Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Reborn looked around like a toddler, like he is seeing things around him for the first time, which wasn't a lie completely.

How long was he a curse? Week? Month? Year? He doesn't know, surely long enough for little things to change. Like that sign of the shop he visited a lot in New Lumos, it's flicking now. Can it be because of one of his creations? Maybe.

He stared at that sign that captured his attention. A small reminder of his previous time being a human, meaningless even, however, his eyes just won't move.

"Are you fine?" - He heard from Sage, his "teacher", but what he is teaching isn't clear for him, as anything else.

"Uh, yeah, I am. I remembered something" - he scratched his head with an awkward sorry smile.

Sage got closer to him to look at what was so attention-grabbing about it. "Grocery store?".

"Yes! I visited it a lot, and a young lady ran it. I wonder if it's the same as it was..." - his lips flinched at the thought of possible ways.

"Should we take a look if anything has changed?" -they offered, which made Reborn silent for a second.

"N-no, I don't think so. I don't think anyone wants to see me if they know..." - his face became a mixture of sadness and fear, reasonably so.

They both have nothing to say. None of them know if people here know about the curse and that he is reborn and walks around. Heroes and their teammates should be smart enough to not rumors that might hurt them too.

Reborn knew that his actions as a curse hurted many people. Burst of hatred made others, innocent people, suffer for nothing. Sage couldn't imagine what happened in his head, but since day one, they knew he was not happy with the consequences. They might have heard him crying once, after reanimating and they helped him to get home. They don't know much about curses, so it's an opportunity to learn about it more, however, they need to put it to better use.

Sage spoked: "Let's go then".

And they continued walking.

His eyes caught a lot of those miniscule differences, but this time he tried to not to think about it much, even if this is difficult, knowing what he did.

He should distract himself completely.

"Where are we going?" He asked Sage.

Their answer was simple: "Just walking around".

But then they followed up: "Do you know anywhere to eat? Except that one".

Reborn looked away, trying to remember any restaurant or cafe there might be. He looked at neon signs, gosh, this city loves them too much, it's painful to look at!

"This one probably" - he pointed at a sign that looked like a big cup, - "I never was there".

They looked at him and then on the sign. "Let's go then" they said, in which he nodded in response.

They got in. A small room with light green wallpaper and wooden floor, two tables and bar table, with a bartender looking at them.

"Good day! Are you gonna order anything?" - they smiled, welcoming the visitors.

Sage looked at the menu, surprisingly big for such a small business, and said "Green tea".

"And what about you, young man?" - The bartender looked at Reborn, which made him flinch.

"Uh... Cap... Cappuccino?" - He read it with a quiet voice like he never was in a cafe.

"Got it" - and they went to make their orders.

Another silence between them. What could they possibly talk about? How much time has passed since rebirth, three days? Probably too short for getting comfortable with someone for him...

They continued not talking after they got their drinks. 

He looked at his coffee with confusion, he sipped from the cup, then looked again, then sipped... And like that he drinked it all. He peeked at the barista again, just to be sure they didn't realize who he was, and they looked like they didn't. Phew.

After leaving the cafe, Sage looked at Reborn with a questioning face.

"Have you ever tried coffee?" - they asked.

“Oh, um… i-” - he chuckled nervously, - “I, i tasted coffee before, but never been in a cafe!”

His awkward smile clearly showed how embarrassed by it he was and it made Sage more interested in this aspect of his life.

“Well, I don't go to cafes much either.” - They stated.

“I mean, it is weird for citizens to never ever visit a cafe, right? I mean, they are social places for people to hang out with friends and significant others so-” - he rumbled, trying to excuse himself.

Sage just nodded, making mental notes.

“Got it. It's pretty late anyways, I'll walk you home.”

He looked away for a second before agreeing.

Walk home was quiet too. He needed to have a guide for now, yet to remember fully his home, city, life… Feels weird, especially when you're an adult. City that never sleeps feels silent, even with music and noises being all around.

He is home. Sage started to leave, and Reborn had white noise in his head. He pinched himself on arm.

Yep, still conscious.

Everything feels new yet familiar. He doesn't even know if he fully returned control of his body, sometimes his walk looks wonky. Maybe it's just his thing, he's not sure.

And still, Sage remains calm, even with that joke of a person that he is. Understanding. Non-judgmental.

He is not sure what their deal is, but, maybe, it's the best way his rebirth could have turned.

He is not sure.

Chapter Text

Sage and Reborn were on a field trip, sort of.

Ex-curse still was a little bit scared to be around people, so maybe a walk somewhere away from crowded places will do. He looked at the flowers; there were a lot of them, thinking about something. Or not; it's hard to tell by just looking at his face.

He sat on the ground, staring at one flower. It was so usual in lively places, but here, around wild grass, it was interesting to gaze at.
"A dandelion, isn't it?" - quietly said reborn, but loud enough to catch the ear of Sage.

"Yes, an ordinary dandelion," they note.

"It looks different here... Around wild flowers..." - his mind started to wander, - "It looks... special. Managing to grow with different species of flowers... Is it difficult? Sure, it's not easy." Does it even enjoy being here?"

A silent pause. Only wind was blowing.

"I sound silly right now, am I?"

"You're talking about a flower like a person. Do you think it's silly?" - Their tone was neutral.

"Well... Flowers aren't people. Sure, people and flowers are both living beings, but...""—He stopped, not knowing what to say.
He sighed.

That was weird. It's just a dandelion, but looking at it, he felt a sort of connection. Is it because it was in place it wasn't supposed to be? Difficult to tell.
"Whatever" is all he said.

Sage got closer to Reborn, waiting for him to do anything except stare at that flower.
He stood up with sadness on his face.

"W-why are we here?" he asks.

"Why not? It's a beautiful place, isn't it?"

"Yes, but... How is it tied to my wrongdoings as a curse?"

"It is, believe me."

He sighed again. He just doesn't understand. Why are they just walking him around and talking on various topics? It's not mentorship; it's more like--

Oh.

Are they trying to be friends with him?

He looked at Sage; they had a neutral face, as always.

It felt... odd. They knew about his story, and they were not disturbed after all of this. Why did they even let him be alive?

He had a mix of anger, sadness, and confusion on his face.

"Why?"

Sage smiled lightly, understanding what he meant by this.

"Just... why? I'm..." - he paused, running out of words, - "I'm not a good person."

Sage said nothing. Is it because they had no answer?

How petty he is. Watery eyes and twitching lips are not helping the situation.

"I don't deserve to live... I hurt people! I stole their faces; I—I am a bad person!"

Tears started to flow; his voice was shaking; his feelings were complicated at the moment. Does it make sense for him to be alive? Maybe those heroes weren't right when they decided to save him...

On the other hand, he felt thankful for being alive again. Being a curse was painful; he remembers it, so returning to his body, without constant emotional and physical pain—consequences of being a curse, it seems—even that he needed to learn moving his body once more, he appreciates it. He wouldn't mind being killed by them when Reborn wasn't yet reborn; he couldn't even think in that state.

But they saved him.

Well, he isn't a curse anymore; he can't steal faces, hopefully.

He still couldn't understand why he turned into that; he never heard about the same situation happening with someone, but it can be debated; he never had a friend after all.

However, for now, he is just crying.

This is probably the first time he cries in front of anyone. He whimpers and tries to wipe tears that won't stop, just crying and crying, explaining why he is the worst.

Sage's eyes widened a little. They weren't prepared for this. Their knowledge of magic was huge, but there's no spell that could solve the situation. Only a few times were they confused, and this is one of them, but they had an idea.

"Do you need a hug?" they ask, trying to not show their worry.

Reborn looked at Sage with a surprised face.

"I..."—this time the pause was long—"I—I think I do."

They got closer and gently wrapped their arms around him, like he is fragile and can break by a wrong move.
Reborn cried and cried, repeating things he did and that he shouldn't be alive. Tears got on Sage's robe; they didn't pay attention to it. They were confused; however, they knew this would happen one day, seeing him be so insecure and judgmental of himself. It was obvious, yet it's happening, and one of the most wise people in Miitopia is just scared of emotions, like he does.

With time, tears stopped falling on the robe, his voice returned to normal, and he calmed down.

It was... an experience for sure.

"S-sorry..." Reborn says, his voice quieter than usual.

"It's ok."

Awkward pause. It feels weird. They... cared about him? Or just offered support at the right moment? It was a week or 2 since he became their student, not very understanding of what it means. Maybe it means they just teach him to live again. Find a new life, different from what he was before becoming a curse.
He smiled weakly instead of saying anything. What he wants to say is obvious.

"Do you feel any better?" they asked, concerned.

"I am, thanks..."

"Shall we go home, or do you want to continue?"

"I think we should stop there."

They nod. But before heading out, Reborn looks at that dandelion again. It still seems special of a sort.

"I think it's better to split up in the market; I have some plans here."

"Got it."

Chapter Text

Reborn walked through the door, which made the bell on it ring. Man behind the table—owner of this shop, itseems—lookedd at him directly.

"Oh, hello there! Look how many flowers we have here! Sure you'll find something you'd like!" - owner cheered, almost screaming.

They two were the only people in that place.

Worst situation for Ex-curse.

Even after spending time with Sage, it helped him be more comfortable around people, but not enough to be with a stranger.

He was ready to panic; instead, he took a deep breath and got closer to the alleged owner.

"Uh, um, sorry, but, uh..." — Reborn tried to say, — "Do- Do you have, uh... common dandelion seeds?"

"Oh, nobody asked me about this before! Lemme check real quick." Man started to search under the table.

And search...

And search...

And search...

"Uh, I think I had some, but I can't find it here," the owner mumbled.

Reborn's heartbeat sped up, his fingers fidgeting, sweating, and looking everywhere but at the man in front of him, like he is a burden. It'd be better if it was quick... Reborn was silent, mumbling only, "It's fine if you don't have it—"

"Found it!" Man put a small bag of seeds on the table.

"It'll be 400 gold," the man said with the same cheering-yelling tone.

Reborn nodded, opened his bag, and put required amount of money, took seeds, mumbled "thanks," and started to go towards the exit.

"Thank you for coming, come back sometime!" - Deesh, he has a loud voice. Reborn answers, "Maybe," and leaves the shop.

Phew, that wasn't easy.

The first time he was in a place with people alone, it was not mentioned one-on-one. He looks at a bag of seeds.

All this reaction only to buy this.

Huh... However, he did it. ... He also needs ground and a pot to even plant.

What an idiot.

Chapter Text

Great Sage sits in library.

They are not coming here frequently, but this time, they are confused.

In front of them were the most important books about magic that they reread many, many times, and they were trying to understand new information they got by talking with Reborn.

They learn magic for their entire life; there's a reason they're called "Great Sage." However, there is little information about curses, especially like that.

From the start of the stealing faces situation, they knew it was something new; usually cursed subjects can't be that powerful. There should be an explanation for it...
To be honest, Sage has another motive to take him under their wing: to learn firsthand about how curses work. It might be a new type if their theory is right.

Their own experience being cursed was fuzzy. They don't remember much, but, somehow, his story got into their mind. They also remember white noise in their ears and emotional pain that became physical with time. It's too little information to work with to make a good scientific theory on curses. However, straight-up asking about that now felt tone-deaf, if he could feel the pain too.

Looks like he became like that because of strong emotions, but why have they never heard similar stories? It should have been documented somehow if it happened before...

Everyone has magic; there are different types of it, but they never heard of types that change your body like happened with Reborn... Maybe there are more types!
Anyway, those theories are useless without any proofs, and he is not ready for this talk.

They looked at books again, sure they were helpful, but not for this case. And, besides research, they kind of started to care about him. Seeing someone so insecure, so in guilt, made them want to help. He is sure regretful, too much even.

What he needs is someone who listens.

Sigh.

This guy is a mystery.