#fate au

[samuraseiichi]

i love the hc that the chrysos heirs of amph are taller than a normal person so in the context of a fate au, mydei summons a giant phainon

[kue-rangi]

Satbk sonic is just fate saber

[14th-lulullaby]

BRAVEEEE SHINEEEEE

IF U NEED A HAND TO HOLD THEN STAY THE NIIIGHT

[vikcacao]

I have remembered an old fandom of mine, yall know what that means !!!!! new itfs au !!!! even if its just for the sake of a few doodles lmao

its been so long since ive watched it tho, so my lore is rusty

[angelicsilvie]

Derlord and Avery (FATE AU)

infinite knowledge yet bro can't make toast. (this is a joke ofc he figures it out eventually)

For a better explaination, Derlord is a heroic spirit in the Saber class (sword user), meanwhile Avery is a newbie mage who summoned him on accident and joined the holy grail war. Derlord in this au was alive during the medieval era so it's his first time trying to cook in a modern kitchen

just a late night doodle, I'll lock in with my assignments then make more I swear

[nomel-artz]

I apologize for not being as active on here as I should…Fate Au Suguru Geto anyone? He’s an assassin servant with a penchant for necromancy…

[umekonae]

Prologue III.

Archer.

Fireworks are going off outside.

Night falls, giving way to the stars, the moon, and this spectacle, making the entire landscape enchanting. The locals are enjoying this evening celebrating the Bastia Musicales Festival. As they do every year, many visitors come to enjoy the melodies and singers they can hear during the concert.

But, in one of the luxurious houses of the historic town.

A very elegant and chic event is taking place in the De Montmirail family villa. The place is immense, filled with works of art in the living room and other rooms belonging to talented artists, both old and new. The guests all wear extravagant outfits to chat with each other, in an atmosphere that gives the impression of being in another world due to the luxurious decor. The couple is chatting with an elderly man of Canadian origin; they are discussing a project to establish businesses in the country.  In other corners of the immense room, we can see the elders, who are the stars of the evening, radiant, elegantly and refinedly dressed. Everyone is chatting with one of them, charmed by their words, trying to gain their attention to discuss a future project or to seduce one of them so they can be in a relationship and marry them.

It is said that they have one of the most influential families in Corsica, the South of France, and even several countries. They are said to own several multinational companies in the maritime sector, which makes them very wealthy in that regard, being able to afford whatever they want. Even the children are born gifted in a few areas, and they are already making a name for themselves in the military and many other fields. In everyone's eyes, they are a large, normal family who lead a perfect life, in the eyes of humans without magical powers.

When in truth: they're all mages.

Known as one of the most influential in France, highly respected despite having made many enemies in recent years. Simply because of their actions, their behavior, and so on...Children.

Because yes, Charline and Théodore de Montmirail are the parents of nine children in total, which is a lot for a line of powerful enchanters. Many families prefer to raise a maximum of four children, because there's an old legend in Europe that is often true.

“Those who give birth to multiple offspring in a mage family, beware. For misfortune will eventually befall you and your entire lineage, it is said that when you decide to give birth, each of them will then be seen as a source of misfortune, which will ravage those around them. Only the youngest, under the age of 15, will survive the future tragedy that will befall you, witnessing your own downfall.”

This was a story a hermit once told to a group of travelers, all of whom were mages, who had once heard it after meeting the old man at a rest stop. Of course, some preferred to ignore it, finding his words strange and stupid. Yet, only one decided to heed his warning, having heard it said in the region. When he gives this kind of advice or proverbs that have a certain meaning, it always ends up coming true, and many see it as a prophecy or a curse. And what was bound to happen, happened: two of the gang married, having several children, only to one day end up ruined and die in a fire.

The cause ?

A war of power and inheritance, when the parents contracted a serious illness, only to discover that the elders had poisoned both of them to more easily acquire the family fortune. An argument broke out, eventually attacking each other with their magic, and alas, a huge explosion caused the house to collapse and burst into flames.

Everything was lost in a day.

Only the last three survived, being barely old children who were taken in by uncles and aunts.

This kind of event has happened so many times in Europe and other countries around the world that, over time, many have decided to have only a few babies to avoid misfortune in their homes. And yet, they didn't listen, biting off more than they could chew.

As their descendants became important pillars of the family fortune, they decided to ignore this, which many people in the family saw as no tragic event had yet occurred. Thinking that it had finally disappeared, many see them as the ones who broke this evil.

So, within the walls of this palace of gold, precious stones, and silver, lies a picture of ugliness that is very well hidden, repainted countless times over its different layers so that the lies that lie beneath are not seen.

This was a story a hermit once told to a group of travelers, all of whom were mages, who had once heard it after meeting the old man at a rest stop. Of course, some preferred to ignore it, finding his words strange and stupid. Yet, only one decided to heed his warning, having heard it said in the region. When he gives this kind of advice or proverbs that have a certain meaning, it always ends up coming true, and many see it as a prophecy or a curse. And what was bound to happen, happened: two of the gang married, having several children, only to one day end up ruined and die in a fire.

The cause ?

A war of power and inheritance, when the parents contracted a serious illness, only to discover that the elders had poisoned both of them to more easily acquire the family fortune. An argument broke out, eventually attacking each other with their magic, and alas, a huge explosion caused the house to collapse and burst into flames.

Everything was lost in a day.

Only the last three survived, being barely old children who were taken in by uncles and aunts.

This kind of event has happened so many times in Europe and other countries around the world that, over time, many have decided to have only a few babies to avoid misfortune in their homes.

And yet, they didn't listen, biting off more than they could chew.

As their descendants became important pillars of the family fortune, they decided to ignore this, which many people in the family saw as no tragic event had yet occurred. Thinking that it had finally disappeared, many see them as the ones who broke this evil.

So, within the walls of this palace of gold, precious stones, and silver, lies a picture of ugliness that is very well hidden, repainted countless times over its different layers so that the lies that lie beneath are not seen.

The boy is plunged into darkness as he hears the music coming from the city through his window. His hazel-green irises are analyzing the landscape, which is plunged into darkness in some places. A few toys are on the large, soft beige rug, placed close together and not scattered around as children often do. The room is professionally decorated and neutral, with little color and a childish feel, unlike that of a growing twelve-year-old. The walls are a grayish-white with portraits depicting him as a prince, but much of it is scrawled with black marker, covering his face.

He hates his artwork.

He hates being treated and seen as some kind of royalty.

This one knows him well.

They tried to create his behavior and personality from scratch, even in his own family. He doesn't know how these people did it or why. But he can't stay here any longer.

It's too dangerous for his future.

His head turns to his little sister, who is sleeping peacefully in her crib, wearing a clean, colorful outfit.

He found her in a room with a dirty floor, crying, wearing a dirty baby onesie that looked old.

Charles Orion feels bad for the youngest, who doesn't deserve this fate, having seen that because of their work, their parents don't really take care of the granddaughter. They abandon her to the nanny who doesn't really take care of her, since she has been corrupted by one of her elders.  He had to try to learn how to take care of a baby, even though he was still too young to do that kind of thing. To see a baby just a few months old end up dying because of the negligence of these evil people who are just like the monsters in the books he read. Alas for the little boy.

He has always had great difficulty reading and fully understanding certain moments, so he is somewhat behind in that area. Simply because everything was done to make him look like someone with difficulties and people treat him like he's dyslexic.

The poor guy had to learn on his own.

Without the help of his parents.

Without the support of his family.

He was always alone in that big house.

“I wonder if this will go well. I must succeed, for my own good and Lilas’s.” he thought, determined to succeed, only to hear someone knock on his bedroom door. “Now is the time to put my plan into action.”

"Young master, are you there ?”, a maid’s voice asked. He didn’t move and remained silent, looking at the baby, who was sleeping peacefully on a pile of pillows.

“That’s curious, is the young master already asleep ?”, a second woman’s voice asked the first, causing the latter to laugh at her comrade’s words.

“Maybe he went off to cry in a corner, as usual, because he didn't get the attention of Monsieur and Madame. They can't keep busy with a brat who wants to be treated like a prince all the time,” sneered the older woman, whom the other also mocked. Charles Orion heard everything and gritted his teeth, feeling tears welling up in his eyes. “Anyway, we'll tell Dame Barbara that he's not here. She shouldn't be bothering with him when tonight is such an important day for her!”

“That's true, according to rumors, she's going to start a new business in Brazil soon,” said the second voice, as the duo walked away, chatting in the empty, darkened hallway.

The two maids left, continuing their noisy conversations, only to fall silent again. The little wizard's heart is pounding in his chest. He really thought they were going to open the door and see him there with the youngest. His ears are listening, waiting before moving. He climbs down from the light gray armchair with a sleek, modern design. His feet move toward the chest that should be used to store his toys, but as soon as he opens it to analyze the contents, he loses consciousness.

Inside, there was nothing but dust and a small pile of old books.

It belonged to his great-grandfather, who passed away a few years ago. It should have gone to his brother Justin, since he loves antiques. But he quickly gave it to the boy, who didn't understand why.

He didn't expect to see snakes inside, controlled by magic, and the child panicked, quickly running away, only to be chased by these creatures throughout the house. His father rescued him to kill the animals with an object filled with Mana, only to discover that a seal had been implanted in their mouths.

Charles Orion knew Justin had tried to kill him: he remembers the look on his face when the young man saw his brother was still alive.

A disappointed expression, feeling as if he had wished he had run away a little longer.

The older boy sees the boy as a toy and not a member of his family, having observed his reaction in situations where he could die.

As if he were worthless in his eyes.

This is what terrifies the toddler, making him more cautious, knowing that in every corner of the house, he could end up being killed by one of his elders if he stayed there any longer.  The old box has never really been of any use to him given the few objects he has in his room that belong to him, tapping on one of the walls made of dusty wood and covered with a few rounded rusty nails. His fingers touch an area that moves to press hard enough on it, that's when a mechanism is activated to reveal a hidden part. Managing to take his backpack where there are several clean clothes for him and Lilas, money, magical objects that he has made and even stolen from his family's belongings in secret. Putting the equipment and baby food in his backpack which is heavy for him, he tries to stay standing while wanting to be strong for his little sister who knows how to wake up by gently babbling. His irises are fixed on her as he approaches to smile at her, holding out his finger that she takes with joy to chat.

“Sorry, Lilas, we're going to have to move. I promise to take care of you once we're away from this horrible place.”, Charles Orion says softly, gently and tenderly, gently removing his index finger and placing it in the stroller, which is quite large, while strapping the infant into it. “Well, it's time to use the object I stole from Juliette.”

He stares at the small turquoise-green stone to see a seal engraved on it. He breathes as he takes a small knife from his bag and cuts himself on his thumb. The pain makes him wince, feeling how uncomfortable it is for him, a drop falling on the cold, smooth material radiating strongly. He throws it a little further away until a door forms before his eyes. Breathing softly, his small hands try to hold the bar so he can push. Except he's too small to have any trouble, sighing.

“Why am I so small ?”, asked Charles Orion, deciding to use his magic to concentrate and create metal arms that grip the handlebars. “Phew, I did it. Okay, now let's head to A Pulverera (The Powder Keg). That's where I have to perform the summoning ritual.”, he said softly, concentrating on moving the cart forward, where Lilas was, delighted.

The two passed through the magical portal that emitted pale green flames, allowing them to land in one of the districts of the city of Bastia. It was nighttime, allowing the stars to shine, the moon was full, and all they could hear was the concert, which had been going on for several minutes now. Luckily for him, the place was deserted, and he decided to move forward, having to use his magic to make the members pull the baby machine. He wished he were taller and could do more.

If only he were the size of an adult.

Alas, he's still only a child.

So, he must use his brain and whatever he has at hand to venture into this seemingly gigantic world. The journey has been long for him, having done everything he can to avoid attracting the attention of passersby. He knows that even though many have gone to enjoy themselves and listen to the musical event, Charles Orion knows that if he's found outside with his little sister in the street at this hour, the two risk being taken to the police station and their parents being told they've run away from home.

And he doesn't want that.

Not when his goal is within reach.

The boy's brain must have been used a lot to be able to sneak around, avoid every obstacle that appears in his path, and finally reach his destination.  The building surrounded by yellow walls is right in front of him, which reassures the brunette, giving him hope that he's arrived.

Now, he just has to get inside.

Which might be complicated, thinking about it while the steel arms still hold the stroller, he was surprised that Lilas had been so calm during the trip. He had always heard her cry, only being quiet when she was sleeping, even though it was difficult for the nanny to get her to sleep. His eyes could see that his older siblings were annoyed, asking to be quiet, to move her away and put her in a corner in the hope that their parents could take care of her.

Even his parents had a hard time even wondering if there was something wrong with her, having called doctors so they could examine her and make sure everything was okay.

But it was always the same answer: she's perfectly healthy and has no abnormalities.

This made the couple suspicious, so they continued to look for the reason why she sobs so much at home.

He approaches the crib to stare at her when he sees her playing with her stuffed bunny, being so cute and calm, babbling softly.

It makes her laugh, finding her adorable.

“Did you also feel it was dangerous to stay home any longer ?”, he asks in a whisper, as she looks at him, trying to communicate with him, even though he doesn't understand anything since she can't speak at her age yet. “I wish I could know what you're saying and thinking, but you can't talk to me right now. It's a real shame, it would have been nicer to have someone to confide in.”

He says this with a soft sigh as Lilas watches him attentively, despite her young age. She was able to understand things and feel, just with her small, innocent eyes, as she handed her teddy bear to her eldest.

Charles Orion observes this curiously, smiling a little, taking the object and examining it closely.

It's one of the few things he was given; everything else was stolen by the servants who had the permission of the seven eldest children. They hid it from the couples who still haven't seen anything of what's going on behind their backs.

"Why can't Mom and Dad see everything that's going on at home ? Do they prefer their work so much to their family that they ignore everything that's going on behind their backs ?", he thought, wondering, and deciding to let it go, knowing he'd probably never have the answer to fix Lilas. “Come on, before it's too late.”

The little boy pushes the stroller again with his arms of steel, arriving in front of the building's entrance. Luckily for him, he'd previously activated an item that made him invisible. He could have used it when he was in town to avoid trouble, but unfortunately, he wasn't trained enough to perfectly channel his Mana into the necklace he wears around his neck. So, instead of wasting his energy making mistakes, he might as well preserve himself as much as possible.

“I hope this works, it has to, or I'll never be able to reach that place indicated in those old documents I stole from Florent's room.”, thought Charles Orion, taking out a magical cube-shaped item that he activated to see the surveillance cameras suddenly move, only to be scrambled for a few minutes. “Now's the time. I'll only have 5 minutes to get back inside using the gadget I managed to make.”

His small hands rummage in his pockets to grab a dark purple rock with the symbol of a lock. The place he wants to reach has been reserved for his family for generations now.

Alas, only a few have been granted access by the head of the family. And they are few in number, being heavily secured by numerous magical systems to hide what's inside. Charles Orion was very lucky when, by pure chance, he discovered this story of the Holy Grail War during a drunken conversation with one of his brothers and his friends, upon learning that there was an old summoning room that remained intact. It now serves as a room to store the family's treasures and other valuables.

“I really wonder if it's a good idea to leave this in a place like this, even if it's well secured. Isn't it dangerous ?”, thought Charles Orion, wondering why he made such a choice. “Well, maybe I should tell myself that this is lucky for me. It's very close to the house and I have some magical objects, which will allow me to get inside. But, I hope I can get what I want…If I participate in this war, I have to succeed.”, he thought to be determined, deciding that this is the moment for him.

He breathes, concentrating as a dark gray aura manifests around him. It's unstable and rippling, making him feel truly inexperienced.

But, despite everything,

He manages to manage by beginning to formulate an incantation.

“Kreis der Zeit, Kreis des Raumes. Erschaffe einen Weg, der mich zu dem Ort führt, an den ich denke. Möge meine Seele der Leitfaden sein, der die Schaffung dieses Portals ermöglicht !”

He pronounces his words in clumsy German, but with all his heart, hoping it will work for him. Until the stone vibrates in his hand and slips out, rolling until it hits the steel door.

A moment of silence passes.

To make a portal appear, seeing that it leads to the boy's destination, he was surprised and happy, deciding to quickly go inside with his little sister to immediately close the passage.

While in the room.

He understands why the adults chose this place and why it is so secure: tons of golden safes, ancient jeweled armor, objects from various lands, and many other things worth a fortune. Although it is quite dark, magic lanterns are placed in certain corners and are lit as soon as the two enter, allowing their little eyes to admire this breathtaking spectacle even more.

“Wow, I never would have believed our family would have kept all this for generations. I wonder how long it's been here? Some items must date back to the Middle Ages and even older,” said Charles Orion, moving the stroller forward as Lilas waved her stuffed animal, babbling happily at the sight. “You seem to like all this, too bad I can't take some jewelry, maybe even precious stones, for our trip. I already collected quite a few things before leaving, but…Will it be enough ?”

He looked a little in the bag under the stroller to see what he had sneaked out. Everything had been placed in a small magic chest that required the owner's magical fingerprint to open. By activating it with his Mana, he was able to check the inside and see what he could use as a means of making money.

We can see several precious stones along with quite a few bills that he must have searched through his parents' belongings, even those of his elders.

The child could have asked his father or mother for any amount, but home isn't a safe place, knowing that sooner or later.

His plan would surely have collapsed given the eyes and ears wandering everywhere, so he might as well play another game, even if it's not legal in his eyes.

It's for his survival and that of his little sister.

"I don't know who to contact to sell all this. How am I going to get some money ?", he muttered, sighing softly as he thought about what to do. He then heard his little sister let out little cries, and he turned around to see her waving her hands. "What's going on, Lilas ?"

Charles Orion turns his head toward the infant to put the chest back in his backpack, carefully closing it as he decides to carry it, and approaches her, who holds out her stuffed rabbit in one direction.

He looks curiously, noticing that a little further away, on the ground, is an ancient engraved magic circle. His irises widen to see what it is: the summoning ritual.

She has just found it.

“Amazing, you are truly incredible, Lilas.”, Charles Orion says, congratulating his sister, who laughs happily, feeling that she has understood his words. “I never thought it would be so visible. Wouldn't it be better to hide it ?”

As they both approach to get a better look, he sees that it is no longer very legible; some of the markings have been erased over time.  But he could easily see and guess how to redo everything neatly. He took out all the materials he needed to decide where to place everything, making a small pile near the stroller. He began using chalk to redo the ritual circle neatly, paying close attention to the remaining marks so that everything was copied perfectly. Once that was done, he went to place the candles in their places. The baby, who was in her seat and watching everything, also wanted to help by trying to free herself. Except that she was strapped in, complaining that her little hands were trying to untie themselves, until a slightly dark gray glow appeared to click the belt.

Suddenly, she was free, happy that she was trying to find a way to get down using her legs and palms. The infant was truly very intelligent, observant, and cunning, easily understanding how to land gently on the cobblestones.

Even if she ended up falling on her bottom.

Instead of crying, Lilas bravely tries to stand up, holding onto the stroller. Her plump body trembles as she tries to use what little strength she has to grab one of the candles and put it down. Her brother was busy arranging everything, taking notes on a piece of paper, when he heard a noise and turned his head to see the youngest child moving forward, pulling the contraption to hold one of the objects for the invocation.

“Lilas ? Are you trying to help me ?”, says Charles Orion, walking over to her. Lilas lifts her head to let out a small coo in response, which makes the boy smile as his hand strokes her hair. “Thank you, it's nice of you to help me. But…You can still stand, though…”

He remembers when the youngest child's nanny tried to get him to stand or encourage him to do so, but she quickly fell over and ended up shedding big tears.  Many attempts ended in failure, and some thought she might need a little more time. But now, he sees how she's holding herself together.

The little boy remains silent, as if understanding.

Even though she can't speak, deep down, his brain has found the answer to her question.

He remains silent for a few seconds, trembling, trying not to shed tears in front of her.

He wants to remain strong in this situation.

"Don't worry, I promise I'll do everything I can to succeed. Once I've completed the invocation, we can quickly get away from here.", he declares with a sparkle of determination in his eyes, as he continues to put everything in place with Lilas chirping.

Once everything is placed as indicated on the document he pinched, he breathes to check by rereading the bronze-colored paper, which shines slightly because it's covered in gold lines.

We can see that the writing is in an elegant and old-fashioned style, as we can see the signature of the original author who left all the information.

“I should consider myself lucky to have found this among Barbara's things, even though I wonder how someone so obsessed with tidiness and cleanliness could have left behind an important document like this.”, he muttered, curious to see that the material must be worth a lot, guessing that the writing paper of the time must be expensive. “It's really strange, though, she's such a neat freak and does everything she can to hide everything about herself. It makes no sense that she'd just throw this in the trash instead of putting it in the scrambler.”, he thought, wishing he had the answer while he thought, even though nothing came to mind to decide to stop. He carefully put it away and then checked the time with his great-grandfather's old pocket watch.

He only had 35 minutes left before the time was right.

“Well, what can we do in the meantime?” he mumbled, as Lilas walked along, pulling the stroller to touch various objects. Charles Orion stared at her, deciding to stay close to analyze the treasures inside. “I wonder how many years it's been here? Do the parents and the rest of the family come here often ?”

His hazel-green irises focused on all the treasures inside; he had the feeling that everything had been arranged neatly and in a certain order. As if someone had intended it to be that way. As he approached a statue depicting a kneeling woman praying, his eyes closed to see that she was wearing a tunic inspired by the Greek era. Her hair was long and tied in braids, and he noticed that there were flowers placed on the sides of her head. It was the first time he'd seen it, and yet, he felt as if he'd seen it before. Lowering his head to see if anything was written on it, he found a bronze plaque nailed to the smooth, pale stone.

“Sleeping pious woman covered in flowers. Artist: Romulus. Year: 1999-2006.”

That was the only information written on it, which puzzled the boy quite a bit, giving him a sense of déjà vu.

But where exactly ?

He knows that some of his childhood memories have faded over the years; his brain has begun to store certain memories deeply to make room. This prevents him from finding the information he's looking for. Lilac chirps, patting the large figurine to analyze it with her baby's eyes.

“Nothing to do, I don't know where I've seen this style before. And besides, there aren't really any artists in the family. Everyone is in the maritime or military fields, which means that very few individuals have chosen to pursue another profession outside their specialties.”, he muttered, sighing softly as the baby stared at his older brother curiously, waving his hand, as if to ask him what was wrong. “Oh…Sorry, I feel like I know this artist's style. Yet, I don't feel like I know him or have heard of him. Yet…I think this work is magnificent, it looks like the artist put his whole soul into it. Trying to convey his emotions through it,” he said, looking at the figure for several more minutes before deciding to check the time.

He now has 15 minutes left.

Time has passed rather quickly.

Which suits him.

“Okay, it's time to begin the invocation. I need to get out the object that supposedly belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte.”

He takes a box with the coat of arms of the First Emperor of France out of his backpack. It was originally on his brother Justin's dresser, who said it belonged to this legendary man, according to the person who sold it to him. Except that instead of preserving it carefully like other collectibles, he used it to hold up a statue of a Hindu deity that was found damaged during an excavation.

This individual owns so many rare and dated objects, and you'd still wonder why he doesn't donate them to a museum ? Or create one for himself—that would surely attract people. But no, he leaves it all in a huge warehouse where it gathers dust. Left in the dark, piled up together, not even well maintained. Even though Charles Orion is not like the second eldest in being passionate, he still feels sad, thinking that it is a waste to leave it in the dark.

But hey, unfortunately, there's nothing he can do about it.

Carefully opening it to see that it was quite hard and complicated, he could see that inside was a medal.

And it wasn't just any medal.

The one he had at his coronation as emperor could be seen on a few pages.

"How did he not realize he'd been holding such a rare item from the beginning ?!", Charles Orion declares, stunned to see such a valuable object inside, both annoyed and relieved. "Well, let's just say his stupidity was lucky for me. To be able to perform the invocation."

Lilas laughs, waving her hand while she holds onto the stroller. Charles Orion smiles a little, deciding to carry her by putting her back in. He bends down to be at her level, saying to her:

“Can you stay here for a few minutes ? Just until I can perform the invocation ?”, he asks her, who listens to him, waving her stuffed rabbit, as if to say yes in response. “I'll be back soon, little sister, I'm going to perform…A miracle !”

He pats her head gently, smiling at her, then turns around and goes to the invocation circle, lighting the candles and then placing the object in its center.

He steps back to begin the ritual, reciting the phrases, his irises closing as he tries to do everything correctly. Until he says the last phrase, the circle radiates with a thousand lights, his hazel green irises closing as he places an arm in front of his face.

He opens them to find himself in a huge room with golden threads that radiate gently, his head turning from right to left, wondering where exactly he is.

Until he sees a map appear.

Except it was a little too high for him.

Charles Orion saw this, not knowing what to do, and tried to jump up and grab it, but in vain. He sighed, ruffling his hair, trying to use his magic to materialize hands so they could bring him back, only to discover that it didn't work either.

When the ticket slowly descended to reach his height, he was surprised and relieved to pick it up when he saw a character appear on it: Archer.

He found it beautiful and classy to raise the ticket to the sky with both hands, creating a spark that grew stronger and stronger.

Until he was back in the room to see smoke everywhere, he coughed as his irises opened, trying to figure out where his Servant was.

It was then that he heard Lilac crying loudly.

His head turns, turning pale at the next scene: three men wearing uniforms belonging to Barbara's loyal spies are there.

They are part of a section she has set up since she was a child, to use powerless humans who would do anything to escape poverty.

The eldest recruits only people who have no home, no family, and are in deplorable situations.

She is always sending them here and there to accomplish various missions, which are not always very joyful.

“Oh no, why are the Fullettus here ?! Normally this place is reserved for members of our clan, so how did they get in ?”, thinks Charles Orion, worried to see one of them holding his sister by the collar, which makes him panic. “Release Lilas now, don't hurt her ! She's still just a baby !”

“Well, well. Did you see that, guys ? The doddering prince is in the treasure room, reserved exclusively for the chosen ones.”, says the first, a slightly elderly man, holding Lilas, who is crying and flailing her arms and legs.

“We’re the ones who should be asking you what you’re doing in this room, don’t you know that only authorized people can enter ? From what I remember, you’re not one of those snotty individuals.”, says the woman with curly black hair coldly, mocking the boy, who feels intimidated by them for placing a hand on his pelvis.

“And if you must know, Madame has asked to get rid of any intruders who dare enter here. In this sacred place, exclusive to people of high rank, and you're not one of them, kid,” said the second male, laughing, which could be sensed from the guy's eyes, judging him to be the second-youngest of the siblings. “Then, too bad for you. We'll have to kill you and the baby.”

“Wha…What ?”, said Charles Orion softly, his face white as a sheet, to see they were serious about this. “They're not going to kill a baby, are they…”

“Damn, shut that brat up. Why didn't she die like Madame asked ?”, growled the woman, staring viciously at Lilas, who was scared and screaming. “Just shut up, damn it! This is why kids are annoying! All useless, only bringing trouble, Roy. You can kill her.”

“That's what I was planning to do,” said the older man, pulling out a small knife and placing it at Lilas's head.

“Stop ! Please don't do this ! Kill me if you have to, but not Lilas ! Please !”, shouted Charles Orion, nearly bursting into tears as he tried to find a way to save her. “What should I do ? Even though I control elemental magic, they are stronger and more experienced than me. I refuse to lose my little sister, he…”

When the boy felt a presence behind him, his hazel-green irises widened to reveal that the individual possessed powerful Mana.

But it didn't belong to an enemy.

He knew what to do.

Because after all...

"Please, you whom I summoned... For pity's sake...", Charles Orion said softly, clenching his fists, tears streaming down his cheeks, and he finally shouted quite loudly. "Save my sister and eliminate them !"

The three looked at him, wondering who exactly he was talking to. The second male decided to kill Charles Orion to get closer...

But he froze to see a magic circle behind the boy's feet. He knew what it was, stepping back to receive a powerful blow to the face.

The man's body was sent flying, embedded in the wall. Several objects fell, creating a hellish hubbub in the room.

A long silence suddenly fell.

The two Fullettus turned their heads at the same time, to see their comrade, who was incapacitated for a long time.

Lilas stopped crying to raise her little head, while her brother was still speechless about what was happening.

Footsteps were heard behind her back.

Until they stopped.

“Well, it looks like my Master is in trouble. Luckily for you, I'm here to help.”, said the stranger's voice, causing the boy to jump and slowly look at the speaker.

The little mage's hazel-green eyes widened in shock: he was very tall and strong.

He had to lean back to see his face.

The mysterious man, on the other hand, had to lower his head to analyze the young man.

He said nothing, despite being able to guess his thoughts through his blue-grey eyes that shone in the darkness.

“Who is this guy ?! He just sent Roy flying with such ease…”, the woman said, not reassured when the second male became worried and trembling, and began to let go of Lilas, who was flailing her limbs while looking at her brother, calling out to him.

“Lilas ! Put her down gently now ! If you hurt her, you'll pay the consequences.", said Charles Orion, turning to show a serious face, showing the two Fullettus that he could hurt them with his Servant.

“What do we do ? Madam asked us to eliminate the intruders who…”, the man said to his companion, as she gritted her teeth. The situation was now to their disadvantage, which greatly annoyed her to see the boy dominating them.

“He's not wasting any time! Madam will take care of him soon.”, she thought, feeling her rage rising within her. “We're leaving now, get Roy and let go of the infant. We'll have to leave this place quickly before his Servant does the same to us.”

The male Fullettu looked at her, knowing she was right, and decided to listen as he went to retrieve his partner, who was knocked unconscious. Lilas was placed back on the ground, but she quickly crawled on all fours towards her brother, who went over to take her in his arms, reassured to see her safe and sound.  The three touch the necklace around their necks, a blue-gray glow appears to envelop them before disappearing.

Silence falls in the treasure room, only the music coming from the festival in the background.

Charles Orion remains silent, holding his little sister in his arms, who is pressed against him. The latter breathes as the pressure eases until he hears Archer approaching.

“Tell me, little one, I know…My question will seem strange to you, even if…I feel like I already know the answer, but…Are you my Master ?”, the man asks, looking at the latter as he ruffles his short hair, revealing a worried and somewhat perplexed face.

“Well…Yes, it's me.”, he muttered, and the tall Servant remained silent, sighing softly, placing a hand on his neck.

“Why are people so uncaring and don't forbid this kind of event for children ?”, Archer said, closing his eyes at that moment. Why didn't anyone try to stop the summoning ritual, to prevent the little one from finding himself in this war, or even dying there ? “The Holy Grail War isn't a game; people will want to kill him at all costs. Since he's young and…”

Her blue-gray eyes are fixed on him, trying to analyze his Mana.

That's when his face changes.

His eyebrows furrow, revealing in his gaze that he's increasingly worried about his Master.

The boy's Mana is unstable and fragile, like that of a novice mage who has never learned to master his powers.

And yet, despite feeling his flaws through his soul.

A spark of something seems to be dormant and hidden deep within Charles Orion's body.

His hazel-green eyes are fixed on his Servant as he holds his calm little sister in his arms. He watches her, deciding whether to break this long and heavy silence.

“I understand that you must be reluctant to have a Master like me. I know the danger there will be during this Holy Grail War. But…I needed to participate for various reasons, if it allows me to get far away from here with my sister. To fulfill my wish, then…”, says Charles Orion, lowering his head to look at Lilas, who raises her irises, waving her hands, touching her face. “I would do anything to reach her, even the worst.”

Archer listened to him speak, watching his expression to see that the boy was serious, worried, and determined. This made him understand that his young Master truly wanted to participate despite the danger.

The boy's blue-gray irises closed to reflect for a moment on this situation: he already knew that he would have to do everything he could to keep his young Master away from danger, because everyone would see him as a weak target and therefore easy to take down. That's why several plans would have to be put in place to keep him safe during the fight.

When the boy's voice brought him back to his senses.

“I apologize in advance for being such a weak Master. I wish I were stronger, but…I was never really taught how to control my magical powers, so I'm not capable of much. But…”, he said softly, holding Lilas as he stood up and walked over to the stroller. He set her down and strapped her in, giving her back the bunny toy she was holding. “I still want to do my best, to be worthy of being your Master. So…Can you help me control my Mana and teach me how to defend and protect myself ?”, he asked, wanting to evolve and become stronger. His irises showed a spark of determination, and Archer saw that despite his young age, he possessed a power within him that was just waiting to be awakened.

“You should know that as a Servant, my duty is to obey your every command. But…I see that my Master is someone who seems…to treat me like an individual and not just a heroic spirit. Which is a good thing.”, he said, smiling softly as he approached him, getting down to his eye level so he could analyze him and Lilas. “You, who are my Master, I agree to help you in this Holy Grail War and to master your power.”

Charles Orion was relieved and reassured to thank him while Lilas held her teddy bear, cooing softly in the atmosphere that had become calmer after the Fullettus had left.

“Say…I would like to know your name. Would it be possible to know which hero I summoned ?”, he asked curiously, making the man remain silent as he thought, only to later decide to tell him.

“Napoleon Bonaparte, First Emperor of the French. That's my name, but, as you must know, saying our real name can be our weakness, so under no circumstances should we reveal ourselves…”, Archer said, speaking seriously as he confessed his true identity, only to see his Master's hazel-green eyes suddenly beam. “Uh… Are you okay, Master ?”

“Are you really Napoleon Bonaparte ?! The First Emperor of France ?! That's so cool! I managed to summon one of our country's greatest figures !”, Charles Orion said, marveling at the boy's behavior, jumping up and down, and then being excited. Napoleon was surprised by the boy's behavior, smiling and laughing a little.

“I see that my prestige and legend are still as powerful, even though I died a long time ago,” he said, feeling flattered to see someone fan of his, affectionately ruffling the boy's hair.

“But…Tell me, Mr. Bonaparte, why do you look so different from the paintings in museums ?”, he asked curiously, staying near the stroller while Lilas nibbled one of her fluffy bunny's ears.

“Well…Think of it as a new form of the old me. What you see now is an idealistic version of the Napoleon Bonaparte that people imagine. That's why I look different from the one you know.”, Napoleon explained, as Charles Orion listened to understand, truly astonished by this information, and analyzed it carefully.

He really hadn't expected to see such a strong and tall variant of the legendary Emperor of France in this situation, but he knew he could count on him in the future battles that were about to take place. He took a letter from his backpack that he had managed to take, with his name written on it. Luckily, he managed to retrieve it after seeing one of the servants trying to throw it in the trash. He opened it to look at its contents, trying to understand and read it, even if it was difficult for him, having seen an address with a date.

"All right, Mr. Bonaparte. It's time to go to the other side of the sea, towards Amiens," said Charles Orion, staring at him with determination, determined to get there.

The darkness plunged the room into a most mysterious and oppressive atmosphere, as he could only see a slightly open window coming from the curtains. Which allows to see the light of the moonlight illuminating a part of the place, the three Fullettus have one knee on the ground to have their heads bowed with a worried face. They do not dare to speak to feel that the woman who is sitting on her red velvet sofa, that we only see her back and her long straight hair of light brown color. She kisses a man who is half naked to move away licking his lips, to caress his face saying in a tone that seems neutral but with a hint of coldness.

“So, you didn't manage to kill him? And I thought the little prince would be so easy to kill, and now I find out that the best of the group couldn't even kill a 12-year-old boy,” she says, laughing at their uselessness, which they don't dare answer to hear as she continues to play with her lover. “Leave me alone with them, darling, I have something important to take care of.”

“Very well, my dear, I'll wait for you then.”, says the man, kissing the woman on the lips as he leaves the room, leaving the four of them together.

The young adult gets up, stripped of a large piece of clothing, to walk over and grab a white fur coat that she wraps around her body.  Her hazel-green irises focus on the clothes trailing on the floor and the very large, luxurious bed, before glancing back with her cold gaze despite a seemingly warm smile. Her bare feet touch the red velvet carpet, reaching the trio, who are beginning to grow increasingly fearful of her.

The eldest of the De Montmirail family: Barbara, nicknamed the Queen of the Oceans, because she brought wealth and prestige to her family by becoming the heiress. To gain the complete trust of her parents and others, who see her as formidable, capable of doing anything to achieve her goals.

Even the worst.

That's why she created Fullettus, who takes care of various tasks to help her. Of course, everything must remain secret, and she is capable of getting her hands dirty to get rid of her enemies.

By not exactly being a gentle and delicate young lady.

“So tell me… Why exactly did you fail ? Hmmm ?”, she asked, looking at them, her hazel-green irises shining in the moonlight. It was clear she wanted an answer now that the small group was trying to answer, genuinely worried. “I'll wait, then ? Why ?”

“Well…Madam, we…”, said Roy, beginning to speak, as he had facial injuries from Archer's blow earlier.

“Well, you're really badly hurt. How come ?”, she asked with a smile, touching his cheek to analyze, sensing that something interesting had happened when he ran away from home. “My brother managed to control his Mana perfectly and land several blows on you to put you in this state?”

“N…No, madam, I…The spoiled prince activated the old seal that was in your family's treasure slab and…”, he says, stammering as the pressure mounts, sweat dripping down his face.

“Oh, he activated it. And I presume…someone came out of it.”, she says, suddenly showing a somber expression that the three quickly realize she must know something about it.

“Yes, madam, that's the case. A tall, burly individual appeared, helping the spoiled prince out.”, the woman says, looking her straight in the eyes, something the two men don't dare do, fearful.

There was silence in the woman's chic and elegant room, as she reflected, tapping her chin. This whole situation wasn't going to end the way she wanted, which really annoyed her.

Her entire plan was to eliminate the last two members of the family, who were nothing but a nuisance at the party. She wanted it to be quick and discreet, without anyone noticing anything, yet here they are still alive.

And what's more, Charles Orion summoned a Servant.

This incompetent, who doesn't even know how to properly manipulate his Mana and power, succeeded in what she wanted to do after discovering the letter addressed to him. She read the contents to discover the whole Holy Grail War thing, intrigued, wanting to participate to get an idea of what her wish might be granted. Except now she has no chance of becoming one of the Masters.

Which bothers her when she decides to reorganize her plan, because after all, she always gets what she wants. Always using her own methods.

Translation of the phrase: Circle of time, circle of space. Create a path that will lead me to the place I think of, may my soul be the guiding thread that will allow the creation of this portal !

•Fullettus: which means "wisp" in French, it is an elf in Corsican folklore.

Prologue III. The End.

[officialaegontargaryen]

Invisible String

❝and isn't it just so pretty to think that all along there was some invisible string tying you to me.❞

Summary: You are having a pretty strange week and you just happen to run into the same guy every single day at the same coffee shop. He could be stalking you, or it could be fate. You aren’t totally sure.

Pairing: Modern Aegon Targaryen x Reader

Word Count: ~3.2k

Author’s Note: This is a re-write of an old fic of mine. I'm in my re-writing era and this is Megan's Version. Anyways, here's some fluff. I hope that you are absolutely disgusted by it.

Warnings: language and cuteness.

Monday morning.

The bane of your existence. 

It didn’t help that you were hungover; head pounding, pleading with you to go back to sleep after your best friend convinced you to go out for karaoke on a Sunday night. Who in their right mind decided that karaoke on a Sunday night would be a good idea? You did. Not your best decision, you had to admit, and one you immediately came to regret as your alarm continuously reminded you that you needed to get up. You only had about eight minutes before you were to leave your apartment in order to make it to work on time, and it typically took you an hour to get ready– thirty minutes on a good day. You were absolutely pressing your luck with eight. 

You rushed into the kitchen, making a beeline towards your Keurig. Brewing yourself a cup of coffee was typically the first thing you did every morning, like clockwork; placing the disposable cardboard cup underneath the spout and setting it to automatic, allowing it to brew while you moved on to other things in your morning routine. It was always the perfect temperature by the time you came back to it.  

“Shit!” You cursed with a mouth full of toothpaste after realizing you’d completely missed the sink and a long line of frothy spit had dripped down to the front of your shirt. It was the only clean blouse that you had, and you definitely didn’t have time to go rummaging through your closet to find something else. With limited options available, you tell yourself that no one will notice and hurriedly swipe at the glob of mint green paste from your left boob. 

As you looked at yourself in the mirror, the stain jumped out at you as if it were a flashing sign, look at me! You knew you’d be self conscious about it throughout the day and that everyone would, in fact, notice, and opted for a black blazer to hopefully cover up your mistake. Once you were satisfied with your appearance– as satisfied as you had the time to be– you rushed out the door; your bag falling off of your shoulder as you tried to scrape your hair back into the neatest bun you could manage without brushing your hair, practically sprinting towards the bus stop, hoping that you’d make it on time.

It wasn’t until you got there, waiting with what seemed like the entire population of this accursed city, that you realized you had never even gone back to the kitchen for your coffee after you had started getting ready. It was still sitting there cold, and lonely, and untouched– just like you felt right now, standing at the bus stop, no coffee to warm your hands. 

You could just go to work, clock in on time, and drink that bagged shit your company supplies for the break room, but on a Monday and with the morning you’ve already had, that just wasn’t an option. You could see the bus headed your way but ultimately stepped out of the crowd and headed in the direction of the nearest coffeeshop, which thankfully was only two blocks up. 

As soon as you walked through the door and into the warmth of the cafe, you inwardly cringed at the sight of the six people waiting in line. There was really no point in complaining about it, you were already here and you had already missed the bus, and you were already going to be late. You had no option but to wait patiently in line behind some blonde guy in a suit. 

Your cellphone vibrated in your hand as you vaguely heard the man order a blueberry muffin and a latte. It was your boss, fuck. You silenced the phone call and decided to send them a quick text message instead, promising that you’d be there soon and made up some story about how the bus was late due to traffic. 

Still looking down at your phone, you thought you saw the man take a step to the side out of your peripheral vision, and you stepped forward towards the register. Only he hadn’t stepped to the side, and you stepped right into him, and your face collided with his back. When you went to take a step backwards, you tripped over the woman behind you and ended up falling on your ass. 

“I am so sorry!” You exclaimed, looking up at the man that you had just stepped into. Your cheeks warm at the sight of him, feeling infinitely more embarrassed when you see how attractive he is. “I thought I saw you move to the next register.”

He smiled and suddenly everything was okay, like you didn’t just trip and fall in front of like fifty people. 

“S’okay, love,” he replied, holding out his hand to help you up. “Are you alright?”

“Oh, I’m fine,” you replied, trying your hardest to play it cool. “That was totally planned.”

He laughs, once again flashing an angelic smile, “you’re a great actress, then.”

“Thanks,” you say as you dust off your pants. “I rehearsed that for weeks.”

He seemed to think you were being wildly clever as his head dropped back and a genuine bout of laughter escaped his throat. The people behind you in line were becoming clearly irritated, one even stepping around you to keep the line moving. Typically, you would have protested but you suddenly didn’t care about the time or that you had been cut in line. 

“Aegon?” The barista called out.

“That’s me,” his smile faltered just enough for you to notice. “Maybe I’ll see you around.”

“In a city with a population of 8.4 million people, I highly doubt that,” you step back in line after checking with the person behind you to make sure it was okay. “Have a good day.”

The man named Aegon still smiled, his head nodding to you before stepping out into the crowded city streets. If you were brave, you would have asked for his number, but instead you watched the door while you waited for your drink to be made; hoping that he would come back and sweep you off your feet.

You allowed yourself to live in that fantasy for a little while, until you became too busy at work and eventually forgot about the handsome stranger you had met in the coffee shop. 

Tuesday was worse. 

It wasn’t because you had a hangover or because you had woken up late again. In fact, it was quite the opposite. You were feeling pretty great on this particular morning. The sun was shining, it was a beautiful day, and you had given yourself plenty of time for your usual morning routine; shower, makeup, clothes, coffee. The Spotify algorithm was providing you with a perfect soundtrack for your commute to the bus stop until–

“Are you fucking kidding me!?” 

You screeched as a double-breasted, suit-wearing businessman bumped into you and your coffee went flying towards the concrete; all over the ground, all over you. And for a moment, time stops as you could do nothing but stand there, completely shocked. The audacity he had to not only keep walking as if he hadn’t just ruined your perfect morning– and your shoes– but to yell back at you that you were the one who needed to watch where you were going. 

You hadn’t even gotten to take a sip of that coffee yet. 

Thankfully, Starbucks was only two blocks up, and you could make a pitstop for a refill and to clean yourself up and the coffee out of your shoes. Before you stepped in line, you made a beeline for the cream bar, hurriedly pulling napkins from the dispenser to shove them into the toes of your shoes. A few people in the lobby had begun to stare, and you sighed in defeat. This was frustrating that you were, once again, embarrassing yourself and making a scene in the same Starbucks two days in a row. 

“You know, in a city with a population of 8.4 million people,” you heard as you tried to dry off your tights. Looking up, you noticed the same man from yesterday. What was his name? Aegon, right? “Call me crazy, but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we bumped into each other again.” 

“Maybe you’re stalking me,” you retorted with a sarcastic smile.

“Stalking the girl who’s spilled coffee all over herself?” He asked, eyes crinkling at the sides from the wide smile on his face. “I don’t know about that.”

You didn’t say anything, still a little irritated that you were even in this predicament, and now running into this handsome stranger again. Typically, you’d be elated to see him again, but not today.

“Let me buy you a coffee?” He asked, breaking the awkward silence that had grown between the two of you after he just stood there watching you try to blot the stain out of your white blouse. “It looks like you’re not having the best day.”

“Thanks for the offer, but not today,” you replied.

“Well, maybe tomorrow then?” 

“Yeah,” you said as you laughed through your nose, knowing that there was no possible way that you would see him again tomorrow unless he really was stalking you. “Tomorrow, for sure.”

He gave you another one of those remarkable smiles and nodded his head, “okay, I’ll see you then.”

Wednesday was better.

You woke up with a smile on your face and you gingerly started your routine, making your way towards your Keurig. It was the middle of the week; only three more days to go and you’d be free for the weekend. You already had plans for a Succession marathon and itched to make a home on your couch for the next two days with all of your favorite snacks and blankets.

But when you went to grab one of those tiny, plastic pods from the box, it was empty. You had told yourself yesterday that you needed to stop and grab coffee and milk, but had completely forgotten once your day had unraveled after that douchebag shouldered you on the sidewalk. 

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

You always believed that one should enjoy the little things, but this week, it seemed as if those little things were on a mission to ruin your week. This time, you decided on the locally owned coffee shop that was only a block from your apartment. You passed by every day on your way to the bus stop, but they were typically so busy that you just didn’t have time to wait.

Today, they were surprisingly not nearly as busy as they usually were, in fact, they were almost completely empty. You still smiled at the barista as you walked right up to the counter without having to wait in line. 

“Could I please have a mocha latte, please?” You asked politely. 

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” the barista replied with a frown. “We were supposed to get our delivery sometime last night but there was a mix-up with the trucks, and we’re kinda out of everything. There’s a sign on the door.”

Of course you didn’t see the sign until you were leaving, frustrated, and stepping out onto the sidewalk with only one option; Starbucks. 

This time you were prepared to see the good-looking stranger again, if fate were to have it; you were not covered in coffee, you did not have to rush on your way out the door, you were having a good hair day. Yet, as you stepped into the cool air conditioning of the corporate chain, you were saddened that you didn’t spot that golden halo of soft, blonde hair anywhere. You should have known not to get your hopes up, as the odds of seeing him three days in a row were slim and none. As you stepped up to the register you laughed at yourself, at how disappointed you were, as if you actually had a chance. 

You stood off to the side, scrolling through your phone while waiting for the barista to call your name. It was then that out of the corner of your eye, you see that in walks a handsome, blonde stranger. Your heart skips a beat for only a second before it registers that he’s not your blonde stranger. He locks eyes with you for only a second and you offer him a small, disappointed smile. 

“Your mocha,” the barista says and holds out the warm beverage to you. 

“Thanks,” you reply, your voice despondent. 

When you turn for the exit, your eyes are drawn to the corner of the room- to a comfortable, brown leather chair next to the window. There, sits Aegon, the man who had somehow just happened to be here, every single day, at the same time as you. The man who is probably stalking you, and if he wasn’t, he probably thought you were stalking him. You couldn’t even blame it on timing– Monday you were late, Tuesday you were early, today you were right on time. Given outside factors, things like this typically do not happen. 

He’s reading the paper and there’s a cup of coffee and a half-eaten scone sitting on a plate in front of him. Your lips curl into a smile as you say to him, “we’ve got to stop running into each other like this.” 

Aegon looks up at you, surprise washing over his face before an enthusiastic smile begins growing on his lips. However, as soon as his eyes notice the drink in your hand, his smile immediately disappears, “I thought I was buying today?” 

“I didn’t see you until I had already ordered,” you replied. “How about tomorrow?”

“Deal,” he nodded..

“Are you sure you’re not stalking me?” You asked, eyes narrowing.

He threw his head back in laughter, “I’m definitely not a stalker.”

“That’s what a stalker would say,” you glanced down at your watch and realized that you should get going before you miss the bus. “See you tomorrow!”

On Thursday, you were convinced.

You had spent most of the day yesterday discussing with your coworker about what had been happening to you over the last week. You’d walked through every different day and what had happened prior to you arriving at Starbucks. You had talked conspiracy theories and the invisible string theory, and eventually you both ended up coming to the same conclusion– you both agreed that it was best for you to not go to Starbucks today.

You didn’t believe in fate, or soulmates, or twin flames, but as you stood in front of your Keurig as it made the most god awful sound, you were starting to change your mind. You tried turning it off and back on, unplugging it and plugging it back in, but the diagnosis was that it had finally died.

After six wonderful years and all of college.

Any other day you’d stop at Starbucks and grab a coffee in place of your homemade cup, but you swore that you wouldn’t today, and you were not waiting in line at the one on the way to the bus stop. It didn’t help that you were actually looking forward to the nasty breakroom coffee, only to get to work and realize that the office had run out of coffee. The effects of the caffeine withdrawal had set in by lunchtime and your migraine was splitting. Needless to say, you were irritable and exhausted by the time you had clocked out. Everything seemed to be grinding your nerves; even something as simple as the person sitting next to you on the bus talking on their phone. 

Despite promising yourself that you wouldn’t go to Starbucks today, you found yourself standing at the counter, ordering a latte and a sandwich. It was later in the evening, the sun was setting, and you were certain that you would not be running into Aegon at this time of night and so after you grabbed your coffee, you sat in one of the comfy, leather chairs and started replying to some emails.

You had been there for about an hour, most of the patrons had left. The baristas had begun cleaning up for the evening and the shop was getting ready to close when the door swung open, letting in a gusty breeze.

“No way,” you whispered to yourself as you watched a very tired-looking Aegon walk up to the counter and order a latte. He was so out of it that he didn’t even notice you until he sat down in the chair directly across from yours, and looked up to see you staring right at him. 

“I told you,” he said as he let out a tired laugh.

You just shook your head at him in disbelief.

“I was called into work early today and I couldn’t come in this morning,” he said with a smirk. “I was certain I wouldn’t be seeing you today.”

“My Keurig broke, and when I got to work they didn’t have any coffee, so I figured I’d stop in and grab a cup before heading home,” you replied.

You sat there and talked to him until the manager kicked the two of you out, and he ended up walking you to your apartment, even though it was in the opposite direction of where he was going. He was sweet and funny, and you found yourself laughing at almost every joke. 

“So tomorrow?” You asked when you stopped in front of your building.

“How about dinner instead of coffee?” He asked, rather boldly, taking you by surprise. “I know we don’t really know each other but I’d like to change that.”

“I’d like that, too,” you smiled, tucking a stray lock of hair behind your ear. “Wanna chance it and see if we show up at the same restaurant at the same time?”

“The ultimate test of fate, eh?” He asked, rubbing his chin as he mulled over your offer for a moment. “Can’t risk it, how about you just meet me at Ray’s at seven.”

“Yeah, I can do that,” you exhale a soft laugh.

“Perfect,” he says and takes your hand, offering a tender kiss to your knuckles. “I’ll see you then, love.”

Friday was perfect. 

Absolutely nothing out of the ordinary happened. Though, thinking back on it now, maybe those seemingly bizarre incidents this past week weren’t actually out of the ordinary at all. Maybe the forgotten coffee on Monday, the spilled latte on Tuesday, the late delivery on Wednesday, and caffeine withdrawal on Thursday were all meant to happen; everything playing out perfectly in order for you to be walking up to Ray’s at exactly 6:54 PM. 

Aegon stood outside, a smile bright enough to put the sun to shame. As your eyes met, a wave of warmth washed over you, dispelling any lingering doubts you may have had. This felt right. 

This felt like fate.