Chapter Text
A chorus of branches crackled and popped under Ludwig’s shiny black boots as he ambled along, trying to force himself to keep his pace brisk, gait wobbly and uneven against the forest's litter. The mad doctor tiredly wiped away the sweat that had built up on his brow, the salty, sticky gunk uncomfortably clinging to the skin of his arm as he did so. He felt like he was soaked up to the brim with sweat and he swore it was the single most irritating sensation he’d ever felt, particularly when it made the little curl of hair he had for a fringe hug tightly against his forehead, rubbing at the skin in a way which was painfully impossible to ignore. Medic supposed that at the very least he should be grateful that the many layers of leaves far above him were able to mostly block out the baking sun, stopping him from getting terribly burned. That would be the last thing he needed right now, on top of everything else. But it was still a little hard to remain upbeat and chipper after spending all day soaked in his own sweat, so damp that he felt like a half drowned kitten. He considered himself a patient man when necessary, but he was after all, as disgusting as it was to admit, still merely human.
God, and that wasn’t even mentioning his aching, worn out feet, or even more pressingly, the thirst he felt! It was utterly unbearable. It had already been so long since he had last managed to have a drink, and he was only getting more and more desperate. It was starting to get genuinely worrying at this point. As a doctor, he was especially aware of the risks of dehydration. Knowing said risks meant that no matter how tired he was, he wasn’t going to allow himself to rest. If he just stopped his journey, he may relieve his poor joints, but he would also be leaving himself to bake and continue to dehydrate without making any solid ground. The sooner he found water, the better.
Thus, all Ludwig could do instead was miserably force himself to keep pushing onwards, to endlessly trudge while failing to not give into his urge to tense his throat every few minutes or so, a poor attempt at relieving the scratchy parched lump he could feel inside it. It would prove to be a mistake each time, and it only seemed to make the thick, dry feeling even worse. He’d just have to try to think of things other than how he wished desperately to feel some cool water flowing down it, and some pouring onto his heated skin as well. Maybe he could focus on the ache in his heels or knees instead; it was a more merciful irritation and therefore seemed to work quite well as a distraction.
If only he hadn’t got caught stealing organs for a fifth time. He just needed them so very badly, for the pursuit of medical knowledge. Surely that was a good and important enough reason? It would help him benefit people in the long run! The fools around him just didn’t understand that, nattering on about deception and defiling nature or some other such nonsense. But the doctor always made sure to replace almost all of the bits and pieces he took so his patients could do alright without them - or at least, mostly alright. Animal transplants were a little bit of an experimental practice, but that was all the more reason to do it. More often than making things a little worse, his replacements improved his patients’ quality of life, for goodness sake! And that wasn't even mentioning all the other routine care he dutifully performed and attended to. He desperately just wanted to experiment, like any good scientist! Why was that such a crime?
Ludwig was getting very much tired of being unjustly ejected from village after village. Usually it wasn’t a particularly bad problem, before things got too dangerous or violent for him he’d always just simply skipped his way on over to another nearby town of his choosing. He had it all rehearsed, everything would fall into place like transplanted organs each time. Upon arriving, he would wow them with his amazing medical skills so that they would hire his services, and he would begin his work again as the number one local practitioner in town. It was an annoying hassle setting up his living and work spaces over and over, but in the long run it was always very much worth if it meant he got to continue his schemes. Alas, it seemed even that system couldn’t last forever. Perhaps he’d finally overdone the very much necessary bodily theft and bitten off more than he could chew, because word had spread to so many neighboring towns that he was now not welcome in any of them.
That meant the German was now essentially homeless, and of course, he very much needed to rectify that as quickly as possible. Both for the sake of his studies and because of the fact the winter this year was predicted to be quite a harsh one, just like the last. But at least he had plenty of time, it was only very early autumn, and it didn’t seem likely the first frost would come anytime soon at all, especially when judging by the current intense heat - perhaps it was this summer's final last hurrah. Either way, he figured he should take advantage of that head start and find a new home as quickly as possible, in case anything unforeseen popped up along the way. So there had been no other choice than for him to pack up all of his essentials and hit the road on foot. Onward and away to a new, distant home.
He really wished he could at least travel via horseback; maybe it would stop him from parching himself quite so badly. But it just wasn’t possible. Sure, he could have maybe stolen one, but he had nothing to feed an equine with and he was mostly crossing woodlands, with very little grassland for the vast majority of the journey. Nor did he have a saddle or a bridle of his own, which meant if he couldn’t get into the owners tack room - and tack rooms were usually locked for that reason – stealing a horse would be useless. He didn’t really fancy that kind of risk, either. The last thing he needed was people catching him during a break in, or going after him to retrieve their horse. It would complicate things dreadfully. No, he would have to lump it and use his own legs, even if he had to use them till they were completely worn out.
The first part of the trip had been easy. He had managed to pack plenty of essentials before he left and he’d always been able to pass roadside inns to stay and eat in, or find unsuspecting farms to steal a few harmless little essentials from and with haylofts left alone enough for him to squat in a bed of straw for the night. But then he’d come across forest that he had no choice but to pass through - a very, very vast forest. He had already covered a lot of ground, but he knew it would still take a seriously long time to cross it, days and days worth of walking. The food he had packed had mostly run out, but that wasn’t particularly problematic, since with the onset of fall a great many various berries and nuts were available for him to dine on. He was good at identifying the safe ones from the harmful ones, thank goodness. His knowledge was useful in another area as well, as he was able to recognize all different kinds of wild herbs, and so a great many handy opportunities had come along for him to collect samples of rare or useful ones. He could look forward to using them for medicinal purposes much later, when all of this journeying nonsense was out of the way. No, water was the only real major problem. He hadn’t found any signs of a single river or lake, not one.
Ludwig let out a resigned sigh through his nose. Lately he’d only really had nuts to eat. If he couldn’t have water, he wished he could at least perhaps have some particularly wet, juicy berries. He furrowed his brow and tried to will the thought of the juice of a perfectly ripe berry spreading all over his tongue away, but damn it, his throat ached as soon as the thought popped into his head.
The doctor was still trying to will it away and think about the latest interesting herbs he’d collected instead, when a shimmer caught his eye and caught his attention. The German stopped still and furrowed his brow, slowly walking closer to get a better look. What could cause a flicker of light like that?
When he realized exactly what it was he had found, the sound of joy he made could only be described as an owlish hoot of pure excitement. He’d spotted a valuable find indeed. Ludwig had just managed to glimpse shining water bordered by lush green grass, narrowly exposed between a gap in two of the many dense trees all around him. A clearing, with a pond! And to think, he could have easily just passed right on by it by. The very concept was practically painful to think about!
The old man eagerly scurried into the open field like a rat up a drain pipe, with all the desperation of a starved street dog, coat tails flapping a bit behind him. Finally he’d have the relief he had been craving all day! It was an awful thing, to crave something so essential to surviving. But now it would be over! He was going to drink himself silly, make himself as bloated as a ripe berry, and would be sure to take as much water along with him as he could. All he had to do first was fill the metal pan he was carrying and boil the water, which wasn’t all that bad considering he needed to start a fire cook the chestnuts he’d scrounged up a while back anyway. Plus, a pretty little field teeming with lush grass and all kinds of wildflowers seemed like a nice place to camp for the night, he’d be able to sleep right under a view of the stars again.
The German was so excited and preoccupied, it took him much longer than it should have to notice there was also something else in the clearing - something that was definitely an issue. Even though many old and towering trees stood in the way and had blocked his vision until he actually got well into the clearing, it still seemed impressive he’d missed it like that, because of its insane size and what it was.
It was a giant. Medic’s excitement evaporated as soon as he realized what was in front of him, it was like a punch of terror straight and deep into the core of his gut, the sight of it alone winding him. The sight of it made his brain kick into survival mode in a mere second, blood pressuring rising dramatically. It - or was the being more aptly addressed with a he? Ludwig wasn’t sure what to even consider the creature, but the stomach dropping horror of having so abruptly and unexpectedly come across it made him more inclined to use “it” at that particular moment. And said it was a very dangerous threat. He'd heard the dreadful tales growing up, just like all kinder did from their mothers. Villages smashed to bits, entire crops devoured, flesh torn from bone. He could very well die here, a painful and terrifying death. Medic's face tensed and his teeth grit hard into a frown as he forced himself to slow down and skid to a stop, horrified facial expression only becoming more and more intense as the creature turned its head. No doubt it spotted him the instant it glanced round, Medic suspected his bright white coat and quick movement had already doomed him, heart sinking. Blast it all, he’d heard giants were very rare creatures these days, so it was just his luck that he’d find one out in the absolute middle of nowhere. He held in frustrated, frightened German curses and willed himself to pivot and dart back into the woods, but he became frozen solid with panic as it made a move, his heart clenching with pure fear. How could he be so useless! But he simply couldn't move, his usually sharp mind a complete haze. It wasn't exactly fair, dealing with such a large threat so suddenly and while dehydrated.
Time froze for the old doctor as the giant's shadow engulfed him, it was approaching, each footstep shaking the Earth and rattling through every inch of his tiny body. Some distant part of Ludwig's mind grimly noted that it was surprised he hadn't already just slipped into cardiac arrest from the terror that the tremors alone made him feel. His brain went utterly blank when he began to fully comprehend that the being he was staring at was doing the exact same thing right back at him. Dear God, he was actually making eye contact with it. His eyes were locked with those of a huge giant, with a monster that had been known to mercilessly feast upon his kind for centuries, a beast that could catch and kill him with very little effort. The one creature he didn’t have a way of either evading or driving off, he had run into. And not only was it aware of him, it was also rapidly moving towards him. He felt truly helpless and pathetic in that single moment, and he utterly hated it. Never before had he been made to feel so utterly miniscule.
Giants were very, very tall beings, that was a given - but this one seemed it must surely be much taller than the average one - although Ludwig really had no basis for this, and no other specimens to compare it to. It’s height was only getting more and more imposing and terrifying, quickly becoming so much to take in that it made the old Medic's neck ache from tilting so far back as it got closer. Despite the fact Ludwig was currently threatened with such an immense amount of danger and was in mortal peril, he was still himself. And so, he was still ever curious and intrigued. A distant part of his mind was completely fascinated by how odd and almost impossible the giants proportions seemed to be. He knew he really should be thinking about escape instead, but damn it, he couldn’t help it! His mind had always been unable to resist any form of knowledge, this moment being no exception for it. If anything, his interest was even more than usual. He always had liked or wanted to know about the wrong kind of things, things just like this encroaching beast. His brain was teeming with interest and taking in everything it could, even the most miniscule of details, hungrily gathering them all up and comparing and compiling them. He was going to overthink himself into a meltdown at this rate, and yet the mad doctor wasn’t going to even try to stop himself. Who knew when a chance to make such rare kinds of observations would ever come into his life again? Especially if he indeed was about to bite the dust. He wanted to know absolutely every little detail he possibly could surrounding the beast he currently stuck helplessly gazing up at.
As his eyes trailed up; they took a very long time due to the fact the giants legs were simply just so very long. Thin too, they were odd spindly things, almost like he must have short stilts hidden underneath him. They were like the legs of a gangly, newborn foal. Past that, on his lower torso a slight bump stuck out against the lower part of its buttoned up shirt, for lack of a better term, a slight beer belly - meaning the creature was probably not particularly desperate for food, a blessing. Unfortunately though, there was still only a chance Ludwig wouldn’t find himself as a giants meal given it didn’t particularly enjoy the taste of man - if it did, well… maybe he could find some other way out. Convince it he wasn't as fine of dining as the other men it had consumed before.
Ludwig suddenly felt his breath completely hitch, coming to a dead stop as a nervous yelp escaped his frame. Everything happened too fast, before the German could even comprehend the giants arm coming down and reaching out, he felt its fingers make contact with him and bring any attempt at escape to a halt. Immediately he cursed himself for it, despite the fact he was probably about to die, he still damn well wanted to keep his composure and dignity intact, and not scream or God forbid, beg, like some hysterical and pathetic coward. He was above that, even if this was the end of his very life. Swallowing thickly and trying desperately to keep himself calm, Medic was lifted upwards. The feeling of the giant twisting it’s wrist so it could look at its capture face to face, combined with the feeling of his own feet suddenly leaving solid ground as he was moved higher and higher made his stomach pulse with an unbearable sense of both nausea and anxiety, and he took in a sharp, deep gasp to force himself to steel his nerves. The fingers wrapped around his waist and chest securely, yet not so tightly that he was uncomfortable, which he was at least grateful for. His instincts made him struggle for just a moment, before he managed to get them under control and pull himself out of thrashing. Logically, there was no point in doing so. Despite not being painful or distressing, the grip was still much too firm for him to be able to wriggle his way out of it - and falling wouldn’t help, since at this height it was sure to be a guaranteed death. He tried not to look down, as catching a glimpse of the impossible height he was now at made his mind blur and the urge to puke choke his throat.
Once Ludwig was brought up to the giants eye level, and he felt those huge, greyish blue eyes looking over him, he could do nothing but stare back helplessly, his mind going blank and his Adam’s apple bobbing very slowly as he swallowed thickly yet again. He felt so, so hopelessly trapped, and it took all of his willpower not to begin chattering his teeth like a naked man in the artic.
Amidst his horror the giant merely squinted, half of its face shaded by its hat like a tree over the corner of a field. It’s huge eyes idly looked the Medic over, inspecting each and every little piece of him. The human's breath hitched sharply as he realized just as he had been studying the creature in detail, it was now studying and scanning him. Being so close to a face so large was very strange, and yet, he had to admit this giant’s appearance was very much just like a human one, except scaled to be much larger.
Finally, the giant broke the silence and spoke, humming and then breaking out into words.
“Say, you’re some kinda doc, ain’t ya? I could use a doc’s help.” He scratched at the sharp stubble lining his jaw thoughtfully, eyes still squinted and studying. It looked almost like a giant wall of very thick, cropped grass to Ludwig. He rather wondered how it would feel against his hand.
The speech had rather startled Ludwig. His captors voice was loud, yes, but thankfully not particularly painfully or even uncomfortably so. It honestly sounded like it the giant was keeping the volume low for the sake of his tiny ears, which Medic was very grateful for, if so. Medic also noted had an incredibly deep and gravelly sounding voice, even for a creature that big. But it was what was actually said that truly surprised him, not the voice itself. It didn’t seem particularly hostile at all, in fact the giant seemed to have indicated it didn’t want to eat him, at least not right at that moment, and that made his heart flutter with hope - although he still tried to keep himself grounded and on guard. Hoping for the best was fine, but it was wise to still always expect the worst. Still, the giant said it could have use for Medic other than predation for now at least, and the human was going to capitalize on that for all he was worth.
“O-oh! Vhy yes, I am!” He decided to just say yes. The whole medical license being banned situation was honestly irrelevant, he had better medical knowledge than probably all of the other doctors in the world put together, and he damn well hadn’t let it being taken away stop him from practicing. This giant didn't need to get bogged down with stupid details, if it needed medical care, he could provide. Ludwig cleared his throat and attempted a friendly introduction.
“I am Doctor Humboltd, but you can just call me Ludwig or "Medic" if you vould like to. Vhat, e-erm, vhat should I address you wizh, und vhat can I help you with?” He asked.
“Well, I'm sometimes called Snoiper, but you can call me Mundy. And what I need help with is this.”
The giant lifted his other arm, letting out a soft, almost inaudible grunt of pain as he rolled his wrist, the joint crackling like popcorn, and Hans tried not to marvel at the fact he was wearing an actual functioning giant watch or get too distracted thinking wildly about the huge bones underneath that flesh.
“This wrist has been addling me. It’s so damn stiff as of late, always aching something terrible too.” Mundy grumbled and set his arm back down.
“If you could help me a little with it, I’d be roight grateful, and I’ll give ya whatever you need that I can in return, mate.
“Give me…?” Hans asked, unable to hide the fact he was rather dumbfounded upon hearing that. And… it had called him mate? A rather affable slang term akin to… friend? Was he getting that right?
“Well, yeah. You’re doin’ somethin’ for me, so it’s only fair I pay ya for the job. I obviously don’t have money like a human, but I can get you other stuff or do any kind of work you might need. Like felling trees, s’ a walk in the park for a big bloke loike me.”
“S-so… You don’t plan on just, erm, eating me…? Vhen the jobs all done?” He couldn’t help but ask, swallowing and shifting slightly in Mundy’s grip. He was uncomfortable to just blurt it out, but he couldn’t take it any longer, he had to know.
Mundy did a slight double take. “Wot? Nahhhh.” He dragged the last word out as he shook his head.
“‘Course not! I’m no bloody coward. I get why you’d ask though, I know plenty goiants just like me love goin’ round causing chaos for you lot. But it’s just, well, it ain’t fair, is it? Goin’ after a man about the size of me damn palm. It’s just pickin’ on a bloke weaker than me and that ain’t done anythin’ wrong to me for the sake of it, just to enjoy bein’ cruel. No point, I’ve got much better tastin’ grub at home. I ain’t got no need and it’s just bad sportsmanship, S’not… you know, professional.” He explained, shrugging as he ended with that last comment.
“O-oh! Vell zhats good to hear! Very good!” Hans smiled wide at that, letting out a giggle of relief and nodding rapidly with delighted surprise. He couldn’t help but be suddenly overcome with giddy excitement. He wasn't going to die! He would live to see many new days. Of course, it could be a lie Mundy was just telling to lull him into a false sense of safety, sure - but Medic felt like he could just sense it wasn’t. There was a lot of promising evidence pointing towards it being honesty, after all, why else would he have offered payment before he explained all that if he was trying to cover up a lie? And the shock seemed truly genuine enough, too.
The German let out a shaky, relieved sigh, while in the back of his mind feeling rather guilty to have just assumed Mundy was a dim monster, an “it”, although realistically he couldn’t have really known better, given the many stories almost all human children grew up learning. And thankfully Mr. Mundy didn't seem to have taken his question or general trepidation personally or anything.
“I’m razher relieved to hear zhat, in fact.” Medic went on, chuckling. “Yes, zhats very good.”
“Yeah, suppose it is good.” Mundy’s eyebrow twitched as he gave an amused soft snort, knowing there wasn’t any supposing about it. He was being playful. So the giant had a sense of humor too, then, Ludwig noted.
Mundy went back to being a little more serious after that remark, however, speaking again.
“Sorry though, I didn't think. I probably should have toldja that from that start…” The giant rubbed the back of his neck with a free hand, a rather… almost oddly cute look on his face. He looked guilty. It was honestly weirdly sweet, sweet that a huge, hulking giant could have such a sheepish expression and worry about a tiny human’s feelings like that. Deep down, Ludwig could somewhat see why a giant would be led into thinking he was tiny and insignificant compared to them. It was incorrect, he was confident that he had the mind of a God, abilities above all other beings. But he could still somewhat understand why one would hold such views. Still, Mundy clearly wasn't so simple minded. Mundy knew better. How perfect.
“Oh, nein, its honestly quite fine, mein freund! I vould be happy to help you, in fact, I zhink it vould be razher interesting for me to do so! Vell, not just interesting, truly fascinating! I could learn a lot about your species! Ohohoho, not many humans get to do zhat...” Medic couldn’t hide his excitement as the realization struck him about the possibilities for learning and medicine that lay before him now. It turns out, meeting this fellow was actually an incredibly good turn of events! Wonderful, the doctor rubbed his hands together with pure glee.
“Roight.” Mundy answered him, an eyebrow slightly raised at the doctors excitement and odd behavior, but he didn’t seem to mind at all, still placid and chipper enough.
“But what kinda payment do ya want?”
Ludwig was about to say nothing at all, since he was going to already gain so much knowledge from treating Mundy, but he paused and stopped himself. He was basically homeless, and he very much needed help. He should take advantage of the opportunity he had been given. Perhaps… he rather doubted he would get a yes, but maybe… maybe this giant could offer lodgings? His organ thievery and other such heists were only bound to spread from village to village again once he relocated himself, he hated to admit it, but it was true. He would likely just end up getting in hot water again, whether it was sooner or later. Lodging with this giant Australian fellow could be the answer to fixing that conundrum. So he figured it was worth a try. He didn't always have to stay forever with the giant, it could just be temporary, if it didn't prove ideal enough.
“Vell, I suppose… lodgings might be good! The medic tried to give an especially charming smile, pearly whites all on display.
“Just for a bit, ja? I von’t get in zhe vay much at all! All I vould need is food, vater, and a place to sleep!”
“Lodgin’s…?” Mundy couldn’t hide that he was very surprised to hear that.
“But wouldn’t you be uncomfortable, livin’ with a big bloke loike me?”
“No no, not at all! I vould razher enjoy it. And I could keep helping you vizh medical related issues vhile I am zhere! I promise to make myself useful.”
“Roight, yeah… but I’d be a bit worried about… well, steppin’ on ya, mate…” Medic's new pal looked away shyly, it seemed he almost felt like saying that was rather demeaning, since it was pointing out just how small his new friend was. Worried again, how very sweet.
Luckily Medic was not at all offended; he could see how it would be a very real concern to have.
“Ah, zhat vouldn’t be much of a concern at all! I vould stick to near zhe walls at first, und I’m sure we can find a vay of making it so I don’t have to go vhere you may step upon me!”
“Well… I usually sort of loike being alone, and I would have never thought a human would want somethin’ like that… but as long as you gimme me space when I need it, I’d be alroight with that.” Mundy nodded.
Lugwig felt a jolt of excitement rush through him and make his belly tingle with determination and hope. He felt almost numb, his mind giddy and detached from his body, the worn out thing too slow to keep up with his brain. It was so wondrously crazy to him that his life could take such an ideal turn in such a short moment.
“So uh… do I just head home with ya? I’m assuming that backpack means you’re on a journey to someplace else anyway…?” The giant asked tentatively, and had a slight pondering look, overbite pouting outwards even more. Medic understood he would naturally be at least a bit curious as to why he was out here in the wilderness. Well, he’d probably lie about the real reason, just in case.
"Oh, vell! I was more just vandering, studying zhe wildlife. Heading home vizh you would work just perfect!"
“Alroight, well uh, how d’you want me to carry ya? I guess I could try put ya on my shoulder, if you think you wouldn’t fall off. Or maybe uh… my pocket…?” He asked hesitantly.
Ludwig considered his options. The pocket seemed so inviting, he was so very tired… and yet, he still really wanted to keep chatting, and he didn’t trust himself not to fall asleep if he was cozied away inside a fabric hammock.
“Ah, I vouldnt mind either, but I vould prefer zhe shoulder, for right now at least, if zhats alright. I’m more nimble zhan I look, and I vould be able to stay aboard I zhink.” Medic nodded decisively.
Mundy nodded, and gently, very carefully and tentatively, set the human onto his shoulder. The old German felt his bones scream with relief as he finally got to sit down, and he held in a relieved groan.
“Alroight, long as you’re sure. But do you wanna take off that bag and some of that doctoring gear? I don’t know how you ain’t cooked to death wearing all that.”
The doctor sighed with relief yet again, God bless this giant. He nodded and eagerly took off his clunky backpack, then things like his gloves and coat, placing them all into Mundys leathery looking outstretched palm.
“Vell I couldn’t fit zhem inside my backpack, so I could only really vear zhem. I needed to keep a lot of zhings wizh me.” He watched gratefully as all of his things, dwarfed by the size of Mundys hand, were gently set into the giants breast pocket. It seemed like despite his size, Mundy could be incredibly gentle and careful... Another little intriguing tidbit of info!
“So, you said you were studying the wildlife?” The giant asked as he got everything Medic had handed over tucked away.
“Yes! Zhere vasnt any vork for me, so I needed to set out and find somewhere zhat I vas needed. And along zhe vay, I figured I would indulge in some studies I had never found zhe time to before." Medic quickly made up the sort-of-a-lie, it was technically the truth after all. Mostly the truth. It came out of his mouth smoothly and without hesitation, but the doctor was still eager to change the subject.
“Have you ever been examined by perhaps a doctor of your own species? For a check up, to make sure everyzhing is vorking as it should be.” He explained.
Mundy shook his head.
“Nah mate, I don’t tend to really get on with or even meet other people, so I never made the effort to.”
“Vell zhen, perhaps I should check you over everyvhere else too vhen ve arrive at your home! Make sure you’re all healzhy.” He patted Mundys shoulder and then sat up straight and tall, looking proud. He would have pulled and tightened his gloves for effect if he had still had them on. Though he at least still had his manic grin, and it was even bigger than usual. He just couldn't help it!
Ludwig didn't want to let his new arrangement go to his head, but it was all really starting to sink in that he was currently perched on the shoulder of a true giant. He was so high up, the land laid out for miles below him for the viewing and taking, all while he was casually riding atop such a powerful and massive creature. One that could effortlessly level forests and slay men with it's vast strength. A being all men, including any that had or would ever wrong him in the future no doubt feared terribly. Oh, it was simply so exiting! Medic was buzzing all over from the high he felt, though tried very hard to mask it, for at least decency's sake. He wanted to appear calm and cool about all this, lest he gave Mundy any wrong ideas about taking advantage of their new strange relationship. Even if he might try that later, he'd establish at least a little trust and proper goodwill first. After all, an ally unwilling to commit to anything due to a lack of trust wasn't really of any use, it wouldn't be a true ally.
“Hm. Maybe." Sniper grunted in response to Medic's suggestion about an exam.
"But I think at the moment I’m more worried about dinner than anything else. Wot kinda food d'ya like?”
“Oh! Vell, it’s very kind of you to ask me, since I’m just a guest. More zhan anyzhing I vould like a drink! And zhen vell, I am not picky, but...” Medic began to list possible suggestions, seeing what tastes Mundy had in common with him. With the discussion of food occupying them, the pair set off as the late afternoon began to settle in.