fic: Summer Sun

[bonnefois]

Title: Summer Sun
Series: Fire Emblem: Awakening, Fire Emblem Heroes
Character/pairing: Laurent/Noire, Gaius/Tharja, Tharja/F!Robin, ensemble
Rating: SFW, PG-13
Word count: 5,397
Summary: Noire's friends from her time join her in Askr. Amid the volleyball and reminiscing, she gets some help from Laurent.
Author's note:

The fic came from the fact that:
-I still want Summer Noire and failed in the rerun banner after dropping like a ton or more orbs. This is my summoning circle. Noire, come home already. The game thought it would be funny to keep giving me a ton of Nornes and an Eleonora instead. Though, the latter was a pleasant surprise.
-Also I still want vanilla Noire and Laurent in game. C'mon, INTSYS, it's been 84 years! Laurent is literally the only one from his time not in yet!
-I honestly would love if there was a TT level where we got a free Summer Laurent whose entire thing was like, lecturing people to wear sunscreen. I've made this joke before. Then Laurent and Noire can be in Alt Hell together.
-I had this dream which was like Free! but FEA and Laurent/Noire was canon in it. I don't pretend to understand my subconscious, though it was a neat as hell dream to have.

I couldn't choose between Gaius/Tharja and F!Robin/Tharja and just went "Both? Both!" It promptly turned into Tharja/Gaius/F!Robin.

This implies that Laurent/Noire got at least a B support, but not a S support in FE:A.

Oh, and I didn't intend it as anything more than a one line note, but it kept going. So, anyways, there's some (too small to actually tag) hints of wlw!Severa, with her lusting after Kjelle and Lucina.




Dad had a candy bow that he couldn't stop nibbling at. Soon it'd be nothing but candy floss. No matter how much mother and Noire told him not to, Gaius couldn't help but take a taste of his weapon. In this heat, Noire was too tired to repeat the same old thing that he wouldn't listen to anyways. Noire kept to the shade, as the heat was so intense that it made her dizzy.

"H-Hey dad. Where's mom?"

Gaius motioned towards the far side of the shore.

"Your mom's over there, talking to Robin. Something about hexing her net to catch more fish."

"Oh..." Noire said.

"By the way, the Summoner brought more people from our world. I think they're from your time. And they're all ready to go to the beach, too."

Noire managed to brighten at this. "Really? I'll have to go meet them."

The sunshine was so very warm that she could only hope that she didn't get heatstroke along the way.

*

Dad was right. Her friends had gathered at the beach, and they'd all brought swimsuits and swim trunks as well. They'd all found the volleyball and volleyball net that other Heroes had set up.

And of course, Kjelle and Owain had wasted no time in getting a game going.

Noire held her bow tight to her chest. She couldn't stop smiling. She thought that maybe, this was a fever dream. (Or a heatstroke dream.) And she'd collapsed from the heat again.

(Some Plegian she was.)

"Oh! It's Noire!" Cynthia grinned.

"We were wondering when we'd get to see you again. We thought it might be like Laurent, it took forever to see him again."

Laurent sighed. "I had just as bad luck with summoning as time travel, it seems."

"I'm so glad to see all of you again. It's so nice here. The sun, the waves. I wanted to share this with you all," Noire said.

"You've been holding out on us, Noire," Severa said.

"Ehe, I would've had you all summoned here if I could..."

Owain struck a pose. He wore only a pair of tight light brown shorts that came to his upper thigh. On the back was the mark of the Exalt. He kicked at the waves to make them sparkle in the sun, and made dramatic poses and declarations.

Cynthia had on a light sporty two piece with a design of feathers. She had flowers in her hair and a flashy necklace of shells about her neck. It was extra supported about her back, to survive any sudden flights. "Oh, wow! I'm going to play so much volleyball!"

Inigo gazed down the beach.

"Now those are some lovely flowers."

Noire was pretty sure he wasn't talking about bouquets.

Inigo wore pants so long they cut off at his ankles. They were dark, even a little dapper, and he was shirtless. He flashed a woman Noire didn't know a brilliant smile. He had a bracelet of shells and flowers about his wrist, perfectly suited for dancing.

The woman in question pointedly ignored him.

In fact, it didn't take long until Inigo found he had a something common with a tall, ginger haired man from another land, called Sylvain. They walked up and down the beach looking for 'flowers' to spend time with. Also there was something about a 'wingman' but she didn't see Tibarn or any of the laguz anywhere around.

Nah had on a surprisingly frilly red swimsuit, with ruffles on her chest and arms and a very high neck. It even had a frilly skirt to it.

"Mom picked it out. She insisted," Nah said.

Kjelle had on a pair of square cut shorts, like the boys and a long tank tap which revealed her extremely toned stomach.

"Volleyball? I'm in. But don't come crying when I destroy you," Kjelle said.

Severa wore a dramatic and fashionable gold two piece which had a gold circle over her belly button that held it together. She drew an irritated hand through her red pigtails. There was a bright red flower behind each ear.

"Bring it, Kjelle," Severa said.

"Oh, trust me. I will," Kjelle said.

Severa flushed red, and brushed at her suit.

"Ugh, I got sand in my suit!" Severa brushed her suit, and tried to hide her blush.

Yarne had stuck to his usual uniform as a Taguel.

Yarne let out a shriek as a volleyball almost smacked him in the face. His ears drooped. "Careful! I'm the last of my kind!"

"You don't have that excuse anymore! I ran into ten more Yarnes on the way here," Morgan said.

"Don't worry about it, I've got lots of vulneraries in case anyone gets hurt," Brady said.

Brady wore the longest shorts of the bunch. They were loose dark ones full of pockets on the sides.

Noire noticed that there were two Morgans. One male and one female. They both wore very similar swim suits. Morgan with a one-piece with the same gold pattern as her usual tactician's gear, and the second Morgan wore the same, except in a pair of long shorts. Noire glanced from one to another.

"There's t-two of you."

Morgan smiled mischievously as she looked over to her doppelganger.

"We met along the way. Isn't that neat? We both have Robin as a parent. Apparently, in one world, Morgan's Robin is different than mine."

"O-oh," Noire said.

Morgan could be mischievous, and even a little frightening in the best of times. The thought that they now had two of them to deal with was a little...alarming. Who even knew the kinds of trouble two Morgans could get into?!

"Marth" brought along her new friend, Mia. But another Lucina appeared, with gilded edged one-piece dark blue swimsuit bearing the mark of the Exalt, and her hair back in a ponytail.

"Wait, there's two Lucinas as well?" Noire said.

"I had a dream about that once," Severa said under her breath.

"What?" Nah said.

Severa blushed. "N-Never mind about that!"

"Volleyball? I'd love to play!" Mia said.

Cynthia cheered. "It's time for some fun in the sun!"

They started up in a game, though Noire didn't immediately join. She'd probably just be a burden anyways. She never was much for team sports.

Minerva sunned herself, and Gerome rested in the crook of her wing. He was completely shaded from the sun. He still wore his mask, though he'd changed out of his heavy armor to something slightly cooler. A dark bodysuit suitable for diving.

Laurent's large hat shaded his face. He'd kept his cloak which was tied about his shoulders, even as he'd changed from his mage's robes to a short and rather snug pair of dark olive-green shorts and little else.

"At this climate the sun is entirely too full and could cause sunburns quite easily. My mother and I cooked up up a concoction to work as a protectant."

Severa scrunched up her nose, and tossed her red pigtails indignantly. "That smells disgusting. I'll pass."

The rest were far too interested in their game of volleyball to want to stop to put on some skin protectant.

"Suit yourself," Laurent said. He began to rub the potion he'd concocted over his arms.

"Um, hi, Laurent," Noire said softly. "I hadn't had a chance to greet you yet."

Laurent smiled. "Ah, Noire! I'm glad to see you. It's been far too long."

The potion smelled like home, the home she'd lost. She closed her eyes and remembered simmering herbs in a cauldron. Her mother a shadow and wraith bent upon revenge. Noire kept out of the way. To corners, where it was safest.

No curses could leak from the cauldron there.

"My family did some research. Our skin is very pale, and prone to sunburns. It seems a common trait with those with red or auburn hair."

"I'm pretty pale too, but uh, I don't go in the sun much. Actually I keep having to go into the shade so I don't faint from the heat..." Noire said

Also Tharja would make up potions and hexes to keep them safe from the sun. Though at the moment, she was too busy helping with Robin's fishing net.

Noire bit her lower lip as she watched him rub his arms. Honestly it was kind of....fascinating. It was surprising, and striking to see him out of his mage's robes. He was lanky, and not as toned as Kjelle. But, he was also graceful, and quite tall. With his massive sun hat left in the sand beside him so it wouldn't fall down his face, his face was finally revealed. Deep auburn hair curled at the nape of his neck.

His expression was very focused and determined. His glasses fell to his nose. And somehow it was very...endearing and even...handsome?

Noire had spent most of the her time back then too terrified to even think about love. But, in Askr, things were a little better. A little safer. So much that she could catch her breath and actually think about something other than the end of the world.

The more she looked, the more Noire wanted to keep looking.

"You seem flushed. Are you quite all right?" Laurent said.

She touched to her cheek. "Ah...it's the heat. O-Only that. N-Nothing else...."

"That's right, you mentioned an issue with heat. Would you like some of what I concocted? I made enough for everyone, though the rest aren't interested."

He looked down at the concoction, with a wry smile.

"Perhaps I need to work on the mixture and add some flowers to improve the scent. I thought it smelled rather good. Like witch hazel. Severa disagrees. If that is too much of a trouble, then I could use the rest myself."

"Ahh...I like the smell actually. And, I would like some. Maybe it'd help with the...heat."

"Here, then. Feel free to use the whole bottle; I made extras."

Laurent handed her the brown bottle. The consistency was a bit like a vulnerary. She poured out the potion and began to rub it on her arms. The potion was thick, and faintly cool to the touch. It left her arm tingling, but not unpleasantly.

A thought made her freeze. Usually a cold tingle was a warning sign. Seconds later she'd have a nosebleed or a runny nose which lasted hours.

"W-Wait! I-Is it cursed?"

Laurent tilted his head. "No, not at all. I suppose there may be an aspect of anima magic within. I did not purposefully put magic within it, but I made it with my hands so some energies might still be present. Would that bother you?"

"No...it should be fine if it's you..." she said softly.

He watched her as she applied it on her arms. But as she began on her legs, he swallowed and glanced away to watch the volleyball game. His cheeks were flushed. Not from the sun. He pulled his hat back on, until the brim was so big that his face was entirely shielded.

A sudden, dangerous and wild thought came to her.

Could Laurent find her pretty? Noire was used to feeling like the least beautiful of all of the girls from her era. Severa was daring and glamorous, Lucina was heroic and brave, Nah was precocious and cute, Cynthia was bouncy and cheerful, Kjelle was toned and powerful and confident.

And what was Noire? Too broken, too skinny, too cowardly, and a burden on everyone. But Laurent had always been kind to her. Even to the point of being overwhelmingly protective.

(Though...even that had been kind of nice, too. Even if it had made her a little annoyed at times.)

But the thought that maybe Laurent liked her made her feel warm inside.

"Uh...."

If she was someone else, it would be so much easier. Someone flirtatious, and beautiful, and cheerful. She probably couldn't even get through flirting without stammering.

But, for once, she had an excuse. She knew one thing for sure: if she asked for help, Laurent would do whatever he could. Anything she asked, in fact.

Here it was, right in her grasp.

And asking Laurent for help, that could be like flirting, right? Or at least the closest thing she could manage without making a complete embarrassment of herself.

She blushed and glanced away. It was such a daring move that she couldn't even look him in the eye as she said the words.

"I... can't reach my back. Could you....um... could you help me...please?"

She chanced to sneak a look at Laurent, to see his reaction.

Laurent's cheeks were very red. He swallowed, and finally managed to speak.

"O-Of course. I would, ahem, be glad to...help you. As one would....for a comrade."

She tensed at first as his hands rested on her shoulder. The cool feel of the potion was contrasted by the warmth of his hands. And a slight tingle.

"I'm sorry, did I hurt you?"

"N-No. P-Please continue. I really do...need the help."

He was very gentle as he rubbed the potion over her. And he was quite...thorough, too. From time to time he would stop and pour more protectant on his hands. She tried to stay as still as possible and awaited the return of his skin on hers.

More than just applying the lotion, Noire found herself relaxing under his touch. He managed to ease away the constant tension in her neck and shoulders from her bow work.

Laurent moved down and came to the small of her back. Her breath hitched. She hadn't realized just how sensitive her skin could be, or how warm his hands would be with his gloves off.

Was it magic that made her skin tingle at his touch, or something more?"

"Ah, surely none would get past the material," Laurent said softly, more to himself than anything else. He moved carefully away past her suit bottom.

Laurent cleared his throat. "There. Ahem, that should certainly be enough..."

But she didn't want him to stop touching her. Not now. It took all her courage to speak up.

"A-Ah, but, could you...put some on the backs of my legs too? they're difficult to reach. It might be better if I lie down...to give you better access?"

"Yes...that might be, ahem, for the best."

She laid on her stomach in the shade. The sand tickled rough against her skin, and stuck to the places where he had already touched. His palms pressed softly against her thighs.

She heard his breath hitch slightly.

"Are you okay, Laurent?"

"Mm, I will be...fine."

He rubbed gently down the back of her thighs, and she was glad that the sand muffled her slight moan. She hadn't expected it to feel quite so...good.

"Would you mind if I undid them?"

"What?"

"There's a pouch there at your legs. I can't work there with it in the way."

"Oh...of course. Go ahead."

He took extra care at the back of her calves, and down to her ankles. She hadn't even realized how much tension and pain she'd had there.

"You're talented with your hands, Laurent," she said.

"I was studying a certain form of healing via laying on hands and manipulating muscles to ease tension. It was a fascinating study, though this is the first time I've actually gotten a chance to test out these techniques," Laurent said.

He patted the back of her ankle.

"There. All....done. You will not have to worry about any sunburns, as long as it doesn't get washed away. I haven't yet figured out a method to get it to stick to the skin after water. Magic might help, but that would be for another batch. It makes things more volatile, and difficult to compose. And I wouldn't want to frighten you with too much magical energies," he said.

"I wouldn't be afraid if it's you," Noire said softly.

Sand clung to her skin, but she didn't mind. A little gritty sand was worth it.

She got up. Laurent watched her and suddenly closed his eyes.

"I daresay I should probably go to visits the shore for a moment. Despite the shade I got...overheated."

"Won't you just undo all your work putting on the potion?"

"I could reapply. In fact, it's a necessity. I must visit these shores, as soon as possible."

Noire gasped. He had his knees to his chest. Was he absolutely miserable? "Oh no, you've got heatstroke?"

"I'm definitely hot under the collar," Laurent said wryly.

"It would seem a waste...you could just stay in the shade with me."

He grimaced.

"As tempting as your offer is, I really must. This must be dealt with immediately."

Dealt with? What a strange way to put it.

He all but pushed himself face first into the waves.

At first she thought he was drowning, but he emerged a moment later, with a somewhat grim look.

"Is it cold?"

"Cold enough, yes. It was just what I needed to...clear my mind. Though, I may need an arctic breeze to keep me calm before this is over. I wonder if a tome would even suffice..."

Laurent looked back to her, and then down to the waters again.

"I think..." He took a deep and shuddering breath, "That I will stay in a moment longer."

*

After his dip in the water, and reapplying the potion, Laurent settled down to read in the shade.

With her bow in hand, Noire sat down beside him. She started to check her string.

"Good, you're keeping an eye on your weapon. Many a time I have to remind fellow comrades to keep an eye upon their weapons, lest they break."

"Mmn, yes. Um, what are you reading?"

"A tome of collected histories I purchased on the beach. There's so much still to learn about Askr and all the lands about it. A whole collected worlds of knowledge to absorb."

"And the other book?"

"A book on herbs."

She leaned in slightly and glanced at the illustrations. She'd seen many similar in her mother's Grimoires.

"Could you read aloud...or would that be too much trouble?"

"Not many would be interested. I daresay they would say it would be 'boring.'"

"I don't think you're boring," she said.

Laurent smiled.

"Well, if you wish it, I would be grateful for the company."

His voice was very soothing. And even though she already knew the classifications of herbs and their uses--she was Tharja's daughter, after all--it was nostalgia to hear them again.

Noire was on the verge of dozing off when a voice stirred her from sleep.

"I did bore to sleep, I see," Laurent said.

"N-No, the heat made me sleepy, that was all," she said.

Severa came up to them, volleyball in hand.

"Hey, Marth and Mia had to go close up another vortex, and Inigo took a break and wandered off to go hit on girls. Come on. We need some players."

"I've studied the game's movements, as it is rather fascinating, but I have never played myself," Laurent said.

"A-are you sure you want me on your team? I'm not really good at sports. I'll just drag you all down," Noire said.

"It'll be fine," Severa said. "Between Kjelle and Nah, the boys are going to be destroyed."

Everyone on the team was way better than her. Noire felt even more like a burden as she was little more than the bystander, the extra team member to make sure they had enough. The ball was spiked over, back and forth.

Kjelle ensured that Owain couldn't make good on all his stories of being a big hero. And every time Kjelle would make a goal, it would be Severa that cheered the loudest, and then blushed when Kjelle looked back at her.

Somehow, the ball was spiked to her.

"Get it, Noire! You can do it!" Severa called from the side.

Her hand tightened on her talisman.

Noire let out a battle cry and rose up in a jump to smash the ball with every bit of power she had. Time seemed to slow. Laurent froze and stared up at her as Noire slammed down the ball with such massive force as her other side came out.

Laurent's face flushed red and he stared, almost as if entranced.

She spiked the ball... right into Laurent's head.

Laurent fell backwards, and the ball fell to the sandy ground.

For a few seconds, every single one of them stared in horror.

"Oh no!"

"That's one way to get a point," Kjelle said. Severa covered her laugh.

Noire ducked under the net, and ran to his side.

"L-Laurent, are you all right!?"

"I think your hat blocks your vision," Brady said.

He brought out his staff and healed Laurent.

Laurent rubbed at his head. "I daresay you may be right."

Noire hunched down. "Oh, I knew it. I knew it would go wrong. I'm so sorry! I-I didn't mean to hurt you, I'm--"

Laurent smiled.

"An honest mistake. I think I need to observe the game some more to understand it."

Was he observing the game, or the people there?

"I think it might be best for me to leave before I hurt anyone else," Noire said.

"Don't feel bad, Noire. I feel honored to see such a display of power," Laurent said.

Laurent didn't give compliments carelessly. In fact, he was quite vocal in his criticisms. She pulled her bow closer and felt warm inside. If she'd earned his praise, then maybe she was getting better?

Or maybe she wasn't as bad as that negative voice in her mind always told her she was?

*

After a long battle, the girls won. But that victory was Pyrrhic at best when the sun started to set. Fun and games gave into whimpers of pain as her friends were sprawled out in the shade.

"It hurts...." Cynthia whimpered. "Wherever I try and roll, it still hurts!"

"I didn't find any buttercups, either," Inigo said sadly. "Though I did make some good new friends."

"You found some buttercups, but they were too smart and ran away," Severa said.

"My skin looks as if I fell into the cursed Demon's Ingle!" Owain said in a loud and pained declaration.

Severa let out an indignant moan. "Gods above, my skin looks awful! I look like a...tomato!"

"About as red as her hair," Morgan said sadly. One of them, anyways.

Brady and Yarne let out horrible groans of pain. They sounded startlingly close to Risen.

Nah looked perturbed. "I should've transformed, even if I scared everyone. My dragon skin would've protected me," Nah said.

"No way, that would unfair in the game," Cynthia said.

Other than her and Laurent, only Gerome was spared the sunburn. He'd only come out from the shade of Minerva's wing to rinse her off with seawater.

"I'm sorry...I wanted to show you all the beauty of this place. I didn't want you all to be hurt..." Noire said.

"It's not your fault, Noire. I hate to say it, but apparently Laurent was right. As much as I hate admitting that," Severa said.

"I'll heal you..." Brady tried to stand up. His legs were wobbly. "Oh, it hurts!"

"Allow me," Laurent said.

He borrowed Brady's staff, and lifted it up. One by one, he healed them.

"Phew, thanks. I owe you one, man," Brady said.

"Eternal friend of the lost time, I owe you my life for bringing me back from the brink of death!"

"It seems I need to reconfigure the sun potion, and make enough for next time. The scent and waterproofing are the next parts to tweak," Laurent said.

"Hey, I didn't ask for a 'told-you-so!' I already admitted it, don't rub it in!" Severa said indignantly.

"Even if Laurent was right?" Morgan said.

"Especially then!"

Gaius appeared from between the palm trees. "Noire, your mother and her future wife caught a bunch of fish. We're going to cook them."

"Sounds good! I'm famished!" Cynthia said.

Noire gave her father an alarmed look. "D-dad, you're joking, right? What do you mean future wife?"

"That's what Tharja's taken to calling her," Gaius said calmly.

Noire let out a cry of shock.

"A-Are you and mom...getting a divorce?"

"Nah. The bed's big enough for three. She's got good taste in women, anyways. Just my type."

They all followed after Gaius towards where the bonfires were on the beach.

Tharja stared proudly down at her work. She wore a dark revealing top that was edged with gold, and a dark and filmy sarong that had gold intricate designer all through it. Heavy gold jewelry was about her neck and arms.

"Wow, what a haul! You really managed to make the net work well," Robin said. She held her fishing spear tight.

"Anything for you, Robin," Tharja said.

"Mom!"

"Morgan, there you are," Robin said.

She leaned down to hug Morgan.

"I missed you."

"Me too."

Tharja's face darkened. "You have a son..."

But, as soon as it came, the darkness disappeared.

"Good, Noire could use a sibling for company," Tharja said under her breath.

Tharja got on her knees before Morgan. "If anyone touches you or tries to harm you, I will make them know the true meaning of fear. I will protect you until the end of time."

Robin sighed. "Tharja..."

"Thanks!" Morgan said cheerfully.

"Does this mean you're adopting me too?" said the other Morgan.

"All versions of Robin belong to me. Every single one. And I will protect their children until my last breath."

Gaius let out a soft sigh.

"We're going to need a way bigger bed. And a whole tome to write down all our Robins," Gaius said.

"I will keep the details," Tharja said, with a certain glee.

"On the bright side, think of all the wedding cake I'll get to eat when we both marry every single Robin in every universe. Endless sweets, come to papa."

Things were about to get very crowded in here, Noire thought.

*

The fish was seared to perfection. Noire nibbled away and savored each buttery, flakey bite.

It wasn't like she'd chosen this place specifically. It was just, all the other places were taken. So of course she had to sit by Laurent.

Inigo told of his (failed) exploits, and new friends.

"Tomorrow, they're going to introduce me to someone named Gatrie."

"We'll have to call you all the 'Terrors Of All Women,'" Severa said.

"Like those big eaters club? Was it the Heavy Plate Club?" Noire said.

"Yeah, just like, but with bad pick up lines," Severa said.

They talked on, but Noire fell silent. She kept looking back to the waves.

Laurent leaned in.

"Are you okay, Noire? You've been very quiet," Laurent said.

"Actually, I'm exhausted. But it's good. I'm not used to being exhausted from having so much fun. Usually it's because of long marches and horrible battles and because I've been sleeping poorly. It's...nice, really."

Noire laughed softly.

"I am gladdened to hear it. I, too, could use some rest. Today has been filled with many unexpected discoveries. Like that I need to train at volleyball quite a bit more."

She brushed her messy hair back behind her ears.

"And, um. I really am sorry about accidentally hitting you. It was the first time I played volleyball, so I'm not very skilled yet. I really didn't mean to...hurt you."

"That's my fault, I am afraid. I was distracted by your sudden prowess and battle cry. I was frozen in complete awe."

"...Really?'

"Yes, I stared up and there you were, and avenging goddess reining retribution upon us. I never shall forget such a sight."

Laurent sounded almost...reverent.

"And I rather liked you hurting me, to be frank."

She rested her hand in the sand next to Laurent. Slowly, she dared to move her fingers closer until they stroked his.

She could pull back if he rejected her. This hesitant touch was like a question. She could play it off as an accident if he wasn't interested.

And face it, he probably wasn't. There were so many other girls and boys who could capture his attention. Ones who were far more beautiful and stable than her.

Just as she was about to pull away from her risky move, she felt his fingers slip in-between hers. The rest of their friends kept talking and they were there. Hand in hand and not yet talking about this thing they'd stumbled into.

Her head dipped and she let it. She rested her head on his shoulder. Laurent pulled his cloak about her.

"You should get to bed," he said.

"I know, but I keep putting it off. I'm so glad to see everyone again. It's even more fun than I ever expected it would be. I don't want it to end," Noire said.

"We will all be here tomorrow, and every day after that. This, for now, at least, is our future."

"I'm so glad... And, um, I'm especially looking forward to spending a lot of time with you, too, Laurent..."

Laurent smiled. "Me too."

"Um...Tomorrow, I could guide you around the castle. I'm sure there's lots of things you would be interested in. I used to get lost, but now I'm finally getting the hang of it. But only if you want."

"I would be deeply grateful for your guidance, Noire," Laurent said.

He smiled.

"Okay, good...then after breakfast if there isn't any emergencies. I'll show you everything. The breathtaking sunrises over the beach, the summoning circle, the grand hall, all of it. I know I'm not the best guide, but I promise that I'll do my best."

He squeezed her hand. "I am sure that you will do a splendid job. And, if we get lost, then we'll find our way back together and learn much on the way," Laurent said.

How was it that Laurent always knew just the words to say? He was so calming, so sure of himself.

The waves crashed into the shores in the moonlight. There were still so many beautiful things in this world to see. She was grateful that she got to see them with all her friends, and Laurent.

She'd known so much pain and sorrow in her life. Now, she finally got to share the happiness she'd found in this new world.

"I should go to bed, but, um...I don't want to stop holding your hand," Noire said.

"A little longer shouldn't hurt. I'll keep you warm."

"Thank you..."

She rested her head against him again. Wrapped up in his cloak by the fire, she didn't even feel the chill of the night.