B Support Conversation
"That friggin' jerk!" Boyd shouted to no one in particular as he stormed away from the camp and into the nearby forest to blow some steam. Tanith's Pegaus Knights had secured the perimeter, meaning as long as he didn't wander too far he was safe. Not that he desired to wander too far. He had heard whispers about soldiers running off in pairs to 'relieve stress' in the nearby woods. Twisted dreams of Titania and Mist and random attractive women had plagued him since first hearing the rumors and he knew if he walked in on anything he'd end up going insane.
Instead, Boyd focused all of his anger on the man who had incurred his wrath. "Who the hell does he think he is? He joins the Daein army like the scumbag he is, Ike is gracious enough to spare his worthless hide and then he has the gall to look down on the rest of us? What the hell does Rolf see in him? Not to mention he insults Ulki at every other turn! Stupid Shinon!"
Boyd stormed further into the forest and was about to continue his rant to the unassuming trees when he heard a yelp. His gaze snapped upward towards a tree in the distance and his mouth dropped open when he found a familiar face high on a branch, reaching upward. "Nephenee!"
The soldier in question squeaked and nearly fell off, managing to balance herself at the last moment. "B-Boyd?"
"Sorry I startled you," Boyd said quickly. He walked up the tree but remained at enough of a distance such that he wouldn't be able to look underneath her. "I've been wanting to talk to you forever."
"W-why?"
"I wanted to apologize," Boyd said. "When I said that thing about your accent I wasn't trying to be a jerk or anything. I wasn't making fun of you. I like your accent and I'm sorry."
He saw her body relax slightly at his words. "It's fine. I reckon I'm a bit oversensitive 'bout it anyway," she replied quietly.
Boyd grinned, though she couldn't see it as she was turned away from him. It seemed to make it easier for her to talk to him. "So are we cool? I still need a sparring partner."
She let out a soft giggle. "Yup. We're fine."
"Great! So what are you doing up there anyway?"
"Lookin' for beetle nuts. I saw a couple o' them right 'round this area. There's a few growin' here on this tree."
"Really?" Boyd said in excitement. "Great! I've been dying to have another one. Can you crack them open?"
"O' course," she said, a hint of pride on her voice. "I'll open one up right quick for us once I manage to reach them."
"Uh, Nephenee, you didn't happen to hear anything that I said, did you?"
She paused, her hand outstretched as she continued to reach for the beetle nuts. "I reckon I heard a bit o' this and that."
Boyd felt the back of his neck grow hot. "Right. Well, just keep to yourself alright? I don't need Ike and Shinon hounding me."
"I won't say nothin', promise."
"Thanks. But still, can you believe him?"
Nephenee reached again for the beedle nuts as she responded. "Ma always says pride is the hardest obstacle to forgiveness."
"Huh?"
"I reckon she means that people take long to apologize 'cause they don't wanna admit they were wrong. Shinon probably feels the same way."
"Heh. He's always been a jerk though." He tapped his foot on the ground. "By the way, you're talking a lot more easily now. Gotten over your shyness?"
He frowned when he saw her stiffen. "I-I talked to someone who said I should t-aah!"
"Whoa!" Boyd shouted when he saw her slip. He rushed forward, hoping he'd catch her in time but didn't quite manage it. She fell on top of him, sending them both to the floor.
"Oh man, what hit me?"
"Sorry!" Nephenee squeaked as she got off of him with a sense of urgency.
"I'm fine," Boyd said, looking down and rubbing at his chest as his hand reached behind him, where he knew her helmet had landed when it had been knocked off during her fall. He grasped it, still looking down and rubbing his chest. "I'm the strongest Greil Mercenary. This is nothing. Here's your helmet!" He held it out.
"T-thanks," she stammered as she took it from him. Boyd used this chance to look up and froze. "Goddess, I'm sorry Boy-"
"Wow, you're pretty," he breathed out. Then he realized what he had said and quickly stood up, his face burning as on the ground she gave a valiant effort of matching a tomato in color.
Nephenee made a choked sound as Boyd began step back. "You know, in a good way! Like a fair woman!" Goddess, what was he saying? "W-well, it was nice talking to you! We'll spar sometime, right? And the beedle nuts, can't forget those! Oh wait, you didn't get them! Haha!" He was rambling, he was an idiot and he was rambling. He needed to leave now. "Uh, I gotta go! Yeah, I promised Ike a spar. Bye!"
He turned around and fled, leaving a furiously blushing Nephenee on the forest floor.
A/N: You think he would have learned with Titania. This time, Boyd's the one who runs. It was much harder keeping Nephenee in character since she actually...you know...talked lol Not sure if I managed it. This is set after Chapter 18 of PoR.
Thank you for reading! Now go ahead and click that review button so you can tell me what you liked and didn't like. Constructive criticism is always welcome.
