They fall into a routine—fell into it years ago, but it only seems apparent when they fall back into old habits as the world shifts.
The ground is splintered and suspended above their heads, when they trek. Some sense of normalcy is needed.
Rise, well before she wants to, as mornings are a pain no matter where they are. He likes the sunrise, the calm colors it paints over an otherwise chaotic troupe. He is a watchful eye as she puts on her face, pulls hair back and smiles sweetly, even if her teeth are grit behind her lips.
"It's better this way," she's always said. Charlotte knows he never misses the envious eye that sometimes falls his way, when she believes he isn't looking. Imposing, full of intrigue and the blood of false thousands on his hands, but utterly himself. Simple, were she to describe him.
(She offered her story in bits, on nights when she wasn't pacing the watchtower, more caged animal than woman simmering over her own missteps. A soldier disgraced, doubling her efforts, almost desperate if she stayed stagnant too long. Her expression grew dark, every time she let snippets escape into the quiet night, words sinking in between them.
She smiled—still smiles when she speaks of her family, eyes alight with fondness completely and utterly genuine. He smiled with her. Never offered his story in return, beyond a village and a forest, and companions found within it, none of them human.
But she can respect that silence, knows everyone keeps parts of them to themselves. She has plenty of memories for the both of them.)
They are both of the mind to train alone, outside of mandatory drills with other soldiers, but they fall into step preparing together, just as easily. It is more out of habit than a want to, but sometimes fingers itch to hold something other than splintering wood or a cloth and thread.
And they reconvene, eventually, if only to unwind. Hardly the most exciting, but there is enough excitement elsewhere.
"Darling!"
So she calls him, endearment falling from her lips without a second thought one such afternoon. Her hands wrap around an arm and pull him away from prying eyes.
"Darling?"
So he echoes back, face wrought with confusion for seconds before he understands, and answers in kind.
No one is around, and so the honey drains from her voice as quick as she'd come, rolling her shoulders. It isn't quite disgust in her expression, but a lingering distaste for the fools so quick to fall to her.
She is slumped over her knees, chin in her hands as she speaks, far from the attractive dream she seeks to be when anyone else falls within her vision.
He smiles at her anyway. In spite of her crude demeanor, in spite of how often he ends up playing along. He is far from an actor, but he speaks carefully when she needs it.
"I'm glad I can count on you to keep me anchored, you know. I'd probably go mad if you weren't here."
Benny's chuckle is low, but no less sincere.
"Is that so…"
"I mean it! You're…" It is hard to word exactly what he is, so she settles for metaphors. "You're like… a big, soothing rock.
"It's a good thing." And she's absolutely sure of that.
When she parts, he wishes she do nothing but take care of herself, almost missing his chance to catch her hand and attention by his own hesitation. Her smile is genuine, then, a wink chasing it before she's off to play nice again.
(He'd asked, once, why she never felt the need to act when they were alone; the question falls again later, as dusk settles. Charlotte speaks matter-of-factly: he has never been the type to judge, a rare kind heart in the world. He is simple, but steadfast. Darling may not be the proper word, but he is dear to her in ways she has never really paused to thank him for.
It is hard to repay for years of companionship, but she can try.)
Another chapter that wasn't in the first draft, but honestly I felt like reconciling their C and B supports a bit more naturally was needed for the overall flow.
I try my best not to quote word-for-word the exact lines from their supports. That tends to take me out of fics. I managed to quote both a translation and the localization in this one, so... nice?