Darkness in the Twilight
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By Psycho Ferret and LunarCrystal
Close
They were finally able to get situated in the Fort, Celena needing to take her own time memorizing the many wings and tiers and balconies of it. Allen had his own balcony attached to his room, and while Celena was jealous, she secretly thought that it would not really be his room alone. It seemed that the progress on rebuilding Fort Castelo had already been nearly completion.
Weapons were restocked, the wall was put up along the parameter's - or so Gaddes reported - and all that was left was a little roofing and some indoor remodeling. Gaddes had warned Allen that there were some places that had stairs now where there didn't used to be. Just a few things here and there that might be different, and he had to hastily assure that he wasn't tricking his friend just to have a bit of fun.
As the indoors were finally being done, things began to run like normal, and soldiers would be in the courtyard, going through exercises, or patrolling - others, during off-duty hours, would be in rooms, cleaning the dust from the floors used for storage or barracks. Celena wasn't available, as she was desperately trying to find her way through the labyrinth of the fort walls. Gaddes had to excuse himself from Allen early that day to go through field exercises, which left Allen to his own devices.
Allen took his time following the halls and such, though even still, after being gone so long, some of the layout was fuzzy. But he'd force himself to deal with that, to fix it. He'd been doing it a lot, really, navigating the halls to get himself to get a feel for it all over again. Always, the sword at his side, though for now the uniform was set aside for a lighter, far less regal looking attire. He looked fittingly... swashbuckling, with his knee-high boots, leather pants tucked neatly into them, loose white shirt held by a greenish sash.
No, admittedly, he did not choose his own clothes. He knew he'd end up mismatching or some such thing.
The blonde was quiet as he walked, besides the soft thunk of his boots on the wooden flooring. This was his home. This was what he knew.
His footfall alerted two guards who had been cleaning up dust, plaster, and other debris from the floors of some rooms that were parallel. One soldier peeked out quietly and saw Allen coming, in a pace that was casual and not painstakingly slow for a blind man. He grinned wickedly and silently signaled to his grumpy comrade across the hall. They both were stuck with cleaning duty and neither were too fond of the idea.
The first soldier, who had been holding a broom, stretched it out across the hall where his other malicious friend took the end of it. There they held the sturdy rod of the broom just at Allen's ankle level, trying very hard to conceal smirks.
Of course, before his blindness, he had been able to pick out such things. However, now...
His senses alerted him to the broom's presence far too late, and their young commander started, toppling over rather ungracefully. He hissed softly, but hardly had any time to recover before his weight promptly slid him off the top step and down the staircase. It was all too quick for him to be able to do anything about it, though he did react enough to duck his head to keep from cracking his skull against the stairs. Or the wall.
One narrow shoulder glanced off the wall, nudging him down the rest of the stairs, and he lay still for a few moments. Surprise flickered through him, as well as flashes of pain. He'd be bruised, at least. Thankfully, nothing rather severe had occurred. He calmed his racing heart, groaning softly as he pushed himself up to a sitting position, leaning the far less bruised shoulder against the wall.
Well, at least he hadn't broken his leg... or neck.
The soldiers immediately knew it would look bad if their commander found that they were there and had done nothing to check on his well being after falling so hard. So, one of them quickly rushed down a few steps, all the way exclaiming in surprise, "Sir Allen! By Jechia, are you alright?"
Allen winced a bit, slowly tugging himself to his feet. He hadn't expected to come out of it that unscathed, but luck seemed to be with him in some odd manner. The blonde pressed gloved fingers experimentally into the shoulder he'd banged into the wall, shaking his head. "I'm alright, just... don't worry about it." Allen shook his head slightly.
Celena's fears had been shoved right in his face... of course, he'd keep it quiet if he could. Pride and all of that, as well as wanting to keep her from worrying so much.
"Oh, but sir," said the other in alarm, "Let one of us take you to the healer, at least. You might have hurt something far worse than your pride."
Oh, how his companion tried so very hard to keep from sniggering at the jest. How utterly ridiculous, not to mention insulting, that this blind whelp is to be their commander when he is younger than most of the soldiers there.
"It's fine," Allen murmured, shaking his head slightly. It was true, he might have injured himself worse than a bit of bruising. His shoulder just didn't feel right. "I'll be fine. Just a little shaken, is all." Shaken indeed. That had been the worst fall yet since his blindness.
While Allen had no disillusions that everyone there loved having him around... he didn't even begin to think that the soldiers themselves would do such a thing.
"Please, commander, I insist." said the first, and he took Allen's arm in his hand, his companion following from behind as he began to lead the Caeli Knight downstairs.
Allen sighed softly. He'd be better off right now with someone leading him, of course. Finally, he silently relented. It would be for the best, after all. He'd have less of a chance of tripping... and, after all, the healer could tell him just what was wrong with his shoulder.
Allen stepped carefully, used to being led. And these were his soldiers, after all... he would trust them. How could he not?
These soldier were voices without names to their commander, and thankfully so for what better way than to torment the presumptuous little prick - blind and far too trusting. It was all too easy for the soldier and his friend to lead the poor Knight down halls, their steps swift as if the man's injury was truly in dire need of being inspected.
The second soldier opened a door finally, at the end of a stone hallway, "Just in here, sir." and they led Allen insider. "The healer will be with you shortly." he said, taking the key out from the door as he spoke, closing the door with a soft click. The men didn't dare break out in their laughter until they were far enough away from the locked door to the storage room.
Allen tensed just inside the room. This didn't smell like an apothecary. The blonde felt a frown tug on his lips... he'd been made a fool of. He kicked the door sharply, narrowing blind eyes, frustrated. He'd been made a fool of. "Of course he insisted... hell." In vain hopes, the blonde tried the door to find it locked, bowing his head against it. His shoulder throbbed... he likely did need to get it checked. But he couldn't. Not in there.
Again the blonde kicked the door. It wouldn't budge. Great, just great... now he couldn't even trust his own soldiers, could he?
It was hours later that Gaddes came down that hall after field exercises. He whistled a merry tune, all in high spirits about his commander and friend coming back to their fort. How happy he was for his friend, the knight - how happy that he'd brought his pretty sister to gaze upon from across the common room in the evenings. But he would never admit as such, no.
No, he was also content for Allen, in that he found renewed pride now that he not only gained back his title, his position, but also his post and his men, his crew, and role as captain of the ship Crusade. Gaddes could have skipped for joy.
Allen had already shed his quiet tears of frustration and bitterness at being so stupid. Frustrated, his shoulder throbbing, several choice points on his body aching from bruising, he was a mess. He'd given up calling out awhile back. No one was there during the day. The blonde was silent, tucked up against the wall, frowning when he heard the whistling.
He knew that step, that song. Gaddes. In a flourish that made him dizzy, Allen stood and sidled up to the door, bracing a hand against the wall until the dizziness passed, then promptly kicked the door.
"Gaddes?"
This was going to be embarrassing as hell... but at least it was Gaddes.
Gaddes stopped at the noise of someone kicking the door from inside one of the many storage rooms. His whistle hung in the air before making the very stones around him silent, save for more kicking on the door at the end of the hall. He'd been making his way toward the stairs, being below ground on this level of the fort.
When he heard his name, he recognized the voice of his young noble friend, and quickly ran to the door, testing the handle.
"Boss?" he said from the other side, "Is that you?"
Allen sighed softly, relieved. It was Gaddes. "Er..... yeah." embarrassing wouldn't describe it. Of course, Allen was agitated and a bit angry at himself, as well as those two soldiers. Hell if he knew who they were, though. "I'll explain later."
Later... meaning when he got out. Allen gently massaged his shoulder, frowning a little. The other bruises and such had stopped aching so much. But ugh... his shoulder still throbbed.
Gaddes tried the handle again, more viciously this time, to no avail. Locked in, was he? Oh, he would want a very good explanation from whomever did this to him. "I need to kick the door in. Stand back."
Allen slid back from the door with a soft sigh, back against the wall. "Alright, go ahead."
Bracing himself on the archway of the doorframe, Gaddes heaved back his leg and gave the door a mighty kick. It nearly splintered at his force, knocking out one of the hinges from the newly mortared stone. "Boss! Are you alright?" he asked, immediately seeking out his blonde commander.
"Too bad about that door," murmured Allen, shaking his head slightly. Carefully, he slid outside the storage room and sighed. Bitterly. "Me and my naiveté..."
"Lead me to the apothecary, would you? I'll tell you on the way." Gaddes he could trust to lead him the right way. Hell, the members of the Crusade, he could trust. "I notice we've gotten new faces around here." Bitter. He'd let himself be led into a trap. What a fool.
"To be honest, I rather ungracefully made my way down a flight of stairs. I might've dislocated my shoulder, but besides that there's nothing too bad." He'd had worse. But oh, the shame... but after mulling over it for awhile, he'd decided that it really wasn't his doing. He was convinced it had been them. "And they insisted on taking me to the apothecary. Which, I might add, I figured might be a good idea. And, of course... I'm sure you can figure out what happened."
He'd finished it lamely, he knew... but oh, the shame. And he had no idea who it was that had done it to him. He had no way of telling. Their voices weren't very distinct at all.
Gaddes, in fact, didn't lead Allen to the apothecary. Instead, he made a slow pace upstairs, towards his commander's room - a room he knew well enough himself, having slept there on occasion before the Fort was destroyed. He was silent all along their trip, before opening the door to Allen's own room and leading him inside.
"We're here." he said quietly. "You should sit down."
Allen turned his head slightly towards the other with a sigh. Not the apothecary's... but not a storage room, either. The blonde slid inside, feeling along the wall to the bed, sitting down on the edge of it. he felt the part of the fool. He'd been too trusting, but what could he do? These were his soldiers, men he'd fight beside. How should he have known he'd have to be suspicious of them?
"We don't have an apothecary yet. Healer's not due until next week." Gaddes explained quietly, watching his friend as he struggled to find his own bed. Not matter how happy he was for Allen, it still broke his heart to watch him. "And you look like you got the shit kicked out of you. Shoulder looks a little off. . . might need to pop it back in."
"Mm... I lost to the stairs, what can I say? It was bound to happen eventually." Though he'd expected himself to do it, not one of his soldiers. Or two. "Yeah... it's stiff and it hurts like hell... but at least my arm's not broken or anything. It could have been worse."
Allen wasn't in high spirits. He'd been shamed and injured all because of his blindness and his trust.
Gaddes would probably never mention it out loud, but he could clearly see the clean streaks that made trails down Allen's smudged and dirty face. Quietly, he went over to the water basin and poured fresh water on a rag, rung it out and sat beside Allen. He scarcely brought his hand up behind Allen's head, to let him know to turn his face toward him - and gingerly cleaned his face and tear trails.
"Like you said," began Gaddes softly, "At least you didn't break anything. Especially your neck."
"Mm... it definitely could have been worse." Of course, it defiantly could have been better, as well. He'd done his crying, wasn't yet done with his berating himself for his trust, but he would finish up soon enough. "Just say nothing to Celena." He didn't want her to know, to worry. not that she wouldn't worry anyhow, but she would worry more if she knew.
Allen always found comfort in Gaddes' presence and touch. He was the one that brought Celena back, he was the one that was always there at his side when he could be. Gaddes was there to trust and Allen did trust him. He trusted the brunette with his secrets, his fears. Everything.
"You know how she insists that you use a cane." said Gaddes, wiping away the last of the grime from his handsome fellow's features. "As much as I hate to admit it, she might have a point. These soldiers - who ever they are - would have less of an advantage over you. Allen," and now he spoke frankly, putting a hand on the man's face as if to force him to look at him. "You can't pretend to see and risk your safety. There are some things Celena says that even I agree with."
Allen sighed softly, knowing Gaddes and his sister were right. Especially after this incident. During a fight, he could do without. But here...
He relented. Finally. "Very well," he murmured softly. He'd been convinced. The blonde didn't pull away from the other man's touch, as he might have awhile ago. He didn't argue the point, make it know that he sure as hell could do this on his own, without the cane. No. Not this time. He knew Gaddes was right in this. It would be a show of weakness, but also... something past that. It was a show of strength, that he could step past the pride that plagued him.
At that moment, Gaddes finally did pull away, touching the other man lightly on the head. "We need to put your shoulder back into place," he told him, standing.
Allen sighed, nodding. One hand rested on the bed, fingers immersed in the bedsheets. It wouldn't be fun, that much was for sure. Granted, he hadn't ever dislocated anything, now that he thought of it. But he was sure it would hurt. And likely a lot. "Don't mind me while you're doing it." Allen didn't like pain very much, after all.
Gaddes sighed, "You might want to lay down - on your stomach."
The blonde nodded slightly. Gaddes would know about this better than he would. Carefully, the blonde did so, tugging his hair out of the way. This wasn't going to be comfortable at all.
Carefully straddling at Allen's lower back, his two strong hands gripping the offending shoulder, he readied himself for the cry of pain his friend was about to let out. Hard and quick as possible, he pulled outward with his hands, and with his knee he pushed down roughly until he heard a nice audible "pop!".
Indeed, a cry of pain fell from his lips... as well as a list of obscenities rarely heard from him. It hurt. Like hell. When it was done, he lay still, panting a little, his eyes closed, the faint stinging of tears of pain prickling in the corners of his eyes.
But it was done.
Uncurling gloved fingers that had clenched in the sheets, the blonde shuddered slightly. Could have been worse.
Gaddes let him lay there for a few minutes, letting him catch his breath. He didn't like that his commander got hurt, that he was in pain, that he felt helpless. The soldiers that hurt his pride so – how they would pay if Gaddes ever found out who they were. And he will, by Jechia. Ever so gently, he rubbed Allen's back, moving his hand over the silk of his shirt and stroking the golden tendrils.
"You'll be okay, now, boss." Said Gaddes reassuringly, "You can take care of yourself. You're strong and you don't need me to tell you twice. Even before what happened, you could have kicked all of our asses with your eyes closed."
Allen sighed softly, closing his eyes needlessly, resting his forehead against the mattress. Gaddes comfortingly rubbing his back was... comfortable. And relaxing. Reassuring. Eventually, the identities would come out. And when they did...
Likely Allen knew he wouldn't be the first one to do something about them.
But the difference between now and then was that Allen would not have been tricked so then.
While it was so quiet in the room for but a few moments, Gaddes there with Allen lying on the bed, it was horrendously interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps, someone really running down the hallway just outside of the door. Allen's door flew up hard, swinging and hitting the wall. It was Celena, her breathing labored and her voice frantic.
"What's happened? I heard a scream. Allen, what happened?" And she rushed to his side, touching his head and fussing over him like an over-bearing aunt.
Allen started, lifting his head and turning it towards her fretting. He paused, forcing his racing heart to calm. Hell. "I'm fine, I'm fine... Gaddes and I were sparring and I was being a showy idiot."
Believable enough, of course. "He didn't believe me so much that the time I fought him before wasn't a fluke." Allen shook his head a little. He didn't want to lie to her... but he wouldn't tell her the truth. This was between the soldiers there and himself. And if she knew, she'd shuffle him right off the fort or refuse to leave his side for a single second or some such rather ungraceful thing.
And Allen wouldn't leave the fort, not until all this was taken care of.
"Gaddes, you insensitive knuckle head!" she said to the second in command, and Gaddes let her smack him hard in his chest as a rebuke. Apparently she'd already picked up some speech patterned from the soldiers. Gaddes couldn't help but wonder which one uses 'knucklehead'.
"Hey, I'm sorry," said Gaddes, holding up his hands in defeat, "I just needed to be proven twice. Guess he lost the second time, and none too gracefully, isn't that right, boss?" Celena growled.
Allen couldn't help but smile. He'd apologize to Gaddes about that later. The blonde groaned a little, sighing. "Utterly. It was a mess. I can usually easily pull of stunts like that, but it was idiotic. Anyway, it's not really that big of a deal, it was more my own fault than his, anyway. And I wasn't arguing with a bit more sparring."
Taking a moment to let the words settle, Gaddes watched Celena as she continued to look over Allen's bruised body, wincing when she gasped at the horrible black and blue of his shoulder. She practically tore the shirt from its laces so that she could pull it down and dote over his some more.
"By the gods, these bruises are horrible. Gaddes!" she turned on him with livid eyes, but once again, Gaddes held up hands in defeat, standing and taking steps backward toward the door.
"I think I'll just leave you two alone. I'll get berated later by your sister anyway. Take it easy for a while, alright?" And he quickly left the room, closing the door securely behind him. Celena turned to Allen.
"How could you be so careless?" She started angrily.
"Celena, you needn't worry so much. It was nothing serious. I had worse than this when I first began sword fighting. They are bruises, that is all. And my shoulder," Allen shrugged with the uninjured shoulder, offering a slight smirk. "it will heal."
Boys will be boys. Allen would get injured and spring right back. And hell if he'd let those two soldiers defeat him like that. He'd lost pride over them once.
"Careful with the clothes, would you?" he murmured softly, arching a brow. "I'll be fine, I assure you. Gaddes and I both have sustained worse from our spars."
With Gaddes gone, and her brother's reassurances, she softened her expression and slowly bent to kiss him like a wife and not a sister. "I understand," she said into his ear, her breath dancing over the sensitive skin of his lobe, "I just - I think I love you too much, sometimes."
"It's alright, Celena," he sighed softly, slipping his arms about her in a hug. "I'll be fine. No matter what it is that happens, I'll be fine eventually, one way or another."
They stayed there together for a while, Celena nearly falling asleep in his embrace as he rested. The room was quite barren, and large - it made her feel strange, to be in such emptiness and briefly wondered what it must be like to be in complete emptiness *and* darkness. She couldn't even begin to fathom how lonely it must be for her brother sometimes.
It was a short nap for her there, before she wanted to get up and stretch her legs some more. Before leaving the room, she said over to Allen from the door. "I know you won't use it, but your cane continues to gather cobwebs next to the door. Sometimes I don't even know why I tell you." she shook her head, suppressing a grin.
Only that, finally, he did intend on using it. Gaddes and she were both correct and he'd show the strength to push past his pride and use it. Allen shook his head slightly. "You needn't worry about it."
"I know," she replied, "Are you up to coming to dinner or should I have someone bring it to you tonight?"
"I will go. What would keep me from doing so? A little bit of bruising like this is no reason." And he wanted to keep his injury centralized... known between just a few. If he didn't show up, then the others might wonder why. Best to keep up appearances, then.
"Alright. It's getting dark, so I imagine everyone's starting to gather in the common room for dinner. I'll see you there soon." With that, she left him quietly to his peace.
She even bothered changing for dinner, though she wore a dress for the afternoon, she chose to wear something much more comfortable. She nearly mimicked her brother in casual attire, having snitched a pair of pants from his chest of drawers and a loose shirt over her corset - how she hated breasts sometimes. The sash wound around her waist twice and even then had to be tied tightly to keep the pants from falling.
In the common room, she waited at the *only* table there . . . All the soldiers sat on the floor, sitting on hay bales or leaning against each other in circles as they ate and conversed loudly. She ignored their catcalls and laughs when she had entered. The table she sat at was barren, but there were place settings and even a crude vase with a couple of daisies stuck into it. They still treat Allen like the fop that he is, apparently. She found herself watching the door expectantly, her fingers interlaced in front of her.
She insisted that they not serve her until her brother came, so she waited.
Allen entered as regal and prideful as ever. Nothing, really, seemed changed, the thunk of boot heels quiet. He seemed no less a man then he had before, seemingly unchanged by the day's earlier events. Those were pushed aside. He had a part to play, after all, he couldn't disappoint. He'd righted the clothes he'd worn, the ones so quickly tugged out of place in his sister's frantic exploration.
The only difference was the cane in hand. He grasped it lightly, his fingers curling softly about the top of it. A way to get past his shame in using it... the way he held it mimicked the way he grasped his rapier, a loose, comfortable grip.
He knew his way around the dining hall easily, sliding onto the bench quietly when he'd reached it.
Oh, how her heart sank. No one spoke when Allen entered, many soldiers hushing others who had been in conversation. Even after they'd quieted, she could hear whispers - knowing they were not about the same crass articulations from before as their eyes were fixed on her brother and the cane he held in his hand.
The silence was dreadfully uncomfortable, and it made Celena's back chill and her muscles tense with rising fury. Had they truly never seen a blind man, before? No - they had never seen her brother like that before. She wanted to yell at them to stop staring and get back to eating their disgusting gruel.
She swallowed, "Allen," and her voice was very quiet so that really only he could hear her, "What made you change your mind?"
Allen felt a pang of pain at their whispers, their... what was it, shock? He could feel their eyes upon him, but he didn't change his demeanor. He wasn't sure if he could take much of it, of their shock, their staring. These were men he'd fought and trained beside, men he'd led through one of the most trying parts of his and their lives. Couldn't he have their respect, even though he'd changed?
The blonde pushed that aside for now, shaking his head slightly to Celena. "What's wrong with all of you? Eat your slop!" His normal tone, not a quiver in his voice. But their sudden silence was grating.
"It doesn't matter," he murmured to her, shaking his head slightly.
Slowly, the murmuring of the soldiers broke into the conversation they'd been having before, turning back to their friends and trying to lighten the mood. The crew of the Crusade were all there, sitting on hay bales nearest to Allen's table. Kio brought out the cuisine that they would be eating on a platter. It was a roast pig, a small one - but even the crudeness of its shriveled up skin did not deter Celena's mouth from watering.
Using her own place settings, she carved large chunks from the baked carcass and served both she and her brother. Of course, when she was done, she always had to give him the same routine. "Potatoes at 11 o'clock. Delicious pork at 5, some sweet corn cake at 2, and a biscuit at 8."
"But it's 7:30 at night, little lady," said Kio with the most innocently bewildered look on his face.
Allen ate quietly, though careful not to let his dread show through. What if he lost more respect from them? What would he do, then?
To her comment, Allen laughed. He set aside the utensils, unable to hold back the snickers that slipped forth. Oh, she was a darling woman, wasn't she? And so demanding, of course. But then again, she was his sister. She'd get every right.
"Kio, shove off, will you?" said Gaddes from his seat on the hay, and grumpily Kio complied, taking his own plate of stew and bread and eating with a vengeance.
"What's so funny?" Celena had to ask her brother.
"Nothing, nothing at all, dear Celena." Allen stifled his laughter, a little bit of a grin on his lips as he finished up the food given. "You're such a treasure, you know that?" Perfect.
Celena smiled and finished her meal as well. But the soldiers around them had finished before the noble siblings, and were already relaxing and talking among themselves. Kio, like a good waiter - and hating Gaddes for assigning him to be as such for the night - took away the empty plates. Celena poured both of them some vino, settling herself in her chair.
"Hey, boss," Riden again with his insatiable curiosity, "What's gonna happen with Scherezade now that you can't see?" Nearly the entire crew around them groaned. Riden was well known for lack of tact.
Allen glanced over at him sightlessly, arching a brow. "She'll stay safely away. It's obvious I won't be able to pilot her. Or I might be able to pilot her eventually. Though it'll be awhile before I can."
At least things were slowly sliding back to normal from the tenseness earlier.
"Boss," said Pyle, a large barrel-chested half-mole man who sat with Riden, "Are we still gonna use the Crusade? You still gonna be captain?"
"What are you, an idiot?" Allen grinned roguishly, tipping his head to the side a little. "Of course!"
Celena giggled.
"What about the little lady?" asked Katz, "What's she here for?"
"I'm his sister, moron." she said scathingly. But again, there was silence - not in the entire room this time, thank goodness. No luckily it was just with the crew of the Crusade, those precious few who were deemed worthy of trust with Allen. She suddenly got nervous with the way they stared at her, barely finding her voice to ask, "What?"
"You mean, aren't you Dilandau?" asked Katz. Celena shrank.
Allen tensed, the fork slipping from his fingers. Oh God.
"No... she is not," he hissed. "She is not Dilandau." He almost shook. The shock at her changing so horridly sudden right before him, watching as she was taken away again, defending her from Van's assault...
"A-Allen," Celena started nervously, seeing her brother seething with anger. The soldiers around them visibly leaned back, as if to give way to the overwhelming sense of rage emanating from Allen.
"S-Sorry, Boss," stuttered Katz quietly, suddenly feeling much too nervous for his own safety.
Allen clenched his jaw in a manner of forcing himself to calm down. They didn't know, they didn't understand, he couldn't expect them to. "Just... forget it, it's alright," he murmured, sighing softly. He pushed the anger away, quite possibly to be dealt with later. Now wouldn't be the time.
"So, I heard you got a few bruises today..." said Kio, trying to sound light hearted, despite the brief stint they almost got themselves into. "Heard that Gaddes beat the boss this afternoon."
Gaddes scratched his head bashfully, "Yeah, it's like I said, probably a fluke. But one of those few times I'll be able to flaunt that I beat the boss. Right, boss?"
"Straight out, Gaddes. We'll have to have a rematch." Allen grinned challengingly. The anger seeped out of him quickly, fading, lightly shoved aside like he had a tendency to do. Well, now that they had that about Celena all straightened out, it was time to move onto other things.
"Allen," Celena began, "I was wondering. Since I can only do so much work around here - do you suppose I could start learning how to use Scherezade?"
Again, the men stopped and stared at her, startled. Gaddes took the opportunity to quickly break their sudden silence. "You know, boss, she's not bad with a sword. It might not be a bad idea."
"...Celena, you are a lady, above anything else. I won't have you spoil your hands with such work." That... and he didn't want her back in danger the way she had been before. If there was a fight, he didn't want her in the middle of it. Allen shook his head slightly.
And even then... it was odd, to think of someone else manning the unit.
"Oh, please?" she begged, having always been interested in their family guymelef and always hating how her brother refused her such a pleasure, "Why must you always obsess yourself with protecting me?"
"Because you are a lady and above that, my sister, that's why. I won't have a lady being in such danger when it is unnecessary." Allen calmly shook his head slightly, a faint frown on his lips.
Celena leaned on the table and said in a petulant mutter, "I don't want to be a lady. I want to be a knight."
Again, the soldiers laughed at her wounded pride and childish behavior. "She already looks like a boy." said Oruto darkly, who's throwing knives seemed to have an accuracy beyond that of a normal man. "Her hair's short and she's in your clothes, boss."
"You are still a lady, Celena." Allen rested his hands lightly on the table, sighing softly. "And even if she does dress like one, she isn't a boy. She is my sister and I won't have her nancing about like the rest of you."
Allen turned his tone more towards her, sighing a bit. "Celena, I just recently got you back, would you have me shove you out there into the middle of a battle? Would you have me risk losing you all over again? I won't. I won't take that risk."
"No," Celena sighed, resigning. She pushed away from the table and bowed to the soldiers - who laughed some more. She desperately tried to quell her anger. "I'm feeling fatigued, so I think I'll go to my chambers and retire. Goodnight." and she left them laughing at her from behind.
"You're little sister might be trouble," spoke Oruto again, chuckling.
"Yeah, she really wants to be a knight like you, boss." said Riden. It took Gaddes to stand up and glare at them.
"Cut it out, you idiots." he said simply.
"Even if she wants it, I won't support it. I won't have her face what I do." Allen turned his head towards them and flashed a grin. "And anyway, I wouldn't want to turn her loose with louses like you!"
"Aw, boss, that's not very nice." said Pyle, who easily gets discouraged by his commander's insults. Of course, every time he looked so wounded, his shipmates would simply pat him on the back and laugh some more.
But above the din of their laughter, a man that was not a part of the crew of the airship spoke, "Heard you took a nasty tumble today!" of which made the camaraderie between the shipmates to die down and turn slowly to see who the speaker was.
Allen paused, arching a brow slightly. He listened closely to the voice, trying to recognize it. If only he could see... if he could see, it never would have happened. "You there... your name, soldier? I don't believe you were stationed here before."
"M-Me sir?" said the soldier, standing up quickly and saluting him with respect, "No, sir, I wasn't. But there are a lot of us that weren't here before the Fort's destruction during the war. Kalban is my name, sir. New recruit."
"Mm, good to know. I expect Gaddes has made sure to fill all of you in with the way things work around here." The salutes he knew were worthless... he couldn't see them anyhow. But there was still that respect to be given. He was still their commander.
Allen was frustrated. The voice wasn't one of the ones from earlier, was it? But... he'd find them soon enough. He'd have to.
And at that moment, Gaddes took the time to touch Allen's shoulder and bend down to Allen's ear, "Kal is a new guy but he's not bad eggs around here. The guys and I get along with him well enough."
Allen nodded slightly to Gaddes' words. He trusted their judge of character well enough. Allen leaned back slightly to speak quietly with Gaddes, his voice soft. "Make sure you and the guys keep an eye out for anyone who might be into causing a bit of trouble. The sooner we narrow it down, the better."
"Right." he said quietly, knowing that a simple nod would go unheeded. Most of the men who had already finished their meals were filing out of the common room, only a few staying behind to enjoy the fire that crackled in the hearth at the center. It was then that some of the crew stood up as well, mumbling a couple 'Night, boss's to Allen as they passed him.
Gaddes stayed, of course, being ever loyal. Pyle took up a hay stack near the warmth of the hearth and settled down for a nap. Gaddes was thankful that none of them questioned Kalban's statement, wondering if they too, were as determined to keep Allen's pride intact. "Guess you don't need help back to your room, right?"
"No... I think I'll be fine." Allen stood, nodding slightly to Gaddes. "It'll take some getting used to, using this," he motioned with the cane, sighing a little, "but you and Celena are both right that it's for my benefit if I use it." Allen smiled slightly. "Thanks for earlier, by the way, though I know it doesn't need to be said." Allen knew Gaddes was aware of how thankful he was for the brunette's presence. It was he that had warmed Allen up to the role he'd set himself in, helped him settle into the place of their commander. He'd been loyally there at his side and continued to be so, even through all his troubles.
Allen clasped Gaddes' arm tightly with a gloved hand, nodding slightly to him.
"I could kiss you," grinned Gaddes, "If I drunk enough not to know better."
Allen laughed a little, shaking his head slightly. Not like they hadn't shared breaths before, but that... seemed so far away. "You know you'd like it too much." Allen grinned teasingly, always at ease with his friend.
"Then I better go before I get tempted!" Gaddes chuckled, clasping his friend one last time on his shoulder before taking his leave to his modest quarters - second in command, he got his own room.
Allen sighed a little, turning and starting to walk back towards his own room a few minutes after the brunette left. He knew Gaddes would do him well... they'd find out whoever had shamed him.
"Hey there, commander." said a passing soldier.
Allen turned his head slightly towards him, giving him a nod. "Evening."
Another stepped behind him, "We were wondering . . ."
Allen's senses were set on alert and he tensed a little. "...wondering?"
"Well," said the soldier behind him, taking hold of Allen's shoulder, "You're sister - she is your sister, isn't she?"
The blonde, narrowed his eyes slightly. "She is..."
The soldier beside Allen leaned in close, with a grin on his face as he spoke, "She's really pretty."
"...So she is..." Allen leaned away a little, a slight frown tugging on his lips. This... wasn't going to be good.
But a blush entered the men's cheeks, and they quickly stepped away to salute him. "Our apologies, sir. But - we were wondering . . . could one of us call on her in the future?"
"That's her decision, not my own," he murmured slightly, shaking his head. He had a feeling he knew what her answer would be, but he'd leave it up to her. If she chose them... then he'd get involved.
"Alright!" exclaimed one happily, while the other only slumped in dismay.
"Better than nothing." he sighed.
"I cannot make those kinds of decisions for her." Allen shrugged slightly, but offered a little smile.
"All I can say is good luck." Allen grinned a little bit, then started off again. "Make sure to get some rest for tomorrow."
"What's going on tomorrow, commander?" asked the dismayed one to Allen's retreating form.
"The usual. We don't want you guys all tuckered out during exercises, eh?"
The men could only mutter curses under their breath, looking at each other before dejectedly walking back to their barracks.
Allen moved quietly down the hall, a faint smile on his lips. She certainly was pretty.
But he was disturbed by how quickly he'd freaked out when they drew near. The blonde shook his head a little, heading up towards his room.
"Allen," Celena whispered to him from her door as she saw her brother pass her room, "Allen, can I sleep with you tonight?"
Allen blinked turning his head towards her. "Ah... if you wish it, then I suppose I have no quarrel with it, Celena."
Her night gown flowing around her as she moved to close her own bedroom door and practically danced into Allen's room, hopping gleefully onto the bed and snuggling under the covers. "I wanted to cuddle," she explained, burying her head in a pillow.
Allen walked into the room, shutting the door quietly and getting dressed for bed. The cane he almost bitterly set aside, then slipped under the covers carefully, hair splaying out against the pillows softly.
Celena found that she could not help let her hands wander, very slowly at first, across the bed in the dark. She hesitated when she felt Allen's warmth beneath her fingertips, but soon place her hand fully on his bare chest. Her eyes were wide in the moonlight, and she was nervous. But she felt more safe with her brother in her bed, than in a strange bed by herself.
She didn't even moved from lying flat on her back and reaching over just to touch him, wondering what to do next, if her brother would do anything - for surely if he did, it would never be as painful as the horrible man who took advantage of her. Allen could never hurt her, he could never hate her for what happened. Besides that, he was always so soft - perhaps having something to do with being nobility and always fussing about gloves. But his cologne always lingered on his linens, and especially on his skin after a long day - a fresh beautiful scent of rose water and powder. She wanted to fall, and let herself be enveloped by that scent. Celena breathed in deeply through her nose, taking in his scent as if she were taking her first breath.
Allen sighed softly beneath her touch, careful to keep the weight off his injured shoulder as he lay down. The touch of her hand was cool, but still warm, her hands soft, just as his own flesh was. Even through all he'd been through, he was still so soft, though hard packed, thin layers of muscles lined the lithe body. He had a fencer's build, a dancer's build.
He felt comfort in her closeness, tucking his head against her shoulder lightly, breathing in her soft scent as well. Warmth.
Celena would not sleep yet, however. Everything taken painstakingly slow, she scooted her thin body to lay along next to his muscled frame. She wanted - and she couldn't explain why - to feel his hands . . . all over her body. At the curve of her soft hip, over the bone and down her thigh - at the clavicle of her neck, down her collar to her breast. The feel of him so close made her yearn for his simple touch.
So she took his hand - gently into her own - and guided it slowly down the front of her nightgown which was already unlaced, and just barely brushing along the top of the silky mounds of her bosom.
Allen furrowed his brow slightly, turning his head towards her, warm fingers brushing against her flesh. The movements were familiar to him, he'd acted them out so many times. However, it was different, wasn't it? His breath was soft, warm.
"Celena," he breathed softly, unsure of what to say.
"Yes?" she said just as softly, feeling that he did not resist and so guiding his hand further down her front until his feather like palm cupped her smooth breast. She manipulated one of his fingers to caress her nipple, which was not erect, but ever so smooth - the softest part of her by far, it was like touching powder.
Allen sighed softly, his breath warm. He didn't need her guidance for this. His touches were gentle and fleeting, smoothing his hands over her flesh carefully. Exploring, testing, slight pressure from his fingers against her curves.
For the moment, she let him just touch her, until his hand try to go a little lower. Her night gown was restricting, and so she sat up and knelt before him on the mattress, having to break his contact from her skin. The night gown came off and pooled on the floor beside the bed.
She was such a vision in the moonlight - her body was lithe like her brother's, but her breasts were ample for her being so thin. Her hair was silver-blue with the light of the Mystic Moon behind her, her soft curves illuminated by a ethereal glow. But she knew that no matter what she looked like, it wouldn't do much good. What mattered now is what she felt like - and she finally understood his reasons for not wanting her to get involved in heavy activity and swordplay.
As she once again guided his hand to her breast as she knelt before him, she understood that he did not want his fingertips running over course veins of scars from battle, nor her hands callused and worn from holding a sword. Still, she needed to ask, "Am I soft enough, Allen?"
"Heavenly," the blonde knight murmured softly, tracing his hands over her curves. He wouldn't go the full way tonight. He hadn't prepared himself for such a thing yet. He wasn't sure he'd quite come to terms with that aspect. But his hands, with only the slightest calluses on their tips, smoothed over her flesh, teasing, finding some of her more sensitive areas. He was obviously not new to this, to touching another's flesh, nor was he embarrassed or nervous about it. He was calm as he traced her body, almost as if in wonder and reverence. "An angel..."
She was glad her tears didn't show in her voice, though they dripped abundantly - having been produced from all the fear she felt in this new place, and all the happiness her brother gave, and still the shame that lingered from her first experience with a man. Her brother thought her an angel. Her heart sang! It beat furiously against her chest, her body trembling from the chill in the air and from the extreme nervousness she felt.
"Would - would you make love to an angel then, Allen?" she managed to say, her jaw working hard just to force words out.
Allen tugged her close, brushing his lips against hers softly. "Later... I'm not yet ready to take that from you. But I will, of course, if you so wish it. Let me simply hold you," he whispered softly. For one, he didn't want to risk hurting his shoulder more and it was possible... really possible that it would happen. He enveloped her in his arms, sighing a little.
She had been shaking horribly before his embrace, but now she simply settled herself - naked - against him. Her legs entangled themselves around his own and she held herself to him tightly, content in just feeling the lean muscles of his chest and arms. Celena listened to his heart beat, and his deep calm breaths before sleep finally claimed her.
He slipped into sleep easily, quietly, his breathing evening out. He felt easy there, with her warm form curled close to him like that. It seemed oh so right. But Allen himself craved physical closeness from others as a form of comfort.