Chapter Text
O~o~O
The youth of Loutro only needed a little guidance to remember how to celebrate. The Black Bulls were excellent teachers in this department, especially with the aid of Charmy, whose sheep chefs set about grilling enough meat for everyone for everyone to eat to their heart's content. And if they didn't want anymore, Charmy was capable of convincing even the most stubborn among them to take another full plate anyway. Funny girl. Charlotte was encouraged to eat until she was sure she would not be hungry again for another week.
The entire town rejoiced. Charlotte had suggested they set up in the town square, directing where they should set up tables and chairs to best accommodate everyone. Charmy's setup was a little more complicated, but they made it work. Where they didn't have chairs, people laid out blankets. But it didn't seem like people were in the mood to do much sitting.
Mayor Leon used his magic to light up a bonfire that the Black Bull boys had all built, and the town's cheer could be heard for miles.
Charlotte could not imagine how the villagers felt. They had been barely scraping by only hours ago. And suddenly they had all the tools necessary to turn things around and begin again, even despite all they had lost. It was a frantic, hysterical kind of joy that she would gladly leave them to, even if their work wasn't quite done. She spectated for the most part once the party got going after returning from a quick trip to her camp to remove her armor. Participating when polite, happily humoring conversation, but mostly keeping out of the way. Night had fallen and she was sure to give an update to Marx, who was understandably surprised that the Black Bulls had managed to turn things around so quickly. He almost couldn't hear her over all the music and laughter.
Charlotte had come from plenty, but she was familiar with loss and the abject horror that came with unprepared leadership not quite being enough to overcome obstacles. It did not feel right to impose herself on a night that truly belonged to the ones who were learning that everything would be okay. So she stood back, breathing it all in from a distance.
“Captain Charlotte, come drink with me!” A tipsy witch swayed to and fro as she waved, her words slurring a little. “C'mon, Miss Rosy Posy. Come on over here.”
A cute little cat wound its way around Charlotte's legs, blinking up at her with a pleased mew. She looked up to see Vanessa. “I certainly can't take my alcohol as well as you. I don't think I make a very good drinking buddy.” She admitted as she approached, keeping an eye on where Vanessa rocked dangerously close to a wooden beam. Wouldn't want her hurting herself.
Vanessa tossed her head back and laughed. Sweet and free. Her pretty coils of hair shone in the gentle firelight of the bonfire behind her. Charlotte felt a flicker of that juvenile jealousy that had flared up before; she got along very well with Yami, and she was a lovely and fun woman to be around. Who wouldn't want to be with her?
Such a silly thing to be thinking about. She shouldn't be pitting herself against another worthy woman that way.
A bottle was pressed into her hand. “I can see right through you, Captain. Riiight through you.” Vanessa wavered as she gestured, poking Charlotte in the forehead. “You're not as cold as you pretend to be. I know it. Have a sip. I promise this is some good stuff.” she giggled.
“Good stuff, you say?” Charlotte peered into the bottle.
The cold air was crisp as she breathed in, sharp in the back of her throat. The entire town square was alight with people laughing and dancing, smiles illuminated with warm orange lights. It was a strange hour to be awake on an autumn night, but it felt cozy as well. Somehow familiar, and yet completely new at the same all at once. Autumn was always such a nostalgic season. The smell of the bonfire burned her nose and reminded her of simpler times. With a shrug, Charlotte brought the bottle to her lips and took a sip.
A bubbly sweet taste took over her senses. And predictably, a wave of pressure on her head overtook her sense of reason and she found herself stumbling into the beam she'd been watching out for.
Charlotte chuckled to herself and rubbed her face. She really was not very good with alcohol.
Cheering, Vanessa clapped her hands. “Yay! Yes, Captain, you deserve to let loose! Enjoy yourself!” She looked down at the ground and nearly pitched forward. “Oh, Rouge, I know. Silly kitty. There's always more to say.”
Music started up again from the bonfire. Charlotte smiled when she heard the roar of the excited crowd and the immediate change in trajectory as dozens of people moved together in a disorganized dance. The bottle in her hand was nearly finished before she had even gotten it. “What did you invite me to drink for? Everyone thinks I'm so…” she found herself slurring, and covered her face when she gave a weak chuckle. “I'm so uptight. I'm not fun. Not like you.” To punctuate, she decided to finish off the drink. It was a pleasant taste, now that she thought about it. Tart and fizzy.
Vanessa threw an arm across Charlotte's shoulders. “You're plenty fun, don't say that!” she pouted. “Rosy Posy. I asked you to drink because I wanted to apologize.”
Blinking several times, Charlotte felt her face scrunch up and betray her confusion. “Huh?”
The cat rubbed up against her shin, the tip of her tail flicking with contentment. Vanessa sighed and draped herself over Charlotte for a moment before finding her balance. “I wanted to say sorry. Because I was, I was rude to you.” She leaned down to pick up Rouge, stroking her little head, and somehow managing to not keel over in her state. “The Black Bulls, we're a weird bunch. We just say things. Whatever is in our silly little brains. So I just asked if you two slept together. I said it to embarrass you, and I'm sorry.”
Raising her head a little, Charlotte realized she was talking about that morning when she was giving orders with Yami. Ah. “I see,” she said, suddenly self conscious.
“I mean it, that was out of line. The truth is that Captain Yami…He's a lot. He was like the first guy I ever met. Pshh. But you know, he's unique and he was nice to me and invited me to join his squad. So I had a little crush on him. But I think I always knew that he would never be with me.” Vanessa laughed good-naturedly, and let her shoulder rest against Charlotte's. “He's a good Captain. Would never take advantage of his naïve subordinates. But also, he just kind of avoids connection that way in general. But you? You're the Charlotte Roselei!” She snorted, and suddenly burst out laughing.
Uncertain of where this was going, and also a little under the influence, Charlotte found herself laughing awkwardly along. That's right. She was the Charlotte Roselei. The ultimate ice queen. “Right,” she muttered, shivering a little when the chilly breeze disturbed the warmth of the alcohol in her system.
Vanessa straightened up with wide eyes. “No, no! You're the Charlotte Roselei, probably the most badass woman in all of Clover! You know how sexy that is? So once I figured out you also had a crush on Captain Yami, I, you know, wasn't being much of a girl's girl. I was jealous. Because obviously between us, I mean…” she gestured vaguely. “There's no competition. Anyway. I just wanted to say that I'm sorry. I think you're awesome, and I don't really know exactly what is going on between you and my Captain. But from here on out I'm gonna support it. I think you both deserve happiness, and I really have to admit that you two would be great together.”
Startled, Charlotte almost dropped the empty bottle. “Vanessa,” she let out weakly. Rouge took the opportunity to slip from Vanessa’s grasp and slink off somewhere.
It seemed the witch had the same misconception that she had. And yet, she had been the one to come forward with noble honesty. While Charlotte felt ashamed that she hadn't done so first, she certainly admired the easy way Vanessa could admit to her failings.
Before Vanessa could turn around, Charlotte reached out for her. “I have to apologize as well. The jealousy was mutual. It was unbecoming to act in such a way, and I am ashamed as a woman to have behaved in such a way towards you. I thought that I was better than that.” She wavered a little when she stepped on a rock, but luckily caught her balance. The vague thought that it was so strange two Black Bulls had independently picked up on her feelings came up in the back of her mind. But the alcohol somehow quashed the discomfort. No point in denying it. “I'm sorry, too. It shouldn't have been a competition. But I always believed it was the other way around; I thought Yami would prefer someone more fun and flirty. Who could go out and have a good time with him. And I sort of always saw you as the epitome of, well, everything that I'm not. Exciting, fun, and playful.” She fiddled with her sleeve. There was very little about Charlotte that was playful. Even when Yami teased her, she couldn't quite return that energy the same way. Not like Vanessa could.
Vanessa's jaw dropped. “Captain Charlotte,” she admonished. “You did not just say that. Like. I'm just some floozy, but you got class. I mean, I know what you're saying. I think we're both just being a little bit insecure. But listen to me, Rosy Posy, I've been out drinking with Yami enough times to tell you that he doesn't need someone who knows how to goof off. Otherwise I would've had that stupid hunk locked down ages ago.” She wagged a finger with an exaggerated expression and pose that was so funny that Charlotte startled herself with a snort.
“No,” Charlotte let out, trying not to laugh. “Don't say such degrading things about yourself, you're a woman and you enjoy your femininity. I wish I could be more like you. I always thought he would appreciate that.”
Was it really a good idea to go spilling out these thoughts all over this peaceful evening just because Vanessa had given her some alcohol? Probably not, but here she was. With all those stupid ideas wondering if there was anything she could have said or done differently to make Yami see her as a woman. She certainly appreciated the attention he did give her, and he probably did see her as plenty feminine, but she could not help thinking it anyway. It was just as Vanessa said. Silly and insecure. She knew all along that she ultimately would not change who she was, but the theories drilling in her subconscious always went on about how if she was a little more woman and a little less warrior, then maybe Yami would have seen something in her.
Did it really matter now? Yami was spending time with her. He seemed intrigued, at the very least. She was quite literally living out her dream, more than she had ever dared to hope. And yet she still had all these hangups.
Vanessa reached out and grabbed both her shoulders. “Listen to me. I'm your new best friend.” She said, in that very helplessly earnest way that only drunk people could manage. “First, I am a floozy and I'm proud. I was in a cage for a really long time. So this is how I express myself and I like it. Doesn't make you any less feminine. Second, I'm saying this as your best friend. But you might be just as dense as he is if you don't think he appreciates you. I saw the way you two argued this morning. He was having a blast! He always does when he picks on you. I know him, and I know that he volunteered the Black Bulls to come help out down here the second the Wizard King said your name. He's been calmer since we got to town. He thinks he's sneaky, but that bastard doesn't know that he can be as easy to read as the damn alphabet.” She flipped her hair back over her shoulder, grinning and shaking her head.
So crass language was common among all the Black Bulls, it seemed. Charlotte couldn't help the laugh that sputtered out of her from how Vanessa spoke. At the same time, the sheer delight flushing through her from knowing that Yami had indeed come to Loutro simply because he wanted to see her knocked the breath out of her lungs.
“You see? Come on, Rosy Posy. You're the woman for him. Honestly, I think it's really sweet. Between you and me, some of my squadmates have a bet going.” Vanessa cast furtive glances around and covered her mouth as if anyone could hear. “The boss snuck out of the base late a couple of times recently, and didn't get back until the morning. Magna and Gauche thought he was out gambling solo. Asta and Luck thought he was training because they’re a couple of block heads who don’t think about anything else. But Finral and I had a theory that he was going out to visit a lady friend, a very famous briar mage in particular!” She booped Charlotte's nose.
It was warm. Was it warm outside? Charlotte felt like she might be on fire. “Oh,” she stammered, and Vanessa tossed her head back and laughed.
“I knew it! Your face is so red! Oh, man those boys are gonna be such sore losers. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone just yet. But you know, I might not have to if you put the moves on him and get things rolling…?” Vanessa waggled her brows, and Charlotte resisted the urge to cover her face. “Come on, give me some details, girl. We're best friends, right?”
How could she even begin to explain the space she and Yami were in? She couldn't just outright say Yami had been coming to stay with her because he was struggling to rest. That was too much for her to give away about him, especially to a subordinate. And it would be so awkward to explain that Yami did in fact know her feelings. But to be any more vague would make it sound as if they were secretly sleeping together, and having that rumor flying around was just a little too much for Charlotte to bear.
Luckily, Vanessa took pity on her before she could try to answer. “Boo. It's okay, I understand. It's all so new and risqué. Better to enjoy it and keep it between you two until you're ready. But seriously, you're amazing and he would be insane if he didn't return your feelings. Why don't you go look for him? I bet he would kiss you if you asked, you know?” She gestured behind her toward the party, which showed no signs of slowing down.
A loud meow at their feet startled both of them. Charlotte and Vanessa looked down to see Rouge.
“And Rouge agrees with me!” Vanessa laughed as the cat gave a graceful hop back up into her arms. “Pretty kitty, where did you run off to?”
Charlotte still didn't understand much about the cat. She knew the magic had something to do with fate, but the mechanics were completely lost to her. It didn't really matter too much to her at the moment; the idea of just walking up to Yami and asking him to kiss her ran rampant in her imagination. Charlotte was painfully aware that in this case, she did not have the bravery necessary to be so forward. So it would have to be yet another scenario that haunted her dreams.
When she didn't say anything, Vanessa let out a light sigh. “Alright, come here. You gotta relax. And first things first, you gotta undo the hair. It's good you don't have your helmet. Here…” She reached up and gently began to undo the braided bun at the top of her head.
It was rare for anyone else to touch her hair. Charlotte stood uneasily while Vanessa carefully unwound each braid until her blonde hair fell in waves down to her shoulders. All except for the strand along her temple. She hadn't realized just how much the tight pull on her scalp had contributed to the stress she felt until it was gone. It was a friendly feeling to have them undone for her. “Thank you,” she said quietly.
“Wait, make me a couple of roses,” Vanessa requested excitedly. Rouge leaned in to sniff her shoulder, and Charlotte could hear soft purring.
With a shrug, Charlotte frowned as she used her briar magic to create a handful of bright red rose blooms. “Here,” she said.
Vanessa took them with a pleased hum, and placed every bloom in her hair, one by one. They each had a little bit of the stem, which snagged on her hair in a few places, but Vanessa seemed to be doing something very purposeful so Charlotte didn't mention it. Drunken creativity was a curiosity on its own, anyway. So even though Charlotte was pretty sure she probably looked like she ran headfirst into a rosebush, she nodded appreciatively when Vanessa went “Ta-da!”
“Thank you,” Charlotte said, trying not to wince when Rouge batted at one of the roses, pulling at a lock of her hair. She was a cute cat. Charlotte shook her head and stroked her little face.
Vanessa giggled. “No, thank you for drinking with me. I think you should go find Captain Yami now. I thought I saw him loafing around somewhere on the fringes, too. Sheesh, you two are so much more alike than everyone thinks. You both need to learn how to relax more. Go on, then! Go get your man.” She teased.
Rolling her eyes, Charlotte chuckled and looked toward the town square. Yami was somewhere over there, keeping his distance like she had been. Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to pay him a visit; there were some things she wanted to discuss with him. “Thank you Vanessa,” she said sincerely, and offered another rose for Rouge to play with.
Vanessa beamed, and let Rouge butt her head against Charlotte's hand one more time. And with that, the witch took the empty bottle and traipsed off, back toward the party.
The effects of the alcohol still buzzed around in her head, but being confronted directly about her relationship with Yami had sobered her back up for the most part. Such an embarrassing conversation. But enlightening, as well. It was really nice to know that she could get along with Vanessa without any more animosity. Charlotte took her time as she moved through the newly paved paths, marveling at the new houses in the dim lamplight and halfway wondering if they would want rose bushes for their landscaping. She really would have to ask Henry about his power to learn how the renovations were done so quickly. Loutro was hardly recognizable from the barren state she had found it in.
A giggle drew her attention. To her right. Charlotte saw a few crates of supplies stacked next to the path. Feeling like she recognized the voice, she turned and started walking toward the crates.
The giggling got louder. Charlotte couldn't help an amused smile as she came upon a grinning girl crouched in the dirt.
“Viper,” Charlotte gave an exaggerated gasp, pretending to be surprised, which made Viper laugh harder.
She clambered over next to the girl, following her position behind the crates as if she was taking cover from an enemy's offensive. She lowered her voice to a conspiratorial tone. “What are we doing over here? I'm sure it's much more fun in the town square.” It seemed the alcohol affected her just enough to make her be a little silly.
Viper giggled so hard that she stumbled and fell back on the ground. “Shh! I'm hiding from Kobra!” She clutched Charlotte’s sleeve to get back up onto her knees. Her arms were streaked with dirt, and her little trousers were covered in grass stains. She'd certainly had her share of fun during the party.
Chuckling, Charlotte let Viper shimmy up close, pressed against her side. “Where is Kobra? Does he know you're hiding from him?”
At the mischievous grin that Viper answered her with, Charlotte guessed the answer. “No, I'm gonna surprise him!” the little girl exclaimed. Her master plan was surely flawless, except for the tiny detail that Kobra didn't actually know he was playing a game with her.
Charlotte shook her head in amusement. “How will he find you if he doesn't know you're hiding?”
Distracted, Viper didn't answer her question. “You have flowers in your hair, Charly!” Her big eyes fixed on Charlotte's hair and the roses caught in it.
With an easy movement, Charlotte activated her magic and whispered a soft spell. Viper's expression lit up as a small bundle of briars wove together and bloomed into a small crown filled with big roses. “There you are, now you have some, too.” Charlotte placed the crown on Viper's head. “I hereby declare you the princess of hide and seek, because you have the most secret hiding spot.”
Tiny hands patted gently around for the roses on her head. Viper beamed and threw her arms around Charlotte's waist. “I'm a princess!” she exclaimed, and they both laughed. She really did make a cute princess.
Once Viper calmed down, Charlotte squeezed her shoulder. “Now that you're a princess, why don't we go find your brother to show him?”
Viper shook her head. “Nuh-uh. I wanna wait for him.” At Charlotte's skeptical look, she added, “Just a little longer! Please?” It was hard to resist that pleading expression, especially slumped into her. It was so new for a child to be so comfortable with her so quickly. A warm, unfamiliar weight on her side. And the poor thing was only wearing short sleeves, so she must have been quite cold. Charlotte wrapped her cape around Viper and kept it secured there with her arm.
“Alright, but just a little longer,” she relented, and Viper snuggled closer.
From where they crouched in the dirt, Charlotte could see a sliver of the bonfire going. Shadows rippled along the ground as people continued to dance. The smoke wafted up in the sky, meandering around toward the stars. She couldn't hear as many children out anymore. It was getting quite late. Viper settled against her with a soft sigh.
Kobra likely wouldn't think to come looking for Viper along the dim path. If he came looking at all. Perhaps he was resting. Or, Charlotte considered he may have been avoiding the party altogether. It could be an overwhelming setting. Especially to be around people who didn't think he deserved to be fed. She certainly saw the church workers at the party, indulging themselves the same as everyone else. But she had seen Kobra talking with a couple of the Black Bulls; maybe they had befriended him. Hopefully he had found some way to enjoy the night.
She supposed she would find out soon. Glancing down, Charlotte smiled when she realized Viper had fallen asleep against her.
“Alright,” she whispered, easing her arms around the child. “How about we go find Kobra? Then it'll be bedtime for you.”
It took her a little bit to get situated, but she was able to maneuver Viper up a little higher so she could hold her close to adjust her stance and stand up. Viper stirred, mumbling in her cape, but didn't wake up.
Charlotte admittedly had not spent a lot of time carrying children around, but something in her felt very warm at the thought that this precious little girl trusted her so much despite barely knowing her. For someone so young, she had lost possibly more than she could fully understand, yet managed to be so happy. She wondered if that was a testament to Kobra's care for her, or if it was perhaps intrinsic to who Viper was. It was hard to say. Everyone handled grief differently.
Her boots crunched on the gravel as she walked carefully toward the town square, careful not to jostle Viper. Luckily, the voices and music didn't seem to disturb her even as she emerged into the thick of the party. Some of the villagers caught her eye as she passed and grinned, warm and knowing. A few raised their glasses at her. She was folded easily into the celebratory atmosphere as if she were an old friend, not like she had barely arrived a couple of days ago.
It was kind of sad that it was so weird for her to feel welcome, Charlotte reflected with a wince, but it was the life she led as a military leader. She had thought these people would want to see her strength, not her sentimentality. So it was hard for her to process when villagers offered her a drink or a treat as she moved through the area, and she would have to awkwardly decline and explain that she was looking for Kobra. She was almost grateful for the excuse not to join them. Not because she didn't want to, but because she wouldn't have known how to carry herself in a casual conversation with them at all.
One of the mothers mentioned she might have seen Kobra go by, and gestured in the direction toward the newly renovated town hall. Charlotte thanked her and started to walk that way.
Viper clutched at her cape in her sleep. Charlotte couldn't help a small smile at the sheer sweetness of the child.
Just as she stepped out of the town square along another path, she thought she heard voices.
She was too far away to make them out. Hoping one was Kobra, she moved closer, only to freeze when she heard her name.
“...trying to explain about Captain Charlotte!”
Charlotte frowned. That sounded like Asta, his loud voice echoing off the wall a few corners down.
“There ain't nothing to explain.” A stern voice replied, and Charlotte's eyes went wide when she recognized Yami. “Just what are you going on about Charlotte's ki for, anyway?”
“S—sorry, Captain Yami. What I'm trying to say is that Captain Charlotte acts around you the same way that Noelle does around me!”
“Haven't we had this conversation before? What's that got to do with anything?”
“Because! I can sense it in her ki. See, Noelle's ki feels the same around me as Captain Charlotte’s does around you. Noelle likes to act like she doesn't care, but I can sense that she doesn't mean it.” Asta sounded excited and a little exasperated. “I know she really cares about me even though she beats me up a lot!”
Yami scoffed. “Yeah? Figures, you would be into something like that, you little freak.”
“Into that? What does that mean?”
“Don't worry about it. Listen, it's obvious you only have so much brain power, so don't go wasting it worrying about Charlotte. She can handle her business and you'll only piss her off if you try to be nosy.”
Shaking her head, Charlotte adjusted her hold on Viper and started to walk quietly closer.
Asta sputtered. “But—! Captain, I really think she—!”
“Oop. Busted,” Yami said suddenly, and Asta fell quiet.
When she stepped out in their view, they were already looking in her direction. They stood on a smaller path that branched out from the main road between two rows of modest houses. Asta's mouth was open, as if he were about to say something, his eyes wide. Yami seemed as unbothered as he always did.
At least Asta had the wherewithal to look embarrassed. “Captain Charlotte!” He rubbed the back of his head. “Hi there! Did you, um. Did you just get here?”
“She heard enough. Probably half the town heard you, loud as you talk. Come on, you should know how long she was standing there for, since you're the one going on about her ki.” Yami flicked the back of Asta's head, causing him to yelp. “Go on, kid. Get outta here before she decides to start using you as target practice. I'll cover for you.”
“But she—she doesn't seem mad or anything, though?”
“Then don't give her a reason to be by sticking around. Have a sense of self preservation and go back to the party, I'll handle her wrath. Go, go on, shoo.”
Asta looked back at Yami, clearly confused by the deadpan delivery of such urgent words. But finally, looking back and forth between the Captains, he decided to obey. He shuffled past Charlotte with an apologetic and strangely attentive expression. She heard his footsteps as he broke into a jog to head back toward the square.
Yami met her eyes. They shared an amused look. “Yo. You starting up a daycare or what?” he asked, nodding to Viper.
Shrugging, Charlotte looked down at Viper's sleeping face. “Not quite. Though if I ever did, I'd be sure to ask your advice since it seems as if you're already running one with the Black Bulls.” She quipped with a slight smile.
“Very funny,” Yami rolled his eyes with a grin as he stepped closer. “Ignore him. I shouldn't have taught him how to read ki. He senses you accurately, but doesn't even know how to interpret it. He keeps comparing you to Noelle, but if he can't figure out that she's got a crush on him, then he sure as hell ain't gonna figure us out. So anyway, what's the deal with that one?” He got closer and observed the girl in her arms.
Charlotte's heart skipped a beat. Figure us out? He came to a stop a few inches closer than he normally would, leaning around to look at Viper's face with her cheek smushed against Charlotte's shoulder. While it was very interesting to note that a member of the Silva family had a crush on the most famous commoner in Clover, Charlotte couldn't really focus on that when Yami so casually mentioned them as if they were in the same situation. Yami was kind enough not to say anything even though she saw the way his eyes darted up to her again. Nothing could escape his attention. At least as far as she was concerned. “Um,” she hesitated, certain she was blushing. “She, uh. She's Kobra's little sister, Viper. I found her hiding across town, but she fell asleep. I don't know where she's staying. Any chance you've seen Kobra?”
Planting his hands on his hips, Yami looked up in thought, narrowing his eyes. “That's the brat we saw earlier? Nah, I haven't seen him.” He shook his head. “So what's up with the new hairstyle? You look like you got in a fight with your own magic and lost to the roses.”
Ah. The roses. Charlotte had almost forgotten. “Vanessa,” she explained with a shrug. “She thought I needed to let my hair down.”
It wasn't like she could just come right out and tell him all about the somewhat drunken heart-to-heart that she had with one of his squad members. Luckily, it didn't seem that she needed to, because Yami nodded along. “Yeah, that sounds about right. But did she have to put all the flowers in there like that? It looks painful. Here…” he shifted around to stand behind her.
Charlotte's eyes widened. She felt his fingers gently start to work through her hair to untangle a rose. Despite all the snags, he was so careful that she didn't feel so much as a tug at all.
For the second time, someone was touching her hair. It was different when it was another woman; when Vanessa had unwound her braids, the action felt companionable. Calm and sisterly. Not that she was overly familiar with that sensation either, but it was an entirely different ordeal with Yami.
His steady breath. The confident ease of his hands. The tender contact at every brush along her scalp. She became conscious of the tension in her shoulders, as well as a soft suggestion in the back of her head that she could relax if she would just let herself. When Yami's fingers combed over a particularly sensitive spot, Charlotte slowly closed her eyes as a strong wave of tingles overtook her other senses, and a sudden memory jumped to mind. A flash of nostalgia. Sitting before a relative that she couldn't remember but felt very fondly for in the parlor of the Roselei manor. Fingers carding gently through her hair. A soft, familiar croon at how pretty her golden locks were. She had to have been a child, barely Viper's age.
How had Yami's simple actions managed to hurl her mind so far back? Charlotte hadn’t been sure she even recalled from when she was that young. Yet for some reason, such a gentle touch had accessed some part of memory that she hadn’t thought about in years.
Guiltily, she let him take his time. She would not dare mention that the roses were from her magic, so she could simply dismiss them and they would dissipate right out of her hair.
Or maybe he knew it. He always seemed to be a step ahead of her on these things. Either way, he pulled out the roses one by one, letting them fall to the ground and being sure to not let any of the thorns so much as scratch her. Charlotte could not help the tiny sigh that escaped her.
“There,” Yami's voice was a quiet rumble behind her, as he detangled one last rose and gingerly combed through the last strands. “That should feel better.” His hands hovered, as if he were hesitating.
A little dazed, Charlotte struggled to open her eyes. “Thank you,” she murmured, and startled herself by how distant she sounded.
She swore she could feel Yami's gaze on her as if it were a tangible weight. Heavy and compelling. She nearly felt as if such a weight were drawing her in; only a half step back and she would bump right into him. Her heart thudded along in her chest. The anticipation heightened all her senses, and she had to try very hard not to gasp when she felt his hands go through her hair one more time. Gathering it all up until he could hold it in one hand. He slowly brought his hand down, letting her hair slip smoothly along his palm, but the moment before he reached the ends of her hair, he brought up his other hand and repeated the motion a few times. Almost for the simple act of feeling its texture, she assumed. She wasn’t quite sure.
It felt nice in any case. Her scalp tingled pleasantly, and her whole body flushed under his attention. For such a tough man to be so gentle made her chest ache with warmth for him.
“So what are you gonna do about Viper?” He asked in a low voice, finally breaking through the dreamy state he had put her in.
Between the child in her arms and the man at her back, Charlotte had nearly forgotten that it was cold outside. Yami didn’t move from behind her, so she turned her body slightly so they could both look down, quiet as Viper continued to sleep. “I need to find Kobra. She’s under his care. I’ve been trying to get that kid’s trust, and I feel like I’ll break it a little if I were to just leave her with someone else. Besides, it’s not so much trouble. She’s really sweet.” She smiled at Viper; it was very hard to keep a straight face when looking at such an adorable child. After a moment, she looked back up to meet Yami’s eyes. “Will you help me look for him?”
Yami’s expression had clouded over with that strange look he’d had before when he met Kobra. Guarded, closed off. “Yeah. Sure,” he agreed, though his voice was distant.
Frowning, Charlotte felt a little smaller as she carried Viper. Like the favor was a burden to ask of him. Was it really so much trouble? She was just happy to spend any time she could get with him. “You don’t have to,” she tried to offer, but Yami seemed to come back to himself for the moment and shook his head.
“No, I’ll help. He’s probably out somewhere this way, right?” He gestured towards the main road she had come from, and turned to guide her along with his hand on her back. “Can’t be too far.”
That was what Charlotte had originally thought, yet here she was, still toting his sister around. She really didn’t mind, but she got the sense that it made Yami uneasy somehow. The way he lashed out earlier. The cryptic stare when he’d walked off. Side by side, she walked with Yami, quietly trying to figure out the best way to approach him. He had opened up to her about more serious things, right? Surely it couldn’t be that hard to explain why he was being hostile towards a child. Poor Kobra had to deal with a lot and he really didn’t need a whole captain giving him any more to worry about.
She glanced up at him before returning her eyes to the path. “Can I ask you something?” Her voice came a little more uncertain than she had meant it to. Something about the whole situation made her instincts react with caution; it was the same feeling she got if she knew there was a wasp nest, she just didn’t know where it was. Plus, Yami’s hand on her back kept her heart in a perpetual pounding state.
Yami was not one to show his emotions very clearly. Perhaps Charlotte had gotten a little ahead of herself, thinking she had gotten better at reading him after he had opened up to her a couple of times. But the man beside her abruptly became almost entirely devoid of any mood at all. As if all expression had been sucked out of him. Charlotte swallowed hard. Was it his magic? Some kind of cloak? Just what kind of wasp nest had she stumbled on? She watched him out of the corner of her eye, wary. “What do you want to know?” He asked tonelessly. There wasn’t even a hint of annoyance or defensiveness. His hand fell away from her back, and the distance between them grew even though he still walked right beside her. There was nothing at all. A complete dead space.
It scared Charlotte a little, if she were honest. Her heart rate picked up for entirely different reasons than before. “I just…” She blinked, and subtly readjusted her arms around Viper again, holding her tighter. Taking a deep breath, she tried to steel herself. Whatever Yami’s reasons were, it wasn’t right for him to be so hard on the boy, and she had to make sure he knew it wasn’t an acceptable way to behave around a child. “You were unfair to Kobra earlier. He’s been through a lot. And while I understand he might behave rudely, we are the adults here, and it is our responsibility to model upstanding behavior to the youth. Especially as captains. We are responding to an emergency situation, so there may be people who require more grace. He's not a magic knight in training; he's a child that has suffered a horrible loss. I have spoken to him about being more respectful, and to be frank, I am a little disappointed that I must have the same discussion with you. So, what’s the issue there?”
The void beside her gave nothing away. Not even a flicker in his eyes. Blank and unfeeling.
No, not unfeeling, Charlotte reminded herself. This was some kind of guard he put up to hide what he was really thinking. Despite how it unsettled her, she had to persist if she really wanted to get through to him.
But he was quiet. They had made it closer to the town square. Charlotte slowed down the pace, walking slower to stall. Giving him time.
After an uncomfortable minute, Charlotte started to consider ways to backtrack and find another angle, only for him to finally answer. “He reminds me of someone,” he said vaguely, mechanically. “Not fair to put that on him. I'm sorry.”
Charlotte blinked several times. “Oh,” she murmured, as Viper began to stir in her arms. The new drumming music must have disturbed her sleep as they approached the square. Charlotte stopped walking and faced Yami, keeping them from crossing into anyone's sight just yet. He had given a much more mature response than she had anticipated, if still distant, and she thought it was important to acknowledge it. “Well, I appreciate that. But I'm really not the one you should apologize to.” She hoped he wasn't taking her the wrong way. It wasn't like she meant to grill into him because she thought he was a bad person for how he acted.
Meeting her eyes, Yami gave a single nod. Charlotte thought she saw a flicker of something in that dusky gaze of his. A glimpse through a window. Hallowed and subdued.
Whatever wasp nest she kicked over by accident, it seemed to go deeper than she thought.
His eyes darted toward the town square before fixing on her again. If she hadn't been around him so much, she might have missed the slight signal. It likely wasn't intentional, but he was hesitating and he was not calm.
Viper started wriggling around a little more in her grasp, but Charlotte was still able to reach out and touch Yami's arm. She tried to convey with her expression alone that she didn't need to hear any more. They could revisit later if he was comfortable. Somewhere quieter, somewhere safer. He honestly didn't need to tell her anything. While she was curious about what kind of nerve she'd managed to strike, it wasn't her business to press if he didn't want to talk about it. It was times like this she wished she had access to his ki-reading ability, if only for some kind of insight on how he was doing. How ironic that a man so adept at reading others staunchly refused to be readable himself.
She squeezed his arm. Whatever it was, it seemed even more serious than his experience in Spade. She would be there for him. “It's okay,” she whispered, just as Viper started to wake up.
The little girl rubbed her eyes. “Charly?” She asked, peering up.
Her round eyes reflected the orange glow from the town square. Charlotte smiled down at her. “Hi, there.”
Viper blinked sleepily, looking between her and Yami. The easy way her tiny arms rested around Charlotte’s shoulder, with such innocent reliance, melted her heart. “Hi,” she said shyly, looking at Yami.
Charlotte hoisted her up a little higher with care and angled her body so she could see Yami. “This is Captain Yami. He’s my friend.” When she looked up, she was surprised to see that Yami gave her a little wave, and his expression had a wary warmth as he met Viper’s eyes. Almost as if he were expecting her to react negatively to him. She supposed he didn’t spend much time around children either.
“Yummy?” Viper mispronounced his name, and giggled. “You’re Yummy?”
A quiet laugh spilled out of Charlotte before she could help it. “No, not Yummy. He goes by Yami. Ya-mi.”
Viper squinted. “Yummy.”
Yami cracked a slight smile. Charlotte shook her head and couldn’t keep herself from chuckling out of amusement. “Say it with me. Ya?” She raised her eyebrows.
“Ya?” Viper mirrored her expression.
“Mi.”
“Mi.”
“Ya-mi.”
“Ya-mi.”
“Yami.”
“Yummy.”
Yami snorted, and Charlotte couldn’t hold in her laughter. Viper, apparently delighted, burst out giggling with them.
An innocent ray of sunshine. She’d somehow managed to partially break through the shell Yami had put up with nothing but her playfulness. Charlotte found herself so charmed by the easy and pure way this little girl walked through life, and she wondered if Yami felt the same way. It was so hard to be cynical in Viper’s presence. So trusting and sweet.
“Sukehiro,” Yami told Viper after a moment. “My name is Sukehiro. Can you say that?”
Surprised, Charlotte met Yami’s eyes. She’d always thought of a last name as a more distant way to address someone. Interesting choice. Not to mention, his last name could be hard to pronounce if she couldn’t say Yami correctly. Still, Yami seemed sure, and had a more relaxed look when he returned her look with a glance. There was a glimmer in there. She couldn’t quite make it out.
Viper had big eyes as she tried to fit the name around her mouth. “Sookeh…Hero?”
Charlotte blinked, amazed. “Yes, you did it,” she laughed. She said it correctly, all except for the hard “r,” but it was much closer than Yummy. “Sukehiro.”
Something flashed in Yami’s expression when she said it. A little more than the warmth he already had. Then he regarded Viper again with a nod. “That’s right,” he praised. “And you must be Viper?”
With a beaming smile, Viper nodded and pointed at herself. “I’m a princess.”
Yami nodded very solemnly. “Princess Viper, of course.” He pretended to give a half bow, to Viper’s delight. And Charlotte could not contain her broad smile because the Yami she knew would never bow to anyone. It was really sweet, and also really funny, that he would deign to lower himself before a random child that he had barely met before he would ever do so for actual royalty. Perhaps he had more experience with children than he let on if he was willing to play along in such a silly scenario. She leaned just the right amount to let her elbow brush against his arm, and he met her eyes with a calmer grin.
Just then, she spotted a group of people chasing each other around the town square. They looked like young boys. She could see them laughing and darting around each other. Raising her head, Charlotte wondered if one of them was Kobra.
She turned. “Yami, can you take her? I need to go check something.”
Yami blinked, and Viper looked at her, too. “Where are you going, Charly?”
Charlotte started to shift so she could more easily move the girl. “Viper, would you mind going with Sukehiro for a moment? I won’t be long, but you can follow me if you want.”
“That’s Princess Viper to you,” Yami corrected, which caused Viper to burst out laughing all over again and put out her arms so Yami could take her.
Shaking her head, Charlotte raised Viper up a little and shifted closer to Yami. He helped her, reaching around to lift Viper up and grunting when the girl clambered up to hug him tightly around his neck.
She hadn’t realized how sore her arms were from carrying around a whole child for all that time until she was finally relieved of the weight. Yami had more muscles, he could handle it. Shaking out her hands, Charlotte observed how Yami negotiated with the squirming girl in his arms, and felt an immediate flush of warmth bloom in her chest. “Thank you,” she murmured to him, touching his elbow before she turned.
Seeing Yami be so gentle and kind with a child did some funny things to her heart. Charlotte took off in a light jog toward the town square, hoping to catch the group of boys before their game took them elsewhere.
How was it possible for such a huge, crass man to be so soft? It wasn’t fair that it was so cute. How dare he go from threatening shocking amounts of violence to his squad and nearly starting a fight with Kobra to almost instantly making such a sweet connection with Viper? It almost made Charlotte frustrated from how badly she wanted to commit extreme acts of romance on that jerk. Something had to be going on there, though. That shift from completely closed off to hesitantly warm.
She slowed down her pace, glancing back over her shoulder and second-guessing her choice to go fetch Kobra. Yami was deeply bothered by something. Would it be detrimental to have him cross paths with the kid again? Charlotte wondered if it would only rub salt in his apparent wound. But she saw that Yami strode casually after her while he appeared to entertain Viper. If it would do him some kind of harm to see Kobra, then he could easily stay back. Besides, he already acknowledged he wasn't being fair. Maybe it would be good for him? Either way, Charlotte would be sure to listen to him if he felt like opening up about it later.
Her heart felt a little fuzzy when she thought back to the little moments she'd been able to comfort him. That hug by her window, or daring to run her hand through his dark hair when he rested his head on her lap.
As she got closer, she realized the boys running were all chanting. It didn't seem like they were playing. She recognized a few of the Black Bulls, as well as some of the other village kids.
Charlotte tilted her head, confused, as she worked towards tracking them down. At least until she finally made out what they were chanting. Running around chanting with their hands cupped around their mouths to project their voices. “Viper! Viper, where are you?”
Oh. Picking up the pace, Charlotte spotted one kid in particular who looked agitated. “Hey!” She called, and some of the boys turned to look at her. They all breathed hard as they searched through every nook and cranny along the perimeter of the town square. “Kobra!”
Kobra whipped around to face her with wide eyes. He stumbled as he turned toward her.
She recognized Magna as he jogged up to her, looking uncharacteristically troubled. “Captain Charlotte! Hey, this kid, he's having trouble finding his sister,” he explained quickly, wiping sweat from his bow. She noted that it was a good habit for him to report straight away after spotting a captain. “Me and the boys have been running around to help look for her, but we can't figure out where she is. I don't know how—”
“Easy, Magna. Thank you.” Charlotte patted his shoulder. “I know him, this is Kobra. Captain Yami is with Viper right now. She's safe. I appreciate you, it's very kind of you to help.” She gave a nod.
Rubbing the back of his head, Magna shrugged with a bashful grin. “Yeah, well, anyone would,” he mumbled. The other boys stopped running around and their mood lightened considerably. They all seemed inclined to return to the bonfire, the spirit of the party not quite worn out yet.
At least, for most of them. Charlotte recognized the abject fear in Kobra's face. Raising her voice, she addressed the crowd. “Everyone, thank you for helping Kobra. We found Viper. You're welcome to get back to the festivities; I'm sure there's more than enough food to enjoy.” She gestured for Kobra as the others started to talk among themselves. “Come here, come here, are you okay? Hey.”
Kobra approached her with a faraway look. Charlotte caught Magna’s eye and waved away, and luckily he got the signal and started to steer his fellow squad members and the other villagers away toward the bonfire. Meanwhile, Charlotte met with Kobra and knelt down on the ground.
“Hey,” she said again, stopping his listless plod forward with her hands on his shoulders. He wouldn't meet her eyes. “Kobra. Look at me, are you okay?”
Their little section of the square had gone quiet as the boys all meandered off. Kobra seemed to stare right through Charlotte, somewhere distant and dark. “I…” he tried to say, but his expression crumpled under the weight of the words he tried to choke out, and he automatically tried to wrench himself from her grasp.
Charlotte tightened her grip on him, but she could sense Kobra trying to summon up a way to push her away. Some dose of venom to make her leave him alone.
But she was faster. Before he could say anything, she yanked him along by his elbow to a more discreet corner. He tried to yell out in protest. Tripping over himself trying to tear his arm away. Charlotte finally whirled around as she found a wall to prop against away from prying eyes and pulled him close for an embrace. Tight and secure. His shoulders were so wiry and taut beneath her hands. Wrought with pressure she couldn't even imagine.
The fight drained out of him. Within moments, he broke, and Charlotte held him firmly as great shudders traveled up his spine and through his limbs. Kobra heaved on a stifled sob.
The chill of the brick wall Charlotte leaned against made the night seem colder. This poor boy. Not even old enough for his grimoire, but so loaded with responsibility and blame and heartache already.
“I’m sorry,” he blubbered, muffled into her shirt. “I lost her. I f—failed her. I’m sorry. I just want my—my mom.”
His voice became so small and meek. Charlotte was startled by the yank of emotions in her throat, and held him a little tighter. “Kobra,” she tried to soothe him. “You didn’t fail her, your sister is here. She’s here.”
She felt his arms try to raise up, maybe to push her away, but all he could manage was a desperate grip on her blue cloak with trembling fists. His knees buckled until she supported his weight completely. A growing teenage boy should have been heavier than he was, she thought at the back of her mind. He wept, struggling for breath. “I just want my mom,” he squeaked out, choking on the words.
“I’m sorry,” Charlotte breathed, holding him fiercely as she witnessed the weight of his burdens. “Oh, Kobra, I’m so sorry. I’m here.”
She caught a flicker of movement at the corner she had just dragged Kobra around into. Yami looked on in silence, having stepped into view just to let Charlotte know he was there. Viper must have gotten sleepy again. He held her so her back was to her brother, and his expression had that vacant quality again as he watched Kobra break down in Charlotte’s arms. Somewhere distant and dark. It felt strangely familiar.
He met her eyes. She couldn’t read him at all. Offering a nod to indicate she could handle it, Charlotte returned her focus to Kobra.
His strangled cries wrenched something inside her. Refusing to let herself tear up, Charlotte took a deep breath and focused on keeping him close and supported. These feelings must have been building for a long time. As hard as it was to see him in so much pain, she knew it was best for him to be feeling his emotions in a safe environment, even if they burned and wracked him from the inside. If he had remained closed off, Charlotte feared for what would happen to him. It would certainly hinder his ability to process these horrific circumstances in a healthy way. She imagined an outcome where he sealed all his feelings away for good and went through life quietly bearing that pain inside. What kind of man would that make him? He had such a hard time fitting into Loutro and hardly anyone had patience for him. Would he ever be able to find a place for himself if no one saw that he needed help?
It was no wonder he tried so hard to keep up a tough face. “It’s okay,” she whispered, petting his dark hair. “You’re going to be okay.”
She knew the words weren’t quite going to resonate with him, but he at least needed to know that a living, breathing person was seeing him and trying to bring him through the storm.
Though her pain was nothing close to his, something about being there for Kobra reminded Charlotte of when she was young and learning that she was cursed. It hadn’t taken her long to decide that she needed to handle it all on her own because no one around her understood what she really felt. It was so much easier to just close off and give the impression that she could handle everything as she put all energy into training instead of being a child. She didn’t quite remember when it stopped being an act and when it became her reality, only that she found as she grew older that she struggled very hard to relate to others. Her wishes for someone to just listen or hold her without judgement or demands gradually became replaced with the certainty that she was the only one who could make sure her heart was safe from the curse.
In the end, she wasn’t enough on her own. If she had perhaps learned to rely on someone, as Yami had so flippantly suggested that day the curse manifested, then perhaps it would have spared her from so many years of feeling out of place. She had learned her lesson too late that everyone needed support. If only someone had been there, and if only she hadn’t completely closed herself off to recognize if anyone was already there.
If she could spare Kobra some of that pain of a fundamental inability to belong, Charlotte desperately wished she could.
It took Kobra a long time to calm down. She was patient with him, and didn’t make a single move to let go of him even after he’d gone quiet. He was shaky at first. But eventually, he was able to slow down and take full breaths in and out.
The insects chirped quietly from the woods. Kobra raised his head slightly, his eyes bleary, and started to extract himself from her. “Sorry,” he muttered, trying to shuffle back.
“Hey, it’s okay.” Charlotte kept a light grasp on his shoulders, not forcing him to stay but letting him know that he could. “I know it’s hard to believe, but you're safe now. I’m going to try to find a way to help you, okay?”
Scrubbing at his face with his sleeve, Kobra nodded, and looked at the ground. He didn’t take another step from her.
Compelled by the warmth and pain in her heart for him, Charlotte gathered him back up in her arms one more time to squeeze him. The poor kid probably hadn’t gotten a hug in a really long time. She would be damned if she couldn’t figure out a better situation for him before she finished her work in Loutro.
A familiar shadow crossed into the alley again. Charlotte looked up.
Yami casually held a sleeping Viper in one arm as he ambled toward them. He must have stayed close by. “Hey, kid,” he called out, startling Kobra. Charlotte stiffened, fretting that Yami would put him down, but he didn’t have that sneer he normally would if he intended to cause trouble. Kobra jerked back away from Charlotte and looked up at Yami warily. “C’mon, you need to eat something. Did you even get anything at the bonfire? Sheesh, you’re skin and bones. Don’t worry, my chef’ll get you filled right up.”
Kobra blinked at him. Charlotte blinked at him. Rude, but not hostile. She could deal with that. Yami met her eyes and started shifting Viper around.
“Here, take this,” he muttered, somehow managing to gently dump the little girl back into Charlotte’s grasp. “The princess is asleep. I’ll take this one. C’mon, kid, what are you waiting for? I don’t bite. Often, anyway.” he gestured for Kobra and started to saunter back out of the alley.
Stumbling after him, Kobra hesitated, and looked back over his shoulder at Charlotte with wide eyes. She merely waved him along with an apologetic shrug while she negotiated to find a comfortable way to carry Viper.
Whatever Yami was doing, it seemed like he was at least trying to help her look after Kobra. His blank demeanor before had made her believe he would just lay into the kid, make fun of him for being weak and just generally treat him as if he were one of the Black Bulls who needed to be straightened out instead of a child. Charlotte breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Kobra catch up to Yami and awkwardly trail at his heels. Yami grabbed the kid’s arm and forced him to walk up beside him.
She should have trusted him. Yami wasn’t cruel. He could certainly act like it, and he easily could have undone the vulnerability she’d managed to elicit from Kobra with insults and jabs, but ultimately Yami recognized the need for kindness and had his own way to deliver it.
With a small smile, Charlotte rocked Viper and waited for Yami and Kobra to get far ahead enough so she couldn’t overhear them before she started to follow. Yami’s strange approach to kindness was best delivered alone, without listening ears. Besides, perhaps Yami had a unique perspective as a man that would help get through to Kobra.
She walked after them through the cold night, wondering how late it was. Viper rested easily against her with the occasional sleepy murmur. The bonfire still blazed ahead of them. The singing and dancing had slowed down, but only a little bit. Yami gestured every once in a while as he spoke, and Kobra seemed to quietly listen. As much as she wondered what they were talking about, Charlotte didn’t give into the temptation to pick up the pace to hear them. Instead, she focused on keeping Viper comfortable. The roses from her crown brushed against Charlotte’s cheek. Somehow, a man as rowdy as Yami had gotten her to fall back asleep. It was probably because he was so warm, Charlotte mused to herself, smiling faintly as she thought of exactly how warm Yami was. Even in that sleeveless top he always marched around in. If he wanted to, he could be a very soothing presence.
Yami brought Kobra to Charmy's station, and Charlotte tried not to laugh when she heard Charmy's indignant cry as she must have learned that Kobra hadn't eaten anything before abruptly handing him a dish piled with more hot food than he could possibly eat. Yami cackled and ruffled Kobra's hair when the kid was forced to accept the generous helping.
As he ate, Charlotte kept her distance. Yami sat with him at what used to be a working fountain and continued talking. Kobra looked much more attentive while he chewed his food, nodding occasionally.
The other Black Bulls continued to bounce around. Grey still shrieked anytime Charlotte spotted her. Gauche had a picture in his hand that he was showing anyone who appeared even mildly interested. Asta ran by, glancing at her with that peculiar look again. Noelle wasn't far behind. Charlotte saw that look in her eyes; Yami hadn't been mistaken. The Silva girl really was enamored with the anti-magic boy. How sweet. Nozel surely would have a lot to say if he got wind of it.
“Ahem, Captain?” A quiet voice spoke up from behind her.
Charlotte turned to see a young woman in dark robes. It only took her a moment to recognize the nun who had informed her that the church was denying Kobra food. Automatically, Charlotte straightened up and narrowed her eyes.
At least she had the self awareness to look embarrassed. “Um, hi. I didn't mean to disturb you. I hope you've had a lovely night here so far.” Wringing her hands, the girl hesitated to meet Charlotte's eyes. “I wanted to thank you for all you've done for us. Your magic is truly incredible, honestly, and the Black Bulls really helped brought some life back into our town.”
With a curt nod, Charlotte started to turn away. “You're welcome,” she answered simply.
“Wait! Please,” the nun reached out. “Captain, I also wanted to apologize. You gave me a lot to think about. I—I had an honest look at myself and what we were all doing here, and I've prayed every morning and night since you spoke to us. I know now that the way we chose to treat Kobra was wrong and harmful.” She averted her gaze to the cobblestone ground.
With patient interest, Charlotte merely raised a brow and adjusted Viper against her hip again.
The nun glanced up to the stars before bowing her head. “I'm sorry. I was wrong. I made that deal with Kobra thinking it would help both him and his sister, but I did not come from a place of compassion and understanding. It was frustration and fear that drove me. The church preaches kindness above all, and yet when I was challenged, I did not move with kindness. All I can ask for is your forgiveness and promise that I will never let a child go hungry again.” She solemnly clasped her hands together and kept her gaze low.
Charlotte turned to face the young nun, appraising. Her words seemed genuine. Her posture even looked repentant. Deciding she meant it, Charlotte nodded again. “I see. I am glad to hear it, though I am not the one who needs your apology.” She indicated with a tilt of her head where Yami and Kobra sat by a restored statue, and wryly remembered she had just said the same thing to Yami not long ago. “What's your name, Sister?”
The acknowledgement must have startled her. “Oh! My—my name is Acier,” she answered quickly.
Right. How ironic that the nun who could somehow turn away a child in need was named after a Silva. Though, Acier had been an incredible woman worthy of admiration. She had been a personal inspiration growing up, so Charlotte felt the name came with a lot of hopes and expectations. “Sister Acier, I have a request.” She indicated Viper and Kobra. “I don't know their living situation, but I don't believe it's the safest or most stable place for them both to be growing up after losing so much. They need support and community. Kobra especially needs understanding.”
Kobra looked up as both Charlotte and Sister Acier focused on him. He seemed to shrink back slightly, a sour look crossing his features, but Yami must have picked up on it because he quickly got Kobra’s attention and distracted him again. Charlotte cast a sidelong glance to Acier, and saw the guilt creep into her face.
“I see,” she said, her voice soft. “You’re right. I am ashamed to say that I was not seeing him clearly before. He is just a boy. Even with the family they had before all the madness, he struggled a lot and I foolishly took his words and rejections personally instead of really trying to evaluate what was going on. Captain Charlotte, I will look after these children. I will give a home to Kobra and do my best to make him feel valued and welcome. Thank you for confronting me before. I can only hope that doing this will atone for my failure, but all that really matters is that they will be safe now.” She smoothed out her robes and met Charlotte’s gaze with a subdued smile.
Charlotte nodded. “Very well. Please be patient with him; you have hurt him deeply, so it may be a long time before he will be able to relax or trust you. There is no telling how deeply the thorns of neglect have pierced him. But I believe we made some progress with him tonight. Come, let’s tell him the news.” She gestured for Sister Acier to follow.
“...I guess the snake magic makes sense. It’s kinda creepy, and I bet you could train it up to be scary for real. I like it. You know what, kid? It’ll be hard work, but if you train hard enough and try out at the magic knight’s exam once you get your grimoire in a couple years, I’d consider having you join my squad.” Yami was saying, clapping Kobra on the back. “I won’t go easy on you, though. Just remember that. But my circus could use a little rascal like you. You’d just have to deal with Captain Freakshow.” He grinned, and then noticed Charlotte and Sister Acier.
Kobra hadn’t yet. He looked up at Yami with the dim lights shining in his eyes. For the barest moment, they all caught the flicker of a smile. “For real?” he asked quietly.
Yami just gave a nod, and paused before turning to acknowledge Charlotte. Hoping Sister Acier paid attention, Charlotte watched, and Yami recognized a pivotal moment that was happening in Kobra’s head. “Yeah, ‘course. You got potential. Just gotta harness it and work real hard.” he knocked gently on Kobra’s forehead. “It’s all in here, though. But you got it.”
“He’s right,” Charlotte agreed, and Kobra finally noticed them standing there. “I could see you being a magic knight, the way you look after your sister.” She indicated Viper by patting the sleeping girl’s back.
Seeing all the adults around him, Kobra watched them warily. Charlotte prompted Sister Acier with a subtle nod.
“Right,” Sister Acier quickly adjusted and smiled. “Kobra, I would like to apologize for how I’ve treated you. I should never have thought it acceptable for you to go hungry. I’m sorry. You deserve food and shelter just as Viper does, and I should never have denied you. I understand if you can’t forgive me, but I would like to offer you both a place to stay with us at the church. You’ll each have warm beds all to yourselves and you will be able to stay together. I can’t stand the idea of either of you out here in the cold, so please, will you come with us?” she offered her hand.
Kobra measured Sister Acier, calculating with fear and mistrust in his eyes. When Sister Acier’s smile started to strain, Charlotte offered a small nudge to encourage her, and she kept her hand outstretched.
The sounds of the party were finally starting to die down. People were taking away their blankets and heading for their new homes. The thought of Kobra and Viper alone in the empty house they used to call home hurt Charlotte’s heart. Kobra seemed inclined to shrink away from the offer, but before he could, Yami leaned down to speak to him quietly.
“Hey. You know what, sometimes people are gonna treat you like shit. They’re gonna look at you and think they know everything about you before you even open your mouth.” He rested his large hand on Kobra’s shoulder. “They’re gonna make choices that hurt you. And it might happen a lot, so the best thing is to learn not to let it bother you. But when someone wants to make it up to you, it doesn’t hurt to let them try. You don’t need to trust ‘em or anything, but give them a shot to be true to their word, and they might surprise you. If they let you down again, then so be it; you had it figured out from the start. But if they mean it, you could be missing out if you don’t take ‘em up on it. So go on. A warm bed sounds real comfy right about now. Your sister might think so, too.” Nodding toward Viper, he made a move to stand up.
They all waited in suspense as Kobra weighed his options. Yami and Charlotte met eyes. He still had that typical bored expression of his, but she saw that flash of warmth in his sharp gaze.
Finally, Kobra took a deep breath, and reached forward to shake Sister Acier’s hand. “Fine,” he said, and was quick to let go again so he could turn towards Charlotte. “I can take her. Thank you, Captain.”
Unable to hold back a grin, Charlotte nodded graciously and helped maneuver Viper into his arms. “Hey,” she said, steering him back into her for a quick hug once he had a good hold on his sister. “I mean it. You’re going to be okay. You both are. Now go get some rest; there’s still work to do tomorrow.”
A little flustered by the attention, Kobra just ducked his head and nodded. “Y—yeah. Thank you, Captain Charlotte.” He turned. “Thank you, Captain Yami.”
Yami smirked. “You know what? I think I’ll go by Captain Freakshow now.” All of them grinned when that earned a sputtering laugh out of Kobra.
Sister Acier smiled as she started to lead Kobra and Viper away. “Thank you both, Captains.” she added with a wave. “Goodnight.”
Goodnight, indeed. Charlotte had no idea what time it was. It was only after Sister Acier and Kobra had left the square that she felt as if she could finally let out a breath. She shuffled closer to Yami and they both watched the boy follow the nun up the hill with his sister in his arms.
What a night. Charlotte didn’t even know where to begin.
“I need a cigarette,” Yami muttered. He shoved his hand in his pocket and managed to find one to light up. Charlotte waited, the haze of the night weighing down on her, as he lit it up and breathed out the smoke. Immediately, his dulled demeanor faded into something more muted. They both watched the bonfire which had been reduced to mostly embers and small flickers of fire.
Charlotte looked up at Yami and saw the way the shadows crossed his face. Whatever old wounds he had been avoiding before, he must have been forced to confront directly. Without thinking, perhaps some remnant of the alcohol she had earlier, Charlotte went up on her toes to press a quick kiss to Yami’s cheek. “That was very kind of you. Thank you,” she said earnestly, touching his arm. As painful as it must have been, it was clear he’d helped Kobra, and hopefully that gave him some solace. “Let’s go back to camp. We should get some rest.”
They could try. Charlotte was exhausted, but didn’t think she’d be able to go to sleep right away with all the thoughts swirling around in her mind. But she wanted to return to her little shelter and rest anyway. And she wanted to do that with him. Yami glanced down at her with a look of mild surprise.
His hand twitched. He looked inclined to reach out for her, but he froze, and the edge came rushing back. Charlotte blinked. Yami turned and glared behind them. “One of my punks,” he mumbled around his cigarette to her. Sure enough, following his gaze, Charlotte spotted Finral blinking at them in the middle of cleaning up a table. Oh. He must have seen her kiss his cheek. Yami raised his voice. “You say a damn word, and I’ll kill you.”
Finral yelped. “S—sir, yes, sir!” He scrambled to gather the dishes, probably helping Charmy.
“A single word!” Yami continued, pointing at his subordinate while Charlotte quickly tried to steer him away. It was hard to get him to budge, but having a reason to touch him was nice. She had to actually shove him to get him to move. The heavy brute. “One word and your life is over. Do you hear me, Finral? I mean it! I’ll make sure it hurts. What did I say?”
“Yes sir, I’m sorry sir, I won’t say anything, sir!” Finral stumbled over a table and nearly fell over. Before Yami could get overzealous with his threats, he created a portal and ran off to take care of dishes somewhere else.
Charlotte continued to push Yami along. “Come on, it’s too late to be bullying your squad,” she said, deciding it would be a bad idea to mention that Finral already had a sense that there was something going on between them based on the Black Bulls’ bets that Vanessa had told her about. “Let’s go.”
After being difficult for a few more moments, Yami finally decided to cooperate and walked with her. “Never too late to be bullying those idiots,” he grumbled to himself, but despite his grouchy demeanor, he actually seemed somewhat pleased. “They can kiss my ass if they want something to talk about. That loverboy’s gonna tell everyone and their mother, you know.”
Staying quiet, Charlotte only shrugged. It gave her a little thrill that Yami was so quick to defend her from rumors. While there was a tiny insecurity that wanted to suggest that Yami simply did not like being seen with her, she remembered that she was the one who had been uneasy about his squad seeing them together. He was likely trying to keep her comfortable. Still, it wasn’t like they had Marx’s memory magic handy, so Finral saw what he saw. Whatever he made of it probably wasn’t accurate, but it was out of their control.
Without a response, Yami puffed on his cigarette in relaxed silence with her.
They slowly made their way back to her little camp. Loutro had begun to go to sleep behind them. Hopefully no one would be too hungover to help out in the morning. And hopefully they would get enough sleep, though Charlotte swore she saw the faintest beginnings of light on the horizon. She hoped it was her imagination.
They could hardly see in the forest. Her briar shelter was only visible from the lamp Yami had hung up inside, with the barest slivers of light peeking through.
At once, Charlotte hesitated, and realized Yami did, too. They looked at one another. The silvery light of the moon only showed her a soft outline of Yami’s face. Finally alone together. But Charlotte didn’t quite feel like going inside and sleeping just yet. She wanted to be with him, consciously, after such an eventful day. Even if they didn’t have anything to say. Just being in his presence made her feel calmer.
Yami drew in a big breath, the end of his cigarette glowing orange, and blew the smoke away from her. “Wanna build a fire?” he suggested.
It didn’t take long for them to find enough sticks and branches to arrange together. They cleared the little area in front of her shelter of stray kindling and found a bunch of stones that they placed in a circle bordering the wood. Yami managed to find a felled tree nearby that he dragged closer, and with a couple of quick slashes from his katana, they had a log to sit on. Finally, he used his lighter to start the fire.
They both sat down with a huff. Charlotte hadn’t realized the cold had gotten to her, so she was grateful for the new source of heat as well as Yami sitting so close to her. The tips of her fingers had gone a little blue. But even from inches away, she could feel the warmth emanating off of him. Their arms brushed together every few moments. Charlotte wrapped her cape a little tighter around her.
She breathed in, enjoying the feeling. The soft ambience of the forest. The flickering glow before them. After a bit, Yami flicked the rest of his cigarette in the middle of the fire. It felt nice to just sit there with him. And knowing that Yami was on the same page with her, putting off their own sleep just to quietly take things in, made her feel that much warmer. The town was safe at their backs. They had done some good. Made a few lives better. It was a hopeful sensation, though Charlotte knew there were some shadows that still loomed. She wouldn’t press him, but she let her arm brush against his again, hoping he knew she was there.
They took in the fire. The cool night air and the slight sting of smoke.
“You're good with kids.” Yami finally spoke after several minutes.
It was a casual remark. Despite herself, Charlotte bristled just a little. “Are you saying that to me because I'm a woman, or because of the results of my work here?”
Yami didn’t entertain it and spoke in a flat murmur. “I'm saying that as someone who used to be exactly like that brat.”
Oh. The implication was loud, and Yami’s unease throughout the day abruptly made sense. That cold emotionless shell she’d seen. The darkness that had come over his expression when she asked for help finding Kobra. That strange look in his eyes when he’d come across her soothing him when he broke down.
He saw himself in Kobra.
Charlotte softened right away, pursing her lips. That might explain why he was so hard on the kid at first, so quick to berate him.
She remembered wondering what would have become of Kobra if he were forced to keep his feelings down, if he never had anyone to turn to, and thinking about what kind of man that would make him down the road. Her heart aching, Charlotte realized she might be looking at him. Yami Sukehiro, the harsh foreigner who had never quite fit in anywhere. She hadn’t known him before she joined the magic knights, but she knew of him. She supposed she was glad to give Sister Acier a second chance; back then, she wasn’t sure that she would have been very kind to Yami either. Somehow, he’d persisted, probably with some guidance from Wizard King Julius. He’d grown to eventually create a squad designed for other outcasts. Maybe he hoped to prevent others from feeling the pain he had to endure, but she didn’t know for sure. All she knew was that Yami kept his emotions locked away so deep that he likely struggled to access them at all.
There was no way for her to know the extent of his pain. Words were probably not enough to soothe the old wounds that must have resurfaced since dealing with Kobra, but he deserved some kind of acknowledgment for bringing it up.
She reached out, and then hesitated. Yami looked to be somewhere far away. That dark and distant place she had noticed both him and Kobra going to. Of course, how had she missed it? Letting out a small breath, she let her fingers brush against his knuckles and slowly rested her hand over his. “He was just a child. He didn't deserve what happened to him, and he was doing his best to make sense of a senseless situation. None of it was his fault.” She hoped he understood she wasn't just talking about Kobra. “It's obvious that he was hurting; children aren't supposed to be alone, and he's faced a lot of loss already. What matters is that he's here now; he's alive and well, and if I can provide him some comfort just by being there for him, then I am more than happy to do that.”
Yami didn't answer her. She could barely hear him breathing. At first, she worried that she had overstepped. Perhaps she had let herself be too comfortable speaking on his past that she clearly didn't understand very well.
But her heart compelled her to speak her mind. To stop avoiding honesty and clarity with him. She closed her eyes. “He is deserving of love and care no matter what he thinks or how hard he tries to build his guard up,” she added softly.
The entire forest was quiet. Even the chirping insects and frogs went still for a moment.
Then, Yami shifted. Charlotte didn't move. He wound their fingers together and squeezed her hand tightly.
He settled his body with their thighs and shoulders pressing together, apparently ending the conversation. Charlotte stared with wide eyes at the fire and tried to keep still. Her heart was so soft for him. She wanted nothing more than to gather him up into her arms and kiss over every single instance of pain that ever crossed his mind. She wished someone could have been there to hug little Yami when he must have been hurting as badly as Kobra. But at least she was here for him now, however much he was willing to let her.
O~o~O