Chapter Text
Wake up, Steal, Take care of his younger siblings, sleep, repeat. Ashe woke up praying to the goddess to please grant his siblings a happy ending. He understood that he is far beyond redemption. But his siblings did not deserve this. They did not deserve to have their parents and future taken away like this. “Please goddess, please grant my wish”. He made sure his siblings were still sleeping when he stole. He couldn’t bear to see their expressions, but he will do what it takes for them.
Edelgard was running. She had to run. She couldn’t trust any adults. She didn’t know how long she had been running but it’s not enough. She’s trying to not be noticed, but her raggy clothes and rumbling stomach have made that hard for her. It was the main reason why she hadn’t stolen anything. But she has to now. She did not care about the stealing items, she had to survive.
Get in, get out. As he prepares to rob the marketplace, he takes time to observe the people who will stop him. He doesn’t blame them, he wants another way. But no one wants to adopt them. Times are too tough on everyone. This Is for his siblings, he tells himself. As he hears commotion from the guards, he strikes wondering what caused the commotion.
Edelgard casually walked in the marketplace, trying her best to blend in with the marketplace (Good to know the forced education was useful for something). She knew that no one would question her if she looked like she had a purpose. But as she seizes her prize, she did not see that someone saw her in the act. One can’t account for every factor, especially when hungry. They alerted the guards to her and she books it as fast as she can. Running towards the exit of the village, she almost got away. Except she was tunnel-visioned into looking forward, and that she didn’t see someone trying to stop her by attempting to grab her. The sudden force of the man forced her to drop what she stole. And then the person tried to grab her, but she forced them off through extreme violence, fighting them off no better than a feral beast. After biting her attacker's hand, the person dropped her hand. She didn’t stop running though as her heard guards shout commands. She did not want a repeat of what happened back home. She will not fell the same way her siblings did...
The sun fell before Edelgard felt confident to return. She was even more hungry and was injured. Nothing too serious (she hoped), but it made the hunger worse. She did try to keep to the alleyways and keep her stomach from grumbling too loud. She tried to come up with a plan, but she couldn't think of one. Since the stalls were closed, there wasn't any food readily out for her to steal. And it would be suicide for her to rob a home after what just happened. Yet she did need food now. She hadn't eaten anything ever since she left that ...place
Ashe and his siblings felt the most comfortable so far. Which wasn’t saying much since they are homeless, but it was something. They weren’t starving, thanks to the successful robbery of stolen food and scavenging spots. He should be suspicious that the guards were gone when he entered the marketplace but he will take it as . In fact, they have a little bit of extra food. They still have their blanket and supplies they salvaged before they were homeless. They were a little dirty but they washed off at the nearby river the day before. All in all, they were in good condition. Which made Ashe extra cautious. Karma was a bitch. While his siblings were dozing off, he was put on extra alertness.
That is how he heard the shuffling and rough breathing. “Oh god, please don’t be a monster”, he muttered to himself. Even if it was the guards, he would have to explain why the three of them were sleeping on the streets, and the food that they probably shouldn’t have. He prayed that the creature would go away, but it seemed to be closer and closer. He could hear hearing grumbling noises on top of the other noises which only heightened his fears. So he braced himself for the worst, ready to defend his siblings at the risk of death. With all of this indecision and fear. He was surprised to see the noises were coming from a girl similar from his age. The two stared at each other for a long while not makeing a noise in fear of waking up others, both noting the other’s less than stellar appearance. Edelgard noticed that if the other two were asleep. She could take them all out if she wanted to. But the noise they would make would attract unwanted attention.
Before she could think of another plan or weigh her options, she saw him slowly stand up and grab something behind him. She finds it impossible for him to have a weapon so close to his siblings (she's pretty sure those are his siblings), yet what else would he grab? She then decided her eyesight must be failing her, because it looked like he was holding an apple. He then slowly approached her with his hands in a non-threatening manner. Making sure not to disturb the others. She was shocked that he was offering something to her.
After some time not sure what to do, she ultimately takes the apple and devours it with no regard for dignity. Almost choking in the process until the boy gently hits her back to relieve her. Her captors would be repulsed at her eating an apple like a pig but she could not give a damn. They tortured her, they could burn in hell for all she cares. She was expecting him to be disgusted or preparing to incapacitate her. She was surprised to see him still staring at him. Not in a judgmental or warding manner but in a more kind-hearted way. “Hello” he asked, “How are you?”. He seems nice, she thinks, perhaps too nice as he just gave someone he didn’t know food when he presumably doesn’t have a lot of. “Fine”, she replies. She isn’t very sure what to do. She was about to leave when she heard “Do you have a place to sleep?”, from him.
"What the hell is going on?", she muttered quietly. She really wanted to ask why he's doing this. But she felt really exhausted and she had no other place to sleep. Begrudgingly, she accepted. His confused look told her she was staring at him for way too long. She crawled in next to him expecting him to ask about her abnormal clothing or just to say something rude in general. And yet Ashe did not ask anything, only looking for something as he rummaged through a bag. She wants to ask him why he’s being nice to her when he says out of the blue, “You’re hurt”. Edelgard had forgotten about her injury. She was expecting him to say more but he was focused on bandaging the wound. She was going to reject his aid but she did need the help and god knows where else she would get this help. (She knew one place but she knew the consequences and by god she would rather ...)
Her thoughts were cut off as she felt drowsy all of a sudden. She guessed it was because of how hectic today was. She did not want to ask him for another favor. But she felt the cold breeze roaring in and she did not have another option. “May I sleep.. I mean!! May I share the blanket with you guys?”, with a voice that almost asks to sleep with him. He patted a spot for her to sleep in. As she joins them, she prepares to sleep as she hears “My name’s Ashe”. As she looks at him, he quickly blushes; “S-sorry! It’s just I thought it would be best to say our names!”. She felt a chuckle escape her lips from his embarrassment. Why not, she thought, he helped me out a lot. I don't think he will know who I am (She was too tired to think of another name). “My name is Edelgard. Thank you for helping me.” And she turned her back to him to signal she wanted to sleep now. "Goodnight Edelgard", Ashe said as he turned around and promptly fell asleep. She felt an emotion that hadn’t been there for a while, comfort, as they dozed off.