The Prince and I Chapter 4: Revelations, a final fantasy xii fanfic

The Prince and I

Chapter 4: Revelations

Larsa and Vaan slowly walked towards a small river. They'd made their way westward across the Ozmone Plain, almost reaching Rozarria's borders. They were now far from Jahara… far from their pasts, their friends, and had only the future in their minds.

"Larsa? Why did you come? To Jahara, I mean. You're the Prince of Archadia. You'd think you could have someone else do all your work for you." Vaan asked, not thinking about what he said before he said it.

Larsa was silent. He'd stopped walking, breathing harder as he thought of an answer to give Vaan. He once again turned to look at the peaceful sky. Sighing loudly, he turned around to Vaan. His eyes were full of hope and happiness. When Vaan saw this, he could only think of his brother.

Why is he looking at me like that? Reks' eyes had that sparkle in them looked when he enlisted towards the end of the war. He was so happy… happy that he could protect me, and happy that I understood his decision to fight for Dalmasca. But why does Larsa look like this now. Is he happy? Is it because I asked him why he came? Maybe I was already supposed to know. Stupid, stupid, stupid! I should have just kept my big mouth shut.

Larsa's small giggle made Vaan snap back into reality.

"You're interested in my life now, is it? Very well then, I'll tell you all you want to know, as long as you promise to do the same once I'm done." Larsa said, settling down near the water and looking at his reflection in the river. Vaan sat down next to him, wanting to sit close, but afraid to get to near.

"People think it's easy… to live in my family's shadow. My father is the Emperor of one of the most powerful nations in Ivalice. My brother is a military genius and an extremely influential voice in all of the empire's movements and decisions. But what am I? Naught but the lowly brother of Vayne Solidor… and the forgotten son of the emperor. Everyday I wake up, thankful that I am still alive, for my fear of my own brother captivates my days and imprisons me in my own home. Vayne killed my other two siblings. Vaan… I'm afraid… of everything. My father is dying and without him, Vayne would surely dispose of me to ensure his place as the Emperor. I am all that stands in his way, for the senate wishes to use me as their puppet to control the empire from the shadows. I live amidst moral corruption and treachery every day of my life."

The still river began to quiver, as a tear falling from Larsa's eyes created a ripple in the water. Vaan was in awe. He wondered how someone who seemed so strong and confident on the inside could be so normal inside.

He's just like me after all. Always afraid of tomorrow, thinking I'll find a way but secretly wondering 'what if I don't?' I… I'd never imagined Larsa to be like this.

Vaan wiped Larsa's tears from his eyes with the utmost care, trying not to startle him. Larsa did gasp, nevertheless, but he quickly calmed down and took a deep breath so as to continue his story. Vaan wasn't sure he wanted to hear anymore if it was going to make Larsa act like this.

"Larsa… you don't look good. Maybe you should stop. I don't like it when you're like this." Vaan told him, bringing his hands back from Larsa's face.

"No Vaan… I need you to do listen to this. Besides," Larsa started to say as he sniffled and got a hold of himself. "I'm ok now. I don't know what came over me. It must be the cold." He assured Vaan, trying to regain the strength he usually portrayed.

"When Vayne was made consul of Dalmasca, I was finally able to rest peacefully at night. But something bothered me. I overheard some of the senators speaking of the nethecite that was being studied at the Draklor Laboratory. The only mines I could think of that could produce that nethecite, and export it without anyone the wiser, were the Lhusu Mines in Bhujerba. My informants had told me of the Marquis' resistance movements, and everything began making sense. I had to be sure though, so I accompanied Judge Ghis to Bhujerba, on the pretext of investigating the rumors of the Marquis' anti-imperial movements. In reality, I was checking up on my brother. I knew that he was planning to use the nethecite to provoke a war with Rozarria, and I knew I had to stop him. But I didn't know how, and I was scared. That's when I met you, Vaan."

Larsa's gaze shifted from his reflection to Vaan. His face was no longer sad, but had a sight tone of happiness and gratitude to it. Vaan was beginning to understand who Larsa was.

Larsa was silent, and Vaan took this as a sign that it was his turn to unravel the mysteries of his life. He looked at Larsa for a moment, his large brown eyes giving him so much security and warmth he felt like he could say anything.

"I always thought someone like you wouldn't be like this. Hearing you talk like this almost makes him seem normal… kinda like me. It's comforting… I guess. For a while, I felt weird being around royalty and especially that of the empire… but not anymore." He finally let out.

"What did you think I was going to be like, Vaan?" Larsa asked eager to hear his answer.

"When I first saw you… I didn't know what to think. I felt paralyzed when our eyes met. It was like all my dreams had come true at once, and the world meant nothing as long as I kept looking at you. When I learned who you were, I thought you'd be grumpy and mean, kinda like Ashe when we first met. I guess I just thought all royals were conceited. I would have never imagined someone like this… could be you… I thought you would just brush me off like any other commoner, if not worse because I wasn't exactly fond of the empire. But, something changed all that when you came to Jahara. To tell you the truth, I was angry when you seemed to give all your attention to Ashe. I didn't know why, but it was something like… jealousy I think. Everything about you is just so confusing, Larsa. Here I was thinking you to be this stuck up, strong willed, cold hearted royal, when really… you're… me." Vaan said as he began telling his story.

"I'm you?" Larsa asked with an innocent smile on his face.

"Well, yeah. You say you're scared. You never know what tomorrow will bring. I felt that every day after my brother Reks died. I had no family left, and the closest thing I had to a sister, Penelo, seemed to be going up in the world. I wasn't. I couldn't figure out where I was going. I was lost inside myself, afraid of change… afraid of tomorrow. I was pretty reckless, mostly because the fear of getting caught seemed to replace the fears my life brought on me. I guess it seems silly now, how foolish I was. But it was because I wasn't thinking that I met up with Fran and Balthier, and ended up where I am right now. I think that, if I had to do it again, I would, just so I could end up here."

"It seems we don't know where we belong. Maybe fate has brought us here. Maybe we needed to tell this to someone in order to find our own answers… or maybe we need to find our answers together."

The boys were silent. They couldn't stop staring into each others eyes. They didn't need words anymore. All they had to say could be understood simply by gazing at the other.

What's this feeling? It's the same thing I've felt when he's around before, but at the same time, it's different. Somehow, the fear I had is dwindling. It's still there, but it's not nearly as strong anymore. What has he done to me? I feel so helpless when he looks at me like that. I feel like just running into his arms, but even after realizing that we're so much alike, I still can't understand why.