What is a Man?

X A Meeting With Death

Summary: A series of somewhat disconnected oneshots that explore the alternate universe life of Hans, formerly known as The White Star of ancient legends. Ancient White Star Hans, Dark!Hans AU.

X. A Meeting with Death

Alberu Crossman the First, a young runaway prince of the Roan Kingdom, was currently bleeding out in a forest. The injury was serious and red shown through the bundle of fabric pressed against it. The wound was painful, but the loss of blood just made him feel light headed and cold. He disliked the nausea the most. The child managed to sit down against the trunk of a tree before passing out.

The first meeting was, frankly, confusing.

The mortal woke up in a dark room. The only source of light was a fancy, colored glass chandelier above the table. Across him, in the other seat, was someone dressed entirely in black. The child glanced around the room, but couldn't see any furniture or objects he could use. He turned his gaze back to the person on the other side of the table.

The figure looked ominous. A hood completely covered his face, if he had a face. "Well, I could see you were just 'dying' to meet me. So I decided to pull you over for a chat once you fell unconscious due to blood loss." The serious aura he gave off was immediately broken by the pun and his cheery voice.

The child furrowed his eyebrows. "Who. . ." He reconsidered, "What, are you?"

"The God of Eternal Sleep," came the flippant reply.

". . .Death?"

"Bingo!" The undying entity crossed an arm against his chest and his head lowered for a moment, as if doing a parody of a bow.

The child clasped his hands together and kept them below the table, to hide how they were shaking. To know that you were dying or likely dead, and to meet Death himself. . .those were not normally taken well by anyone, nevermind a small child. It was already unusual that he wasn't crying his eyes out, but perhaps that was because he didn't value his life much. Betrayal from those one trusted could crush a soul, especially an unhardened one. "Am I dead?"

Death pulled a bowl of water out of the darkness and placed it on the table. "Well, let's see if you're gone for good." The water reflected the colorful lights of the chandelier above.

The child stood on the chair and leaned on the table, trying to look at the water. He felt like he had to know what was being seen. He only caught a glimpse of leaves and a man in work clothes before the God of Death tapped the side of the bow.

"Well, looks like this won't be the only time we meet." Death would have smiled, if he was able to. "Till next time."

—

The fifth meeting happened suddenly.

Alberu wasn't entirely sure what had happened. He had been waiting for Hueh to come back from scavenging, and then his eyes slid close. When he pried them open, he found himself in the dark room, on a familiar seat.

"Hungry for some company?" The God of Death quipped. He leaned on his elbows and ignored the bowl of water that was not reflecting the soft lights of the chandelier.

"Starvation did me in this quickly?" The mortal asked, frustrated. His nails dug into his palm as he clenched one of his fists. His stomach ached, but he easily ignored it.

"Yes," Death confirmed. "You seem to have a habit of pushing yourself to your limits, and then pushing yourself over the cliff." He snapped a finger and the bowl appeared; it was made of marble and had elaborate carvings on every inch of the outside.

The mortal ignored the pangs of hunger that still echoed in his stomach. He had just skipped eating...a little bit so they could store up more. It seems he had overestimated himself.