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It was a foggy day in the Pfalzgrafenstein castle, Karl had recently taken refuge there with Blucher. On the way, they had found a British officer; though reluctant, they took him in with the group. It was much awkward to be in a group full of Prussian soldiers for Barry, it felt like he had been captured by the enemy in battle. The only difference was that he wasn't cuffed and being escorted, just following the throng. He awkwardly trotted by the group as one of the Prussian infantrymen shot him a slight glare, it was good thing that Prussia and Great Britain were allies. Barry could only muster an uneasy smile before the infantryman turned his head away.
"How much longer till we reach the castle, Herr Feldmarschall?"
Blucher would cough into the inside of his elbow, "We are about 84 yards away, be sure to stay on guard men. We do not know if the castle is overrun with the undead or not."
Barry looked around as the group continued down the trail, the scenery would have been breathtaking if they weren't in danger. The sound of boots continued as they marched down the road to the castle with its looming silhouette in the distance. Fog from the water below them made the atmosphere eerie as they neared the drawbridge.
"Hey, Brit. Take a shot at that chain right there," Karl would gesture at a weak chain link holding the gate up.
Barry fumbled with his pistol for a second before making ready, taking aim, and firing. The bullet made a spark against the rusted links and the drawbridge dropped, sending a wave of dust towards the men. Dust clung to their uniforms as the men grumbled and brushed it off of themselves
Blucher would turn around to face the men and the one lone British officer standing to the side, "Alright soldiers, we shall defend this castle with our lives for the honor of Prussia!"
All of the Prussians cheered and Barry could only just glance at them, he felt mighty self-conscious; he wasn't even Prussian for goodness sake! His red uniform stuck out like a sore thumb in the crowd of black and Prussian blue uniforms. The flock of men marched straight into the castle with their chins held up and their firearms in hand, they strutted high and mighty like proud peacocks though it was more of a French thing instead of a Prussian thing to do. Before they could even process what was going on, a horde of zombies swarmed into the group from all flanks
"Fix bayonets," Karl yelled out before scanning for a possible escape if they couldn't fight it out, "and CHARGE!!"
They pushed into the crowd and were given such sagacity, you'd think Blucher fora wise military genius instead of how mad most of his orders sounded. Nonetheless, the infantrymen managed to slaughter all the cannibals like pigs. It felt like a great victory for the Prussians, they may have won a few battles back a couple of years but they still felt great. The unit of men travelled up the stairs and approached the top of it with caution, Karl peered down the ongoing staircase; they were already so far away from ground level. Once they reached the highest level in the castle, the men began to situate themselves before considering a plan; they were tired from all the walking they had done just a few hours before.
"So.. what is the plan gentlemen? We couldn't possibly stay here for the entire time this blight is going on.. surely not," the British officer would pause for a moment, "We're not planning on that, correct?.."
"Nein, Herr Blucher is a lot more wiser than that.. uh... what exactly was your name again?"
"Barry, Major Barry Williams of the 9th Regiment of Foot in his Majesty's Armed Forces, what is your name?"
"Karl Eduard Schmit, ranked officer in the Garde zu Fuss regiment. Good to meet you, Major Williams." Karl would grin at Barry as he extended his arm out to shake hands. "It's good to find an ally as mighty fine as you around here."
Barry didn't hesitate to shake his hand, what a kind Prussian. He hadn't expected the man to be so open and kind with one like himself so easily.
"..So, you come from England?"
"No no, I was born in the Caribbean as a child but my family moved back a year after."
"Ah, I assume you come from a prosperous noble British family eh?"
"I suppose you could say I was sort of well off as a child."
Karl's grin became a smile as he tilted his head in amusement, "Sort of well off?"
"Hey are you judging me!?"
Barry couldn't help but smile as he chatted with the other officer there, it just felt so natural and light-hearted. It was like talking to his own British comrades back in his regiment, he felt his face slightly warm up whilst listening to the Prussian ramble on about his knowledge on plants and botany. 'What a charming man' Barry thought, he was quite knowledgeable and humorous as well but Barry immediately halted that thought. Why did he feel so warm all of a sudden, why was his brain suddenly foggy, and why were his thoughts all jumbled up? He froze right there--trying to comprehend all of these thoughts hitting him like a carriage. Then suddenly he heard someone snap in front of his face.
"Hey, comrade, are you still here with me?" He snapped his fingers again, "Was the topic too boring for you?"
"Oh--No! I was just a bit caught up in my thoughts, that's all!" His hand went up to the back of his head out of habit, it was a tell tale sign of his embarrassment.
"Are you sure, Major Barry Williams?"
He would hesitate before speaking, "Eurm.. yes, I am quite sure but I'll step out for some eh.. air."
The major would immediately dismiss himself from the conversation and headed downstairs to one of the areas with windows. He felt a shudder go down his spine and while he tried to contain his embarrassment within. He just ruined his chance with the most handsome--the most nicest Prussian man he'd ever encountered. He unlatched the lock on the porthole shaped window, letting in cool air. He stared outside in thought, why did he feel so weird around that officer? It couldn't be what he suspected, right? There was no way in the name of the king he was felt attraction to the same sex.. No way in the name of Britannia! As he continued to stare outside the window, he took his shako off, looking into the brass plate on it's front; as he stared into it, a sudden cold gust of wind blew into his face.
"Augh!"
It was terribly cold but his body heat still rose as he thought about the Prussian officer, his right gloved hand absent-mindedly brushed against his plume on his shako.
"A-ah.. this is so wrong of me."
Barry would cover his mouth as he continued to run his finger against the trimmed feathers of his plume, pressing the shako between the wall and his chest to keep it up. The wind and sweat combined made his curls uneven on both sides of his face but he paid no attention to it, continuing to stroke the plume with a growing pace.
He could only mutter a plea under his breathe, "G-God, forgive me for this sin.."
His face only grew more red as his pace grew quicker and quicker, it was harder for him to muffle his noises with such a speed as this one.
At the top of the castle, the Prussian officer conversed with his field marshal and fellow soldiers before noticing that the British man had been missing for quite a bit.
"I'll be back in a moment, I will go check on that British major.."
One of the Jaeger Light Infantrymen added a comment as Karl prepared to go, "Make sure he is still alive down there!"
"Ja ja.. no need to make such crude jokes."
Karl's hand held the railing as he carefully made his way down, the old floorboards creaking as he approached Barry's position. Nearing where Barry had stationed himself, he heard peculiar noises and the howl of the wind but thankfully no undead cannibals.
"Eh.. Major Williams are you here?"
Once his gaze passed the threshold of the door, he found a very embarrassed British officer standing there with his face all flushed and breathing heavy.
"What happened? Is something wrong!?" Karl immediately rushed to his side, inspecting his face for any sign of pain.
"No I uh.. just needed some air and thought about a very flustering moment from when I was once a young schoolboy.."
"Could I hear it if you're willing to share it?"
"Yeah of course.. I'll tell you on the way back to the top layer."
The duo would make their way back up to the highest floor where the other Prussian men and field marshal were stationed.
Barry nearly fumbled his words trying to make up a story, "When I was erm.. in my adolescence, I confessed to a nice schoolgirl in my homeroom and she ran away screaming...not my most proudest moment but I'm glad I can look back and laugh at it."
"Ahaha! No way that happened to you of all people!" Karl would pause for a second, leaving Barry time to quickly form a thought that Karl found him to be a dud. "I think you're a pretty charming man, I'm sure she just acted on the spot."
Barry halted, not taking another step, "Me? Charming? Oh you're flattering me way too much eheheh.."
"Ja, charming."
Karl stared into Barry's green eyes, his own dark brown eyes full of fondness. Karl found his hands on Barry's jawline while the gloved hands of the major made their way to Karl's waist. Karl tilted his head before leaning in for a kiss from Major Barry Williams of the 9th Regiment of Foot and he couldn't help but melt into the kiss. Barry pulled back for a breathe shortly after and embraced him tightly.
"I love you like a lovesick maiden."
"And I love you like how a knight in shining armor would with his fair lady."