I do not own Re:Zero or any of the characters.

Extended Stay

Ian watched as Wilhelm sparred with Subaru. He was going easy on Subaru, extremely, and yet Subaru was still no match for him. Ian had tried sparring with Wilhelm, too, and had failed miserably. Wilhelm was amazing.

"He's improving," Rem said.

"Slowly," Ian nodded, just as Wilhelm sent Subaru flying, then decided they'd take a break.

Subaru wasn't doing well. After he'd woken up following the duel, Emilia had been so angry with him that she'd yelled at him, telling him that she didn't believe a word out of his mouth, and wasn't going to any time soon. She'd wanted to know why Subaru was always going so far for her, and when he couldn't explain properly, he'd gotten desperate and said she owed him a lot for all the times he risked his life to save her. She'd agreed, then said she was going to repay all of her debts then and there by ending things between them, whatever it was. Then, she and Roswaal had left for Roswaal's manor, leaving Rem with Ian and Subaru, the three of them now staying at Crusch's manor, rather than an inn.

"Can I ask you something?" Subaru asked, pulling Ian out of his thoughts.

"Sure," Ian nodded.

"How did you know that whole...former knight thing would work?" Subaru asked.

"I didn't," Ian said. "But I knew that I needed to say something to cover for your dumb ass, and I knew that Reinhard would vouch for my skill with a sword, so I went for it."

"Did you know you'd need Reinhard to vouch for your skill ahead of time?" Subaru asked. "Did you know you were going to need to sell a lie? Is that why you fought that assassin yourself instead of letting Reinhard do it?"

Ian smirked. "Always have a contingency plan. The reason I fought the assassin myself was to show Reinhard that I'm a potential threat. You never know who you'll end up facing, or who you'll need to think twice before fighting you, that way they can try diplomacy and avoid the fight altogether."

"So, you came up with that entire backstory off the top of your head?" Subaru asked.

"Fuck no," Ian snorted. "I saw it in an anime."

Subaru groaned and rolled his eyes. "Of course you did."

He shook his head and they rested a while longer before returning to training with Wilhelm.

Ian bounced off his upper back and rolled back to his feet, panting, watching Wilhelm, who stood before him as still as a statue, perfectly calm, and ready to continue. Ian sighed, stabbing his wooden sword into the ground. "I yield."

"You surrender too quickly," Wilhelm said. "I heard about your battle with Elsa Granhiert, and your duel with Julius Juukulius. You are more powerful than this. Why do you hold back?"

"That wasn't because of my skill with a sword," Ian said. "It was an ability of mine that lets me...uh...predict opponents strikes. It's a bit like cheating, but it's useful when it's a fight that's not training. But for now, with you, I'd like to be able to train my actual sword skills."

Wilhelm nodded. Ian readied himself and charged again.

Ian spun around Wilhelm's strike, slashing at him, but Wilhelm spun, deflecting it and drilled the point of his sword into Ian's chest, hurling him. Ian groaned, struggling to stand.

"You've improved drastically since we began," Wilhelm said.

"Fighting against you, it doesn't feel like it, but I'll take your word for it," Ian said, pushing himself up and dusting himself off as Rem stepped up beside him.

"Dinner's almost ready," Rem said.

Ian nodded and they headed inside. Subaru was out in town, and wouldn't be back for a while, but he had told them to go ahead and eat without him. He wasn't doing well. He had left only this one day, and otherwise had only left the building to be beaten black and blue by Wilhelm. Rem and Ian had to hold him down while Felix worked on his Gate as well, because he was too angry to want to be healed. He had barely spoken at all, and Ian was starting to worry about his mental state.

"You okay?" Rem asked.

"I'm worried about Subaru," Ian said. "He needs someone to cheer him up. If he stays depressed like this, he's going to be changed for the worse."

Rem nodded. "He needs Miss Emilia."

Ian nodded. "I think I'm going to have to go and try and explain things on his behalf. He hasn't learned how to explain his thoughts at all, or how to explain his side of things without setting off his heart problems."

Rem nodded. "So he does have a power like yours?"

"Similar," Ian nodded. "But so much...harder to beat. Harder to use, but harder to beat."

Rem nodded. "For now, he'll be okay."

Ian nodded and they headed to the kitchen, carrying their food to the dining room together before digging in. After dinner, they spent some time relaxing together until Subaru returned before repeating the usual treatment routine. Then, they headed to bed, once again sleeping together, as they had every night since coming to the capital. The next morning, as he was eating breakfast with the other two, his mind drifted back to the arena, this time to Reinhard's reaction to him after the fight.

"Subaru," Ian said, Subaru looking up at him. "Do you remember the promise you made to me before we left for the capitol?"

Subaru nodded.

"That time might be sooner than you expect," Ian said. "Also, I'm going to adjust the terms to include myself."

"Why, what happened?" Subaru asked.

"After the duel, we were passing Reinhard and I think he sensed the Witch's power from me," Ian said. "There's a really good chance he'll come after me, if he did, so I need to double check your decision. Will you keep your promise, now including myself in the terms?"

Subaru stared at him for a moment before dropping his eyes to his food. "What's the point? It's not like I can do anything right anyway."

"Subaru, I warned you that you'd hurt her and mess things up but you decided to go anyway," Ian said. "It isn't that you can't do anything right, it's that you try to do everything yourself and you listen to what you want to do instead of heeding the advice and wishes of others. Now I need you to give me your word, Subaru."

Instead of answering, Subaru stood and walked up to the sink, scraping his uneaten food into the trash before putting his plate in the sink and grabbing his wooden sword. As he walked outside to train with Wilhelm, who was present and waiting already, as was usual, Ian sighed heavily.

"What was his promise?" Rem asked.

"If I can't protect you or your sister, he promised to use his ability to save you," Ian said, then finished his food. "I'll wash the dishes today. You can do whatever you want."

Rem smiled and nodded. "Alright. Thank you."

Ian smiled and nodded, heading into the kitchen. He cleaned the kitchen quickly, and when he was finished, he headed outside. He had intended to go train with Wilhelm more, but before he could get there, Rem caught him, steering him into a chair before seating herself sideways in his lap and pulling his arms around her. He raised an eyebrow at her as she looked up at him and she smiled.

"You said I could do whatever I want," Rem said. "Since I can't actually do what I want, this is the next best thing."

Ian sighed and nodded, smiling and rested his chin on top of her head as both of them watched Subaru being beaten black and blue. They spent the majority of the day there, moving only to cook and eat lunch, then dinner later, though Subaru was absent during that, having been asked to dinner by Crusch, the green-haired election candidate. After dinner, they lay on a blanket behind the house, staring up at the stars in silence. It was a beautiful night out. The perfect temperature, crickets singing, a few birds still awake to sing, and there was a meteor shower. As soon as it began, Rem's eyes widened and she smiled up at him. He smiled as well, however, after a second, before he had even realized he'd moved, he'd closed the distance between them. Rem sighed in relief, kissing him back instantly, only for Ian to gasp sharply, focusing and skipping back. Rem looked up at him, face shining with joy, only to suddenly recoil slightly, covering her nose.

"You used it?" Rem asked.

"Sorry," Ian said. "I remembered breaking our promise."

Rem sighed heavily, setting her forehead against his chest. "I don't like our promise."

"Neither do I," Ian said. "But we both gave our word."

Rem nodded. "I know. But I hate it. It feels like I'm having to choose between you and I'll lose the other."

"You won't," Ian said. "No matter what happens, I will always be yours."

Rem smiled up at him for a moment before reaching up toward him. He swallowed hard, tensing the his muscles to stop himself from making the same mistake twice, and didn't relax again until Rem had kissed him on the cheek and set her head back down.

"I wish we never made that promise," Rem said.

Ian didn't say anything. He was torn. He wanted to be able to kiss Rem, and maybe more, as much as he wanted, but like the scumbag he was, he wanted the same with Ram, and knew that if he hadn't made that promise, and that if he didn't keep it, he'd never be able to gain Ram's trust. He didn't have much hope of ever being able to have Ram, but somewhere, buried deep inside of him, that hope did exist, however faintly.

After a few more minutes, they headed to bed. The next morning, Subaru was already sparring with Wilhelm when they finished breakfast, however, something was different. Something was wrong. Subaru was a cold, almost crazed look in his eye, and his smile looked more strained than when he'd passed out from overworking himself.

"I must suggest that we call it a day," Wilhelm said, Subaru staring at him in surprise. "Well, in my opinion, it's become rather meaningless!" His tone had turned harsh and scolding. "Why bother teaching someone that has abandoned the option to get stronger or how to use the sword that makes him stronger?"

Just then, Rem gasped, holding a hand to her head. "Something's wrong. Something's happening at the manor."

"Subaru!" Ian called out instantly.

Subaru frowned at Wilhelm in confusion for a moment before jogging over. "What is it?"

"I feel something..." Rem trailed off for a moment, picking her words carefully so they could understand. "I feel something like a presence through the sense I share with my sister."

"Can you tell what?" Ian asked.

Rem shook her head. "I wish my sister could use her Clairvoyance to give me a clear picture, but that's all I can tell."

Ian nodded. "We should head back, then."

"Hey!" Felix said from behind them in the doorway. "Miss Crusch wants to talk to you three about something."

They all nodded and followed her to a room where Crusch was seated in a chair, another sitting across from her, which Subaru took, Ian and Rem standing to either side of him.

"Has Rem told you what's been going on?" Crusch asked.

"A bit," Subaru nodded.

"All I could say was that I sensed something like a presence from my sister," Rem said.

"So you must have picked up a nasty sort of synesthesia from her, I take it?" Felix asked.

"We're not sure of the details yet," Crusch began, "but it's from the Mathers Domain, which you know as Margrave Roswaal's territory. It seems some troubling movement was seen in the vicinity of his mansion. Parts of the domain are already on high alert as we speak."

"Troubling movement as in, someone might be about to attack them?" Ian asked.

"Indeed," Crusch nodded. "We foresaw this situation. From the moment the Margrave...declaired his intention to back Miss Emilia, a half-elf."

"You mean all of this...has happened because of prejudice?" Subaru asked.

"That is likely a correct summation," Crusch nodded.

"How much progress have you made healing Subaru's gate?" Ian asked Felix

"It's nearly finished," Felix said. "It would probably only take another few days to a week."

Ian shook his head, sighing and looking to Subaru, who looked furious. Except, just as he looked, Subaru's mouth curled into a wicked smile.

"Okay then," Subaru said, standing, his tone sounding arrogant and cold. "We have to go there and help settle things, right?"

"Sit down, Subaru," Ian said. "You're not leaving until you're healed. Rem and I will go and help Emilia until you've recovered and are able to get there yourself. Besides, if you leave, Crusch's contract becomes null and void."

"Her what?" Subaru asked.

"Miss Emilia and I made an agreement regarding your treatment and your safety," Crusch said. "If you break that of your own free will, I will no longer be obligated to render treatment. Let me be clear. If you leave this house, I will have no choice but to consider you my enemy."

"I was wrong about you," Subaru said, grinning wickedly as he glared at her. "I thought maybe, just maybe, you and I could actually get along. Your advice, that was just a little joke over some drinks, right? I was stupid to take you seriously when you told me, an enemy, to do what I could. You don't want me to leave, because getting Emilia out of trouble would be bad for you, wouldn't it?"

"I think meow seem to have gotten some things wrong," Felix said, head tilted to the side.

"Felix, enough!" Crusch snapped, holding her hand up in front of him to silence him.

"No, I will say it," Felix said. "The mistake he's making is a bit too grave. Even if you leave here and rush to her side, nothing will change. It's a waist of time. After making a fool of yourself at the castle, and being clobbered by Julius, you still don't realize that? You'll be much better off staying with us and finishing up your treatment."

"I've decided," Subaru said. "I'm going back to Emilia. Thanks for taking care of me, though it wasn't for long."

"A good man knows how to take a warning," Felix said. "I guess that saying's not true."

"It's because of your warning that I've made up my mind," Subaru snarled, voice dropping to a whisper. "Thanks for that."

Ian sighed, looking back to Felix and Crusch. "Sorry about him. And thank you for your hospitality. If we ever do meet as enemies, I'll do my best not tobe forced kill you, depending on the situation."

Felix narrowed his eyes, though his voice remained as high and cheery as it ever was. "I'll promise the same, though I'll warn you not to grow too confident in yourself."

"I won't," Ian said. "I know my limits. I just don't always have the option of obeying them."

"You may borrow one of our carriages," Crusch said. "Consider it one last courtesy."

Ian nodded and followed Subaru out of the room, Rem just behind him, both catching up to Subaru outside. Subaru was talking with Wilhelm, so Ian and Rem went to get a Dragon Carriage. As they did, a man driving a Carriage nearby warned them that the road they'd taken to get to the capital was covered by fog created by the White Whale. Rem briefly explained that traveling through the fog was a death sentence and they'd have to take a two-and-a-half day detour to get around it.

"Subaru's not going to like that, but your sister'd kill me if I let you anywhere near that fog," Ian said. "Detour it is."

"Rem, how long until we reach the mansion?" Subaru asked, Wilhelm walking along behind him with a brown bag.

"Two-and-a-half days," Rem said.

"What!?" Subaru snapped. "But it only took us half a day to get here!"

"On the way here, we took a road that's now covered with fog," Rem said.

"Who cares about a little fog!?" Subaru demanded.

"The fog is created by the White Whale," Rem explained patiently. "If we went into it, we'd never get out alive."

Wilhelm's eyes narrowed, but as Subaru climbed into the Carriage silently, Wilhelm stepped forward, handing Ian the bag.

"Thank you for lending us your carriage," Rem said. "It is very much appreciated." She and Ian both bowed respectfully. "In my master's stead, thank you for all the kindness you've shown us during our stay."

"And for taking the time to train Subaru and I," Ian said. "It was an honor."

"Please, take care of yourselves," Wilhelm said.

Both nodded and climbed onto the front of the carriage, Rem taking the reins first and flicking them, getting them going. After a few minutes, Subaru spoke up.

"Are you getting anything from Ram?" Subaru asked.

"Nothing yet," Rem said. "To a certain extent, our connection is something that we control. I could be wrong, but I believe that what happened this morning was something that exceeded my sister's control."

"I see," Subaru said. "So Ram didn't even mean to let us know about it."

"There could be a thousand reasons for that," Ian said. "It could, theoretically, have just been a Mabeast. Secondary functions like a telepathic connection tend to be a bit hard to control when you're surprised or distracted."

"I doubt that's the case," Subaru said.

"Ian is correct," Rem said. "The presence I felt could have been nothing more than a Wolgarm, or a Knickerbocker. There's a group that moved into the forest around the mansion not long after Lord Roswal eliminated the Wolgarm there. We may get there and find out that it's nothing."

Subaru didn't respond and they both glanced back at him, seeing him glaring at the ground, muttering to himself, apparently not having been listening to Rem at all. Ian sighed and they rode in silence. After a while, Rem gave Ian the reins, then leaned on his shoulder, Ian wrapping an arm around her.

"She's going to be alright," he whispered, Rem nodding subtly.

"I'm worried about Subaru," Rem said quietly.

"So am I," Ian said.

They fell silent again, neither speaking until they stopped at an inn for the night.

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