Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Alone again. 

The Dark Fountain had been closed, he could feel the life slipping away from this dark world. And so, Ralsei set off back to Castle Town, the stained glass windows of the sanctuary and its awful prophecies fading behind him. 

It was never easy returning home without Susie or Kris behind him. Something about their presence, being near them, filled him with…something. Something hard to define. This time was especially difficult; his body weary and heavy from escaping the Titan, his mind numb from the events that followed after. 

Susie … he thought, dragging his feet up to the castle gates. She knows now. All that worrying, all the knowledge I had, and I still couldn't…

The town’s other Darkners gave him a wide berth. The main streets were eerily empty and calm; usually returning after sealing a fountain meant a new crop of Darkners moving in. Instead, conversations seemed to die down to murmurs as Ralsei made his way back to the castle. The residents, usually so bright and friendly, avoided his gaze and quickly busied themselves with whatever they had immediately on hand. Some ducked into buildings or alleys, avoiding the prince entirely. 

Maybe they felt the Titan emerging, too . He’d come and give his hollow reassurances in due time. This would normally have struck him as odd, but for the moment, he was glad to be alone. Ralsei was almost thankful he didn't run into Lancer or anyone who knew him well; at this moment, he couldn't handle pretending to smile for even a second. 

The halls of his castle echoed each footstep. Flames in sconces threw dancing shadows across the corridor as Ralsei made his way to his room. The funky beats emanating from Queen and Tenna’s room pounded against his aching head as he passed. Didn't they know? How could they not see how doomed they all were? 

He stopped steps before his bedroom doorway. The caution tape Susie had barrelled through from earlier today still lay strewn about on the floor. Had all that really just been earlier today? Ralsei felt those same emotions well up, still raw. Unprocessed. Icy waves of guilt and shame and fear that wracked his body, yet his mind was blank. It was like he was observing another person experiencing his emotions, some small corner of his mind protecting itself from cracking further. With a sigh, he pushed past the door, letting the heavy green metal slam shut behind him. 

Alone. At last, alone. 

The ever-present night chill breezed softly through his fur. The gentle creak of the black floorboards under his feet were as familiar to him as his own name. His room stood nearly bare, yet a single object broke the stark emptiness of the room, one that he cherished above everything else in the castle. Something he loved nearly as much as his dear friends; a constant companion when Susie and Kris return to their real lives.

Ralsei scooped the plushie of himself into his arms, wrapping it in a tight hug as he sat in the middle of the floor. It wasn’t much; he knew that. Still, this small gift had meant everything to the prince. To have it be from Kris, too…

Kris…I’m…I’m so sorry.

He pushed his friends’ smiling faces from his mind. His thoughts crawled through icy mud in his brain as exhaustion crept through his body. He felt incoherent, dreamlike, totally disconnected. Each thought, each emotion alien to him yet profoundly affecting; self reflection, a luxury he rarely afforded himself, was utterly useless. 

Everything was happening to some other Ralsei, one that had friends, who knew and accepted his place in the world and in the prophecy, one that was strong enough to shoulder this burden. Or, at least, carry it long enough to not let his friends worry. 

And I couldn’t even do that . All I can ever do is make things about me, huh?

The wretch he was currently felt far more real than that version of himself. That version he imagined, that he so desperately tried to hope into existence. One where he could live a normal life with his friends, to not be chained to this place and this destiny… How could he have let himself get so wrapped up in his feelings? To indulge in his own selfish desires, knowing that it was all for nothing and would lead to naught but disappointment. Kris, Susie, everyone…everything he did meant nothing in the face of their oncoming fate.

Even as he wallowed there, a small part of the prince still, despite everything pointing to futility, wished for such a future. All those moments where he was able to forget about the prophecy and just enjoy being with his friends, to feel real for just a moment. As much as he resisted, thoughts of Kris snuck into his mind, as they so often did. Those stolen glances, their time alone together… All of it was more than he could ever hope for, that he ever deserved, and all of it was just a pipe dream Ralsei entertained, no doubt out of some sick form of self torment. As if they would ever feel the same way. His heart ached a deep unplaceable pain. 

This…this is what I really deserve. To be alone.

Something sticky pressed against his cheek. His eyes were blurry, glasses off-kilter, and plushie still held in a desperate, clawing embrace. He sat up, confused and unaware of having even laid his head down in the first place, and brought a hand to his cheek.

Oh. His hand came away a deep, crimson red. Maybe that’s why everyone was looking at me funny…

A wry smile crossed his face as awareness of his own body returned to him. Of course he had forgotten, why not! A bit of blood was the least of his worries today. A part of him, a much, much more vocal and persuasive part of him than he cared to admit, wanted to sit there. Let it stick, stain his fur and mark him. Let the whole world see how he failed to protect his friend, if he ever even deigned to get up again. 

Behind him, the bedroom door clicked and swung open, tearing Ralsei’s attention away from his bloody hand to the figure silhouetted in the frame. Their hands were raised in a mix of caution and pity at seeing the prince in his current state. It was only then that he noticed the wet of tears streaked down his face. When had he started crying again? Had he ever even stopped? 

The figure approached, their shape unmistakable to Ralsei even shrouded in darkness. His heart fluttered, heat spread across his face, and he wanted nothing more than to shrink eternally into the darkest crevice as they approached. Still, his heart slamming against his chest and every fragment of instinct telling him to run and hide, he couldn’t help but brighten, just a bit, as they knelt before him.

“Oh, Ralsei…” Kris muttered, almost wordlessly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kris stood in the window as their cell phone clicked off. The instructions for the next day had been delivered with the exact amount of mystique, condescension, and lack of actually meaningful guidance that they’d come to expect from these calls. That they’d come loathe from them, more accurately. The rain was falling in heavy sheets by the time the call had finished, and Susie had disappeared down the block. They would simply have to wait until tomorrow to talk to her. It wasn’t like Kris knew where she lived, or even how to contact Susie if they needed to, now that they thought about it. Did Susie even have a phone?

They hopped down from the sill, the day’s events still flashing in their mind. Susie, the church, the old man, the Knight, the Titan, Ralsei… Their thoughts turned to him and that undeniably shaken look he gave as the two of them went to seal the portal. They remembered the fear in his eyes, the ache, the desperation he tried so, so hard to cover for them.

His fur. That subtly sweet smell from his fur and cloak when they hugged. The faintest bit of it still lingered on Kris’s clothes. They had wanted to hold him tighter, to lie and tell him everything was going to be okay, to lie to themselves and say they would be safe together. They so desperately wanted those lies to be true. 

Their eyes shot towards the Soul in the birdcage. Flashes of rage sparked in their chest. It would never let them express themselves so freely, would never grant Kris so much agency. They almost felt blessed it hadn’t ruined things further; traitorous words always felt just inches from Kris’s lips when they were close to someone they truly cared about. They refused to allow themselves to feel grateful to the wretched thing for not making them say anything truly heinous, yet . Besides, they were getting better at resisting its urgings when necessary.

An unwelcome memory crossed their mind. Not good enough not to tell Ralsei that they were bringing BERDLY of all people to the festival tomorrow, however. Berdly? Seriously? Berdly. Be SO serious rn. Whatever was controlling them had a sick sense of humor. 

As much as they hated the thing, it was necessary for Kris to get to the Dark World. With a shutter of disgust, they plunged the Soul back into their chest, feeling its warmth and light pulse through them and rip away any sense of control they had over their actions. At least they could still get a couple words in without its influence. They felt the sickening sensation of being a backseat passenger in their own body as the Soul began moving about the room, inspecting various objects for no discernable reason to Kris. 

Eventually, they had made their way to the schoolhouse closet, absolutely soaked to the bone from the rain. Even though Kris’s coat had been hanging up clearly in their room, their master had evidently decided it was of little use in torrential rain and left their house without it. No matter, Ralsei would probably think it was charming, or at least pretty normal for them, to show up wet. Still, they cursed their misfortune at being the poor sap that had to bear this stupid thing. What’s one more embarrassment? 

Soon enough, they were racing through Castle Town with all the urgency of someone who is more interested in what the local water cooler has to say than the wellbeing of a dear…friend? Yes, friend. That felt close to accurate. That’s all that Ralsei was to them at the moment. As far as he knew, anyway. 

What was it that Kris had come here to do, exactly? This wasn’t exactly normal for them. They couldn’t think of a single time they’d been here without Susie by their side. As much as they loved her, there were precious little moments with just Ralsei and themselves alone. Even those, they reflected, were often spent thinking about Susie. And with the Soul exerting itself, what would they even say to him? Was it worth the risk, letting that thing have such a say over their words? What if he was completely fine, and this was all a big overreaction? After all, Kris hadn't thought twice before rushing to Castle Town. They just…needed to know. To see him. He had to be okay. They needed him to be okay. 

Finally, they had reached the castle. It was only once their hand was on the door to Ralsei’s room that Kris began exerting their own will, to press against the bars of the cage ever so slightly. They didn’t know what they’d find there, but given that Ralsei was nowhere to be found in Castle Town, this was the most likely spot.

The prince turned towards the light as the door swung open. What they saw broke their heart. He looked awful. Sat there, alone, bloodied, clearly crying, shivering in the cold, nothing but his plushie for company…They rushed to his side.

“Oh, Ralsei…”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh no. Oh no, no, no, no, no! Why are you here. WHY are you HERE? Why now! Why not ANY other time! Oh please don’t look at me, please please stop looking at me like that I can’t-

“K-Kris! I-I was just…” Ralsei looked around, desperate for an excuse, desperate for anything to detract their gaze from him. He chose the wrong room for that. Kris knelt before him. 

“...You still have her blood there.” They said, in their monotone way, pulling out a surprisingly wet handkerchief from their pocket. Kris brought the kerchief up to his face and began lightly dabbing at his cheek in an almost practiced motion. Ralsei felt his face flush instantly.

“O-oh! Yes! I was, I was JUST about to go clean myself off, haha!” 

“You don’t have a sink, Ralsei.”

His eyes met theirs for the briefest of moments before darting away. Of course they saw through that. For someone so quiet, Kris was awfully good at reading through deflections. There was obvious concern on their face. He didn’t have the strength to face them again. Instead, he kept his eyes down, locked on the plushie in his lap. The one that Kris gave to him. His first possession. 

Why now? Why are you being…so nice to me? I don’t deserve this. I don’t deserve you here. All I can do is disappoint you. Stop…stop looking at me like that. Like you…care.

Ralsei could feel his emotions getting the better of him again. There was nothing in this world he wanted less than to break down, again , in front of them. Kris had already done too much for him; even their being here was more than he knew he deserved. They wiped the last of the blood from his face and sat down in front of him.

The selfish part of himself, a part he so desperately tried to repress, wanted to collapse into their arms. To be held like he had been earlier at the sanctuary. That…that was different than all the other times he and Kris had hugged. It felt so much more real, there was volition behind that moment, and for a second, in their arms, everything had stopped. For just a second, Ralsei had felt real and whole and okay. He stifled a sniffle as tears welled in his eyes. 

Kris gently took hold of his bloodied hand in theirs. They stared intently at it for just a second, then pressed the wet, bloodied kerchief into his hand and closed it with their own. There was a certain undeniable tenderness to the gesture. His heart skipped a beat. Kris brought their gaze back up to meet Ralsei’s; he realized he had been staring at them. 

“Kris…”

They tilted their head ever-so-slightly to the side.

“Why…why did you come here? Is Susie here, too?” 

“It’s just me.” 

Just you. Ralsei thought.  Had he been in a lighter mood, he would have laughed. Maybe even let off some poorly-thought-out compliment about how Kris was so much more than “Just them!” but he stopped himself. This was not the time, and he was not that lighter version of himself. 

I wish it was “just you”. Maybe then I wouldn’t be so nervous.

“Well, I’m- I’m glad you’re here, Kris. Of course I am. But…w-why? You’ve never come here by yourself before.” 

Why would I say that? They come all this way to visit when I’m CLEARLY upset, and this is my response? Kris just fought the titan, just like I did. I haven’t even asked how they’re feeling! He held back a grimace at his own words. 

“I wanted to check on you.” They turned away, slightly, as if embarrassed. 

“O-o-oh! Kris! I’m sorry! Of course! That’s so nice of you! That’s…” Ralsei  lowered his voice, looking away in turn. The kerchief in his hand nothing but a tightly clenched ball dripping sanguine water onto the floorboards.

“That’s so…considerate. Of you.” A sniffle. Ralsei could feel the tears welling up in his eyes again as he stole a glance back at Kris. They’d turned away from him, their face shaded and unreadable. Their posture almost…ashamed? Embarrassed? His heart fluttered again; Kris had been there to comfort him, and all he could do was question them about their motives. Anxious thoughts and self doubt gripped his chest with a vice grip. 

He wiped his eyes on his sleeve, then finished cleaning off the rest of the blood. There were still some residual stains deep in his fur; He’d need to set aside some time later to get those out. It would be a long time before he could forget about them. 

As if on cue, Kris held their hand out for the handkerchief back. 

“Oh, yes, thank you for letting me borrow that. Sorry, I…I think I messed it up. Sorry.”

“...”

Kris neatly tucked the handkerchief back in their pocket, then held out their hand again, expectantly. 

“Kris? I…I don’t have anything else…” Then, suddenly, a flash of panic as he remembered the plushie he still clutched tightly to his chest.

Please. Not that, please .

“Did you…I’m sorry, Kris. Would you…like your gift back?”

They shook their head rapidly, eyes widening just slightly as if surprised. Then, they pointed at the free, now clean hand that rested in Ralsei’s lap and extended their own once again. 

Confused, slightly flustered, and not the least bit apprehensive, Ralsei placed his hand in theirs, sighing in relief as Kris smiled. Their fingers interlocked with his; something about the way they fit together felt so right to the prince. Pausing for just a moment, Kris stood up. 

Why are you-

“Come with me.” 

“K-Kris? I- Woah, hey!” They had barely given him time to stand before they began leading Ralsei out of his room and back out into the hall. Their grip was firm, comforting. He couldn’t tell why he suddenly felt a little better; maybe it was the familiar pattern of following behind Kris, as he knew he was supposed to. Maybe getting out of his room was a good thing. Maybe it was their hand in his, a new sensation that he barely had begun to process. 

We’ve never…they’ve never held my hand like this before. He blushed.

Kris stopped, the door to their room held open in front of them. Well, their and Susie’s conjoined room, as Ralsei had not yet reverted things back to normal from the tea party earlier in the day. 

“It was too sad in there.” They said, leading him through the door. As much as he wanted to curl back up and avoid the world, Ralsei had to admit he felt a little better here. The plush rug under his feet was far more welcoming than the cold hardwood of his room, and being surrounded by tangible reminders of his friends brought a little light into his heart. Not to mention Kris themselves being there.

 Oh, wait a second, oh my. Ohhhh my. Why…Why did they bring me here with them? 

“Kris? Is it…okay? For just the two of us to be in here?” 

He felt stupid asking that, especially as he felt himself blushing. There was no way he could look them in the eyes. He clutched his plushie tighter.

“...”

They stifled a yawn, their hands covering their mouth in a somewhat awkward, hurried maneuver. All the while they were staring intently at Ralsei, nodding. Kris was the only person he knew who’d yawn like that with their eyes open, but they did strange things all the time. Ralsei hardly even noticed their lips moving silently behind their hands.

In one deft motion, Kris whipped off their armor, throwing it to the ground with a wet thud. Then, without missing a beat, they shook a spray of water off their body. The act reminded Ralsei of a dog. Something about it was just so typical of them. He warmed at the sight. 

Kris sat on their bed and patted the space beside them expectantly. Something about their expression looked just a little…relieved? Had he asked something strange just a moment ago?

Obviously. Of course they wanted me in here, they brought me here. 

Ralsei approached the bed, not the least bit cautiously. Was this one of Kris’s pranks he’d heard so much about from Susie? They patted the bed again, this time slightly more insistently, their expression as unreadable as ever. 

“I’ve... Okay, don’t laugh at me Kris, but…” 

Why is this always so hard? Why do I keep getting so flustered? It's just Kris! My- Our friend! Our nice, reliable friend Kris. Just sit down, stop being so weird. Please.

“I’ve never actually used a bed before. I always just slept in my room.” 

Much to Ralsei’s surprise, Kris let out a small snort, followed by a smirk as they met his eyes. They were…smiling? Why? 

“Of course you haven’t, Ralsei.” 

Faster than expected, Kris grabbed Ralsei’s arm, throwing him off balance and pulling him down to the bed with a start. He let out a small squeak of surprise, his plushie tossed to the floor as the downy material cushioned his less-than-graceful fall. Splayed out on the bed, cheeks rosy, he looked up at Kris, who still had that mischievous grin on their face. Something in their eyes was…soft. There was a gentleness there that he almost never saw. It reminded him of their moment in the sanctuary…

Suddenly, he became aware of himself and sat up, his cheeks burning. He hid behind his ears bashfully. 

“Kris! That wasn’t very nice! Don’t surprise me like that! And I thought I asked you not to laugh!”

He couldn’t help but smile as he chided them. His feelings about them aside, he always felt a little nervous when he was alone with Kris. Less so recently, especially since he’d gotten to know them better, but it always felt like neither could fully relax with the other. Not like now, not after what they’d been through together. 

“Still, I…I didn’t expect it to be so soft ” Ralsei pressed his hands into the bedding, watching them sink into the plush with little resistance. He let his guard down just a bit, but could sense his face was still rather red. 

“Didn’t you pick them out?” Kris asked.

“I did, I did…but I never used one. I just sort of, guessed. I suppose. About what the two of you would like.” 

He looked away to the plushie that sat on the floor, face down. A pang of guilt hit him for ignoring it, then another. He wasn’t telling the whole story. Again. The smile faded slightly from his face.

“Kris…Please don’t tell Susie this, okay?” He couldn’t look at them. His eyes were locked on the plushie, avoiding the pity, the kindness, the anger, the confusion, whatever Kris would be looking at him with. His nerves couldn’t take that from someone he cared for so deeply.

“I…I never thought I deserved a bed. Or anything comfortable, really. It was selfish to want something so frivolous for myself. I…”

His vision clouded with tears as his voice caught in his throat. 

Why is this always so hard? Why am I always the one crying? Just. Stop. I’m so…I’m so sick of being me. Being like this.

“I thought that if you two were happy, then that was enough for me. You were the ones with real lives, real friends, people who were waiting for you back home. Me? I- I…never had any of that, nothing that ties a person to the world. So…ha, why waste time trying to figure out what I wanted? It…it wouldn’t make a difference, anyway.”

He drew in a shaky breath. He’d never told anyone that before. He never thought he would even say those thoughts aloud, and to tell Kris, here, now…

Two arms wrapped themselves around his shoulders. They held tightly. Ralsei’s breath caught in his chest, eyes wide, his heart close to stopping. Tears were flowing freely down his face as he stifled a sob. 

“K…Kris?” 

Their head came to rest against the crook of his neck, pressed firmly into his scarf. He looked down at his hands in his lap. Was this real? His heart pounded in his chest, his throat ached as he tried to contain the wellspring of emotions inside of him. Here he was, in their room, on their bed, being held and comforted by the person he trusted and cared for most, and all that he could think was how he deserved none of it. 

Ralsei turned his body into the embrace, foregoing his reservations and wrapping his own arms around Kris. He nearly threw them off balance as he buried his face against their chest. Sobs, deep and painful and so, so necessary poured out of him as Kris held tighter. His glasses pressed uncomfortably into his face but he couldn’t care less. There was nothing that could tear him from them in this moment.

Ever so gently, Kris laid back into the pillows at the head of the bed, carefully urging the prince into a more comfortable position. Never in his life had he been held so tenderly. Kris’s chin rested perfectly on top of his head as he laid on their chest, wrapped in their arms. Occasionally, they would stroke his hair, or pet his ears. Little gestures of kindness that sent electric shocks coursing up and down Ralsei’s spine. He wanted to melt into them, to freeze this moment in time forever and never let them go.

 He knew he must look like such a mess. A part of him hated himself for burdening his friend with the responsibility of his feelings, but that part felt so insignificant right now. Ralsei had dreamt about a moment like this, filled his daydreams with thoughts and theories of how good it would feel to be pressed up against Kris, to be held so tightly that everything else seemed to melt away.

A part of him was right; it was amazing. He was unsure of how long they had been laying there, and he didn’t want to know. Ralsei savored each breath they shared. He delighted in feeling Kris’s chest rise and fall, rise and fall, rise and fall. Their scent was richer and more detailed than they could have ever observed from just standing near them, and the warmth of being held for so long was unlike anything he’d ever experienced before. He just wished it wasn’t set against the backdrop of… everything else that was going on. He wished he could enjoy them without feeling so awful. 

Does this…mean something more than I think it does? 

He stole a glance up at Kris. They looked so relaxed , so content. It was almost odd seeing them like that; it was not an expression Ralsei was used to seeing on their face. They looked good . He couldn’t help but giggle despite the tears, pressing his face back down into their chest before they could catch wind of what he was doing. Wait, what was he even doing? Was he…checking them out? So blatantly like that?

Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. This isn’t that. I can’t let it be anything more. We might even be pushing it as it is. I should get up. I should make an excuse and leave. I need to go. I should go. I can’t let them know I-

Suddenly, Kris leaned down. Their face was mere inches from his cheek; their breath warm. Ralsei’s heart stopped for what felt like the hundredth time today. His body tensed, and he froze. He knew what was coming. 

They kissed his cheek.

Oh. 

“What’s wrong?” 

No, please no. Please tell me that didn’t just happen. Kris, please say this is a prank. Please. Push me off the bed, say something mean, throw my glasses across the room, I don’t care. You didn’t just do that. You can’t. You can’t like me like that. I don’t deserve someone like you. We could never…I’ll only end up disappointing you. I can’t believe they just kissed me. Is this real? Am I awake? Please say I fell asleep, let this be a dream. Oh no. I never wanted-

A hand waved in front of Ralsei’s face, bringing him out of his panic for just a second. He hadn’t realized his mouth was gaping, or that he had gone completely unresponsive.

”Ralsei?” 

Kris had sat up; Ralsei’s head now rested in their lap. He brought his eyes back into focus as he came back to himself. Kris looked worried as they stared back at him. 

“Are you okay?”

”O-o-oh! Kris! Haha, yes! Yep! Never better! I just,” The flush spreading across his face was undeniable. Even his ears were turning red. “I didn’t expect that, is all!” 

Their lips narrowed into a line as they turned their head away from the prince. What was that expression? Guilt? Embarrassment? Resentment? Ralsei couldn’t tell, which did absolutely nothing to help his anxiety. He sat up rapidly, folding his legs underneath him to face Kris head-on. 

“It was really sweet of you Kris, honestly! I’m sorry! I’m sorry I’m being weird…I’m not trying to be! I really liked it! Really! And it’s not that I don’t want you to kiss me either. The prophecy, you know? It doesn’t say that’d work for us. I’m sorry! I hope I’m not being weird! And even if it did, what would that even mean? Not that I don’t want things to work! This is all so complicated. And you! You’re great, Kris.  Nothing like me, haha! You deserve so much better than me! N-not that I didn't like it! Of course I did! I-”

“...”

I’m messing this up.

Ralsei knew the expression on their face now. Dejection. Regret. And there he was, running his mouth and making things so much worse. His heart was racing in his chest; he knew he was breathing too fast and could do nothing to stop himself. He felt like he was about to lose control. He bunched the blanket at his side into balls in his fists. His mind ran at a million miles a minute, searching for anything, mystic, magical, or mundane, that he could say or do to make things right. For now, he shut up.

Kris sat, wordlessly, for minutes that seemed to stretch into hours into days into nights into weeks into years. 

“…”

“K-kris?”

”…” 

Ralsei felt his resolve diminish into nothing. Had it not been for the sheer force of his fear rooting him to the spot, he would have ran from the room already. Almost instinctively, he felt the tears begin to well up. He fought them back desperately. He refused to cry now and risk making them feel even worse. He refused. 

”Say something…please…”

His hand reached out to theirs, but hesitated. He wanted so desperately to go back to just a moment before, where everything felt okay. Kris stared down at the floor, unmoving. Ralsei yearned for them to look at him, one more time, even if it was in anger. 

“I’m sorry, Kris…”

“…you liked it?” Those words were spoken almost imperceptibly, yet Ralsei jumped back as if they had been screamed. Of all the things Kris could have said, that wasn’t what he expected to hear. He could have laughed if his nerves weren’t on fire.

“H-huh?”

“You said you wanted to kiss me. You said you liked it.” 

Ralsei wiped tears from his eyes. A hesitant smile crept onto his lips. 

“Of course I do! I’ve…always wanted to. I-I still do! I think about you all the time, Kris. I think about all the moments we’ve shared, I think about ways I can make you smile the next time you come to Castle Town…Everything you’ve done for me… You’ve always been so kind to me. You and Susie both! And I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have both of you in my life, really! But…”

He trailed off. How could he explain the tangled web that kept them apart? How their fates wouldn’t allow it? And on top of that, did he even want to? In this moment, denying what they both wanted seemed so, so hard. 

“I’m the Lonely Prince, remember, Kris? It’s not my place to…”

He couldn’t bring himself to say it. 

To be loved. 

“I’m supposed to be…alone. I wasn’t meant to be…with you, or anyone, I guess. That’s why I’m stuck down here, I think.” 

His eyes fell to the plushie again. His sole possession, given to him by Kris. The thing that set off this whole chain of events; the totem that got him thinking maybe, just maybe, he deserved to be a little bit selfish. Look where that got him. What would even happen after this? Would they still want to be friends? Could they be? Would Kris even talk to him anymore? A pit, yawning and massive and icy cold opened in his stomach at the thought. Despite what he just said, that would break him. He couldn’t go back to how things were before the two of them came. He didn’t want to be lonely anymore. 

He wanted to curse that stupid toy, to curse Kris, himself, fate, the Angel, anything for getting him into this whole mess. It would’ve been better if he’d never felt like this in the first place, better for everyone. If he had just stuck to his role and pretended it everything was fine. Pretended he was okay with his feelings not being reciprocated. That yearning and possibility and stolen glances and accidental touches were enough for him. He knew this wouldn’t work, and knew that he didn’t even have the energy to get mad. Not after today.

“If you wanted to…” Kris started, finally turning to face the prince. As terrified as Ralsei was, something calmed in him upon seeing their eyes fixed on him. “Why wouldn’t you?”

Their hand reached out, and Ralsei took it on instinct. His heart stilled, feeling their hand squeeze tightly against his. They were right; he wanted to. He wanted this so, so, so badly. Just being held such as he had been was more than he ever thought possible.  He felt the last shreds of resistance within himself fade away. 

“I do, Kris. I really, really do. I swear. But, are you sure this is okay? Honestly? I’m so scared, Kris. Scared of what might happen, what the future holds for us. Not just me and you, everyone…I don’t want you to get hurt anymore. I don’t want to lose you.” 

Kris jerked his hand up to their mouth and kissed his hand. Ralsei swore he could feel their lips forming words against the back of his hand. Their eyes, however, never left his face. They seemed to be pleading. Slowly, intentionally and with an apparently great amount of effort, they nodded. 

“Um, okay! If you’re sure…”

Ralsei felt his heart speed up again; He had never actually kissed someone. On further consideration, had Kris even kissed anyone before? If their social life, as told by Susie, was anything to be believed, odds were not in favor of the affirmative. Was it like nuzzling? He was a pro at that, so maybe he could just…

Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and just…touch your lips to theirs. Just like a nuzzle, change the last step. It's that easy . If it was that simple, why did he feel ready to jump out of his own skin? Kris had already closed their eyes and leaned in, so what was he waiting for?

Ralsei gave their hand a squeeze, for reassurance, then leaned in with the utmost trepidation. Then, contact. Clumsy at first; Ralsei hadn’t even felt confident enough to close his eyes until he was sure he wouldn’t miss. Then sparks. An explosion of emotions, time freezing to a standstill as their lips fell into place. His breath caught in his throat. He could feel them fighting off a smile. As if on cue, both of them pulled away with a satisfying smack!

“Oh… wow .” Ralsei adjusted his glasses as he leaned back, feeling, for probably the first time in his life, utterly at a loss for words. Kris’s usual stony expression was replaced with a goofy smile. The kind of smile that joy felt purely and wholeheartedly could bring to a person’s face. Neither could take their eyes off the other, both breathing heavily.    

Ralsei threw himself onto his knight, cupping their cheeks in both hands. Damn his fears, damn everything that told him he was unworthy of this. He needed them. Their lips locked together. Ralsei could feel the surprise, the tension in Kris’s posture, but soon their arms were wrapped around his body and nothing else in the world mattered. 

This, this was everything. This was what he had been missing all along. Jolts of lightning crackled through every nerve in his body; it felt as though his fur was standing on ends. Butterflies erupted from his stomach. He nearly forgot to breathe. This time, he did nothing to stop the tears from flowing freely down his cheeks. They felt so right together, all those anxieties he previously felt seemed to melt away. He pressed deeper into them, savoring their taste, feeling their breath against his face as they both came up for air. 

He ran his hands through their hair, down their back, across their chest. Ralsei wanted to take in every sensation he could, to crystalize this moment in amber and remember it with the utmost clarity for years to come. Feeling playful, he pushed them back down onto the bed, throwing his full weight on top of them as he came in for another round of kisses. He peppered their jaw, their neck, their cheeks with love; he simply couldn’t get enough. And there they were, smiling, laughing, touching him with hands more gentle and deft than he could have imagined. His body was an instrument, and everywhere Kris touched resonated in turn. It was like he was made for this, for them. 

“Please…don’t stop.” Ralsei begged with a half whisper in their ear. Being cuddled for the first time was one thing, and now this? For the first time in a long, long time, he gave in. He was finally allowing himself to simply enjoy the moment. He needed their touch like the darkness that gave him form, and how deeply did he drink of that fountain.  

They did not stop. Could not, would not, refused to stop. He lost track of time; he had barely been keeping it in the first place. He would have guessed they’d made out for hours, but had no way of knowing. However long, it could never feel like enough. Somehow, they knew just how to touch him, how to caress his face and hold him down and kiss all his most sensitive spots, like they were both lines of a melody that had always been meant to be played in harmony. Ralsei knew Kris was good at flirting, but hadn’t expected them to be good at this . 

Not to say Ralsei didn’t put in a good effort himself, either. Kris clearly knew what they were doing, and he was eager to learn by example. Before long, he was leaving Kris flustered; while they didn’t say much, he could tell by the look on their face and the blush that painted it. They didn’t need to say anything at all. He even took a page out of their book and tried a couple playful bites around their neck and collarbone. Why not! He could be that kind of person. He felt light, freed, and totally supported in their arms. Untouched by the anxieties that plagued his day to day, if just for those few blissful moments. 

Eventually, the two of them tired, laying in a panting heap on Kris’s bed. Ralsei’s scarf and glasses had long since been tossed to the floor. He felt far more exposed without them than he had a right to be, but in their arms, it didn’t matter. They both stared up into the blackness of the ceiling. In this castle, it seemed to stretch on into infinity.

I wish we could stay like this forever . Ralsei sent that silent prayer up to nothing in particular. No matter what may or may not have heard the thought mattered to him all the same.  

His eyes felt heavy. No wonder everyone had beds, these things were the best! It took significant mental effort to not fall asleep in Kris’s arms, and he didn’t want to miss a single moment of this. For someone without fur, they were so much warmer than Ralsei expected. Their head rested between his horns as they spooned. He held back a chuckle thinking about accidentally bonking them against Kris’s head earlier. He simply wasn’t used to having to mind his horns around others. 

“You make a good plushie, Ralsei.”

“Kr- Huh? What? What do you mean I make a good plushie? I-” His eyes narrowed as it hit him. Kris snickered and pulled him tighter into a remarkably familiar position.

“I see.” 

“You see?”

“Hey! I can’t help being so soft, you know! It’s not like I agreed to let them make a plushie out of me, either.” The plushie he came in with was still on the floor, though markedly blurrier without his glasses and partially covered by his discarded scarf. 

How many of those are out there in the world, anyway? Tenna WAS selling them…probably. Come to think of it…was that a bit? How many mini Ralseis were out in the world, actually?

“Can’t beat the real thing.” 

Ralsei blushed a deep crimson. It wasn’t often that Kris paid him, or really anyone, such a direct complement. He snuggled tighter against their body and smiled. 

“Hey, Kris?”

“Mmm?”

“I’m sorry. About earlier, I mean. Sorry for freaking out when you kissed me. And sorry for always crying all the time..and for hiding things, and-”

He was cut short as Kris squeezed tightly from behind, nuzzling their chin against his head. Ralsei smiled wearily. At a fundamental level, he felt that they knew him. Knew him enough that an apology was superfluous. 

They really are too good for me.  

“I’ve always…wanted…this. Wanted you, you know.” 

Kris stirred behind him, indicating they were listening. At least, that’s what Ralsei interpreted it as. They were not the easiest person to read at the best of times, especially when their tone or inflection didn’t quite match up with what they said. Regardless, if the past…however long was any indication, Ralsei felt justified in assuming he had their attention. 

“Without you, Kris, none of this would be happening. Me, you, Susie, everyone in town, so many amazing friends and experiences you’ve opened my eyes to. Not to mention you in general. At first…I’ll be honest. I was a little intimidated by you.” 

Kris sat up, shooting Ralsei a look of incredulity. 

“Don’t give me that look! You and Susie both, though for different reasons I guess. You were so sure of yourself, so decisive and cool…Everything I thought I could never be. Then I got to know you a little better. I found out how kind and funny you could be, how you inspire the people around you to be better. I wanted- You made me want to be better. I didn’t think I deserved to know you back then.” 

Kris gave him a gentle smile, looking up and down his body before falling back into the big spoon position. 

“You’ve changed so much, Ralsei. You’ve grown a lot.” 

His heart softened at their words. The prince was more than a little surprised. He wasn’t looking for validation, not particularly. If anything, he was simply excited to be speaking his mind without fear of judgement. Hearing Kris acknowledge him in such a way scratched an itch he didn’t know he was feeling. He let their words hang, unsure of how to reply without sounding trite. 

“...I’ve changed a lot, too.” They whispered, their tone had shifted, almost as if afraid someone else might hear their words. Kris’s voice was barely more than an exhale, even with their mouth so close to Ralsei’s ears. 

“There are so many things I want to tell you. So many things I’ve kept from you. Both of you.” Their voice, pressured as it was, quavered. A deep sincerity resonated within their words. Along with it, however, so much shame and fear. 

“Whatever happens, Ralsei… know how deeply I care for you. Nothing changes that.”

“K-Kris? I’m sorry but… I don’t understand.” Ralsei reluctantly freed himself from their hold and let his feet dangle off the bed. There was an undeniably pained expression on Kris’s face; they were trying very hard to maintain composure. The prince felt a stab of anxiety pierce the shroud of comfort and safety they’d built together as Kris looked up with pleading eyes and a grimace. Destiny, it seemed, could not be evaded forever. 

“What…what do you mean, ‘things you’ve kept from us’?” 

Kris’s eyes grew wide at the prince’s question; fear washed over their face in a wave. Somehow, Ralsei knew he should’ve kept his mouth shut. 

“The bun-” They were cut off as a sickening, wet splunch sounded through the room. Immediately, Kris doubled over, clasping their hand over their mouth and coughing against a mouth held tightly shut. Ralsei gasped, jumping up from the bed with arms outstretched towards his knight. Blood streamed through their fingers and down their chin. 

“Kris! Oh my goodness, what happened? What did you do? Are you okay? I’m so sorry! Let me fix-” Just as he was about to heal, Kris put a hand out, the hand not covering their mouth, to stop him. 

“I’m okay” They said, unconvincingly, through gritted teeth. Flecks of blood splashed at Ralsei’s feet. 

“No, no you’re not Kris! What did you just do ?” They brought their hand away from their mouth. Even from the few feet away that he stood, Ralsei could see the deep, teeth-shaped gouges in their tongue. Almost on instinct, his hands flew to their jaw and cradled their face. Unfortunately, this would be the second time today a friend’s blood stained his fur. 

They looked up at him, their face a contortion of pain, surprise, fear, and something Ralsei couldn’t place. He concentrated, mouthing wordlessly an incantation that he’d known for all his life as his hands began to glow. The wounded flesh began to knit itself back together, painstakingly slow at first, then picking up speed as the prince poured more magic intent into his prayer. Surely enough, Kris’s mouth looked untouched, save for the blood still caked into their skin. His heart ached to see them hurt and so obviously frightened.

“Why…” His voice was barely a whisper. They looked so ashamed. Ralsei’s heart sank; somehow, this was his fault. 

“Y-you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, Kris. I’ll just…be here. We don’t have to say anything.” 

They grabbed hold of his arms as if clinging on for support. They pressed his hands against their face supplicatingly, but still, they wouldn’t look at him. His resolve faltered. 

“I-I…Do you want me to go?” He didn’t want to ask that. He didn’t want to hear their response, and most of all he didn’t want to leave their side.  His self doubt overridden everything they’d just shared, and he fell back on what he knew how to do best: Run. 

Finally, they looked back at him, but their expression had shifted. Hardened with concentration. He could see them exerting against something, but in his panic his mind was blank. He was at a loss of how to help his friend.

“Leave.”

Barely a whisper, their voice strained and hoarse like the word was pulled over sandpaper. It echoed around the prince. Leave leave leave leave leave. They may as well have shouted. He felt his legs go weak; it took all his will to stay standing. Tears stood in the corners of his eyes. Wordlessly, he took a step back, jaw held slightly open in betrayal. 

Only, Kris would not let go. Their grip tightened around his arms, their fingernails digging into his flesh. Ralsei could barely stand to look at them; he was too hurt. He gave a single, halfhearted tug to try and escape their grip, but they were clearly much stronger than him. 

He didn’t understand. Why? Why would they say that but hold on so tight? Ralsei was exhausted, dejected, and so emotionally drained. He pulled away again, harder, balling his fists up tight and steeling himself, yet he still made no progress.

“Let go.” He pulled again. No use.

“Kris, let go.” Their head was hanging, hair obscuring their face but held to him unrelentingly. Whatever this was, Ralsei wanted nothing to do with it.  He couldn’t even stand looking at them. 

He struggled against their strength, bracing his stance and pulling with as much force as he could muster, but it accomplished little. He could feel their grip bruising his arms, feel their nails biting into his skin. They were much stronger than him and he knew it. He clenched his jaw against the pain. Ralsei was no stranger to fights or to pain, of course, but this was far worse. The betrayal he felt in this moment magnified every sensation a hundredfold, as if his very skin was being shorn from its place. 

“Kris, let me le-” He yanked, but his balance was off. He pitched forward and Kris seized the opportunity, pulling the prince with a force that threatened to dislocate his shoulders. His stomach lurched as he was thrown onto the bed for the second time today. Instincts told his muscles how to reorient his body, and he landed on his back, bouncing just slightly. Faster than he could react, Kris was on top of him, pinning him down by the shoulders and staring him down, their breathing heavy and ragged.

What should I do? What’s wrong with them? Are we actually…fighting? No, but… Are they really trying to hurt me? Ralsei’s mind raced with adrenaline; He knew that he was no match for them in a fight. Worse, he was basically already beaten, pinned down, weaponless, basically sightless as he was. His heart raced, his eyes danced around the room for an escape route as panic began to rise in his throat. Why? Why were they…

Something wet dripped down onto his face. He could just barely make it out without his glasses, but was Kris…crying? Their expression was unreadable and hard, their grip on his shoulders inescapable. Their full weight pinned his limbs down, yet they just sat there, their breath hot and heavy. As he oriented himself, Ralsei saw the undeniable truth. Heavy, wet tears gathered and rained from the corner of their eyes, splattering his face. They tasted bitter and warm. 

Without warning, their right hand reached out to the side dramatically, then shot deep into their chest, passing through skin and muscle and sinew and bone like they were light rippling off a pond. Ralsei stifled a scream as the flesh sank into their chest, passing easily through their ribcage up to the elbow. Kris grunted in pain, their eyes wide as they wrestled with their innards. He stopped struggling, more out of confusion than anything. He couldn’t look away.

With great difficulty, their hand ripped from their sternum holding something familiar. Their Soul. It pulsed with a faint red light, gripped tightly in Kris’s hand before being thrown ferociously across the room and landing with a soft thud in the corner. Their energy expended, Kris collapsed onto the prince, nearly knocking the wind out of him. His mind raced to keep up with what just happened.

“That wasn’t…that can’t have been…K-Kris?” They were struggling to catch their breath. He didn’t try to push them off, not yet at least. Ralsei had seen their Soul before, of course. Many times, in fact, particularly today. He knew precious little about it; only that it was something unique to humans and that it was the source of Kris’s power, what had let them close the Fountains. That, and that it had kept them alive an uncountable amount of times. He had no idea they could just take it out . The Soul moved about on the floor slowly, inching closer towards the pair. 

Kris’s eyes shot towards the thing like a cat spotting its prey. With great effort, they pushed themselves off Ralsei and to their feet, grabbing Ralsei’s discarded scarf off the ground in a flurry of fabric. They pounced on the Soul, throwing their whole body at it with reckless abandon and scooping it up in the scarf. In seconds they had deftly woven the scarf into a knot around it, then collapsed, making sure to slam their prey against the floor with a good hearty thwack before they did. The Soul rolled around impotently in its fabric cage, seemingly undeterred by Kris’s actions. 

Ralsei sat on the bed dumbfounded as he struggled to make sense of what just happened. 

They shouldn’t be able to do that. At least, there’s nothing in the prophecy about the Soul being let out of its cage. Wait, why…why is it caged in the first place? Why does that cage need to be Kris? Does it have to be? Wait, Kris! Kris is hurt!

Now was not the time to worry about the mechanics of the prophecy. He rushed to their side, his sense of urgency returned to him. Whatever they just did, it left them drained. Acting on instinct, he began to fire off another healing spell. Kris’s hand shot up, stopping him.

“Won’t…work.” Their voice was faint and sounded…clearer, than what the prince was used to. Audibly different. Definitely more ragged, and the words seemed to come with a great deal of effort, but clearer all the same.

“I’m sorry. It…I didn’t want you to leave.” There was genuine remorse in their voice; As worried as he was, Ralsei couldn’t help but smile.

“I don’t care about that, Kris! That’s not important right now. Are you okay? Are you hurt? Why… How did you…” He wanted to do something, anything for them, but this was beyond the scope of his mystical knowledge. That terrified him. The whole display had him trembling. He wasn’t used to being in the dark. All he could do was hold their hand. 

“It controls me. Mostly. ” They coughed, hard. The Soul bumped against Ralsei’s foot in its ball. “I hate it.” 

So many things clicked into place. 

“Is it…dangerous?” 

“I don’t think so, not like it is now. Just…” They grabbed the scarf ball and tossed it onto Susie’s bed, which served as an excellent corral for the thing. “Be careful. I don’t want it near you.” 

Ralsei flushed a bit at that comment as he helped them sit up. They were undeniably less steady without their Soul, but seemed to be getting over the initial shock of its loss. So many questions ran through his mind. About the Soul, about what they meant by ‘mostly’, about what this meant for them. He kept them at bay for now, not wanting to stress Kris more than they already were. They would talk when they were ready. For now, he was content acting as support for his knight to lean on.

“I hope I didn’t scare you.” 

“Haha! Kris, I think I-...I’ve gotten used to you scaring me.” He paused, “Though, this time was definitely worse than most.” 

They smiled, just slightly. 

“How…how do you feel? Without it, I mean.” 

The smile faded fast. “Not good, Ralsei. Not good. It’s harder in the Dark World than in the Light.” They paused for a moment, considering.

“It doesn’t feel good to be controlled either.” 

Ralsei’s thoughts flashed to all the times Kris’s actions didn’t line up with what they’d said, or when their tone just didn’t match their words. For how long have they been resisting the Soul? How much of the person he thought was Kris was really just the Soul’s influence? He kept his mouth shut and let them talk. As worried as he was, it was nice to hear their voice like this. It was nice just to sit with them.

“I meant it when I said I cared about you, you know.” Their hand grasped his weakly; their head came to rest on his shoulder, “Nothing could change that.” 

That answers that, at least. He wanted them to elaborate so badly. To assuage his anxieties one by one, to offer reassurance that, yes, their friendship was real and mattered and that his feelings really were reciprocated. But he held himself back. These precious moments where Kris could speak without outside influence would undoubtedly be few and far between. He could say anything and hope that, despite whatever they’d say in return, Kris would get the point. Besides, they needed to talk freely.

“I had no idea you were going through this, Kris. I wish I could’ve helped you sooner.”

“I didn’t want you to know. Or Susie, either. It felt like too much to put on you. I didn’t want either of you to hate me.”

Now there was a sentiment Ralsei could relate to. He pulled them into an embrace, cradling their head against his chest. 

“I could never hate you. You know that.”

“You should. You don’t know what I’ve done.”

“I don’t care, Kris.” He held tighter, resting his head against theirs. They laid limp and cold in his embrace. “I don’t care at all.” 

His cloak grew wet against his chest where their head lay. Silently, Kris’s shoulders heaved. They weakly wrapped their arms around the prince. This was a side of them he never knew existed, one that he felt woefully underprepared to handle. Anxieties swarmed in the corners of his mind, as they so often did, but he gave them no heed as he usually would. He was wanted. He was loved. He could fall apart when he wasn’t needed, but that would not be today. For now, he simply hoped he was enough for them.

Kris clung to their prince long after the tears stopped flowing, long enough for the floor beneath them to introduce aches to muscles they didn’t even know they had. Their time was running short, they could feel it. Soon, they would need to put the Soul back. To go back to being its puppet. To stop being themselves. 

They looked up. Exhaustion was evident on Ralsei’s face; dark circles ringed reddened eyes and his fur stuck out at odd angles. He looked so different without his characteristic scarf and glasses, so much more vulnerable. The day had clearly worn hard on both of them; they were sure they didn’t look much better. 

“Kris?” He said sleepily, rubbing his face as they pulled away. “Is everything alright?”

“I think you’ve forgotten something.” A small spark of panic flashed across his face.

 “What? What’ve I forg-” Kris pulled his glasses from their pockets, which they had managed to swipe off the floor. “Huh?! When did you grab those?”

“Maybe I wanted a good look at you without them. You have pretty eyes.” 

He blushed visibly at the comment, his gaze going to the floor as it so often did when he was flustered. He hid his face in his hands, but Kris could still easily see his smile.

“You think so?”

They took his hand in theirs, pulling him in close so he couldn’t avoid looking at them. He was blushing furiously and very obviously trying hard to keep his composure. The pinks of his irises matched his scarf and horns; they never noticed that before. With as much dexterity as they could muster, Kris gingerly placed his glasses back where they belonged. It took a couple blinks before his eyes readjusted. His smile was so sweet. They wanted to hold on to this moment, for just a couple seconds longer. Their head came to rest in the soft crook of his neck.

“I’m running out of time, Ralsei.” 

“H-huh? For wh-...Oh.” 

“I don’t want this to end.” 

“It…Does it have to?” He asked sheepishly. They both knew the answer. He wavered. “I’m sorry, stupid question…”

“I don’t think I can survive for long without the Soul, especially not here.” With some difficulty they made it to their feet, unsteady though they were. Ralsei rushed to offer stability. 

“Will you be okay? Once you have it back in you, I mean. You don’t think it’ll make you…take revenge, right? After you tore it out?” There was a hint of fear in his voice, his eyes locked on the scarf ball in Susie’s bed. This had clearly shaken the prince. 

“It should be fine. I don’t think it wants to hurt us.” A pause. “Well, minus emotionally.”

Ralsei offered a short lived chuckle before the grave expression returned to his face.

“Does Susie know?”

“She asked me about it in the sanctuary before running off. I didn’t get to answer. You know what happened next.”

“Yeah…” He shifted their weight slightly. Kris could tell they were just a bit too heavy for the prince, but were in no position to refuse his aid. “Listen, Kris, I don’t want to keep any secrets from her. Not anymore. But I won’t say anything you aren’t comfortable with sharing. This is your secret. I…have enough I need to tell her.” 

“We have a lot to talk about tomorrow. Together.” 

Kris could see his resolve steel with their words. They hadn’t meant to imply anything when they said that, but it clearly had a positive effect and they didn’t have the heart to take that away from them. They didn’t even know what they meant by ‘Together’, but it felt right. At a very base, selfish level, they wanted to be together with him. 

The pair made their way across the room, neither particularly wanting to reach their destination. Nonetheless, their journey was brief, and Kris had the Soul clasped in a tight two hand grip before long. Ralsei could see it squirm against their hands ever so slightly. What had once been a beacon of light and hope for him now took on a much darker tone. He regarded the thing with apprehension. 

As they did before, Kris held the Soul at arm’s length, ready to relinquish control. Just as they were about to plunge it into their chest, Ralsei caught their arm.

“Wait! Kris, I-...” He blushed sheepishly, closing the distance between the two of them so that their bodies stood pressed together. Blocking the Soul. He took their face in his hands.

“Stay with me? Just for tonight?...Please?” 

Without hesitation, Kris nodded. Ralsei’s face erupted in an ear to ear smile as he threw his arms over their shoulders and kissed his knight deeply, holding them in a close, warm embrace. Whatever came next, they would face it. Together.