This part actually wasn't going to be in this story, but I got inspired by the animatic above. And I did change some of the lyrics for plot/story reasoning, plus I copied and pasted the lyrics into this story. Also, I have never had a panic attack before, at least I don't think so, so whenever I write someone having a panic attack (F in Chat for Varian) I'm making it up as I go 😅. LET'Z BEGIN!
The 3 newcomers of Corona stood in front of the blacksmith and of their friend in shock. Nobody knew what to say, so Yong said what was on everyone's mind.
" Wait, THAT'S YOUR DAD?! I thought you said your dad was a farmer?! "
Varian looked at Yong in shock, a blush forming on his face as he waved his hands around frantically. Xavier gave a chuckle at the statement, placing a hand on Varian's head. The sudden contact seemed to calm the flustered boy down, though he was still embarrassed.
" No, little one. " He replied with a warm smile, " Varian and I are just close. You could say that I do act like a second father to him. "
Yong put on his 'serious face' and nodded. While Hugo and Nuru were laughing, Varian rolled his eyes, Xavier invited the 4 into his workshop/home.
Going through the door, the ravenette smiled at how the shop seemed to look like how it was when he first left for his journey. The anvil had flecks of ash on it, as the coals burned in the fireplace. Hammers and other tools laid around in different places, with the smell of melting metal filling the air.
" Since you're all my guests for now, why don't I bring us all some water? "
" Xavier, you really don't have to do that, " Varian rubbed the back of his neck. " Honestly, I apologize if my friends and I bothered you while you were working- "
Varian was suddenly cut off by Hugo, well, more like a kiss from Hugo. It was short, but I was sweet as well. The ravenette's eyes widened a bit and his mouth gaped open. Uneasiness filled him, as he quickly glanced from Hugo to Xavier.
Varian seemed to be in a trance of sorts that when the blacksmith chuckled and smiled at the scene, he flinched back into reality. Xavier made a gesture with his hand and Varian followed him into the little kitchen.
Upon arriving, Varian felt like he was on the verge of having a panic attack. The words he tried to speak whenever he opened his mouth was only filled with silence. Before he knew it, a comforting hand was placed onto his shoulder.
Looking up, Varian saw the wise old eyes of Xavier. A warm smile present on his face like usual.
" X- xavier. . . .I- I can ex-expl-, " Varian was suddenly cut off by the soft shushes of the blacksmith.
" Don't worry, " he said. " I can tell that you deeply care about them all. "
A light blush dusted Varian's freckled cheeks, his mouth gaping open. The ravenette stifled as Xavier placed a hand on his head, slightly leaning into the comfort gesture. A small throb of pain made his way to the center of his forehead, causing him to grit his teeth to not make a sound.
Before the blacksmith could ask if Varian was okay, a sudden crash explosion was heard from the room previous. Facepalming, Varian walked out there, with Xavier holding the drinks, to see a smoking Yong, a worried Nuru patting down the boy's clothes, and a smirking Hugo.
" What in- the GODDAMN HELL- IS GOING ON HERE?! "
(If you've ever seen one of the episodes of Pokemon Talk by MandJTV, you'll understand the reference.)
" Uh oh. . . . " Yong trailed off, quickly smashing his hand against his head to stop the small fire that was on it.
" Busted. " Nuru crossed her arms, jabbing her thumb towards the blond, who whistled innocently.
Varian sighed and rubbed his temple. 'This is the fourth time this week!'
" Alright, " he started, " whoever tells me what really happened will get a cookie- "
Before he could even finish, Varian was trampled by Yong, whose clothing was still smoking some. " Hugo threw something at me when I was trying to set a bug on fire that was annoying Nuru! "
Xavier looked at Varian with eyes that hoped what the young boy was saying wasn't true. However, from the look he had on the green eyed boy, Xavier knew it was true.
" Hugo- " Varian was suddenly cut off by arms snaking around his waist, earning a small squeak from him.
The baby blue eyed boy was met with a gaze of mischievous green eyes. Varian could already feel the blood rushing towards his cheeks, his breathe caught in his throat.
" Maybe I threw one of your powdered chemical alchemy weapons at the bug, or maybe I didn't do that. " A smirk danced on his lips, as Hugo rested his head on the shorter boy's own. His boyfriend was so gonna yell at him later.
" Even if I did do so, you have no physical evid- "
Nuru gestured towards the broken glass from the alchemy weapon. " Oh, so I'm a bad guy now? "
(Yes, that line was intentional.)
Xavier had a hardy laugh at the scene before him. They seemed as close as family. It made the man smile at how far Varian has come so far.
" It's all good, young one. " Xavier said, " everyone has been the bad guy at some point. "
" I'm 19. "
" Don't matter what you look like
Don't matter what you wear. "
" Varian, what the hell is he doing? " Hugo whispered over to him, as Xavier sang his song.
" Well, he's sing- "
" No shit sherlock, " Hugo whispered/yelled back. Nuru had to cover Yong's ears when he said that.
" How many rings you got on your finger
We don't care
(No we don't care)! "
Yong didn't care how weird the man he met 10 minutes ago was, but already loved him. Enjoying the tune, he pulled on the dark skinned girl's hand as he spun around with her. Nuru seemed to be enjoying the song as well, as she was smiling and laughing along with Yong.
" Don't matter where you come from
Don't even matter what you are. "
Xavier suddenly had pulled out a stack of old newspapers from somewhere. Honestly, Varian was surprised that they were still in good condition.
The 4 kids looked at the 4 papers, each one of them having a different picture on them:
The first was of a bald teen that looked like he'd started to grow facial hair had robbed a candy store.
The second was of a boy who was being sent to execution for stealing the princess' crown.
The third being about a kid being arrested for multiple charges, the chains being too big for his hands.
The fourth being of a girl who looked pissed off as hell and had sharp rocks surrounding her.
" A teen, "
Lance.
" a boy, "
Eugene.
" a kid, "
Varian.
" a girl, "
Cassandra.
" Had 'em all in here
(We had 'em all in here)! "
Yong, Nuru, and Hugo all looked at the newspaper photos in shock. All of these people in these photos were being 'the bad guy' at one point or another.
" And they all knew what they wanted
What they wanted me to do
I told 'em what they needed
Just like I be telling you. "
Varian fiddled with the hem of his shirt. How he wished he could go back and erase the mistakes from the past, to make everyone forget about what happened just mere years ago.
But he couldn't- well, he actually COULD do that, but a small, ever so tiny part of him told him not to erase his past. Maybe life would've been better for him if he did stop himself from getting revenge long ago.
" You got to dig a little deeper!
Find out who you are
You got to dig a little deeper! "
Looking up to see Xavier sing, and looking around the shop, would he have gotten to see this side of Xavier more if he didn't make his mistakes?
" It really ain't that far
When you find out who you are
You'll find out what you need
Blue skies and sunshine guaranteed. "
Varian's eyes shifted towards the dancing forms of Yong and Nuru, already having been recovered from looking at the newspaper photos. They were trying to get Hugo to join their dancing. It didn't work.
" You got to dig (dig)!
You got to dig (dig)! "
Feeling 2 hands suddenly grab his own, Varian realized he was being pulled by Yong. A smile on the small boy's face as he tried to make the ravenette dance with him.
Hugo saw a bag of golden coins on one of the wooden tables, the small pouch being titles to reveal the shiny coins. If Hugo was here a year ago, he would've taken those coins with no hesitation.
" This Blondy is a poor little boy
You wanted be rich instead? "
A sudden hand clasped his shoulder. Being startled, Hugo flinched and looked to see Xavier looking at him with warm eyes.
' How the hell did he know that?! ' Hugo thought, deciding he would ask Varian later if this guy was a witch.
" That ain't gonna make you happy now
Did it make you happy then? No! "
The old blacksmith was right though. Having money wouldn't make him happy, at least not anymore.
" Money ain't got no soul
Money ain't got no heart.
All you need is some self-control
Make yourself a brand new start! "
Xavier reached his hand into the pouch and pulled out one of its golden coins, flipping it over to Hugo, who caught it by surprise.
" You got to dig a little deeper
Don't have far to go
You got to dig a little deeper! "
The blond looked over to where Varian was being spun around, a smile staying present on his face. The ravenette looked so happy, as if all his troubles were gone. It made Hugo smile a bit more.
" Tell the people Mama told you so
Can't tell you what you'll find
Maybe love will grant you peace of mind
Dig a little deeper and you'll know? "
Once Yong stopped spinning him, a small headache began to form. But when Xavier placed a comforting hand in his head, the alchemist closed his eyes tightly to withhold the pain, and reopened them to see him still there.
" Mr. Goggles, might I have a word?
You's a hard one, that's what I heard. "
Varian couldn't help but scoff a little at the line. Of course he was a hard one, he was the youngest person in Corona to get arrested. That must've been a world record.
" Your daddy is a loving man
Family through and through
You your daddy's son
What he had in him you got in you! "
The blue eyed boy couldn't help but smile, even if his headache grew more violently by the minute. There were very few similarities between him and his father, and how he wanted to BE like his father when he was young.
Varian always thought he could never be like him, and tried to make him proud to show that he was like his father. But. . . . . . after everything, the person he'd looked up to for so long was already proud of him, for being Varian.
" You got to dig a little deeper!
For you it's gonna be tough.
You got to dig a little deeper!
You ain't dug near far enough. "
Sudden arms found their way around Varian's waist. The arms of the person he loves so much. Leaning his head a little into Hugo's chest, with Nuru and Yong spinning in circles and Xavier still singing, not one of them heard the clasping of horse hooves outside.
" Dig down deep inside yourself
You'll find out what you need!
Blue skies and sunshine guaranteed. "
A few people could be heard getting off of the horses. A smile formed on Varian's face as he stepped away from Hugo, taking side by Xavier.
" Open up the windows
Let in the light children!
(Blue skies and sunshine).
(Blue skies and sunshine). "
" Hey, Xavier, Quirin needs your help welding one of the water pi- " The father stopped upon seeing that Xavier was doing his morning singing.
Varian took a deep breath, before singing the next line. Proving Hugo that he COULD sing higher than any of them. Let's just say that, that competition earned wolves chasing the house on wheels for half an hour.
" Blue skies and sunshine! "
The new singing voice confused the dark skinned man, the 2 little helpers who came along with him having their mouths wide open.
Nuru, who had stopped spinning, smirked and crossed her arms, Hugo and Yong being surprised that Varian could sing that high.
" Guaranteed.
(Ahhh...). "
Xavier noticed a sudden breeze and looked to see the company who'd let themselves in. Before he could greet them, the new arrivals cut him off.
" VARIAN?! "
Sorry it took longer to get this chapter out, I'm writing a short Halloween/Day of the Dead fanfiction for October and got a little sidetracked. 😅
Have a wonderific day/night everyone! 😊
~ Brooklyn