I imagine them being around 16-18 at this point (I didn't realize until I looked it up that they're actually the same age), still young enough for a little impulsive carelessness in spite of being so self-aware. (And Al-Cid, like Sydney, apparently already turns the prose purple when he gets the POV, which just FIGURES. XD)
I almost didn't want to add the epilogue, but well. Otherwise this would have ended with the impression that they actually were fond of each other, which doesn't exactly track ten years later during canon.
Re: Al-Cid/Vayne, "Of No Consequence", T/PG-13ish
I imagine them being around 16-18 at this point (I didn't realize until I looked it up that they're actually the same age), still young enough for a little impulsive carelessness in spite of being so self-aware. (And Al-Cid, like Sydney, apparently already turns the prose purple when he gets the POV, which just FIGURES. XD)
I almost didn't want to add the epilogue, but well. Otherwise this would have ended with the impression that they actually were fond of each other, which doesn't exactly track ten years later during canon.