Chapter Eight- Kill the Bandits
The Capital- Imperial Palace, Jaegers' Conference Room
Wave had been called to the unexpected team meeting at the Jaegers' conference table but he hadn't been sure why. He couldn't make the tournament (he and Kurome were put on palace guard duty- what a bore), while Seryu went patrolling the streets with Koro and Stylish skulked away to his "research" lab (more like a torture chamber). But on his way there, Run who had been able to go, had warned him it was "an interesting case for sure," though Kurome said it couldn't be all that intriguing.
But now, as he was faced with the meeting's subject: a young man with brown hair and green eyes, good looking for his presumed peasant background, maybe a year or two younger than Wave himself, Wave couldn't deny Run's claim. What was particularly interesting about this young man, however, was that he was tied to a chair and had a black collar clanged around his neck with Esdeath's personal sigil etched into it, and a chain that led to her hand as she stood behind him, seeming completely content with herself.
Wave and Kurome's eyes widened, but they reared in their shock to appear unfazed as not to offend the commander. Run glanced over with a look that said 'I told you so.'
Esdeath elaborated that she had discovered the young man, Tatsumi, at the tournament after he had made quite a show in defeating his opponent, and she was impressed with his skills despite his profession as a blacksmith. She also said he would be a backup Jaegers member and would also be her lover.
Wave blurted out, still in a daze at the surrealism of this situation and his commander's lack of self-awareness at how unamused the guy looked, "Why is he wearing a collar?"
Esdeath merely closed her eyes and gestured her hand nonchalantly as if to correct Wave on some trivial matter "If he is to be my lover I want him to stand out."
"But why a collar?!" Wave still just couldn't get past the fact that he looked more like a prisoner or possession than a lover.
"General, I think what Wave is trying to say is maybe the collar might confuse people. He would appear more like a pet. If you really want him to stand out you might consider taking it off." Run had such a way with words, he was probably the only one who could change Esdeath's mind about anything.
"Hmmm, I suppose you're right." Esdeath said, removing the collar, but still leaving the restraints causing Wave to internally face palm.
She went on to ask if anyone had spouses or loved ones and how to win them over, and Wave was stunned, finally being snapped out of his focus on the boy Tatsumi, when Bols raised his hand.
Bols gave her advice on being persistent and never giving up, and Wave was then shocked when the general started actually taking notes, again totally unaware how she was asking about how to win Tatsumi's heart when he was sitting right there. 'Jeez, I thought she was this mature woman but she doesn't know a thing about people or social cues! Even Kurome would know better.' Wave couldn't believe this dramatic shift from the stern but totally self-assured commander to this naïve, inexperienced schoolgirl with a crush.
Tatsumi tried to plead reason, but Wave knew all too well how this kid felt and how pointless it was to argue with this room of crazies. Seryu, hearing how uncomfortable he was, went to him to comfort him, telling him that he was part of the group now and had nothing to fear, putting one of the cold metallic arms upon his shoulder and smiling her innocent, lovely smile.
Wave was somewhat relieved, thinking 'At least one person on the team has some sense to try and comfort the poor guy,' and thought about how Seryu was the one of the only people in the group that seemed to have a warm and gentle heart. Wave was then snapped out of his infatuation when he noticed that Tatsumi was visibly a bit disconcerted, even fuming a bit, at Seryu touching him. He couldn't imagine why he would be. Seryu is a cute young woman who has shown him nothing but kindness thus far.
'Maybe he just really hates that cold chill of her arms she's so worried about,' Wave thought, 'Or maybe he still can't be comfortable as a captive lover of the Empire's most dangerous woman.' Wave was then distracted by the general, suddenly shifting her tone back to her serious, commanding voice she usually always possessed.
"Okay, now we're going to the hideaway of those thieving scum to wipe them out. Tatsumi will observe your mission from afar with me to see how we executed operations." Tatsumi hung his head and Wave just thought 'Oh great.'
On their way into the hall, Wave and Run were approached by Dr. Stylish, and both groaned thinking he was about to make a pass at them again.
"So, country boy, do you like my little protégé?" he asked playfully.
"What?" Wave said seriously, looking around so no one could hear them.
"You know, my side project, Seryu? I've seen the way you look at her. You think she's just the type of girl you've been looking for, perfect take-home-to-mom material, right? Well, despite my enhancements anyway."
"No, no, you've got the wrong idea. I mean, she not unattractive or anything, but she's my colleague, and I respect her." Wave said, obviously trying to hide his embarrassment at being called out.
"Yeah right, well, I'm assuming she's told you her little backstory, right? About her dad who was killed by assassins or traitors or something like that?"
"She mentioned it," Wave said suspiciously, wondering how the doctor knew, why he would bring it up, and why he sounded so playful about the whole thing.
"Yeah, well, let me let you two in on a little secret, just for us." The doctor leaned in intimately close, letting Wave get a whiff of his expensive cologne.
"Seryu's father was framed by our dear Prime Minister for treason and was executed. It was just a little cover up because he had been digging too deep, asking questions about political dissidents who had been turning up dismembered or violated," Stylish told the story with sinister glee that he rarely let show, "But he was so disfigured when his body was publicly strung up, next to his wife's- after the guards and officials had their way with her- that no one would've recognized him. They made up some bullshit hero story about bandits torching his body. Captain Ogre then took his daughter under his wing to foster some loyalty in her, an undying loyalty. It's why she's so bent on the destruction of the Capital's enemies. It was a win-win situation."
Wave and Run leaned away from him, as he bid them farewell, and Wave was thoroughly repulsed with how Seryu could be so loyal to Ogre and Stylish, like second fathers, while they were maliciously stringing her along to the ends of the corrupt bureaucrats. He had half a mind to tell her, but he knew she'd never believe him, a new colleague, over her beloved "patron," and ruin their friendship- and even if she did, it would be too painful a truth that she'd spent years in the service of the men who'd betrayed her father and mother to a horrific fate- and that she'd even given up her arms fighting for them.
Why would the doctor even tell him? To scare him- to let him know how many connections he had should he be crossed? To educate about how deep the corruption went? To make him doubt Seryu's nature- that she's too trusting? Just because he thought it was an amusing story?
But Wave tried his best to push that form his mind. He had to focus on the task at hand.
The Capital Outskirts- Bandit Base Camp
The bandits were definitely not too much of a challenge. Wave was honestly more focused on how the warm (but not uncomfortable) late summer air felt on his skin. 'Definitely not as chilly down here as on the coast,' he thought, being used to the constant gusting of cold, salty air.
They had approached the front entrance, and heard the clanging of a warning bell as some of the men made a formation in front of them, creating a human wall and drawing some cheap guns.
"You've got some nerve attacking the front entrance!" one of the more brash ones screamed.
Seryu calmly approached, calling out a command to Coro, who then covered her entire mouth in his massive jaw, which unhinged like some sort of snake, and when he slid off of her it had produced a massive drill-like appendage. Seryu enjoyed the fury of the battle, it seemed to almost contort her face into a possessed expression. 'Woah, I've never seen her like this,' Wave thought, his eyes widening in fearful awe. 'But then again, if I thought my parents were murdered by people like this, I'd be a bit bloodthirsty, too.'
Stylish of course interrupted to brag about how his Imperial Arms had helped him create the weapons Seryu was producing from her body like magic. The rest of the team charged in, with Wave slipping into the shadows, realizing he didn't even need to strain himself by using his Imperial Arms yet, but that by doing so stealth was his best chance, and so ascended up a balcony on one of the buildings in this mini-fortress.
He noticed Kurome dispatching some bandits and making some weird comments about reanimating them as playthings, but noticed one round a corner and prepare to shoot her from her blind spot.
'I've got to help her!' Wave thought, jumping down from safety and kicking the bandit in the back of the head, knocking him out cold. He posed behind Kurome, facing away like he didn't care, feeling very cool and heroic.
"No need to thank me, it's a team effort," he said confidently, maybe even a bit arrogant.
"You know I saw him, right?" Kurome said in her characteristic deadpan.
"Are you serious?!" Wave gritted his teeth in frustration, 'Why does she always have to have the last word?' he thought in anger, 'No matter, at least the general will see that even without my weapon I'm an effective fighter, and make up for that embarrassment earlier. That training with Uncle Genji really payed off-' Wave looked up to where the commander's vantage point was on the hillside, only to see her more focused on impressing Tatsumi, holding his hand and her usually porcelain complexion a noticeable pink blush; Tatsumi looked as frustrated as Wave felt. 'OH COME ON!' he felt like screaming.
He then ran off and used his sword to slash through some fleeing bandits and slice the barrels off their guns before they could shoot Kurome or Seryu from a distance. They then regrouped and walked away from the bandit camp, now a burning wreck thanks to Bols, and Wave regained his confidence from earlier. 'There's more opportunities to prove myself. I'll just enjoy the moment.' The heat of the flames complimented the cool dark blue night sky and glowing white moon almost beautifully, making it all so picturesque.
On the hillside, Esdeath couldn't help but be swelled with pride that Tatsumi got to see her Jaegers in action and see how dominating they were in the field. 'Now he'll have to fall for me- I'm just so thankful he saved me from dying of boredom at that tournament today.' She was so nervous around him, no one had made her feel so strongly so quickly before. 'I thought love at first sight was just in stories for stupid children.'
The Capital- Imperial Palace, Wave's Quarters
Wave lay in his bed, but sat up, still a bit high off the adrenaline of the night. He was so ecstatic he had been successful and held his own in his first mission. Sure, it was a small group of bandits, but a start's a start.
He had never known a bed as comfortable as the one in the palace. It was so soft he almost couldn't go to sleep because he was so aware of it. He just wasn't used to it, so he tossed and turned and sat up, just thinking.
However, his mind kept drifting back to the general. How best to impress her as a team member and make his mark so she knows she didn't make a misjudgment in recruiting him. And also what the hell she might be doing with that poor Tatsumi guy. The guy definitely didn't want to be there, and given the general's reputation as a conqueror, he couldn't imagine it was too pleasant. Or maybe it was. Wave honestly thought he and Tatsumi seemed pretty similar so he couldn't figure out why the general took such an immediate interest in the other guy. God, is he really jealous of the kidnapping and possible torture victim? 'Man, she really makes an impression, she's already infesting my thoughts and subconscious.' Wave thought, pondering why he was even thinking about his boss so much. 'It's just first day nerves, I'll get used to her. And the team.' He had heard she had this effect on people, but couldn't believe he'd fall victim to it, because he had already been aware of it.
Wave tried to push her from his mind, thinking about the rest of the team, like Kurome. He just couldn't put his finger on it, but there was something about her that intrigued him. She was a few year his junior, and pretty cute, but he wasn't enamored with her or anything. He just felt this instinct that she was so blunt and teasing with him but also kind of supportive that she was like a younger sister he never had.
Seryu was like the older village girls who always played with him as a kid. He had a definite crush on them because they were everything he thought a girl should be- caring, respectful, doting, and sweet, but also strong-willed and independent and interesting. She also didn't have that stupidity or vainness a lot of younger girls of his village carried with them, having not really explored the outside world, but she also wasn't jaded. Kurome didn't either, but she seemed a lot more damaged than Seryu. 'I don't even care about those arms that freak doctor gave her. She's as complete a woman I've ever met.' He thought, getting a little worked up at the thought.
He drifted off to sleep with these nice thoughts, thinking about the bonding he'll get to do with his team and possibly getting put on patrol with Seryu or Kurome.
The Capital- Imperial Palace, Jaegers' Dining Room
Wave had started off the day eating breakfast with Kurome, questioning her choice of sweets for breakfast as he sipped a mug of black coffee, and she retorted that at least she doesn't have a fish scent like he does, and he asked for the recently-arrived Tatsumi to tell him he didn't, but Tatsumi couldn't quite confirm nor deny the smell.
Tatsumi then found out Kurome is the infamous Night Raid assassin Akame's little sister, which Wave had forgotten she had mentioned the other night at dinner, and was equally disturbed at hearing her intention of murdering her own sister the second time he heard it, and he could feel the sense of unease from Tatsumi as well.
Wave also found out Tatsumi barely got a wink of sleep because Esdeath treated him like her favorite body pillow and kept trying to mess with him when he would drift to sleep. 'Geez it's just like her. She's a real dominatrix. Won't even let the guy sleep or anything, really coming on strong on the first night.' Wave thought to himself, before realizing that thinking of the commander's sex life if probably really inappropriate, and then second-guessed that he thought of the term 'dominatrix,' which is itself pretty sexualized. He just tried to get off the subject in his own head.
Speaking of the devil, Esdeath walked in shortly after and announced that the four of them would be splitting into scouting parties for Danger Beasts in the nearby valleys near Mt. Fake, with Wave and Tatsumi scouting the west half and she and Kurome the east, before switching teams that evening, with Tatsumi grimacing and audibly being caught off guard, knowing why she probably wanted to team at night.
He was only a little off, as she did have some seducing in mind as well but also wanted to show off by attacking the more dangerous monsters that were nocturnal.
Outside the room, Dr. Stylish eavesdropped, and his façade of the flamboyant tool was gone. If anyone could have seen him, he was clearly suspicious, furrowing his brow and tilting his glasses as he always did, yet he had a distinct scowl on his face. He was for sure planning something, and he felt something was off about the general's latest pet project Tatsumi.
The Capital Outskirts- Mt. Fake, East Side
Kurome and Esdeath had been patrolling up the mountain for some time. Kurome was nibbling her cookies, as if she didn't eat for extended period of time, she could pass out. It was a familial trait, her sister had the same issue.
"General, I'm sorry I forgot to offer, do you want some of these cookies?"
"No thank you, I don't really have much of a sweet tooth."
"So- I didn't want to ask in front of him, and forgive me if I'm overstepping a bit-"
Kurome was cut off, "Then I'm sure you are, but go ahead, I prefer honesty above all else." The general said almost not caring but with a hint of a passive-aggressive tone, but now Kurome was trapped so she had to speak.
"It's just- what exactly do you intend to do with the boy Tatsumi?"
"Huh?" Esdeath raised her eyebrow and turned to face Kurome with genuine intrigue, "How do you mean?"
"It's just that you've just met is all. I thought this sort of thing usually takes time."
"Oh well," Esdeath shrugged, "I've heard love is strange. It just strikes you when it does. Besides, Tatsumi is the only man I've met to hit every one of my qualifications, even the extra one- the smile."
"So far. From a mathematical point, there's got to be more than just one guy." Kurome argued, trying to get the general to see how ridiculous a position she had taken. "He's just your first crush. I've even had that. You think he's the only one, and then-"
"No, Kurome, this is different than a young girl's crush. I've never felt so filled with joy in quite a long time. It's different than the happiness I get from battle. It's more- pure." The general said, almost losing her stern composure in a blush which Kurome took note of. 'No, no weakness.' Esdeath scolded herself. "Besides, I've already committed to this path. Tatsumi's training will be a challenge to be conquered and I've already promised myself to him and to remain true. I've never really been with a man this way, so it will be new for both of us." Esdeath let another key piece of info slip, but did not make a show of it and showed no sign of embarrassment.
Kurome was shocked that such a confident and powerful woman would be so vulnerable and had not really been with a man. She had assumed from rumors that Esdeath just took any man she pleased. She had heard that she'd turned the Northern hero into some sort of boot-licking sex slave (though I guess now she knew that the 'sex' part was just a rumor), and figured she'd inquire as to how that would figure into their relationship.
"Training? Is Tatsumi going to be a human pet like the prince of the North?" Kurome asked.
Esdeath laughed, as though she had said something very cute and naïve. "No no, Kurome. He's my lover. I, of course, will be the dominant partner and the one in charge, but he'll almost be my equal. He won't be my slave or pet. Numa Seika almost met my qualifications, but he failed even as a dog so I killed him." She said with such nonchalance even Kurome was a little perturbed, and Esdeath was even a bit aggravated at the failed hero even being brought into her mind again, especially him being compared to a young man as great as Tatsumi.
Kurome was then thinking about how she knew some men growing up in the Imperial training camps that probably would meet the general's strict qualifications, but then wrote it off. 'Most are off far away and probably dead by now. She'll never meet them.'
They continued their hike as the afternoon sun hung low in the sky, Esdeath getting increasingly unrested as the night approached, and they could switch and she could be with Tatsumi.