We've Waited Long Enough
It was a bright and sunny day, a beautiful day for a wedding. Perhaps it was simply down to the Prince's own luck that the weather had turned out so fine. Aidios knows Olivert had a healthy dose of that through recent times. It was a borderline miracle he was standing here alive and well today, marrying the woman of his dreams.
It was a gorgeous location the Prince and Scherazard had chosen for the ceremony as well. Simple and understated, the decorative gardens made for a lovely backdrop for the event.
Many of the royal couple's friends and family were in attendance of course. Naturally this created a gathering of some of the most prominent and important heroes of the recent conflicts that had afflicted Erebonia: From generals to bracers, jaegers and nobles, police and even witches. Even the courageous members of Class VII new and old were invited.
In a moment between chatting and reminiscing with many of these friends, Rean Schwarzer of Class VII found himself alone for a moment by a rosebush. He idly marvelled at the beautiful white blooms, thinking just how close they must have come to being utterly destroyed forever. Struck with the sudden urge, he reached forward and plucked one. Belatedly he realise he probably shouldn't have taken the rosebud, but he wagered that the newlyweds probably wouldn't be too concerned about a single flower on their special day.
"Hey there, Instructor." A familiar, chipper voice caught Rean's attention.
Instructor Sara was there, in a pretty mint green dress that clashed wonderfully with her signature purple-pink hair. She sauntered towards him with that all too familiar friendly smirk on her lips and that slightly cocky swagger to her hips. As could be expected, the famous Purple Lightning carried a wine glass in hand, still mostly filled with sparkling white wine. Rean's heart always seemed to skip a beat whenever he laid eyes on her.
"Instructor Sara." Rean smiled, bowing his head slightly in recognition of her former position.
Sara rolled her eyes, cocky smirk switching to a grimace. "Enough! Enough with the Instructor talk, Rean. I've had enough of that from everyone else." She gestured vaguely over her shoulder to where Fie, Alisa and several other members of the original Class VII were gathered. "It makes me feel old, not what I want at a wedding. I thought I could rely on you at least, Mr Ashen Chevalier."
"Sorry, force of habit, Instructor." Rean let himself smirk a little.
Sara scoffed lightly and shook her head, though a slight smile broke through her disappointment. "I'm not even a teacher anymore, so you've got no right calling me that, unlike you, Instructor." She sighed, raising her glass to her lips as she looked out over the other guests. "I guess I can't judge you too harshly I suppose. It really doesn't feel like that long ago, does it, since I was your teacher and you were all rambunctious little trouble makers?"
Rean smiled, following her gaze to look at each of his friends and former classmates. "Yeah, I know what you mean. Although, I don't remember being one of the trouble makers?"
Sara nudged him lightly in the ribs with her elbow. "Of course not, you were always the goodie two shoes of the group, making peace between everyone else. I suppose that explains why you became an Instructor yourself. Or perhaps you were just so mesmerised by my shining example that you simply had to follow in my footsteps?" Her amber eyes flashed mischievously.
Rean idly thought back to the example Sara had set back in Thors. While he certainly couldn't argue that her hands on approach to combat training had proved to be effective, the borderline heavy drinking and incredibly laid back attitude to teaching had hardly been inspiring. Despite that, she had always been a sterling example of what an elite fighter was capable of, both on the battlefield and off it. In fact, his overriding memory of Sara the Instructor was of her passion and dedication to her students and of her steadfast belief in all of them.
"I think I was inspired a little." Rean smiled as he nodded slightly.
"Flatterer." The Bracer nudged him again with a smirk. "Glad to know I've been a positive influence on at least one of you."
"So, what do you think you'll do now that the war's over?" Rean asked between taking sips from his own glass. "Will you carry on as a bracer? The Guilds are reopening in Erebonia after all, aren't they?"
Sara breathed deep through her nose for a moment before replying. "They are, thank Aidios. It's been too long since we bracers were last allowed to ply our trade freely. There's still plenty of work to be done making Erebonia safe after all. I think I'll stay on with them, for a little while at least. Though I think maybe I'll take some time off first. After everything that's happened, I could use a break."
"Oh? You don't want to head straight back into the fight?"
"Nah. I'm a wanderer, Rean, never been tied down to a place or position for too long. That's not my style. Never has been, not since …" There was a flash of emotion that ran over her eyes for a moment. Sara busied herself in her glass and it was already gone. "It's better that way."
Rean didn't have to ask to know she was thinking of her father. He wasn't about to let her dwell on sad memories however, not on such a special day.
"You know that's not true, Sara." Rean started softly. "Just think about all the good you've done. Without you Class VII would never have become a reality. We certainly would never have reached the potentials that we have without you there to guide us. Sure, we could have had another teacher, but it would never have been the same, and I'm thankful for that. Besides, you're just as much a part of Class VII as the rest of us. You'll always be a part of our lives, for all of us. Wherever you go, you'll always have a place here with all of us."
Sara smiled thankfully, though there was something more in her eyes.
"Well, maybe I'll just take a break then. Let someone else take care of things for a little while. Like Fie for example." Sara nodded over towards where the white haired Bracer was conversing with Laura and Gaius. "That girl's all fired up and ready to go, bless her. She doesn't need me holding her hand anymore, none of you do."
Rean turned an eye to the A ranked Bracer. There was an undeniable fondness in Sara's eye as she gazed out over her former students, but something else as well, a longing, perhaps?
"We'll always need you, Sara. Not to hold our hands anymore, but to stand shoulder to shoulder with us, as equals. Remember how many times you've saved us over the years? Without you, I doubt we'd ever have even survived our first year together. Hell, Machias and Jusis would have probably killed each other without your help. So thank you Sara, for everything."
Sara turned a somewhat surprised eye towards her former pupil, cheeks a tad flushed. She shook both off with a small chuckle. "I think you had a greater hand in stopping those two murdering each other if I recall. Do you ever stop with the inspirational speeches, Rean?"
Rean responded with a laugh, rubbing the back of his neck a little awkwardly. "Force of habit I guess. I don't mean to lecture."
Sara shook her head but smiled up at him. "It's hardly a lecture, coming from you. But still, thanks for saying that, Rean. It really means a lot. I couldn't have asked for a better bunch of kids." She cast her gaze up and down him quickly. "Though you're hardly a bunch of kids anymore, are you? Look at you, all fully grown."
Rean smiled a little bashfully. "Not after everything we've been through. Although, now I think back on it all, it seems like we've done so much in such a short space of time. It wasn't that long ago we were all arriving in Trista for the first time." Rean smiled as he looked out towards his former classmates, friends he'd fought side by side with for years. It was almost too bizarre to even think that they had once been strangers not too long ago. "We've been through so much together, haven't we?"
"Indeed we have." Sara nodded in agreement. "Think I'll take that holiday." She declared after a pause.
"Anywhere particular in mind?"
"Not sure yet." Sara shrugged. "Maybe somewhere with a beach, and lots of beer."
Rean chuckled. "That sounds like you."
"I'm nothing if not reliable." Sara winked playfully. "What about you? Are you going back to the Branch Campus to live it up as an Instructor extraordinaire and professional heartbreaker?" The look in his former Instructor's eyes was bordering salacious.
Rean felt his cheeks blush a little. "I think I'll head back to Leeves, yes." He confirmed while ignoring her more fantastical suggestions.
Sara chuckled lightly at his refusal to play into her hands.
"Though I want to go back home to Ymir to spend some time with my family first. I was … I was so convinced that I wouldn't live though the Rivalries or Jormungandr to see them again. Given that there's no more world ending plots to worry about – I hope – I want to go back home to spend some more time with them, I feel like I've missed so much these past few years."
Rean's gaze fell on his sister, by Princess Alfin. Though he'd seen his sister much more than his parents in recent times, she suddenly seemed taller than he remembered. When had that happened? Elise must have sensed his attention, for she turned his way with a quizzical look before waving with a sunny smile. Rean waved back before the Princess took Elise by the arm and dragged her off.
"Don't be silly, Rean." Sara murmured softly, a somewhat more serious look in her eye. "I knew you'd survive, we all did. You give yourself too little credit, you know, you always have. You've always been stronger than you realise, and if nothing else, you're too damn stubborn to die."
"Thanks." Rean smiled a little bashfully.
"And even if you hadn't have made it through. I would have caught up with you and kicked your arse into gear again." Sara's eyes flashed with determination. "No student of mine's giving up, not on my watch."
Rean chuckled. "I don't think that would have brought me back from the dead, Sara."
"Don't underestimate your teacher, Rean. I'm sure I'd have found a way." Sara smirked, taking another draught of her drink. "Still, I think that's a great idea. You've certainly been through more than the rest of us, if anyone deserves some R and R, it's you."
Rean smiled and shrugged a shoulder a little awkwardly. "Maybe, it'll be nice to go back home at any rate. It seems almost strange to be thinking of normal things again, doesn't it, like attending a wedding again?"
"You're telling me, I had to buy a brand new dress and everything for this. I'm still not sure it works for me, but hey ho." Sara grinned as she looked down at said dress. The mint green frills at the bottom swayed from side to side as the Bracer inspected herself. The fabric grew more translucent towards the end, almost teasing the slender, toned legs beneath.
Rean swallowed thickly and diverted his gaze over to where Jusis and Machias had gotten themselves into another dispute about something or other.
"Still, I don't think it's too bad, not worth all the mira I paid for it of course, but what the hell. It's not every day I get invited to a royal wedding after all." She eyed Rean with an evil smirk. "But what do you think, Rean?"
"Err, you look very …" His mind stumbled over itself in trying to find the right word. The dress itself was beautiful, simple but elegant. Sara wore it like a glamour model, the silky fabric folded over her curves in a tantalising manner, showing only the suggestion of what lay beneath. And that familiar spark of mischief in her eyes was just delightful. "Pretty." Rean finished lamely, swallowing the lump in his throat awkwardly.
"Aw, shucks." Sara put a hand over her chest and threw her head back a tad theatrically. "And here I was almost thinking my star pupil had forgotten how to treat a lady right."
Rean chuckled a little awkwardly as he rubbed the back of his neck, completely unsure of how to respond.
Sara turned her amber gaze to rove over Rean leisurely. "You know, you don't look too bad yourself, Mr Instructor. You should wear suits more often."
"Well, I guess I'll need to attend more events like this then, this might be a bit too formal for the classroom."
Sara murmured in agreement, her eyes lingering on Rean for a moment, lips growing into a smirk once more. "Perhaps, I suppose we'll need to organise another wedding then."
Was that a mere idle comment or a suggestion of sorts? Rean couldn't even begin to guess, he wasn't sure he even dared to.
Before he could ponder on the matter anymore than a moment, Sara's gaze had veered off into another direction and her lips turned up into a genuine smile. "She is beautiful, isn't she?" The Bracer nodded towards her target.
Rean followed her gaze to find the bride of the day, Scherazard. The fabled A rank Bracer clad in a gorgeous white wedding dress and smiling wide. She was chatting merrily away with her new sister-in-law, Princess Alfin and Rean's sister Elise. Olivert meanwhile was displaying his bardic skills by playing the lute nearby them all.
"She certainly is. Prince Olivert is a lucky man." Rean agreed.
Sara sighed a little dramatically. "It makes me wonder when it'll be my turn for a man to come sweep me off my feet. I'd settle for someone to make me feel just a little bit special, for today at least, wouldn't want to steal the bride's thunder and all."
Rean bit his lip slightly, pondering whether Sara was indeed making a point to him in particular. He thought to their conversation back in Trista just after the civil war, how Rean had admitted his feelings to her and how Sara had asked him to wait. They were teacher and student back then of course, they couldn't possibly have done anymore. Rean was simply stunned and delighted that Sara hadn't rejected him in revulsion, let alone be amenable to the idea of a relationship. They hadn't discussed it since those days, hadn't had much of a chance to really. Whether Sara even remembered those moments and what they'd shared, Rean wasn't sure, but he remembered. He also remembered the rosebud that he'd picked earlier, still twirling the stem idly between his fingertips. Sara had once told him that he could be pretty daring when he put his mind to it.
"Here." Rean murmured with a smile as he turned and leaned in to place the rosebud in his former Instructor's hair, just over her left ear. "It's no wedding dress, but you don't need one to look just as beautiful." He tried not to focus too much on her slightly startled expression, or on the bloom of red that blossomed on Sara's face so very beautifully. He dropped his fingers from her face, gently brushing her ear as they fell.
Sara recuperated a soft smile, reaching up with her own hand to make sure the rose was secure enough in place. "Well, well, well. You've certainly grown into a fine lady killer, Rean. Thank you."
Rean rubbed at the back of his neck, cheeks blossoming in heat. "Well, I- Sara I wanted to-"
"Rean!"
The sudden voice cut across the Ashen Chevalier before he could muster the courage to go on. Elise was running up to him.
"Rean, you need to come, the Prince is about to perform a duet with Elliot!" Elise exclaimed excitedly, already dragging on his arm. "You have to come see!"
"Alright, alright." Rean smiled, perhaps a bit of a grimace. He glanced back at Sara.
The former Instructor half shrugged with a smirk. "Well, better not keep the lady waiting, Rean. Let's go."
Rean allowed himself to be pulled along by his sister, Sara walking along at his side. He sighed silently, when else would he ever get the opportunity to talk to her?
xxx
After the wedding celebrations, Rean and Elise – and indeed many of the other guests – headed to Heimdallr to take a train back home. The Ashen Chevalier bid fond farewells to his former classmates, students and friends, comforted in knowing that for the first time in a long time there wasn't the threat of impending doom hanging over them all upon their goodbyes.
Heimdallr was still a bustling hive of activity and motion, same as it always was. In spite of the terrible powers at play during Operation Jormungandr, the Erebonian capital was left largely unscathed. There was no real damage to the buildings or the streets. The trams still ran more or less on time, business plied their trade as they always had done.
The most notable impact of the recent conflicts was undoubtedly in the atmosphere.
Ream couldn't exactly put his finger on it, but there was a palpable sense of something resembling confusion in the air, as though people weren't entirely sure what had happened in recent weeks and months or why they'd all been gearing up for a full scale war. Perhaps it was only natural, given the curse that had infested the entire country, polluting the hearts and minds of all of the people. To have that suddenly torn out would surely leave a mark of sorts, though it didn't seem to have caused any lasting harm to the people of the city.
Rean and Elise arrived at Heimdallr Central Station in good time for his train. They boarded the next train bound for Ymir via Roer. The carriage was quiet and the siblings easily managed to find an empty booth for them to sit at.
"It was a lovely wedding, wasn't it?" Elise smiled as she took a seat opposite her brother.
"It really was. It still seems crazy that we were even invited to a royal wedding in the first place. Well, I'm not surprised that you were invited, being Princess Alfin's best friend."
"I suppose, but don't sell yourself short, Rean. I know both Princess Alfin and Prince Olivert think very highly of you." Elise offered sincere.
"Maybe, it just seems like I've only known either of them for too short a time to be on the wedding invite list." Rean smiled. "I suppose time doesn't really matter, given everything we've all been through together. Regardless, it was nice to see everyone again."
"It was, we'll have to have another get together sometime. Oh, hopefully another wedding!" Elise looked excited at the mere prospect.
Rean chuckled. "Have you been talking with Instructor Sara?"
Elise cocked her head, confused. "Hm?"
"She was, ah, saying how she wanted a wedding, preferably for herself."
"Oh, is that so?" Elise eyed her brother with a curious look. "I didn't know she had a boyfriend?"
"She doesn't, I think." I hope, Rean added silently. "She was just getting swept away with the occasion I think."
Elise smiled as she turned to gaze out of the window. "That's easy enough to do. It was such a beautiful wedding after all. It makes me wonder if I'll ever get a wedding like that."
The sudden image of his little sister in a beautiful white wedding dress, walking down the aisle to the waiting arms of an indistinct groom didn't fill Rean with much joy.
"Maybe." Rean began carefully. "You've still got a long way to go before that day."
Elise rolled her eyes at her brother but said nothing.
Rean gazed out the window as the train eased its way out of the Vermillion Capital and towards the open country. His mind drifted back to the wedding of the Prince and not his sister. It had been a fitting event to mark an end to the exhausting struggles they'd all been a part of, and a lovely way to mark the start of new beginnings too. Rean thought to his own future, without the threat of impending doom hanging over him at all times, he found it a strangely foggy prospect. It almost didn't seem real enough to consider as his. Of course there was still his work as Instructor of Class VII at the Branch Campus. Juna, Kurt, Altina, Musse and Ash still had their educations to complete after all, but after that, he wasn't sure what came next.
"Is this seat taken?"
The sudden voice jolted Rean out of his musings. He and Elise turned their heads around to find Sara there, leaning on the back of the seat opposite the Ashen Chevalier with a familiar smirk in place.
"Instructor Sara?" Elise asked, confused. Rean was too surprised to see the purple-pink haired woman to respond.
"Urgh, not you as well. I've had enough of a task trying to get Rean to stop it with all that Instructor talk." Sara admonished Elise with a hint of a chuckle as she took it upon herself to sit opposite her former student, beside Elise. "I blame this all on you, you know, Rean. You keep on like this and I'll have to refer to you as Ashen Chevalier everywhere I go."
"I- Sorry." Rean responded belatedly. "I just- I wasn't expecting to see you here."
"Well, aren't I just full of nice surprises?" Sara winked playfully.
"But, what are you doing here? I thought you were going on holiday?"
"Indeed I am." Sara smiled sunnily. "I had a bit of a think about it, and I decided against the seaside."
"Oh?"
"This time of year, everyone will be thinking of hitting the beach. Not that I don't like people, but I could do with a little peace and quiet after everything that's happened recently. I think a change of pace will do me good."
"So where are you heading then, Sara?" Elise asked with a good natured smile, deliberately using the former Instructors name.
Sara's lips grew into a smirk that had Rean worried. "Well, I thought about it, and where better to have nice, relaxing holiday than the fabled hot springs capital of Erebonia."
Rean blinked. "Ymir?"
"Got it in one." Sara smiled, then her lips fell a little as regarded Rean carefully. "Although, if you're uncomfortable with the idea of your former teacher joining you when you're heading home, I could always alter my plans? No pressure."
"No, no! No need." Rean immediately protested. "I'm just surprised, is all. I'd have thought you'd be going to Roer or Nord even. Ymir doesn't strike me as your kind of place."
Sara chuckled. "Are you kidding? Charming mountaintop village, hot springs, what's not to love?"
"It is a beautiful place." Elise nodded with more than a little pride.
Rean breathed a chuckled of his own. "Well, I'm certainly not about to argue."
"And besides," Sara began as she leaned forward, resting her chin in the crux she made of her hands as she propped her elbows up on the table. "It'll be nice to spend some quality time with my favourite student." She smiled at Rean, not a smirk, teasing or playful, a proper smile, one that held a warm, genuine affection.
Rean found himself smiling back. "I'd like that."
"Great." Sara's expression regained a bit of her usual mischievousness. "But, if you do change your mind, there are plenty of stops between here and Ymir, I could always hop off at the next station. That is, if the idea of being alone with a beautiful, confident, older woman such as myself suddenly gets too much for you to bear." Sara winked playfully.
Rean bit his lip through his chuckle and hoped his cheeks weren't blushing as much as he feared they were. Out of the corner of his eye, Elise was blushing slightly at Sara's words but looked distinctly amused. "I'm sure I can manage, Instructor."
Sara smirked. "I'll let you have that one for free."
xxx
The train ride to Ymir was all the more pleasant with Sara along for company, not that Rean didn't enjoy his sister's company of course, but Sara was always captivating. It wasn't as though Rean could ever forget her humour, her gentle teasing or that stunning smile, but it was always refreshing each and every time he witnessed these things.
Arriving in his hometown, Rean breathed in the crisp, cool air with a smile. It was always good to come back home. It wasn't late enough in the year for a proper snowfall yet, but he was sure it was coming soon. Perhaps he should have delayed his visit until then. He found the village was always at its most beautiful in winter.
Bringing Sara willingly in tow, Rean and Elise walked the short distance to the manor that was their childhood home. They entered the manor together. The familiar walls were a more than welcome sight for Rean.
Sara whistled. "Nice place you got here."
"You've been here before, remember?" Rean asked.
"I know, but it wasn't really the time to admire the décor, was it?"
Rean smiled with a nod. "Fair enough."
"Rean, Elise!"
The sudden noise had both Rean and Elise whipping their heads around to see their mother Lucia coming down the stairs. She made quick work of the last few steps and strode straight over to the two siblings Rean, hugging them both eagerly.
"Mother." Rean breathed a slight chuckle as he was squeezed. "It's good to see you again."
"Hello Mother!" Elise enthused through Lucia's arms.
"Oh, it's good to have you both back home." Lucia smiled content. She belatedly looked up to spot Sara standing there, watching the family reunion with a beaming expression. "Oh, my apologies. You're Rean's teacher aren't you? Instructor Sara?"
"Former Instructor." Sara corrected gently. "I'm just regular old Sara Valestein now. Miss Valestein if you're feeling formal."
Lucia chuckled softly. "Well, have no fear, Sara. We don't keep things too formal in this house. It would drive poor Teo round the bend."
Sara chuckled with a grateful nod.
"Where is father?" Elise asked.
"Oh, he's just upstairs, dear. In fact, it will be dinner soon. Sara, would you care to join us?"
"I'd love to." Sara grinned at the mere thought. "Could never say no to some good home cooking."
Lucia nodded and turned to her son. "Rean, could you go get your father down, dear?"
"I can get myself down, you know, love." A new voice entered the conversation before Rean could as much as nod. All eyes turned to see the sight of Baron Teo Schwarzer stood at the top of the stairs. The presiding lord of Ymir started walking down the stairs, the hint of a limp to his gait.
Rean immediately move forward to help, but the Baron waved him off.
"I'm fine. I can walk on my own two feet, Rean."
"Teo, stop acting all noble and heroic and let Rean help you!" Lucia admonished her husband with a scowl.
Teo sighed and gave his son a slight nod. "Very well, if only to spare me from your mother's ire."
Rean chuckled under his breath a little as he helped his father descend the stairs. In truth, the Baron was capable of moving on his own, if a little slower than normal. The wound he had suffered during the attack on Ymir during the early days of the civil war had yet to fully heal it seemed.
At the bottom of the stairs, Teo looked up to find Sara. "Ah, Sara Valestein. To what do we owe the pleasure of a visit?"
"Oh, I'm just here as a tourist, I guess. I didn't really get a chance to fully enjoy your village the last time I was here, so I came to correct that"
"Ah, well it's a pleasure to have you here then. You're staying for dinner, I hope?"
"You'd have to fight me off to keep me away." Sara chuckled.
"Splendid." Teo smiled, and the whole family walked on through to the dining room with Sara too.
The delightful smells of his mother's cooking hit Rean with a most welcome wave of nostalgia. He'd almost forgotten how much he'd missed those smells. When Lucia served the meal, they all dug into the delicious food with gusto.
"Mm Mm, this is really something special, Lucia." Sara enthused between bites. "You have to teach me this recipe sometime."
Lucia smiled. "Oh, well it's nothing too special really. Honestly if I'd have known you were all coming home so early, I would have made something to mark the occasion."
"It's perfect, Mother, really." Rean assured her with a grin.
"Mm hm." Elise agreed through a full mouth.
"Well, I'm just glad you're all back home, and it's nice to have a guest for once. We don't normally get to entertain many people."
"With cooking like this, I'm truly shocked at that." Sara grinned with genuine appreciation.
"Sara, if you don't mind my asking of course, what is it you're doing these days?" Teo asked conversationally. "We'd heard from Rean that you're no longer an instructor at Thors Academy."
"Well, I'm currently working as a bracer. Though I've jumped around jobs in the past so who knows what I'll be doing next." Sara smiled.
"Ah, a bracer. The guild's only just returned to Erebonia hasn't it?"
Sara took a drink from her glass as she regarded the Baron for a moment. "Officially, yes."
Teo chuckled at that. "Of course."
"Well, we're certainly glad for your efforts in keeping us all safe, Sara, thank you." Lucia smiled. "And for looking after Rean when he was your student as well."
Sara seemed a tad embarrassed for a moment, not a sight Rean was familiar with. "Oh, you don't need to thank me. It was a pleasure, really."
"So, you must tell us, Sara." Teo began, glancing at Rean with a humoured expression that had the Ashen Chevalier worried. "What was Rean like as a student? Did he give you any trouble at all?"
"Father!" Rean protested, glancing at the smirk that was now growing large on Sara's face with alarm. "I really don't think Sara wishes to talk about-"
"I'd love to regale you all on a few classroom secrets." Sara's smirk was evil. "Although, I hate to disappoint you all, but Rean was actually a near model student."
Rean blinked, surprised.
"Oh?" Teo looked to Rean, impressed and amused. "Well, that's good to hear."
"When you say 'near' what do you mean?" Elise piped up.
Rean groaned quietly. Of course it wouldn't be that simple. He prayed to Aidios for the ground to swallow him whole.
Sara leaned in over the table conspiratorially. "Well, I'm sorry to say that Rean has a bad habit of trying to help everyone which, while in and of itself isn't bad at all, he can do this to the detriment of himself at times."
"You need to stop that, Rean!" Elise scowled his way. "I've told you about that before!"
"I know." Rean groaned into his hands, attempting to hide his blushing face.
"Also, he could be a bit dense at times, not in academics at all, but when it comes to understanding the feelings of others, how people view him in particular." Sara turned her smirk directly to Rean. "Whether or not they really like him, as a friend, as a colleague, even more perhaps, I think that's an issue he's never really gotten over."
"Well that certainly sounds familiar." Lucia shook her head with a smile.
"I'd like to retire now." Rean made to stand.
His father put a hand on his to stop him.
"Don't go, son. We'll stop embarrassing you now. That is, unless Sara has anymore to report?" Teo looked to the former Instructor.
Sara thought for a moment. Her smirk softened somewhat into a smile as she regarded Rean. "All teasing aside, only that Rean was a fine student, and that I'm proud of how far he's come. He's grown into an even finer young man."
Rean's cheeks were still glowing, but he found the will to nod back at Sara with a hint of a smile of his own.
"High praise indeed." Teo nodded at Rean. "Well done, son."
"Thank you." Rean wasn't entirely sure himself if he was thanking his father, Sara or Aidios, perhaps all three.
Sara made to stand. "Well, now that I've sufficiently embarrassed my former student, I do believe I should go hit the hay."
Rean blinked through his embarrassment. An odd feeling of loss drifted over him upon realising she wouldn't be staying the night. What a childish thought, he admonished himself.
"Oh, come now, Sara, you should stay here during your visit. We'd be glad to have you." Lucia smiled.
Sara held up her hands apologetically. "I'm sorry, I hate to turn you down, particularly with how welcoming you've all been, but I couldn't possibly intrude on a family reunion any longer than I already have."
"Nonsense, it's no bother." Teo waved off the notion as absurd.
"No really, thank you for the offer, but Rean was keen to enjoy a proper homecoming. I shouldn't get in the way of that, what with you having to make me feel welcome as well."
The Schwarzer's turned to Rean for a moment.
Rean looked up at his former Instructor. "You don't have to leave on my account. You're always welcome to stay, Sara."
Sara's smile told him she would not be moved. "I appreciate the offer, I really do, but for one night at least, I should leave for the Schwarzer's to enjoy for themselves. Thank you all again for your hospitality." She turned to Rean's mother. "I'll be back for that recipe, Lucia."
"Of course, I'll look forward to it." Lucia smiled.
With a final wave goodbye, Sara left the manor. Again, Rean felt that odd sense of loss. Which was stupid, he knew he'd see her again, probably the very next morning even.
"Oh well, I suppose she has a point." Teo sighed. "Still, she's a fine young woman that Sara." He turned a sly look to Rean. "She clearly was a good influence on you, wasn't she son?"
Rean found his cheeks blooming once more. "Yes, she was. Without her, I'm not sure we could have done even half the things we accomplished in Class VII."
"What's this?" Teo reached forward to pinch at Rean's cheek. "Are those blushing cheeks I see?"
"Stop it, Dad!" Rean tried to wave him off to no avail.
Teo laughed. "Have you a crush on your old teacher now?"
"Stop it!" Rean wanted to die then and there.
"Teo, leave the poor boy alone." Lucia shook her head with an amused look.
The Baron stopped tormenting his son with a chuckle. "Alright, alright, I'll stop." Then he leaned in with an evil smirk and whispered. "Although, you could certainly do worse my boy."
"Dad!" Rean moaned, much to his father's amusement.
xxx
At the end of the day, Rean decided to take the opportunity to take advantage of the Ymir's fabled hot springs. It was the main attraction of the place after all. Undressing to naught but a towel, he stepped out into the frigid air and took in the sight of the mountains cradling the starry sky off in the distance. The lazy flickering of candle lights around the pool was almost hypnotic, casting the steaming spring in a warm, inviting glow.
Rean descended himself into the hot waters with a satisfied sigh. He felt the stress and tension of years of conflict slide from his shoulders, not least the stress of the last few hours. He wasn't sure his cheeks would ever stop glowing from embarrassment, with Sara and his family teasing him so much. At least now his cheeks were red from him being in literal hot water rather than figurative water. It was so quiet and tranquil. There was no one else in the spring, there rarely was at this time of night. Rean never quite understood that, the lights and the night sky alone made this the opportune time to bask in the spring's hot waters.
"Well, doesn't this take you back?" A familiar voice murmured.
Rean jumped slightly as the sudden voice slid into the moment. He whipped his head around to find a memory standing before him. Sara stood there, clad only in a towel that hugged her curvaceous figure so wonderfully. Her cheeks were a little flushed. Perhaps she was already feeling the heat from the steaming hot spring. It was almost exactly like the memory Rean held onto dearly. The only differences were the added length of her purple-pink hair and the bottle of beer she held in hand.
"Sara!" Rean immediately made to stand to vacate the spring. "Sorry, I'll leave and let you-"
"Don't worry about it, Rean" Sara waved him back down with a smile as she strode over towards the pool. "We're both adults now, aren't we? Besides, this isn't the first time we've bathed in a hot spring together, is it?" Sara smirked, a teasing glisten to her eyes.
"You're sure you don't mind?" Rean hesitated.
"I should be asking you that." Sara cocked her head at him as she bit down on her lip a little. "You're not mad at me for what I said at dinner, are you?"
"What? No, of course not." Rean had near completely forgotten the embarrassment until just then. "How could I be mad?"
Sara smiled, seemingly relieved. Then she shrugged. "I don't know, some people don't like being teased, particularly in front of their parents by their former teacher of all people."
"It's fine, really." Rean assured her.
"Good." Sara smiled back. "Ok, I'm gonna go ahead and get in now. It's pretty freezing out here in nothing but a towel."
Rean swallowed thickly. "Oh, r- right, of course."
"And you sit back down! You'll catch a cold if you stand out in the cold air all wet like that." Sara admonished him.
"Ok, I suppose you're right." Rean chuckled and gently resumed his seat in the spring, the heat immediately comforting and relaxing.
Sara shook her head with a smile as she reached the edge of the spring. She eased a toe into the hot water and then, happy that she wouldn't be scolded, she descended into the pool gracefully and waded over to sit beside her former student. "You see, that's so much better, isn't it?" Sara sighed content as she took a swig from her bottle.
"I thought you were staying at the tavern?"
"I am. I just thought I'd make use of the hot spring before turning in for the night." Sara leaned her head back to gaze up at the sky with a smile. "It's too beautiful an evening to not take advantage of the spring here, isn't it? I can see why you love it so much."
Rean could certainly appreciate that. "And the bottle?" He nodded at the beer she lazily swirled in her hand.
"Oh this? The barkeep let me take it with me. Nice guy." Sara took a swig for good measure.
Rean chuckled under his breath. "You haven't changed a bit."
"Is that your way of calling me an alcoholic? Because that's the kind of talk that could earn you a mean right hook from a lady, mister." Sara narrowed her eyes at him accusingly, but her smirk gave her away.
"No, not at all." Rean smiled. "Are you like this with all your former students?"
"Only the special ones, and there aren't too many of those around." The Bracer teased.
"Did you actually have any other students, other than Class VII I mean?" Rean asked.
"Nope." Sara smiled, taking another hearty swig from her bottle. "So consider yourself lucky, Rean. You got to be part of a very exclusive club."
Rean laughed. "I certainly have. Do you ever wonder what things would be like if none of us had ever met, if Class VII was never formed in the first place?"
"My life would have been a lot quieter for one." Sara winked. "But no, not really. For better or worse, you guys are all a part of my life now. Even if we're far apart, spread out across the world, we're all still Class VII. We'll all still look out for each other." She rubbed at her eyes with a weary sigh. "Aidios, I'm starting to sound like you now, with the friendship speeches."
Rean chuckled. "I'll take that as a compliment, Instructor." He laughed even more when Sara gave him a shove in the shoulder.
"It wasn't and you know it, Instructor." Sara rolled her eyes but kept her smirk.
Rean smiled back and the pair took to looking out over the mountains for a while in comfortable silence. It seemed strange, for all the years they'd spent together, whether in the academy or on the battlefield, Rean and Sara had rarely spent much time together alone. They'd had a few moments, sure, but they'd been few and far between. Yet the last few days had provided ample opportunity to put the two together it seemed. Whatever the reason of it, it felt comfortable to Rean, it felt like home.
"Are you enjoying yourself, in Ymir, I mean." Rean added the last a little hastily.
"Of course." Sara smiled, leaning back and sliding further down into the hot waters a little. The Bracer gazed out over the view of the mountains beyond the fence. "It's so calm and peaceful here, just what the doctor ordered. You've got a lovely home here, Rean. Honestly, I think I could stay like this forever."
"Really? You don't think you'd get bored? There's not that many monsters about to keep away from the village."
"I'm sure I could find some way to get myself into trouble." Sara winked.
Rean's lips quirked a little before he bit down on them slightly. "I hope it's not too cold for you up here though?"
"I'm from North Ambria, remember?" Sara smirked slightly, the trails of steam caressing her rosy cheeks as they rose from the hot waters. "The cold doesn't bother me either. Ymir's not that far off my homeland really. I should take you to go visit sometime, only seems right now that you've brought me to your hometown a couple of times now." Then she cocked her head at Rean slightly. "What's wrong, Rean? You seem awfully concerned about my … wellbeing here."
"I'm sorry, I- I just feel that as the son of the Baron, I should be trying to make you feel at home as possible."
"That's awfully sweet of you, Rean." Sara smiled with a knowing look in her eye. "Though I reckon you don't get so concerned about everyone who passes through now, do you?"
Rean rubbed at the back of his neck, certain his cheeks were now crimson. "Well, I'm not as- I don't know most people as well as I know you."
Sara chuckled lightly, such a beautiful sound. "Fair enough I guess, Schwarzer. Well, you'll be pleased to know that you've been a perfect host and a gentleman."
Rean laughed a little awkwardly, averting his gaze from the Bracer to hide his blushing as best he could.
"But how are you doing, Rean?" Sara asked quietly, tone altogether much more serious all of a sudden. "I wasn't telling a complete lie at dinner. You spend so much time worrying about other people that you can forget to look out for yourself you know."
"I'm fine." Rean smiled in what he hoped was a reassuring manner.
"You sure?" Sara's gaze grew concerned. "You've gone through a hell of a lot in such a short space of time: The civil war, the rivalries, the whole Jormungandr Project. It had to have taken its toll on you."
Rean considered for a moment, watching the heat distort the air around them in waves. "I won't lie, it was tough at the time, but I knew we'd all pull through. I'm just relieved that we managed to come out the other side without incurring major losses. That's thanks to everyone, you included, perhaps most of all. As long as we stuck together, I knew there was nothing that we couldn't accomplish as Class VII."
Sara smirked. "Ah, that's what I was looking for."
"What?"
"I know you're really ok when you start throwing out the friendship speeches." Sara winked playfully.
Rean chuckled. His cheeks heating up had nothing to do with the water. "I suppose that's something of a bad habit of mine, isn't it?"
"Don't worry about it, Rean. It's part of your charm." Sara winked with a warm smile.
"My charm, eh? I suppose that's why everyone seems to put up with my speeches then?" Rean asked with a hint of self-deprecation.
Sara chuckled herself before turning to gaze up at the stars. Rean followed suit. It really was a beautiful night. The hot waters shifted as Sara waded closer. She laid her head on Rean's shoulder with a contented sigh. Rean froze for moment, but there was something so enticing about the contact, something that felt right. He felt more at peace in that moment than he had for many a year.
"Sara, do you … do you remember what we talked about in our old dorm house, just after we'd retaken Trista, during the civil war?" Rean murmured soft and quiet, mouth dry.
Sara didn't say anything for a long moment, she raised her head slightly from his shoulder to turn and look into his eyes. Rean looked straight back, finding an all too familiar smirk there.
"I most certainly do, Rean. Don't worry, I'd never forget it." Sara whispered with a warm smile.
Rean swallowed the lump in his throat. "Is it something you'd … still consider? I know a lot has happened, so much has changed, and I wouldn't want you to feel obligated at all."
"I said I was happy to wait for you, Rean, and I meant it, no obligation necessary." Sara murmured gently, before her smirk returned in full force. "Although, this would be the perfect moment, you know, if you wanted to take advantage."
"Advantage?" Rean asked with narrowed eyes, wary of that spark of mischief in hers.
Sara shrugged, still smirking evilly. "I'm just saying, here we are. Just you – a strong, confident and suave young man – and me – a charming, beautiful, and utterly desirable woman – sat right beside each other. We're basking in a hot spring together, only these towels keeping ourselves modest. It's an ideal setting, the lights, the stars above us, so romantic. We're all alone and I'm pretty inebriated right now."
Rean eyed the bottle Sara jostled slightly in hand. If she'd downed another couple dozen of those bottles before joining him, Rean reckoned she wouldn't even be the slightest bit tipsy. Even if she was drunk, Rean was certain that Sara was more than capable of dispatching an unwanted hand with ease.
"Now might be the best chance you ever get." Sara finished before taking another swig from her bottle.
Rean rubbed at his eyes with a vague chuckle, certain his cheeks were flaring a little. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were teasing me."
"Maybe just a little." Sara winked. Then, her expression softened into a more affectionate look. "But you know, I meant what I said. You've grown into a fine young man, Rean. The kind of man I could see taking me out for drinks, to a nice, romantic place, somewhere where we can see the stars maybe." She glanced up at the starry sky above them. "They are so pretty tonight."
"So … if I were to say to you now that my feelings have never changed for you – If anything, they've only grown stronger over the past few years – what would you say now?" Rean asked carefully, certain that if he were to make a misstep here he would ruin everything forever.
Sara's cheeks flushed a little more, but she no longer looked surprised. If anything, she wore a knowing look above her up turned lips. "I'd say that I'm more than a little flattered." She turned and placed her bottle on the side on the pool before turning back to Rean. "And I'd say that I'm ready to give you that main course I promised. But, we seem to speaking in hypotheticals, Rean. If you have something to say to me, to ask of me, I think it's better if you decide what it is you want to say."
The challenge in Sara's eyes was unmistakeable. It was almost like they were back in Thors, where the Instructor would lay out a practical test for her students. Though the look in her eyes was far more heated, far more personal than anything Rean had seen before. This was a test only for him, which only he could answer.
Rean shifted to face her fully, as though that would help him carry his earnest message across to her.
"Sara, you are an incredible woman. From the very first day we met you've been so strong and confident and dedicated. Throughout everything we've been through these past few years, you've inspired me on every step of the way. I admire you as a mentor, I treasure you as a friend, and I love you as ... well, you. I love your humour and your attitude to life, the way you know exactly what to say to pick me up when I'm down, or to drive me forward when I feel like I can't go on anymore. I couldn't have gotten this far without you, Sara. For so long, the need to catch up to you as an equal was the main force driving me in life, as a swordsman and as a man. The thought of your smile, or your laugh, or even that look in your eyes when you tease me kept me going when I was a prisoner in the Black Workshop. I adore you, Sara, I always have. Whatever you decide, I'll respect your decision, but I need you to know that I love you, and I want nothing more than to be with you."
Rean finished his piece with his mouth as dry as a desert and his heart hammering faster than an orbal bike's engine.
Sara received his declaration of love with a look that started as curious and teasing before ending on something Rean couldn't pinpoint exactly. Was it shock or surprise? Was it disgust or disappointment? She didn't say anything for a few long moments, her amber eyes glistened uncertainly.
"Well, Rean I … wow." Sara muttered finally. She opened her mouth to say more before quickly deciding against it. Instead she turned to retrieve her bottle and promptly downed the last of the beer inside that instead.
"Uh, Sara? Are you alright?"
"Never better, Rean." Sara tossed the empty bottle aside once she'd drained it. The glass clattered over the flagstones as it rolled away from the pool without breaking. She turned back to him with a heated smirk. "I never thought you'd be so forward."
Rean swallowed thickly. "Well, I- Given everything that's happened, I don't want to leave this life with any regrets. I couldn't forgive myself if I didn't tell you how I really feel."
Sara considered Rean for a long moment, her gaze slightly hooded as her eyes dragged up and down his body. "I think we've waited long enough, don't you?"
"What do you mean, waited for what exactly?" Rean began, confused.
Sara chuckled. "Rean, you're too charming for your own good, but you can be so damn dense sometimes, you know that?"
Without further ado, Sara pushed off from her seated position in the spring and swiftly swung a leg over Rean's to sit on his lap, more so straddling him. She placed her arms around his neck, their faces mere inches apart. Somewhat emboldened by her actions, Rean found his arms hesitantly wrapping around the Bracer's back, caressing her lovingly but gently, as though scared she'd break somehow.
"That was really lovely, Rean, what you said just now." Sara smiled, gazing into his eyes tenderly. "You're not what I expected to find when I took that Instructor job on, but by Aidios, I'm glad I did." She took a deep breath before the plunge. "You inspire me, Rean: Your strength, your ability to drive on through no matter what, and your capacity to love those around you. You're a special guy, Rean. You dragged me out of a dark place, and I want you to know that I do love you too."
Rean let out a ragged breath he didn't know he was holding. "I didn't dare hope …" He trailed off into a chuckle.
"Well, believe it, mister." Sara smirked. "Like it or not, this is happening."
Rean laughed again, feeling the relief wash over him, and Sara was laughing too.
"Now, tell me." Sara began with an altogether different look in her eye. "Is this the kind of thing you imagined whenever you thought of me?" She asked playfully, eyes bright. "Holding your beautiful teacher in your arms, underneath the shining stars like this, just the two of us?"
Rean couldn't help but nod with a silly smile. Was this really happening? "Something along these lines."
Sara's laugh was joyous to the ears. "Well, you'll have to tell me exactly what you had in mind sometime, but for now …" She trailed off as she slowly leaned in.
Rean could barely register the movement, not until her lips collided with his amidst the hot steams of the pool. Her kisses were just like her, strong, teasing and often unpredictable, and Rean loved them just as much. Finally he responded. Slowly at first, lest he scare her off or otherwise ruin this moment, but her contact was hungry, yearning for more, challenging him to keep up with her, and he was compelled to answer.
After a joyous moment that stretched into eternity, Sara leaned back a little, breaking contact with her lips but stayed so close that their heavy breaths were colliding amidst the steam.
"Wow Rean." Sara smirked, her cheeks nearly aflame. "You were always a quick study."
Rean didn't answer for a few moments, his eyes gazing into hers lovingly and earnestly. "I'm not dreaming, am I? This is real?"
Sara seemed to consider the questions for a moment. Then, her lips dived back in for another stunning kiss. Rean was quicker to respond after the initial shock this time, eager to show how much he had learned. When they parted again, Sara blew a lock of her purple-pink hair out of her eyes.
"If this is a dream, it sure is a damn good one." Sara sighed a chuckle.
Rean chuckled himself. His head was light, his spirit joyful.
"So … do you think it'll be easier sneaking back to my room, or yours?" Sara asked, the fire of desire in her eyes.
xxx
Rean awoke with a long, contented sigh. The early morning sun was already bright enough to shine through the closed curtains, illuminating the room in a dusky hue. He reached up to rub at the lingering fatigue in his eyes. The slight murmur and a warm breath of air rolling over his chest brought his gaze down to find a familiar purple-pink haired figure lying there. Sara was still asleep, her head resting on Rean's shoulder, a slender hand placed on his bare chest, directly over the scar he'd worn all his life. The Bracer wore a contented grin as she dozed.
Rean smiled at the sight and allowed himself to place a gentle kiss to her head. Sara's lips quirked a little at the contact.
Content to wait for her to wake naturally, the Ashen Chevalier let his mind wander back to the night before. The kisses, the touches, the feel of her body against his, in his hands. It all came flooding back. Had it really happened? It wasn't just a dream? He still didn't dare believe it was all true. Cautiously, he lifted the sheets that covered them both a little. They were both still clothed, if only barely: He in boxer shorts, she in a thin chemise. Rean dropped the sheets back on them both before he found himself staring for too long.
He tried distracting himself by looking to the window. Even through the curtain, he could just about make out the light yet steady fall of snow past the window. It was still too early for it to truly settle, even as high up in the mountains as they were. Still, the familiar sight brought a fond smile to his eyes. His mind drifted back to the previous night, beyond the base pleasure they'd shared. He still heard her voice saying those words: 'I do love you too'. Those words echoed around his mind in glee. He realised suddenly that this, everything he had in that moment, was everything he ever wanted.
A slight shuffle of weight upon him as Sara rolled her head. She groaned lightly before settling back down, though Rean spied her eyes opening slightly before deciding it was still too early.
"Good morning." Rean smiled at the sight.
Sara moaned wordlessly, apparently annoyed at being disturbed so early. She blinked her eyes open gradually and they softened upon finding his.
"Good morning." Sara smiled in kind.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Very." Sara moaned pleasurably as she stretched her arms out above her head. "Last night had me all tuckered me out." She winked playfully. "Thank you, Rean."
Rean cocked his head slightly. "For what?"
"For making this such a wonderful trip. I'll certainly come again." She quickly shifted her gaze to a scowl. "No puns from you, mister."
Rean chuckled. "Not a one, I swear."
The Bracer smirked slightly with a slight shake of her head before resting it back on his shoulder. Sara took to tracing her fingertips over Rean's bare chest, she chuckled at something quietly.
"What is it?" Rean probed, tracing circles over her back through the chemise.
"I was just thinking how strange it is that things have turned out like this." Sara murmured softly. "I'm sure it hasn't passed your notice that you're not my usual type."
Rean breathed a sigh as he nodded. "So I gather."
Sara paused in her appreciations of his form and leaned a sly eye up at him. She stretched her head up to lay a slow, soft kiss to his lips. "That wasn't meant to be a complaint, far from it."
Rean's lips quirked a little but he didn't smile fully. "This isn't too weird for you though, is it?"
Sara chuckled once more. "You're not that far off my usual type, Rean."
"No, I just mean, with us being together. It wasn't that long ago we were teacher and student, after all. Does that bother you at all?"
Sara repositioned herself so that she was propped up on one arm, a better angle to face the Ashen Chevalier. "Honestly, no, not at all. Maybe it should in some way? I don't know, but I know what I want and its right here." She lowered her gaze for a moment, her lips faltering, her fingers playing with the bedsheets. "Does it bother you?"
"No, I just- I still feel a bit like I've got a ways to go to really measure up to you."
Sara sighed. "That's one thing you need to work on, Rean – confidence!" She shook her head at him with a fond smile. "You know you've got nothing you need to measure up to."
Rean chuckled under his breath. "Oh really? Forgive me if I don't take your word for it, Miss Purple Lightning, famous A ranked bracer."
Sara scoffed with a smirk. "I don't think that title means so much next to yours, Mr Ashen Chevalier, famous war hero. If anything, I'm the one who needs to try catching up with you now."
"Ok, I guess I see your point." Rean's lips then quirked a little. "I still disagree with you on that point though."
Sara shook her head slightly. "Sooner or later you need to realise just how far you've come, just how much you've grown." She lowered her gaze to admire his body once more, caressing her fingers over the old scar that engulfed much of his chest. "You're certainly a man now, Rean." She raised her gaze to meet his, her amber eyes shining bright above her delicious smirk. "What's more, you're my man now."
Rean couldn't have stopped his silly smile even if he tried to. "As long as you're my woman, I love you, Sara."
Sara rolled on top of him and crawled up the bed until their lips were mere inches apart. "That's good to hear, 'cause I love you too." She closed the distance with a hint of a chuckle.
The intoxicating contact filled Rean with a joyous heat that filled him with confidence. With a smirk of his own, he placed a hand on Sara's shoulder and in one swift movement he rolled them both over so that he was on top. The Bracer yelped slightly in surprise but that quickly gave way to laughter and she eagerly resumed her enthusiastic kisses.
The sudden click of the door opening had both Rean and Sara snap their heads in the door's direction, eyes wide.
"Rean, are you up-" Elise began before belatedly catching sight of the lover's embrace.
"Elise!" Rean began with no idea how to continue.
"Morning, Elise." Sara grinned a little weakly.
Rean spun his head to Sara with a distinctly unamused glare.
Sara half smirked, half grimaced back with a bit of a shrug.
"Oh, ok- I'll just …" Elise's cheeks were bright red as she made to shut the door again, her movement seemingly stunted by the shock. "Err, congratulations?" She offered meekly before the door quickly slammed shut.
"Thanks kid." Sara called out before Rean could hastily cover her mouth.
"What are you doing?" Rean demanded in a quiet hiss.
The smile Sara gave him was almost as gentle as he'd ever seen from her, though there was the spark of something else in her eyes. "They were going to find out sooner or later, Rean. Ok, this isn't exactly ideal, but do you really want to keep us secret from your family?"
Rean lowered his glare. He was sure that Sara really meant 'her' rather than 'us'. Did she think that he was embarrassed by her? Because she used to be his teacher? Or just that she was slightly older even?
Rean raised a hand to caress her cheek as he gazed into her eyes lovingly. "Of course I don't. I just- I just didn't really want Elise to find out like this." He nodded to their respective positions, Sara lying beneath him, faces barely an inch or two apart, the two of them barely clothed.
"Fair point." Sara conceded with a chuckle. "So … what do you think, shall we go face the music?"
"I suppose we'd better." Rean smiled, not fully feeling it, as he made to stand. He reached for his dressing gown to at least preserve his modesty in front of his parents.
"They'll be ok. Your family are good people." Sara offered with a comforting smile as she too stood from the bed and made to don a gown.
"I know, I just- I've never introduced- Well …" Rean trailed off.
"Do you mean you've never brought a girlfriend home to meet the family?" Sara's smirk was teasing.
Rean met her smirk with one of his own however. "I've never had anyone who means as much to me as you."
Sara blinked for moment, face surprised before breaking out into an awkward chuckle. "Damn Rean, do you just sit on these lines until the perfect moment arises, eh?"
Rean chuckled. He took a deep breath. "Well, shall we?"
Sara held out a hand. Rean took it and she squeezed it reassuringly.
"I'm with you, Rean, always." Sara smiled warm and true.
Rean nodded in thanks. He led Sara out of the bedroom and downstairs to where his family were having breakfast. Elise was sat at her place, face still beet red. Evidently she'd been shocked into silence for her parents were gently quizzing her in concern. When Rean entered the dining room with Sara in tow, they were all the more surprised.
Perhaps it was simply due to the role Sara had played in helping to defend Ymir against the Noble Alliance during the civil war and for helping to rescue Elise, but they managed to overcome their shock and accept Sara with warm words and smiles. Elise was still clearly embarrassed but genuinely welcomed the purple-pink haired woman. Lucia only seemed mildly surprised and heartily congratulated them both. Rean's father in particular gave Sara a stern look as they shook hands, perhaps assessing her suitability for his son, but he nodded with a smile and likewise accepted her at the Schwarzer table.
Rean was most grateful for that acceptance. As he sat at the breakfast table, watching Sara chat with his mother and Elise as though she'd always been a fixture there, he silently thanked whatever divine force that had seen fit to grant him this moment.
Sara turned to him in amidst a break in conversation. Her playful smirk was joined with a heartfelt look in her eyes, one that would be etched into his memories for the rest of his days. She was happy, and she was home.