Chapter Text
“You’re quite lucky, Mr. Czernin, your first match is with Robbie!” Annie was smiling very sweetly at him as she lead the puppeteer into the matching room, Ganji following behind.
“Mhm. Robbie really likes fairytales. He’s decided that half of us are heroes and royalty. He goes friendly a good chunk of the time, and never seriously injured anyone he likes.” Ganji explained further, sitting in the chair at the matching table. His girlfriend sat right next to him, scooting her chair close to his.
They were a friendly couple, the two of them. Annie had heard his last name and immediately decided that they were friends because they were from the same country. It was unexpected, but really nice, Matthias thought. They treated him like he was normal. He can’t remember if anyone had ever treated him like that.
Still he was nervous. What if this little hunter boy thought he was the wicked villain? He’d fit that role, for sure. He didn’t mean to be a villain, but his actions spoke for themselves. He’d always been cursed, always hated in favor of a puppet. Surely a kid would like the cute Louis better than the scary-looking Matthias.
He didn’t have much time to ponder, as the match started. Annie pinged ‘follow me!’ and Matthias went willingly.
There he saw a little boy, small and underfed, too small to be healthy, with deathly blue skin. This must be ‘Robbie’, the Axe Boy.
Matthias nervously waved.
The Axe Boy ran at him, and Matthias panicked, bracing for pain--
Only to be met with a hug.
Matthias stiffened. When was the last time he’d gotten a hug? It must have been when he was still Louis, before he grew too big and was no longer cute. Before they made Louis to replace him. Gently, hesitantly, Matthias wraps his arms around the boy. He touches Robbie like he’s made of glass, like his curse could spread if he wasn’t absolutely careful as could be.
Robbie giggled against his chest. “Uh-huh. You’re definitely a prince. You need to be saved!! That’s okay, because I’m a hero, and I’ll protect you from all the wicked villains!!”
For the first time since he arrived in the manor, for the first time in several years, actually, Matthias smiled, gentle and sweet and adorable, at this little boy. “...Okay. You can protect me all you like.”
Matthias wasn’t sure he was capable of crying. He must have run dry of tears years ago. But now, though his face was dry and he was smiling, it felt like he was crying, as he squeezed this boy tight, and his shoulders shook.
--
“Matty!” Matthias was tackled into a hug by a man much bigger than him and squeezed tight in a hug.
“H-hi Florian... your first match is with me?” Matthias asked shyly, leaning into the hug. Ever since the Fire Investigator first arrived at the manor and had seen one of Matthias’s puppet shows for the children, he’d stuck to the puppeteer like glue.
Matthias felt a little unsettled by him, by how calm and cheerful he was in a endless death manor. But almost everyone else had welcomed in the renowned firefighter, who had a record for saving the most people from fires. As far as most people in the manor were concerned, Florian was a Helena situation, a good man in a bad situation. A true hero. So Matthias was sure he was being paranoid. Plus... no one had ever been so affectionate with him, and it just felt so wonderful to have Florian constantly touching and holding him.
“Yup! I heard this hunter views people as either heroes, royalty, or villains, yeah? So I’m sure everything will go perfect! Not to brag, but well, my rescue record speaks for itself, doesn’t it?” Florian grinned. “And obviously you’re an adorable prince locked in a tower. So we’ll be fine. If not, I’ll save you like always!” He nuzzled his cheek against the dark brown hair.
From the matching table, Fiona laughed at the puppy-like display of affection from Florian. “You two are such good friends already. I’m glad someone is taking care of Mr. Czernin. Robbie usually goes friendly if it’s someone’s first match, so there’s no need to worry.”
As the match started, Matthias went quickly to where Florian was pinging, and waited there for Robbie. Florian had his arm wrapped around his waist, holding him close affectionately.
Soon enough, Fiona came by with Robbie. “Here he is! Our little hero meeting our big hero.” Fiona announced, squeezing Robbie’s hand.
Robbie looked at Florian, staring. The Fae whispered to him as they always did, but this time it was frantic. For a while, he listened intently. And then he turned and hid his face in Fiona’s leg. “Mm...”
“Ah? Robbie... I’m sorry, Mister Brand, he’s not usually this shy.” Fiona apologized, shushing Robbie soothingly.
Florian smiled sweetly and kneeled to his size. “Hey there, kiddo.” His voice was sweet and soothing, clearly practiced from years of saving kids from fires. “I know I’m a little scary looking, but I promise I’d never hurt you! I’m a hero, just like you. I’ve already saved Matty a whole bunch.”
Robbie whined and shook his head, hiding further because he knew damn well from the Faeries that that wasn’t the full story, not at all. He whispers something in Irish to Fiona.
Fiona coos and whispers back in the same language, before turning to the two. “I’m not sure why he doesn’t like you, but I’m gonna go take him to calm down. You two work on decoding okay? Don’t get sidetracked because you’re together.”
Matthias blushed, remembering why she had to say that, but felt uneasy that Robbie of all people didn’t like Florian.
Florian looks at Matthias, and smiles brightly. “Ah, well, I’m usually good with children. He’s probably just a little scared of my burns. I’ll get him to warm up to me. Let’s go decode.”
Matthias let himself be less away, but he couldn’t help thinking. Robbie had liked him immediately, and his injuries were far worse than Florian’s. So why didn’t Robbie like Florian...?