[h3][i]Valentine Blanchefleur and Akio Bai[/i][/h3]

It was the middle of the afternoon when a soft knock came at Akio’s door.  It had taken Valentine quite some time to get her nerve up to seek him out, and she was in a way glad that he wasn’t out doing something.  She would have been hesitant to interrupt otherwise.  She still wore the jeans and graphic tee she’d selected earlier that day, though her camera was back in her room.  As she waited for someone to answer the door she tried to figure out what she was going to say.  An apology, of course.  But what else?

Akio had been in his room, reading a book he had brought along on the cultures and traditions of Acrias. He wanted to be proper here and if he had done anything taboo his mother would have his head. He heard the soft knock on the door, finishing his sentence before placing the small gold ribbon bookmark in between the pages and walking to the door. He opened it up and saw Valentine. He smiled at her then bit his lip. “One moment please.” He said before shutting the door. He quickly walked over to the table where a new vase sat with the flowers that he had gotten Valentine, sitting inside. He grabbed the vase and quickly shoved it into a cabinet. He then walked back over to the door with a hope that nothing else in this room could trigger her to freak out and have another panic attack. The last thing he wanted was a crying princess and another bruise. He opened the door again, this time holding it ajar to let Valentine in. He then shut it behind her and pointed to the back glass door. “Do you want to talk on the balcony?” He asked her softly. 

Valentine blinked at the closed door.  Prince Akio had answered it and then immediately closed it again -- but perhaps he wanted to put away whatever he’d been doing before her arrival?  She clasped her hands in front of her and tried to act like she wasn’t second guessing her every action.  There, he was back.  And with a question.  It took her a moment to find her voice.  “Okay.”  She let him lead the way outside, looking out over the yard instead of at the man with her.  That was easier.  “I-I’m sorry,” she added, hands finding the railing and curling around it.  “For earlier.  ...Your face, does it hurt less now?”

Akio led her out to the balcony and leaned against the railing. His arms crossed on top of the railing bar. He looked out into the city that was visible from the view of his room. He then shrugged and sighed. “It’s ok. It never hurt that bad. It’s just a bruise. There is no need for you to apologize.” Akio had wanted an apology but not from her. If anything he should be the one apologizing to her. He had said some terrible things this morning and he didn’t know if Valentine had heard them but he felt bad for it nonetheless. He took a glance at her and then sighed. “I’m sorry for anything I may have done to upset you. Know that I didn’t mean it. I just want to make you and everyone else happy and some times that is a hard goal to live up to.”

Val knew the flowers had been accidental.  She wasn’t so sure about what she’d heard before stopping the argument, but she’d not heard much, and Prince Akio had been upset.  Still.  “Apology accepted.”  It was easier than telling him that she knew she was broken, that royalty didn’t get to be happy, that the last thing she wanted was a marriage and a crown.  She looked down at the railing under her hands, tracing the stipple of encroaching rust with a finger.  She ought to say something more, but what else was there to talk about?

Akio nodded, thanking her for her forgiveness. He then looked down, staring out at the grounds below him. He had to tell her that he didn’t want this. He had to tell her that he didn’t want to marry her. He had to be honest with her. If he was honest then maybe she would be too. He looked down and took in a shaky breath. “I’m gay.” He said to her softly, beginning to feel nervous and anxious. 

Val blinked.  At first she thought she’d misheard.  Where had this come from, all of a sudden?  “Okay?”  Oh no, she sounded like an idiot, and a rude one at that.  “I mean...I’m sorry you’re stuck with me, but....”  And there she went making it worse.  Val put her elbows on the railing and hid her face in her hands.  What was he expecting her to say, anyhow?  Instead of trying to finish her trainwreck of a sentence, Val let it end there.

Akio looked at her as she spoke, not expecting so many words to come out but also these words. He sighed and shook his head again. “No Val. I don’t think I will be… you’re sweet and all but I can’t- I won’t marry you. I want to marry for love.” He said and sighed. “Talulia would be happy to have an alliance and try to help your people but I can’t marry you Val. That’s not fair to either of us.” He said before pushing of the rail and going to sit against the wall. He didn’t want to upset her but marrying just for financial advantage and a pure alliance seemed stupid to Akio. He wanted to actually love the one he married. 

“Royalty doesn’t get to do what they want,” Valentine mumbled into her hands.  Of course the arrangement wasn’t fair to either of them.  But if he’d had no intention of going through with it, then why agree to the engagement in the first place?  Or was she just so broken that she wasn’t worth the trouble?  She suspected the latter.  She gathered her nerve.  She wasn’t sad, not really, but it was hard to stand up straight, to turn around and look in Prince Akio’s direction.  “I should go.”

((collab between [@BurningWaterfa] and me))