One Last Kiss

  The sun outside is on the verge of setting, making a dark shadow fall over the room as the single candle on Phil's desk struggles to light up the space. Ever since he woke up this morning his mind has been in overdrive, making focusing on the preparations for his wedding tomorrow impossible to do. A small part of him reminds himself that there's a chance none of the preparations will matter anyways, but the more he thinks about it the smaller that voice becomes.

Philza is well aware of the complexities of politics between kingdoms. He's been dealing with them for ages, looking over treaties, discussing war strategies, making alliances, and all the other necessities for a prince to know during times of war. Which is why he knows that the decision he has to make now shouldn't even be a decision. Any other prince would be happy, would be smiling from ear to ear at the prospect of ending a multi-year war with hundreds of thousands of casualties with a deal as easy as the promise of trading resources and marrying a princess known for being as well educated as she is beautiful. Any good prince wouldn't jeopardize the future of his kingdom, of his family and friends over something as trivial as his own feelings.

With a sigh Philza collapses onto his bed despite the jolt of pain it causes in his wings, crown falling from his head and onto the sheets as he closes his eyes. He knows he's made up his mind but the choice doesn't sit right with him. He can feel the disappointment pooling in his gut as his stomach drops and the subtle sting behind his eyes threatens to well into tears but he knows he can't cry yet. Not when he still has to tell him about his decision.

Almost immediately after the thought crosses his mind he hears the familiar clatter outside his window. Standard issue guards boots scraping against the outer wall of the castle as they climb a rope attached to a well cast arrow up to the windowsill. With a deep breath Philza rises from the bed, getting to his feet with his lip pulled between his teeth. Seeing the first hand grip the sill to pull up the body it's attached to causes Philza to swallow, he wonders if what he feels is fear and if so what he's afraid of. When the second hand grips the stone and the man is brought into full view, revealing strong pink eyes that stare directly at him and a smile that reminds him of all the reasons he should neglect his duties as crown prince, it's almost too much.

He takes a step back as the man pulls himself over the windowsill and into the room. His long pink hair is covered by the hood of a fur-lined deep red cloak to hide his identity, but to Philza he's as recognizable as ever. They stare at each other, he can tell the other is taking him in. His disheveled hair from falling into bed, his conflicted expression, his lack of packed bags and the fact he isn't wearing the clothes he'd been given days ago in preparation for tonight. He can see it in the man's eyes and can tell he knows exactly what Philza has chosen. But while he knows there's nothing he can say to make the realization any more bearable he also needs to explain himself, if not for his lover than for himself. "Tech." But he can't. The decision seemed so easy before now.

It seemed easy when Techno had explained how they'd leave the kingdom, two horses he'd load up with supplies beforehand and a map with a carefully determined path that would have them out of the kingdom by morning before anyone could realize he was gone. And it seemed easy when he'd been told how the kingdom would flourish under the new peace treaty and all he'd have to do was marry someone others promised him he'd have no trouble getting along with. But now that he actually has to voice his decision to the one person he feels makes life cooped up in the castle worth living, he can't. "I can explain." He says it because it's all he can say. He knows he owes the man an explanation but the thought of speaking into the air all the reasons he's chosen to forsake his lover and his own happiness sounds cruel for both of them.

Technoblade only shakes his head. He knew this was a possibility, knew Philza had duties and responsibilities that could force him to stay no matter how much happier he'd be if he left it all behind. "There's no need." He talks through his breath, eyes closed as he raises a hand to thread it through his hair and throws off his hood with a groan. So many things run through Technoblade's mind as he takes a moment to breathe. He has options, he always has options. He could spend precious hours explaining to Phil why he'd be better off going with him, that the kingdom won't fall and the peace treaty will be mended somehow. But he trusts Phil has weighed those costs by now, has weighed the price of his happiness against the price of his kingdom's potential ruin and decided the risk wasn't worth taking. He could haul the man into his arms and drag him to the horses; It would be risky but Phil wouldn't scream to get them caught and eventually he'll realize life outside the castle, with him or not, is far better than being forced into a marriage he had no say in. But Techno knows he wouldn't be able to bring himself to do that, he doesn't have the mental strength to force Phil to do anything no matter how much better he believes it would be for him. That only leaves one last option that Technoblade resigns himself to as he breathes out and turns to Phil. "Do I at least get one last kiss before I leave?" He feels it's the least he could ask for.