Ryoma. Takumi. Leo turned the names over in his mind, walking through the lush forest beyond the Nohrian encampment. Ryoma. Takumi. So strange, these Hoshidans, he thought, their customs, their names, everything about them.
It was Leo's first time in the Hoshido border region; in fact, it could hardly be said he had left Castle Krakenburg much at all in the past. But King Garon had made it plain that, even in light of young Leo's protests, he would be a part of this diplomatic mission for the good of the country.
Leo didn't like to travel. He didn't like much other than the peace and solace in the great library of the keep. Well, he did like tomato juice. But there wasn't any tomato juice here, was there? No, there wasn't. Only the dark, misty woods, and his wretched siblings back at camp.
"Let Crown Prince Xander deal with these Hoshidan dogs," he sneered to himself, finally in the comfort of his own company, alone. It would be a few hours before he was realized missing back at camp. I'll be back before they even know I'm gone. I just need to recharge, that's all.
Yes, this place was awful. It was true. But Leo had found something of interest, yes he had. Something that might just help him to relax a bit...
He felt a change in the cool air first, as he approached the steaming hot springs; a warmth that tickled his skin, made it crawl with anticipation. He began to strip off his boots, his socks, and soon he was as naked as the grass was green. "Mmmm," he purred delicately, as his smooth, pale skin sank into the luxurious water.
"A pity we don't have this at home," he sighed, and splashed the water playfully. He closed his eyes.
Ryoma. Takumi. He pictured their faces. One, strong, with wild brown hair, and the other, shorter and moody, with well-kept hair as silver as the moon... The one who had been so offended when he said his name wrong, like Ta-koomi...
"Oh, curse this," Leo said, "I'm supposed to be relaxing. Besides, I can't help the uncultured attitude of these savages." And relax he did, the warm Hoshidan springs heating his blood and bones and making his skin flush with pleasure. He rubbed the soothing waters gently over his shoulders, which felt a little cold above the water.
Takumi. Again, the boy's soft brown eyes and silver mane flashed through Leo's mind. His heart thumped faster at the thought of the Hoshidan prince's outburst, directed at him. Such arrogance! How dare he chastise me like th—
Then, all hell broke loose.
The forest stirred as something crashed through the bushes, sending birds flying every which way, shattering the Nohrian prince's peace of mind. He shot upright, alert, when a wild boar came smashing through the dense flora surrounding the springs, pursued by the sound of wild hooves. One deft arrow zipped from the trees, and felled the beast, pierced through its heart.
Leo's eyes grew wide as the felled thing shuddered its death-rattle, not ten feet away. But worse still, someone was coming.
"Gods! I can't let them see me like this," Leo said in an attempt to calm himself. He was very self-conscious of his skinny body, and there was no way he would ever willingly let anyone see him naked.
It was too late. A figure, naught but a silhouette, ranged through the fog and the trees and made its way to the dead beast. Leo held his breath, terrified to move.
As the shade approached, there was no mistaking its identity.
Takumi. Takumi. Takumi!
The Nohrian prince was paralyzed. Don't let him see me—
The Hoshidan prince's long, silver hair swayed behind him as he planted one boot firmly on his kill and ripped his arrow from the boar. He drew his knife and prepared to gut his kill. But his eyes fell on the black boots that lay beside the spring. Nohrian boots.
The knife went away, and the bow came up nocked and ready. Takumi stood cautiously, and his eyes fell upon the naked, bathing prince of Nohr. His face briefly held an expression of shock before he swiftly recovered (Hoshidan springs are quite famous for their especially clear waters).
"You..." Takumi said, glaring at the uncloaked boy.
Leo glared back, powerless but no less standoffish. "So, this is it? Will you be proud of killing an unarmed prince, you dog?"
Takumi lowered his bow, but not his gaze. "No, we do not kill unarmed princes in Hoshido. It's dishonorable."
Leo raised an arm to cover himself. He didn't know what else to do. "What, is it so strange to see someone bathing in Hoshido that you need to stare?!" The spring suddenly felt hotter than before.
Takumi immediately cast his eyes aside. "It is not. It was wrong of me to come upon you like this. I apologize."
Leo stared deeply at the other's reddened face. "Hmph. Maybe you aren't such a savage after all." Takumi gave a look of pure scorn, but Leo couldn't help to notice that the Hoshidan prince's eyes wandered a little too far south...
"You really are insufferable," Takumi said, drawing his blade once more and preparing to gut the dead boar. "Tell me, does your own mother even love you?"
Leo roared and rose up out of the water without a second thought. "Don't you dare talk about my mother!" he screamed. His tome, Brynhildr, was out of reach, but he was still skilled with fire magic without it, especially when he was angry. And when people talked about his abusive mother, that made him very angry indeed.
The silver-haired boy readied himself against an attack, but the angered Nohrian's threat soon sputtered out. A cool breeze passed through and brought the prince back to reality, which was that he was penis-to-the-wind naked and dripping wet. Takumi's jaw dropped a little, and Leo sat back down quickly, redder than his favorite fruit.
"...Let's just forget this happened," Leo huffed.
"R-right!" agreed Takumi. Voices in the distance began calling his name. "I need to go," he added, appearing almost remiss before scampering off into the misty wood. Leo was alone once again, hardly believing what had happened and failing to comprehend what stirred within him.