A/N: Time for an Onset post! Enjoy everyone!

11 - Mythology

"You can make your Device look like this too…"

Subaru pointed at another design, one of a bracelet. Rae licked her lips, examining the twisting curves of metal. "It looks like it would break."

Subaru nodded. "You'd think but Devices are made with some really strong metals and crystals. I'm pretty clumsy so they have to be."

"Can't control your own strength?" Rae vaguely thought of Starfire again, the name bringing up the smell of fire and the sky and odd foods without readable names.

Subaru flushed. "No, not really. Part of my style, I guess." She grinned again. "I don't think you'll have to worry about that though. You're a full back type, support. It's in your stance. One of my friends is and she raises dragons."

Dragons? All Rae could think of at the word dragons was green fire and someone laughing at her. The display rippled, but she caught herself at the sound of footsteps.

"Subaru, Rae!"

Subaru waved a hand a Fate and let Rae down from her seat, banishing the display. "Fate-san! I was just showing Rae-chan what kind of Device she could have."

Rae listened to this with half an ear, watching the person walking behind Fate. He seemed, not at ease, there was too much orange for that, but he was still happy. She thought. His eyes locked on her and his aura changed to sun-yellow, causing her to blink and scurry back. He relaxed somewhat, masked eyes fixed on her and he stumbled over. Fate's eyes flickered at him, but when she didn't stop him, Rae found herself relaxing a little.

Something was butting against her mind, like a cat against someone's hand. It was cautious, not sure what it was doing.

"Robin?" she said, voice cautious.

Robin smiled, and knelt on the ground. She got the impression he wasn't used to doing that, and for some reason it made her smile.

Then he drew her closer into a hug and she was so surprised her magic curled back in on herself. She shut her eyes at the onslaught of color but couldn't stop the feelings that touched her, all fleeting and strong. Relief, joy, fear, concern, friend, friend-

Sorry.

Why was that in there?

After a few moments, Robin pulled back. His face was somewhat pink. "Sorry," he mumbled "I know, you're not a fan, neither am I, but…"

The words were too awkward for either of them. Rae racked her brain for why all those emotions could be there (or how. Someone feeling that many things at the same time was possible, of course, but it seemed awfully painful.). She gave Robin's mind a nervous prod. He wouldn't mind, their minds were touching, so she must have trusted him back the- back when? She couldn't remember, she couldn't remember-

"Gem. Gem. Gem."

"You know what you must do, dear daughter."

Rae bit her lip.

"He-He's on Earth, isn't he?"

Robin nodded.

Raven rubbed her eyes. "Not possible." She was acutely aware of Fate and Subaru's chatter tapering off. "If-If he's on Earth, then-then-the-then I'm dead, aren't I?"

Robin looked her over and the look on his face made her swallow any desire to cry. Though why shouldn't she cry? He had her powers now. Nothing should be happening. Unless it was her own magic all along, and that really didn't make this any better. "You're standing here now, and I'm not dead," he said. "I think that's as good a start as any, don't you?"

Rae tried to smile, but the look was wet.

"Fate, I've found a few things. I'll be sending you the texts shortly."

"thank you, Yuuno." She sighed into her earpiece. "Sorry to bother you on your day off."

"No, don't worry. That sounds rather serious. Is the girl all right?"

"Mary is showing her Devices." Fate glanced at the other side of the room, where Subaru was coaxing Rae to read over the specs of each one. Mary looked delighted. "She seems more and more desperate to have one."

"It will certainly make her life easier, with a direction to tap all that wild power into," Yuuno mused. "All right, one last text. Is Bardiche ready?"

[Quite, sir.]

If Fate didn't know any better, she'd think her old friend was offended.

Robin watched her, at least from what she could tell. His earlier loss of composure was gone. It was so brief, she'd almost think he had been faking it. His voice was a bit too sincere for her to assume that. "Confused," she said, watching Subaru gesture a bit too much.

"Very," he replied, voice dry. "My friend Cyborg would have a field day."

"Is that his real name?"

"No," Robin scratched his head. "He just came up with it because he's half robot from an accident."

Fate nodded. "Subaru is a cyborg."

Robin blinked at her, then realized she wasn't joking. "You guys have some incredible technology."

"Magic can seem like that."

He was quiet a moment. "It's nice to see someone say magic and not look upset. Or at her like that."

"...You don't."

"I try not to. We all do. She's my friend."

Fate felt herself smile. "You're a good friend."

He shook his head. "A good friend would know what to do right now."

"You'll figure out, or you two will figure it out together. That's what friends do."