A sigh resounded from her slightly parted lips. She hated being injured.
It was not the pain that gave her pause, nor the prospect of seeing the healer, far from it; she was actually quite fond of Corvo and his deadpan expressions, he was always so fun to tease. He was a challenge, flustering him was a very difficult task, something that she had succeded at only a handful of times in all the years they served together.
No, the problem, in her eyes, was the aftermath. Having to stay out of the battlefield, away from her job, away from the one thing that managed to make her feel alive. After all, not many things managed to give her a rush as when she danced among her enemies, showing all her atlethic prowess and… flexibility.
She grimanced lightly, holding a hand on her bleeding side. Her last mission had been fairly ordinance for her, all things considered. Infiltrate a Viking stronghold and demolish it from the inside, nothing groundbreaking for an elite soldier like her. Peacekeepers were just that good, and she was the best among the best. She had even got away basically unscathed, moving in the shadows and executing swift assassinations, only rarely having to actually engage an enemy face to face. Not a single scratch on her when she had destroyed the mechanism holding the fort together. She even felt a bit of pride in that, believing that she could finish everything with no effort.
The Raider barring the way to exit had something to say about it. Her short sword and dagger were very much NOT a good match against a big dude with an even bigger axe who seemingly was not effected by her attacks. She got him in the end, just in time for the whole place to collapse, but he had left this little… gift for her cockiness. She rapped her knuckles against her head, her vibrant blonde hair doing nothing to soften the blow. Stupid, stupid, stupid!
And now she'll have to stay inside for however how long and possibly miss the assault against the village of Svengård. Gudmundr was a Jarl of almost legendary status and she will most likely be stuck in bed!
Needless to say, Mercy the Peacekeeper was not an happy camper at the moment.
Oh well, at least she'll get to tease the healer a little bit. Maybe she'll manage to make him blush this time.
As she approached the tent, she was surprised to hear voices coming from inside, neither of which belonging to the man in question. One male and one female.
Sharpening her hearing, she relaxed once she recognized the sounds. Right, her little bird had made some friends ever since they defeated that bumbling buffoon Daubeny.
Knocking on the post outside, she waited until Corvo granted her access before entering. And lo and behold, she was right.
Skye the Warden and Stone the Conqueror. A couple of troublemakers, the first one especially seemed to almost attract all sorts of blades, maces and daggers, but she was definitely making a name for herself. There were some rumors that she took orders from Apollyon herself. But all considered, they were both good people. Too good for a rotten place like the Blackstone Legion.
Her musings were interrupted by her favourite healer, who was already analyzing her head to toe.
"Oh, it's you Mercy. Let me guess, you had everything under control, but you got a teensy tiny bit cocky at the end and now you have a… minor scratch that will get you confined in bed for the next two weeks. Did I get that right?"
She pouted a little. She was getting predictable. But she didn't fail to notice how his eyes were still roaming. Always so careful and attentive, her little bird.
"Maaaaaybe. But still, not even five seconds in and you're already undressing me with your eyes! Always so inappropriate, bad healer!"
Corvo rolled his eyes with an almost imperceptible snort.
"Sure, because I definitely didn't see you naked a hundred times before. I surely do feel the need to imagine it, of course"
"Well, hey, no judgement here. I'm doing it too… OUCH! WHAT?! SHE'S HOT!"
She mentally thanked the Warden for her intervention. Stone pervertedness was one of his… admittedly many flaws.
"I know that she is, but at least don't say it out loud!"
"Oh shut up Skye, like you weren't doing it too".
"T-That's beside the point! You need to…"
And the two started squabbling. She immediately took back her thanks. That woman was almost as bad as her friend.
Corvo clapped his hands and brought attention back to himself.
"All right children, that's enough. Mercy, sit down and show me the wound. You two, get the Pluto out of my tent, I got work to do".
"What, are you implying that we're in your way?"
"Yes Stone, that is precisely what I'm implying".
"Oooh, I see how it is. Well, come on then Skye, let's allow the almighty prince here his space. But just you wait, we will find a new tent! One with dice games, alcohol and a better looking healer!"
Mercy slightly rolled her eyes when the two… "guests" passed her by, but was intrigued when she heard the Warden's last comment, said in low tone of voice.
"A better looking healer? Really? That's what you had? As if that's even possible…"
Interesting…
Her little bird fake coughed. Right, strip and show her wound, she almost forgot.
Normally at this point she would make it slow, just to annoy him, but her clothes were starting to itch, so she decided to skip the teasing at least for now. The mood was ruined anyway.
Being the efficient little bee that he was, Corvo wasted absolutely no time in checking and starting to treat the gash on her sides. Which reminded her of the probable weeks of rest afterward.
Aaaaaand her teasing mood was completely gone. Damn it…
He worked in silence, like always, his cute face scrunched up in focus.
In truth, she didn't really find him to be attractive in a manly way. It was pretty much impossible for her, she had seen him while he was just a little baby. She felt… like a big sister, she guessed, her bond with him being purely platonic. A bond that had led to her questioning many things of his family, on how he could have ended up the way that he is.
She had seen his father exactly once before. He was a member of the reclusive Black Prior's Order. He had disappeared together with his companions shortly after Corvo's birth. She knew not his name, nor could she remember how he looked, virtue of that stupid hood that the Priors always have. Not that the Peacekeepers were better, admittedly.
His mother was the exact opposite of him. He's quiet and emotionless, she's talkative and full of life. He's straightforward, she often indulged in theatrics when speaking. He's a healer, she's a soldier. He hates war… and she, like most members of the Legion, relished in it, believed in it.
They couldn't be more different. The one thing that all three of them had in common was a shared hatred for the man that had taught Corvo his craft.
He was once again broken out of her thoughts when her little bird got back on his feet, having finished treating her.
"All right, all done. Do you have anymore injuries I should be aware of?"
She shook her head. Not that she knew, at least.
"Good. Now… for your sentence".
Mercy shuddered. She hated being injured. She really, really did. These moments were always the ones that gave her the most anxiety. And the little shit knew it very well.
Finally, he spoke.
"You have actually been lucky this time around. The wound looks worse that it actually is, so it should heal fairly fast. That said…"
He raised one finger.
"Just a single week should be enough. But beware… just a couple of bad movements and that can very easily change. Understood?"
"I'm not a little kid Corvo. I know how injuries work. I'll be careful, promise".
"Sure you do. Just like all the other times that I had to close back up the wounds that you reopened. But whatever, that's what I'm here for I suppose. You can go now, I'll send a notif to our warlord to exclude you from drills for this week".
"Auuuhhh, what? You're not going to give your beautiful big sister a hug?"
"Get the fuck out of my tent Mercy".
There it was! She pumped her fist and exited the young man's tent, mentally adding a point to her end of the tally. She'll catch up soon enough.
For now she was content to just waltz her way outside, cackling as she heard the sweet, sweet sound of Corvo's forehead hitting a table.
Now what could she do? Maybe Skye and Stone were up to something…?
Hello? Is this thing on? It is? Noice.
Aaaaaand we're back. It took some effort to get my head out of my ass and start writing again, but I somehow managed, don't ask me how.
And so, Mercy has finally joined the frame and we also get a little insight on Corvo's family. Just a teensy tiny bit.
We are also almost done with Knight's part of the campaign and we will soon be moving to the Vikings, after Lawbringer gets his spot in the limelight.
Before anyone asks, I am not forgetting about Centurion and company. They will come after the fall of Apollyon, just like in the game.
That's all folks! Ta-ta for now