Summary:

Julius gets the flu and in his stupor, his Time Magic brings him a person that he had wanted to see for a long time.

Notes:

This is gonna make you sad, but I couldn't get it out of my head.

Tangentially related to "The Letter" one-shot and its "Postscript" epilogue. Set before "Where Could I Go?"
Mainly that's how Kirsch and Zora got together. Set a year after "Proscript," so they've been together for about a year and seven months.
You don't need to read the other parts.


When I Think of You

By:

IAmStoryteller

"Just lay in bed and rest, Lord Julius. I'll rearrange your schedule," said Marx, placing another blanket on Julius.

Days of rain plus a bad winter cold spell and overscheduled meetings meant that Julius ran his body into the ground and he got the flu. Granted, he had the constitution of a young man again, but even young people were susceptible to the flu. Owen had already been by to check up on him and Julius had been ordered to get rest until he was well again. Marx, his wonderful assistant and dear friend, already knew what to do when Julius was out of a commission.

"Thank you, Marx," said Julius, wearily. His nose was stuffy, he was both hot and cold, his head hurt and he was very, very tired.

"I will send someone with water and soup for you. Doctor Owen said you can take two more painkillers after you eat something," said Marx.

Julius nodded, as Marx left the room. Sighing to himself, Julius couldn't believe that he had gotten sick. He hadn't gotten sick in ages, but then again, he had been spectacularly busy these last couple of years since the whole thing with the Eye of the Midnight Sun and then Spade, and everything else, including working on his various programs to deal with the class system inequalities. He knew that many of his critics argued that he was either going too slow or too fast, but Julius knew how delicate the system was to change. One trip up and things would devolve into unnecessary bloodshed.

Oh, there I go thinking about work again when I'm supposed to be resting, Julius thought, shaking his hand at his own inability to rest.

He closed his eyes and tried to sleep. But he couldn't help going back to work issues in his head. Everything Julius did was just one step closer to a world that was better for everyone. It was slow progress-the commoners and peasants worked hard in the Magic Knights and everyone was learning to get along better and overcome their differences to find similarities. Though it's imperfect and messy, it was something good. It was a world that Julius wished had come earlier and then maybe, Zara would still be alive.

Julius sighed. Zara, I truly miss you. I wish I spoke to you much more. You were a remarkable and brave man. And handsome too. Julius was too old to play denial games. He knew that he had feelings for Zara many years ago. It was only when he was alone and too sad that he remembered the handsome red-haired man with the prettiest green eyes.

Squeezing his eyes shut, he willed himself to sleep.


"Huh? This is very strange," said a man's voice that had Julius' eyes snapping open.

Julius looked incredulously at the person in his bedroom. "Zara?"

"Julius, is that ya? Am I in the past or the future? Why d'ya look so young," Zara exclaimed.

Julius snapped his mouth shut, but remembered that he had a clogged nose and coughed some air into his lungs. He looked at Zara. He was just as Julius remembered him-red hair sticking up like flames, green eyes, the goatee, the sideburns, the kind and welcoming smile, the Purple Orcas cloak, the concern in his eyes. Oh, wait…

"Ya don't look so well, Julius," said Zara, coming over and checking Julius' temperature (which frankly made Julius feel a lot warmer). "Yep, ya gotta fever. Care ta tell me what's going on?"

Julius rubbed his eyes. "My Time Magic must have malfunctioned. I have the flu. You're in the future, Zara. My God. The First Rule of Time Magic is "don't mess with the past." Oh, what am I going to do? Zara, where were you last?"

"I was gettin' ready for a mission," said Zara. Solemnly, Zara asked, "How far inta the future am I?"

Julius sighed. "Quite a fair bit. Fifteen or sixteen years. My head's too muddled to recall properly."

"You gotta put me back," said Zara, frowning.

"I will," said Julius. "But at the moment, ill as I am, and with my limited powers, I'll have to be completely well to do so. Of course, we will have to modify your memories."

Zara hummed. He poured a glass of water from the pitcher that hadn't been there when Julius went to sleep earlier. Zara handed the glass to Julius. "Drink. This is just a bit of a hiccup. In the meantime, can I see Zora?"

Julius debated with the request. His own selfish need to see Zara again brought him unintentionally to the future. If Zora ever found out and Julius didn't let Zora see his dad, Zora would be very, very mad and hurt. "That would be a good idea. You can stay with Zora while I recover." As long as Zara stayed with the Black Bulls, he'd be safe. "But there's something you should know."

"Well, yer gonna wipe my mind, so let me have it," said Zara, eyes filled with concern.

"You...died. Murdered, I should say, by several of your squadmates," said Julius, quickly. "I'm sorry."

Zara sighed. "Is that so? They musta hated me that much, being a peasant and all."

Julius said, "I promise that things have been getting better." I should tell him how he inspired me to be Wizard King. And everything. It's my only chance. When he wasn't sick, he'd think more clearly.

"Are ya the Wizard King?" Zara asked, impressed.

"I am," said Julius. "Let me call for Marx. And he'll contact Zora for us."


Zora stepped out of Finral's portal. Finral followed him. Whatever the deal was, the Wizard King wanted to see Zora and left an order to bring Finral with him. Nevermind that it was one of his days off and he intended to meet up with Kirsch later that afternoon for a date. Zora hoped it wasn't a mission. Finral and Zora found themselves outside of the Wizard King's private bedroom, staring at Marx. Marx looked a little pale, but greeted them anyway.

"Zora, you may enter. Finral can wait here," said Marx.

Zora glanced at Finral, who shrugged nervously. Zora sighed, "Fine. This had better be good."

Opening the door, he entered the Wizard King's private bedroom and froze immediately in his tracks. Zora's eyes widened. He couldn't comprehend who he was seeing in this room. Tears welling up in his eyes, Zora asked, "Dad?"

His dad, his actual dad, the way Zora remembered him, stood up from the chair he had been sitting and opened his arms for a hug. "Zora! Look at how big ya got! Handsome just like yer Dad!"

Zora rushed to his father and hugged him. He cried into his dad's arms. "Dad! I've missed ya so much." He hugged him as tightly as possible. He didn't care if he was crying in front of the Wizard King. His dad's strong arms held him close.

"Still always cryin'! Let me get a good look at ya, son," said Zara, breaking away from the hug to check Zora once over. "Did ya model yerself off the doll I gave ya? And this robe! Yer a Magic Knight! Julius, ya didn't tell me that my boy was a Magic Knight."

"Yeah, dad, I'm a Black Bull," said Zora, getting his tears under control to get a good look at his dad and smiling widely. He looked at the Wizard King. "How? And when does he hafta go back?"

Julius looked like death warmed over and said, "A bit of a mishap with my Time Magic because I'm ill. And whenever I'm well." Julius nodded at Zora.

Frowning, Zora understood. This wasn't a permanent thing. His dad had to go back from whatever time he had been pulled and that was just the case. But until he had to say goodbye again, Zora asked, "Can he stay wit' me at the Black Bulls? I won't bring 'im anywhere else."

"That was the plan," said Zara, patting Zora on the back.

Zora felt like a kid again-happy and a bit shy. He said, "Finral's in the hallway. You'll message when it's time, I guess, right Lord Julius?"

"Of course, Zora. Have fun," said Julius.

Zora grabbed his dad's hand and said, "We will. Come on, Dad, Finral's portals are very quick."

Zara laughed. "Sounds great! Let's go!"


Admittedly, he was a bit shaken by the turn of events. One minute, he was in his room at the Purple Orcas base preparing for a mission and the next, he was face-to-face with the young but actually older Julius Novachrono, who was the Wizard King in the future. Zara just knew that Julius was someone special!

From the upset look on Julius' face, Zara knew that something bad had happened to him and he hadn't been surprised to find out that he had been murdered by his own squadmates. They really did hate him for being a peasant. But Julius had insisted that things became better and called Zora to come and see him.

And oh, his boy Zora was a man. Zara missed all his milestones with his son, who had been forced to grow up without him. Zora cried and hugged him like no tomorrow, and he seemed to understand that this was temporary and Zara's heart hurt to think that his sweet, innocent, shy son became so cynical because Zara hadn't been there for him. Zora introduced Zara to the nervous-looking boy with brown-and-green-tipped hair as Finral Roulacase, the Black Bulls' resident spatial wizard.

Finral's spatial magic was very impressive. Zora and Finral explained that the Black Bulls was a newer Magic Knight squad, led by Yami Sukehiro. Though Zora had a mask on his face, Zara knew that Zora was happy to introduce him to his friends. It was very good that Zora had friends. He was always so quiet as a kid.

The Black Bulls' base was a haphazard old manor in the middle of the woods, but it looked like a home instead of a base.

"Be warned, we're a little nuts," said Finral, smiling politely. "But I promise we're all good people."

Zara chuckled. "Those are my kind of people."

Inside the base, there was a rag-tag and loud bunch of Magic Knights. Zora stepped in front of Zara and Finral and yelled, "You idiots had better be on yer best behavior. My dad is here due to a Time Magic mishap. Dad, these are the Black Bulls." The group quieted down and stared in shock.

"Zara Ideale, thanks for looking out for my boy," said Zara.

"Wow! It's nice to meet you, Mr. Ideale," said a young man who was built wide yet short. "I'm Asta!" Zara shook the young man Asta's hand. Asta continued and introduced everyone, "This is Noelle Silva, my best friend. And here's Gauche Adlai. And that's Grey. Oh, that's Gordon in the corner, he doesn't talk much. Henry's in the kitchen. The girl eating is Miss Charmy. That's Vice-Captain Nacht. And Captain Yami. Here's Nero, she's a bird right now. And this is Liebe, my Anti-Magic Devil, but he's napping. This is Miss Vanessa. And those two fighting right now are Magna and Luck!"

Zara chuckled. "Amazing! So many people!"

"It's nice to meet you, Zora's dad," said the boy introduced as Luck. "Do you want to fight?"

"He does not," said Zora, interrupting. "Go and eat Magna's pudding, Luck."

"Bro, not my pudding," the young man Magna protested.

"Do you want to fight, Zora?" Luck asked, grinning wider.

"No," said Zora, deadpan. "Vanessa, move yer ass and let my Dad sit."

"Rude," said the witch Vanessa, unbothered by Zora's rudeness. "Besides, I don't mind. Your Dad is much more handsome than you anyway."

Zora glared at her.

Since when was Zora so rude?

Zara laughed. "Your friends are great, Zora. And I'm fine with a seat anywhere."

"It's safest near Vanessa," said Zora. "She's got Fate Magic and we've got nutjobs in this squad who like ta fight with their magic inside the house for no reason!"

"I hear you, Bro, calling me out like that," said Magna.

"Fire and lightning in the house, Magna," Zora countered. "Are ya trying to destroy the place every day? Poor Henry gotta reset everythin'."

Zora began to bicker with the sunglasses-wearing young man about appropriate times and places to fight. Zara smiled. Zora was still such a worry-wart and he was glad to see that Zora was close with someone that this person called Zora "Bro."

"Zora's dad, you can come sit," said the young lady introduced as Noelle Silva. "It really is safest next to Vanessa if you're not used to us."

He had only seen royals from far away, but this young lady was speaking to him so politely. "Are you Captain Acier's youngest?"

Noelle blushed. "Yes, I am."

"My son is on the same squad as the Steel Princess' youngest. Well, that's amazing. Ya must be very strong too," said Zara, taking a seat next to the witch, who winked at him.

"I've still a long way to go," said Noelle, shyly.

Zara smiled gently at her. "I'm sure that yer much stronger than you think." The young Silva flushed and hid behind young Asta. Zara smiled. They all seemed like such good kids. "Zora! Come and tell me stories of yer adventures."

"Alright, Dad, but I'll need some help," said Zora.

"Storytime," cheered the whole squad, except the Captain and Vice-Captain and the sulking man Gauche.

Zara settled in and got ready to listen.


Eyes closed, Kirsch rubbed his temples as he finished up another pile of paperwork. He wanted to get a bunch of work done before he had to go meet Zora for their date. Kirsch had been looking forward to their date. They hadn't gone on a date since Zora's birthday at the end of December. Wintertime was always so busy for Magic Knights. People became restless during winter.

He opened his eyes and sensed mana.

Finral appeared out of a portal. "Hey, Kirsch, sorry to bother you. But uh, Zora needs you."

Kirsch stood up. He asked, already worried, "Is he alright?!"

Finral said, "Yes! He's fine. I really need to word these things differently. But Zora does need you. He asked you to come with me. And I really think you need to come." Finral seemed serious.

"Alright," said Kirsch. He wrote a note for Levi or Silas or Cornelia to let them know where he went in case they needed him, but likely they wouldn't. He entered the portal Finral had made and Finral followed. He wound up outside of the Black Bulls' base. "Should I be prepared for something crazy?"

"Always," said Finral, grinning.

Kirsch rolled his eyes. "You Black Bulls are such troublemakers."

He and Finral entered the base. Kirsch blinked because he thought he was seeing double. Zora sat next to another red-haired man with a neatly groomed goatee and sideburns, wearing a Purple Orcas' robe. Zora had such a wide grin on his masked face. Oh, darling, such a smile is beautiful on you. He knew better than to blurt out that sappy stuff in front of the Black Bulls or they'd be teased until kingdom come. (Well, not right away, at least…)

He had his suspicion of who the mysterious red-haired man was and he wondered what magic shenanigans happened to give Zora his dad back. And what kind of mess will Zora be in when he has to say goodbye again.

"I'm back," said Finral. "Brought Kirsch."

Zora stood up and walked over to Kirsch. He had a giddy look on his face, as he took Kirsch's hand and squeezed it. Kirsch squeezed Zora's hand back and let Zora drag him over to Zara Ideale. Zora said, "Dad, this is Kirsch. He's my partner."

Kirsch immediately remembered his manners. "Hello, Mr. Ideale, I'm Kirsch Vermillion. It's an honor to meet you. I've heard a lot about you." He held his hand out for Zara to shake.

Zara smiled widely and shook Kirsch's hand. "It's very nice to meet you, Kirsch," said Zara earnestly. Zara grinned at Zora, "Well, this is a surprise. Zora, ya didn't mention a partner. How did ya ever manage to court a royal?"

Zora's ears turned red. "Um, well, he, uh." Shy and awkward Zora was always so cute to see.

"I pursued him," said Kirsch, simply.

"Well! That's gotta be a story," said Zara. "How did ya meet? And say, aren't you Captain Nickole's oldest kid?"

"I am! And Zora and I met at the Royal Knights Exams," said Kirsch, suddenly feeling a bit shy himself. Their first meeting was something left to be desired. "He beat my team in a match."

"Yeah, because you were a jerk," Magna complained. "If you just let me and Sol help, we would have beat Asta, Zora and Mimosa!"

"I said I was sorry, Magna," said Kirsch, rolling his eyes.

Zora snickered. "That was pretty fun."

Zara laughed. "I want to know everything."


"Oh, God, please stop," said Zora, covering his warm red face, slumped against Kirsch, as Kirsch giggled at another Baby Zora story that his father told. How could he possibly forget that introducing his dad and his partner would result in Kirsch asking for every single detail about Zora's childhood and his dad answering truthfully and gleefully? His dad had a lot of stories after all.

Kirsch giggled, patting Zora's hair. "You're so adorable, my love."

"He is. Oh! And then he discovered how to make bubbles with his spit. Well, that was his new favorite thing for weeks," said Zara, grinning. "Drool everywhere. He got so upset when his hands were wet with drool. I went through so many towels."

Zora groaned, but he really wasn't too upset. The two people he loved the best were getting along so well. Thanks, Lord Julius, for giving me my father for just a little bit.

"Now, now, Zora," said Zara. "It's not often that I get ta talk ta someone who loves you as much as I do."

Zora's face burned.

"I do adore him," said Kirsch, fondly.

Zora's heart felt light, until someone interrupted.

"Ugh, please don't let them start," said Gauche. "If you get Kirsch going, he'll be a huge sap and Zora will get all mushy-gushy."

Zora threw his stink bug at Gauche. Gauche yelped. Zora said, grumpily, "I do not get mushy-gushy."

"Yes, you do," chorused the rest of his squad.

"Now, now, I love that part of you," said Kirsch, with a grin on his face.

Zora's eyes softened. "Sweet'eart, not in front of these jerks."

"I know," Kirsch whined, "But I want everyone to see how much I love you."

Okay, so maybe, I do turn into a pile of mush for Kirsch.

"This is so sweet," said Zora's dad, getting a bit misty-eyed. "Please tell me you are gonna get married. I'll feel so much better knowing that Zora has someone to take care of 'im."

"One day," said Kirsch.

"We will," said Zora.

"That makes me very happy," said Zara. "So, Kirsch, tell me, how did ya fall in love with my son?"

"My favorite subject," said Kirsch.

Zora covered his face again. I love them both but they are so embarrassing. He watched Kirsch and his dad's happy faces and sighed lightly. This is the best.


Grimacing, Julius felt the heated stare of Kirsch Vermillion boring holes in him. He had been on the receiving end of the anger from Vermillion and Silva many times before and it was just unfortunate that Kirsch had the same measured, calm anger his mother had, especially when fueled by protective rage. Julius' flu passed the previous day and it was time to send Zara back to the right time period.

"I'm gonna miss ya, Dad," said Zora, hugging his father tightly. And Zora cried into his father's shoulder. Kirsch stood close by the two Ideale men.

Julius felt his throat get tight. He knew that it was going to be the hardest on Zora. His selfishness led to this.

"I'll miss ya, Zora," said Zara. Julius saw Zara pat Zora on the back gently. "I love you so much. I'm so, so proud to see that you've become a good man and a great Magic Knight. And I'm very happy to learn that you have wonderful friends and a fantastic partner to support ya."

"I love ya too, Dad," said Zora, weakly, breaking away from hugging his dad.

Zora looked so miserable.

Julius told himself not to look away because this was his fault.

"Kirsch," said Zara, looking at his son's partner. "I'm glad to have met ya. Take care of my boy." Zara pulled Kirsch into a big hug, startling Kirsch, who never had a positive father figure in his life.

"I will. I promise. Thank you for bringing Zora into this world," said Kirsch, voice full of emotions. "He's my favorite person."

Zara chuckled. "He's mine too." Zara let Kirsch go and looked at a sniffling Zora. "Ya be good to Kirsch, ya hear me, Zora?"

Zora nodded, wiping his eyes. "Always."

"That's a good boy," said Zara, fondly. He hugged Zora and Kirsch one more time in a big hug. "Now, Kirsch, take Zora outta here." Zara, Julius and Kirsch all knew that Zora wouldn't be able to watch his father disappear from him again.

"Of course," said Kirsch. Kirsch took Zora's hand and said, gently, "Let's go home, my love."

"Goodbye, Dad. I love ya."

"Bye, Zora. I love ya too."

Julius watched a muted and miserable Zora be led out of the Wizard King's office by Kirsch, leaving Julius and Zara alone in the room. Julius cleared his throat and awkwardly said, "Zora will be fine."

"He's got Kirsch to comfort 'im," said Zara, nodding in approval. "So, how are we taking my memories?"

"Potion," said Julius, pulling out a vial from his desk. "It'll wipe the memories of this past week. It'll make you feel woozy, but it'll be like nothing happened."

Zara took the vial and sighed, "I'm still glad that I got to see Zora all grown."

"He'll have these memories of you now," said Julius. "I do feel very bad that I did this." Julius closed his eyes momentarily. "There is something that I wanted to tell you."

Zara said, "Oh?"

Julius nearly balked at the full attention of Zara, but said, "We only spoke once or twice, but I had been very impressed with you. You showed me that the Magic Knights could be better and should be better. Zara, you were the reason why I decided to become the Wizard King. I wanted to change things for the better. I admire you greatly." Julius smiled, "I kinda fell in love with you back then."

Zara's face reddened a bit. "Ah, well, that's mighty flatterin', Julius. Someone as powerful and amazing as ya thinkin' of little ol' me like that. Thank you. And I'm glad I inspired ya. You're doing the best job you can as Wizard King."

Julius' felt his own face heat up with embarrassment. Weakly, he said, "I'll try not to make any more impromptu thefts from the past."

Zara blinked once and then laughed, cheerfully. "Well, I wouldn't mind, but it's probably the best that ya don't."

Julius smiled and said, fondly, "You are the most wonderful person, Zara."

"And you are amazing, Julius."


(Zara drank the potion and Julius sent him back to the exact moment. Julius cried in his office for an hour, reminded of the time he learned of Zara's death the first time and how he cried then too. Thankfully, Marx diverted all meetings for the rest of the day).


In his bedroom at the Coral Peacocks, Kirsch and Zora lay on the bed as Kirsch held Zora tightly, scratching his head like he was a cat, as Zora sniffled and grieved again. His heart hurt for Zora but all Kirsch could do was hold him close. Meeting Zara was wonderful, even though it hurt Zora. Kirsch said, "My love, my heart, do you want some water?"

Zora shook his head and nuzzled Kirsch's neck.

"Okay," said Kirsch. "But you'll have to drink something soon."

"I'm sorry I'm a mess," Zora muttered, his warm breath hitting Kirsch's neck.

"No, no, my darling, you're allowed to be sad and angry," said Kirsch, immediately kissing him on the top of his head.

"I'm glad ya got to meet my Dad," Zora said, softly. "I just miss 'im all over again."

"It was wonderful to meet him. And see you so cheerful," said Kirsch. "I need to make you laugh more. I love your happy laugh. Though I find your menacing laugh very endearing."

Zora grumbled, "Sap."

"The sappiest," said Kirsch, kissing Zora on the top of the head again. Kirsch asked, trying to lighten the mood, "So, do you want to talk about Lord Julius being in love with your Dad and how he brought your Dad from the past because he was sick and delirious?"

"No, oh God, no, I never want to process that," said Zora, protesting weakly. "Just kiss me more."

Kirsch chuckled. "That sounds like a plan."

~fin