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Askr had been blessedly quiet for some time now, but Felix knew better than to let his guard down. The Summoner and the Order of Heroes continued to bring new allies to this world, so he knew it was only a matter of time before more teams would be sent to the battlefield. He wasn't privy to the details like some of the other versions of himself or his friends, but he knew he'd be ready when the Order finally called on him.
Before he'd been brought to this world, the training grounds of Garreg Mach Monastery had been his sanctuary. In Askr, the Training Tower provided the same comforts and tougher opponents. The Royals and the Summoner had managed to cobble together quite the force, each hero bringing new strengths and techniques for Felix to learn from. Perhaps today would be the day he could cross blades with Prince Chrom; Or maybe Ike and the Professor would be up for leading a mercenary-style training. Felix looked forward to the possibilities.
"Oh! Felix!"
Felix grunted as he turned to the Summoner and froze. He couldn't believe his eyes. He refused to believe it, in fact. The Summoner, Kiran, was coming from the direction of the Heroes Altar with a… child in tow. Impossible. It couldn't be…
The pair stopped in front of him and the child pulled at the Summoner's robe. "Is that… me?" he stage whispered and Felix's heart dropped.
The Summoner chuckled. "It is. Well… one of you, anyway." They shook their head. "It's kind of hard to explain. Anyway, Felix," He pulled his gaze away from the child and back to the Summoner. "I am woefully late for a meeting with Prince Alphonse. Could you do me a favor and help Fe get settled in the barracks?"
They can't be serious! Felix knit his brow. "I'm not a babysitter, you know."
Kiran sighed. "Could you not be dramatic just this once?"
"Dramatic?!"
The kid—Fe, apparently— flinched. "Geez, you shout a lot."
Felix glared at the kid. "Shut up!"
Fe stomped his foot. "And you say bad words! Where's papa? I'm telling!"
"You little—"
"Enough, both of you!" The Summoner crossed their arms and Fe looked chastened while Felix scowled. "Felix, please, I don't have time for this."
"Don't you have an attendant you can leave him with?" Felix asked, exasperated. "I'm due for training."
Kiran offered him a kind smile. "It's one of those 'all hands on deck' kind of meetings. I'm sure you understand."
"Then send him home." The Summoner blinked and Fe cowered behind their robes. Felix lowered his voice. "This is war, Kiran. He's a child. He doesn't belong here."
"Some would say the same about you too, you know?" Felix scoffed and the Summoner stood tall. "Each summoning serves a purpose, Felix. Even if it's not obvious at first. Besides…" They coaxed Fe out from behind them and set their hands gently on his shoulders. "I think you both could benefit from some time together."
With that, Kiran nodded to them and set off toward the castle.
Felix took in boy in front of him, Fe shifting uncomfortably under his gaze. His hair was pulled back in a similar style to how he currently wears it; The teal caplet was not unlike the one he'd worn in his youth, hanging heavily on Fe's shoulders and resting just past his elbows.
What was most surreal however, was the sword at his hip; The tip of the sheath dragged along the ground leaving a light scar in the dirt wherever he walked. The hilt could be hidden in his armpit, an uncomfortable position to be sure.
Goddess… he didn't remember a time when he was so… vulnerable, fragile. It was annoying to be responsible for the kid when Felix had other plans and goals, but he oddly found himself wanting to look out for him, protect him.
Fe stuck out a gloved hand. "I'm Felix Hugo Fraldarius," he said, with all the assurance of a Duke's son. "But you can call me Fe." The kid shrugged. "It'll be less confusing that way."
Felix stared at the outstretched hand then met the boy's hardened gaze. He tried to recall the last time he'd been so… open. He had to have been young, around this age even. Before Glenn…
He shook the thought away and clicked his tongue. He just had to get the kid to the barracks, then he'd be someone else's problem.
"Try to keep up." He turned on his heel and began walking toward the barracks, the patter of small boots on stone following after a moment of hesitation.
Felix led his younger self across the various courtyards and market sections of the keep. The boy kept pace well enough despite getting distracted by seemingly every thing or every person they came across.
"Who's that?!"
"Does it get cold here like it does back home?
"Woah! He looks strong!"
"Do you have a blacksmith here?"
"Is that the sea?"
Felix sighed. "You ask a lot of questions, you know that?"
Fe tilted his head. "So? Papa says the best way to learn is by asking."
"Our old man says a lot of things," Felix scoffed. "You'll learn to differentiate the good advice from the bad."
"What's that's supposed t—Woah!" The click of the boy's footsteps stopped. "Is that… us?!"
Felix groaned and turned back to the kid who was pointing across the way at another Felix, the one wearing that silly red costume. "Unfortunately," he affirmed with a scowl.
Fe gasped. "What in the world are we wearing?!"
Costume-Felix turned toward the boy's outburst as Felix grabbed the boy's shoulder and dragged him along. "I'll tell you when you're older! Come on!"
Fe shrugged out of his hold. "You don't have to treat me like a child!"
"You are a child!" He seethed, turning on him so sharply the boy recoiled. "Now quit messing around. The sooner I get you to the barracks, the sooner I can go train." Felix began walking again.
The patter of boots fell in behind him. "I hope whatever made you so miserable doesn't happen to me," Fe mumbled.
Felix pretended to not have heard him.
Finally, the barracks came into view and Felix felt the weight lift from his shoulders. Heroes from other worlds milled about. He hoped Mercedes, Ashe, or one of the Professors was around and he could leave the kid with them. (Better them than one of the Sylvains.)
"Stay close," he told Fe. The last thing he needed would be to lose the kid in the crowd. Fe's inquisitiveness from earlier had disappeared as they searched for any of Felix's classmates from Garreg Mach. Felix grew increasingly frustrated the more they wandered. Where was everyone?
As they came to a break in the crowd, Fe suddenly took off running. It took Felix a moment to register the kid sprinting past him. "Hey! Get back here!" Felix yelled and took off after him. The kid was fast, lithely dodging between heroes, but Felix was able to keep him in his sights, grumbling as he bumped into others as he ran.
Finally, Felix saw Fe turn a corner near the back of the encampment. "Hey brat!" Felix yelled as he turned the corner. "You can't just take off—" Felix froze. Piercing blue eyes met his and he swallowed his words.
Of all the people the kid would chase, of course it was the boar.
Fe had his arms wrapped around Dimitr's legs in a tight hug, eyes closed and grinning.
"Felix?" Dimitri started, a gentle hand placed on the kid's back. "Who's this?"
Felix huffed, catching his breath. "The thorn in my side."
The kid seemed to remember his manners and released Dimitri's lower half before dipping into a proper bow. "A-apologies, your highness. I'm Felix, er, but I think you know that. Call me Fe."
Dimitri watched in amusement and Felix rolled his eyes. Fe stood again looked between the older boys. "You got even taller," he pouted to Dimitri.
The prince laughed. "Ah, but so did you." He inclined his head to Felix. "But you don't let your height hold you back from training. Especially against Sylvain."
The boy perked up. "Is Slyvain here too?" he asked, excitedly. "What about Ingrid?"
Dimitri chuckled. "Yes, they're both here. Although, they are older than the Sylvain and Ingrid from your world, I'd imagine."
"Hang on." Fe knit his brow in concentration. "If they're here, and you're here…" his eyes lit up even more. "Glenn must be here too!"
Felix coughed.
"Oh, Glenn… ah…" Dimitri shot Felix a panicked glance as he struggled to find the words.
"Can we go see him?!" Fe asked, oblivious, turning to Felix. "He's been away training in my world. I want to show him how much stronger I've gotten!"
Felix crossed his arms. "Glenn's… out on a mission," he explained. Fe's face fell and Dimitri looked at him, confused. He didn't know why he'd said that. Goddess… Fe lived in a world where Glenn was still alive.
"Will he be back soon?" The kid asked.
Felix shuffled uncomfortably. He should tell him, right? Maybe if the kid had some time to prepare, he'd be better off. (Would Felix have been better off if he'd known Glenn wouldn't come home from Duscur?) He opened his mouth, but Dimitri spoke first.
"Missions in Askr can take some time," Dimitri offered. "How about you show off your skills to us in the meantime?"
Fe pumped his fist. "Can I?!"
Dimitri chuckled. "I would be honored. Felix?"
Felix looked between them. The kid had been ripped from his home world and dropped here in Askr with no friends, no family, just the sword at his waist and his wits. He didn't need to learn he'd never see his brother again too.
He grunted. "Fine. But don't expect us to go easy on you."
Fe smirked with a determination Felix felt to his core. "Hit me with all you've got!"