I had so much fun writing this one! And I was particulary inspired by these two photos:

“Oscar!”

The sound of Carlos’ voice bounces from wall to wall as Oscar finishes buttoning his shirt to the last hole. He looks at his own fingers reaching the base of his neck in the reflection of the bathroom mirror, realising that the collar might be too tight, again.

Flautist!Villager!Izuku looked at the piece of parchment in his hands with wide eyes.

It was an invitation from the royal palace, more specifically from the main maestro assigned to leadthe performance for the birthday celebration of the royal majesty himself, the King.

He was asking for his presence to be one of the honored soloist to perform a piece in honor of the king and he couldn't be happier that someone recognized him and his love for music.

Immediately he ran out of his small cot to search around the town market for a suitable outfit for the occasion.

His friends, oh how nosy were they, asked him why he was so mirthful this morning. His answer gave them the same excitement he felt. After all, it was unusual for the higher class to notice such trivial things amongst them, common folks like their incredible talent for the arts and music. This was an oppurtunity abd they couldnt be more happy for the talented Izuku.

The boy did not leave his quarters for the following days. Practicing each and every note carefully as if one sloghtly flat note would leave him dead at the side of the pavement. Re-doing those said notes again and again for hours on end, slightly humming to himself once he reach the correct pitch, tempo and tone of the note.

This went on until the night of the ball.

A majestical carriage parked infront of his humble home, ready to pick him up. Dusting his suit and strapping the protective case of his flute he went out of the door to head to the castle.

It was as he expected. Large, pristine walls that seemed to be carved from the finest quartz the world had to offer. The lush green olants and grass from the garden shined even if the sky had no bright shine to show it. And finally, the people, oh the people was what made him shake.

Everybody had the fanciest and prettiest suits and gowns. Corsets that seemed to be created from the comfiest and sturdiest linen and wood from the country. Gowns and coats that was bejeweled with thousands of small particles of what seemed to be diamonds and pearls.

He looked really out of place with his plain white undershirt and black coat.

A violinist from the orchestra noticed him and immediately pulled him to the direction of the many rows of musicians who seemed to play a light, tasteful piece to easen up the atmosphere of the ballroom.

The lovely violinist introduced himself as Mirio Togata, one of the many string players that would be performing with him. And so they chatted amicably until their conversation was interrupted by the loud trumpets.

The announcer spoke in a tight and formal voice calling upon the young princess of the kingdom.

And what appeared at the end of the stairs, there appeared a young woman of his age with luscious locks of (h/c), her corset hugged her curves effortlessly as her (e/c) eyes moved around the enormous room as in engraving the faces of each visitors before turning her attention to the the door she entered once more.

And then the trumpets were played once more but this time on a louder manner.

And with the announcer saying the King and the Queens names, the two rulers headed out of the door. Their face as stoic as that of stone before turning to their right where their daughter stood as she bowed to her parents.

All this time the wide eyed Izuku's green pupils stayed on the princess's figure.

Her aura. It was calm and unbothered, but unlike her parents, she did not appear cold and commanding. No, she felt more warm, light and almost welcoming.

In the sea of the cold winter that was the dukes and the mistresses, there was the summer known as she.

Oh how his cheeks flared at the realization that he had been caught staring at the royal by his newfound friend who told him that his performance was about to start.

His fingers that seemed to fiddle the holes of the flute trembled at the thought of performing infront of the seemingly unpleasable king and queen.

But what got his legs to also tremble was the shocked glint in the princess's eyes when it met his shy stature.

He froze at the stare.

Was his suit that unpresentable? Had the princess hear something about him and his playing? Is it because he was a villager? Or had she felt his stare earlier

His cheeks turned an even brighter red at the thought.

But how can he not look?

You were blooming like the summerfield. A blinding yet sweet encounter that he did not expect from someone with a high status.

And will the heavens damn him if he mess this performance infront of you.

It's weird having two Damians in the same room. The younger one, the one from the current timeline, glares at his older self. It's not that he isn't happy with how tall and stronger he will grow up to be. But this version of him complimented Drake! It hadn't even been ironic, because, when Damian had made a snide remark, his older self had scolded him. 

And Tim! Drake had dared to look smug. And now he was looking at that stupid version of him with heart in the eyes. How dare he look at anyone else than himself!

Ah-Sang is a newborn and the ladies giggle with his father’s indulgent look as he calms down without fail whenever his older brother would hold his tiny hand. For his baby self, happiness was something as simple as the presence of his brother. Well, that, and milk, toys, and the pretty trinket on his mother’s hair.

(Or so the story goes. It’s not as if he can remember anything from that age. He believes it though as his glistening eyes carefully stitch a right torso.)

Nie Huaisang is nine and has sneaked out of his saber training once more. He’s in the middle of deciding between the bamboo shots design and the flying cranes fans when he is grabbed at the scruff of his neck by familiar hands. There was a lot of scolding and fake crying on his part. When he retires that same night, there on his bed was a crane-designed fan. For nine-year-old Nie Huaisang, happiness was something as simple as a gift from his older brother. Well, that, and fans, and garments, and beautiful tea sets.

(The crane fan has long been lost from either his younger self’s absent mindedness or when the Wens attacked their home, he’s not certain. His memories fly by as he shakily stitches a leg.)

Nie Huaisang is in the Cloud Recesses trying to avoid his studies and fools around. They run through the nearby towns, sometimes sleep past the designated time, and he keeps the record on bets on how many rules a certain someone has broken. But then their grades are released and he is subjected to a fierce round of shouts from the Qinghe Nie sect leader. When it’s time for the other to leave, he gets a pat on the head and a hug. For teenager Nie Huaisang, happiness was something as simple as a fierce scolding followed by a fiercer hug from his older brother. Well, that, and cancelled finals, juicy gossip, and carefree days.

(There is silence in the halls of the Nie family home and cold seeps through its empty spaces. He pats the newly stitched body with him as if seeking for a reminiscent warmth. The dead body offers none.)

Sect Leader Nie knew what happiness was. It was a lot of things varying from his age range but a constant one was of somebody that’s now already gone. For this Nie Huaisang who was forced to grow up too soon despite being protected from the war because now his protector was gone, happiness was something as simple as revenge.

“I don’t understand,” Eggsy had to say, rather lost.

“I hate video games, I’m on the computer keeping the world in one piece as I can, why the fuck would I spend my off time on one?” Merlin glared at the play station. “I loathe that fucking thing.”

“Then why the hell did you spend wot like a thousand pounds on the best system and games, if you hate them?”

“Because then it meant you hung out in my office. I enjoyed listening to you play the jumping game. You were happy and seemed to destress.”

“Merlin that was because I was near you, not because of a bloody video game.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah, oh,” Eggsy looked at him. “This is the part where we clue in we like each other and you kiss me.”