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Being summoned to another world’s Askr has to be one of the worst things that’s ever happened to Bruno.
Of course, growing up in Askr, he knew all about summoning - how anyone in all the worlds that qualified as a so-called “Hero” could be suddenly whisked away to aid the Summoner of legend.
First off, he’s not a Hero. How someone like him was counted among the ranks of legendary kings and noble knights was beyond him.
Secondly, of all the different versions of Askr that must exist, why did he have to be summoned to this one?
It doesn’t take long to find out, from the hushed whispers and odd glances… this world’s Bruno is dead.
It sickens him, how so many Heroes look as if they want to reach out and speak with him, before realizing, remembering, that he isn’t him.
Bruno doesn’t want to be here, walking the castle halls as if he’s some sort of living ghost.
He is alive. He has never died.
Nothing about his being here will bring back this world’s Bruno.
And they dare not pretend the two are one and the same… that would be a horrid mistake.
He has at the least successfully avoided Alfonse, Sharena, and Veronica, for the most part.
…Gods know how much pain it’d cause for them to see him here.
Yet the true problem lies with the Summoner, Kiran—someone who, due to the summoning contract, is near impossible to avoid.
She is the worst.
Not that Kiran seems to be a person of poor caliber, but in that it is extremely obvious she had a close bond with the Bruno of this world.
All of their interactions are layered in awkwardness and things left unsaid, and try as he might to remind her time and time again that he is a different person than the man she lost…
Well, he fears she is persistent in her attempts to befriend him.
…And here she comes now, walking through the castle.
“Hey, Bruno!” she waves, perhaps a bit too enthusiastically.
“Kiran,” he nods, sighing deeply.
“Wanna hang out or something? I’ve got some free time.”
How many times must they play this song and dance? She tries to get closer, he pushes her away.
“I’m afraid I must decline. I am not the one you want to spend time with, as much as you may wish I was.”
“I- I know,” her gaze turns to the floor. “But, you’re still a Bruno, right? Am I allowed to get to know you better? Can I ask that much?”
“You shouldn’t,” he turns away, ready to leave. “Good day, Kiran.”
“Wait!” she clutches his arm with surprising strength, her eyes wide with terror. “Please… don’t go. Not- not again…”
It’s become apparent that this is a really, really, bad idea.
Unfortunately, he sees Veronica - the one of this world, judging by her shorter hair - in the distance, heading his way.
She hasn’t noticed him yet, it seems.
So, he has to choose between a really bad idea, or an even worse one.
To face an older version of his little sister, one who watched him bleed out on the battlefield…
His heart wrenches at the thought.
Kiran it is.
“Let’s go,” he says with urgency. “Now.”
“Really?” her face lights up.
“Yes…” Bruno grumbles, grabbing her hand and dashing out of the room, ignoring Kiran’s gasp of surprise as she’s dragged along.
They end up hiding away in the library while he waits for Veronica to pass by.
It’s early in the day, and the library seems relatively empty thus far.
Bruno stands just past the entrance, uncertain what to do next.
“What’s going on?” Kiran whispers. “Why did you-“
“Veronica,” he utters. “I couldn’t-“
“Oh,” Kiran nods sadly. “Of course. So… you didn’t really want to be with me.”
“I…” he sighs. “Kiran, it’s not as simple as that, and you know it.”
“Yeah, but…” she looks at their hands, still interlocked. “I want to be close to you. You don’t. I’m terrible, aren’t I?” Kiran laughs. “Continuing to try, hoping what - that I’ll wear you down enough that you’ll agree? As if that’s any way to start a friendship!”
“No, it isn’t,” Bruno agrees. “You aren’t being very fair. And truth be told, I’m tired of your sad eyes, staring right past my mask to a face I haven't revealed to you, as if you know my thoughts. Try as you might to separate us, you’re seeing a dead man, Kiran. Not the living one in front of you.”
She looks up at him, concentrating on something. “Hm. Maybe you’re right,” she admits. “And I’m sorry for that. I just… miss my friend. A lot. It’s hard not to think I could get that back when I look at you.”
“Exactly why we should not interact,” he frowns. “It’s only going to cause you more pain. I want to be myself, not him. Do you understand?”
“I do…” Kiran guiltily pulls her hand away. “Sorry.”
She walks over to the wall, and sits down.
Bruno follows, but remains standing.
Peering down at her, trying to figure her out.
That melancholy expression, knees up to her chest, arms wrapped around in a sad hug…
Kiran looks truly miserable.
Damn it, because he does feel bad for her.
Truth be told, Bruno did know the Summoner back home - albeit not extremely well. But she was always kind to him, greeting him with a bright smile and without judgement for his past.
He supposes when he returns to his world, after he’s accomplished what he needs to, they may very well end up with a bond like this Kiran had with this Bruno.
He sighs, sitting down next to her. He can’t bear this sadness from Kiran any longer… if she’s so distraught while he tries to distance himself, perhaps the alternative will actually be better?
“Tell me about him,” he utters. “Your Bruno.”
Her head whips upwards. “Huh? Wouldn’t that… be difficult for you to hear?”
“It might be,” he acknowledges. “But I don’t think it can hurt any more than knowing he’s dead.”
“You’re sure?”
Bruno nods. “Go ahead, Kiran.”
She takes a deep breath before beginning. “Well… he was one of my best friends. We understood each other on a level I didn’t think anyone could, really. I know I haven’t been through tragedy like you have, but… that deep loneliness, the kind you feel from not being able to let others in… I’ve known that feeling, too.”
It’s funny… she’s so bright, it’s hard to tell it hides a dark emptiness.
But it’s true, Bruno can see it now that he knows.
The way her smiles are real, but they hold hope for something… more. She’ll give her kindness freely, but has a past wherein kindness was rarely given to her in return.
He admires that, for he instead closed himself off when the loneliness became too much.
If it weren’t for Alfonse and Sharena, then… who knows what would have become of him.
“I… see.” is all he can manage to reply with.
“Yeah,” she laughs halfheartedly. “I’m kind of a loser. Or was one, anyways. I think I still am, the way I’m going crazy seeing you. But, at least there’s some people who care about me, right? Sharena… Alfonse… some of the Heroes… but yeah, um, back to Bruno. I dunno. I guess how he died isn’t that surprising, knowing him, but none of us saw it coming at the time. He tricked us,” Kiran says, a hint of bitterness seeping into her voice. “He lied to us, so he could die. Stupid, self-sacrificial fool,” she sniffles. “Of course he’d give his life for Veronica. For peace. It’s true that we had barely any options, but…” she sighs. “I just think back on that moment, and wish there had been another way. Where nobody had to die.”
“Life is rarely fair,” he says, words he knows are true from personal experience.
His mother, dying alone in prison.
Him, banished from his home.
And when he finds a new home, one where he is loved… even then, nothing good lasts forever.
It’s why he’s got to keep searching now, to get back to all his loved ones… for good this time.
He doesn’t want to meet the same fate as this Bruno… he’ll just have to try even harder.
“Don’t I know it now,” she smiles sadly. “How unfair it can be. But, you’re here now, to lend us your aid against Alfaðör and who knows what other threats that’ll appear.”
“I’ll abide by the contract, and do what I can,” he agrees.
Kiran sighs, bumping their shoulders together. “I should let you go home.”
“What?” Bruno asks, startled. It’s not that he doesn’t want to, but rather that he’s shocked she would say such a thing.
“You don’t want to be here, right? And you’re searching the worlds for an end to the curse… I should let you resume that search. Maybe you’ll actually find something of use. Maybe you won’t end up like… him.”
“I hope to reunite with my family and friends in this life,” he tells Kiran. “Many worlds diverge from one another. There is every chance it doesn’t have to come to… that.”
It’s as much reassurance for her as it is for himself.
“Right,” she slowly nods. “Would you tell me something about your world before I send you home?”
“Hmm… well, I think I’ll stay a while first. This is a new world to search for answers in… I should do my due research before moving onwards.”
“Gotcha…” Kiran smiles awkwardly. “What now, then?”
“I suppose…” he looks to her and sighs. “I suppose there is a chance you could learn more about my world while I am here.”
“Oh!” her eyes widen. “You mean…?”
“I acquiesce,” Bruno acknowledges. “Since we’re already here… but remember who I am. And who I am not.”
“Thank you!” she nods eagerly, grabbing his hand and leading him out of the library.
He follows Kiran’s lead as they end up leaving the castle entirely, stopping outside in the gardens.
“I like to go on walks,” she says. “Do you?”
It’s a simple invitation, and he appreciates that the choice remains his.
“It has been some time since I’ve gone walking without a true purpose, but… I wouldn’t mind it.”
“Great! Let’s do just that then.” Kiran beams a sunlit smile.
That smile is beautiful, how it glimmers with hope.
That smile… almost makes it worth it, to still be here, wasting a bit of precious time that could be spent doing research.
But, he cannot die while living as a Hero.
And he knows when he is returned home, it will be as if mere seconds have gone by since he left.
So, maybe there’s not much harm after all in enjoying a warm Askran afternoon on this summer’s day.
They begin their walk, at a comfortable pace; no rushing to get to any sort of destination, but rather enjoying in the scenery.
Kiran’s light blonde hair becomes golden in the sunlight, and her brown eyes shine like honey.
Her warmth is almost tangible… though, maybe it’s just the summer sun playing tricks on his mind.
Kiran glances his way, mouth opening in surprise and blushing as she notices his gaze.
Bruno quickly turns to look the other way.
Hah, enjoying the scenery indeed… a far fairer sight inadvertently caught his attention, it seems.
But he mustn’t get too close, for both their sakes.
Back home, he has his own Kiran to get to know better, to maybe eventually become like… this with.
Kiran… well, she only has a man with the same face who isn’t the same man at all.
It isn’t right.
Not when he’s remembering why he liked Kiran so much to begin with, and Kiran’s probably thinking about rose-tinted memories of another Bruno.
He pulls his hand away.
Kiran looks to him with questioning eyes filled with hurt.
“We… shouldn’t,” he tries to explain. “I don’t know how I let you convince me to do this. I’m sorry, Kiran.”
“No, no, no,” she utters. “You said you would! You…” she bites her lip, eyes watering. “It’s not your fault. I knew it was a dumb idea. But…” she reaches her hand back out.
Bruno looks at it, and walks away, ignoring the pangs in his heart.
A few days later, and things have been relatively peaceful.
That is to say, Bruno hasn’t seen Kiran since he… left her behind in the gardens.
Which is fine, naturally. It’s the wise decision in the long run, to save them from greater pain.
He doesn’t miss her. Doesn’t feel bad for his actions.
Even if he does, he’s done many a painful thing to save those dear to him.
Bruno’s used to this, the aching loneliness, the wishing he could stay longer, the heaviness of the knowledge that he can’t do what he wants to do…
He certainly won’t go seeking Kiran out to apologize.
It’s all the better if she stays upset with him—then she’ll keep her distance.
This distance ends spectacularly as he bumps into Kiran shortly after leaving his quarters.
Her expression says it all—she’s still hurt from his previous actions.
“I-“ they both start.
“You go first,” Kiran says.
“Very well,” he sighs. “I think it would be best if we continue to not spend time together.”
“Right…” she nods slowly. “I was going to say something like that, too. Definitely nothing about how I like… missed you or anything. You, you, that is. Not him. ”
He crosses his arms, slightly amused despite himself. “I certainly never had any similar thoughts lately.”
“Yeah…?” she asks, a smile slowly creeping onto her face.
“Yeah,” he repeats, looking down in a poor attempt to hide a smile.
“I don’t care if it’ll hurt more when you go home!” Kiran exclaims. “That’s the price of knowing someone! And I want to know you. Let me know you?”
“I’d be a fool to deny I want to know you too,” Bruno shakes his head. “Just what is it about you, Kiran? I cannot help but be drawn in…”
She giggles at that. “I dunno, but that’s awful sweet of you. Now, c’mere!” she stretches her arms out. “This feels like a hug moment, doesn’t it?”
“Oh, why not?” he agrees.
Kiran melts into the embrace easily, letting out a sigh of contentment. “Thank you,” she mumbles into his shoulder.
Bruno’s not much of a hugger—perhaps he was a long, long, time ago as a young boy, but since his banishment from Embla, he has only known how to awkwardly accept hugs he doesn’t feel he deserves.
Towering over Kiran, he feels much the same as he did whenever Alfonse and Sharena would hug him. As if he doesn’t know what to do with himself.
But Kiran doesn’t seem to mind, not his stiffness, nor the fact that he’s currently wearing armour… she’s happily taking in the feeling of being next to him.
As he looks at her, he’s suddenly struck by the knowledge of what he ought to do—what he wants to do, anyway.
And here, as a summoned Hero, time is frozen still for him. The curse of his blood cannot take hold of him, cannot turn his wants into can’ts.
Just this once, just while he’s here… Bruno will follow his heart.
So, he cautiously leans down and kisses the top of Kiran’s head.
She jolts slightly in surprise, but does not protest.
In fact, she’s smiling even more then before, teary-eyed but… “I’m just… really happy you’re here,” Kiran expresses. “More than you could ever know.”
“Well then, Kiran… I’m glad to be here as well. If only for a moment…”
“Sweet but fleeting… I’ll cherish however long you’re here for,” she remarks.
Maybe it’ll be a few weeks.
Maybe the weeks will stretch into months, or even years…
But, like Kiran, Bruno will try to treasure that time while it lasts.
And when he returns to his own Kiran, well… hopefully he will be curseless and able to stay for good.
He’ll do his best to ensure that much… for all those he loves.