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Hugo couldn’t focus. He specifically came to this bakery to get a treat and focus on his work. It was his day off from the mechanic so he was trying to do some coding on a little robotic mouse he was making but nothing was working. It took him about two and a half hours just to get the arms to move without problems. He was about to move on to the legs when he noticed not only was the bakery closing but also it was pouring rain. He decided that was enough for the day and was grateful to his past self for packing an umbrella.
He was about to be done packing up his stuff when he saw him. It was one of the bakers, covered in flour and hair pulled up in little clips that he was taking down now that his shift was over. It wasn’t until the man walked out of the back and opened his bag to put all the hair clips back in did Hugo get a good look at him. He was short but strong, with black hair and a little white streak of hair in his bangs. He had freckles, so many freckles, and the bluest eyes Hugo had ever seen.
It was such a weird feeling, like the feeling that you know someone from somewhere but you don’t know where. Like Hugo’s seen him in a dream. What dream? He wasn’t sure but it was an important one.
The baker walked towards the door but immediately stopped when he saw the rain. He opened his bag back up and cursed. He looked back out, went to put his bag over his head but then put it back down shaking his head.
Hugo was walking over before he even knew what he was doing.
“I’m sorry, this is such a weird question but…” he started but trailed off when those beautiful eyes turned to him. They were almost magical, glowing like moonlight but it was just the way the lights of the store reflected off of them. Hugo swallowed. “Can I walk you home?”
The baker gave him a confused look. “What?”
“I’ve got an umbrella,” Hugo answered, gesturing to his umbrella lamely. “I’ll walk you there so you don’t have to get wet.”
The stranger, who didn’t feel like a stranger, opened his mouth to reply but paused. He looked at Hugo, like he was familiar to him too. His next words were small. “You don’t have to…”
Hugo shrugged, “I want to.”
The other man smiled and it was the best thing Hugo had seen in years. “I would actually really like that, thank you.”
The walk back was silent at first before Hugo couldn’t stand it anymore and started talking. He surprisingly really liked talking to Varian. Varian, that was his name. He was an only child but was really close to his cousin and his cousin’s wife. He grew up on a farm and wanted to be a chemist but didn’t have the money for university so instead he got a job at the bakery. He genuinely likes his coworkers, Vex, Kiera, Catalina, and Yong. He has a dog named Ruddiger, a fluffy guy who looks kind of like a raccoon. The white hair isn’t dyed, it’s something called piebaldism.
Hugo found that he loved talking to Varian. Loved learning new things about him. He didn’t want their walk to end but he got to Varian’s apartment eventually.
“Thank you, I really appreciate it,” Varian said as he walked in and for some odd reason, a part of Hugo’s soul cried at seeing him go.
“Oh no!” Varian exclaimed. Hugo’s ears dipped at the other’s pout. He knew Varian wanted to show him something outside but they could still go out. Hugo voiced as much and Varian shook his head. “No, I don’t know if the surprise is gonna hold up in the rain. Now it’s ruined.”
“It’s not ruined,” Hugo insisted even though he didn’t even know what it was. “Anything you make can’t be hurt by a little rain.”
Varian sat down, tucking his knees to his chest. “You don’t know that…”
“Sure I do,” Hugo countered, sitting down next to him and nudging his shoulder with his own. “Look, why don’t you show me? Show me what you wanted to show me and you’ll see that it’s just the way you left it.”
Varian looked at him, eyes big and blue and so magical. If Hugo had magic then he’d make the clouds go away so that Varian wouldn’t be as sad. “Is that ok?” He asked.
“Of course, let’s go.”
Varian led him through the small forest outside of the castle and to a collection of trees. There Hugo found a small treehouse built on the ground between the trees’ roots. Inside were pillows and blankets and books and all sorts of things the two liked to do on rainy days.
“It’s not great…” Varian muttered. “I just thought we could have a place to go to when we get tired on our adventures or if we need to… escape for a little bit. Just the two of us.”
Hugo felt his chest fill with warmth. The other boy didn’t know it but this had to be the nicest thing anyone had ever done for Hugo. He was half convinced Varian was doing some sort of new magic on him with how happy he was. “I love it.”
Varian smiled, big and bright and it was the best thing Hugo’s ever seen. “I’m glad you do.” Varian headed inside and looked out to ask “Want to spend the rainy day in here?”
He nodded and headed inside.
Hugo woke up, more like startled awake. His heart was beating so fast. He felt ten all over again, puppy crush making his smile dopey whenever a specific boy walked by. When he walked past.
Varian. That’s the name of the magic boy in the dream. His name was Varian.
He shook his head to clear it. This couldn’t be the same Varian, they had talked about reincarnation before but as the years went on, Hugo lost all hope. Reincarnation wouldn’t take this long. It’s been over 1,000 years for moon's sake! It was just a coincidence. It had to be.
Hugo fluffed up his pillow and snuggled up in his blankets, trying not to think of blue and black hair, not to think of acres of freckles, to think of big blue eyes.