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Click, click, clack, click….
It was quiet in Kris’s darkworld room aside from the occasional clicking and tapping from their control. The knight and prince bathed in the purple glow of the dungeon Kris traversed in-game. They had wanted to play a Zelda title for a while now, but without a copy at home, Kris decided to ask Ralsei to conjure up something like it! The Mantle wasn’t exactly Zelda, but it was close enough!
“Hey Ralsei..”
“Huh-?” The dark prince was taken out of the game, turning his head to Kris. “What’s up, Kris?”
“I was just thinking.. I guess, it’s kind of cool that the hero is a human.” They shrugged with a hint of a smile on their face.
“Well, of course, Kris! While the Legend has three heroes, I thought it was important that you felt represented as a human-!”
Kris stopped moving for a second, pausing to really take in what he said.
“Yea… thanks.”
“Of course! I would do anything to make you happy!!!” Ralsei clapped his paws together; he meant for it to only be a remark, but looking back to find Kris staring at them longingly, he couldn’t help but think he said something wrong.
When Kris noticed the worried wrinkles in Ralsei’s complexion, they quickly faced the TV once more. A question sat at the tip of their tongue, but… wouldn’t it be a weird one to ask? Ralsei might not understand, though there were a lot in their dad’s dark world… they just didn’t know—
“Kris-? Is there.. something you wanted to ask me?” Ralsei broke the silence, and Kris simply stared forward. “Uhh.. it’s okay! If you don’t want to talk about it, I mean! It just, well, it seemed like you had something you wanted to mention, so—!” Ralsei rambled on before Kris cut him off.
“There was,” they paused, mentally preparing themselves, “Can we… can we make the player character……..”
Kris took another deep breath, and Ralsei noticed as they shuddered while inhaling.
“…nonbinary-?”
Ralsei blinked, then blinked again, several times; then, he burst out laughing, giggling in the high-pitched way he does while Kris rubbed the back of their head, clearly embarrassed.
“THAT’S what you were afraid to ask me?! Haha! Of course, Kris! That’s no issue at all!!!” Ralsei pretended to wipe a tear from his eye, “Do you want to change the way they present, or is that okay with you?”
“No… the design is fine, thanks…. Sorry, it was a stupid question.”
“Hu-? No, oh no, not at all! I’m sorry for laughing, I never intended to make you feel that way! I promise, I was only laughing because.. because I thought of how ridiculous it was that you thought you couldn’t share that with me!” Ralsei slowly put a paw on Kris’s hand, moving it away from the controller to hold.
“None of your questions or requests are ever stupid, I promise!”
Kris looked up, brown eyes gazing at him through their own wispy bangs.
“Thanks, Ralsei. It’s just.. it’s weird enough, being the only human in Hometown, let alone one of the only nonbinary humans. People don’t understand me at all… it’s like they pretend to, and I know they mean well, but— it just feels so…”
“Forced?”
“Yea.. how did you know-?”
Ralsei sighed lovingly, pulling Kris into a hug; he loved the warmth Kris gave off, but he also couldn’t stand seeing their tears pool up in their eyes.
“I know because my whole life, my whole existence, has just been an act I’ve had to play out, for the prophecy. I try to put on a happy face, to keep going along with it all even when I know how this’ll all end-! I just wish I could be…!”
Ralsei broke down into sobs, choking on his tears as he tried to keep them in. He pulled himself away from Kris, scrubbing at his face with his sleeve.
“I’m sorry.. Kris, this is about you-! It’s not about me, I’m so sorry.” As much as he tried to reel it in, though, the flood gates were open, and a whimper escaped his throat before he could stop it.
“No. Ralsei, I’m fine. A friend, he helped me get through some of my issues already. I want to help you. Please…”
He was doing it again. Crying, selfishly making things about him when the moment was supposed to be about Kris. What even is he as a Darkner trying to put himself above Kris-! Ralsei doesn’t deserve to be the prince of the prophecy, fuck, he’s not even a prince at all! He shouldn’t even exist-! He should disappear and everyone should forget about him forever!!!!
“Waaaahhhh!!!!!” Ralsei whined out, his cries piercing through the room. Kris began to panic, wrapping their arms even tighter against Ralsei as he cried.
His breath grew shallow and rapid, his chest quickly rising and falling. It felt like he couldn’t get enough air into his lungs to even matter. His heart was beating so fast, it felt like it might stop. Was he dying-?!
“Ralsei, look at me!!!” Kris shouted, breaking through the fog of his intrusive thoughts. A slow tear rolled down Ralsei’s cheek as he continued to hyperventilate.
“Try to breathe, and tell me 5 things you can see right now.”
“I— I can see you, I see.. the game. I see your bed, your awards, and your closet.”
“Good. Now, 4 things you can touch.”
Ralsei’s breath started to slow down slightly as he moved his paws up, cupping Kris’ face.
“Hah.. you~”
“Yep~ Three more.”
“Uhm.. the floor, my dress, and… oh! Your chest plate-!”
“Awesome, now give me 3 things you can hear.”
“I don’t understand why we’re doing this…”
“Just trust me, please.” Kris reached up, covering Ralsei’s eyes with their hands. Ralsei allowed his senses to lessen for the time being, only focusing on the sound around him. The gentle beeping from the 8-bit music, Kris’ steady breathing holding him together, and his own legs as he shifted more comfortably into Kris’s arms.
After confirming the three things he could hear, Kris asked 2 things he could smell, and afterwards, 1 thing he could taste. It confused him, what was he supposed to have tasted before this-?
Before he had the chance to ask, Kris planted a quick kiss to his lips, leaving him a blushing, stuttering mess.
“Now, you taste me~”
“Kris!!!!” Ralsei yelled, covering his face with his ears.
“Haha! But hey! It helped you calm down, see?”
“It… did! It did!!!” Ralsei exclaimed, and Kris picked him up, twirling their partner around in the air, the two’s laughter filling up the room like a sweet scent after baking pie.
“So…” Kris began, gently setting him down. “Do you want to talk about, uhh.. what caused that-? We don’t have to, I’m down to just play games too…”
“No, it’s okay. I’ll tell you. I don’t want to keep any secrets from you anymore.”
The two walked to the bed, sitting down side-by-side as Ralsei gathered his bearings. He could see now why the whole thing was so hard for Kris to bring up now that it was his turn.
“Uhm.. I-I don’t even know how to say this… Kris, please say you won’t leave me, or think less of me! Promise me, please…”
“I promise.” Kris cupped Ralsei’s paws in their hands, staring into his eyes. There was an uncertainty that danced in them, but also a trust and love that Ralsei knew would never leave him. Never… leave her.
“Okay. Kris… I don’t think I’m the Prince of the Prophecy. I’ve never.. felt like a prince, or a boy, for that matter. I’ve always loved bows and dresses and things people would consider “feminine.”
Ralsei took a deep breath in and out before continuing, which Kris seemed to like, given their smile.
“I told myself it was fine. That I could be a boy who just likes girly things. But even then, it feels so wrong… the prince cloaked in darkness.. that’s not me. I guess it never was…. Do you know what I’m trying to say here-?”
“I think so… are you saying that you’ve always been a girl-?”
“Well, only if that would be okay with you….”
“Ralsei,” Kris deadpanned, “it doesn’t matter what I think. What matters is that you’re happy with you. You already said bows and dresses make you happy, would being a girl make you happy?”
Ralsei could feel the tears welling up again, and she quickly nodded her head yes.
“Then, you’re my princess, Ral, and I’ll continue to love you no matter what. My happy ending is with you, after all.”
“Kris-!!!” Happy tears flowed from her eyes as she leaned forward, peppering her partner with kisses. Kris laughed alongside her, wrapping her in dependable arms that would never let her get hurt ever again.
“If you want.. I can help you tell the others, too. I already know they’ll accept you too, though. Gay asses.”
“Pfft— my love, you can’t call them that-!”
“Why not-? They are gay.”
“What will I do with you-?” Ralsei giggled, softly pushing Kris onto their back and wrapping her arms around their chest. Kris leaned over her shoulder, rubbing circles into Ralsei’s back.
“Let’s tell them later. Right now, I just want to cuddle you~” Ralsei let out softly.
“Sounds good to me, my beautiful girl”