Xaviers!

"I'm sure the wolves must go through their fair share. I believe it is they who have kept me up with their howling, at least."

"Glad the woods aren't on my side of the buildin, cause these ears hear everythin. And let me tell you, college is not a good place to have enhanced hearin," he said, smirking suggestively.

"...Is that so," Katarina said, hesitantly.

"Oh shit, you're across the hall. Uh, no, I was jokin. I've got great hearin, but not through multiple walls. And one still muffles stuff."

His backpedal was only half true.

"I...see.

I suppose that is just one of the many hazards of living in a public space," Katarina said, with a thin-lipped smile.

"Yeah..." he said awkwardly, "Sorry, my sense of humor might be a little crass for someone of a more... gentle upbringin."

"Different, not gentle," Katarina gently corrected. "But as I said, the cultural differences are...many."

"So I'm learnin. But that's one of the great things about bein in such a diverse school. I get to learn about these things so I don't make an ass of myself wherever I end up after graduatin."

"And where will that be?"

"Not a clue. Still takin things one day at a time, so the future hasn't really been on my mind."

"I envy that, most certainly. It seems like nothing but the future has been on my mind since I was old enough to think."

"It must be frustratin havin so much decided for you. And havin to look after an entire country is a burden I certainly wouldn't want. I don't envy you."

"Well, except for the wealth. That would be nicer than havin a couple hundred pounds to my name. Seriously, I weigh more than I'm worth financially."

"It is something I have been trained for since...well, again, since as long as I can remember. My future has very much been decided for me.

But money is not everything," she added, in the way people do when they've never not had money.

"No, not everything. But a hell of a lot when you don't have much. Trust me, you'll serve your people better if you understand what those of us without go through," he responded. He didn't sound offended; it was just friendly advice.

"I suppose that is one of the reasons I am here, then," Katarina said, with a practiced smile.

"We're all here to grow," he said.

"Sorry for the After School Special moment. Been really introspective lately."

"That can be a good thing, but try not to stare too deep."

"Good's come out of it already but, yeah, gaze long into the abyss and all. To completely misuse a quote."

"I mean, I admitted to myself I liked dudes and gained a great guy out of it," he added with a fond smile.

Katarina shifted her weight from one foot to another a little uncomfortably.

"I see. I am...happy for you," she nodded.

"Still not comfortable talkin about it where people can hear, are you? I mean, I get it. Reality had to beat me over the head to make me comfortable with that part of myself."

"I'll leave it at that but if you ever want to talk about it with somebody who's as new to this whole nonstandard pairin thing as you are, I'm here for ya."

"Yes, I shall...keep that in mind," Katarina said, the smile frankly plastered onto her face by this point.

"So, uhh..." he said growing serious, gently asking, "How goes the home front? I haven't had a chance to check the news sites lately."

"It is not good," Katarina sighed. "Two of the Royal Houses of Symkaria have taken their two provinces, along with the third province which does not currently have a ruler, and have isolated them from the rest of the country. They have cut themselves off from the central government, and are reportedly hiring mercenaries and training their own military units. They have not declared themselves independent as of yet, but we believe that is only because they plan on using my immorality and unfitness to rule as a leverage point to seize control of the entire country. And because of this internal strife, armies are gathering on our borders from multiple directions, looking to take advantage of the chaos and become the first people to conquer parts of Symkaria in over two thousand years.

All because my former friend decided to tell a cocky moron that I enjoyed holding a hand with a girl," she sighed, slumping down a bit.

"For what it's worth, the ones who think a teenage girl deserves to die because of who they love are the immoral ones unfit to rule. They'd only set your country back to darker times."

"Yes, I had come to a similar conclusion myself," Katarina deadpanned.

He winced.

"Sorry. Of course, you don't need anyone to tell you that."

"Maybe I should just stop talkin before I put my foot all the way in my mouth."

"No, no, it's not you, it is me.

There is a long legacy of things I am failing here, and it is weighing on me."

He stopped moving and looked her right in the eyes with a serious expression. "In no way is this chaos on you. The other families have likely been plottin somethin like this since the day yours assumed power. You're just the scapegoat they needed. You hear me?"

"Someone is always plotting something like this. But my father held them off, as did his father, as did my ancestors who once held the throne in ages past, as did the other royal families who sat on the golden throne in the interim. And when war and conflict broke out, it was always Symkaria winning. The unjust and unfair lose power when the righteous rise up against them. And if my family falls, it is because I have strayed from the path of righteousness."

And so Leo said something to her something possibly nobody ever had, certainly not someone of so much lower a station.

"That's bullshit. Those people aren't righteous. And your job so far has been to be the enchanted mirror telling your country it's the most beautiful of all. If people suddenly see something ugly in their reflection, that's on them."

"The art does not get to tell the audience that they are wrong for not liking it."

"With all due respect for your country. The people who think someone as kind and accepting as you is some kind of immoral devil because you like a girl can fuck off right into the dark ages they came from. Because if you're immoral then I'm exactly the monster I look like."

"You can't just go around and apply...western values to a different culture, Leo. How would it be if here I insisted upon people following the natural order of things? That would hurt a great many people!"

"The difference is that in the west, fewer and fewer people consider it unnatural in the first place. Besides, aristocracy isn't natural either. And neither is the vast majority of what humans do. So it really isn't even an insult or even a valid criticism. Cultural differences are a deflection."

"And that's my point -- if I came here and started preaching about how being gay is unnatural, or about how your monarchy is underpowered, it would hurt many people. I would be equally wrong trying to apply my values to your culture.

And that is just as a student at a school. As Crown Princess of a nation..."

He exhaled slowly to calm himself.

"I'm bein a bit self-righteous, aren't I? Sorry. It just... gets to me to see you beat yourself up over just bein yourself. Because if a freakin crown princess questions her worth, what hope do I have to get past my own self-doubt? Case in point, it infects regular conversation and makes me feel like a shitheel for makin everythin about me."

"What you need to remember, Leo, is that you do not have pressure on you. If someone doubts what you are doing, you can tell them to...tell them to go soak their head! What does it matter what they think? The only one you must answer to is yourself. It is a position I envy; I do not have that luxury."

"I get that. I do. I just don't want you to believe that you're what they say you are. You may have to play the game, but don't let it play you."

"I shall try to keep your advice in mind," Katarina nodded.

"Good," he smiled. Satisfied that he got his point across, he resumed hunting his stationary prey.