Trading Places
Casca breathed the fresh air deeply as she walked out of her tent with her sword at her hip and her armor fastened securely around her. She held her helmet tightly under her arm and smiled as she saw the banner of the Hawks flapping in the breeze, her men already on horseback, steel glinting in the rising sun. The Hawks might have been Griffith's force, but she had been leading them for nearly two years, and Casca's chest swelled with pride at the sight of them. It had been far too long since she had led her men, and she was glad to be back among them. Apparently, they were glad as well. When Casca's former unit spotted their former unit commander (now commander of the whole force), they sent up a cheer that spread throughout the whole camp, and her face flushed a bright red.
Horse hooves clomped on the dirt path behind her. "It's good to have you back, Casca."
The female commander looked up to see Judeau grinning down at her from his horse. She smiled back. "Thanks."
"Ready to move out?"
She stole a glance over her shoulder, back at her tent, and Judeau thought he saw her lips quirk in a grin.
"Almost."
Hips swaying confidently, Casca took a few steps toward her tent, and drew in a deep breath before bellowing, "Guts! are you gonna come outta there and kiss me bye or not?!"
A loud scowl could be heard from the tent, and more than a few of the Hawks chuckled.
Casca's mouth twisted into a wickedly satisfied smirk. She had been waiting to turn that embarrassing catcall back on him for months—ever since the first time he'd used it on her.
The entrance to the tent was shortly shoved open, and the second tallest member of the Hawks emerged, his baby son propped in the crook of his elbow. Casca laughed teasingly at his pouted lips and furrowed brow, and strode over to him with a gleeful air, a decided skip in her step. "Still jealous?" She teased.
"I'm not jealous!" Guts lifted his other hand to hold their baby more securely, discomfort written all over his grumpy face. He might have been a little jealous—he loved to fight after all. But that wasn't the reason for the ready pout on his lips. This would be Casca's first day on the battlefield since before the birth of their baby, and even though Guts knew she was back in perfect shape and a more than capable warrior, he was full of anxiousness.
Casca let her smile soften to one of care. "Don't worry so much, Guts. I'll be back before you know it." She assured him. She quirked an eyebrow, then stepped up on her tiptoes, daring him to deny her a kiss.
Guts was normally the one initiating PDA despite Casca's firm protests. This time, however, he glanced around quite uncomfortably before giving her a quick peck on the cheek.
More chuckles followed from the Hawks, and Guts growled low in his throat.
Casca sniggered, shaking her head at him, then turned her attention on their son, who was faring much better with her leaving. He giggled and held out his hand to her when Casca leaned down to his level. "Hello, little Griffith!" She said in a baby voice. "Daddy's going to take good care of you while Mommy earns some bread!"
Guts scowled again.
Casca kissed the baby on the cheek and then stood up straight. "Enjoy spending the day together," She said, offering another smirk before turning on her heel to leave. She climbed up on her horse and called to the rest of the Hawks that it was time to move out.
Guts sighed disappointedly as the Band disappeared over the horizon. Damn, he wished he could go with them. He and Casca had agreed that the only fair and responsible thing for them to do was take turns going into battle while the other watched Griffith. Still, he'd barely had an opportunity to be in battle with Casca since they'd become an item, and he wished that wasn't the case. He wished they could go into battle side by side.
The baby cooed and Guts was shaken from his melancholy as small hands found their way to his jaw. His frown turned into a smile as he looked down at his six-month old, chubby cheeks set in a wide, slobber filled grin. Guts wasn't sure why, but that smile directed at him made his chest swell with warmth every time he saw it.
Casca was right. He should just enjoy spending the day with the boy.
With a mischievous smirk, Guts suddenly hoisted his son up by the armpits and threw him in the air. The baby was absolutely delighted by the moment of weightlessness, and giggled as he fell back into his father's arms. "Ya like that, huh?" Guts asked. He threw the boy up in the air several times, enjoying making him laugh, until, in mid flight, the child's grin suddenly disappeared. A split second later, Guts found himself covered in burped up milk. "Aw, Griff!" He groaned, wiping his eyes with his hand.
The baby looked at him with wide eyes for a moment, and Guts knew that face. "No… please don't!"
The baby started bawling.
Guts winced and held his son close. "There-there…" He said, patting the boy's back as he carried him into the tent. Why babies had to cry so much he didn't know, but it bothered him to no end. "It's gonna be a long day, ain't it...?"
Note: So. They're off the boat.
