Chapter Text
1st - Would you chase me?
It was a quiet day on the base of Saint-Trond: fair weather, no Neuroi sightings, and Erica being a pain in the butt as usual.
All right, so maybe it wasn’t entirely quiet.
Gertrud let out a long-suffering sigh as she and Minna escorted Erica along the airstrip. “Honestly… What were you thinking, sneaking off like that? We’re on the front lines!”
“Yeah, yeah…” Erica huffed and put her arms behind her head. “I just wanted to have a snack in peace.”
Minna gave Erica’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t worry, you’ll have your opportunity once we receive our next batch of supplies.” She smiled indulgently. “I may have requested some Belgican chocolate.”
Erica’s eyes grew comically large before she squealed. “Yay! You’re the best, Minna!”
Gertrud shook her head and mumbled something about being too soft, but her frown eased nonetheless.
They were nearly at the hangar when Erica’s head shot up and she stopped in her tracks. “Huh.”
Gertrud put her hands on her hips. “What is it now?”
“Up there.” Erica nodded at the sky. “Is that a Witch?” Sure enough, a white line cut through the air in the distance, obviously a contrail of some sort.
Minna crossed her arms in consideration. “So it is. It’s faint, but I can detect magic usage.”
Gertrud looked at her. “Any idea on who it is?”
“She’s too far away for an accurate read. But whoever she is, she’s heading in the direction of Antwerpen. I haven’t received any flight plans pertaining to that area.”
“Maybe someone’s going AWOL,” Erica said, nonchalant as always.
Gertrud almost rolled her eyes. “I doubt it.” She whirled on Erica. “And don’t even think about it! If that were you, I’d already be chasing you down.”
“This is curious.” Minna put a hand to her chin. “She seems to be flying alone.”
Gertrud nodded at the implication. “It might be an unplanned flight. We should check with headquarters.”
“I’ll phone them at once.” Minna turned to leave.
Gertrud turned with her. “I’ll come with you. Hartmann, you’re on stand-by in the hangar. And no snacking!”
Erica let out a moan of protest, but Minna smiled in gratitude.
They were almost at the office when Minna giggled. Gertrud looked at her askance.
“What is it?”
“Nothing at all.” There was a beat of silence. “I was merely ruminating on your words. You’d chase her down?”
“Erica? Of course. Desertion is a serious offense.”
Minna hummed thoughtfully. “And would you chase me as well, wherever I went?”
“…What?” Gertrud’s eyebrows were as high as they could go. “Why would I ever need to do that?”
“Oh, no reason.”
Minna said nothing further, but when they arrived at the office and Gertrud slowed down to allow Minna entrance ahead of her, she was in the perfect position to see the tiny, yet obvious wiggle of Minna’s rump. Minna’s eyes stayed on her the entire time, and there was a playful glint to them. Gertrud almost stumbled at a dawning realization.
“Come along, now.” Minna’s voice lilted teasingly as she beckoned her inside. “It may be time for a hunt, miss Pointer.”
Gertrud flushed a bright red, but she hastened her steps all the same.