Chapter Text
He will ruin you.
In bold, black, italicized letters, his Bible gave him words… A small, repeating sentence every time his paths cross with the boy. The boy… The black-haired, demon-eyed boy. Roswaal stares down at the baby clinging to his finger, attempting to bite and kick at his encroaching purple glove. Roswaal smirked, eyeing his son curiously. He leaned down, watching as the boy’s hateful glare followed him. “You have the face of your mother,” he pulled his index finger from the baby’s mouth and took him in his arms.
“My Teacher,” such reverence danced as his words sauntered from his lips. “Prophised that you, young Subaru Mathers,” he looks across the boy’s room. Black and orange wall paper, his mother said he'd grow to love it—the colors contrasted Roswaal. Though that makes sense. Subaru is bad omen. “Will ruin me,” he chuckles, shaking his head with righteous passion. “And it is for that reason, and that reason alone, that you still live today, young Mathers.”
Beside the entrance to the room, the Great Spirit frowned, arms crossed, and deeply annoyed. She sneered, disgust kissing her cheeks as his eyes fell on her. “Do grace my son,” Roswaal added gently as he looked down at his baby, “with the Great Spirit of Yin’s blessing… Beatrice.”
She scoffed, “I will have no part in the death of the Margrave, in fact—if you want to be blessed, send for someone else.” She squinted, eyes flicking between the proud, flushed man, and the bumbling baby. “Betty only attended the funeral because Clind gave me cake. I owe you nothing, nor your child.” She crossed her arms, puffed her cheeks, turned on her heel, and disappeared into the closet—he felt the remnants of her magic kicking in and sending her off.
Roswaal smirked, looking down at the first in four hundred years to be—he chuckled, lifting his son above his head. “You are special—
He will ruin you
He chuckled, laughing as he brought the boy to rest against his shoulder. “Ruin me how, Master?” He hummed, rocking, and swaying to calm the bumbling baby. “Perhaps… ruin is the only way to set you free.” His voice softened as Subaru quieted slowly…
And back at the entrance to the room, a young man, only in appearance, stood idly. Coffee in hand, and a warm, puckered wooden bottle for the baby. He wore a smile as he looked at the tired, pudgy cheeks of his Master’s son. “Shall I?” Clind stepped forward, ready to put the boy in clean clothes before the day began.
Humoring him, Roswaal handed the boy over. Subaru’s eyes never left his face. “Subaru,” Clind whispered, joyfully. The boy turned his furious eyes to Clind as he held a bottle to his lips. Subaru squinted, glaring like the little five month old he is. Suspicious… He turned his little lips away, pushing against the bottle. “Subaru,” Clind grumbled, left the room without words to the Margrave, and frowned. “You need to drink before you eat… Or you'll get sick—” As if he knew that word, Clind used it whenever he was referring to something bad, Subaru's small frown parted for the bottle.
Clind smiled, walking down the hall to the warm bath already poured. “Little Lord,” he prodded the baby's chubby belly as he drank away whatever formula Beatrice had long since mastered… Beatrice… Clind’s eyes glanced forward.
Beatrice—best not dwell too long. After all, there has never been a Mathers like Subaru. The baby’s mother, average like those before her. Yet, she gave birth to bad omen… Distasteful and unlucky, and yet with Roswaal Bible reading as such, the baby still lives. Any other time, the baby would have been killed, and Roswaal would have sent for another.
Clind sighed, shaking the nasty thoughts from his head… Right now, his attention lies to the innocent soul drinking in his arms. “Perhaps Beatrice is in the mood to see with your clothes.” He mumbled, “Od knows she loves to dress you up.”
However, until then, he has a baby to dress, breakfast to cook, and a mansion to clean—perhaps he'll speak with Roswaal some other time about hiring other maids. With Subaru growing as his own person, not a vessel, planning his education and training will be different from the heirs before him.
—and Subaru?
With the thoughts of a baby, he holds the bottle, curls his toes, and drinks the warm milk in perfect contempt… Sick—endlessly repeating in his head.
—and Beatrice?
From the halls of her library, her cheeks burn as her heart remembers the gaze of the Omen's child. Little Subaru Mathers… She looks down at his small handprint like an older sister would her child—this boy is different. He's not going to be raised as a vessel. He's going to be given his own life, freedoms, and luxuries… She wanders, silently, how different he would be with her apart of his life.
Subaru Mathers, Beatrice smirked before sending the small plaque away. “Betty wanders what you'll wear today,” she slipped from her stool, “in fact.”
Inside of the library, for the first time in history, a small cradle sits beside her stool. Though empty now, as the day passes, it'll be occupied by a child listening to her read. “Clind has no taste whatsoever; fortunately,” she rambled to herself, “Betty the great will find you—” She peaked into the crib, smile falling quickly.
She glared at the sheets and empty cradle. She sighed, “Betty forgot to have his clothes washed again, I suppose…” Her shoulders slumped as she looked at the door. She didn't want to leave and have to see the Omen's father, but she needed to give her Subaru some clothes…
Her cheeks puffed in anger and defiance—she blessed her Subaru the moment she held him—she will NOT go to Roswaal for some clothes. He'll seal her with boredom.
Nor could she go to Clind because he was no doubt washing the baby now. And he'd bring Subaru to her wrapped in a blanket, and waiting to get dressed… She looked around her library, temporarily used as the safest daycare, and spotted his small bin of baby clothes set aside because they were ugly.
But it seems that—”Lady Beatrice,” Clind spoke on the other side of the door. “The Little Lord is ready.”
Her eyes lit as her door opened. She looked over, unable to contain her smile, as the man carried the wrapped baby to the crib. “Breakfast will be done shortly, and I'll have to clean up, but once that's—”
Betty waves him off. “Betty is fine. Betty will keep Betty’s Subaru as long as possible.” She looked down at the ever-frowning baby. Not so much frowning, actually. But more like his evil eyes made him look angry all the time. “Hello.” Her small finger poked his cheek
The baby’s evil gaze fell on her. Clind smirked, while not close to Beatrice, he admires her effortless relationship with the Omen. “Rumor has it,” Clind whispered, “the Little Lord will ruin him.”
Briefly, Beatrice stopped aggravating the pudgy boy. She took in everything he had with her eyes, before smiling, and nodding. “Betty expects nothing less, in fact.” She poked his cheek, smiled when he turned his head away in defiance, and poked his nose. “Betty’s Subaru is bad omen.”
Clind, looking at the duo, offered a smile. “Breakfast will be ready in an hour. Will you be joining us, Lady Beatrice?”
“Betty supposes.”
Clind nodded, turning his eyes back down the hall. “I'll leave the Little Lord in your care.”
She hummed, wiggling him free of his towel. He chortled, angrily kicking like the omen he was—Clind left—furthermore, she's starting to think he was born aware… “Subaru,” she chided, flicking the bottom of his left foot. He reacted spitefully, kicking harder. “Betty is getting angry.” She was sure, if only slightly, that he opened his eyes and immediately recognized his own mortality. He's human. Small. Unable. Useless. Weak…
Beatrice forced his little, pudgy legs up—”no!” He kicked, finally opening his mouth. He only knew no because she taught him the word. And he only uses no. “No!”
Betty frowned as he wormed his way away from the diaper. On his stomach, he crawled to the other side of the crib. However, she didn't let him crawl far—
And that's Subaru Mathers, an Omen born…
…the years pass in the blink of an eye…
Betty sees his growth… Yet, now, still barely taller than the boy, she stands face-to-face with a pair of demonic twins. She sneers, distrustfully as Roswaal stands behind them—first that Frederica girl, and now them? She looks at them as Subaru stands beside her; his eyes are indifferent, he stares like he was taught: stern, like the world will move around you.
“Hi,” the blue-haired twin squeeked out, fearfully. Her cheeks puffed, eyes dancing across the carpet, and fingers tapping together until they ached. “Nice to meet you, Lady Beatrice—”
Beside her, the pink-haired twin stepped forward. “My name is Ram, and my sister’s name is Rem.” She bowed, and her sister followed suit. “We will be working here as maids—”
Beatrice scoffed. “Betty does not—”
“They're fine,” Subaru whispered, eyeing the older duo. He was bored, bored and hungry… Clind was sent somewhere else, and the new hire, Frederica’s still getting used to things. Subaru slipped his small hand through Beatrice’s fingers and smiled. “And it's nice to meet you two. My name’s Subaru, and this is my sister, Beatrice, but you can call her—”
Betty yanked her hand back, and crossed her arms as she looked down at the trio of children—not that she's that much taller than them. “Beatrice will do, in fact. Betty’s Subaru has better things to do than associate himself with—”
Roswaal clicked his tongue, shaking his head in disagreement. “I thi~i~nk otherwise.” His voice sang. He reached over the girls, shaking his hand through Subaru’s hair. He eyes his son with pride. “Perhaps it'll be best for them to interact… Say, Little Lord,” he teased, “what use is a maid that does not know their way around?”
Flustered and embarrassed, Subaru looked away. Beatrice glared in disagreement. Rem looked at the floor—at Subaru… Beatrice noticed the way the girl’s hands trembled ever so slightly as she scooted closer to her sister. Ram stared, eyeing Subaru with curiosity. “Little Lord?” Ram mumbled, confused.
Beatrice smirked, confidently. “Betty’s Subaru will become the Lord of this Estate. Margrave by association—Subaru Mathers, I suppose.”
“Come on guys,” he leaned away from his dad’s touch. “You're embarrassing me—I’ll show them around, and you can go talk to dad.” Subaru pushed Beatrice, he was stronger than her, towards the girls. And then he stood, awkwardly with his hand out. “You two can follow me—assuming you don't know your way around?”
He heard a little about the girls. He knew his dad sent Clind away because he was hiring new maids… He just expected someone older.
“Come on Rem,” Ram chided, squeezing her hand gently. “The Little Lord is showing us—”
Suddenly red, Subaru shook his head. “Subaru is fine.”
Ram looked away from her sister, and at the Little Lord. “Su—Su…” She struggled to pronounce his name. “Su—basur?” She blinked, frowning. “Burasu?” Though Subaru had to admit, her plight was adorable. “Barusu?”
Beatrice groaned. “Subaru!” Her sudden yell jolted the girls. Roswaal sighed, put a hand on the Spirit’s shoulder, and nudged her slightly.
“We’ll be in the study, discussing grown-up stuff—” Roswaal stopped Beatrice from wiggling free. “Do~o~o take good care of your future associates, Little Su-ba-ruuu—” He whisked the devilish little spirit into his arms, disappeared down the hall faster than the kids could follow, and thus… the youngest Mathers was left to deal with an oni who couldn't pronounce his name, and another far too meager to meet his gaze.
He sighed. “If you really can't say my name, Little Lord’s fine.”
Silently, Ram nodded… “Little Lord,” she bowed, respectfully taking her sister down with her. “Please show us around.”
For a second, Subaru blinked, reluctant and exhausted.
—he eyes them, staring. “Right, you can follow me—” He didn't want to show them around. Because around them, his ears ring—They’ll ruin you—and tell him stories of futures that don't exist. Subaru smiled, turning his frown upside down.
He turned down the hall,crossing his arms. “Well, I think going to Frederica’s the smartest thing to do… But Dad asked ME to show you guys around… Hmmmm…” He stroked his chin, eyes the hallway, and smirked. “Okay, we'll figure things out on the way.” He glanced back, winking, “you adorable girls can follow me.”
He turned forward, ignoring their awkward silence, and trotted onward. “WAIT!” He yelped, scaring the girls, and stopping suddenly. He turned, wide-eyed. “I don't even know you guys… Let's get to know each other first. My name’s Subaru Altair Mathers.” He posed, right hand on his hip, left fist in the air, with his legs spread slightly. “I like girls,” he winked at them, though they stared indifferently. “Candy. Pretty smiles. And my family.”
He pointed his left hand at Rem, pointing his finger. “I will do my very-very best to show you around, Ms.Ram!”
“I am Ram,” the pink-haired girl mumbled. “Ram’s sister is Rem, Little Lord.” Subaru waved her off.
“I know, I was just testin’ you…” He pointed his finger at Ram. “And thus, I, Subaru the Great, will do my very best to show you around, Ms.Rem!” As if to edge them on, he gave the wrong twin the wrong name. “From the dungeon to the clock tower!” Rem frowned, huddled ever so slightly behind her sister.
And sure, Subaru noticed it, but he did not care enough to point it out. Subaru covered his face with his right hand, mimicking the edgy heroes in the stories Beatrice told him. “Now, introduce yourselves to me, Subaru Al. Mathers!”
“Ram and Rem’s family is dead.” Ram said, indifferently… And as quick as her words hit his ears, Subaru’s facade dropped. “Rem and Ram were forced to watch. Rem and Ram were brought here by Lord Roswaal for safety and security. And in turn, Ram and Rem will work.” Ram said.
Behind her, Rem nodded quickly. “Rem and Ram are the Little Lord’s personal maids…” Rem whispered, far too fearful to raise her voice… He smells like the bad people, if only barely. “We are in your care, Little Lord.” She whispered, hiding.
Subaru frowned, shoulders slumping, eyes looking away guilty. “You can't just drop a bomb like that, Ram…” He frowned harder, turning back down the hall, and dragging his feet. “Now I feel bad…”
Ram sighed. “Ram apologizes. I assumed you wanted us to introduce ourselves, Little Lord.” She felt guilty; perhaps they'll be fired now. They'll be sent away or sold…to old, fat men. “Ram did not mean to make you sad—”
Subaru scoffed, “I’m not sad.” He looked back for a second. “Do y'all want something to eat?” He looked forward. “Since it's just past breakfast, there's still some fresh fruit. Plus I can show y'all the kitchen, and Frederica all at once.”
Rem kept her mouth quiet, but she hasn't eaten since the fire a day and a half ago. Sure, they had snacks in the carriage, but Roswaal hurried back because he didn't want to leave his son alone for too long… So, for the first time in days, she spoke first. “We are hungry.” She squeaked, caught his eye, and retreated back into her silence.
Ram nodded. “We are hungry, yes.”
Subaru smirked. “That's cool… To the kitchen it is. Frederica should be in there.” He shoved his hands into his pockets, crossed the halls with silent joy, and audibly echoed his thoughts. “You guys’ll love Freddy. She's a bit spooky at first; she's a Demi-Human. If that's an issue, you can take it up with Dad.” He turned left.
They passed a large, expansive mural on the wall. Roswaal, Subaru, and Beatrice. Roswaal stands to the back, between the duo, but behind them. Subaru and Beatrice stood shoulder to shoulder, holding hands. “A family friend painted this—Clind, you'll probably meet him some day… On forth.”
He turned, stopping in front of a large, two-wide door. He knocked against it loudly. “Frederica!” Subaru yelled, opening the door, giving way to glistening, marble countertops—and truth be told, an older girl stands annoyed.
Glaring, but her glare fell instantly. She smiled, eying the little Lord strut into the room. “Subaru-sama…” She looked at the girls behind him. Her smile grew slick and cunning. “And Subaru’s little friends.” Frederica stood up, taller than everyone else. “So, what can I do for you three?”
Subaru quickened his pace, getting closer to Frederica. He opened his arms, hugged her waist, and squeezed until she groaned. “You didn't come to wake me up!” He complained like a child wailing over stolen cookies. “Betty shoved ice in my draws—”
Frederica sighed and pushed him off. “You're going to get food on your shoulders… What do you need, Subaru? I have to—”
“We'll help you clean up, but right now, we need to feed these girls.” He signaled to the duo. “Look at those cute faces. There's no way we can let these pretty little girls starve—can we get something else to eat?” Frederica frowned, eyeing Subaru…
He didn't need to ask, Frederica knew that… He didn't need to ask. All he had to do was tell her to make them some food. So she sighed. “Alright.” She looked at the girls. “I'm assuming you two are the new maids I was told about?” They nodded. Frederica smiled. “Alright, you two can come and sit down.”
She signaled towards the island where stools surrounded it. The two girls nodded, silently shuffling to the stools.
Frederica looked at Subaru, smiling. “And you, I'll show them around—”
“Dad told me to do it.” He grumbled, instantly. Shutting down whatever idea Frederica had, but Frederica was older than him. And at the end of the day, Subaru’s going to give in to whatever she tells him to do… She kissed his forehead, held him briefly. “Fre—”
“Just today, let me do this…” She whispered, knowing about his dreams—Prophetic dreams that spoke of futures that sometimes come true. The girls, a pair of demonic twins, would come along and mess everything up—his Dad would go mad. His sister would hide away. “I'll talk to you tonight, alright?”
She held his cheeks, kissing his forehead, remembering her own brother.
Frederica smiled when he finally nodded. “Okay, but don't tell them anything weird… You're gonna give me a bad rap.” He mumbled, slipping from her arms, and looking at the twins. “See you guys later.” They nodded, silently… And soon, he left the room.
—They’ll ruin you—