Bokuto stared as Akaashi successfully copped the branches from the tree laid across their path, in awe. He was so scrawny Bokuto had doubted he would be able to get the axe going fast enough to break anything with it. Akaashi looked up, panting. "Well are you going to help me or not?"

Bokuto grabbed his axe. "Yeah. Some of this wood can make a pretty table so watch out. I've gotta get it right."

Akaashi backed away and Bokuto took a deep breath. He raised his arms, the coat he was wearing barely going with him. The coat seemed so much smaller than Bokuto's needs. "Kotarou?"

Bokuto hit the tree again and the trunk split. He backed up, panting heavily. "Yeah?"

Akaashi gestured to his coat. "Is your coat too small?"

"Oh. I mean a little bit. It fits me okay though."

Akaashi hummed. He backed up and let Bokuto chop up the trunk. Some time later he heard a rip and looked up. Bokuto dropped his axe hurriedly and took off his coat. "Fuck! Are you shitting me right now?!"

Akaashi's eyes widened. "Will you watch your mouth?!"

Bokuto glared. "Did you hex me or something?"

"No?"

"My coat ripped," Bokuto whispered.

"Oh my..."

Bokuto's eyes watered. He dropped to the snow, just holding his coat. "My aunt made me this coat and I ripped it..."

Akashi leaned down and realized Bokuto was crying. "Hey, deep breaths. It's just a coat."

"You don't understand! I won't get another coat for years!" Bokuto sniffled. "I don't get new things ever..."

Akaashi set his hand on his arm. "Do you know how to sew?"

"No. Only my mama does."

Akaashi hummed. "Which way is to the castle?"

"Oh um..." Bokuto pointed to the right. "Do you want to go home?"

"I'd like you to follow me. Quickly lead me to the garden and from there I will show you something."

Bokuto got up and hid the axes before leading him close to the castle. Akaashi opened a different gate and strode through the garden until he got to a large apple tree. He pointed to it. Just above that is my balcony. Come with me up the tree and I'll find you a new coat."

"No."

"No?"

"No. I don't accept gifts like that. It's not fair to my family." Bokuto stepped back. "I'm sorry sir but no."

Akaashi struggled for a moment not to snap at him. He had never in his life been told no by someone of a lower class or by anyone but his siblings or parents. This wasn't normal. He was just trying to help. Akaashi sighed, knowing just how awful this would be but knowing he would be able to get the answer he was looking for. He pulled his dagger from his side and pointed it at Bokuto. "Go up the tree."

Bokuto stood his ground. "No. I'm not scared of a dagger. That thing is easy to break." He shifted his weight back onto one leg.

Akaashi scoffed. "I've used this a lot."

"And the blade is dull. It'll hurt, yeah. But not how you want it to."

Akaashi held it tighter, thrusting it towards Bokuto. "Go up the tree."

Bokuto grabbed Akaashi's hand and before Akaashi knew it he was on the ground, hands pinned behind his back awkwardly. "Don't you ever threaten me with a knife again. I may be a filthy blacksmith with no manners but I will not have a weapon pointed at me."

Akaashi nodded hurriedly. "Please let me go!"

"Apologize."

Akaashi burst into tears. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I just wanted to help you!"

Bokuto hurried off of him. "Oh shit sorry did I hurt you? I was trying to be careful!"

Akaashi backed up a bit, hyperventilating. He coughed and sputtered and Bokuto backed away.

"I really didn't mean to hurt you."

"N-no it didn't hurt I just... it reminded me of something awful."

Bokuto crouched down. "No one will believe me if I say anything. What is it?"

Akaashi shook his head. "It's forbidden to talk about."

"It's your father, isn't it?"

Akaashi looked up. "If I tell you, will you please never tell a soul?"

"Of course." Bokuto sat down, crossing his legs.

Akaashi sniffled. He looked around before looking at Bokuto. "My father sometimes does things or says things. He is truly awful."

"What kind of things?"

"When I was younger it was mainly being told awful things about how small I was or my abilities to do masculine habits. He broke my first violin and shamed me for loving the waltz. A few years ago I had started being beat and he just never stopped beating me. It's for small things as well and I'm sure when my suitor gets here it will be worse. He once broke my nose because he kicked me in the face."

"Oh my... your father needs to better himself."

Akaashi felt of the bridge of his nose. "There's still a crick there."

Bokuto held out a hand and Akaashi lowered his hand. "May I feel of it?"

Akaashi leaned forward and directed Bokuto's hand to the bump on his nose.

"And that's the worst he's done?"

"For now. He will kill me if I try to ever do something while learning to rule the kingdom. I am his one and only son and I have done nothing to earn his love."

"Oh but you are loveable. You offer so many things to those of us who can't do anything. You're caring. It's something we don't see often."

"But I am not strong and I am not worthy of being king. He is going to marry me to another man and I will be killed after I am crowned so that my husband will marry a woman and have children. I'm not stupid. It happened a few kingdoms over."

Bokuto hummed. "And you don't want an arranged marriage? Is he forcing you to be with a man?"

"I would prefer to be with a man. Everyone has known this for a while but I don't want to be with a stranger. When I find my perfect partner he will rule alongside me and we will raise children that are orphans to give them a deserved life."

Bokuto smiled. "A king is kind and that was all kind. I mean raising orphans? Come on man, that's sweet."

Akaashi put his head down and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry I told you all of that."

"It's okay..." Bokuto pointed to the tree. "You want to go up?"

Akaashi nodded and got up. Bokuto handed him his dagger back.

"Do you need a lift?"

"No." Akaashi grabbed the closest branch and pulled himself up. Bokuto waited until he was halfway up and followed Akaashi. Akaashi opened his window and walked into his room. From there he looked through a chest next to his wardrobe where he stored extra clothes. "It's somewhere in here..."

"What is that?"

"Clothes that I have been gifted that are much too large. Try this on please." Akaashi handed him a coat and Bokuto's body seemed to fit into it nicely. Akaashi pulled on the fabric and hummed. "There's grow room."

Bokuto buttoned up the coat and grinned. "It's comfortable."

Akaashi leaned over and pulled a string by his desk. "Good. Are you hungry?"

"Sort of. Why?"

"I am getting lunch since my sisters are also eating right now."

"Don't you eat in that big table room?"

"The dining hall? Oh no. Not this week. I'm not allowed to be around my father for the remainder of the week."

"Why?"

"You ask a lot of questions."

Bokuto laughed nervously. "I get that a lot."

"I see." Akaashi heard a knock on his door and took off his coat. He opened the door slightly. "Can you bring a few sandwiches and some water up here? Two glasses."

"Yes sir."

"Thank you." Akaashi closed the door and took off his boots. "Have you ever played chess?"

"Nope. I played checkers once."

Akaashi hummed. He tossed a piece of wood into the fireplace. Bokuto hurried over. "What are you doing?"

"You'll put out the fire like that. Where's the fire stick thing?"

Akaashi handed it to him and Bokuto moved around the wood. Akaashi got a blanket and wrapped it around his shoulders before setting up his chess board. "Would you like to learn how to play chess?"

Bokuto sat down. "Sure."

Akaashi pointed to each of the pieces, leading Bokuto threw the directions of the game calmly despite his many, many questions. Akaashi yet again reminded himself that he was privileged and needed to calm down. Bokuto was excited and talked his ear off even through eating.

Akaashi just listened, moving his pieces around. This was better than being alone at least.