Precious

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Yggdra Union. I only own the desire to explore Yggdra and the other characters a little further through these oneshots. Don't sue or flame, and I won't have to sic my muses on you. Are we all clear…?

NOTE. These oneshots may contain hints or implicit mentions of the following pairings: Roswell/Rosary, Russell/Flone, Milanor/Kylier, Gulcasa/Nessiah, and basically almost everybody/Yggdra. If you find one or more of these pairings not to your taste, YOU KNOW WHERE THE BACK BUTTON IS. Nobody's making you read this. Shoo.

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Milanor knelt down along the scrub lining the canyon, scraping his knees on the stone and stifling a curse, peering down into the darkness and focusing his hearing. So far, it didn't seem like there were any more Imperial troops lying in wait out here. Which was a good thing—they'd been able to handle those mercenaries and that Inzaghi guy, but they'd've been in for it if those Imperial knights had been able to reach them. As it was, Kylier had been there to back him up, but he couldn't always depend on her, and with only six fighters at his back—and one of them hopelessly inexperienced at that—the next fight they got into could very well be their last. Hopefully they'd reach the border into Orlando soon, since that'd mean the Princess' army wouldn't be far away.

So it was important—but annoying—to have to scout around ahead to know if there was anyone in Milanor's way that it'd be better for him to avoid. And tonight it was Milanor's turn.

Fidgeting, the Silver Wolf peeked around once more, decided the coast was clear, and stood up, hissing and stamping his feet. People from other countries generally didn't think it was possible in the south, but the Norn wastelands were bitter cold at night this time of year. Milanor was freezing, and was pretty sure he'd be in danger of losing at least his nose if he didn't manage to hightail it back to camp soon. He'd at least be able to retreat into his sleeping bag there, which would be way better.

"This sucks," Milanor told the wind. It didn't reply. Kicking at a rock, the young thief pulled low to the ground and ran back over the hard-packed dirt and stone towards his camp.

Once he found it, though, he ground his heels into the dust and skidded to a halt, straightening up and staring.

His pack of trained, trail-hardened flunkies were sitting in a half-circle around a small fire, plunked in the middle of which was the largest pot in their collective store of battered crockery. Sitting in the center of the half-circle, leaning over the pot and stirring it lightly, was Princess Yggdra.

The diamond and the glass beads, Milanor thought wryly as he drew closer. "Hey, what're you doing with…?"

Yggdra beamed up at him. "Everyone is hungry, and we had more than enough supplies for a little stew. I'm sure it'll warm everyone right up!"

The thief sitting next to Yggdra grinned up at Milanor. "You don' gotta worry, Boss. The fire's too small t'be seen outside o' here, an' the wind's blowin' all the smoke to bits before it can rise."

"Well." Milanor raised his eyebrows and put his hands on his hips, then sat down across from Yggdra. "I guess it's fine, then. It has been awhile since we got to eat somethin' warm."

And whatever it was that the Princess was cooking sure did smell good. Milanor considered being surprised that a pampered noble like her could cook, but after seeing how well she fought after only a few days' practice with a sword, he figured that Yggdra was the type that could do anything she set her mind to.

"The chef at the castle taught me to make this," Yggdra explained as she stirred, as if she'd read Milanor's mind—though she didn't look up, concentrating single-mindedly on the task at hand. "My father wasn't sure about my being taught to cook, but the chef said there was no excuse for people not knowing how, just in case they ever needed to." Her smile faded a little. "…I hope he's alright back there."

Milanor scratched his head and made a face. "Well… from my experience, the Imperial commanders—or at least most of 'em anyway—don't bother civilians. I'm sure the guy's fine."

Yggdra nodded. "You're probably right." She raised her head and looked around at the circle of her companions. "It's ready now. May I have bowls for everyone, please?"

There was a great rummaging around in packs, and suddenly Milanor's band was holding seven bowls towards Yggdra with hopeful eyes, so eager to please it almost made Milanor laugh. Kylier had once compared the lot of them to a pack of dogs half in and half out of puppyhood. They were tough when you needed them to be, but otherwise they were just a tangle of big eyes and wagging tails.

Giggling, Yggdra ladled stew into everyone's bowl, passing them out to everyone before filling her own. Milanor leaned back where he sat and ate some of his own, discovering that not only was the stew competent, but very good.

She sure ain't your average well-to-do, Milanor thought with a wry smile as he ate. But then, what kinda ordinary noble snob'd ever be caught dead with the likes of us? Nah, this one's decent. Sure, some of it's having nowhere else to turn, but…

"There's plenty more if you like it," Yggdra was saying with a wide smile and wider eyes.

Milanor and the others emptied their bowls and held them out to her in one motion. "Don't mind if we do!"

---

"I'm on for the first watch, so all of you go on ahead and get some sleep," Milanor instructed. "We're gonna be up and moving at dawn, 'cause Orlando's not far from here. I'll wake one of you up and we'll take the night in shifts of a coupla hours at a time. Got it?"

"Yes, Boss," the thieves chorused, and then set about undoing their bedrolls in a circle around the fire. Milanor stood and stretched, watching as they curled up and were instantly asleep, and noted that Yggdra was still sitting by the fire, looking up at the night sky.

"It's amazing," she said at length. "I've always lived in the city, and there are always lights on there even at night, so I've never seen the stars this bright before. They're so beautiful."

Milanor glanced up at the sea of black flecked with white and yellow dots, then shrugged. It was nothing new to him; he'd had what townspeople around here politely called a "backwoods upbringing". And, hell, he could count the number of times he'd stayed in those towns for more than two days at a time for the past year on one hand.

More importantly, he had this girl's welfare to consider. He'd taken her as a charge, and maybe other thieves wouldn't care, but he wouldn't have anyone saying he didn't see to all his duties. "Hey, this's no time to be starin' at the sky. You've gotta get your rest, too. I can imagine how you feel, but if you keep up the rate you're goin', you're gonna burn out weeks before we reach Paltina. If you wanna get your Capital back, you've gotta take care of yourself."

"…" Yggdra looked down at her hands, her cheerful façade instantly gone. "…Milanor, how can you say that you…"

"It's different where you lived, but out here everybody's got some kinda sob story," Milanor said simply. He made sure to keep his tone matter-of-fact so she wouldn't think he was telling her this out of bitterness. "All these guys around here… they've lost family, or had family run off on them, just 'cause there's not enough food or money to go around. With everybody who don't live in towns, it's different versions of the same story. I know how it is to lose family, and to want to get even over it. In a place like this, where you've gotta steal or kill just to survive…

"Princess, you're in poor country now. It's not like anythin' you've seen before. Norn ain't got anythin' the higher-ups in Fantasinia want—and I'm not sayin' that's an altogether bad thing—but we basically get ignored, even when we need things. Now, I'm better than most. Us guys—we steal, but we steal from the other bandits 'round here, or we steal from whatever robber barons are dumb enough to think they're comin' down to tax the towns." Milanor gave Yggdra a feral grin. "Out here, you gotta learn self-control above all else. We'd never've made it this far if we hadn't figured that out. Now, I said I'd take care of you, and I will. I know what I'm talkin' about, so just listen and do what I say for now."

"…Milanor…"

"Hey, what's with the long face?" Milanor crouched down and lightly shook Yggdra's shoulder. "It's only fair. You help us all you can, and we're just returnin' the favor. 'S not like we can pay for the dinner, now can we?"

And at that, Yggdra covered a soft laugh. "Th-that's true. I'm… sorry; I've only been considering myself here…"

"Psh. Yeah, right. You're worried about your people, and you take time offa that to worry about me and the guys. You're considerin' yourself least and that's why I gotta lecture you. Just lay down and try to get a little sleep, 'kay? We'll meet up with your army tomorrow or the day after. You just gotta hang in there a little longer."

Subdued but still smiling, Yggdra nodded.

"Use my roll like before. I'll just kick the next watch guy outta his."

Very carefully, Yggdra undid the ties that held Milanor's bedroll together, then laid it out in what open space there was between her and the next thief. Next, she reached behind her for her sword and laid it next to the pelt-lined bag, within easy reach. Milanor gave a small, approving nod. If nothing else, Yggdra sure did learn fast. After the way he and the boys had found her, he doubted she'd ever let herself get caught defenseless again.

"Goodnight," Yggdra said a little sheepishly once she'd taken off her little white shoes and navigated the huge mass of her skirts into the bedroll.

"'Night," Milanor replied with an easy grin. "Have some good dreams tonight, 'kay?"

Yggdra gave a small nod and closed her eyes, shifting with a sigh. Within about fifteen minutes, her breathing had evened out and she was dead to the world, murmuring softly in her sleep.

Milanor let out a light snort. Yeah, he'd figured. No matter how she tried to hide it, she was tired. He wouldn't have any trouble keeping her there tonight.

"…" Yggdra frowned a little and wiggled down into the warmth of the bedroll, her delicate brows drawing in so that a line formed between them. "…Papa…"

Turning to glance at her, Milanor rested his elbows on his knees and put his chin on the heel of his hand. Such a fragile person, really… she acted strong for everyone else's benefit, but she was definitely still hurting. Well.

"I can't bring him back, kiddo, but I can help you however you need," he told her, though he knew she wouldn't hear. "You're givin' us a roof to put over our heads, and that's more than anyone else's ever offered us. …I'll protect you, so just keep smiling. That's all… you really need to do, y'know."

Yggdra turned over again, somehow managing to avoid rolling to either side in the fur-and-fleece bag, still saying something unintelligible. Milanor smiled and shook his head, then looked up at the sky.

Now that he thought about it, maybe the stars were kinda pretty, after all.

:owari: