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“I’m glad you got out kid,” Argus says as him and Varian walk to where the teenager lived. Argus hasn’t gone to old Corona but a handful of times, and only with his late wife, so it’s been years since he actually set foot on the soil of the small town.
He hadn’t expected to see Varian out and about, especially after the incident with the Saporians, but he was glad to see the alchemist again. They had spent the walk chatting and catching up but Argus never really got the chance to say what was on his mind until then.
“Thanks, I’m glad you got out too,” Varian responded.
“Yeah, the princess wasn’t exactly pleased when she found out why I was in there.” It was true. Rapunzel had been furious with her dad when she heard about Argus's story and demanded he be pardoned. It was odd talking to her, especially when she was the cause of so much pain, but she was too kind to truly hate. Besides, Shara thought she was incredible.
Varian’s face lit up suddenly and he seemed years younger. “Speaking of Rapunzel, she was able to get my dad out of the Amber!”
“Oh sun above, that’s great news!”
“It is,” Varian smiled, their boots finally walking into the town of old Corona. “It’s been nice to talk to him again. I missed him so much. You need to meet him!”
Argus couldn’t help but be amused by Varian infectious excitement. “I surely do, I wanna know who raised such a good kid.”
Argus went to ruffle Varian’s hair but he dodged. “Well, I don’t know about that. I did help terrorist.”
“Because you wanted to get out to your father,” Argus corrected. “You’re kind, loyal, and an actual genius. The man who raised you has to have been doing something right.”
“Varian!” They heard someone call from across the village. It sounded so familiar that it made Argus stop dead in his tracks. A mantra of dontgetyourhopesup played on loop in his head. Realistically, he could recognize his old heart through the smallest things alone. His voice, the calluses on his hands, his hair, his eyes, his lips.
Varian perked up and went running towards the noise. “Dad!” He yelled and it felt like someone had stabbed Argus in the heart. It made so much sense but it couldn’t be real. It just couldn’t be.
He took in a shuttering deep breath before slowly turning to see where Varian had run to.
He was older, his eyes carried a certain type of tired but also a pride that Argus had never really seen, he was wearing actual clothes and not some kind of a uniform, and his smile-
It was the smile of someone who had seen hell but deemed it worth it.
Argus didn’t know if he wanted to approach or run as fast as he could. Either way he was crying, he couldn’t help it.
Quirin didn’t notice him for a few moments, more focused on his son, but when he did eventually look up he did something Argus had never really seen him do. He froze. Stuck to one spot and looking at one sight.
The two became hypnotized as the rest of the world fell away. Argus clinged onto Quirin's gaze as he approached, begging the former brotherhood member to speak. Sun, Argus felt like he was seeing his spouse return from war. Or maybe they both were. “Ok, well, um, I’ll start I guess.” Argus eventually said to get rid of the silence. “I don’t really know what to say. Congratulations on Varian and moving and I’m guessing meeting someone else. You deserve happiness, more than you know. I-“ he paused for a moment and took in a shuddering breath. “I just was never meant to give it to you and that’s ok. It is. Breaks my heart but it’s ok. I don’t think my heart’s been in one piece in years.” Another pause, another intake breath. “Varian is a good kid though, I met him. He’s, um, really similar to you. I can see you in almost everything he does. It’s incredibly surreal. I don’t even know how to describe it.” Argus didn’t attempt to, if he did then he knew he’d just cry harder.
“I know you must be mad at me. I gave you no warning about me leaving but I didn’t have much of a choice I swear. I could have sent you letters, I should have sent you letters. Put in literally any amount of effort other than crying, I would know about this wonderful life you’ve made. I could have told you about the life I made too. About Shara, our nursery room we never got to use, my time defending her grave. I’ve lived too much life for my age but I think you know all about that so I’m not gonna rattle on about it.” Argus saw himself as broken. How could he not? But if Quirin didn’t respond in the next few seconds, he was worried he might break into something unrecoverable.
“Quirin, please.” He begged, tears falling freely now. “Please say something.”
Argus kept his eyes trained on the floor, not wanting to see the other’s reaction to his desperate pleas. However, he does hear Quirin very clearly even as he whispers “You never left me, Argus.” Quirin slipped a hand behind Argus’s neck to cradle his head and gently make him look up and meet his eyes. “You never left my heart.”
Quirin was crying too, a quiet disbelieving joy on his face. Argus smiled brighter than had ever in his life, his own tears pouring down his face. “Quirin Ruddiger, never change.”