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It was a normal day for Subaru and his frozen Underworld. The gentle snow covers the land like a blanket, as though to protect a weeping child from the outside world. Cold winds sending sharp stings to anyone who dares disturb the perpetual silence filled only with the whispers of the breeze. The land itself is coated with ice, akin to an armor hiding the scars—
“What's hidden isn't some scar, but plain miserable truth though.” He mumbles to himself, as he continues on with his routine, moving one foot over the other, making footsteps that would soon be buried by the snow. It is his centuries old ritual; monitoring his Underworld for any change that he knows wouldn't come— which is perfect. He needs it to be that way.
However, he has been made painfully aware all those years ago that a moment of carelessness can cost the ground beneath his feet. Like when his once dark peaceful Underworld was transformed to the glacial tundra it is now, with his dead wife being used as the core for its function, and the memory of an old friend as his only companion.
“It wouldn't stay that way for long. I'm already near the ending.” He tells himself as he stops his feet once he reaches the frozen river, where piles and piles of flowers of ice bloom with their bright red core, containing the souls of sinners, unable to return to the cycle of life, in accordance to the change forcefully enforced by those from the realm above.
By Od Laguna who had defiled his land and made a tool out of his beloved’s corpse.
Years ago, he would have cried, raged, yelled— would have cursed the world. Would have been so full of hate for Od Laguna. Would have wished for the despair of both mortals and higher beings alike. He would even attempt to end his life, which is idiotic given his immortal nature as a ruler.
Now…
Now he only feels longing.
To be in the abyss of darkness where his wife and old friends lay.
To be free from the shackles of existence.
To let go of all thoughts and feelings torturing him day by day.
To just... stop.
He sighs, about to head back to the Watchtower, content with the lack of change when—
“Excuse me,” a call, a voice, which means— someone, something came into his Underworld, without being detected by Subaru.
Subaru immediately takes as much distance from the source of the voice before eyeing the intruder with vigilance and—
There, standing with an impeccable posture in a pure white uniform, holding that unique sword Subaru hadn't seen for centuries, with a familiar flaming red hair, and blue eyes which reminds Subaru of the human's morning sky which he was no longer allowed to see—
“The current successor of Justice?” He asks, some tension leaving him, but the suspicion stays.
Justice, the first one being his friend who went against the world's decree and stuck with Subaru, his people and the mortals until his death. By now, humans would most likely celebrate Reid as the only higher existence that stayed with them during the shift, even with the cost of his own immortality.
They would never think that it was something stripped away from him as punishment for his choices.
Justice blinks. Then, smiling apologetically at him, “Indeed. Please forgive me for barging in your realm without prior notice. I did not know how to inform you of my presence.”
“That's fine and all,” well, not really. Subaru isn't used to descendents of his old friends suddenly coming out of nowhere. But more than that— “How did you even get here?” His Underworld was closed off from all levels. They closed him and his lands off, only permitting entrance to the souls they want disposed here. Like a garbage can.
“I simply opened the borders with my sword.” said the redhead, like he was talking about something as mundane as cracking an egg. Like busting open a door to a different dimension was just that easy. What the heck? “Ah, but worry not. I believe I saw the fissures were sewing itself back together. The opening should be closed by now.”
“So… you're gonna make another one on your way out?”
“Yes.” the man smiles.
… What is it with Justice and it's holders having ridiculous strength that ignore all laws of the world?
Subaru feels his head aching. An experience he hadn't felt in a long while. That aside, for now it would be best to determine the guy's motives.
“And why did you even come here to begin with?”
“I heard there is snow here.”
Subaru levels the guy with a flat look “Yes, and now you can also see that.” he gestures to the scenery around them.
“Indeed. Which is why, this would be the perfect place to plant some flowers that I would like to present to my Lady.” The redhead beams.
A beat passes.
Subaru can not believe what is happening in front of him.
Justice sliced an opening to his realm, bending all laws to reach the Underworld, successfully arriving, not even a trace of struggle on him… in order to plant some flowers in a frozen wasteland.
What is it with Justice and their holders lacking commonsense? Reid had also been ridiculous, but in a different sense from the innocent whacko in front of him.
Subaru wouldn't want to admit but… maybe stripping immortality from Justice was the right call.
“Are you alright?” The young successor asks, a worried knit on his brows.
“Probably not. Haven't been for quite a while now.” He replies dryly. “That aside, it's unfortunate but most plant life can't grow here, flowerboy.”
Flowerboy still looks a bit concerned, but continues with an explanation “Normally, yes. But there is a myth about a certain flower that only blooms with the cool of ice and snow. However, as the cold seasons were removed from the mortal realm since time immemorial, I thought maybe I could plant them here instead.”
Subaru suppressed a sigh “... and where did you get the seeds?” He thinks like he already knows the answer but—
“From a kind merchant that sold them at a very reasonable price.”
Subaru suppressed a groan. The kid was scammed. “... can you show me the seeds?”
The redhead does as asked, taking out a pouch of seeds from his satchel and showing it to Subaru…
“These are…” Subaru inspects the seeds, using a finger to evaluate its properties with magic, his gloves do not hinder the process.
In conclusion, the kid was scammed. It's not the ones that bloom those winter flowers. However, the seeds themselves are an unexpected find. He's actually surprised that these things survived after what happened once upon a time.
In all likelihood, the humans handling it wasn't able to make it grow and thought that its a defective seed of some sort, opting to sell it and scam people like Justice.
Anyway—
“This is for a different flower. You're not gonna get what you want through this.” he informs flowerboy.
The redhead makes an inaudible gasp, shoulders lightly sagging, making his disappointment known.
Subaru actually sighs this time. “But I do have them.”
Flowerboy blinks.
“The seeds for the flowers you want.” Subaru closes his eyes. He remembers when Emilia-tan presented those flowers to him, crafted in a clumsily made flower crown for the both of them. He remembers that he was laughing and was probably very happy at the time. Remembers the events but any and all feelings he had once experienced have faded. Leaving only the intense yearning for the end. “So, would you like an exchange? I can even guide you on how to grow them.” he offers.
The boy beams “Yes please!”
“Also, those things take half a year to grow so— if you're busy you can just not visit and leave it to me.”
“I appreciate your offer, however, this is something I prefer to do personally. Furthermore, my lady would not appreciate it if I shy away from such tasks.”
Subaru would have preferred it if Justice wouldn't visit too much though. Oh well. Such is life. “Let's go to my tower then— ah, but I can't allow you inside, so would you mind waiting by the gates?”
“Yes. That would be fine.”
“Mhm… and, your name?”
“Reinhard van Astrea.”
“Reinhard, huh.” the name falls from his lips, like how every other word does, hollow and empty “Nice to meet you, I guess. I’m Subaru. Natsuki Subaru.”
“I'm delighted to know you as well Subaru.” Unlike him, Reinhard's voice is filled with apparent delight, the redhead's joy visible through the unrestrained smile and the sparkle in his eyes.
Subaru wonders what the guy is so happy about.
“Your descendant is there by the gates.” He whispers to the memory of an old friend, who was laying on his couch minding his business as Subaru scans drawer after drawer in his office to find the items he needed.
“Huh?” Reid blinks at him. “How'd he even get here?”
“Cut open space with his sword.” Subaru shrugs, not even turning to his friend as he continues his search “Typical Justice move.”
“Ohh. That's wild. Nice to know my successors didn't become plain old boring Heroes.”
“I wonder about that.” he sighs. Then, he lets the air shift as he delivers a more, consequential information “I didn't notice him when he came.”
He hears Reid move from his seat. “You, of all people, didn't notice?”
Subaru only hums in response. He understands the shock. Even in it's current state, the Underworld is Subaru's. He is its ruler. It is his Kingdom. The connection between the ruler of the realm and the land itself is, for lack of better words, special. Precious like a family member, personal like his own limbs, echoing understanding without words. That is to say, it is preposterous that someone prances inside the realm without Subaru knowing.
But it happened. Because Reinhard is an exception to a lot of things. Subaru can tell.
“I'll go take a look.” His friend mutters, moving to the windows to inspect floweboy who was obediently waiting outside. Subaru only has to wait for a few seconds before, as expected, the dry laughter of his friend resounds. “Haha! What the heck is that?”
“Reinhard. This generation’s Justice.”
“I get that but— he's insane.”
“I know.” Subaru finds the items he needs and takes them in his arms “Which is why he is perfect. The preparations on our side are mostly done. The shadows are accumulating nicely and once that's over, the night can return in it's place in the sky and— and I can finally find my way back to those guys.” He chuckles “Never knew Od Laguna could be so friendly with me.”
“There's no ‘way back’ Subaru.” Reid shakes his head, eyes filled with mixed feelings as he stares at him. “We died. Disintegrated. Soul and all.”
“Mhm.” Subaru readily agrees “And soon I'm gonna be the same.”
“Is that… really what you want?”
“You know it is. Stop pretending you don't.”
Reid sighs, laying on the couch once more. “Then that'd be my end too huh.” he mutters “Been boring sticking with you for so long.”
“Yeah.” Subaru huffs “Thanks for sticking around too.” He turns and exits the room.
That, was not his old friend. Just a memory. Just a remnant.
Even then, as they lived their meaningless days in the confines of this icy land, they had seen it. Each other's ups and downs. The emotional roller coasters. They had their fights. Empty banters. Talked about plans, wishes. Everything. Until there was nothing more to talk about.
They became friends who both hoped for death.
“Subaru.” Reinhard was glowing as he watches Subaru make his way out of the tower and walk towards him.
“Found it.” Subaru hands the redhead a pack of seeds. The one they can actually plant.
“My thanks” Reinhard accepts, gently peeking at the seeds in the pack, enthusiasm palpable yet he handles the seeds with care.
“Also,” Subaru lifts the dark blue coat he took with him and presents it to Reinhard. “Here, use this when you come here. It'll keep you warm.”
Reinhard blinks… then, his smile turns to something more, tender. But he shakes his head. “I appreciate the thought. However, I—”
“You're not that affected by the cold. I know. Your stupid ancestor was like that too.” Subaru rolls his eyes as he moves to Reinhard's back and drapes the coat over to the redhead's shoulder. “This is not about you, but me. I don't like seeing you with just your uniform when I'm fully aware that my Underworld is cold enough that even someone from the upper realm would complain from the chill.” He makes a gesture, implying an order for Reinhard to pass his arms through the sleeves and wear the coat properly “Besides, I made it for a friend who wasted the goodness of my heart by ignoring the thing and walking around in his kimono unbothered.” He huffs at the memory “I'll feel better if it's actually put to use.”
“I see…” Reinhard shyly fiddles with the sleeves, “thank you.”
“Mhm. Now let's get to planting.”
“Reinhard,” Subaru says, exasperation seeping through his breath “It's only been three hours.”
Meanwhile the redhead keeps his gaze on the ground, unblinking. Like that's gonna make the flower bloom any faster. “I had free time, and decided to watch over the flower some more.”
Subaru groans.
Three hours. The redhead just finished planting and returned to the mortal realm three hours ago.
And now he's back again, focused on the plant— it's not even a plant yet. It's a seed. Just why is Reinhard—
Then it hits Subaru.
Reinhard's strength.
His standing.
Plus his abysmal commonsense.
“Reinhard… do you not have friends?”
Shit. Subaru should have phrased that better.
Reinhard only blinks at him. “None, I'm afraid.”
Somehow, those clear eyes, lack of shame, and pure honesty hurts so much more than an awkward attempt to hide the truth.
“U– um, what about your lady? Do you not have other people with you that also serve her?”
At that, Reinhard brightens. Subaru makes a mental note on how weak the guy is to his Lady. “Indeed! Lady Felt's brilliance is enough to attract many people from varying walks of life. Her potential as a King shines from her actions and decisions… although I do hope that she strives to be more ladylike in her manners.”
“So… why are you here instead of with her, or her supporters?”
“Lady Felt prefers to have more time to spend freely by herself. The rest are having a break after their training.”
Hence, freetime huh.
That's kind of… sad.
Okay, well. Subaru's not one to talk since there's his own tragic backstory but… this kid's circumstances are sad. And, well, since he's the host here, he should at least help his guest be more comfortable right?
Thus, with a snap of his fingers, the space shift beside him and—
Out comes a box filled with colored papers, along with two seats and a mini table.
“Come here, we're making origami.” He takes a seat, setting up a barrier around so that the wind wouldn't blow the papers away.
“Origami?” Reinhard echoes with a tilt of his head.”
“Yup. Paper folding. I'll show you how, and we can do that and talk, instead of you burning a hole through the ground with your stare.”
Reinhard perks, taking the seat beside Subaru. “That would be delightful.” following Subaru's movements, he takes one colored paper and smiles as he mimics the folds.
“So, what's your family like?” Subaru asks.
“My family… Our lineage has been serving as knights to Kings, ensuring the safety of the people and the citizens, much like our ancestor who disowned his immortality to remain in the Human realm.”
“Reinhard, while its nice to know about history… I was asking about your family.”
Reinhard blinks.
Subaru sighs. “Do you like your father?”
“Very much so!” Reinhard beams.
‘There we go.’
“My father is the Deputy Commander of the Royal Knight's and is working tirelessly to ensure the peace within the royal capital.” the redhead has that proud smile that just screams—
“You love him, don't you.”
“Indeed.”
“What about your mother?”
“I love her too. She is a very gentle woman— although she can become quite fierce when father makes a grave mistake. Even though she becomes ill quite easily, she does not let such things burden her, and takes on each day with a smile. My Grandmother is similar, she is always cheerful and patient with me when there are things I do not understand. My Grandfather is also a knight of the Royal Guards, he—” he halts, likely recognising how long he has been ranting, color draining from his face and, “My apologies. I was—”
“I asked you about your family, and you were telling me. There's nothing to be sorry about.”
“Is that so…?”
“It is so.” Subaru nods, “then what about you? Anything you want to ask?”
Reinhard opens his mouth. Stops. Hesitates.
Subaru sighs “If I don't want to answer, I'll tell. Now, out with it.”
Reinhard blinks. Then, with a chuckle “You remind me of Lady Felt.”
“Is she Farsale's descendant?”
“Yes. One of the next candidates for the throne.”
“I see… I can ask you about her later. Its your turn to question.”
“Certainly. If you do not mind, can you tell me more about Cocytus? Is it the frozen river with ice flowers that we saw earlier?”
“Cocytus? That's what humans call my river now?” Subaru tilts his head at the information. “Wow. Huge difference from the Milky Way.”
“Milky way?”
“Yup.” Subaru reclines on his seat, slightly lifting the origami so he could still continue the task as he speaks. “This would really turn into a history lesson but— well, you know that once upon a time, there was winter in the mortal realm, right? Then did you know that there was a night sky as well?”
“Night… Sky? Is the sky not always blue?”
“Not always.” Subaru smiles “Once upon a time, there were two skies, one for the morning and one for the night. And that night sky, Is what used to be this Underworld.” He places down the finished paper crane and takes a new paper to make the next one “Right now, the Underworld is used only to keep the sinner's soul away from the living. But back then, it was different. The Underworld was a library of stars.”
“Stars…” Reinhard echoes what would be an unfamiliar word for the mortals of this era.
Subaru nods. “The process back then was that; in the Underworld, memories will be separated from the soul and kept in the form of crystallised books while the soul slumbers in the darkness before it is prepared to enter the cycle once more.” He adds the finished flower to the table and proceeds with the next. “By night time, the Underworld will be visible in the mortal realm, and they would call the books of the dead, which shine in the darkness, stars. The books, usually kept by the river, appears like one single band through the human eye, and they'd call it the Milky way” he puts down a butterfly origami and takes another paper. “There was the moon too but… Emilia-tan… well, it's difficult to explain when it's no longer here.” the words don't leave bitterness, not even pain to him. Just the usual craving for the end.
“I see… but Subaru, why would you keep the memories? Is it not better to let them go?”
Subaru chuckles at that “You're still young Reinhard. Maybe that's why you can't understand yet. But memories are important.” He puts the paper hat he just made on the redhead.
“Even painful ones?” Reinhard traces the hat with his fingers but does not remove it.
“Even painful ones. Even the most embarrassing ones. Even things you think you'd rather forget. It's one of the central part of who you are as a person and also… how blessed you are with the people around you.”
“People…” Reinhard takes a breath “Indeed, I would be devastated to lose any memories regarding my family, or Lady Felt and everyone in the camp.”
“Same.” Subaru sighs “I would have gone insane long ago if I didn't have memories to cling on to.” No matter how much they lose their color, their value remains unchanged. “That's why my Underworld keeps it. Well, it used to. So that even if the world forgets, even if the owners themselves forget, the Underworld remembers, keeping those precious memories secured, and using it to decorate the night sky.”
“That, would have been beautiful. I would have wanted to see it.” Reinhard—
He looks like a child. Honest. Pure. Sincere.
He meant every word.
He looks like he wants to see the stars.
He truly believes that the thing Od Laguna and every other higher being shunned as despicable and disgusting is beautiful.
Maybe because it's Reinhard?
Strong. Kind. Innocent. Trustful.
That's why he can easily say things like that without fear.
Subaru feels a touch of happiness that he thought he was no longer capable of feeling. Enough that he feels like laughing.
It is accompanied by a pain in his chest that makes him feel like crying.
“Haha, thanks. It's nice to hear praises of what my land used to be.” He says, willing the emotions away. “Now, about your lady—”
Their conversation flowed like so. They talked about the people around them, Reinhard gets especially talkative when it comes to his Lady. Subaru, on the other hand, relishes in the opportunity to share the stories of his old friends who now only remain in his memories. He indulged himself enough that doesn't realized he had stopped folding Origamis.
Their topic would then shift to something more, personal to each other. Simple things such as favorite colors, food, activities and others.
Subaru is devastated to know that the fool before him mostly dedicates himself to his duties, and wholeheartedly agreed to that Lady Felt's decision to make Reinhard do more ‘interesting’ things.
“What about you, Subaru?” the redhead asks, pouting at how he was being chastised for focusing on his responsibilities. “Do you have any hobbies?”
“Heh, Did you just forget that I'm the one who made that coat you are wearing?” he raised an eyebrow. If it comes to hobbies, Reinhard wouldn't be able to find fault even if he tried. Subaru had a exposed himself to a whole bunch of activities to distract himself over the past hundreds of years.
“O- oh…” Reinhard worries his lips, glancing at said coat. But when he raised his eyes at Subaru—
Subaru can still see it.
A stubbornness in Reinhard.
Like he really want to find something to trip Subaru.
He's like a brat.
The Justice of this generation… A brat.
“Pfft!” Subaru couldn't help it.
For the first time in a long while, he laughs.
“A garden?” Subaru blinks, eating food Reinhard made. He hadn't eaten homemade food in ages, and he's perfectly fine just sitting silently and devouring the thing. But he figures the least he could do is to be a conversation partner for the guy making him food.
“Yes. When my Grandmother heard about me planting flowers for Lady Felt, she suggested that I take a part of the garden to plant my own flowers.” Reinhard has this rather serious expression as his eyes trails the small sprouts in the area around them, Subaru's magic ensuring that the vulnerable plants wouldn't be damaged by the harsh winds.
Subaru hums. He's kinda amazed that the Grandmother wasn't the least bit bothered that her grandson's planting said flowers in the Underworld, together with its ruler, no less. “What would you plant then?”
“I'm having trouble deciding. My Grandmother has a lot of recommendations, but I am uncertain…”
“Well, there's no need to rush, is there? Afterall, you still need time to take care of the flowers here.”
“That…” Reinhard blinks. Then with a smile “Indeed, thank you for the advice.”
“Nah. You gave me good food. That's enough.”
“But Subaru,” Reinhard smiles, and he's looking— like he's seeing something in Subaru. Something that Subaru can no longer see himself. “You listend to me, stayed with me, and gave your own opinions… those may not mean much to you however, it truly made me happy. I am simply conveying my appreciation over that.”
“You say that but,” Subaru flicks the guy's forehead. “You can't even see that your doing the same for me aren't you?”
Reinhard blinks as he raises a hand to touch the area Subaru hit.
“You're here, talking to me, giving me food, and helping me spend some time. Ain't that the same?”
“... and you…” A light pink appears on the redhead's cheeks “do not hate that?”
“No?” This time, it's Subaru who blinks. “I mean yeah, there's times you make my head ache but— all in all, you're pretty good company.”
Reinhard stills.
Then, slowly, a familiar smile curves the redhead's lips.
A smile Emilia-tan would also show Subaru.
A kind of smile that Subaru would wear for her too.
Reinhard… is falling.
And Subaru, with chilling realisation, found that he wouldn't mind if he does.
Was he always this horrible a person?
When Subaru arrived, he sees Reinhard grinning at the now healthy flower stems, bearing small buds, preparing to bloom. And—
And once again, there's a look that makes Subaru still.
This young successor, is actually quite easy to read. Once he learned enough, talked enough, and watched enough, Subaru became able to tell, with some level of confidence, what goes through the redhead's mind.
Whenever Reinhard is watching the flower buds, he's usually thinking about his lady. Worrying about how he should present it to her, wondering if she'll like it, and thinking that he'll be happy if it makes her day.
But now…
Reinhard is thinking about Subaru.
That really shouldn't be making his heart as warm at the thought.
But it does.
Subaru takes a breath.
He permits himself to want, no matter how inappropriate it is of him.
There's nothing left to lose.
He's already lost enough.
“Reinhard,”
“Subaru.”
The way Reinhard glows as he calls Subaru's name as if it's something dear to him makes Subaru ache.
“You said you wanted to see stars?” He smirks.
Reinhard smiles, and Subaru can imagine an ear and tail wagging behind the redhead. “Yes!”
Subaru chuckles, he uses magic to summon some pebbles around them, which makes Reinhard tilt his head. “For later” Subaru simply says, calling out to a portion of the shadows, ordering them to cover about two hundred meters of the area around them. They won't reach the skies. Without Emilia-tan, the shadows won't be as obedient to him if he tries calling for more. He covers what he can, and that's enough. For now.
Its now completely dark.
The darkness that higher existence and mortals alike feared the most.
The shadows that were scorned for their uncertainty surrounding them.
And yet, Subaru can tell.
Reinhard is buzzing with excitement.
Subaru laughs.
He lets his magic flow into the rocks, helps them fly to the darkness above. Once in their place, Subaru adds another layer of magic to make them shine.
And with that, an imitation of the ancient night sky is complete.
Reinhard,
Is enchanted. His eyes fixed on the sight above, unable to tear them away.
And Subaru couldn't be happier.
The strongest Justice. Fell in love with his night sky.
Subaru laughs.
He remembers watching the night sky in the mortal realm. With Emilia-tan. With his friends. With everything he held with utmost love.
He remembers telling stories about the constellations Human's came up with and how delighted he was about it. He remembers everyone smiling at him as he tells the stories of the stars.
But now,
Now isn't the time for stories.
That story already reached its conclusion.
Now, Subaru will do as he pleases.
So, he uses magic to play music in the background, drags Reinhard away from the flower patch and chuckle as they start dancing.
Reinhard would smile, laugh and dance with him.
And for now, Subaru will allow himself this much.
Subaru fell in love. He just knows. He's not unfamiliar with the feeling. It's like another memory coming back to him. A nice reminder of how he felt for Emilia-tan and, although different in nature, his love for his dear friends.
So he doesn't panick. Doesn't hate himself for it. Instead, he feels grateful to Reinhard for helping him ignite the feeling that he once forgot.
Reinhard loves him back. He knows.
And Reinhard… he probably knows too.
But Subaru hopes, wishes, with everything he is, that Reinhard wouldn't form the words to convey that love. That the redhead would only see what they have as a dream and not reality. An illusion. Unreal.
Because if Reinhard speaks the words.
When he drags what they have into the light.
When he attempts to make this real.
Everything will break—
“I love you.” Reinhard speaks, sincerity bleeding through his voice, in every syllable, in his eyes looking straight at Subaru.
Subaru feels like dying.
He despairs at the fact that he isn't.
“Sorry, Reinhard.” Subaru removes the glove on his left hand, revealing a silver band tried and tested by time, yet remains strong and cool on his ring finger. Much like the memory of her.
Reinhard stares.
Subaru meets his gaze.
Tears fall down Reinhard's cheeks.
Subaru returns to his tower.
“I love you.” Reinhard hands him one of the winter flowers. The rest were placed in a nice clean vase, for his Lady. “I still do. I believe I always will.”
And Subaru is cruel.
Even though he knows what will happen to Reinhard.
Even though he knows how much he will scar the man before him.
Even though nothing can convince him to do otherwise.
His heart dances at the truth in the redhead's words. At the love given to him, by the person he also loves. He feels happiness, so much so that he almost cries.
But Subaru had more than enough of his share of crying.
“I love you, too.” He accepts the flower with a smile. Cutting off the stem and freezing the flower, turning it into a brooch he places over his clothes.
Reinhard is tearing up.
Subaru chuckles at the sight, taking out a pack of seeds and handing it to Reinhard along with a note—
“This is…”
“The seeds you brought when you first came here. I wrote instructions on how you can plant them.”
“What kind of flowers will these turn into?” Reinhard blinks curiously at him.
“That's for you to find out.” Subaru smiles, leaning forward and pecking Reinhard's lips. Giggling at how fast the redhead blushed.
“I love you.” Reinhard repeats.
“I love you too.”
“And you're still going through with this?” Reid asks, incredulous, “even after everything?”
“Precisely because of everything. Now, I won't have any more regrets.”
“Does it not cross your mind to stay? Try? With him?”
“You're seriously offering your descendant to me just to stop this?”
“Subaru, be serious here—”
“I AM serious. You're the one that needs to snap out of it. If you seriously wanted to stop me, I wouldn't be standing right now. Make up your mind.”
“... and you already made yours, is that it?”
“Yes.”
“...”
“Reid, Reinhard is young. He's still discovering the world around him, meeting new people, learning new things, and gaining new experiences. He has so much more to go. And that's fine. That's what makes him shine. But me? I've been dying, Reid, we have. To disappear to become one with the darkness… to go back home.”
“But you also found something new. You found him.”
“He found me. He was the one who broke dimensions to get here.”
“Doesn't matter. Point is, there could still be more for you.”
“Maybe.” Subaru nods “But it won't change anything. The same way Reinhard couldn't change my decision. And I know you want the same, so can you please stop pretending that you're okay with me stopping when we're almost there”
Reid releases a long suffering sigh as he scratches his head “Is it so bad to wish for something better for a friend?”
“Hah! You're being honest now of all times.” Subaru shakes his head with a smile “Underworld really is ending. Besides, we won't be having that happy ending even if I stay.”
“And how are you so sure?”
“He's not immortal. You may forget because of the sheer pressure around him, but he's not one of us. He'll die and leave me alone. And I am so done with living by having the people I love disappear from my life.”
“So you'll be the one disappearing from his?”
“Yes. If that's what it means to die, yes.”
“I see.” Reid closed his eyes as he takes a breath. When he opens them, gone was the hesitation “What's my role.”
“Die protecting the bottom most floor.” the words should be cruel, scathing and painful. And yet, to the two men present, it is nothing but an admission of care.
“Understood.” Reid’s words were the same.
Subaru leans on his throne as he feels the darkness latch on to his very core. He is once again, as he was before, the king of the shadows.
But this time, he has no queen. No one to help him calm and control the insatiable hunger of the shadows. He is nothing but the root, and the branches are more than ready to grow on their own.
That's why they will stretch, reclaiming their rightful place in the nighttime sky once more. And they won't stop at that. They will attempt to devour the other realms which banished and rejected them.
Subaru laughed when the shadows climbed straight on to the upper realms, apparently deciding to take the mortal realm for later. Even though they're moving regardless of his will, it seems some sentiments were shared, more prominently their distaste for those lounging lazily in the upper realm.
Subaru had thought that they would head for the mortal realm first, and then those from the upper realm, too irresponsible to deal with the problem themselves, would order Reinhard to handle it. Then... the end.
He was pleasantly surprised to know he could lay waste to the upper realm before dying by Reinhard's hands.
Yes. By Reinhard.
Because no one in the upper realm is powerful enough to stop his and his Queen's shadows. That's why they were so accepting of Od Laguna's demands to change the Underworld in the first place.
But Reinhard is different. In terms of strength, raw power, instinct, technique. His beloved is an exception to the world, and he can only hope that those in the upper realm wouldn't harm the redhead for it—
“Well, with how much the shadows are eating, I suppose they wouldn't have the leeway to even worry about Reinhard after this.” Subaru sighs, content. He hums with a smile at the now permanent attachment between him and his shadows. With this, Reinhard will have no choice but to—
The door slams open, its hinges forcefully snapped, flying on to broken pieces, eaten by the shadows before it reaches him.
“What a grand entrance.” Subaru remarks, looking at Reinhard the way he always does. Because there's no need for facades. “Reinhard.” He calls, and unlike the way he first said the name, where his tone felt hollow even to his own ears, his voice is now filled with fondness towards the man who is now the only existence, aside from his Underworld, holding his affection. Because Reid is dead. By Reinhard's hands no doubt.
Now, it is Subaru's time to perish.
He smiles.
“Why?” Reinhard cries.
“You don't have the time to hear me explain.” Subaru shakes his head. “I love you. Between us, that is all you need to know.”
“I wanted to know more!” Reinhard banishes the shadows approaching him with his sword, progressively taking steps toward Subaru.
“Believe me when I say I do too,” Subaru says, unflinching even as Reinhard's blade is now just centimeters away from his chest. “Just that, there's something else I wanted more. I'm sorry.” He whispers “I love you.”
“I love you too.” Reinhard's tears keep falling. The tears, the hurt, the pain. All of that's definitely on Subaru. And it seriously hurts to know.
But even then, Subaru wouldn't have been able to take a different path.
Everything is as they should be.
Which is why, as Reinhard drives the sword to his chest and ends his life, he smiles.
Although…
He does wonder why the Subaru he saw reflected in Reinhard's eyes was crying too.
Reinhard watches over his garden, where only one kind of flower grows. Light, blue and has five petals.
The flowers that grew from the seeds he gave Subaru.
The seeds Subaru returned to him.
The flowers he doesn't even know the name of.
… Subaru can be so cruel.
Reinhard would have wanted black flowers.
Something to remind him of Subaru.
Something he knows what to call.
But then, as he thinks that, a playful voice in the back of his head will laugh and tease
“I see. For you, I'm so easy to forget that you need specific flowers to remember me, huh. And here I thought I was loved.”
Reinhard would laugh. Something in between real and broken. Most likely both.
He can imagine it so clearly, that it's as if Subaru was still there.
But he isn't.
Subaru is nowhere,
Not even in the Underworld which now dominates the sky during the night.
But Subaru left some stars. They are neither books of the dead containing their memories nor the ice flowers that once captured the souls of the sinners.
No.
The new stars,
Are Origamis.
They shine brightly whenever the dark of night comes, helping the mortals find their way.
Reinhard had to fight the urge to visit the Underworld and collect each and every one of those stars. Their stars.
He would sometimes wonder why Subaru chose these floweres and not those Origamis as his final present for Reinhard.
He sighs, shaking his head and letting his feet move him to front gate. Gaston, Rachins and Camberley had mentioned they will be coming so that they may go together on the way to Lady Felt's palace.
As soon as he arrived—
“Please release me! I sincerely apologise for what I did so please!” A merchant, his body tied by a rope, writhing in his spot over Gaston's shoulders, his green hat falling to the ground due to the movement, revealing more of his grey hair.
Reinhard's eyes widened, recognising the merchant's features, and astonished at the man’s current state “This person is…”
“The guy who scammed you.” Rachins spat.
“He's the reason you've been gloomy all this time right?” Camberley pipes, “We– uh, by complete coincidence, found him on the streets and– well, you're mood's been making Felt stressed too so—”
“We thought,” Gaston puts the man down in front of Reinhard, as though offering a sacrifice “He can pay the price for whatever he scammed you with.”
Reinhard blinks.
Processing everything he heared, he smiled.
He feels guilt at having worried them so, however, he is even more delighted that they would go to such lengths for him.
Still, he hoped that they refrain from scaring the poor merchant.
“Sir Reinhard please!” The merchant quickly crawled over to him. “I had no ill will when I sold those seeds! I promise! That was all a misunderstanding!” He wails, moving his limbs in what it seems to be an attempt to bring the sling bag around his shoulders over to Reinhard… but failing.
“It is quite alright, Otto. In fact, please forgive me for getting you involved in such circumstances.” Taking pity on the man, Reinhard smiles apologetically, as he unties the rope, ignoring the trio who were complaining at his actions.
“A– ahh, thank you Sir Reinhard! And I'm honest! There's simply a misunderstanding!”
“A misunderstanding?”
“Yes! You were looking for the ‘flowers from the myth’. I thought you meant the ones no one has been able to grow since the time of the ancients! I really, truly did not realise that what you wanted were the winter flowers!”
“I see,” Reinhard chuckles. Truth be told, he would never have minded even if it was an actual scam. No matter what seed it was, it is what helped him find something much more precious than any rare flower.
Irreplaceable.
Important.
Significant.
More than anything. More than anyone—
“So!” The merchant energetically pulls a book out of his own bag. Its cover is a plain, faded brown with no distinctive features. However, seeing as the merchant is smiling widely at him, it must be related to the seeds. “I managed to find it! A book detailing information on the flowers, and of course, how to grow it! There's also other flowers but—”
Reinhard maintains his smile as he let's Otto ramble on.
He already knew how to grow them.
They already bloom in his garden.
But if this can relieve the merchant of his guilt and ease the trio of their worries over him then—
Suddenly, Otto flips open a page and presents it to Reinhard.
There, Reinhard finds an illustration similar to the flowers in his garden and—
His breathing stops the moment he laid his eyes on the name of the flower.
Forget me not.
Reinhard almost laughs.
“See here, Sir Reinhard! This is how those flowers are—”
He doesn't remember much about how the following events played out. He thinks he gave some half hearted excuse to grab the book and—
Well, now, he finds himself crying in his own room, the book feels like it's burning his skin.
Sniffing as he wipes away tears that won't disappear, Reinhard opens to that page once more—
Forget me not.
It felt like an order.
Reinhard laughs through the tears.
Subaru truly is cruel.
Even then—
“I would never. I love you too much to forget.” He says, trying to calm himself.
Once his eyesight becomes clear enough to at least read the letters, he returns his gaze to the book—
Forget me not.
A symbol of enduring love and a promise of remembrance.
Given to convey devotion even in separation.
Reinhard rushes to his garden, the blue flowers, sway with the wind as though in greeting.
He cries, letting himself experience everything; the emotions, the tears, the ache— everything Subaru left him with, along with the scent of promises.
Promises they never shared.
Promises they never voiced.
Promises they both desired.
Promises only Reinhard will keep.