The group spent a couple of days to get accustomed to the new environment before diving into work. They were all helping in their own way, Schierke and Farnese working with the other sorcerers on defenses and other magic related things. Serpico, Isma, and Isidro helped out where ever an extra hand was needed, Guts too when it was asked of him. For the most part Guts and Casca helped Rickert and Silat with strategies. Admittedly Guts didn't exactly have a mind for strategy, but he did know a bit about killing things, and had a lot of… practical experience. And Casca, despite her protests, did rest when she wasn't working.
Now, after a long day of work, the group was relaxing after dinner.
"Hey Guts?" Rickert asked, walking into the room. He looked nervous. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
Guts nodded, waiting for Rickert to speak.
"In, um, private?"
Guts couldn't help but roll his eye and reluctantly take his arm from around Casca. She looked at him questioningly, and he shrugged. With that, the two somehow communicated everything that needed to be said.
Guts got up and followed Rickert to his workshop. Well, it wasn't his his, but he used it probably the most. No one was there at such a late hour. With the door closed behind him Rickert finally spoke.
"I need to tell you something." Rickert announced with the utmost seriousness.
"Okay."
"About Erica." Rickert continued, like that would explain everything. He was blushing.
"Okay." Guts said, still not getting it.
"She has a crush on me, I think, and I don't know what to do."
"You think?" Guts asked, "So what?"
"I'm not sure what I should do about it."
"No, I heard you, just, why are you asking me?"
"I-" Rickert's voice cracked, he seemed a bit too old for it to be doing that, but then again, Guts wasn't very knowledgeable on the subject outside of his own experience. "I don't know, you're a guy, I'm a guy. When we were with the Hawks, Corkus said-"
"I wouldn't put much water to much of what Corkus said." Guts said glumly, "And why haven't you asked one of the Kushan?"
"I may have been living with them or the past three years, but it's not like I'm super close with anyone. Besides, there are… cultural differences. I've tried to ask but most of the time they don't understand exactly."
"I don't think I understand either."
"Erica thinks she's in love with me and I don't know what to do!" Rickert exclaimed.
"Do you love her?"
"Of course I do."
"Then there." Guts said triumphantly, "Done deal."
"It's not like that! I love her, but I don't know how, and I don't think like that."
"You don't know how you love her." Guts repeated back.
"Yeah, like I'm pretty sure I don't feel the same way, but I don't want to hurt her feelings."
"Pretty sure?"
"I mean, I don't know; that's why I'm asking you! How did you know you liked Casca?"
"What?" Guts asked, seemingly a little bashful, "I mean, I don't know."
"You don't know? She's pregnant with your kid!"
"I know that I love her, just not how I came to love her." Guts thought for a moment, "Although, if you think of Erica bearing your children… that could be a sign."
"You don't get it! And I'm sure you weren't trying to get Casca pregnant!"
"That." Guts admitted, "Is true."
"But how did you know you loved Casca as a woman and not a comrade?"
"Okay. Right now, you sound like a woman."
"Guts."
"With all of this mushy stuff? You probably should've asked Casca, she's better at this sort of thing."
"Can you please answer my question."
Guts sighed. "Fine, what ever. I guess I suspected something when we survived that cliff fall and I saved her butt. She was naked for a lot of it. And by the time I left the hawks I was pretty sure I liked her.
"Just like that?"
"Um, yeah. She's pretty hot."
"Guts."
"Hey, there we go, do you think she's hot?"
"Who, Casca?"
"No, Erica."
Rickert blushed, "I don't-"
"You asked me a bunch of stupid questions and I answered."
"Of course she's pretty, but-"
"What's wrong with admitting that?"
I just- I remember when she was still a child, I watched her grow up."
"I didn't even think of that." Guts said, looking over Rickert again. "I guess I still think of you both as kids."
"I'm 21."
"What?" Guts said, "You caught up with me."
"Wait you're still-"
"Like 24."
Rickert frowned, "Don't take this the wrong way, but you don't look it."
"Ha Ha." Guts said monotonously.
"Erica is 15."
"Wait, are you sure?"
"Yeah."
"So you're almost the same age as me, and Erica is almost the same age as you when I last saw you."
"Yes."
"Whoo." Guts said, chuckling again, "I am old. Things just keep changing without me noticing."
Rickert sighed, "Things do keep changing." Rickert didn't look anymore decided than when the conversation started. As a last ditch effort to get a clear answer, Rickert asked, "So if I did decide to directly turn her down, what should I do?"
"Why do you think I would know these things?" Okay, there was Schierke, but she was a smart girl and would undoubtedly grown out of it. Right? Farnese grew out of her infatuation with him, didn't she? True Guts wasn't the best at reading people, and it wasn't him who figured it out, but Casca had mentioned something, and she would have no reason to lie. But that was exactly what Rickert was already doing, waiting it out, and he had gotten impatient. "Ugh, fine, uh- why don't you find a woman of your own. It's a win win, she knows you're not interested and you get, well-"
Rickert just looked disappointed, "I don't know what I was expecting. You never had any advice. Corkus always had advice, just most of it was bad. Judeau always knew what to say, and Pippin, he was just always there, always steady."
"And you're stuck with me." Guts offered a small smile, "I mean I told you as much, but let me just say, I don't know much about things that don't involve swords, but I do know you and Erica care about each other. That's dangerous at the best of times, but just- don't," Guts thought his words through, "Just be more sensitive than I would be, whatever you do."
"That's very… profound of you." Rickert said, "I think."
"Eh." Guts said noncomitly.
"And thank you for trying to help. I think I might try and talk to Casca too."
…
"What?" Casca asked.
"Erica likes me and I don't know what to do and I asked Guts and he didn't know either so he told me to ask you." He said it all in one breath.
That man, Casca cursed internally, "Why did he think I would know."
"Because, well, you're a woman."
"That fool." Casca muttered, but then to Rickert said, "She has grown into a fine young woman."
"Yeah…"
He looked so insecure; Casca took pity on him. "Well if it's advice, just, try and be honest. And If you do want to start a relationship, don't pressure her into anything."
"That's… pretty solid advice."
"It's common sense! The only reason Guts didn't tell you any of that is because he doesn't have any." After she said the heated words, Casca deflated, "Okay, that's not totally fair." She placed a hand over her womb. "This baby, it's making me very irritated, always deciding night time is the best time to practice its kicks. I can already tell who it takes after."
"You say that as if it kicking wouldn't be taking after you."
Casca couldn't help but laugh. "You're a good kid."
Rickert hmmed, warmed by her praise. Out of curiosity he asked, "I asked Guts something, and it's kind of personal, but I was wondering your perspective too."
"Shoot."
"Well, uh, when did you know you loved him?"
"When he tore out my heart." Casca answered immediately.
"Oh-"
Casca laughed again, "I'm being dramatic, but it after he left that I realized how much I would miss him."
Rickert seemed to be trying to relate that to his situation. "I've never been away from Erica for, well, any extended amount of time. I made a promise to Godo to always watch out for her. She's my family."
Casca narrowed her eyes. "Have you ever liked anybody like that? Like more than family?"
"What?" Rickert was blushing, "No!"
"So if you're unsure, just wait for her to make the first move, and if it makes you uncomfortable you have your answer. And if she doesn't," Casca shrugged, "Maybe you'll both grow out of it."
"So you're saying wait it out?"
Casca nodded.
"I've already waited a long time."
"Rickert I'm not going to tell you how to feel, that's not how this works."
"You're right." He conceded, "Although, Guts was right. You are better at this sort of thing."
"What?" Casca asked defensively, "Because I'm emotional?"
"No, well, yes? I mean- You're really smart Casca."
"I don't know about that…"
"I mean it! I'm really thankful you answered my questions… even though some of them were kind of dumb…" He added sheepishly.
"Anytime kiddo."