Ness still remembered the day he met you. It was unexpected, yet one of the most memorable moments of his life, second only to meeting Kaiser. Maybe it was because you were Kaiser’s sister, an extension of him in a way. You had the same features, the same resemblance that caught his attention and never let go. But it wasn’t just that.

Unlike Kaiser, you weren’t someone to serve, someone to orbit around and cling to. You were understanding, supportive. You wanted Ness to think for himself. To be himself. It was a strange feeling, having someone refuse his unwavering devotion, refusing the blind loyalty he so easily offered. You didn’t want what he gave Kaiser, you didn’t seek out obedience. Because deep down, you knew it wasn’t really him.

The feelings that grew for you were inevitable. But he was careful, he had to be. If Kaiser ever found out… but it didn’t seem to matter. As long as Ness played his role, Kaiser didn’t care what else he did.

And so, little by little, Ness let himself be. With you, slivers of his real self surfaced. His former love for magic, his ability to read emotions, not just his own but yours too. His love for winter. Things that made him Ness, not just someone in Kaiser’s shadow. That’s why, for the first time, he felt comfortable enough to be with you alone. No Kaiser, no expectations. Just the two of you, wandering town, waiting for a movie he wanted to see.

He almost let you pick, anything you wanted, he would’ve gone along with it. But of course, you refused, bringing the choice back to him. Encouraging him, again, to want something. And for once, he let himself want.

“You sure you wanna see this one?” He asked, hesitant. “Might be boring…”

But you didn’t waver.

“Next time we go, I want to see something you like, okay?”