Disclaimer: House of Anubis belongs to Hans Bourlon and to Gert Verhulst.

Summary: When that Jerome kid had come offering his services, Rufus was very far from imagining the journey that was about to start.

Author's note: Please note that my first language is not English, it's French. If you find any mistakes or weird sentence, let me know, so I can better myself. While I know I am almost fluent and while I do read after myself and use Grammarly to help, sometimes, a mistake can pass by.

Second note: I've had this idea in my head for almost three years but I never dared to start because I thought I needed to stay as close to the first season as I could. But hey, it's fanfic, so as long as the timeline is respected enough, I guess no one will be mad at me for displacing a comma. I hope you'll like the idea I had. Note that I have only seen the first two seasons but it was a long time ago.

Twists of Fate
Chapter 3

Waiting for Jerome to arrive for their secret meeting, the papers in hand, Rufus wondered if the choice he had made was the right one. He still needed time to accept that truth that had exploded to his face:

He had a child.

He had briefly wondered if he had more somewhere. If he had one, there could be more. He had wondered why he felt so weird, knowing that he had fathered Jerome one night with a woman he had never seen after he had finished his business with her. Having a son didn't change anything in his quest for the cup of Ankh and immortality. And yes, Jerome coming to him to offer his help, both unaware of their blood link, that was quite a slap on Fate's part. Or at least, he assumed Jerome didn't know. And to be honest, things would be way easier if he was kept in the dark. Rufus had no time for parenting a teenager. He didn't know how to anyway. It had never interested him.

"Then, why the hell did I decide to let him know?"

Was he scared of being alone? Not particularly. He had been alone for years. However, the idea of him having an heir was kind of soothing. Someone to pass on his legacy, to have him carry it on. He could see the appeal, especially when Jerome reminded him so much of him at his age. Physically, yes. But most importantly, morally. How old was Jerome? Fifteen? Sixteen? Yet, his eyes, so similar to his own, showed an intelligence and wisdom beyond his years, an ambition burning, a mischievous glee, not yet turned into the cruel waves his own pupils were able to show. The boy hadn't been tainted by madness yet. Because Rufus was clear-minded enough to know he was what people would qualify as "bonkers". Jerome was sassy, Jerome was cunning, Jerome was definitely his father's son while he had never been raised by him whatsoever.

"And it should remain that way."

Did he want to have a family? No. he was pretty sure he didn't want one. He didn't need one. He'd let Jerome know out of honesty, and if Jerome had to know, knowing it by him was the best option. It wouldn't change anything. But at least, no one could use the information against them to try and stop them. He had made his bed long ago and he wouldn't undo it to make it again. It had to be worth it before doing it. Jerome was his son. Nothing would change because of that. So why was the idea still haunting his mind? He could just hide the truth and disappear after his goal was achieved. Then why? The fact that he couldn't answer upset him.

Finally, the teenager showed up, his face clearly showing he had been unsettled by the early appointment. He was worried.

"I know you are in a rush but some things need time, you know?" He tried to say, as cocky as ever

"I didn't ask you to come here for results. I'm well aware it's a too short notice." Rufus replied

Without a word, not looking at him, he handed over the papers.

"What is it?" Jerome asked

With one quick move of the head, he let him know he could open and read.

"You stole something with my DNA for tests?!" The young man protested

"Just read already!" He retorted

This was one of the many reasons he didn't really wish for a relationship with Jerome, or any other kids he might have fathered. He had no patience for this whatsoever. Yet, a voice in his head stated he could understand the boy's protest. He really was getting soft. And that kid was going to be the death of him. He took the opportunity to discreetly watch as Jerome was reading. He could easily remember his past lover, fifteen or sixteen years ago. He didn't have that many in the first place. A tall blonde woman with mahogany eyes, lost in life. He could definitely see a bit of her in their son. While Jerome looked a lot like him, the softness of his traits came from her. She had turned her life around if she had managed to marry someone named Clarke, and sending Jerome in a boarding school. He saw the boy turning white, his hands shaking. He didn't know. And he had just shattered his world.

"And they say I'm the king of pranks." Jerome tried to joke, trying to act like an adult nothing could shake. "I've met my master."

"I have no time for pranks, Jerome."

The fake smile the teenager had on his face fell. He had shattered his world and somehow, for a reason, yet another one, he couldn't understand, it upset him.

"Did you know? Before?" The student managed to ask in a whisper

"I'm as surprised as you are."

His voice had come out more gentle that he had wanted to.

"Then, why did you feel the need to carry out tests? Especially when you are in a hurry?"

That boy definitely was his child. He was having the same questions.

"Because looking at you was looking at my past self and that was a first."

Jerome kept silent, still staring at the results.

"Take them. Double check if you wish."

"Why this kindness?"

"I'm not kind, Jerome." Rufus hissed. "I'm anything but kind. You said these could be forged. A clever thought. I know they aren't. You don't. Double check. That way, you can trust me, at least on me telling you the truth."

Jerome hid the papers in his schoolbag, took a short breath to try and set him straight. No one had to know what he had discovered, what he was feeling. He put on a good face, and Rufus assumed he'd work on a fake smile on his way back to school. And Rufus had to admit that, so far, for a kid, Jerome was pretty good at this.

"When do we see each other next time?"

"The day we had first agreed on."

The teenager nodded but as he turned his heels, ready to face his comrades in a few minutes, he quickly glanced at him, and with a still shaky, unsure voice, he said:

"The Scooby Gang are almost certain more clues for the cup are actually inside the house I live in during school days."

One information for another, Jerome kept his deals, it appeared. Rufus nodded, quickly thanking him and he watched as he left.

And for once, if Jerome's eyes didn't remain in his brain, if the idea that the he had a son didn't haunt him as much, a feeling of guilt over having destroyed his child's world was weighing on him, for a reason he couldn't understand.

To Be Continued