AN: this is the first in a series of random durables that will centre around Rakheid/Larcade and mostly his upbringing, shout out to Keiid who's amazing art was a huge inspiration. This is a one shot for now but if there is demand I will supply.

It started out as just childish little arguments, the very first time the prince of Alvarez met the country demolisher they'd been eight years old.

He'd gone to the library to collect a book for his studies and had been taken by surprise to see another child in the castle, when they first saw each other they narrowed their eyes and gave the one in front them appraising looks.

She was the first to break the silence "What's that ugly symbol on your head for?"

"What are those stupid crosses on your head for?" He responded.

That was the beginning of Rakheids first friendship. He wasn't really sure how it progressed from that point, maybe it was just the fact that they were the youngest in the castle, maybe it was because their hearts were broken in similar ways, but they always seemed to end up spending time together.

It was simple enough things at first, they one of them would seek the other out because they wanted to get the last word in the argument they'd had yesterday, Rakheid had decided that was one of the things he liked about Brandish, he was used to being able to say whatever he wanted either because the people around him didn't care or they wouldn't dare speak back to his majesty's son, but Brandish was just so... phlegmatic, she had genuine reaction to things so rarely that it bordered on apathetic, but in Rakheid's mind that only made it more amusing when her eyes would light up over the memory of her favourite star-mango gelato from back home, or when she enlarged a squirrel from the gardens to the size of a dog and had then locked it in a tight hug and rubbed her cheek against its squirming head, chanting "He's so fluffy wuffy." His favourite was how she would smile at lord August, mainly because of the faces August would make at Rakheid when he commented on it during their training periods.

XxxxxxxX

By the time they were teenagers they had achieved power levels that moved them from prodigies to serious threats to anyone who would stand against the empire. All members of the Spriggan 12 had been brought together for the first time, assembled by Zeref himself.

"Today is your opportunity," he began "to prove your worth and your strength. Show me you deserve a place among my elite"

He set them all the same mission, add a country to the Alvarez empire, should they succeed they would return to a position in the emperors inner circle, should they fail, don't come back.

Rakheid was the last person to leave the room, Eileen and Dimaria had sauntered out of the room in confidence, Whal, Ajeel and Nineheart left with a bit more of a spring in their step, August, Serena and Invel strode out with purpose. Rakheid was about to leave as well when Zeref stepped into the space beside his son.

"I expect great things from you Rakheid." He said in his usual measured tone. He then clapped his hand on Rakheid's shoulder before leaving.

Rakheid stayed there for a long while after that. When he was a small child he had hugged his father on impulse before before remembering why he couldn't get that close to him, but this was the first time that his father had touched him. He was shaken. After he finally managed to compose himself Rakheid set out to achieve great things.

XxxxxxxxxxX

Two years after that day, two years after twelve new countries had been added to the empire, Brandish and Rakheid met again for the first time in two years.

After Rakheid had returned to Alvarez he was told by that Brandish had been placed in charge of her own brigade and would be stationed with them for an indefinite amount of time. Rakheid wasn't usually the type to glare but based on the way the man was practically shaking in his boots he guessed he must have been doing just that. He left the man, returned to his room, and began reacquainting himself with being alone.

In the present Rakheid found himself exactly where he'd been when he was eight years old.

"What are you wearing? It looks like you wrapped a blanket around yourself it's hideous." Still as blunt and waspish as ever.

He raised an eyebrow at her, "Well at least I'm wearing clothes."

Her hair was the same as when he last saw her, but her attire seemed to have changed from the printed dresses she used to wear to a bikini and fur lined coat.

They started each other off just like they used too before Brandish sat down at one of the tables and set a small pill sized object which at the snap of her fingers inflated to the reveal a bowl of an orange creamy substance, she pulled two spoons out of nowhere and placed one on the other side of the table, when she took a bite and her eyes lit up he could tell that it was the gelato she spoke of so fondly in their youth, the white Dragneel smiled.

XxxxxxxxxX

In the time leading up to the war with Fairy tail they would see each other less and less, and when the war was over and the dust was settled he found himself reflecting on his life and the house his mother had built and he wondered what it would be like to have grown up like that, who would he be now if he had? Would he be happier? Was there anything in his life that he would miss? Would he have had real friends?

He thought of his childhood with Brandish, the glimpse of what could have been.

Would he miss his father?

...

You could spend all day thinking about possibilities and it still wouldn't change what had already happened. So Rakheid picked up the pieces of himself and looked towards the future, and the life he could still make for himself.