly. " why? " akeno whined again, suddenly very displeased by the situation he'd put himself in.
" because! Its close and i dont want to waste the horses energy, if you dont collapse on the way there i promise to give you all the sweets you want. " andrew said as they continued to walk, already knowing that akeno was just being dramatic to be dramatic. And not because he was in actual distress. (If he was, though, the promise of sweets would motivate him enough not to be).
Akeno laid down on the large bed, limbs sprawled lazily. After a run around the palace and a too long bath he'd finally been able to relax. " why is your bed more comfortable than mine?" He asked andrew, who sat on the sofa across from him. " because i actually sleep in mine, probably " he answered, flipping the page of the book he'd been reading. Akeno pouted up at the ceiling, it was true, but he didn't have to say it. " i like it here more than home already " he continued, but really he thought, he probably only liked it more because it was andrews home.
" im glad you do. " andrew said gently. After an hour or two he closed his book and looked up at akeno " do you want to go to the beach before we sleep?" He asked.
Akeno, whos eyes had already shut, grinned, springing up from his spot " yeah! Yes! Lets go now " he slid off the bed and was already on his way to pull andrew out of his seat. Andrew stood up before he could, grabbing his hand with a smile, " c'mon " he said, pulling akeno away.
They giggled to themselves as they snuck through the halls and out the back of the palace. Where akeno could clearly see the ocean, it looked prettier somehow now, unlike when he'd been on any of the docks, or the boat.
The feeling of sand under his feet was weird, different, it was warm and soft which he didn't expect, especially from something called sand.
" we have to go in the water " Andrew says, looking over at him " its different at night, we have to" he continued on. Akeno nodded feeling almost insane at the thought as he stared into the dark blue water.
The boys ran hand in hand into the water and they kept going until only their shoulders peaked through the water. It was, unlike the sand, freezing cold, it made akenos teeth chatter lightly, they both laughed at the sound being somehow louder than the waves. " you have to go all the way underwater for your body to get used to it " andrew told him. " i cant..ill drown !" Akeno whined, shivering in his spot.
Andrew smiled almost mischievously " if we do it together, surely you wont " he sounds so confident, but akeno just wasn't convinced " ill drift away " he said " we'll hold hands" andrew countered.
Akeno blinked, then nodded reaching for andrews hands in the water and interlocking their fingers andrew smiled genuinely this time, " dont stay down there till your lungs hurt, its just a dip okay?" Akeno nodded in understanding " oh and try not to open your eyes the salt burns " he tacked on quickly before submerging them both in the water.
Its scary for a second, akeno really feels like he might suffocate, before he feels andrew squeeze his hands as best he could, and the water isn't so cold anymore. They both came out of the water, akeno heaving in a gulp of air and andrew letting go of one of his hands to try to rub the salt out of his eyes. Akeno did the same after a moment, finally feeling like he had enough air.
Andrew was already staring at him when akeno opened his eyes, in a way that he did alot ever since they'd reunited. And this time instead of looking away, akeno couldn't help but stare back. He looked prettier somehow, the moonlight reflecting off his skin in a way that made akeno feel almost dizzy.
" hey " andrew said softly, eyes never leaving his. Akeno felt warm, finally " hi " he replied, a little dumbly. It was clear that andrew was thinking of something now, akeno could just tell. " i know its informal...but can i call you aki? " is the first thing he says, quietly, as if not wanting akeno to hear his question.
Aki.
Nicknames between friends wasn't a thing, not anywhere he's ever been so this...
He wouldn't dwell on this either.
" you can call me whatever you want, just so you know. " he answers, just this once confident in what he's saying. And he hopes Andrew reads into it, he doesn't know what there is to read, but he hopes andrew, who's the smartest boy he's ever met, will.
Andrew smiles, its the softest smile he's ever given aki, who feels like he's melting into the water " okay, i will then. " he says and suddenly, aki realizes they're alot closer than they'd first been.
They drift closer still, until andrew can count the freckles on akis cheeks in the moonlight.
They're so close, too close.
Aki feels dizzy again. Because he's not the smartest and maybe hes reading where he shouldn't be but they're both standing there, under the moonlight, staring.
It should be weird, the only sound the waves crashing against the shore. But it isn't. And that makes it worse.
" what are you thinking about aki? I can hear your brain working " andrew whispered, barely audible over the waves. Aki cant think of what to say, because what he's thinking doesn't make sense to him, not really. " i want to stay here, with you " is all he can say, its true. he just didn't expect to say it.
Andrews face did something a little funny " you have...princely things to do, goals to accomplish, wars to fight " he argues, his voice never leaving its soft whisper. " i don't really care about any of that stuff, being with you is enough life fulfillment for me " aki shrugs, softly bumping his forehead with andrews " besides, i did say i wouldn't get back on that b- "
Andrew grabbed his face and crashed his lips with akis messily, and before aki could even react Andrew was far away, like he'd jumped back.
Aki stared, wide eyed " you kissed me? Why-why'd you kiss me? " his whole world was crashing down around him, and aligning at the same time. " i just...sorry im sorry i dont know why i did that i...i think we should go inside yeah we should go. " he was already going back to shore, before aki could even say anything.
It was a blur, in a bad way, andrew was there he was there and then he drifted away, he was on the sand and in the palace before aki could even think to run after him.
He did though, run after him, he ran the whole way there, and it was easy to follow him in the end, because his wet clothes left a trail, in his head aki almost laughed at it. Because where else would a teenage boy go in a time of distress if not his room?
Aki sat next to andrew on the floor, staring out at the stars outside his window. " hey " he said " hi " andrew replied with a sniffle.
Its weird, realizing youre in love with your best friend while you sit in soaking wet clothes next to him.
Aki had always assumed he was just a bit odd about the way he treated his friendship with andrew. But no...obviously obviously he was in love.
That made so much more sense.
" i didn't mind it " he starts after the silence grows a little too uncomfortable " huh?" Andrew asks " the kiss. Ive just, never done that before and you took me by surprise and-" he cut himself off before he said something seriously dumb.
Andrew huffed out a laugh " you've never kissed anyone? " aki pouted turning to look at him " its intimate! intimacy isnt a big priority when your fighting monsters you know ! " he sounded almost childish. Andrew laughed louder, as if this was the funniest thing he's ever heard " why are you laughing at me? Stop! " he tried to whine over andrews laughter. Andrew calmed down after a minute " i just find it funny that you can kill men and beast alike, but draw the line at kissing someone on the mouth ! " he said, wiping tears from his eyes.
" okay but what about you? Have you been kissing people?" Aki said accusingly, poking andrews side. Andrews eyes went to the floor " well- " he started, aki fake gasped " its different! i just- " he tried to reason, without actually saying anything.
" oh yeah how is it different? We've both never kissed anyone before ! " aki said, pulling his wet clothes away from his skin slightly out of anxiety. " well...you know..uhm...i was waiting, sort of" andrew looked as if his heart would give out at any moment. Akis whole demeanor shifted " oh...you-" his mind is telling him something, but he doesn't want to say it out loud.
Andrew looked up at him expectantly.
Aki suddenly felt shy under his gaze " why...who've you been waiting for?" He asked. Andrew blinked at him " who else?" He said quietly. " what?" Aki turned his whole body so he could fully face andrew now, " what ?" He asked again.
" who else if not you ? " andrew answered softly.
Oh.
Oh !
Aki had assumed that kiss was just, spur of the moment kind of thing, he'd heard the moon could make even the greatest enemies feel like they were in love with each other. But no..somehow, andrew had chosen him of all people to intrust with his...his heart ?
And they didn't even do it right.
Aki took andrews face into his hands as gently as he could manage. And brought their faces together, just shy of touching. Andrew didn't even say anything, just followed along, eyes shiny.
Aki couldn't think of what to say, how to say, what he felt in a way that wasn't too much, as if this, already, wasnt alot. " i think...i might've been in love with you since the day we met, back then. " aki told him, somehow still sounding dumb as ever to himself.
Andrew smiled, fondly this time, it was a clear reminder to aki that he was really just, holding the most important boys face in his hands. Like an idiot, because he really hadn't thought through what he was going to do after this. " im sure you already got it but, me too, just so you know. " andrew said, the confession much more light hearted.
Andrew adjusted himself so he was also sitting across from aki, instead of sitting towards the window. He didn't attempt to even move his head from akis hands in any way, only just getting comfortable. " now what? " he asked. Aki shrugged " do you want to try again? " was all he could think to say back. Andrew nodded
And then, shyly, because how else could they do this. They kissed again, trying not to smile as their lips met.
A breeze came into the room not long after, breaking their bubble as they finally felt the cold of the night. They rested their foreheads to each others, not wanting to get far. " i need a bath " aki started, andrew nodded " and warm clothes " he continued, " oh and actually.. sleep, this has been the longest night ever, no offense " he finished whispering to Andrew. " none taken, c'mon" Andrew whispered back before standing up and pulling aki with him.
" we can bath together " andrew said already looking for clothes " together? " aki squeaked. Andrews head came out of the closet quickly, " not like that ! No i mean...like two baths together you know-" he rushed out, already shoving himself back in the closet to avoid embarrassment.
He came out, the comfiest clothes he could find in so little time in hand. Aki just continued to stand next to the door, dripping on to the poor floor. " not that i would mind bathing together by the way its just, well..my bath isn't big enough first of all " andrew said, patting akis shoulder as he walked past him and into the bathroom.
They bathed and dressed themselves in mostly silence, the past few weeks finally catching up to them and making everything hazy.
Aki grumbled loudly as he flopped on Andrews bed and made themselves comfortable. Andrew followed suit, barely missing akis limbs that were in the way. " you know we have to really talk about this tomorrow right?" He said looking at aki " do we though?" Aki answered sleepily, stretching much like a cat would before attaching himself to andrews side " dont answer that im already sleeping " he said eyes shut.