Chapter Text
Time passes.
Viole visits regularly. All of Aguero's siblings (well, the ones fully related to him and Maria occasionally) join in on the magic healing sessions and following lessons. They still need mediums, but it's better than nothing.
The one unwelcome arrival is of Prince Elliot, who stands stiff and awkward for weeks. He refuses to meet Aguero's eyes, and stays as far away as he can from Viole without being weird.
Too bad, you little shit.
The effect of his haughty demeanor is ruined by the way his wolf pup Fenryl never leaves Viole's side if he can help it. Viole, thankfully, accepts his new furry weight with grace. If he falls asleep with the wolf a few times, no one comments. Gabriel does the same thing.
The prince becomes less hostile over time. Not by much, he is still hiding an incredible secret that will make a mockery of the Khun family if it ever comes out, but he's more polite and not reflexively asked why a demon was saying shit that he, a prince, knew nothing about.
It's six months of this when Elliot arrives with a new guard, a weed of a mercenary, with a few swords at his hip and a quiet stiffness to his stance.
Khun does his best not to cringe. He knows who that is. The mercenary route was one of the more lore-heavy ones, and increasingly annoying to pick the right dialogue choices for. He was stubbornly loyal and rigid on what things were, what they could and should be.
He had only broken the rules to lay with the Sunlight Saint and the prince became king and forgave him.
The thought makes him want to hurl.
Still. He says nothing right now, stays focused the way Aguero saw people do during exam season or that one time in football finals where the captain was so serious he almost burst a blood vessel.
That had been pretty funny.
This time, Viole tells them to envision magic in their hands.
"It's not normal to do that," the prince had protested at once. "It would set our blood on fire."
"Only because you're not used to it," Viole says. "And it burns you anyway. It burns everyone, that's why you must be good at channeling it through an item and out."
"I don't have that issue," Aguero offers. No, once he'd spent more than a few minutes a day practicing he could water plants without an item, create slick black ice with ease even in the heat, and even fill pitchers across the room. He'd started practicing on the bathtub.
Elliot scowls at him.
Viole almost smiles. He gets closer to it here than when he's at the Prism Tower, which makes awful sense. After all, he's safer here. But he still seems tired, and possibly a little confused.
In fairness, it's probably because every time Maria was there, she glomped him hard and nearly buried his face into her chest. One time she succeeded and Elliot had to clear his throat loudly.
Maria wasn't ashamed either.
Alexi tried tying her up but … that made her worse.
This game was fucking weird.
Viole had just kind of stared at her before brushing his hair back down and turning away.
It had taken all of Aguero's self control not to laugh.
This lesson goes more peacefully at least, and they settle on for tea. Gabriel is actually able to hold a teacup without help and even pour his own without shaking, a far cry from six months ago. He still only listens.
"You're starting the academy next year " Alexi says to the prince.
He shifts and then nods. He's not so much gotten used to being treated with no formal respect as he has accepted that Alexi was informal with everyone. "Yes. They'd like to fast track me to student council."
He is not looking forward to that. "Don't find a cute girl while I'm gone," he says.
Elliot snorts over the swordsman's glare. At least he's stopped staring at Viole. "I don't believe anyone else would be as much of a burr in my side as you are."
Alexi rolls her eyes and Aguero snorts. Times like this, he almost believes Elliot might be fond of him.
Magic is also easier.
It should get easier to bear, but Aguero misses home the longer it goes on. He remembers his mother's face with wonder from magic, not cheering over his grades. He struggles to think of his sister's wedding, He almost misses Isu's tracksuit.
But, there is Viole.
It's easier when the school age group are gone. He's fourteen going on twenty-three and Viole is more relaxed when it's just them and Gabriel. Sometimes the old man watched. Sometimes he came closer.
Once he was there before Aguero and speaking to Viole with something fond.
Viole refused to tell him what he said.
Aguero has not brought up the contract.
Soon, he promises himself.
But over a year passes again, and Aguero … doesn't.
He's been busy, of course. He'd found the Moonlight Queen's journal and-
When you played Demon's Sun, you could name the Sunlight Saint and Moonlight Queen, for extra self-insert goodness. Watch your greatest rival get wrecked in multiple ways! For the catharsis.
But there were default names. Aguero had never seen hers, as he'd named her the request of a subscriber who paid enough.
But still, he makes a messy plaque for her now and dives in.
No one comments on it. She was known for reading anything she could get her hands on and writing it down too. It's as thorough as if he'd written it himself.
The entry before he awoke (he'd checked the calendar) reads, this world would be more bearable if I was a man. Then I could save them all. Including myself.
Thinking about it too long makes Aguero queasy, so naturally he turns it over like a rotisserie chicken.
"Aguero-ssi?"
Aguero blinks to see Viole's face close to his own. Not close enough to kiss, but close. He only doesn't scramble back from years of Ran doing the same thing.
"Sorry, did I doze off?" he says, trying to smirk instead of focus on how long Viole's eyelashes are.
It's just them right now. Gabe has another physician appointment and mother is there. Maria is with Elliot at school. They send letters.
Maria asks him to kiss Viole for him. Aguero doesn't. He misses the way Viole looks at him whenever he reads it out.
"A little," Viole admits. "You've been so busy. Would you like to rest?"
"That would be rude," Aguero protests. "You're still here. You're a guest."
"I don't mind." Viole's mouth twitches. "You can, erm, rest on my lap, if you want."
… That's a romance trope. that's a girl romance trope right? Or well, maybe not. To set your head in a partner's lap was at least romantic. Right?
"Are you sure?"
Viole nods. "Of course."
Demons are more tactile than humans. They relied on showing skin and touching in game, especially since they had better night vision than in the sunlight. It was why the final boss always had gloves on and a hood. That was their justification anyway.
And Viole wasn't as bony as he used to be. His thighs could be comfortable…
Okay, he was just tired or the game was fucking with him. There was no way he could enact a single gay fantasy here, not for real. Not with data.
No, not data. The game hadn't had real, visible scars and wounds.
Aguero leans back and lays down.
Immediately he's struck by the sky. At first glance, it's blue, clouds lazily floating by, the sun in the west. But the longer he looks, the more he sees the sparkle of mana in the air. It's usually only visible in game in the forests or the Prism Tower. He'd never seen it around the house until now.
Maybe it's following Viole, who is beloved by the sky itself.
Aguero glances at his face. He doesn't get a smile. Aguero thinks Viole ha forgotten how. But even with that blank, baffled little frown, Viole is still cute.
Aguero closes his eyes. Stupid puberty and stupid hormones and stupid fucking game. No wonder outside of his route you never saw the last boss' face. You'd cave in instantly.
He was nearly fifteen right now. This was not weird. It wasn't like he liked his fiancee in the first place. He was already going to commit infidelity, Aguero did not need to speedrun it and fuck up his only way home.
He focuses on his breathing, on the wind and the shifting of flowers.
It was … peaceful. Nice even.
He falls asleep.
When Aguero opens his eyes, he hears soft yips and a gentle hum. Fenryl, the demonic pup, right by his head. But… why? Elliot - Elaine, easier to think on his home territory - should be in class, at the academy. There wasn't a break, was there?
Aguero turns and there's Elliot. He's watching the two of them. One of Viole's hands is gently stroking Fenryl's fur. The other is playing with Aguero's hair, a quiet, fond expression on his face but unsmiling.
No one speaks. Then Viole's eyes alight on him and crinkle into something further. Something like happiness. Not a smile. Not joy. But it's there.
I want to see it, Aguero thinks, almost raising his hand. Then he turns his head to look at Elliot. "What brings you here?"
Elliot smirks. It's bitter, cold with distrust. "Apparently, father found one of his real children."
Aguero's blood runs cold. "Is that right," he says carefully. Viole's hand slows, now cradling the back of Aguero's head. It's probably unintentional but Aguero cannot bring himself to stop him.
Too soon. Wasn't it? The Moonlight Queen and the Sunlight Saint weren't supposed to cross paths until-
A memory, from a future that would never come-
"I think it's important to be friends."
His own voice, mouth twisted in a scoff. "What would you know of friends, commoner? All you do is take from people better than you. I refuse to be one of them."
Elliot leans forward. "Indeed it is." His voice is quiet. "Found her with some baron claiming she was his. Blond hair that shines in the sun, hazel eyes, and a flicker of red in the pupils. One of Father's children. Stolen."
Aguero glances at Viole, who only looks curious, not upset. Then he murmurs. "One less shackle on mother."
The long held reason for the war in the history was that the demons had stolen away Jahad's ability to bear children, and the potential spawn had been scattered across the continents. A cursed contract, still upheld between king of man and ruler of monsters, and unable to be broken.
In another life, there had been theories that the half-demon being so gentle was their child instead, but-
It wasn't true, much as the man wished for it. If so, there would be no scars, not wounds. Demons were forbidden to hurt their own. He'd have been eaten alive, king be damned.
Elliot's mouth thins. "How many does that leave?"
Viole only shakes his head. "His Majesty would know."
And it wouldn't matter, as Viole was the most vital chain of them all.
Aguero met Elliot's eyes as he searched for something. Discomfort, amusement distaste. There's only interest. Of course there would be. He - She - would take the saint for her own eventually.
These moments would pass and Aguero would go home. That's what he tells himself. Unless gods lie. Which was also possible too.
"How wonderful. You'll have a little sibling like me."
Elliot rolls his eyes. "She's close in age to you. Maybe you'll be friends."
Ariadne snorts and Aguero does his best not to do the same. "I have my best friend right here," he says, gesturing to Viole.
VIole jolts, but when Aguero looks over his expression is quiet again, almost blank. Fenryl licks his fingers impatiently, until he's given attention once more.
"Like demon, like demon," Elliot sighs instead of being offended. He clicks his tongue and Fenryl trots to his side.
In the final battle on the first route, Elliot is forced to slaughter his comrade wolf, who had grown by her side. The wolf had chosen the demon, in the end.
Aguero, impulsively, flicks water at the prince's head. He sputters, voice cracking and he thinks,
You can have her, saint.
Viole makes a chuffing noise. It's almost laughter.
You can't have him.
It's a silly idea, but one he likes anyway.
Further time passes. The mentioned daughter of the king falls into gossip and murmurs, but little more as she remains out of public life. Puberty hits them all in messy waves. It's almost a relief to see Viole less in a world where it's all too easy to find pornography with a half-sister who shoves you into her chest and tries introducing you to every girl around.
Thankfully, Maria has not been around much.
Alexi hears more gossip than he does, and encourages him to "get a reputation for going out hunting".
God he hopes she isn't encouraging him for forest sex. Urgh. Bugs in his hair. There's a reason he doesn't go camping.
Still, he does go hunting. Horseback riding sucks, but it does improve his water magic aim. Novick didn't bother. He races through the undergrowth, snapping deer necks with his bare hands and brawling with any small fry demons that came across.
Khun never mentions those to Viole. He hopes there's no audience watching Novick grunt and kill things. He's sure there are people who would be into it.
"Having fun?" he asks dryly. He's gotten down to gather more plants.
Novick snorts. "Never a dull day with you."
Now what was that supposed to mean?
"Happy birthday, by the way," his butler adds. "It'll pass while you're at the academy, so."
"Ugh. Don't remind me." The game was going to start soon. Elliot's letters had been lessening over the past few months. Of course, the rumors of the Sunlight Saint protagonist had grown in measure.
Aguero walked back to his horse and filled the bag with more herbs. He reached in and offered his horse a quick meal before climbing back on. "One more round to the village and then we'll head back."
"Aye boss."
Aguero splashes water on him as he nudged his ride onward. God he couldn't wait to get a bicycle when he got back. That would not nearly be murder on his thighs.
When they returned, Viole was there. He was also starting with Aguero this year, and Aguero had, without hesitation, gotten him supplies and a residence nearby. The old man had agreed, laughing.
Jahad? He hadn't reacted at all. He hadn't seemed to care, invested in the newfound daughter.
Which is for the best because the young man (person) who steps out of the carriage when he arrives, is dangerous to Aguero's heart.
Look, Aguero has a type. He knows he does. He figured it out in a post exam fugue where he'd accidentally admitted to thinking the guy at the school store was cute when he laughed at people's jokes. There was also the one time he was spit sober at the bar and one of his philosophy classmates started making out with him in the corner.
Nothing worse than handjobs in the toilets and the smell of whiskey in his mouth.
The point is Aguero knows: long lashes and nice legs, along with pretty eyes and a serious, sure stare get him in ways he thought he was completely uninterested in. And he usually is because Seoul is oversaturated with pretty people and impossible standards to reach.
Viole ticks those boxes. He ticks more, shoulders broad under his sleeveless shirt, warm hands that gently scoop up a stronger, livelier Gabriel upon impact. He steps off the carriage steps, skin darker from the sun, long hair tied in a bun as opposed to the once floor sweeping ponytail. That cloak remains, but the hood is down and gold-pink meets blue-silver-purple. There's something familiar there, an interest piqued by however *he* must look, helping Novick carry deer and hands covered in dirt. The ruin of an aristocrat.
Aguero tries not to be a religious man or pretend anything that belongs to him is not his. But he hopes this game world is responsible for the uncomfortable throbs in his groin and the fanciful nature in his mind over this clump of data.
Viole then smiles and Aguero prays even harder.
He's started smiling in the past few months. Small things, nervous things. He wonders what it looked like before, what his face looked like open and free, bright and cheerful.
Viole has a face suited for joy and happiness, for pleasure and warmth.
"You stink, hyung." Gabriel tells him. "You smell like trees."
"People like that smell fabulous to some," Aguero teases. "You'll understand when you're older."
Gabriel rolls his eyes. "I don't want to be like Maria-noona."
"You really don't want that," he agrees. "Hi Viole, make yourself at home. I'll be back shortly."
Viole blinks and then nods, placid again. "Take your time, Aguero-ssi."
Aguero fights the lamest lines from the game out of his throat and smirks. "See you in a bit, Viole."
Another name sits on his tongue for whatever reason but Aguero dismisses it and heads off for a bath. He misses showers so much.
Novick disappears to take care of the rest of the work. The nearby village was always grateful for the dried herbs and discussions of building a greenhouse. They'd grow to take care of themselves, and it didn't need his magic to reinforce it either.
They could not depend on a noble who was going to die, and his brother was better, he wasn't healthy enough to do it either. But he made a solid record.
By the time he's done, Aguero comes out into his rooms to Viole reading one of his books. It looks like the history of the war of demons and humans. Why on earth would he read that? He was a relic of it.
Aguero doesn't say so, however. He just sits beside him. "How was the school?"
Viole closes the book and sets it down. "There was a lot of staring," he says after a while.
He'd gone to get used to the area early, to make current students adjust to the existence of a demon (half-demon, but no one would think much of the human part) in their midst and to adjust. He was too polite for his own good, Aguero muses.
"You're new and interesting," he says with a smirk and a tug at his looser bits of hair. "Don't worry, i'll be with you soon and take all the attention away."
Viole looks at him earnestly and says, "I appreciate anything you can give me."
This smooth bastard. "I'm sure," Aguero deflects. "I do it because I want to."
And not because of the contract? Aguero's mind whispers cruelly. He ignores it. He needs to bring up. "Did you see the new girl? She's with us next year, right?"
"… I did." Viole blinks at him. "She seemed nice. She said she liked my horns."
"Cheap," Aguero teases instead of acknowledging the rumbling pain in his stomach. "Would that be all I need to get your attention?"
Viole still just keeps looking at him and says, "You've said much nicer things to me, Aguero-ssi."
This causes him to fall silent. "You know," he says after a long moment. "If you keep saying things like that, I'm going to think you're interested in me."
Viole doesn't answer. "Even if I was," he says. "You could not reciprocate, could you?"
Aguero snorts. "That's not an answer, and you know it." Before Viole can reply, he adds. "Was Elliot being touchy with her?"
Viole was also there to ensure the contract was followed or confirm who broke it.
"He was no more interested in her than anyone else. Maybe gentler when showing her around and leading her to the tutors, but that was all."
Not enough then. He'd have felt it if the contract ripped, but still.
"She was more interested in me," Viole adds, abruptly. "Like he was a given and she was nice enough, but I was a higher priority."
This wasn't how he remembered the opening of the game went, but then, there had to be some gaps and explanations for why the game started so slanted against the Moonlight Queen after all.
Unless…
No, that was silly. There was no reason to assume that the protagonist was also from his world. That was not a game thing. In fact, the entire thing was the romances were divine providences, chosen by the gods that adored humanity, and that they were meant to be. That was why the demonic contract broke with no death, or all of it fell on the Moonlight Queen.
Aguero leans over into Viole's eyes. "Do you think she's into you?" He could see it if she was.
Viole frowns. "Why would I want her?"
Aguero almost laughs. "You're a little oblivious, aren't you?"
That's for the best. Aguero won't get his hopes up. He knows what he's setting himself up for. He knows the many ways of ruin that will open up in his life. But it doesn't matter.
It can't matter.
"Don't worry about it. Tell me more about the school."
Viole complies.
That night, Gabriel sneaks into his rooms.
This has happened more in the past year or so. When Alexi had started going to school, he recalls, Gabriel was too ill to do it, and mother was still around. But as he's gotten better, mother's had to focus on running the house. So now, Gabriel is here. Taking comfort from a sibling who was wrong for this world, taking warmth from a dead man walking.
So far, Aguero was comfortable using almost anyone, but-
It must be Viole's influence, it must be the passage of time, so he doesn't. He tries not to think about it.
"I won't be gone that long," he says, trying to be comforting, trying to feel safe. "And I'll visit. You're not a weak kid anymore, Gabe. you don't need me around all the time."
Gabriel's fingers dig into his arm. Aguero remembers Ran, ungrateful ass that he was, clinging to him during fireworks.
He misses that little shit.
"What if I can't do magic anymore?" he mumbles, right in Aguero's shoulder. "What if I get sick again and you can't say goodbye?"
Ouch. He's sure he'll have nightmares about that tonight. "You will keep practicing," Aguero promises. "And mother will look after you. And if you get sick, Viole and I will come help you again. But you have to promise me you'll keep trying. Okay?"
Gabriel doesn't answer, and Aguero misses Ran like a hole in the head. But his grip loosens, and he closes his eyes.
When he dreams that night, Aguero dreams of Ariadne in a night sky dress, staring at an aurora that should not exist.
She calls the stars it cradles beautiful.
Then she coughs up blood and dies.
Aguero wakes up that morning to the sun rising, the birds chirping, and Novick opening his door.
Right. No pressure.