Aries Avenir

♚—This is entirely my fault. I saw that I got the message on the 19th, but I forgot to answer it. I am so fuckin' sorry HAHAHA!! This ask is set on April 19th.

♈︎ — Avenir has no issue following the child to the Aries temple, although he was curious to all hell as to why the boy was so insistent. It wasn’t until they marched through the entrance did he hear a half-enthusiastic, half-calm, “Happy Birthday” from some of the saints that stood around to wish the Aries Saint well wishes. 

"Oh!" Avenir jumped in surprise at the sudden sound. Just as soon as he registered what all of the commotion was for, the time-misplaced gentleman started to laugh. With one hand patting Regulus’ head, his other hand patted his own chest as he tried to calm his heart after the mild leap. 

“I was not expecting that! You guys really did shock me...!”

♈︎ — Avenir laughed gently as he accepted the sheep chocolate. It was one of those hollowed animal chocolates, perhaps with smooth milk chocolate inside or some sort of small items inside. Either way, Avenir loved this gift.

It reminded him so much of his Athena.

♈︎ — Avenir woke with a start. The sudden explosion of colors from his dream made his eyes hurt, and when he awoke, he found himself sleeping in front of a fire.

The Aries Saint blinked, not registering the hand that was pressed against his chest to keep him from rolling any closer to the flame.

"Are you okay?" Alter Hakurei asked curiously. It only took a gentle shove from the young man's hand to get Avenir to roll onto his back, and the time-misplaced gentleman blinked at his new 'old' friend.

♈︎ — "...Just a strange dream," the dark-skinned man said as he stared up at the concerned man's clear green eyes. Avenir thought that it might be better to show that he was fine, so he reached up and patted his friend's cheek.

"Are you sure? Do... you want to talk about it?"

"...You wouldn't understand. I'm sorry."

♈︎  — “You always remember me,” Avenir laughed as he accepted the box from the boy. He was always touched that the child never failed to spare a thought for him... it was a welcoming feeling for a failure of a person.

“Thank you. Dearly. It honestly means a lot. It would be rude for me to not return the gift. I only apologize that it is so simple.”

♈︎  — “Happy new year to you too, Regulus!” Avenir laughed. As the boy came closer, the gentleman offered the boy a tray of treats--chocolates that he baked from scratch. It was mostly dark chocolate, but it was a sweet nonetheless.

♚— Hmm... I'm not sure! (And this is when I reveal to you that I'm actually not that good with fashion, let alone men's fashion.)

I can see him wearing leather jackets. A t-shirt or something. I can see him with necklaces and chokers, though. And maybe a silver earring (He won't wear earrings during the Holy War because haha ouches if that gets ripped out). I can also see him with a ring--like a graduation ring. I can also see him in ripped jeans and leather pants, but then again, I wouldn't be too sure??

♈︎ — "Oh!" Avenir was surprised at the card given to him. gingerly, the time-misplaced gentleman took the giant holiday card and started to read through it.

His lips trembled... then he smiled.

It had so many signatures! Even the Athena of this time... Sage and Hakurei... His surviving best friends... Aside from the Christmas wishes, they left short notes for him too.

His eyes stung with the gathering of touched tears. It all made him melancholic, but overjoyed.

♈︎ —"Thank you," Avenir said sincerely as he gently pressed the large card close to his chest--placing it, as best he could, over his heart. He didn't know how else to say it. He adored and treasured this simple gift. For just a moment, this gift made him forget how much of a failure he had been in his timeline--instead reminding him of his Sanctuary and their overwhelming compassion.

♈︎  — Back in his time, several of the kids within Sanctuary stopped by the Temples during Halloween, especially the Pope’s grandchildren. Although guests normally left offerings for the Gold Saints, during Halloween, the 12 Gold Saints took part in this treat-giving holiday whenever the children passed by.

Being the first house, Avenir was always the first one to greet the children. But that was back in his time--the future.

♈︎  — “Ah, you do look really scary,” the man laughed as he saw Regulus scary costume. No matter how many kids and teens he’s seen on the steps of Aries, the costumes never failed to impress the gentleman.

Since the time that they were in didn’t have any convenient delights, Avenir had spent the last week preparing some chocolate from scratch. He went into his temple to retrieve the sweet wrapped in a powdered wax paper, then came back and offered two bars to the child.

♈︎ — Avenir was shocked to even hear such a thing.

"Wh... Why would I want to Freaky Friday with Athena?" the time-misplaced Aries Saint had to pause his hand when he was in the middle of raising a cup of coffee to drink. Although it wasn't something that could be seen, the man's face was hot--blushing from embarrassment.

"That would be awkward... Considering that... Well..." He trailed off, unable to put into words how inappropriate it would be. And, he was the Aries Saint. If he can't be on guard at all times, then he's failing Sanctuary.

“Of course!” Regulus would be happy to guide him although it made him wonder how different the Sanctuary now was from his Sanctuary in the future. “Hopefully, the Sanctuary is not too different for you.”

As Avenir talked about his Athena, he listened. Lilies and orchids… Regulus couldn’t help but laugh as he imagined the outside of the Pope’s chambers being flooded by the two types of flowers. It was impressive that Avenir would know what her favourite flowers her. Now that he thought of it, he didn’t even know his own Athena’s favourite flower. He never thought to ask especially since he knew very little about flowers. He only knew more about herbs and edible and poisonous plants. However, he did notice that Athena always have a flower bracelet on her right hand and it seemed very important to her. Unfortunately, he was unable to figure out what kind of flower it was.

“I bet the outside of Pope’s chambers must be very beautiful. I am sure everyone must have enjoyed the scenery. And it is amazing that everyone was able to know what her favourite flowers were to grow the flowers there for her. Maybe we should do something similar for our Athena but it would take a lot of work to grow the flowers. What is your favourite type of flowers?”

At the mention of how adventurous Athena was and how he needed to bring her back to the Sanctuary, he laughed. It sounded similar to his Athena but different. He heard about the number of times she got into trouble sneaking out but not because she was adventurous but because she sometimes missed her old life.

“I wonder if all the Athenas are prone to sneaking out of the Sanctuary. Mine does the same too but it is because she missed her old life and everything here was so new to her. That is what my uncle told me. He tends to worry a lot when she is missing. One time though, she was kidnapped by Kardia. Apparently, he took her to Mexico and they had to fight an Aztec god! When they got back to the Sanctuary, everyone was furious with him especially my uncle and Degel. But it seemed like Athena had fun on the trip. My uncle told me after that, she was able to finally use her powers and fully accepted her role as Athena. I am not sure what Kardia did or what she experienced on the trip but I think the trip was a good experience despite what my uncle thinks. I think he worries too much.”

Yes, his uncle worried too much about Athena and even about him. He still remembered how on his first mission, all his uncle did was worried about his safety. When Avenir told him his Athena’s human name, he smiled.

“Elena… that is a nice name.”

♈︎  —  The man smiled sadly upon remembering his Sanctuary--yet that smile faded slightly as invasive memories of the beautiful place being covered in darkness and blood... How many bodies did it take for the white stones to be dyed such a deep red... And yet, he could only blame himself regardless of how many times Hakurei tried to tell him that what had happened wasn’t his fault... 

“Not fundamentally different, no,” he answered while his mind was still very far away.  Yet, his mind was railed back to the conversation at hand--ah... the flowers. The boy’s chattering brought back those fond memories, and Avenir couldn’t help but smile. He really missed his people.

Upon the question regarding his own favorite flowers, the Frenchman paused briefly in thought before he said, “If I had to pick one, I suppose lavenders would be my favorite.”

Upon hearing that ‘Kardia’ kidnapped this time period's Athena and took her to Mexico to fight with Aztec gods, Avenir couldn’t help but shoot Regulus a profoundly confused look.

♈︎  —   “Why on earth did he take her to Mexico and put her in danger like that?” he couldn’t help but ask. There were other ways to help Athena awaken to her power.... but he could only try to picture it. Something like that... was too risky! But, according to what Regulus said, Athena had a fun trip... 

“If you insist that she had a fun during her... voyage, then I’ll believe you... Although, it must have been a very long time since she was ‘kidnapped’. You guys don’t exactly have airplanes in this time... That’s nearly a month from Greece to the New Land, right? I understand your uncle’s worry...” 

Upon hearing the boy comment positively about Elena’s human name, Avenir couldn’t help the sad smile.

“Yes... Elena... The Master raised her as his own along side his daughter, Diana. I suppose he named her that to hide her from those with malicious intent whenever he took her out of Sanctuary when she was a baby. After all, the Master was very distrusting of those he felt uneasy around, and he loved Elena as much as he loved his own daughter,” he recalled as they strolled. 

Regulus nodded. He must be happy for Athena and giggled when Avenir lightly ruffled his hair. However, he noticed the distant look in Avenir’s eyes. Was he thinking of his timeline again or maybe his Athena? Nevertheless, he took Avenir’s hand and smiled.

“Let’s walk around the Sanctuary together! We can even go to Rodorio village if you want. I always find watching people attending their daily life interesting. In the meantime, you can tell me all about your Athena and the future you are from. Like happier memories with the other saints and Athena.”

♈︎  — Avenir was shocked out of his memories when the boy took his hand and proposed to walk around Sanctuary. It would probably do his mind some good--however, sooner or later he’ll get all of these timelines mixed up. The 15th century, his own, and now this one... Yet he couldn’t bring himself to do anything but laugh.

“Very well,” the dark-skinned Frenchman chuckled as he allowed himself to relax. It didn’t seem like there was going to be anything bad happening soon, so there was no point in being on guard. With a gentle tug, he pulled Regulus into a steady stroll out of the Aries Temple. “You will have to guide me, however. I am afraid that this time’s Sanctuary is different from the other two I know.”

♈︎  —  “What can I say about my Athena?” the misplaced Aries Saint hummed as they walked. There was so much to say about the lovely Athena of the future. “She loved flowers. Lilies and orchids, to be specific. The Master had to accommodate her love of those two flowers by having the outside of the Pope’s Chambers be flooded by them.” He laughed at a memory. 

Oh, he knew that the Holy Master was very annoyed by the bright colors livening the normally gloomy Grand Estate, but luckily the Pisces Saint kept things from overgrowing. The memory of the Pisces Saint intentionally planting certain flowers to agitate the Holy Master’s seasonal allergies were one of the few cherished memories he had, even after she was always scolded so terribly afterward.

“She was also very adventurous. Often times, I had to go out and bring her back to the heart of Sanctuary.” Of course, Avenir won’t say aloud that sometimes he snuck Athena out to keep her from getting too bored. Yet, his happy memories of his Athena made his mood shift to melancholy. Avenir looked up at the sky and heaved a heavy and long sigh.

♈︎ — "...Baaah?" Avenir was confused for a moment.

...Wait, oh! This was a-- PFT!!

The time-misplaced gentleman started laughing.

It has been so long since he heard any sort of reference from his own time (the future), it took him by surprise! Couldn't blame him! His brain nearly cut off any sort of hope to be reconnected to his own timeline with how long he has been with Sage and Hakurei in theirs.

Even though this was such a simple meme, it made the Aries Saint laugh with his entire chest.

“I know but…”

He knew that he wasn’t the enemy nor he had anything to do with the destruction that happened to Avenir’s timeline but still, Regulus wished that there was something that could be done to prevent this. No matter the situation, world or timeline, Hades should never deserve to win.

“Yes, that is right! This future will be better. We won’t let Hades win!”

The Athena of his time…

“I think Athena is doing quite well. She has everyone’s help including the Pope and my uncle. She wasn’t born in the Sanctuary so the Pope and my uncle had to search for her all over the world. My uncle finally found her as an orphan in a small town in Italy and brought her here to the Sanctuary. It must have come as a huge surprise to her and a lot to process.”

A normal orphan living her life, carefree and not knowing of any war until his uncle came and changed everything she knew. Just as his old life was taken away from him when his father was murdered, he sympathizes with Athena with having her old life taken away from her. He didn’t know a lot but he can easily figure it out from what his uncle told him.

“She is 14 years old, only one year younger than me so I can imagine this must be a lot for her. My uncle told me that she is a quick learner and a good leader for her age. She is compassionate and cares for all of us, saints.”

♈︎ — At first, the mention of a Pope threw Avenir off, then he remembered.

Ah, right. Sage was the successor to the Pope’s Crown. When he crashed into that faraway century, Sage’s selection by the sovereign helmet was a very recent occurrence. But it seems as if Sage was filling that role very well.

He listened intently about the Athena of this time. She was born as an orphan here, huh. And at such a young age... To be holding the weight of the world on her shoulders...

His pride as a Saint of Athena aside, Avenir felt guilty that children are now participating in such terrible wars... And it just seems like the Saints and Athena are just getting younger with each turn of the century.

♈︎  —  “I am happy.”

A graceful smile lighted upon the Aries Saint’s lips. Already, the future felt as if it became brighter. Avenir stepped closer to the boy and lighted his hand into the young Leo Saint’s brown hair.

“Athena has always had a compassionate heart...” 

Avenir trailed off, his eyes looking past Regulus--seemingly lost in his memories.

♈︎  — Under normal circumstance, Avenir would have stopped anyone from passing through his temple. He took his guardian duties seriously for Athena...

...but when it came to this small child dressed as the Pope, he couldn't help but stare at it dumbfoundedly. The little child didn't have to flex his Cosmo for Avenir to recognize him as a Gold Saint. But, uh...

♈︎  — How do you... annoy...?

Honestly, if it was up to him, he would have killed him instead of annoy him... but alas, this was to make someone's life difficult.

"Um... maybe just decorate something valuable of his with things that remind him of Athena?"

♈︎  — "Oh! It makes me miss home!" Avenir laughed, then he sighed dreamily, his mind going to a distant place so far in his memories.