For a moment, Akiha wants to cut Nico's yelling off with another kiss. It had felt wonderful, a sincere moment of connection, the kind of intimacy Akiha's been denying herself her whole life.

But she's nervous. Akiha's flushed, too. Her hands are still on Nico, and the hand in her hair begins to curl some of it around a finger, trying to find some way of working out the anxiety.

"Please. We both know neither of us were going to," Akiha huffs. insulting her own cowardice as much as Nico's. She doesn't turn her eyes away from Nico's, there's still a sincere love in them. Now that Nico's eyes are open, she can see that clearly. Akiha manages to sound annoyed anyway though. "It's cleared the air, hasn't it? We both know where we're coming from."