They are the only soldiers awake in the last moments before slumber. They huddle close in the graveyard of a civilization decimated, castle once lively now with a mad god residing in its heart—but it matters very, very little in the moment.
She is exhausted to her core, cheek against his shoulder. Two souls in the mess hall with one candle between them, her letter half-penned and forgotten, his hand working to thread a needle. Innumerable nights have unfolded like this, only this time without the burden of a kingdom on their eyes—even if another rests just beyond their vision.
Charlotte laments and lets her words echo– who will hear, but him?
"I'm a little tired," moaned with her shoulders slumped lower than they've been in a while. He does not search for an answer, knows it will come soon enough.
Her act is getting weary, has been for years. He does not bat an eye, and she does not move.
"Everything could be so much simpler," not an unfair conclusion, when she finally reaches it. When he suggests a break, the answer on her lips is unchanged.
"But acting like this– it makes things easier! I'm too used to it now; can't let all my hard work go to waste now, right?"
Being herself is always so nice on the tongue but in practice, impossible to conceive. And she echoes that to Benny. His words are encouraging, still. Sparse, but kind. Never a need to put on airs, and her shoulders, while slumped, feel the tiniest bit lighter all the same when her burdens are shared.
In the dark, the simplest them unfolds.
As the last embers die between them, she asks a favor: "You'll always make time for me, right? When I get worn down?"
"Of course, Charlotte. Always, for you." Years of close quarters and she can pick out his expression, even in the dark, can make out the curl of his lips, a hesitant smile.
"Good. I'm gonna hold you to that." And she means it, eyes half-lidded and cheek still against his shoulder.
(Even if nobody else is aware of your contributions to this army… I notice. One good eye casting judgment for every step she takes, but despite the surge of pride she feels, tepid compliment or not, she bites back the urge to say you're wrong.)
Also starring Saizo for two seconds, at the very end.
This one and the very first chapter are probably the ones I like the most.
One more chapter until the end! thanks for sticking with me this week.