So, we all have headcanons. I love finding new ones and I love coming up with ones of my own, I also love mixing mine with other peoples if it makes a bigger, sounder, picture in my head. Sometimes our headcanons clash, but we sweep that fact under the rug and love them all and use them all depending on the scenario we're building. Basically, here there be headcanons and one shots.
Rose, age four.
Tip toeing as quietly as a four year old could, Rose snuck into the back of the gym to watch the older Novices train. She knew that the Guardian assigned to her and the other Dhampir orphans care would be here sooner rather than later to take her back after sneaking out, but she loved to watch the older Dhampir train to become the Guardians their lives were destined for. She was going to be a guardian one day, just like her mum and Alberta and everyone here, but she was going to be the best.
She watched with awe as the students fought each other, trying out whatever new move their teacher had shown them. Rose honestly couldn't wait till it was her turn to be the one learning all these things. Feeling someone come to a stop next to her hiding place at the weight rack, Rose looked up guiltily to see one of the Guardians looking down at her with an amused yet exasperated expression on his face.
"Hiya, Guardian Alto." she mumbled, her face dropping to look at the ground, not wanting to see the reprimand that she was sure would be coming.
"Rose." he acknowledged, kneeling down to be at the same height as her. "You know you're not supposed to be here." he said softly, watching her fondly as she pulled at the ends of her hair guiltily. "You've got all the Guardians looking for you, again." he told her, taking her small hand in his, making her look at him.
"It's just so boring when all the others are in class though" she pouted, as any four year old has natural talent for. "I wanna learn how to be a Guardian!" she told him, pulling her hand away and bunching her little fists. "I wanna be able to fight and protect Moroi, and I wanna be the best ever." her chin tilted up with an air of pride to her declaration.
Stan sighed at her words, smiling grimly at the young girl. He held no illusion to the fact she would be a great Guardian when she was older, you just look at her mother's blossoming career to see she'd be great should she follow her mother's footsteps. But to hear a child rushing towards that burdened path was heavy in his heart. Watching, year after year, as Novices graduated and were killed off just as quickly was wearing on him. Looking at the spirited girl in front of him, he vowed to make sure that she would be 'the best ever' but knew it would mean he would have to start to be tough with her, to start being tougher to them all.
"Well, first of all, you've got to start following rules. And the rules are that you stay where you're supposed to be, at all times." he told her, reaching for her again and picking her up. Yes, he'd have to start being tougher, but coddling St Vladimir's youngest child one last time wouldn't hurt anyone. She did, after all, still have a year to go before she actually started classes at the school. "But, I've radioed in and told them I have you. So, how about I teach you a few starter moves?" he asked, and her exuberant nodding and smile were worth it.