Prince was carrying the breakfast he had made for both him and Anxiety when he heard it.

He stopped outside the darker side's room, shocked still by the music flowing out through the crack under the door. Prince recognised that it was piano almost immediately, but it took a moment until he understood what it meant.

When he had left, Anxiety was still sound asleep. Prince got up, intending to surprise him with breakfast. After he got over the surprise of not waking up in his own room, of course. Now he was here, outside, as Anxiety played a lovely little tune. Prince almost expected him to start singing. In fact, he wanted him too.

Unfortunately, it did not appear to be a song with lyrics.

"Where's that music coming from?" Logic's frustrated voice echoed faintly down the hallway. Prince hoped he didn't investigate it further, because he wanted this to be something only he and Anxiety knew about. Prince heard a door creaking open, and then Morality replying.

"I don't know. It comes every now and then! Kinda nice, don't you think?"

Prince, without seeing, knew that Logic was rolling his eyes. "What did I say about that word? Anyway, how about we go see what Thomas is doing? Maybe we should explain it further," he wondered aloud.

Their voices faded as they walked further away, and Prince turned his full attention back to the song, not even bothering to wonder what "it" was. He wanted to watch as Anxiety played, but he didn't want to open the door, just in case Anxiety saw and stopped.

Eventually, he decided to rest against the door and listen.

As the final few chords came to an end, he opened it as quietly as he could.

"You're really good at that," he said.

Anxiety's head whipped towards him, jumping slightly. "How long have you been out there for?" He asked with wide eyes.

"Since about the start of the song," Prince admitted. Seeing Anxiety's nervous fidgeting, he decided to change the subject. "I made us breakfast," he said, holding up the platter of food.

Anxiety stood up immediately, and tugged Prince to sit on his bed. Prince almost laughed, but decided against it, instead just smiling. "I thought you had left," Anxiety admitted through a mouthful of toast.

"I had nothing on today that required my attention," Prince shrugged, picking up a bunch of grapes. "Hey, Anxiety, watch this!" He threw one up and caught it in his mouth.

Anxiety rolled his eyes. "That's nothing, Prince," he scoffed, stealing a few of the grapes and chucking them up in rapid succession. Prince watched in fascination as he caught them all.

However, he was not one to be beaten in a challenge, as he had now decided this was, and determinedly tried to do the same thing. Most of the grapes rained down and hit Prince in the face, which made Anxiety chuckle and pat him on the back condescendingly.

"Aw, Princey. Don't worry, not all of us can be talented at everything we do."

Prince glared at him, but let it go. "Speaking of talent, why don't you play something else for me?" He made sure to pull out his "puppy-dog" eyes, hoping to sway Anxiety.

Anxiety pulled a face. "Talent? You must be delusional, Prince. You sure you're feeling alright?" Before Prince could object, Anxiety shrugged. "But fine. If your ears bleed, you can't blame me."

He got up, moved towards the piano and sat down on the stool placed there. His fingers hesitated over the keys. "Any requests?"

Prince considered this for a moment. "Whatever's fine," he answered.

Anxiety paused for a second, wondering whether or not he should play that song. He knew he wouldn't be able to stop himself from singing along, but surprisingly, he found he didn't care as much when it was just with Prince.

He took a deep breath and let himself start the familiar tune.

" Maybe my song isn't happy enough, but I,

I see it take flight, with the snowflakes above me,

My coffee gets cold, as I'm staring enthralled

At the snow that keeps falling outside. "

His mind travelled as he continued to play. Anxiety thought about how Prince had been oddly silent while he was singing, then about the time a few days before when Prince first found his room. Anxiety allowed himself to be whisked into his thoughts about the warmth he felt when Prince had defended him, about the happiness he had felt when the others had apologised for their normal behaviour because they realised it actually did hurt him. He hadn't felt like he had this past week since... forever.

" Well, how are you dear?

Yeah, it's still snowing here.

Are you doing alright?

Are you lonely at night? "

He forced his mind away from the bad nights, the ones he usually thought about during that bit in the song. If Prince noticed the slight crack in his voice, he didn't say anything.

" I'll see you in London, or maybe in Paris.

Berlin will be waiting, and so will be Rome.

Or maybe I'll see you again...

When it's snowing in Venice, and I,

Will be on my way home... "

Anxiety finished, paused in his motions, not wanting to look at Prince who he could feel was boring holes in his back.

"That was..." Prince started, and Anxiety's thoughts spiralled yet again. Did he hate it? What if he did? Of course he did! How could he like it when- "beautiful."

Anxiety turned around questioningly. Prince was quiet, which was suspicious enough any day, but he was also staring at Anxiety with wide eyes, as if he had realised something.

"What's wrong, Princey? You look like you've seen a ghost," Anxiety joked, hoping that Prince would snap out of it.

"What?" he blinked. "Oh, sorry, I was just thinking. But you're really good!"

Anxiety rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged. "I'm far from the best," he said modestly.

Prince shook his head. "I disagree."

"To each his own." A silence settled upon them, not exactly uncomfortably, more as if though both were wrapped up in their own separate thoughts, but it made him anxious.

"So, I could change your name, if you wanted to?" Anxiety suggested, and Prince nodded in agreement, handing over his phone.

Anxiety took it and quickly typed something in, then handed the phone back.

Prince's eyes scanned the name and glared at the other. "Really? I suppose it's not the worst you could have given me, but still. This calls for revenge!" He declared.

"And how exactly are you going to that?" Anxiety grinned. Prince thought for a moment. "That's what I thought, you can't-"

The only warning he got was when Prince's eyes flicked to his phone poking out from his hoodie pocket before the thief took it.

"Tell me how to change it and you can have it back," Prince laughed, expertly dodging Anxiety's attempts at grabbing it back.

"Fine!" Anxiety conceded, huffing as he told him the directions. When he was finished, he held out his hand expectantly, only to be met with nothing. Prince had opened up his phone – god damn it, why doesn't he have a password? – and was typing away. The devil was using his tactic against him.

"Oi, Prince!" Anxiety lunged for it, but Prince stepped aside.

"Ask nicely and you can have it back," he teased, waving it in front of Anxiety's face before snatching it away again as he made to grab it.

"Never!"

"Then I guess I'll have to keep this," Prince shrugged.

Anxiety attempted to snatch it back for a bit, but eventually he threw up his hands, exasperated. "Fine, you win! May I please have my phone back?" he snarled.

"Sure thing, sweet cheeks." Prince gave it back, smirking.

Anxiety read his new name and laughed. "Jokes on you, I like that name."

"Of course you would," Prince sighed. Secretly, he was glad that Anxiety seemed to be enjoying their ridiculous argument. It felt... nice, as opposed to their usual snide comments. Let's just say a lot had changed in the past month or so.

(Neither would have it any other way.)

-

A/N A longer chapter, for those who like it! Prinxiety is about to start properly coming into play soon...

The video is a piano version of Igenue, which is what Anxiety plays at the start. I'm trying to learn it!