Darkness in the Twilight
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
By Psycho Ferret and LunarCrystal
Decisions and Reconcile
The night dragged on, cold and quiet within the enclosed blue lit halls of the Zaibach fortress. Medication was in good source in Zaibach, so there was not the usual moans of agony coming from any of the rooms along the halls - patients slept fitfully here, in peace and painless. Gaddes, too, slept painlessly for the first time in two long weeks. His arm was mended and bandaged, as was his middle. They had performed reconstructive surgery on his spine, and so now he had two metal plates lined up along the inside of his spinal column. It would probably leave very prominent scars. Not that he would care. There was a chair with wheels in his room, engineered by Zaibach doctors of course, should he choose to want to leave his bed.
Riden and Allen had been given a room to share while they slept off their nausea after donating blood. Riden was in a very deep sleep, even as the morning came. There were no windows to tell them of the daylight in this place, only the passage of time to weigh down upon them.
Allen slept silently, rather calmly. His anxiety throughout the day had left him weary. He awoke before Riden and shakily stood from where he rested, wandering quietly about the room. Everything here was so foreign, so cold and mechanical. But even still, they had helped Gaddes... they had done more for him than Allen ever could have.
"Sir Allen?" spoke a voice thick with a Zaibach accent. The nurse, male, poked his head into the room, his hand still on the door hand. "Oh, good. I've found you awake. Your soldier - Gaddes, I believe - he has been asking for you. If you would like to see him, please just follow me."
Allen couldn't begin to fathom just why Gaddes would want to see him, unless it had to do with bickering more. But after all Gaddes had been through, Allen couldn't deny him this. The blonde, glanced at Riden for a moment, then nodded to the nurse, nudging his glasses up on his nose, walking over to him. "Lead the way, please..."
It was a long distance down several different hallways, eventually leading him to the room. The nurse opened the door to reveal Gaddes sitting comfortably in the chair that seemed to have been - made for him. It was not the rickety wooden things with the straight backs and rusted wheels that was so used in Asturia by the elderly and crippled. This chair - molded to Gaddes' sitting frame, was metallic, the wheels slanted and made of an odd material that Allen could only remember seeing on the Mystic Moon.
Gaddes looked up from trying out the chair he'd been given, looking to Allen, and his chest filled with sorrow. "Allen . . ." he said, not knowing how else to possibly start a conversation with the knight, not after what he'd tried to do the night before... with everything.
Allen paused in the doorway for a moment, looking at the other man. After what had been said by Gaddes and he, by Oruto, the things he'd said to Riden before the doctor had shown up...
Allen bowed his head slightly, his voice whisper-soft, "I'm sorry."
"Come here, Allen." beckoned the soldier, holding his arms out to him and trying to push passed all the bitterness and frustration he'd been through - if he could just embrace his lover, his friend, maybe all of it would be right again. So he couldn't walk, so what? He'd been given another chance at life, and given a tool that would help with that chance. "Please?"
Allen sighed, walking over to him. The blond paused, looking at his friend for a long moment, tugging off a glove and brushing his bare thumb against the brunette's cheek. "I thought I'd lost you," he whispered, his voice quivering a little. Blue eyes locked with Gaddes' for a long moment before he embraced the other man, closing his eyes and burying his face in his shoulder.
"I'm the one that should be sorry," cried Gaddes, barely noticing the nurse shutting the door to give them privacy, or the tears that silently slipped over his cheeks. His stubble was gone, as a nurse had come earlier in the morning and shaved him courteously. His arms were tight across the knight's shoulder, clutching him. "I'm - so sorry for all the shit I put you through. Not once did I think about you, or Angelina. It was . . . gods, it's just so hard. When you're stuck in a bed. But look - look what they gave me. . ." He indicated the new chair he sat in, "I can move again, at least around - not in a bed for the rest of my life. I could never live like that. You understand, don't you?"
Allen nodded, hugging him tightly. "I wasn't thinking about you... I'm so sorry, I really am. I just kept thinking about how much I wanted to see you smile again, I didn't consider how much it would hurt you to be like that. We... we both screwed up, but... but it's okay now, right?"
"Yeah, we both screwed up," agreed a tearful Gaddes, pressing his cheek into Allen's hair, "But you're right. It's okay now. We'll be okay. I won't do something stupid, I promise. I just want to be with you and Angelina." With that, he pulled back and planted a kiss full of warmth and compassion right on Allen's lips, cupping the knight's face tenderly and closing his eyes to the sweetness of it.
Allen smiled gently against the kiss, returning it in kind. One hand cupped the brunette's neck gently, his eyes closing. "I love you so much," he whispered softly.
~
It took Gaddes no more than a week to recover under Zaibach's tender care. It was thoroughly surprising that a country that was once to stricken with the thirst of war could be so accommodating, helpful, and life saving. Truly amazing. A therapist from Zaibach had been commissioned for Gaddes, at no cost, though Allen insisted that he would pay for whatever expenses were necessary. Gaddes loved it when Allen came to his rescue like that. And now, Gaddes had found himself in a new situation. He'd been briefly taught how to use his new chair, though it didn't necessarily take a brain surgeon to figure it out. It was getting in and out of it that seemed troublesome.
He'd also been warned about stairs, rocky places, gravel, and generally uneven ground for which the chair was not designed. Asturia was slightly less industrial than Zaibach, comparing cobblestone to smooth pavement and metal. Somehow they would get through it, they always did. As long as he had Allen by his side, he really wasn't worried.
Allen was overjoyed at the sudden turn around in Gaddes' demeanor. He'd go back to the manor and see his daughter and such, though he kept Gaddes' developments quiet as much as he could. It would be a wonderful surprise to them when they returned. The blonde knight had been unable to sleep the night before they were to release Gaddes, even though he lay curled up at the brunette's side. He'd slept there recently just about every night, almost as if making up for the coldness that had grown between them during those times. But now, they were as they had been, easy with one another, laughing and grinning. Things would be alright.
Allen promised to be at Gaddes' side when he needed it, promised to give him whatever aid he needed. He loved Gaddes and couldn't fathom not being able to help him.
Gaddes' chair, they discovered, had more than one function. Not only did it serve a purpose for easy transportation for one so debilitated as he, but it also made for easy storage. The wheels popped off with a press of a button, and the frame even folded. It had fascinated both men for at least an hour, marveling over the developments Zaibach had, many, many years ahead of Asturia or any of the Allied Countries.
So it had been neatly stored within the carriage that Allen had sent for, next to Gaddes' feet. Once again, he was well dressed and cleanly groomed, though no longer in the ragged clothing of his station. Instead, he was dressed in some of Allen's spare clothes, thankful for the shirt he wore as it was less foppish than Allen's usual frills. He was calmly situated upon the seat, having to hold the grip by the carriage door so that he did not fall over. He still was not used to traveling so much with a lower half that continued to disobey his commands. It was - unnerving.
"How long is the carriage ride?" Gaddes asked again, as he'd kept inquiring on how much further it was to the manor.
Allen rested a gloved hand over Gaddes' smiling softly. "Not too far now, I promise. It just seems longer since it's been awhile since you've been home." Home. It was where Angelina and Riden and Kio waited. Allen had timed it right to when he'd shown up the past few days, right around this time. Only this time, it wasn't alone. The knight could barely restrain his excitement.
"I love you," he said again, as he'd said so many times before in the past days
The sergeant smiled a cocky smile, quirking a brow. "You'd think I know that already," he quipped, taking Allen's hand with his spare one, and giving it a reassuring squeeze. He took a breath, and started thinking deep thoughts. How would they react to see him in this new Zaibach chair, unable to walk to the front door of the manor? Angelina would be confused, wouldn't she? That her dear uncle could not run beside her any longer?
He shook his head and gazed down at his legs. "I'm glad for what they gave me, but . . . it's not really the same as walking on your own two feet, is it?"
"Not really," he said softly, a small smile lingering, "but at least you're not confined to a bed anymore. The spare bedroom downstairs, I got it set up for you so you don't have to try and go up the stairs. I want to make things easier for you."
"Right," he said softly, "Easier." Gaddes swallowed. He didn't really want things to be easier. He wanted them to be the same as they were. He wanted to run, to jump, to lift Angelina up to his full six foot height and give her a tender kiss on her cheek and fondly twirl her around. He'd missed her so much, more than he missed Allen, he had to admit. They were both her father, he realized, and his heart ached to continue that loving relationship. To be a family . . .
That's all he really wanted.
The carriage finally rounded the courtyard of the Schezar manor, and came to a stop. "Do you remember how to put this thing back together?" he asked, picking up the metallic frame of his wheelchair.
"We took it apart and put it back together so many times I'd think me a fool if I didn't," he joked, kissing the other man's cheek softly. All he'd wanted was to have his Gaddes back... not the shell of a man that had inhabited his bed for so long, no... but his Gaddes. And he was ecstatic that he had returned to him.
With a bit of effort, Allen and Gaddes managed to get the thing back together and the blonde helped his lover outside and into it. No one was outside... just like usual, they were likely morosely sitting about. "They don't know you're coming back, okay? It's going to be a surprise."
Gaddes tested the wheels briefly, looking at each of them to make sure they were correctly put on and not about to fall off. It's design made effort to move very simple and easy, and he was thankful that he didn't have to put so much strength in a single push forward. He took in his surroundings. The stillness in such sunshine was unnerving, he had to admit, even if he was glad that no one was there to see him be helped into a chair.
"Mind explaining how I'm going to get up those front steps?" he asked.
"Mm... I might have to help you up those." He knew Gaddes didn't much like being helped... anymore than he had when he'd been blinded. But they both knew that sometimes it was necessary. Allen tucked a bit of the other's hair behind his ear, tracing his thumb along the brunette's smooth chin. No matter what would happen, he'd still love him.
Gaddes nearly argued, opening his mouth before thinking twice. There would logically be no other way. At least, not until they figured out a way to get rid of those steps. The air filled tires of Gaddes' chair made it easy for him to move over the dirt paths, and he made his way toward the front steps of the manor. With Allen's help, they were able to pull Gaddes, in his chair, up the stairs by the big wheels, turn him around and he pushed himself through the door.
The hard wood floors of the inside of Allen's home made for smooth rides, and again, Gaddes was very glad. "Is there a princess in the room?" he asked, quietly coming into the parlor. Angelina had been laying comfortably on the rug, idly playing with a doll that Yume had given her. The girl claimed that the doll looked like Angelina, silver hair and everything.
She gasped at the sound of Gaddes' voice, having only heard the front door open but no footsteps. She sat up quickly, moving her head about, and scrunching up her nose. "Uncle Gaddes?!"
Allen smiled softly, walking in a little behind his lover, watching him. It was good for him to be back, to be home. It would be difficult at first, but they would pull through. They'd have to, they promised each other. Angelina would be so happy to have him back here, he knew. And Riden and Kio and Pyle. And he could see why... he'd been so happy when he'd found out he could come home, he'd been so very happy when he'd looked at him and smiled, when he'd been shown the Gaddes he knew all over again.
"Yes, it's me, princess. Come over here and we'll have a ride in my new chair," said Gaddes, grinning to the little girl, watching her as she smiled and quickly hopped to her feet. She had no trouble finding the source of his voice, slowly zeroing in on him and tentatively holding out her hand. He grabbed it, and plucked her up into his lap before giving her a gentle squeeze. "Oh, Angelina. I've missed you so much."
Angelina, as any happy little girl could, fondly returned her uncle's affections and gave him kisses on his cheek. She was thoroughly surprised to find it so smooth. "Uncle Gaddes! Your face isn't scratchy anymore!!" She giggled, bringing her hand up and running her fingers over the smoothness, "I like it! But . . . Uncle Gaddes, why are you in a chair?" she gasped again as they had begun to move about the foyer in a circle, "Uncle Gaddes!! We're moving and sitting down! Is this an airship? A tiny one?"
Gaddes could only chuckle slightly, casting a pleading glance toward Allen and hoping he would explain to his daughter why Uncle Gaddes can't walk anymore.
"He's decided he likes moving around like this, princess, because he's lazy. But that's a secret between you and me, okay?" Allen smiled softly. She would know in time. But for now... she was only five, after all. He leaned lightly against the wall, looking at the two of them. He loved them both so much that sometimes it hurt to bear. And seeing them like that... it was wonderful.
While it wouldn't be exactly the same, it couldn't be too far from it, he assured himself. He was still Gaddes, even if he couldn't walk.
Gaddes was grateful for Allen's simplified explanation. He didn't want to be the one to tell her just yet either. All he could do was make the best of it, and gliding around in a chair with wheels seemed like it would be fun for a child. Perhaps he could use it to his advantage in entertaining little Angelina. Gaddes made a graceful little turn, which brought a giggle from the delighted child in his lap. She was so precious. He had to embrace her again just for sheer love of her. She would truly grow up to be a wonderful person, he thought.
"I love you, princess," he said, squeezing her again and giving her a kiss on her smooth porcelain-like cheek. Her cupid bow lips turned into a smile, showing her baby teeth in the front and making her seem to cute to even look at. Gaddes laughed, playing with a ringlet. "Too cute," he said. He then looked to Allen, keeping the little girl close to him on his lap, "Where's everyone else?"
Allen smiled softly, looking at them in fondness. They were both so lovely, so irreplaceable. It took the knight a moment to draw himself from his thoughts at the other's question, lifting his head. "Mm? Ah, let me get them." The blonde turned, padding lightly up the steps, knocking softly on Riden's door. "Riden...? It's Allen." Riden had been the easiest to deal with in this whole situation, and Allen blamed that on the other man being such a good person. He was surrounded by them, not excluding Chris and Ethan.
"Yeah, boss?" asked Riden quietly, looking up from the decorative plate he'd found on the guest bedroom wall and quickly hiding it behind his back. He almost had a mind to defend himself, to ensure the knight that he wasn't going to steal it, even if it was a fine pretty white and blue ceramic that's probably older than three generations. He gave the knight a nervous grin, trying to work the plate back onto the shelf.
Allen hardly even noticed, really. He pushed the door opened and gave a little smile, motioning to him. "Get the others and come downstairs. There's something you should see, alright? All of you." The blonde was still wary of Pyle and Kio, but he couldn't blame them for being upset.
Riden hastily replaced the plate with Freidian designs and went to retrieve Pyle and Kio. In thinking about it, he realized he didn't really want Oruto there anymore anyway, and was half-glad the throwing knife expert had decided to resign from the army after so much tragedy had taken place. Riden himself had been thinking about doing the same, resigning and all - he didn't think he could take much more death of his friends, and hope Kio and Pyle would at least join him.
He passed by the room which had been given to the visited Terrans, Chris and Ethan, and beckoned them to come along with him. Even if Riden was a little slow, he already knew what the surprise might entail. But as they all tromped downstairs, even he was surprised to see Gaddes' new chair and how easily he seemed to move about in it.
Allen awaited them downstairs, glancing at Pyle and Kio when they came downstairs. He hadn't seen them much since the event in the infirmary. When they came down, he had a slight urge to turn away, but he didn't. Not this time. Kio paused at the bottom of the steps, looking over at Allen for a moment before he turned his head towards where he could hear Angelina giggling.
And Gaddes.
In a metal chair with wheels.
"Sarge?" he asked carefully, almost like he was wary of saying anything. If it was a dream... he didn't want to wake up.
Ethan stared at Gaddes for a long moment, then broke into a grin, looking over at Chris excitedly. He had a mind to hug the absolute hell out of Gaddes, but he could wait.
Chris, being always cool and calm, returned his brother's grin and situated himself against the wall, still on the stairs. He would wait and watch over the scene for a moment, his arms crossed over his chest. Riden, on the other hand, being the impatient and jolly little fellow that he was, jumped down the last remaining steps of the staircase and moved quickly to give his Sarge a huge hug. Angelina continued to giggle within the embrace. "Hi, Uncle Riden!" she chirped.
Gaddes grinned up at Riden, who was now taller than he was, but it didn't matter. For now, it only amused Gaddes. Riden playfully ruffled Angelina's silver hair, planting a kiss on her sweet little head. "So what do you think?" asked Gaddes, popping up the front end of the chair for a second, and getting another fit of giggles from his niece.
"It's - a strange device. A wheelchair? It looks nothing like any of us had ever seen before in our country..."
"It's Zaibach design," said Allen softly, shaking his head. "Some of the things they have in that place are so utterly complex. It's really kind of stunning." The blonde smiled a little, glancing over at Ethan and Chris. For one, it was good to have Gaddes back. And another... Ethan was slowly slipping back into who he had been before. With his brother's encouragement and comfort, he was moving past the events with Basram. He had even spoken to Hans on several occasions. The knight turned his gaze back to the others, for a moment lingering on Pyle and Kio.
The big soldier seemed to feel almost sheepish, glancing at Allen out of the corner of his eyes. Later, Allen would assure him that he understood why they'd reacted as such.
"Can I have a ride too?" Riden was asking, picking up Angelina and roughly settling onto Gaddes' lap. Gaddes let out a dramatic 'ooof!' with the weight of Riden upon him, giving him a sardonic grin.
"Get off of me, you ass." said Gaddes, quirking his brow to show that he was annoyed - but not really. Angelina caught the swear word and made a face.
"Uncle Gaddes! Father says not to use swear words around me! Because I'm very impressionable - damn it!" she emphasized the last just like a soldier would, which would have made any sailor proud. Gaddes cocked his head curiously, giving a glance to Allen, before pushing Riden off of his lap. The little soldier landed on the floor with a thud, Angelina comfortably fixed on top of him as he had cushioned their fall.
Allen chuckled a little, shaking his head. He raised a gloved hand, shaking his head. "She might be raised around soldiers, but I'm going to have her behave like a lady. Because she is one." Allen offered a hand to Riden, a little bit of a grin lingering on his lips, picking up his daughter and settling her on Gaddes' lap.
Ethan just smiled a little, looking over at them. He was glad the moroseness had left them. It hadn't seemed right that these people, these good people had to go through such things.
"It's a neat chair," spoke up Chris from his perch on the stairs, giving Ethan a quick glance with a grin, "Allen, you might not be too surprised about this - but we have wheelchairs like that on Earth. Zaibach really is advanced, I guess. Chairs like that, on Earth, are even used for sports. In fact, people are way more maneuverable in them, so sometimes they'd use them even if they don't need them. Racing and basketball, mostly. Neat, huh?"
Allen blinked a little, looking over at Chris. He smiled a bit, nodding. "Yes... it is amazing. Of course, your world in general was."
Ethan tugged lightly on Chris' arm, grinning a little, his voice soft. "Isn't it good to see them smiling like that again?" It really was. To see both of them doing so... it was wonderful. And to see the other soldiers excited about Gaddes' return. It was nice not to see the scathing looks Allen got behind his back, though he was sure the knight knew of them.
Chris smiled, watching Gaddes and Angelina as the girl's uncle kept showing off wheelies and turns just to get some giggles out of the precious silver haired princess. Oh, they were a pair, alright. A blind girl and her paraplegic uncle. If they weren't such good people, and if it wasn't so tragic and real, it would have been an amusing situation. Gaddes would lean in close to Angelina's little ear, bending to whisper to her to get ready - give her a kiss on her temple - and off they would go down the hallway. Angelina's astonished little yelps would make everyone in the room smile and chuckle.
"Yes, Ethan," agreed Chris to his brother's inquiry, "It truly is very good."
~
Once the dust cloud settled, and many congratulations and welcome homes were said to the returned sergeant, things seemed thankfully less tense, and everyone gathered in their own places to relax. Riden was still unsure about the war. He was unsure if he wanted to help out anymore, and played with the thought of resigning like Oruto. It wasn't until later in the day when he'd finally gotten the courage to tell Allen himself about such news.
Allen was in the parlor, curled up on the windowsill, skimming through a book he'd read a thousand times before. The cover was loose, the binding failing, but he still read it, had read it since he was younger. When Riden had come to speak with him, the blonde had set aside the book, marking his place and hopping off the sill, walking over to him.
The little thief, though he was a year older than Allen, looked very bashful as he approached his commander. He wasn't used to confrontation, no matter how much of it he'd been through. He was the tunnel rat, the side line man, the one behind the curtains, in the shadows - not up front and in someone's space about anything. So the blush on his face wasn't entirely uncommon to find in him. His foot rubbed against his leg, and somehow he'd managed to finally speak, "Um - b-boss? I need to tell you . . .," he gulped, braved a look at Allen's curious expression before looking down at his boots again, "I'm leaving the army."
Allen sighed softly, looking at him. "I... don't blame you, really. With the war... and with everything that's happened, I really don't. I'm just sad to see you go," he said softly. Yet another soldier of his was lost. It hurt to think such things... but it was Riden's decision.
"But know that no matter what happens you always have a place here, alright? You're always welcome at my side."
He didn't want to man to leave... but he couldn't make him stay.
Riden lifted his gaze slightly, his eyebrows going way up on his forehead, a hopeful grin on his lips. "Do - do you still need a lookout for Crusade?" he asked meekly.
"Always." Allen smiled softly, looking at him. "Though," he said teasingly, looking at him, "I don't know just who I'd get... I mean, it has to be someone special..."
"O-oh. . .," said the nervous little man, hanging his head and frowning. Apparently, he didn't get the jest on the knight's part, too nervous and saddened to look past simple things like a small joke.
"I was teasing, Riden." Allen draped his arm over the other's shoulders, smiling. "You're more than welcome to keep on if you wish. But are you sure? Even if you're not in the army, you'll be in danger if something happens..."
"Boss!" he exclaimed, suddenly elated when the joke had been cleared up. He smiled sheepishly, feeling embarrassed that he'd been so occupied with his thoughts to get it. But now he smiled and was thankful for Allen's change in demeanor. "Captain, sir Allen, sir. . . I felt that was always my place, to be on the Crusade with you and the guys. I don't want to be in the war, but I still want to fly."
"Then I welcome you back, eh? You know I'm honored that you'd want to stay at my... no, at our side, even though we've all been through so much."
"Better than workin' at mom's pub," sniffed Riden indignantly, holding his nose up in the air. His mock arrogance didn't last long, as he peeked at Allen's face, popping open one eye to leer at him, before he broke out into a grin.
Allen laughed a little, shaking his head. "I think... you've made the smarter decision out of all of us. To leave the military, I mean."
With that, Riden shook his head, pulling away from his commander to continue the conversation seriously. "Kio's leavin'. And . . . and Pyle is too. Now that the Sarge is . . . well, you know." He hung his head again, licking his lips nervously. "Is the Sarge still gonna be your second mate on the ship, boss?"
Allen sighed softly. It would be he and Riden... and Gaddes. Always Gaddes, no matter what happened. "If he wishes it. If not... then I completely understand. I guess... I guess it'd be odd, wouldn't it? Just you and I..."
"That's not true, boss," boomed the large man, coming around the corner as he'd caught the tail end of their conversation. The big bewhiskered soldier gave Allen a grin and a brisk salute, hitting his chest firmly and giving a short bow. "I follow my captain anywhere he may lead." Riden smiled, and could have jumped for joy that his friend would not desert them. Kio was coming back!
Pyle, who came up behind Kio and quickly arranged himself next to the man, hastily followed the bigger man's lead and saluted awkwardly, with a slanted bow. "Uh - yeah, boss! What Kio said!" He looked to Riden, who also fumbled to salute Allen, just like the first two, grinning the whole time.
Allen started a little, looking over at them for a long moment. He was silent as a small smile crawled onto his lips. They truly were devoted to him. It was... amazing. Touching.
The blonde quickly wiped away the beginnings of tears that had built in his eyes and laughed softly. "Now look what you've done..."
Gaddes came around the men, who all stood at attention, a fist over their hearts and staring confidently toward their commander. He might not have been able to join them standing, but in his chair, he too placed a fist over his heart and half bowed in his seated position. He looked up slightly, grinning and saying coolly, "Yeah. What Kio said."
"Oh just... stop it, all of you. You're going to make me cry or something." Granted, he was nearly doing it already... they'd lost so many, he'd drug them through trial after trial, they'd felt so much pain... and yet, they still stood beside him. They still vowed to be there, as they had been before.
"And have you thought about acquiring a few new men for your crew? There's only four of us, not including yourself," said Gaddes, resting his hands comfortably upon his knees and leaning forward. His grin was the usual cheeky grin that he would give his partner whenever he felt like being playful. It truly was a special moment, and he'd already thought about it.
"Well, we certainly need more, don't we? This is hardly enough for an actual crew." Allen cocked his head to the side slightly, looking over at Gaddes. "What're you plotting? You have something in mind..."
"Well," thought the sergeant, bringing his finger up to his lips, his eyes rolling upwards toward the ceiling before reached behind the wall and pulling out Chris by the arm. "Here's one suggestion." he said, as Chris landed ungracefully across Gaddes' lap with an audible 'oof!' . . . meekly managing a wave towards Allen.
"Aye, capt'n . . ." he strained.
Allen blinked, looking at Chris. "Are you sure? This isn't your world, this isn't your war. You don't have to get involved like this..."
The blonde was even more surprised when Ethan peeked out from behind Kio, waving a little. "I know... I'm not going to be any good at fighting, but I'm sure I can manage something. And... we're here, whether we like it or not. We're in this war even if we don't want to. You... Allen, you're a friend. I don't leave friends to fight their own battles alone."
Allen stared at Ethan, then turned his gaze to Chris.
"And me and Ethan," said Chris, noting Allen's intent gaze upon him and quickly removing himself from Gaddes to stand next to Kio, "We're in this together." He brought his brother out from behind the larger man.
"Well, I guess that settles it," spoke Gaddes confidently. His eyebrow quirked again, but the grin faded a bit as he moved himself closer to Allen, and spoke in a quieter tone, "But this still leaves one unresolved question."
Ethan stood next to his brother, glancing at him and offering a little smile.
Allen arched a brow, looking at Gaddes. "Hm? Howso?" The blonde pursed his lips a little, cerulean eyes on his lover.
Gaddes wouldn't be the one to say it, however. He had a decent enough heart, but he was still bitter about his new predicament, life in a chair and the weapons that caused them. Instead, he looked down as his hands gripped the wheels of his metal chair. When he did not speak for longer than was comfortable, Chris brought it upon himself to do so.
"Hans," he said quietly, "We - we were thinking . . . after everything that's happened, maybe . . ."
"I have nothing in my homeland. Meine family has forsaken me. I am dead to them," he spoke from the entranceway, his voice soft, thick with the foreign accent. "Or worse. But you have shown me kindness in taking me in, in caring for my wounds--even if only because Die Katzchen wished it... and I am grateful. While Basram is a land of technology... we are not one of chivalry and respect. I honor your lands for that."
Allen turned to look at the Basram soldier, frowning a little. He was silent for a long moment, then walked over to him, taking his arm and easing him onto the couch. "You shouldn't move around too much like that. Your side still hasn't healed, right?"
Gaddes moved next to them, peering steadily at the Basram soldier by the name of Hans. This was the first he'd seen of the man in nearly a month after the fort was defeated - after he had rescued this man on Angelina's behalf. She truly could not be denied sometimes, and though he cursed her charm for making him save this boy's life, he now had to rethink his initial feelings on the subject. Katz and Teo were dead. Oruto gone and left them. He would give them a full crew, this boy. And maybe - just maybe, they could eventually learn to live in harmony once more.
His hands felt his knees, rubbing them anxiously, still a little unused to not being able to feel his own extremities. It felt like touching someone else's knees entirely, and had unnerved him at first. But he'd starting becoming accustomed to it - though it was and always would be a constant reminder, that Basram's weaponry was the cause of it. It was frustrating as hell, and Gaddes would admit to it readily.
"Are you ready to take on the duties and responsibilities upon the airship Crusade, even though it might lead to an untimely death?" spoke the sergeant plainly.
"I am still a soldier. To whatever army it makes no difference. You people are good people... and if it gives me a chance to protect Die Katzchen then so much the better. I know... it is likely hard to trust me, considering that I am from Basram, but... as I said, I have nothing there now." Hans looked at Gaddes, almost sadly, knowing that the man couldn't walk because of weapons that he had, at one time, wielded himself.
"He'll be beneficial, you know," said Allen softly, looking at Hans. "considering the fact that he knows the Basram army and the weapons they use."
Gaddes nodded affirmatively, his hands on his wheels and half turning around to the rest of the group. "Is that everyone?" he asked. Riden immediately began counting on his fingers, his tongue sticking out in concentration and his eyes rolled up to the ceiling.
"That replaces all the missing posts on your ship, by my count," said Chris, making Riden pout a little as he didn't get the chance to answer himself. Gaddes gave Chris another curt nod, turning his chair back around to face Allen. He gave him a cold stare, trying convey that he meant business.
"It's up to you when we take off, captain." he said sternly.
Allen looked at all of them, nodding. "It might be best if he heals first."
Hans inclined his head slightly. "Shouldn't be too long at all. It's healing quickly."
"Then I suppose that's decided it." The knight nodded, pursing his lips a little.
"Right, well, I guess we'll just have to start preparing the ship. Loading it with supplies - all that boring stuff you fops don't want to handle." Gaddes said over his shoulder, already moving out of the room, the new crew following him down the hall.
Allen shook his head a little, smirking. Things were slowly getting somewhat normal. The blonde sighed, sitting down beside Hans with a heavy sigh. "She's... really fond of you."
"She doesn't know what I've done," he whispered softly, shaking his head.
"Done what, father?" Whispered Angelina from the doorway in the parlor, poking her little silver head around the doorframe and listening inside eagerly.
Allen blinked, lifting his head. "Ah?"
"Die Katzchen, I left my family just to take care of you ja?" he answered quickly, turning his head over towards her.
Angelina slowly came up to Hans, a little confused by his words. So much, so that she wasn't really concentrating on where his voice was coming from, and had to ask in a meek little voice, "Where are you?"
"Over hier, Die Katzchen." Hans held out his hand, brushing her cheek with it.
Unusual for her, she shied away from his touch, taking a step back. Her face showed that she was really thinking, really concentrating on the words he'd used. Cupid bow shaped lips turned into an unbecoming frown, foreign on her pretty face and almost marring her innocent beauty. After another moment, she shook her head.
"No," she whispered, "You can't - you can't leave your family." The greatest surprise of all was when she, quite suddenly, raised her voice simply to scream at him, "Don't *ever* leave your family! Never!"
Hans sighed softly, surprised at her yelling, glancing at Allen. The knight resting a gloved hand against her cheek. "Princess, he had to leave his family. It's okay, he didn't want to." And it was the truth. Hans hadn't wanted to leave, hadn't wanted to be shunned by his family.
It was so unusual, the sting in her heart when Hans had told her he had left his very own family - just to take care of her. It was far from flattering. He left his *family*... it was everything that Angelina held dear to her, her own family. Her mother had left her, had died. Without her father or Uncle Gaddes, life would simply not be worth living for her. She would be lost and confused and unloved. Never leave your family. Never betray the ones that love you.
She just didn't understand that Hans' family were the ones that had betrayed him. Unable to comprehend such malice from those one would call blood kin, she sniffed and stepped away, trying to find the way out of the parlor. Again, she was not concentrating, and ended up fruitlessly searching the wall for the door in which she had initially entered.
"Princess, listen to me. Don't be mad at him, you'll understand someday."
Hans sighed softly, tipping his head back to look up at the ceiling. Well, this was odd. Angelina had been the only one that hadn't ever shunned him... with the exception of Melzin, of course. And here she was, upset because of the event with his family. Of course she couldn't understand it... she never had to fight for her father's good graces, for his attention.
Angelina stopped, pressing her face against the wall and closing her eyes. Here was a little girl, five years old going on thirty, it seemed. She was too clever for her own good, but sometimes too innocent to protect herself from harm. She - would understand someday. But would she? It seemed such a horrible thing, to lose one's family. But to intentionally leave them was unthinkable. Slowly, she slid down to the floor, still pressed up against the bare wall of the parlor.
"Mother left us . . ." she cried, "I never would have wanted her to, but she did. And I never got to know her."
Allen blinked, standing and padding over to her. He knelt down, hugging her to his chest, stroking her hair. "She didn't want to, Princess, I promise. She wasn't like that. She wouldn't ever want to leave you. But sometimes... you don't have a choice."
Slowly, she shook her head, her bottom lip trembling terribly. Her head hurt as her tears flowed freely. She had never acted like this, had never thought about her mother like this, or had been so conscious of her own family - her own feelings. Everything that's happened within the month's time was wearing down on her innocence, and making her grow up far too soon. Her voice, for the one word should could only barely say, was so full of hurt and pain, it strained and choked even as she held out her arms to her father.
"Father . . ."
Allen pulled her close, tightly, as if to fiercely protect her from all of that. "It's okay, princess. It's okay...."
Silently, Gaddes came and in placed his hand upon Allen's shoulder. He'd already finished assigning duties and giving orders to the new crew, only coming back inside to see if Allen and Hans were to join them with their daughter before he had found them in a precarious emotional state. "Let me take her," he said gently.
Allen bit down on his bottom lip lightly, nodding and glancing at him. "Go with your Uncle Gaddes, okay...? He'll make things better."
Angelina only sniffed slightly as she was handed over to Gaddes, her uncle making sure she had a comfortable spot on his lap before gliding out of the parlor and letting Allen and Hans have a little more time to - get passed the awkwardness.