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Six years.
It had been over six years since the last time Crow had seen Rean.
Six years since he had held Rean's bleeding form in his arms, had watched as his last shuddering breath left him, his words of love still ringing loudly in Crow's ears. Six years since Crow had broken down in Himmel Cemetery and had been offered the chance to go back and attempt to fix the past.
So much had happened in that time since he had found himself standing before his Grandfather's gravestone once more. He'd stayed in Jurai this time, lived with Stark, the boy he thought of as a little brother and his family, instead of running off half-baked and getting himself involved with Cayenne and all the bad choices that had followed because of that foolish decision. He was sure the Duke had found himself another lackey to take his place, but that wasn't Crow's concern anymore. He'd deal with that half-wit if he came across them.
He had even stumbled across Vita in Ordis again on a 'family' holiday, staring the witch down with a deadpan look as she tried to convince him to join her, trying to offer Crow promises of wealth and glory. He'd admit that he had been tempted to follow her, if only because he missed Ordine, but the cost of such an action might end up being more than he could afford to pay. So he'd turned her down, knowing that he could not, would not make the same mistakes he had last time, his heart aching at the thought of someone else becoming Ordine's Awakener.
However, a few years later, to his immense shock he found himself stumbling across the trials on his own.
Fate must have had a hand in his discovery.
Crow had known as soon as he entered the old looking shrine that something was different; had felt that familiar energy race over his skin, making it prickle with awareness. He'd battled long and hard to complete the trials, made more difficult this time without the witch's guidance and assistance, but the hours he had spent training himself to become stronger had paid off. And in the end, Ordine had been there, waiting for him.
Crow had felt his legs nearly collapse as Ordine spoke to him, informing Crow that he remembered their previous life and the past they had shared, causing tears to spring to his eyes. He wasn't alone now, Ordine had pledged his assistance in helping him keep Rean alive this time also.
Crow might have felt a little cheated, had he known, that Valimar had not made Rean pass his own trials for a second time; but somehow he knew, he felt that he was being tested. That Ordine would not allow him to become his Awakener this time, unless Crow could prove that he was not the foolish young man he had been last time. It would have hurt them both greatly had Crow failed, but it would have hurt them more to repeat their past mistakes.
He'd also spent whatever free time he had studying his ass off so that he could get into Thors this time around, no big wig Noble to pay his way this time, and he was too proud to allow the family he lived with to pay for him – they'd done so much for him already, he couldn't allow himself to become a burden to them. They'd given him all of the things he had scorned last time, a family, a home, support, love. All of the things he had desperately needed, but had denied himself until a first year had slipped through his carefully crafted walls and defences, had dug himself so deeply into his heart, that Crow hadn't even realised he had changed until it was far too late.
He'd struggled his way through his first year, the subjects boring the first time around, and nearly unbearable to go through a second time. He'd have liked to say that the information he should have been learning had managed to stick and he was excelling in all his subjects, but that would have been a huge overstatement. For the second time, Crow was merely scraping by, no matter how much he had studied his ass off to get here. After all, if Crow didn't manage to fail to collect enough credits, he wouldn't be sent back to Class VII. In fact, the only good thing Crow could think of about repeating all of this with his memories intact, had been how he'd managed to connect a lot easier with George, Angie and Towa this time around. He'd enjoyed hanging out with them all again, but really he'd just been waiting for their second year to begin. For his chance to finally meet Rean again.
He'd been tempted to seek Rean out before now; the family had briefly considered a trip to Ymir one year; but Crow had not been ready to meet him then and had convinced them that Legram was a better choice of location. He wasn't sure if he could keep himself from clinging to Rean if he saw him standing before him, younger and more innocent, untainted by the cruelties of war and pain; no devastating sadness lingering in his eyes. He had known that he wouldn't be able to let the other boy go if he met him now, and he still had to grow stronger first.
So instead he'd waited. Waited six years until they would meet again at Thors.
Crow had remembered that he hadn't met Rean until that shared moment before the Student Union Building last time, but he couldn't keep himself from watching over the new class as they entered the Old Schoolhouse for their orientation. He knew Rean had sensed him somehow, the dark haired boy turning around to scan his surroundings in wary curiosity. Crimson and lilac had clashed briefly, Crow quirking a smile at Rean's look of confused surprise, watching as he shook his head slowly and followed the rest of his classmates into the building.
But now, this was the moment that Crow had been waiting all of those years for. His hands shook in nervousness as he ran them through his hair. His legs felt like a newborn colts', shaky and likely to dump him on his ass, and he was sure he would trip over his words as soon as he opened his mouth to speak. That or something embarrassing would tumble from his lips. Still, he pushed forwards regardless, because there was no way Crow was going to let this chance pass him by. He wasn't sure just why he had waited until this moment, when surely he had had other chances to hunt the other boy down before this over the month they had been at Thors; but somehow it felt right that this would be their first meeting again.
Third time's the charm right?
And there he was, standing before the building looking a little lost and worried, but just as beautiful as Crow remembered him; maybe even more so without the endless shadows lurking in his eyes. He took in a deep, shuddering breath and let it out slowly, letting a smile creep it's way across his face. No lies this time, no secrets....except maybe for the time travel, that might be a bit too crazy to believe; no masks.
He stepped forwards, hand already raised in a casual greeting.
“Hey there Rean!”
Rean turned, head tilting questioningly, eyes assessing. “You know my name?”
“Of course, I'm your senior; I know all sorts of interesting things, the least of which is your name.” Crow replied with a wink. “How about I show you a neat trick? I'll need to borrow 50 mira though.”
“Sure,” Rean didn't hesitate as he handed Crow the 50 mira coin, though there was a puzzling quirk to the side of his mouth as he placed it in Crow's hand; another expression flashing briefly through lilac eyes, there and then gone, before Crow could make sense of it.
“Alright, watch closely now.”
Crow flipped the coin into the air, hands held out as though poised to catch it as it fell, his crimson gaze locked upon the boy before him. Rean's gaze followed the coin as it fell, before his gaze sharpened, eyes making contact with crimson orbs and he smirked at Crow, his hand snatching the coin out of the air before it passed between Crow's outstretched hands.
“You can't fool me with that trick again Crow.” Rean's cheeky smile was a beautiful sight, and Crow felt his breath hitch. “Three times now? That's just lazy.”
Crow found his world screeching to a halt, his heart pounding in excitement and hope as realisation set in.
This time, Rean remembered too.