I had considered writing an AU where Roland arrived a few years younger. I vaguely headcanon as Roland being born in 1970 so he would spend his teen years in the 80s. Roland at the arcade playing Pac-Man? YES.

Alas, I was given the prompt of 'combine Nella Lives AU with a younger!Roland AU' and that got more plot bunny traction and what I had written so far with that is becoming its own monster. Thus it became a struggle to get through this chapter before I gave up. So here is what I got so far and the more I think about it, I have no idea what you teenagers use as slang nowadays besides 'yeet' and 'swole' so...maybe I'm better off with the tinier!Roland plot bunnies.

Stick to the Script and Other Stories

By Bilbo-sama

Teen!Roland AU

Batu raised an eyebrow as he approached the prisoners. One was a young blond haired boy dressed in expensive clothing. His grimalkin ears pressed down against his head as he looked back at the Sky Pirate chief with worry. The other prisoner was a dark-haired teenage boy dressed as a trainee guard. He looked at Batu with defiance burning in his eyes. If neither of the boys had their hands in stocks, it was most likely that the older boy would try to fight his way out.

"So," Batu said as he crossed his arms against his chest intimidatingly, "What do we have here? A couple of trespassers loitering in the canyon all suspicious like, or so I hear."

"We have good reason to," argued the teen, unsurprisingly. "Please, hear us out!"

"W-we only want to visit the King's Cradle!" added the rich grimalkin child, "I promise, we wont cause any trouble!"

Batu frowned, damn it they're only kids. But still, he has to honor the code and keep his people safe.

"Ye caused trouble the moment ye set foot in here," he lectured, noting how the older boy bristled. The little one must've been desperate to hire a hot head for a body guard.

"T'is a violation of the code and unfortunately, the penalty is death!" The child gasped and Batu hardened his heart, "No exceptions! Ye'll be dashed to the bottom of the canyon just like the rest. The Code must be obeyed and the carrion crows must be fed." The older boy's glare seemed to intensify as if he was trying to kill Batu with just a stare alone.

Both boys then attempted to bluff their way out by claiming the younger one is the king of Ding Dong Dell but there was a coup and that's why they were here. Khunbish confirmed hearing something similar.

Well, shit. The prisoners definitely can't stay here any longer. Whoever is in charge of Ding Dong Dell now would definitely want the young prince dead and would bring a whole army to wipe out the village if he stays.

Before Batu could make a decision, Chingis ran in and announced that Tani was captured by the Wyverns. Was this day going to get worse? First a prince who may have pursuers who very well could slaughter the village to get to the child and now his daughter has been captured by the village's life-long enemy.

The teenager seemed to have frozen at the news but was brought out of it the moment Batu had to choose his village over Tani. He stared at Batu with warring defiance and sympathy.

"We'll go rescue her," declared the boy king, his eyes burning with determination, "and if we fail, we submit to your judgement."

"Alright," decided Batu, "Ye got yerself a deal." It may better this way. The faster the king is out of the canyon, the better chances the village may survive his usurper's wrath.

"Are you sure this will work, Roland?" asked Evan.

"It's all we got," said Roland. Evan watched, mesmerized, as the older boy tied the tie around his neck with ease as if he had done for a long time.

"Why the flip are you wearin' those clothes?" asked Lofty, "it makes you flippin' stand out!"

"We are about to enter a court of law," explained Roland, "where I'm from, this is the attire one wears for occasions such as the one we're about to experience soon."

He made a face, "I hope my voice doesn't crack during any of this."

Evan blinked, confused, "What will happen if it does?"

"Then..." Roland seemed to remember who he was talking to because he glanced at Evan for a moment before coming to a conclusion, "...I guess I'll be taken less seriously because of my age." He looked unimpressed by his own statement. "Ugh, why couldn't I be twenty instead of thirteen?"

"Tough flippin' luck, mun."

There was going to be a scene with Leander being baffled by Roland's teenage angst but it just wouldn't come out so I gave up. *shrugs*