A/n: So I've done the math before, Average Stats Rutger vs. Average Stats Fir is basically a 5-5 match up and it's really up to whoever crits first to decide who wins. Just wanted to say that since the results of any fight I would have them get into would be up to what would make the plot work better like here. Other than that, enjoy!
The Commission Files- File #a1088 A Chance Meeting
Characters: Rutger, Lilina, Fir, Noah
Based on: a commission by Az_exn on Twitter
Rutger and Lilina had taken the day off from their royal duties to have a day to themselves in the town near Ostia castle. They didn't really have a plan on what they wanted to do for the day, but just by chance they met up with two people they had fought with during the war with Bern, Fir and Noah. So they invited them to lunch at one of the small restaurants in town so they could catch up with each other.
"So, how have you two been?" Lilina asked once they ordered their food. "Anything interesting stories to tell us? Are you two still travelling around Elibe as mercenaries?"
"For the most part yes." Fir answered. "We've probably been all around Elibe about three times over at this point helping people out, though we usually end up back in Ilia one way or another."
"Ever since Zelot became the king of Ilia I've been helping out as much as I can." Noah explained. "He's always asking me to become one of his royal knights, but I don't know if I'm ready for something like that just yet. I think there is still more in Elibe to see before I truly settle down. You probably know how that feels right Rutger?" He asked that knowing that many Sacaens were nomads and travelled a lot, assuming Rutger might be the same.
"Maybe when I was younger, but I find it safe and comfortable staying in one place to be honest." Rutger replied. They didn't show it in their faces or tone, but Fir and Noah were very surprised at how calm Rutger was now. It had been years since they had last seen him, so such a change wasn't completely out of the question, but it was almost like he was a different person. "Though I would note that my mother would agree with you on that point Noah, she couldn't stay in one place for too long before getting restless."
"Do you mind me asking who your mother was?" Noah asked tentatively.
"Not really." Rutger said simply. "My mother's name was Lyn and she was the daughter of a Lycian lady and a Sacaen chieftain. I don't know how informed you are of Lycian politics, but she was for a short time the Marquess of the now dissolved land of Caelin."
"I can't say that I am." Noah admitted. "Thank you for sharing though."
"So that means you're technically a royal aren't you?" Fir wondered. "I guess you could say living in Ostia is in your blood." Both Rutger and Lilina had to chuckle at that one. "What's so funny?"
"My mother hated pretty much every moment in Caelin." Rutger explained. "As soon as she could she handed over the land to Lord Hector and went back to Sacae with my father. If anything I get my acumen for political stuff from him, he was a tactician in Lord Eliwood's quest to defeat a man named Nergal and stop him from opening the Dragon's Gate."
"Oh! My mother told me about that once!" Fir chimed in. "Did your father like to wear green all the time?"
"Yes that was him." Rutger confirmed.
"My mother always said that your father could get anyone to crack a smile, even the hardest of mercenaries. I really wish I could have met him." Fir noted.
"Me as well if he was such a likable person." Noah added.
"Yeah, he was a pretty happy and silly man, but he could get serious when the time called for it." Rutger said with a sigh. There was a bit of a hang in the conversation after that, but luckily the food came just in time. "And he loved to eat, I'm sure he would enjoy a meal like this."
"Yeah, let's dig in!" Lilina agreed. So the four started to eat and the meal was quite good. Maybe not as good as the food that could be made at the castle, but good nonetheless. After getting a decent way into the meal Lilina decided to ask a question she was wondering about.
"So, if you two aren't ready to settle down yet, does that mean you haven't gotten married?" She wondered to Noah and Fir. Roy had noted that he had overheard Noah confessing his love for Fir during the war, so she was curious.
"Straight to the point aren't you?" Noah asked with a rhetorical chuckle. "No we aren't married yet, but we are engaged." After saying that he showed Lilina the ring on his finger.
"Yeah, we'll have a ceremony and stuff once we decide to stop travelling around, but for now we're happy with how things are. It's like we're pretty much married already to be honest. I think this is how my parents felt when they were younger, so I kind of get it now." Fir added showing off her ring.
"Well, if you two need anything don't hesitate to ask, we'd be happy to come and enjoy your special day together, if you want something like that of course." Lilina noted.
"Yeah, we'll let you know. Can't have enough bodyguards and such right?" Noah joked, elbowing Rutger playfully.
"Knowing Fir, she'd probably want to spar with me right before the ceremony." Rutger joked back.
"Hey, that's not-!" Fir was about to say, but then she thought about it. "Yeah, actually I probably would. Speaking of, if you're offering a spar, I want in! Your personality may have changed but I doubt your skill with the sword has, I still want to see which one of us is the best!"
"Well, we'll have to set up a time then." Rutger noted. "But don't take me lightly just because I've lightened up a bit, I train with the Ostian knights five times a week, I'm still in peak form." That was a bit of Lyn's competitiveness coming out of him there.
"You're on! Anywhere, any time, any weapon!" Fir replied back. Things were getting interesting and they probably could have just stepped outside right then and there and have a fight, but a distressed woman coming through the entrance of the restaurant broke the rising tension.
"Bandits!" She gasped. "Bandits on the south side! Way more than the guards can handle!" Immediately the four got up from their food and checked to make sure they had a weapon.
"We can handle this, this is our land and people." Rutger said to Noah and Fir.
"Yeah, and your both our friends and it's the right thing to do, so we're going with you." Fir countered. Rutger couldn't argue with that and Lilina was going to let them join in the fight anyways so they quickly left the restaurant, leaving a bag of gold on the table as payment. They swiftly made it to the south side of the castle town and saw what was going down. About 30 bandits had all rushed the gate at the same time and broken through. There were maybe one or two dead guards but the rest were still fighting on, but they were on the back foot.
"You cover my back and I'll cover yours, got it?" Rutger asked Fir more seriously than he had been speaking before.
"Got it!" Fir confirmed before the two swordmasters flung themselves into the fray, drawing attention away from the guards that were the most injured.
"Noah, ride me around so I can heal all the wounded guards and then we can pincer the rest of the bandits in when we're done!" Lilina said hopping on Noah's horse behind him.
"Understood!" Noah said doing just that. Luckily there weren't too many that were badly wounded, they would all probably survive to see another day. But Lilina told them to back off and just give support if needed knowing that the four of them could solo an entire platoon if they needed to. Eventually all the guards were out of the fray and Rutger, Fir, and Lilina were backing them into an ever constricting circle with Noah cutting down any bandits who broke through with his mobility being a mounted fighter. A short time later there was only one bandit left alive and Rutger grabbed him by the collar and lifted him up to interrogate him.
"Tell me what I want to know and I'll let you live!" He said in a voice very reminiscent of how he sounded during the war, gruff and intimidating, but that was kind of the point.
"Anything! I'm an open book!" The bandit yelped.
"Are there any more of you hiding out beyond the gate?" Rutger asked.
"N-No, it was just us!"
"Why did so many bandits decide to attack Ostia of all places, don't you know that's basically suicide?" Rutger continued.
"We thought it would be a simple smash and grab, we had the numbers over the guards and thought we could get away!" The bandit admitted. Rutger was scaring him shitless at the moment, so he couldn't lie even if he wanted to.
"Did someone hire you to do this?" Was Rutger's final question.
"No, we just teamed up for convenience!" After that Rutger put him on the ground but didn't let go of him just yet.
"When I let you go you better run right for that gate. Any other movement and it's your head got it?" The bandit nodded. "And if I ever see you here again with a weapon drawn I will kill you personally, last man standing or not." After that Rutger let him go and the bandit ran for the hills, his pants a lot more wet than they had been when he put them on that day. Rutger took a few deep breaths to calm his body and mind again before sheathing his sword and turning back to the other three.
"Impressive, I was even a little scared for him." Fir joked. "That's the Rutger I've actually gotten used to, no offense."
"None taken." Rutger assured her. "Just know this, that version of me isn't the real me. Hell, this version of me isn't the real me even, but you don't have to be scared of me anymore. I've learned how to control my rage and anger over the years. I might not be perfect, but I'm good enough to not harm the people I like and care about, like you two."
"Well, I for one am glad for that fact." Noah said honestly. "I think 90% of the mercenary bands in Ilia wouldn't stand a chance against you."
"And then they'd have to deal with me as well." Lilina chimed in and they all got a laugh out of that. "Anyways, why don't you two come to the castle? You can take a bath to clean off, have some dinner, and we'll get you some gold as payment for helping get rid of the bandits."
"Oh, you don't have to pay us, we would have done it either way." Noah assured her.
"Yeah, we may be mercenaries, but we're people first." Fir added.
"Of course, but you're our friends we should give you something for our appreciation." Lilina noted.
"And, if you come to the castle, we can spar together." Rutger added. That kind of sealed the deal for Fir, but she looked to Noah to confirm it was okay.
"Well, you two drive a hard bargain, but I guess we can stay the night." Noah replied. "Actually I can't remember the last time I had a good bath."
"Then come on, let's get going so Fir and Rutger have time to spar!" Lilina said. So they packed up and made their way back to Ostia castle. It wasn't a long trip and soon enough Lilina was showing Fir and Noah to the special guest bedroom. "And there is a bathroom connected right over there with anything you'd think you'd need to clean off. When you're done dinner should be ready and then we can go from there. Well, have fun!" And with that she left to go take her own bath with Rutger to clean off.
"Lilina is a really nice woman, I can see why so many people like her." Fir commented after she left.
"I agree, it truly feels like she really cares about everyone she meets." Noah added. "So, for this bath, are we gonna take it together?"
"I don't see why not." Fir said with a shrug. So they got undressed and started filling up the bath with warm water. Before they got in though something came to Fir's mind, probably because they weren't wearing any clothes at the moment. "Hey Noah, you've heard the rumors about Lilina and Rutger right?"
"Of course, if you know something than I usually do as well since we kind of go everywhere together." Noah joked. "Why do you ask?"
"Welllll..." Fir trailed off before moving over and whispering something into his ear.
"Hmmm, uh-huh, really now?" Noah reacted, a bit of surprise in his voice. "Well, if you want to do that then I don't see any issue with it. Just don't get too disappointed if it turns out those rumors are false."
"I have a feeling that they aren't." Fir stated confidently. After that they took their bath and then joined Rutger and Lilina for dinner. When that was done with the sun was getting ready to set in about an hour, but that was the perfect amount of time to get a sparring session in. So Rutger and Fir went to the training grounds together to do so. Lilina and Noah said they would leave the two be so they wouldn't be distracting and the two swordmasters appreciated that.
"So, how do you want to score this?" Rutger answered. "First to so many clean hits, amount of clean hits in a certain time frame, or do you want to be more realistic and say whoever would get a single killing blow is the winner?"
"I like the last option the best, it'll keep the tension up and keep me on my toes." Fir responded.
"I had a feeling you'd like that." Rutger noted. "Alright, start five paces away and we'll begin when this stone I throw hits the ground."
"Got it." Fir replied. "Oh, and in case I forget, thank you for doing this with me Rutger, it's something I've had on my mind for quite a while as you know."
"Of course, and I apologize for how I treated you before." Rutger told her. "But I was telling the truth back then, I probably would have killed you because I couldn't control myself."
"Oh, I believed you after a while." Fir said with a chuckle. "But now, we can finally do this." Rutger gave a confirming nod before stepping back and tossing the small stone in his hand in the air. Not one moment after it hit the ground the two swordmasters charged at each other with blades drawn. To any outside observers it would look like a wind storm had blown into the training grounds with a red blur and a teal blur whipping all around it. Each one of them had their own amazing speed and they were able to keep up with each other blow for blow, neither of them making a bad swing or movement. It was going to come down to something else to decide this bout.
Slowly but surely the two combatants were tiring out, slowing down, making mistakes. Rutger with his taller and more bulky build was able to dish out more powerful blows than Fir, but she was harder to hit with her smaller frame and agility. Fir knew that if things kept going like this that eventually Rutger's strength would overwhelm her, she figured she would have to pull out her critical technique to try and snag the victory, but she couldn't find an opening in Rutger's defense. Rutger for his part knew he was bad at knowing when said techniques would be used on him, so he was trying to fight a bit more defensively so Fir couldn't pull it off. It was a close fight, the closest that either one of them had ever been in up to this point in their lives, but eventually Rutger got a clean shot on Fir's side, running his practice blade across her stomach.
"Gotcha!" He celebrated as he jumped back just in case Fir was in the middle of her own attack. She wasn't, but he didn't want to get whacked for not being careful. Fir was actually holding her side, surprised Rutger got her there of all places.
"Man, I thought you would have gone for my head like you did with the bandits earlier." She commented. "Well, fair is fair, you win Rutger. That was a great fight! I almost had you a couple times there!"
"Yeah, you really did." Rutger admitted. "If I would have let up even just a bit you would have been all over me. You really are quite the swordmaster. Guess it runs in the family."
"Hey, I could say the same thing about you." Fir said sitting down to rest. "But, whew, I need to rest a bit."
"Here, take some water." Rutger said sitting down next to her and giving her a canteen.
"Thank you." After that they sat there in silence for a bit, drinking water and taking some deep breaths, until a question popped up into Fir's mind. "So Rutger, do you mind if I ask you a somewhat personal question?"
"I think you've earned that right." Rutger noted, not quite sure what it could be.
"You said earlier that this current version of you still isn't the real you. What is the real version of you? Or at least the person you were before the war?" Fir wondered.
"You probably won't believe this, but I was actually a lot like Shanna, that pegasus knight we fought beside." Rutger answered.
"Oh, no way!" Fir protested.
"Told you. But yes, I used to be very friendly and outgoing, wanting to make friends with everyone I met. And I was a bit like you as well, but instead of wanting to be a famous swordmaster I wanted to be a famous knight." Rutger replied honestly.
"Well, you kind of got your wish." Fir noted.
"Kind of. But I don't know if I can ever get back to that, too much has happened to me, it's like my innocence was shattered like a vase. You can glue it back together but it's never truly fixed." Rutger explained.
"I think I understand." Fir replied. "I could kind of feel the conflict inside you as we fought, as weird as that sounds."
"Well, my mother always said you could learn a lot about a person when you spar with them, so it's not as weird as you think." Rutger noted. "I learned a lot about you as well Fir. You're a very confident and determined person, like my mother was. I like that about you."
"I kind of wish I could have met your mother, and your younger self, they seem like cool people." Fir said wistfully.
"Oh, younger me would have had the biggest crush on you." Rutger stated. "He probably would have come to you to spar first and everything."
"Really now?" Fir questioned, her plan with Noah possibly being able to be kicked into place.
"For sure. A cute and beautiful Sacaen girl like yourself who knows her way around a sword? That was pretty much younger me's perfect woman. For the most part." Because he did also kind of have a crush on Lilina even back then slightly. "In fact, if he would have won a spar with you, he probably would have-" Rutger was getting so into this conversation that he didn't realize what he was about to say until it was almost out. Of course he and Lilina had been sleeping around with people, but he had no way of knowing Fir would be interested in such a thing.
"He would have what?" Fir wondered. Rutger took a deep breath before continuing.
"Promise you won't get mad or hit me over the head with your sword?" He asked a little embarrassed.
"Promise." Fir replied truthfully.
"He probably would have joked that since he won you should have sex with him." Rutger noted. "Before you say anything, my parents were very open with me about sexual things and I was a horny teenager back then." To his surprise Fir wasn't offended by what he said, in fact it almost looked like she was into it.
"I mean if we agreed to that beforehand I don't see why I would have a problem with that." Fir teased him. "In fact, if younger you thought that, I'm sure you had that thought in the back of your mind as well." Hearing that actually got Rutger to blush a bit because it was true, a little bit of Mark had been in the back of his mind thinking about it. "That blush confirms it. Well, I guess that means we'll have to go up to your room and see how it would have gone, don't you think?"
"Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?" Rutger asked, not sure if she was teasing him or not.
"I am." Fir confirmed. "Noah and I talked it over and we figured it might be fun to see if the rumors about you and Lilina were true."
"That is a bit of a surprise, though now that I think about it both Deke and my father always noted that mercenaries were up for pretty much anything." Rutger stated.
"So? Are you in?" Fir wondered.
"Of course, I'd be crazy to pass up a moment like this." Rutger replied. "In fact, if you'll allow me, I'll try and tap into my younger mindset a bit." And with that he picked Fir up effortlessly and held her bridal style with her head very close to his.
"Ooh, so romantic." Fir cooed since she loved it when Noah did the same thing. "To the bedroom!" She called out before giving Rutger a kiss on the cheek. So Rutger carried her up to his and Lilina's room and he didn't even need to drop her to open the door. The both of them were so into the whole moment that they didn't hear the noises coming from the other side of the door, but they found out what was making them as they walked in.
"About time you two made it here! Close the door and lock it back!" Lilina said to the pair as she was completely naked and riding Noah reverse cowgirl style. Rutger put Fir down, closed the door, and relocked it as Lilina asked.
"Who won the spar?" Noah asked as he sat up a bit to see the other two.
"Rutger did." Fir admitted.
"But it was really close. And we got to know each other better." Rutger added. "But instead of just using my mother's methods to get closer, we decided to use my father's as well. He always said that being intimate with someone was the best way to get to know them deeply."
"You didn't mention that." Fir noted. "I would have gotten to my offer way quicker if you lead with that."
"Well the important thing is that you're here." Lilina cut in. "Now strip down and join us, you're missing all the fun!" So Fir and Rutger quickly stripped down, Rutger to nothing and Fir to nothing but her support straps around her chest and waist.
"Noah likes it when I keep this one, says it gives him something to hang onto." Fir explained.
"That's kind of hot." Lilina noted. Then Rutger came up behind Fir and put his hands on her hips and pressed himself up against her back. She could already feel his length on her back and it gave her a bit of a chill.
"So, where do you want it first?" Rutger whispered into her ear seductively, almost like he was another different personality. Maybe Rutger was just good at adapting to things? Either way it was hot and gave Fir shivers along with that chill.
"Whatever way you want to do it." Fir replied as her body started to warm up again.
"Very well." Rutger commented before moving her over to the bed and bending her over it so her chest and stomach were on the sheets but her knees were on the floor. He kneeled behind her and lined his shaft up with her pussy, using his hand to guide himself and so he could tease her clit and opening with it's head. She was already pretty wet so he wasn't going to have trouble slipping it in. "Are you ready?" He asked.
"Give it to me." Fir confirmed as she took one of Noah's hands in hers. With that Rutger slipped inside and the foursome's night of passion was on. It was pretty fun and intimate all around. With their mercenary experience Fir and Noah brought a lot of new ideas and techniques for Rutger and Lilina to use in the future. They kept switching partners every now and then and one of the more memorable positions they got into was when Fir was taking Noah anally in a reverse cowgirl position while Lilina was next to her doing regular cowboy with Rutger. Since they were sort of facing each other Lilina was able to reach out and start sucking on one of Fir's breasts which Fir really enjoyed. She liked it so much she started fingering herself a bit just so she could cum from the feeling and remember it for a while.
Eventually the fun slowed down and the four of them had to admit that even with all their still somewhat youthful energy they needed to call it for the night.
"That was really fun!" Lilina said out of breath. "We should really meet up and do this again sometime."
"If we do, I'm getting a new chest strap, you three almost broke it tonight!" Fir joked and the other three laughed in response. "But I agree, we should do this again, right Noah?"
"I mean, I enjoyed myself." Noah agreed.
"Same here, it's always nice to get to know friends better." Rutger noted.
"Welllllll, if you really want to do it again we could just all sleep together and see how we feel in the morning." Lilina said trying to tempt the other two. Even elbowing Rutger to try and help her out.
"Lilina is a great cuddle pile participant, I'm not half bad either." Rutger added. Noah and Fir looked at each other and gave each other what amounted to a 'why not?' shrug.
"Might as well, I'm too tired to get dressed again anyways after that and the spar." Fir admitted.
"Yeah, it's nice and warm here unlike Ilia, I think I can sleep in the nude tonight." Noah added.
"Wonderful!" Lilina said happily. So the four of them, after cleaning off, drinking some water, and getting a few snacks, got comfortable in a cuddle pile and blew out the candles lighting the room.
"You're right Noah, this is pretty warm." Fir commented as she was close to the middle.
"Someone's chest is nice and soft to lay on." Noah commented.
"That would be mine, but thank you!" Lilina commented.
"Whose butt is this I'm grabbing?" Rutger wondered.
"Mine!" Fir called out. "You might want to stop though before I jump you again." The four laughed at that and eventually they fell asleep, happy that a chance meeting like today led to something much more deep and intimate.