Disclaimer: I own nothing here.
Peacekeepers
AN: FMA easter eggs ahead. They are so obvious, you all get docked points for not finding them. xD
Warning: Alcohol mentioned again.
Chapter Sixteen - Jealousy
The world was painted in varying shades of darkness, with only the light of the stars and a half moon high above.
Inside a small glass aviary, a lone, injured Pidgey lay with its face pressed against one transparent wall. Forlorn and watching the horizon expectantly for sunrise, it started when another Pidgey on the other side started pecking at the glass determinedly.
"There's no point, I've tried that already," the injured one tried to convey, but the other one ignored the warning and kept attacking the glass.
This carried on until it grew too tired and finally settled, puffing and defeated to rest against the glass, parallel with the other.
"It's ok," the injured one reassured through the impossible barrier. "I'll be ok, now that I'm not alone."
Waiting for the sun suddenly wasn't so scary.
Annoyed squawking, irritable growling and surprised chirping turned out to be an alarm clock like no other. Waking grudgingly against the glare of morning sunlight seeping through the tent fabric, Cynthia sat up to groggily see what the fuss was all about.
Skarmory, Aggron, and Togekiss were all under a simultaneous attack by the three Munnas. They each had one hovering above their heads, pestering for no other reason than boredom. The most comical thing about the scene was how Garchomp, in all her power and agility, was not able to navigate the populated space of the tent to properly retrieve her wayward charges, not without stepping on a hand, claw or a wing that is.
Despite feeling slightly perturbed by the rude awakening, Cynthia smiled at the dragon's conundrum. "Gar, do you need some help?"
Garchomp whined in anxious desperation, though it was impossible to know why she was so worried, whether it was one of the babies getting hurt or the possibility of one of them wandering out of the tent and getting lost. Ultimately, Cynthia just found it endearing that her ace was suddenly taking her babysitting chore so seriously.
She was about to get up and assist but her gaze caught on Steven as he sat up to survey the noisy situation through thin slits of ice.
If there had been any doubt in her mind that he wasn't a morning person, then it was promptly dismissed at the sight of his sour expression. He looked about ready to throttle anyone making noise, whether they were guilty or not.
Then his eyes caught with hers and he froze while his scowl softened instantly; clearly having forgotten they shared the same tent.
Cynthia offered a small smile, remembering he wasn't one for talking upon waking, either. When he smiled back, she suddenly felt self-conscious and quickly donned her overcoat to fend off the morning chill but mainly to cover up whatever disheveled mess her clothes were in after sleep.
Having grown impatient, Garchomp gave her master a nudge and a whine. "Oh, right," the woman said, turning her attention to the pesky Munnas. She grabbed the nearest one first, as it hovered over Togekiss with a mischievous chortle. "Now that's not very nice, pestering others when they're sleeping."
The tiny Munna cried plaintively about being moved away from its entertainment but quieted again upon returning to a cross Garchomp's back. She did the same with the one tormenting Skarmory with a similar outcome and then looked to Aggron lying on the other side of Steven.
The third Munna wasn't teasing him anymore but was cooing affectionately and latched onto the metal beast's head. Aggron in turn was frozen in place, appearing either too afraid to move and risk hurting it and therefore incurring Garchomp's wrath, or he was simply confused by the tiny Pokémon's behavior.
Steven pulled on his own overcoat but didn't move from his sitting position. He watched with astonishment as one of his fiercest battlers practically turned into putty under the touch of the small pink creature.
"Hey there, bud, want me to take it-?" Steven placed his hands on the baby to remove it but Aggron grumbled in response and turned his head away. "Oh? You're ok with it then?"
The steel monster gave an affirmative huff, while Garchomp growled unhappily and stamped an impatient foot. Both champions glanced between their Pokémon nervously; the tent was spacious, but not so much that a tussle breaking out was appropriate. "Are we going to have a problem here?" Steven asked, a vein of humor in his tone.
"Now, now Gar," Cynthia admonished gently with a teasing lilt. "You're not jealous, are you?"
The dragon loosed an absurd whine in response before taking one more pitiful look at the third Munna as it cuddled cheerfully on Aggron's head. She finally gave up and turned away with a huff.
"I should think she would be glad to have one less to look after," Steven commented with a dubious expression.
Before Cynthia could reply, Skarmory raised his head and made what sounded like a very rude, jeering squawk. Whatever he said seemed to make Aggron and Garchomp equally furious as they both practically roared at him, nearly making both trainers cover their ears.
If their masters hadn't been sitting smack in the middle of it, Cynthia guessed that both bipeds would have pounced on the offending avian, for once united in their fury against something besides each other.
"Alright, that's enough!" the woman thundered, causing all the Pokémon and even Steven to stare at her with apt attention. "You probably just woke the entire camp!" In one fluid motion, she stood up, marched to the tent flaps and opened them up. "I bet you're all just feeling cooped up. Come on, everybody out!"
The four snapped to attention. Skarmory and Aggron, despite not even being her Pokémon, obeyed without hesitation, though, Aggron moved much slower than the others due to being overly careful of not dislodging his passenger. "Now behave out there until we leave. Kiss is in charge again," she told them sternly once the four were outside, causing them all to chorus an affirmative noise.
Steven had watched his two steel types exit with a perplexed fascination before moving to stand himself. "I've never seen them obey another trainer before," he said with a smirk, indicating he wasn't exactly bothered by it. "Interesting."
Conscious of his studious gaze, Cynthia crossed back over to her mat and started gathering her share of the packs and supplies. In hindsight, she should have loaded and strapped everything to Garchomp before dismissing her, but getting everyone outside had been a priority. "I think they only obeyed because you're currently present and you didn't override the command."
"... Possibly, yes." Steven nodded deferentially, though he clearly had a different opinion as he moved to gather his own pack of the supplies.
Assuming they wouldn't be returning to the spacious tent, they both exited and loaded everything back onto Garchomp and Aggron. Both Pokémon were considerably dismal as the supplies were strapped onto their backs, neither so much as looking at each other, or even Skarmory for that matter.
"Skar, I don't know what you said," Steven said, obviously concerned about the tension. "But maybe you should apologize."
The metal bird's response was an incredulous squawk, as if whatever he said had been completely acceptable. After a moment, though, he moved to obediently offer a caw sound of apology to both bipeds.
Nodding and grunting in response, the other two still wouldn't look at each other, following somberly as their trainers started walking.
Cynthia didn't like to see them like that, but since they weren't fighting she decided it was probably for the best until they managed to leave the camp behind. "I'm sure some breakfast will help everyone's mood," she commented as she noted Steven's equally concerned expression.
After making a short, necessary stop at one of the camp's latrines, which was simply a boarded up hole in the ground, both champions agreed to never speak of the unpleasant experience ever again, while also trying not to think about how many more times they would be forced to use one.
As expected, the camp was much more lively in the daytime. Countless soldiers dressed mainly in white and blue armor either marched by in a squad or wandered by in a patrol. Unfortunately, not a single soul managed to pass by without staring with sharp interest at Cynthia and her striking blond hair, as if she had a spotlight on her inside a darkened stadium.
Although the pair walked side by side, without Aaron around to remind them, they had completely forgotten to augment their forged marriage with their version of holding hands. By the time they remembered, it was too late.
A huge brute of a soldier, probably rivaling Bruno's height and bulk, staggered over to stand directly in their path. He stood close enough that Cynthia grimaced at the thick stench of alcohol on his breath; he was clearly drunk and not thinking clearly.
"Say, I'm finally done with guard duty, how's about the pretty lady comes with me for a drink to celebrate?" the soldier slurred out as he practically swayed just standing still.
No, I think you've had enough for the both of us, Cynthia wanted to retort. So disgusted by his drunken stupor, she was nearly overcome with the temptation to sweep his legs and give him a throat chop for good measure.
Thankfully, she remembered their goal and hoped that Steven did too... As it was, he had stepped closer to stand directly to her left, glaring daggers at the soldier while emitting an annoyed sound, not exactly a growl but more of a hum. Their four Pokémon were passively hanging back, anxiously waiting for a cue to step in.
Feeling the palpable tension in the air, Cynthia put on her best fake smile as she brandished the ring on her hand. "I'm sorry sir, but I must respectfully decline. You see, my husband here is quite the jealous sort."
Steven briefly swiveled his gaze to hers quizzically, as if to say, I am? before switching back to focus on the brute.
"Ach!" the soldier spat with contempt. "What's a pretty lady like you doin' with this shrimp?"
"What can I say?" Cynthia said and gave Steven's sleeve a tug to catch his attention before he could explode with a retort. She sent him a calm smile, aiming her next words at him in the hopes of diffusing his anger. "I suppose I prefer a gentleman."
Her tactic seemed to work, as his glacial eyes met hers with a perceptive glint, followed by a subtle nod of understanding.
"Gentle... man?" the brute spat again, completely unaware of their silent exchange. "What's the point of that?"
At some point, a number of other soldiers had congregated in the area but none stepped in to correct their peer, instead choosing to simply stand and watch curiously; apparently none of them held a higher rank than the offender.
"Come on, it's just a drink!" the drunkard insisted and roughly grabbed her wrist, causing Cynthia to quickly lose her patience, peacekeeping mandate or no.
Steven's patience cracked first, much like a giant glacier, his voice cold as ice yet deceptively placid. "Sir, I'll have to ask you to kindly unhand my wife."
"What's that Tiny? You've a fancy way of talkin'," the brute blathered and shifted his attention to the other man, though he did not slacken his grip.
"T-Tiny?" Steven seethed as he glared up at the soldier who was easily a head taller. Although the Hoenn champion did appear excessively lean, Cynthia knew for a fact from sparring with him that he was... sufficiently toned.
Her wayward thoughts were swiftly scattered to the wind at the sound of his dangerously careful wording. "Cynthia dear," he ground out as pleasantly as possible through grit teeth. "I won't presume that you need assistance defending yourself, but will you allow me to handle this one?"
"Well," Cynthia deliberated with a complacent hum, trying desperately to maintain her calm despite her aggravation at the soldier's tight grip and the stench of his breath. "It might be less insulting if you deal with it... Yes, I'll allow it."
Without hesitation, Steven struck, aiming at a pressure point and instantly causing the soldier to release his grip with a yelp; he clearly hadn't expected such a sudden assault.
Cynthia gracefully stepped back as the fists started flying, though admittedly it wasn't her forged husband on the offensive. The drunk was roaring furiously as he tried to get a hit in, but he was clumsy and Steven was practically dancing around him with ease; his meager martial arts training seemingly paying off.
Things might have played out differently had the soldier been carrying a weapon, especially since he looked like the type to carry a great-sword, but he didn't, probably due to being off-duty.
In the end, the tussle was brief, as Steven ducked and pivoted multiple times, until finally executing a leg sweep that sent the drunk careening onto the ground with a thud.
Stepping back and easing into a defensive stance, Steven waited for the brute to get back up and continue his rampage, but a booming voice cut through the muttering of the soldiers gathered. "That. Is. Enough!"
The words were accompanied by the distinctive chime of Aaron's staff as he stepped out from an alleyway between two tent lanes, making Cynthia wonder if he had been there all along. His hardened gaze traveled from the drunk to the semi-circle of gawking soldiers.
"Is this the sort of conduct expected of Lord Kenshin's army?" he continued harshly, causing the group to lower their eyes and grumble in shame. He then aimed his staff at the offender, who had since turned over and sobered enough to go wide-eyed with fear. "By harassing ambassadors under the direct protection of your lord, this man has brought shame to himself and his entire squad."
Aaron looked over those assembled. "I suggest those in his squad take him and hide him until the matter is forgotten, for I expect Lord Kenshin will not be so forgiving as we are."
Without a word, the brute was promptly dragged away by his presumed squad while the remaining soldiers all dispersed with a chorused murmur.
"So it is as I feared," Aaron sighed out wearily as he turned to regard his charges. "For some reason, they don't respect you enough."
"I think you're just overreacting," Steven replied as he straightened and made to dust himself off. "That was just one drunk idiot, and," he paused to cringe sheepishly. "Admittedly, we were not... representing our married status very well."
"So you say," Aaron responded dubiously. "But I am inclined to believe he would have harassed you even with your best efforts."
"Aaron," Cynthia cut in with a careful tone and a suspicious scrutiny. "Had you been watching the whole time?"
"Ah, so you noticed me."
"No," she replied with a complacent smile as Steven swiveled his quizzical gaze between them. "But you just admitted to it."
"Hmm, I get the sense that you are aware of much more than you let on," Aaron speculated with a smirk before turning pensive again. "Perhaps I was worried for nothing..."
"Wait a second," Steven cut in and pinned their guide with a pointed look. "Are you saying you could have stepped in sooner?"
Aaron nodded reluctantly. "I wanted to see how you would fare without me," he said, frowning deeply. "I am loath to admit it, but starting today, you two will have to go on without me."
Both champions blinked in surprise. "Was that part of the discussion we missed last night?"
"Yes," Aaron said and continued to explain. "We need you to travel east to Avia and secure Lord Masamune's support. I would go myself but that is in the opposite direction of the other clans. Therefore, Lucario and I will head west and recruit as many forces as possible. By accomplishing both goals simultaneously, we stand the best chance of success against Nobunaga."
Cynthia frowned in response to the news. On one hand, the explanation made sense, on the other, she simply hadn't been expecting this. Although somewhat overbearing and opinionated, Aaron was also patient and understanding; he had been a good guide. It was going to seem strange carrying on without him.
After following Aaron back to Kenshin's tent for breakfast and another brief overview of their mission, Cynthia and Steven both offered respectful bows to the lord as they made to leave. They were careful not to mention the altercation with the drunkard, suspecting that he would probably be executed as punishment in this day and age.
Aya followed them to the north gate; according to the plan, they first had to head north through some mountains and skirt a huge lake before finally heading east to their destination.
"Although His Lordship was too ashamed to apologize directly," Aya began and gestured for her attendants to come forward with the packs they carried. "He instructed me to offer our sincerest apologies as well as this tribute in response to that abhorrent offense earlier."
Steven blinked in mild surprise as he and Cynthia each accepted a stuffed bag full of new supplies. "So you heard about that after all."
Aya nodded. "One of the offender's squad-mates reported him. He will be demoted and tasked with latrine duty for three months."
Both champions winced at the punishment; although better than death, it was probably the next worst thing. Aya seemed to interpret their expressions differently though. "Would you prefer a harsher punishment? His Lordship assumed you would oppose the death sentence-"
"We do!" both champions chorused immediately; although thoroughly annoyed and disgusted with the drunkard's behavior, neither would wish death on him.
"Ah, very good," Aya replied with a smile and gestured at the packs. "I hope these gifts of soap, rice and tea prove satisfactory."
Steven instantly felt his spirit soar at the sound of the word soap, though rice and tea weren't bad either. He never thought he would feel so happy receiving such a basic commodity.
"It seems I really was wrong about you," Aya told Steven with a cunning smile; she seemed to be referring to the altercation with the soldier. "May all your efforts reap peace," she said to Aaron and bowed politely in farewell before leaving.
Once she was gone, Aaron moved to hand them a rolled up scroll. "Here is a map that I've marked for you. As long as you follow the landmarks you shouldn't get lost. I've also included a letter for you to deliver to Lord Masamune so that you needn't worry about what to say. Just remember to be discreet and respectful."
Cynthia and Steven both nodded silently, both realizing that their guide was preparing to say goodbye. Lucario was likewise saying his farewells to the other four Pokémon, resulting in a cacophony of squawks and yowls.
Aaron smiled ruefully at the disturbance but turned back to the pair. "It has only been a few days, but seeing you off like this, I feel as though I'm throwing my children out into a dark, dangerous ocean."
"I beg your pardon," Cynthia replied, somehow sounding both partially offended yet partially amused. "But we are at least somewhat more capable than children."
"Yes, I suppose you are," Aaron said with a laugh. He gave them both a sober look. "On my word as an Aura Guardian, we'll get you back home, somehow... Until then, take care of each other."
Steven shared a glance with Cynthia and idly noted how she sharply turned away with the slightest blush. Feeling curious yet equally perplexed, he turned back to nod at Aaron, resolving to sort out the woman's odd behavior later. "Thank you, for all your help."
"Yes," Cynthia added, drawing herself up and cloaking herself in her usual confidence, as if she hadn't just slipped up and revealed a crippling weakness. "We would have been truly lost without you, Aaron."
With a smile and a nod, Aaron raised his staff and summoned his Pidgeot. Without another word, he leaped onto the large avian and flew off.
"Take care, friends," Lucario said before darting off in a blur of black and blue; apparently even though Aaron traveled by air, Lucario was still able to keep up on the ground.
A still, quiet moment lapsed as the six time travelers watched the Aura Guardians disappear into the western horizon.
After a brief, disorienting feeling, Steven felt his independent nature kick in. He turned to Cynthia with a confident smile and made a gesture for her to lead. "Well? Shall we go?"
Cynthia nodded and stepped forward to set the pace, their four Pokémon falling in line to follow.
They may have just lost their guide in an unfamiliar world, but they had both spent years traversing the wilds of their own. Surely, together, they could handle anything that came their way...
AN: The small scene at the start was inspired by Owl City's Broken Wing. Also, the tussle was loosely based on the "Aang vs bully" fight from Airbender, (but without Aang's goofiness) you can find it on youtube if you're curious.
/o/o/ Bonus Scene:
Lucario: Master, I don't believe these two fledglings will survive a week without us...
Aaron: Lucario, we really need to work on your optimism.
Lucario: I predict the young man will go first. He's far too reckless.
Aaron: Lucario...
Lucario: Then the lady will probably try and seek out some kind of revenge and-
Aaron: Seriously, stop! I'm afraid if you speak it, then it might actually happen!
Lucario: But all the books I've read follow these-
Aaron: That's it! I am officially confiscating all your books!