Chapter Text
Sometime Prior to the Royal Selection Announcement, and long before "The Confession Event"
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~Near the Royal Knights Barracks In Lugnica~
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Tap* Tap* Tap*
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The shoe of the elegant Purple-Haired Knight tapped anxiously against the stone-road beneath him.
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Biting back his frustration he let out a deep sigh.
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“How can they be late today? Today of all days!”
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A few more minutes passed, and the Knight finally received a wave of relief at the sight of the unmistakable flaming red hair of Reinhard now rounding the corner of a nearby sweet’s shop.
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Rushing over to meet him halfway, he opened his mouth to bark out some stern words but stopped himself at the rare sight before him…
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Reinhard was smiling?
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Not just his normal polite smile but instead a deep warm one of actual happiness which he knew his friend always had a short supply of due to his ‘questionable’ upbringing.
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Beginning to rack his brain, the Purpled-Haired Knight tried to think just what could have made Reinhard finally feel some true happiness?
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“Apologies Julius…I was just returning from the Roswaal Domain from a visit…”
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Ah that's why he is so happy…
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With that major hint it didn't take the Violet-Haired Knight long to remember that the particularly strange girl named ‘Subaru’ was residing at the manor.
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Sighing* Julius massaged his temple unable to even muster up a single word of annoyance.
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“Right…let's just hurry, it's about to start! We just need to hope Felix hurry’s up from whatever he’s doing…”
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Before his eyes caught on some strange object being clutched in Reinhard’s arms…
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Julius cocked his head in true bafflement as his brain seemingly couldn't decipher just what it was at a glance.
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A felt exterior… looks soft as if it were stuffed…4 short squishy limbs…Ah A children's plush? What could he possibly be doing with that? Perhaps a child lost it and he was attempting to return it?
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Now squinting, and still very confused… Julius really couldn't think of another reason for why Reinhard would be clutching such a thing.
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Then it hit him!
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His eyes widening in pure confusion, Julius now began to recognize just what the plush was.
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A Strange white, orange and black set of clothes…that hairstyle… THAT goofy expression… oh Od Laguna it cant be….
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In a bit of horror Julius rubbed his eyes thinking he was seeing things… but the plush remained…
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“Reinhard…. Is that a ‘plush’ of Subaru…”
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The Red-Haired Knight beamed at the comment, holding the plush closer with that rare happy grin seemingly glued to his face.
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“INDEED! It was a gift from Subaru! She said that it’s a way for us to ALWAYS feel like we are together even when apart!”
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Julius facepalmed, before taking another peak though his finger’s truly hoping that this was all some sort of weird prank.
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However this hope was quickly destroyed by seeing the innocent face of his friend now looking back at him in confusion who with an innocent tone spoke up once again.
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“Julius is there something wrong?”
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Letting out yet another sigh* The Purple-Haired Knight began massaging one of his temple’s trying to rub away some stress as he thought carefully how to word some ‘bad news’.
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“Reinhard… my apologies that I have to inform you of this but…you can't possibly bring that to the meeting with the rest of the Royal Knights…”
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Now frowning, the Knight looked on in confusion with a bit of an hurt expression shaping across his face.
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“But… it was a dear gift from Subaru…Why do you want me to leave it?”
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Taking a deep breath Julius tried to calm himself and think of a polite way to explain such a thing to his clueless friend.
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“Now Reinhard… something like that would be inappropriate to bring into a meeting such as this… the others will think that you are not taking the situation seriously.”
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Reinhard’s frown deeped as he felt as if there was something about this that wasn't clicking with him.
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But it’s something that we share… something that connects us no matter what…it makes me feel safe…why does he not want me to have it?
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“But Julius…it's my Subaplushie… I…feel…”
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With Reinhard’s voice trailing off and his eyes looking dejected he came to the realization that he must be doing something ‘not normal’ again in front of his friend. As Reinhard was about to continue his eyes instead focused on the new figure approaching close behind Julius.
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At this moment Julius sensed another as well but was too distracted as he now felt a hand on his shoulder finally catching his attention. Quickly turning to see who it was, it took but a moment to recognize the fuzzy sight of Felix’s ears twitching before him.
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“Heya! What are Nyu two doing? We have a meeting nyow!”
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Feeling a wave of relief at the arrival of the “convince Reinhard” reinforcements Julius couldn't help but smile a bit.
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“Ah Felix! Perfect timing, I was simply trying to explain to Reinhard why he can't bring his um… ‘Subaplushie’ into this meeting!”
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Feeling a bit triumphant at the newly expecting support, Julius was instead betrayed! Felix with a coy smile spun around him, and threw an arm around the now dejected Reinhard who clutched his plush a bit closer. With his smile only growing more smug Felix reached into his bag, and with a swift-triumphant motion yanked out a plush with the likeness of Lady Crusch.
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“Hmm hmm Nyow everyone will see my dedication nyu Crusch!”
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Reinhard perked up at the sight looking happy once more.
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However Julius stood there dumb founded at what was happening before him… had his friends gone mad? Is this some elaborate prank by Felix perhaps who was teasing Reinhard once again??
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All he could muster against them was a simple “alright…”
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This shock refused to leave him for the entirety of the meeting. Wanting to hide away from embarrassment as he could feel the uncomfortable or highly questioning eyes of the other Knights sitting across and around them at the long table. All of which were stealing quick glances at free moments trying to rationalize the Sword Saint himself sitting there with an attentive smile and a strange Plushie of the Emilia Camps ‘Knight’ in his lap… to which he patted often. The only thing more shocking was seeing Felix lovingly cuddle up with his own plush which was obviously depicting the candidate he dedicated himself to.
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But one pleasant thought did linger in all their minds…
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~The Sword Saint…Reinhard Van Astrea… I never knew that he could smile like that~
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