I do not own Rising of the Shield Hero or any of the characters.

Bleeding For A Reward

Fenris watched as the sky turned the color of blood, spirals of blue and white passing through it. It definitely looked strange, but it wasn't necessarily as terrifying as what it should be. It did a poor job of conveying just how dangerous it actually was, or of the monsters it would be raining on them any second.

"Everyone stay back!" Fenris called, out, glancing back at the villagers. "When the monsters start showing up, find a safe place to hide and let me handle them."

"We will," one of the villagers nodded.

Fenris turned back to the front just as the first of the monsters started to fall from the sky. Fenris cracked his knuckles and drew his broadsword, spinning it in one hand before gripping it with both, readying himself. The first thing to reach the ground were giant hornets. They were about as big as he was and he rolled his eyes as he saw them.

"Of course it's bugs," Fenris sighed. "It's always bugs. I fucking hate bugs."

He charged forward as three flew toward him and jumped over the first, splitting it in half from behind, then twisted and slashed the second on the way down. Then, he stepped forward and stabbed the last. A zombie wearing armor and holding a chipped sword missing its tip landed beside him, and Fenris pivoted, twisting his sword and ripping it out of the hornet's side, slashing the zombie down across the chest, killing it and the hornet both. He looked around, seeing that there were dozens of both types of monsters running around the village.

"Jeez," Fenris grumbled. "This might be more trouble than I charged for. Oh well. A deal's a deal." He rolled his shoulders, turning toward the nearest group of monsters. "Hey freaks!"

They turned, one of the zombies roaring before they all started toward him. As he tore through them, he noticed that not all of the hornets were human-sized. Most were actually only the size of a large cat, or small dog. He dropped into a slide as three hornets sped over him, then stood in time to block a zombie's sword. He shoved it too the side and stepped forward, slashing it up the front. Then, he spun, slashing the hornets that had circled around to attack him again. He heard a foot hit the ground behind him and spun, knowing he'd be too slow, only to find a glowing, green, transparent shield bigger than his body floating between him and the sword resting against it. Then, the shield flashed and vanished and Fenris's sword flashed outward, killing the zombie.

"Are you okay?" a guy wearing a green cape with white fur lining its hood and silver armor with a black shirt and pants under it and a shield on his left arm asked, running over, a horde of monsters chasing him.

"Let me take care of that for you," Fenris said, darting past the guy and slashing his way through the group, slaughtering them quickly before skidding to a stop and blocking a sword.

He jumped, kicking the zombie in the jaw, then landed on his feet and slashed the zombie up the front. He turned, stabbing another zombie before ripping the sword back out and sprinted forward, seeing the guy with the shield climbing the bell tower in the center of town, even more zombies chasing him.

"Smooth move genius," Fenris snorted. "You cornered yourself."

He reached the bottom of the tower and slashed a pair of zombies. Then, as he turned, another zombie's sword crashed into the side of his guard, sending it spinning into the air. He dove forward, tackling the zombie to the ground and drew his one handed sword, stabbing it. Then, he drew his bow and a handful of arrows, drawing the bow back and firing it into the air, taking out a group of hornets.

"Damn bugs," he said, standing and drawing another arrow, planting it in the nearest zombie's face. "Damn undead. Why'd I agree to this shit?"

A zombie landed beside him, roaring and pulling its sword back but he slammed his bow into its face, making it stagger backward before he grabbed his sword in reverse grip and ripped it out of the ground, spinning and removing the zombie's head. He stabbed the sword into the ground again, reaching for another arrow only for a zombie to step into his view off to the side, slashing. He dove aside, but the sword smashed through his bow, slicing a gash into his shoulder.

"Mother fucker!" Fenris swore, tossing the ruined bow aside. "I just got that!"

He grabbed his broadsword off of the ground and lunged, slashing and killing the zombie. He reached down and grabbed his one handed sword just in time to use it to block a zombie's sword with it, slashing upward with the broadsword and killing the zombie. He glanced at the tower, seeing it burning and the guy with the shield leap out of it, shield transforming into one made of rope, a part of it extending and allowing him to catch a chunk of wood sticking out of a nearby rooftop then crash down in a ruined building, which collapsed on him as the bell tower tipped sideways, crashing down on a horde of zombies that had been at the base of it.

"Oh for fuck's sake," Fenris grumbled. "Tell me that's not the fucking Shield Hero, of all goddamn people."

A zombie behind him roared and he stabbed backward with his longsword, stabbing it, only for two zombies to slash at him from the sides. He stepped forward, releasing the sword and spinning, getting turned around just in time to see them snap the blade of the sword, their own blades also breaking.

"Mother fuckers!" Fenris swore. "I actually payed for that one!"

The zombies leapt at him and he slashed them out of the air, clenching his broadsword tightly.

"These fucking bastards!" Fenris snarled.

Just then, a massive foot crashed down behind him and he spun, eyes widening as a zombie double his height with enormous muscles and bulky black armor pulled a war axe the size of Fenris's body back to the side before slashing.

"Fuck!" Fenris swore, ducking and slashing downward, unsurprised when he heard a sound like glass shattering and his sword finished the slash easier than it started.

It was snapped off about halfway, and he sighed heavily, turning and slashing one of the giant's legs with it, making it drop to that knee before he jumped, driving his fingers into its face using his gauntlet's claws. The giant roared and tipped backward, crashing down hard and Fenris rolled off of it, stopping on his feet and looking around.

"Dammit," Fenris growled. "The Wave's barely started and I'm out of weapons." He knelt, picking up a zombie's fallen sword. "I feel like I need a shower stooping to this. And here I thought I was actually good at fighting."

He looked up just as fire spells sailed into the sky from all around the village, colliding together before beginning to rain down. He swore, beginning to dodge around them, barely able to keep out of their way. Finally, the fireballs stopped falling and Fenris sighed, leaning against a wall nearby, one of very few not on fire now, trying to catch his breath. As he did, several Melromarc soldiers began to walk into the village, the captain laughing.

"We burned them all to death in a single strike," the captain gloated.

"What the fuck is wrong with you!?" Fenris demanded, storming over to them and grabbing the captain by the front of his chest plat. "You almost killed me!"

"Get your hands off me you mercenary scum!" the captain snapped, shoving Fenris's hand away. "You're lucky I was here to save you."

"Save me!?" Fenris scoffed. "You burned the whole town down! Now who's going to pay me?"

"Relax, they survived," the captain said, gesturing off to the side where several citizens were catching their breath.

A little closer, the Shield Hero and a demi-human girl with a racoon's tail and ears wearing a sword on her waist were walking over. Then, in the blink of an eye, the demi-human had closed the distance, stabbing at the captain, only for him to block the blade with his own.

"Did you know Master Naofumi was here?" the girl demanded. "Answer me or I'll have you head!"

"Draw your swords," the captain instructed the other soldiers, all of the dozen and a half soldiers doing so.

However, before it could come to blows, Fenris knocked her sword away with his own, stepping between them.

"You seem like you're useful in a fight," Fenris said. "So I'd rather you not get yourself killed fighting them. As much as it pains me to say it, I need help to protect this village and earn my payment. I'll split it with you if you help."

The girl blinked, staring at him before returning to glaring at the captain.

"I am Master Naofumi's sword!" the girl said, readying her sword again, still glaring at the captain. "Respect him or die!"

"Damn demi-human," the knight said. "How dare you point your blade at the Royal Knights?"

"What kind of knight neglects the people he's supposed to defend!?" the girl demanded.

"Raphtalia," Naofumi said. "Forget it."

"But I-"

"Just let it go!" Naofumi interrupted.

"Excellent advice," the captain grinned. "If you stay out of our way, we won't be forced to make any mistakes."

"Get the fuck out of here!" Fenris snapped. "You wanted to let this village burn so just fucking leave! We'll do your job and defend your citizens for you. "Actually, stand right where you are. Yeah. I'd say another five seconds or s should do."

The captain blinked, then turned just as a giant zombie swung its axe down at him. However, Naofumi darted forward, getting between them and blocking the axe with his shield.

"How about dying an honorable death in battle?" Naofumi asked. "Raphtalia!"

"Right!" Raphtalia shouted, sprinting forward and leaping onto the zombie's arm, then shot forward, splitting it up the chest, then splitting the head in half vertically, landing behind it as it crashed to the ground. On the other side, there was another massive group of undead and hornets gathering.

"Listen up!" Naofumi said. "We're gonna buy you time! Use it to get into formation!"

Fenris stepped up beside one of the knights, taking his sword and shoving him backward, striding up to stand beside Naofumi. "Shield Hero. Mind helping me earn my pay."

"I'll accept seventy five percent," Naofumi said.

"Twenty five," Fenris said.

"Fifty," Naofumi said.

"Forty," Fenris said.

"Deal," Naofumi nodded. "Raphtalia, take off!"

"Right!" Raphtalia nodded, charging.

She began to tear into the zombies easily, Fenris doing the same while Naofumi moved with Raphtalia, blocking anything headed for her and allowing her to fight without being hurt. Fenris fought a short distance from the pair, spinning and slashing, and stabbing his way through the growing horde. Finally, he reached a giant and rolled under it before it could kill him, then slashed the backs of its knees before jumping and splitting its back all the way up, killing it. As he landed, he slashed a semicircle of zombies.

"Let the shield handle this!" the captain shouted. "We'll go and help the Three Heroes!"

"Lucky fuckers," Fenris grumbled. "I'd kill to be able to fight alongside the Sword Hero." He spun, slashing a pair of hornets, then a zombie. "And to steal that beautiful sword of his."

A giant stepped up behind him, raising its axe but Raphtalia shot past it, taking its head off and Fenris charged forward again, once again tearing into the undead. However, just as he reached the last of the group, he saw a giant preparing to attack one of the villagers, a man holding a pitchfork and looking like he might be peeing himself. Fenris shot forward, ramming his shoulder into the man and raising his sword to shield himself, only for the axe to smash through it and split his torso open, ruining his armor as well. He staggered backward and fell to his knees, coughing up blood. The giant pulled its axe around to swipe from the side, but Raphtalia took its arm off, followed by its head and Fenris sighed, looking around. About half of the knights were still present, helping to fight the undead. However, within a few minutes, the sky cleared and the last of the undead were quickly finished off by Raphtalia and the knights.

Fenris groaned, shifting from his knees to a seated position against the wall, groaning and pulling a recovery potion and drinking it, his gash shrinking to one that was less life-threatening.

"Thank you!" the villager he had saved said. "You saved me!"

"Yeah well, I wouldn't be worth my payment if I wasn't willing to bleed for it," Fenris said, pulling his ruined armor off and beginning to bandage his wound, struggling hard.

"Let me help," Raphtalia offered.

He nodded and she knelt behind him, bandaging his torso quickly, then helping him get his shirt back on.

"You're a good fighter," Naofumi said, walking over. "And you clearly have honor. Not a lot of people can say the same. I could use your help."

"I saw you drawing the monsters away from the villagers so that they could evacuate," Fenris said. "I've never met very many people that I actually respected enough to work for free of charge. But for you...two gold a week. Double if I almost die that week."

Naofumi glared at him. "You greedy bastard."

"Not everyone can be some great hero and solve everyone's problems out of the goodness of their heart," Fenris said.

"Sir Shield Hero!" the village's mayor said, bowing before him. "We can't thank you enough for what you've done for our village!"

Typical, Fenris thought.

"Well, it wasn't just me," Naofumi said. "We were lucky."

"No, if it wasn't for you, we never would have been able to push back those monsters," one of the villagers said. "We'll never forget what you've done for us."

"Yeah whatever," Naofumi said, turning away.

"And you, I believe I owe you a reward," the mayor said.

"Damn straight," Fenris grumbled, holding a hand to his chest. "What did we agree on? I remember you said you had no money."

"What!?" Naofumi asked. "Then how the fuck are you planning to pay me forty percent?"

"Depends on what the reward is," Fenris shrugged.

"You said you'd choose a reward after the wave, anything you want," the mayor said.

"I did, huh?" Fenris asked, scratching his chin. "Alright then."

He looked around. The entire village was destroyed. Everything was gone. Except for the people. He wasn't really in the market for a slave, although, one ginger who looked to be in her early twenties was pretty good looking.

"Her," Fenris said, nodding to her, several villagers' mouths dropping open.

In the blink of an eye, Raphtalia's sword was to his throat, and the man Fenris had saved was standing in front of the ginger, glaring at the man.

"Excuse me?" the mayor asked.

"I want her," Fenris said. "I get one night without her-what, husband?-there slitting my throat. Then I'll consider the deal squared and I'll leave."

"You piece of shit!" Naofumi spat. "You can't just-"

"I'll do it," the woman said, staring at the ground.

"What!?" the guy Fenris had saved gaped. "But-"

"He saved your life," the woman said. "And he was almost killed doing it. He risked his life to defend the village. It's a pretty small price to pay."

"But you've never..." the guy trailed off.

Jackpot, Fenris thought, grinning internally.

"Even so," the woman said. "I'll do it."

The man clenched his fists and glared angrily at the ground.

"Well then, since that's settled, I'll help you tend to the wounded," Fenris said.

Several of the villagers glared at him, but the conversation was apparently over. Naofumi and Raphtalia left, and after a few more hours, the sun began to set. Fenris, who had gone from tending to the wounded to helping clean up, dusted his hands off just as the redhead stepped up in front of him.

"And here I was expecting to have to come looking for you," Fenris said. "I hope there's an intact house somewhere. It'll be awkward if I have to accept my payment in the street."

She blushed a dark red, but turned, walking away. He followed, finding a mostly intact house and followed her inside and up to the bedroom. Once inside, she stood at the foot of the bed, blushing and crossing her arms over her stomach, hands gripping her elbows.

"I've never…" she trailed off.

"That's alright," Fenris said. "More fun for me. Go ahead and take your clothes off, then get comfortable on the bed. If nothing else, I'm generous enough to make sure you enjoy it too."

She glared at him for a moment before sighing and stripping. Fenris removed his own clothes as well, then joined her on the bed. Hours later, as the sun was rising, Fenris stepped out of the house, yawning and stretching his arms over his head, ignoring the disgusted, angry glares from anyone in the street. It wasn't his fault she was a virgin, squirter, and screamer all in one.

"Oh, so you're finally finished, huh?" the girl's something or other, be it boyfriend, fiancé, or husband, grumbled. "Sure you don't want to fuck my girlfriend for a few more minutes? You were just shy of eleven hours."

"I'd love to," Fenris said. "But I said one night, and now it's morning. So, adieu. Enjoy sloppy seconds."

He walked away from the man's house, making it to the village's front gate before a pair of arms wrapped around him from behind.

"Let me come with you," the ginger said.

"I think we already did that a few times," Fenris said. "Don't get all clingy. That was just payment."

"Then let's do it again because we want to," she said.

"Jeez, I really broke you didn't I?" he asked. "Get lost lady. I don't do feelings."

"It doesn't have to mean anything," she said. "Just let me come with you. That way I'm there if you ever decide you're bored."

"Man, you're really not going to take no for an answer, are you?" Fenris asked. "Fuck it. Why not? What's your name, lady?"

"Naomi," she beams up at him.

"Alright Naomi," he said. "If you're coming with me, you need to know how to fight, or how to make medicine and potions. I gotta head to my armorer anyway, so I'll pick you up some stuff while we're there."

"Okay!" she beams.

"And quit being so happy," Fenris said. "Jeez, you're really annoying already."

She ignored his order and continued to smile as they walked away from the village. After a while, they reached Erhard's shop and he looked up before his eyes widened.

"Who's this?" Erhard asked.

"Naomi," Fenris said. "My new portable, willing, easy fuck. She needs armor, and a weapon. Probably a shield. Oh, and those piece of shit weapons you gave me all broke. Can't you make anything decent?"

"Damn man, you broke them already?" Erhard asked. "Fuck. You're lucky I threw in that warranty. Here, I'll get you some stronger ones. And as an apology for them breaking, I'll throw in the young lady's gear for free."

"Much obliged," Fenris said.

"So how'd you meet this lovely young lady anyway?" Erhard asked.

"I got promised anything I wanted as a reward for defending some village and chose her as the reward," Fenris said, Erhard dropping the sword he was holding out of surprise. "Then I took her virginity and fucked her all night and now she's determined to come with me."

"You're joking, right?" Erhard asked, setting weapons that looked exactly like the ones that had just broken on the counter, except that one one-handed one was a shortsword this time.

"Nope," Fenris said.

"That's just wrong man," Erhard said. "So many levels of wrong."

"Her boyfriend thought so too, but if that's all it took to steal her, obviously it wasn't going to work out anyway."

"Jeez," Erhard sighed.

"So what's the deal with these weapons?" Fenris asked. "They look the same as the last set. You're not trying to pawn off the same useless crap n me are you?"

"It's all stronger than the last set," Erhard said. "It won't break as easily. And this is for the lady."

He set a white blouse with a black vest on the counter, along with a pair of tight black pants made of some kind of stretchy material, and a pair of black shoes. Beside it, he set a small silver shield and a long thin sword with a white blade, a gold guard, a black grip and scabbard, and a gold coin pommel. Fenris drew the first few inches of the sword and saw some odd language extending up the sides of the blade in gold lettering.

"You're joking, right?" Fenris asked. "I ask you for armor, and you give her a set of clothes? Really light clothes, at that. Are you swindling me?"

"Relax," Erhard said. "You're not planning on having her on the front lines, right? So then this is perfect. Besides, it's all got higher defense than it looks. Almost as high as your armor. Where is your armor, anyway?"

"Oh, right," Fenris said. "I got hit with an axe and it got ruined." He set it on the counter.

"Fuck," Erhard said. "You weren't kidding. Fuck it. I'll go get you a replacement."

He walked away and came back a few minutes later. Unlike the last one, this one included short, black, leather straps around the bottom of it, each abut three inches long. Fenris thanked him, putting his armor on and gathering his new weapons, then handed Naomi's sword and clothes to her before they left to find a hotel until Fenris decided on what to do next.

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A.N.: He's terrible isn't he? Should he get worse? I'm contemplating the idea of how moral to make him, ranging from eat-drink-and-fuck-anything-he-can-get-his-hands-on, to pass-the-time-with-meaningless-sex, to actually being a decent person. Let me know what you think.