Work Text:
i.
"Has anyone seen Captain Dainsleif?"
One would usually suggest his office, or the training grounds as Dainsleif would supervise them at this hour. But it was a Sunday, nobody was training at this hour, nor did anyone see him going to his office. Or did no one see him step out of his office? At this point, Rethel wouldn't put that past him. Dainsleif often does that, pulling all-nighters making his reports.
So when none answered him with a reliable answer, he decided to check Dainsleif's office.
To no avail, he found the room as empty as it can be. Not one thing out of place, how boring. The lack of his Captain in the room made it more boring. And annoying. Mostly because he wanted to discuss certain things about their upcoming schedule and training routines for the new recruits. With a short break for coffee and snacks, of course.
Rethel clicked his tongue. The young man closed the door before he was greeted with an awfully familiar grey haired man.
"Rethel, did the Captain ask you to get some documents as well?" What?
He could only frown, not masking his confusion in the slightest. Anyone could see the question marks flying around him, anyone would feel the same way he did if they were in his position. Rethel didn't even meet Dainsleif.
"What documents?"
"I don't know. But he asked to bring the ones in the brown folder," Halfdan walked towards him, opening the door he closed before continuing, "What are you doing here, then?"
He blinked a couple of times. Rethel always thought Dainsleif didn't let anyone go through his office that easily, let alone the documents. But here Halfdan stood, ready to rummage around that very room. He stared at the other, "I'm looking for the Captain. Where is he?"
"The Captain's in my billet..?" What?
Rethel blinked a couple of times faster, "Why's he there?" It'd make more sense in his mind if the man in front of him answered with their Captain's whereabouts being in his own room. At least it'll make it a little more unquestionable, somehow. What time is it even? Probably around 9 to 10 AM, he figured by checking the shadows of the building through a window nearby. "Why—what was he doing? Did he.. sleep? There?"
He's not one to judge. Because, to be completely honest, he wouldn't blame Halfdan either. Their Captain is something. But at the same time, their Captain? Nothing made sense to him anymore.
"No he didn't," Oh. Okay. "He came when the sun rose." What?
"And I'm guessing he hasn't stepped out of your room."
"Oh. You're right." Rethel had the urge to point out how Halfdan didn't even realize that there was no way he could cross paths with their Captain. But something was even more out of place.
"Why did he go there exactly? His own room wouldn't be too far away." Part one, reasoning.
"I thought that too, and he'd usually tell me beforehand when he wants to visit." ???
Rethel's mouth was slightly agape. The sudden information dump was a bit much to handle. Dainsleif visits Halfdan. Okay. But he still gathered his senses and pursued further. Onto the next step, pushing the information out.
"Why did he go there?"
"He said he wanted to talk." Huh?
No more part three.
Absolutely nothing made sense to him.
But again, he wasn't one to judge. Not one to pry on people's business that much either, so he's letting that one go. For now. (So much for not being one to pry on people's business.) Rethel sighed, "Well aren't you two close."
He could swore he saw Halfdan's face lit up in ways you'd expect from someone who just got engaged. Someone who heard yes as the answer. Halfdan scratched his neck sheepishly, "Do you think so? I think he's a really good captain, he takes care of us well." You mean he takes care of you exceptionally well.
Rethel hummed in agreement, "Guess so." He was already too lost in the attempt to figure whatever that was that he didn't have the energy to prolong the conversation any longer. The young man walked away. He only nodded when Halfdan greeted him goodbye, Rethel was busy with his own thoughts.
This was the first piece to his puzzle.
ii.
"No, no, no you don't understand. There's something going on here."
Skeld's first reaction to Rethel's words was a turn in his expression, a frown, and a stern "I don't believe you."
Though he'll admit it did peak his interest - their Captain Dainsleif hitting the sack in someone else's billet, often to add - but it was too absurd that he had no choice but to brush Rethel off as one of his imaginations. No way would Dainsleif be like that.
Yeah.
No way.
Until this very moment, where he witnessed it himself.
Outdoor training. Some of the others had suggested it. To change scenery, they said. The blond man who led them hesitated for a moment, before he gave in when more agreed. So here they were, sweaty and exhausted, lying on the grass as they chatted with one another. It was break time.
Skeld skimmed to check everyone, to see if some were going elsewhere. He checked everyone off his list. Only to eventually notice that someone did go elsewhere. Two of them, if he might add.
One was the leader himself, no less.
Dainsleif tends to supervise from a pretty far spot. The blond young man also rarely blends with them on their breaks these days - work must've been piling up, Skeld guessed the few alone times were needed. So to him, Dainsleif not being near wouldn't be too weird.
Though, Halfdan was a different case.
He wouldn't have thought too much into it if it weren't for Rethel's words. He wouldn't have realized how Halfdan would disappear for quite a while in their breaks either. Skeld connected the dots.
Soon, he found himself rising from his position. The man tried to find the pair. And after a short walk towards a nearby tree, he found them.
He didn't walk right up, keeping a distance. Skeld took notice of the way Halfdan was crouching down, it seemed he was looking at whatever it was gaining his attention. Perhaps a bug. Dainsleif was standing, leaning against the tree, eyes closed with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked at peace.
Not too odd.
The dots from earlier were than dubbed as They're really good friends.
Until he saw Dainsleif's eyes opening slightly, the look he had was excruciatingly tender, a gaze focused on the man crouching down before him. Skeld could make up such a face from this far of a distance because it was so out of place. One he didn't expect coming from his Captain. And it didn't end there.
He watched how the blond man's gaze followed when Halfdan stood up, and eventually turned his body towards Dainsleif. How Dainsleif let the other touch his hair, what for - Skeld didn't know (he thinks it's because a leaf was stuck). How they laughed together. And how Dainsleif held the same kind of gaze still.
Skeld couldn't help but turn his body around. It felt as though the scene before him was of sacred grounds, one he wasn't meant to behold.
He fled. His legs led him back to where he was, where the rest of the Black Serpent Knights were having their break.
His eyes unintentionally wandered around to find Rethel. They met eyes and held contact for a little while. Skeld nodded.
It was a silly gesture. But he figured Rethel would know what it meant. A confirmation.
There really is something.
iii.
From that point on, Skeld picked up on the smaller details. They were unexpectedly pretty noticeable. Like how Dainsleif tends to ask Halfdan to help around, he had thought it was due to Halfdan being one of the youngest - to make the younger ones do the job. But when he connected that one dot to the other, it made a whole different sense.
How Halfdan's gaze would linger on their Captain, lasting for a moment too long. How that same kind of gaze would come from Dainsleif. How Halfdan almost always came by Dainsleif's side when the other showed a moment of tiredness, how Dainsleif let him massage his shoulders and arms, how that happened so casually and they went back to whatever they were doing afterwards.
That's not normal, isn't it?
Especially those gazes. The fondness in their looks would be too.. intimate. Bewitched and lost in their own world, so much so that Skeld is certain these very close individuals are close close. Though, he felt a tinge of guilt still, they're both his friends after all. Not to mention they're work partners. Thinking these thoughts felt wrong, doing it behind the backs of the people in question. Then again, he couldn't help it.
If it weren't for Rethel's remarks, he wouldn't even notice those little things. It's all Rethel's fau—
"Yo, my guy," Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Rethel greeted him by lightly slapping his shoulder, waking him up from his trance and reminded him that he was supposed to be eating now-cold lunch. "You look like you're deep in thought."
Skeld didn't humor him, simply nodding in response. He continued with his food and watched as Rethel took the empty seat across him.
"Rethel," Skeld called out, "About the Captain," just as he mentioned that man, Rethel held his hand up - a motion to say Skeld needed to stop talking. He then munched his food a little faster, before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
Rethel retreated his hand right after, now motioning him to continue with his arms crossed over his chest, leaning against the tabel, "Go on."
"So, about the Captain. I really think—"
"Wait just so I know we're on the same page," Rethel held his hand up again. "This is about that right? You picked something up too, didn't you?" When Skeld nodded as his answer, the man before him copied his gesture, his hand now back to where it was. "Okay, continue."
"Just yesterday, I saw—"
"The lunch today is so good isn't it!!" Why is everyone interrupting him today? Skeld let out a sigh.
Now standing beside Rethel was another one of their mates, Haltaf. He didn't appear to bring any food trays with him, and with the comment he made upon arriving, Skeld figured he finished his own lunch already.
"Hello, Haltaf."
"Haltaf, can't you see we were having a serious conversation?" Rethel teased the younger. "We just got to the good part, man." The both of them bantered amongst each other for a while. But Skeld noticed something.
"Where's Halfdan?" He asked because the grey haired man would usually be with Haltaf. If he wasn't already with Dainsleif, that is.
"He's with the Captain."
"What're they doing?"
"Sparring," Haltaf replied, taking a seat next to Rethel. "I saw them when I was heading here, dunno if they're still at it or not, though."
Hm.
Skeld and the man in front of him shared a knowing look.
They might be reading too much between the lines. They might be too into their own judgments, the dots might not even exist to begin with. They might be stupid, but if they had a mora for every little things they noticed - in this short period of time, more importantly - they would be able to buy a new set of weapon. A hyperbole, truth be told. Or was it?
"Why? Why?" The two kept their eye contact even when Haltaf asked. "What are you guys doing? What does that look mean? Why are you grinning like that, Rethel? Is something going on? What's this about?"
Skeld let out his contained laughter, now breaking his eye contact with Rethel. "It's something." He continued eating, trying to focus on finishing his lunch.
"Is it Halfdan and Captain Dain? Because I—" It's Skeld's turn to interrupt Haltaf. He choked on his food and started coughing violently.
"What the hell?? You noticed it too!" Skeld didn't know why Rethel was excited about it. But he couldn't deny the relief that washed over him at Haltaf's words. So they were not the only ones.
"He's playing favourites, it's unfair!!" Haltaf exclaimed, making a discouraged face. "I saw Halfdan massaging him, right? He looked fine with it, relaxed even. So I thought, let's massage him too! He looks tired all the time. And when we were alone I tried massaging him," the younger man shrinked on his seat, "But then he glared at me and I thought I was gonna die."
Rethel's laugh only made the younger shrink further. Skeld on the other hand chuckled slightly. That's one way to put it; playing favorites. Might be the case. If gazing at the other so lovingly meant playing favourites, then he'll dub it as so.
"He's not even trying to hide it, that Captain," Rethel scoffed. "Lovely."
"It's sad.. I only thought I'll be as close to him as Halfdan is," Haltaf said dejectedly. Rethel reacted the opposite way though, his ears perked. It seemed Haltaf wasn't completely on board.
"Come again?"
"I want to be closer to the Captain."
"You think that's what being close means?"
"Yeah… ? What else could it possibly mean?"
"Are you sure?"
"Is it wrong if I want to be closer with our leader?"
"Haltaf," Skeld interrupted. He could see how the younger grew sadder with each passing moment, and noticed how Rethel didn't seem to plan to properly explain the whole situation. "Do you think I'd look at you like this," it was awkward, the usually rigid Skeld tried to muster the same look Dainsleif had when he gazed at Halfdan. Thoroughly ridiculous. "If I only wanted to be close to you?"
Haltaf gagged.
"Exactly."
Haltaf didn't comment any further. He stayed still. Skeld didn't know why Rethel decided to pat the younger on the back, but it felt appropriate.
"So what you're trying to say is—"
"Yes."
"They're—"
"Probably."
Radio silence. Food untouched and long forgotten now, Skeld broke the silence. "This is what something is."
Another silence. Rethel nodded in agreement, now both his arms crossed over the table. The two of them copied his posture. Not long after, someone approached them.
"... Are you all okay?" A new voice. It was Herger.
None of them responded, they remained unmoving with their eyes casted downwards and hands folded on the table. Herger on the other hand, grew more and more confused at the lack of answer and movement.
Herger wanted to step forward, to sit down with them and properly ask what was happening. But he jumped the next second when Rethel suddenly stood up straight. The sudden movement frightened the poor guy, but he was still concerned. Even more so when Rethel trudged towards him.
"Wh—"
"We're flies, Herger," Rethel put a hand on the other's shoulder, looking straight into his eyes and deadpanned, "Flies." Before walking off somewhere, still heavy on his steps.
Herger couldn't sleep that night.
iv.
About half of the Black Serpent Knights noticed now. There's love in the air. Full stop.
They thought Halfdan and Dainsleif would notice too. At least Dainsleif, since he looked to be the more astute amongst the two. They thought wrong.
They just had a meeting, the Royal Family were having an outing, Dainsleif wanted to update them on certain things. A few remained after it's finished, Halfdan wasn't one of the few who remained. So it was time to go through their scheme.
Rethel proposed the plan to squeeze but a little reaction. Especially from their Captain. The plan was to ask what type of person the Captain was looking for, to be involved with romantically. If he doesn't answer out of confusion, they'll tease him by bringing Halfdan up. The amount of reactions they thought of vary; a glare, a blush, or more confusion, things along that line.
His reaction was none of those.
"Someone like Halfdan, perhaps."
Everyone was caught off guard.
Abort. Abort. Abort. The alarms in Rethel's head were blaring. He was the one who carried out the plan, as he was the one who suggested it. And it seemed natural for him to ask these things compared to everyone. He regretted it.
The ones in the room were indeed the ones who took notice - Rethel, Skeld, Haltaf, and Herger. Herger was dragged into it after a full night of explanation, definitely not with his consent. Did he still feel panic and secondhand embarrassment from the plan's utter failure? Yes.
So he knows what he's been doing, concluded Rethel, his brain cogs trying to find his next move. Should he go straight to his goal or should he tug with a few strings a little? He chose the latter.
"Halfdan?? That's surprising. Thought you'd like the ones who don't talk that much, Capt."
"He can be overbearing at times,"
"I see," Rethel looked towards Skeld, Haltaf. The two who paid attention and had their eyes on him averted their gazes elsewhere. As though they're saying Rethel was on his own. He scoffed mentally. "What do you like about him?"
There was a pause. Before Dainsleif answered, "He smells nice." Excuse me???
"I-is that so?" He cursed in his mind for stumbling on his words. He really didn't expect that out of all things to come from Dainsleif. "That's it?"
Another pause.
"He's soothing to be around," Ah. "Though he needs guidance for every little thing. I find that a bit annoying," Is he just dissing Halfdan right now? "He can be touchy too." Not something I needed to know, sir, but thank you for the information.
"So you like Halfdan?" Rethel didn't want to hear more than necessary and shoot his shots. It was worth it.
A slight shift from his seat, and a stunned expression for a short moment. Dainsleif looked flabbergasted for a split second. Finally, a reaction. Rethel didn't need to piece more puzzles now, even when the reaction lasted as quick as he breathed.
Yes. "No." What do you mean no!!!
Had Rethel did what he just did in his mind, the table in front of them would already be turned. Is he that oblivious or is he just playing?
"Sir, I think you'd make a good couple." He hoped Dainsleif took the bait.
"No, our types don't align. Regardless, I have no intentions to court someone." He's just that oblivious. Rethel felt his eyebrow twitch. He wanted to shove a mirror to Dainsleif's face, to let the man see for himself. How his eyes became soft when talking about Halfdan. How his complexion relaxed, despite the topic at hand was all him dissing the other.
"Then why do you say you want to be with someone like him?"
"Because he doesn't ask me things like this," Dainsleif replied with a straight face, keeping his eye contact with Rethel before he went back to the paperwork in his hands. "Now go back to prepare for the trip. We are to depart soon, only bring the necessary things with you."
He and the rest were dismissed.
"Yes, Captain Dainsleif." Rethel could swear someone snorted in between their salutation. A vein popped on his temple, but he did his salutation and followed the rest outside. That happened way too quickly.
Rethel held the need for him to scream out You're in LOVE, my dear captain. and he's sure the rest of them felt the same way. They walked together in silence.
When they knew they were already out of Dainsleif's earshot, some laughed. Mostly Haltaf. Herger rubbed his temple and Skeld sighed. Rethel didn't move an inch when the laughter started. He stared blankly at whatever was in front of him, before yelling;
"Are you serious?"