What does a man wish for in life? Is it money? Power? Women? The answer is very simple.
Getting up from his silk-lined bed, taking off the drapes of luxury from his body, he always made a point of waking up early.
Diligence was key. Being too disillusioned with one's fortune could prove to be fatal, he need be at his best so that he might keep his place above those hills.
Shaking off the hold of the two flowers holding him down, two well-groomed kitsunen, and how soft and warm it felt to drown in their hold, to be burry oneself in the carnal sin, he's always been smitten by their beauty since a young age.
A rotten and perverse taste it might have been, to seek only fleshy desires, porcelain dolls wrapped in sheer velvet, golden tales bathed and sprayed with the finest of aromas, wrapped tightly around his limbs.
Gripping him against his bed.
Though man he might be, though tempted he might feel, such matters should be left for when the sun shines not.
He grunted against himself, being so strict can take a toll on one's mind, but it was necessary for someone of his caliber, he paid no heed to the soft moans that accompanied him leaving his nest of slumber.
With the fines of soaps he coated his grim face, and he washes, he repeats the process twice just to let the scent cement to his face some more, he would usually take a shower this early, but it seems his presence was needed quite urgently this morning.
Going through the corridors of his empty mansion in his naked glory, he feels no shame at it, for his servants grew used to him and his mannerisms, not that he paid it any attention, if he demanded respect, he would receive it.
He heads to the kitchen, a table full of the most exquisite and exotic flavors that could be smuggled through the boarders, paid a premium for, but worthwhile nonetheless.
His demi-human blood left him more desirous than the ordinary human, his insides grumbled and turned at such sights, his instincts urging him on to gobble it all up and squeeze it down his gullet.
But of course such a thing would be utterly inappropriate, he sat down with a graceful stature, his two maids helping him out and pushing his chair in place, and with a knife and fork of silver, he ate his usual breakfast, containing enough meat and fat to feed a family for a whole day.
Once his hunger was satisfied, his hand went to sip at a glass of fine Gusteko wine, it's steep price was surmounted by the otherworldly taste and smell it gave, though he had to stop himself from indulging in it, work came first after all.
On to his dressing room he went, two other servants stood there waiting for him, each one with a different suit presented for him to choose, though both almost identical, the one to the left had a more grayish hue than the ordinary dark tone of the one to the right.
With a nod to the left, the other servant hurriedly put down the other piece, he hurried up to his master's side, helping him through his under garments to his pitch black pants and the jacket an tie, as soon as the two finished dressing him they combed his hair.
When all was done, one servant to his left presented to him the finest kararagi tobacco cigars, served in a small thin black box, five for him to choose from.
He picked one at random, putting it up to his mouth, with a guillotine cutter, his leftmost butler cut of the cap, only for the other to ignite it for him.
The two lifted up a body sized mirror to their master. With a puff of his cigar and a chuckle, he ran his hand through his blond hair, his deep blue eyes piercing his reflection.
A large gurley figure looked back, with a conniving smile through the cigar puffing, a face with a mixture of pink and brown, a rough visage, with both pig ears and nose, such appearance was without a doubt belonging to Doltero Amule, the pigman, Head of the Black Silver Coin, he who runs Flanders through and through.
He smiled at the thought, though he might not be a looker, his two-piece suit sure has added to his charm, and lucky for him, men were more about guts than looks.
"Why stop at just one thing? When one can have it all."
He carefully watches as the half-elf walks out of the loothouse, even as his head screams at him in pain from the headache he suffered before.
He can't help but look back at his companion in confusion, with his eyes screwed shut as another surge of pain comes to him, and his hands holding his head in place, he asks.
"Why did you not go with her, Natsuki-San."
If his friend has heard him then he definitely made no show of it, frolicking slowly through the broken parts of the building to the counter, he poured a glass of some cheap alcohol then came back to his side and handed it to him.
Otto accepted it, though not sure if this poison would be of any help to him currently, he pinched his nose with one hand, and with the other he downed the whole thing in one go, the stinging burn in the back of his throat made him caugh and spatter a bit of his saliva.
Subaru chortled at the pitiful sight, Otto grumbled back at him in annoyance. This was not the time to make fun of him.
"I just needed some time, and I have something to do first anyway." Subaru finally decided to answer him, his face turning grim and serious.
Otto wonders if it's an excuse made out of cowardice, or something genuinely serious, through it matteres not, as long as he promised to visit her soon, Subaru did not seem like a man to go against his words.
Though another matter entirely worried him to no end, gazing at the unconscious woman drenched in his oil, he wonders.
"Are you sure about this?" Otto asked in a hushed manner.
"Yeah, don't worry, Rein knocked her out pretty well. She's not waking up any time soon." Subaru answered him in his usual nonchalant tone while pointing his hand behind his back where the sword saint stood.
Otto still can't get over the fact that he met both the sword saint and two dragon candidates on the same day, though he wonders if that's the fault in his bad luck or Subaru's.
It's probably Subaru-san's fault, he looks beyond him seeing the saint and the new candidate arguing with each other all the while the giant watches sighing at what he's gotten himself and his grand-daughter involved into.
Otto feels for him, too. He, too, got involved in things that were way above his skill set, but such is the life of a traveling merchant.
"You know that's not what I meant." He replied with a harsh tone, flipping his head back to face his friend.
Only to notice that he has left his side, he gazes around, only to find him in one corner of the loothouse, fiddling with something.
No, not something. It was a body part. He was collecting all the dismembered limbs and chunks of flesh and lining them up in a pile, Otto's stomach churned.
With a hum, Subaru-san replied, "I know, and I hope I'm right in trusting her because she's coming with me."
Otto decided on not commenting on the sight, understanding that someone has to clean up the place, no matter how morbid it might be, but it still made him feel sick to his stomach the way his friend seemed unaffected by it.
Swallowing the bile threatening to leave his mouth, "Where are you going?"
Kneeling down and grabbing a nearby stick, the man beside him started poking at a dismembered arm sticking out from the fold.
And Otto could handle it no more, with a hand grasping at his irritated stomach and another to his mouth, he muttered a weak, "Please stop."
Subaru-san gazed at him quizzically, his eyes widening when he looked at the pile beneath him. He mouthed a quiet apology, standing up to be beside him.
Otto understood that him and his friend have had different experiences, that they were different people with different likes and dislikes, he understood that what may have scared him, will not necessarily strike fear in his friend.
And he understood from this whole ordeal that Subaru-san was probably a veteran on the battlefield, that blood and gore were nothing new to him, but still that little surprising show of apathy and cruelty unnerved Otto to no end.
And not just this current one, even before when they first entered the building, when they introduced themselves and came up with a plan to handle the assassin.
The way Subaru laid it, the way he thought it all out meticulously, the way he mentioned burning another as if it were nothing more than a tactical decision, it was beyond cold or uncaring.
Everyone held their breath at his plan firsthand, but even more as the battle ended and the bowl hunter lay down defeated, the way Subaru-san showed concern for everyone and checked on their wounds, it made Otto want to forget, it made him wanna forget that apathetic side.
But he could not, not when he saw the woman doused in black ink, he couldn't help but be frozen in place watching, waiting for his friend to commit an act of complete horror.
Only for him to suddenly change his mind, allowing Otto to release a breath he hadn't known he kept, it scared him.
How capable Subaru-san was of cruelty, but what scared him the most was how he'd stay by his side no matter what.
"Flanders, I'm heading there to find someone, an old friend." The usually scary eyes, softened down as his friend wrapped an arm around his back, answering his question all the while he seemed concerned at his blight.
Otto hadn't even noticed his touch, but he was grateful for it nonetheless, he should stop thinking about these silly things, it was do or die, whatever decision subaru made, it would've been reasonable, he should stop thinking of the past, and start focusing on the present.
"Flanders? I can arrange a carriage ride for us." Otto responded, now feeling more calm. Even as the usual pangs of pain strike his brain, he hopes it'll get better by the morning.
"Ah, thank yo- wait, us?" Subaru inquires, perhaps surprised that he'd choose to come when he was not feeling that well.
Oh well, no matter what, he's definitely going," Yes, me, you, and whoever you want to bring along."
His friend looks at him, surprise painted on his face, then he laughs, no he utterly breaks down laughing, "You never change do you Otto, always complaining but always coming without much convincing."
And here, there it is again, Otto wonders when he will get his answers, when his friend will tell him of all the secrets he's keeping locked behind that miserable smile of his, though for the time being, he can let himself relish in the little bits of joy offered to him.
After all, to see his brother laugh this genuinely, it's a sight to behold.
Walking through the red-light district always filled hs chest with pride, he built it all, with his hands he shaped it, not out of clay, but out of blood, tears and puss.
And though most of that blood was not of his, it didn't make his achievements any less grandiose. He held this city on his shoulders, and he clamped on it with an iron fist.
He got more than he gave, some might say, and od help and forgive him, he wanted to build something that would outlive him, in this wretched place, this hell-hole that he called home, he carved a place for himself, made a paradise out of their hell.
And oh Od he was not as selfish as they make him out to be, in a place where greed is limitless, opportunity isn't, thunder doesn't strike the same spot twice, and neither does lady luck.
So he made it fair, he gave his brothers and sisters a chance, lavish establishments to gamble, to strike gold and win big, come here fellow strangler let us riot against fate.
Even he knew the futility of it all, how horrid of him to take advantage of it? what a gag!
He gazed about, his arms outstretched embracing the swelling feeling of pride to his chest, fancy restaurants, gambling dens, brothels, loan lending businesses, all built upon his ground dragon business, all operating with his protection, just for a small sum, a tiny stake in it.
He preferred a more stable form of commerce, something less shady and more formal, more lucrative, and stables for breeding, housing, and trading ground dragons was just that, his modus operandi, the thing that made Flanders, though offering insurances remained a hobby of his.
With all that said it was not as if he didn't join in louche activities, gambling was a beloved past time of his, so was visiting the Flower Prison Garden, a luxurious brothel, many memories made there, perhaps he should pay Madam Toto a visit, that lady was something else.
But unfortunately, that has to wait for later. Work comes first, of course, and he had heard that his presence was needed. He wasted no time.
Manfred Madison, the head of the The Scales's branch in Flanders, a friendly rival of his, has asked, nay, has begged for him to come.
Doltero wasn't one to miss opportunities handed to him on silver platters, the desperation of the whole ordeal was made obvious by the letter sent to him, seeing a way to squeeze out a profit or more ground on the city, he made this his priority.
Heading to the grand casino with his entourage, it was not his first time visiting the luxurious place, he and Manfred were not on bad terms by any means, they both respected each other, they both saw this as business, they'd rather settles matters through other avenues than bloodshed.
His limbs felt heavy, his feet damp, he heard the whistling air of the mountain, it sang to him, a lullaby for him to drown in, he was so utterly cold.
A hand grabbed him by his collar, pushed him on the ground, softness invaded his senses, the snow felt so good, he could make a bed of it, and sleep an eternity or some more.
A cloud of heat erupted atop of him, a spear of pure blinding plasma, almost tore through his head, his digits grew numb.
He was forcefully flipped on his back, not having enough strength to move. He watched as his feet made a path on the snow, someone dragged him through the mountain.
Through the white desert, beyond the towering trees, luscious and green, covered in falling snow, he sees a hint of pink, small fingers grasping at the titan pillars of wood.
Though miles back, he can't miss the frowning cyan eyes gazing at him, her hand stretched outward at him, and a whisper carried by the wind reached his ears.
"Ul Goa!" And with it came a cacophony of sound, it invaded his ears, leaving his thoughts more muddled than ever before.
Light and colors akin to mahogany lightened up the the path between them, moving closer and closer to him, a shooting star of concentrated heat chased him, flames licked at his ashen grey locks.
Only for a wall of purple to block the sun from his face, shielding his wounded eyes from its intensity, he gazed back, turning his head to the one pulling at him through this mindless trek.
A broad back was all that he saw, with an orange scarf wrapped around that slender neck, an appendage of purple wrapped around from the fornt of that stranger's chest, over his shoulder, making a hand that now shields Otto.
He opened his mouth, his teeth cluttering. He asked, "Subaru?" It came no louder than a whisper.
The only acknowledgment he got was the slight nod that he noticed as the man struggled through the feet swallowing snow to pull them both.
"Finally up, Otto? Let's get going before Fredricka snaps my neck bringing ya with me for this tea party."
Fredricka? Right, his wife, how could he forget? The cold must be getting to his head. He can't wait till they arrive at home.
He's getting too old for playing adventure time with Subaru, he swears this time is the last.
Ah well, who's he kidding? If not him, then who will keep watch on his stupid brother.
His eyes flutter open, startled awake, he looked around him in surprise, still not sure of the reason for his fright, noticing the dim light, and cold morning breeze, a chill ran down his spine.
He hurdled his knees together, using the oversized blanket given to him. He formed a cocoon and wrapped himself in it, leaving only his face peaking out.
He wondered to himself, what has awaken him so early on this trek, gazing on the front of the carriage he could see both the saint and the giant taking the reins of the ground dragons.
Getting such a spacious and luxurious ride would have normally cost him an arm and leg, though thankfully, the saint offered to bear the weight of such a transaction.
A dept to be paid, at least that's what the red-haired man alluded to, Otto thinks it might have something to do with the little theif's new rank.
A contender for the throne, a dragon candidate, the mention of it left Otto's mouth hang open, falling to the dirty grounds of the lowly tavern, only for Subaru to close it for him.
And add to his shock, lady Emilia is one too, and what the hell was happening to Otto's life, to be in the same room as two kingdom icons, two individuals who could cause ripples through the kingdom.
Nay, kingdoms, and not just two, but three, the sword saint's influence was nothing to scoff at, and with the way his black haired friend handled the earlier matter, and the way the saint follows his every step, listens to every word leaving him, almost desperately wishing to please him, the number was closer to four.
And here he is, Otto Suwen, a humble merchant, at least he hopes to still have rights to claim such a lowly title, and he has involved himself with so many extravagant and extraordinary individuals, he just hopes that this would end in a good manner.
Leaving the thoughts drifting through his exhausted mind, he let his eyes wander to the rest of his companions.
On the leftmost corner of the carriage, the front side of it, there lay the potential future queen, drowning in a sea of cloth similar to his, own, asleep still it seems, the saint sword turned to check on her, noticing Otto's gaze, they locked eyes, and agreed that a nod as a greeting would be more than enough, in fear of awaking the little lady.
Otto sighed at the sight of it, the way she traveled to the world of dreams without a worry in her heart, it filled Otto with envy, but perhaps such is the difference between a common man, and one chosen by the dragon.
And speaking of nerves of steal, he flipped his gaze, peaking his head over his right shoulder, he sees the familiar woman, with the unusual black hair, a foreign quality for sure, her eyes closed, there she lay, her back turned to the side of the carriage walls, her knees bundled up in a manner similar to what Subaru has shown the other day, a 'criss-kross appa-sauce' he says it's called.
Seemingly content in mimicking the raven's sitting position, she wraps her arms around her midsection, even with such a display of openness, Otto can't help feeling unease.
Should they really trust her, is she truly worthy of forgiveness, what stops her from slicing their bellies open at a moment of weakness, he knows not the answers to such questions, he only focuses his gaze on her face, wishing for the answers to come from it.
Her eyes open suddenly, no different than a cat's would, a kekura seemingly summoned from thin air found its way on her hands, she swiped it at a speed his eyes struggled to follow, battling phantoms that had made their presence only known to her.
Her sudden frightful act stopped, and as she composed herself, she gazed at his terrified form, with a toothy grin, she greeted him and turned her head to sleep some more.
Goosebumps covered the entirety of Otto, now he knew for sure that the shivers and slight shaking came not from the cold, but a most terrifying display, he wrapped himself further onto the cocoon.
A hand grasped at his shoulder, his nerves being strained as much as they were, he almost let out a not so manly scream, only to realize that it was Subaru who has taken hold of him.
"Morning otto." The greet came followed by a
Otto looked back at him strangely, and with a sigh.
"To be able to sleep so soundly in the situation we're in, Subaru-san is truly something else as I thought."
Subaru waved his hand in denial, "I was just so tired from the stress that I dropped like a log, also have some faith Otto, we'll be fine."
A vein on Otto's forehead almost popped, "I'm trying my best here Subaru-san, but I can't help but feel like I'm about to drop dead from the stress, we'll have to topple over the biggest crime syndicate in Flanders, do you know how insane that sounds? Not so long ago, my worries were how to pay for an inn to stay in. Now I worry for whether a knife or sword would be lodged into my chest or neck." He ended his nervous word vomit with a sharp inhale.
"Or one to my back for that matter." The words left his mouth no louder than a whisper, quietly pointing his gaze to the obvious culprit.
The raven stared back at him, his face blank, all notions of sleepiness leaving his being, Otto felt weirded out at being looked at so intensely, "What?"
"Heh, what a scaredy cat."
"Natsuki-San! I'm serious!"
"I know, I know, I'm asking a lot out of you, but please, have some faith in us, you and me, otto, and all of us, we'll be fine." He reassured him in the most matter of fact voice he could conjure up.
Otto appreciated the seriousness of his tone, and somehow, he felt a little less uneasy about all of it because, of course, if Subaru says so, then it must be so.
He realizes how weird and bothersome that blind trust is, and he will agonize on that matter at a later date.
But what worries him the most now is the subject that he has not brought up, at least not directly to any other except his current closest friend.
"And what of her? Should we really be so lenient with her around?" He asked in a hushed tone.
"Otto, if you keep looking over your shoulder in fear of being stabbed in the back, you'll miss the knife aimed at your chest, it's hard to change, to be better, the least we could do is give her a chance."
Otto understood that, he could sympathize with that, if not for the fact that the person in question has done unspeakable things, could there truly be redemption for monsters of this caliber?
"And it's not like we can't kill her if she tries anything fishy, we got Rein with us for a reason." Subaru added with a tinge of humor in his deadpanned face.
Otto just face palmed at the utter ridiculousness of this matter, "And pray tell, remind me again why must we not use the sword saint to blitz to the head of the city."
Subaru made a show of clicking his tongue and waving his finger around, "First of all, my dear Otto, that'd be boring as hell."
And right before Otto could interject once again, Subaru put a hand on his mouth and continued, "And that'd get Rein in some big big trouble, we barely convinced him to come here using Felt, I'm not about to ruin all that."
"So he's assurance." Otto concluded.
A toothy smile an a nod came as his response, and it felt a little better that Subaru had formulated a plan of sorts.
"We'll arrive at night, is that when we shall strike?" Asked Otto.
Subaru gazed out at the road, humming, and letting the strangely shaped gears inside of his mind rotate, unevenly oriented mechanical bearings roughly clunked into place, in that flesh cage, lubricated with gooey, viscous, melted fat, they clutched betwixt teeth, they clicked in place, moved, rotated on axles, like a clock, it was a clock wasn't it? Clock shaped human? or a human shaped clock? Otto isn't sure.
"No, we should just sleep for the night. There's no need to go looking for trouble. Tomorrow early in the morning, we'll make it come looking for us." With another smug smile of this.
Subaru leaves Otto bewildered, and Otto just hopes that things would go well.
The Grand Casino, a large, three-story gambling den with spaces for various types of games.
Doltero entered with no issues, him and his entourage given access without even a routine frisking, that most of the attendees had gotten used to already.
But of course, someone of his level couldn't be even compared to the peasants beneath him.
He stepped through the hallways, ignoring the patronage at the bar, going to the stairs leading up to the other floors, the second being an ordinary gambling den.
Only to reach the third and final floor, not much different from its predecessor, the air was thick with the smell of cheap liquor and tobacco, demi-humans and humans of all faction gathered to do one thing and one thing only.
Gamble, rolling dice, flipping cards, all sorts of different trials of luck, one where the judge, jury and executioner, all had a hand in your crime against yourself, to hope is to sink, to dream is to drown.
But beyond all treachery committed against the wretched and miserable souls haunting that room.
There lay a door, a familiar one to Doltero, through it he passed a thousand times and some more.
MANFRED'S OFFICE.
It read, his destination, he reached.
Ushering one of his guards, said mercenary stepped forth, the little reptile grasped at the doorknob, slender, slim, scaley fingers, twisted and turned at the wooden ball, with a click, the lock unfastened, he pushed forth, opening the door.
The creaky, squeaky sound of the worn out hinges quickly gave away to an air of silence, he looked back at his master meaningfully, then at his command, two others followed behind him.
Through a long and narrow passageway that barely gave any view to the inside of the room, he walked.
He stepped forth, looking into the room, basking in its strange symmetry, of repeating colors and paintings, of furniture assorted in pairs, a chair, and one next to it, a couch to the center of the leftmost wall, and another to the rightmost, three identical paintings covering each wall of this small room, except it's entrance, a small table at the middle, where the two chairs lay faced, empty, empty, all of it.
He walked up to one of the paintings, lazily pulling it out of the wall in its hanging place, he wondered what beauty or meaning these people found in random splashes of colors and lines, with a fist up, he called the search off.
He turns on his feet, heading to his boss, gazing at the group of people looking back to him, seemingly unbotherd, six of them without counting his employer, and the other two mercenaries behind him, he walks back through the corridor, a loud bang stops him in his tracks.
Worry invaded his soul and took a hold of his being, it made a room for itself, and was hellbent on staying, shaky hands, and restless legs accompanied him, was he making a mistake? Was this blowing it out of proportion? Stepping out of line?
His blessings blinked on and off repeatedly, it was nauseating, and its source was now more evident than ever, should he feel threatened by it?
More questions, and less time to have any of them answered, no, he should trust, he should believe in this feeling in his heart, let go the nervousness, drown in a sea of counterfeit tranquility.
Small, daintily fingers grasped at his, soft yet covered with old cuts and bruises, blemishes carrying stories of the life she once led.
Nay, blemishes not, but engravings on her tiny hands, telling tales of bravery and courage, and he would listen to it all, he would treasure every small crevice, fissure or gash, he would be sure that no more hurt would reach her.
And the way she grasped at his fingers, his heart twisted and twirled, and he wonders if there ever was life before her, his every worry, his every sorrow, will forever be drowned by her ocean.
And this was love, wasn't it? He felt it, he lived it, breathed it, bathed in it, he was it, and it was him, and it's intensity brought him to tears, she looks at him worriedly, overtaken by his own heart, he brings their hands closer to him.
And he kisses hers, and by Od, it was uknightly, and unbecoming, and all of them were looking at him in shock, and she an appa in complexion, he brings their bond down under the table, keeping their hands intertwined, he regrets not.
Subaru continues talking after letting out a short chortle, briefing them on the plans that would take place early in the morning, and he's in no state of mind to listen to any of it, his head in the heavens above, and his heart out of his chest.
So like an utter fool he is, he stares at his companions discussing things, words going in and out of his ears, he gazes at the giant staring dagger at him, then at the shaking merchant that was once as nervous as him, and onto the ex assassin listening intently at whatever was said, not sharing a word of her own.
Getting a room this big to house all of them was hard within itself, but he had enough coin on him to afford that, not that it came with all of the chairs and the big round table, no, he paid even extra, him and the giant having to haul it all up from the inn.
He looks at Subaru, words come out, lips moving, but no sound reaches him, and yes, the feeling was still there. His heart aches still, but never the same.
Never would it beat for another. Never would it ache further. Never would his brush touch another page, never would his colors spill on another canvas.
For his flimsy fingers grasped a piece of heaven, and monster he might be, he would foresake it for no one.
And finally he gazed at her, crimson red stared back, and all his hurt, all his pain, all that makes him and breaks him, all of his grim and his woe, it was understood, It was felt by her, it was griefed for, it was forgiven, it was repaid tenfold.
And he was complete, she made him whole, and he would repay her till the last of his days, be it hell or high-water, nothing would ever stop him no more.
"...and remember, Reinhardt makes the first bang, and that's all, we handle the rest, okay?"
Two crater sized holes bore through the wall of the establishment, a bloodied mess of two alive, but brutalized mercenaries stuffed into the structure, groaning in pain.
"Wha-" barely letting out a gasp before another bang followed through.
This time, four men were left on the floor moaning in agony as they nursed their broken and fractured legs, Doltero stood shocked.
A woman scantily dressed approached him. With frightening speed, she had two curved knives resting on the sides of his neck, he put his hands up, and let himself be pushed into the room.
The fate of the last three of his men was much better than the rest, the cloaked man simply walked and put them to slumber with a single touch, sweat poured down his face watching him.
After a short while, he was made to sit on a small chair in the middle of the room, two knives trapping his neck and face in a very narrow angle, even a slight adjustment made small tiny cuts against the unbelievably sharp blades.
"What do you want." He asked without neither raising nor lowering his voice too much, concise enough to understand his words, but not enough to prod at his mental state.
Neither woman, nor man responded to him, that was until he heard footsteps entering the room.
The tippy toeing came closer and closer till it reached his side, and it stopped, his nerves rattled, his inability to look or check his surroundings made it even worse.
"You can wait outside." The tone was jovial, it had a little chirp to it, this was a young man.
The air went still for a moment, only for him to listen to another set of footsteps get farther and farther away till they reached outside of the room, and possibly even continued some more.
All of this confused Doltero a bit, the person who walked out, the cloaked man, that was the biggest threat in the room, whoever this, leader might be, why did he think it was smart to do without him.
At his front, a chair was pulled out, the man sat down, giving him a big toothy smile, even through it didn't reach his sharp gaze.
"Manfred?" Asked Doltero meaningfully.
"Don't worry about him, he's gonna be alllll good." Came as a reply.
Not seeing a point in Dilly-dallying any further, Doltero sighed and asked further, "What do you want from me."
The man infront of him chuckled at him, made himself more comfortable, he leaned in forward.
"Come on now Doltero, it's all just business and business with ya, how about we start with an introduction." The boy sits his hands atop of his.
Doltero watches the boy with the scrutiny of an eagle, feeling his touch, he wastes no time leaping forth, surprising his captive behind him, but not without getting small cuts on the side his neck in the process.
His huge left hand grasps tightly around the human's, with a single fist he clutched both limbs in a tight cage, bringing back his right, he aims a punch to the face to knock out his victim, it loosely connects, blood is spilt.
A knife gets lodged below his right shoulder, he twirls around with his hostage now restrained. He looks at the bored expression of the woman who attacked him.
"This is your employer?" He tightens his hold against the boy, fist crushing the two little hands, and his arm pinning the boy to his chest.
With his legs not touching the floor, the man doesn't even make a show of struggle, just muffled sounds, and Doltero wonders if he should just snuff the life out of him, before moving to the girl, only for him to hear a small squeaky laugh.
"Oi, that was so uncalled for ya know." The boy says through a raspy voice as his ribcage gets crushed.
In that one second where Doltero looked down in wonder at the boy, the woman leapt forth delivering a frighteningly fast kick to his face.
Only for it to be blocked, despite his mass, Doltero was known mostly for his agility, he grabbed on that leg aimed at him with his free hand, a smile crept to his face.
Then, pure white blinding pain struck his mind, his legs gave out bringing him to a kneel, a kick from the boy between his legs made his limbs go numb, and as cold sweat poured like a cascade down his face, another kick finally connected to the side of his head, his brain rattled inside his skull, and all that's left is a single sentence reverberating through his empty head.
"Made ya look."
His eyes flutter open, his neck feels wet, he moves his head an inch, and the cold edge of a blade carves another crevice on his flesh.
And now he's wide awake and remembers all, he's still in the room, still sitting on the same damn chair, and the only proof that this wasn't another dream was the dull aching between his legs, and the cut on the boy's lower lip.
"Rise and shine darling." Came in a singsongy manner.
Doltero couldn't help feel irritated, "Do you have a death wish, kid?"
"Nope, not at all, not even a bit, dying sucks." The usually jestful line was delivered with such a monotone voice, it was unnerving.
After leaving Doltero speechless, the boy clapped his hands together and continued.
"So now introductions, I'm Natsuki Subaru! Of the Emilia camp, you might not know what that means yet, but please remember it, okay?"
Doltero doesn't respond.
"I want you to cut ties with ." Subaru said.
Doltero's eyes almost bulged out of his head, "How do you know of that!?"
"Doltero, I ask questions, I make requests, and when I say cut the ties, what do you say?" Subaru asks him in a very serious but soft tone.
Doltero can't help but laugh at his face, "You're insane kid, totally unhin-
"Wrong answer."
A knife is stabbed down his left shoulder, breaking his collarbone and digging deeper into him, he tries to stand up, only for the boy to punch him in the face, with a piece of metal wrapped around his hand it manages to break Doltero's nose and disorient him.
He stays still, fighting back is not an option, "If you think you can for-
"Wrong answer."
Another sharp pain cuts through his back, and he grits his teeth, his erratic moving gives way for another metal punch connecting to his already bleeding nose, his breathing grows heavy.
"WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU, YOU BAS-
"Don't." The voice was hollow and sharp.
A hand grasped at his tie, making his head kneel slightly and bringing it closer to the other side of the table, a fist drove itself into his visage, with its speed, leaving him shook, not even a moment of respite was given before another fist found his face, and another, and another, and another, his face almost caved in, his nose obliterated, his cheekbones fractured, he was bathed in his own blood, barely awake.
A hand grasped his ring finger, and pop, it broke, it took him a moment to notice the sharp influx of pain and panic invading his being, through his hyperventilation, he wasn't given enough time before another finger was broken.
"Doltero, my friend, answer my question, I don't have all day." The frigid tone did not fail in striking fear inside of Doltero's mind.
Through his clouded and almost delirious state, he nodded in agreement.
The man infront of him gave a big smile and started saying some other nonsense that he honestly didn't have the energy nor the patience to listen through, he absentmindedly brought a hand to his face, only to feel a bone sticking out of where his nose was.
It made him nauseous, but he was ripped out of his state of delirium with another request.
"I know about the ground dragon shipment to the Karsten mansion, I'm looking for one special girl in there, ya got that?"
He was old enough to know when something was fishy, his intuition rarely ever wrong, he knew the kid was weird, there wasn't a point in saying something that everyone knew.
And he knew that all of them felt that, he knew they were all cowards ignoring it, but what the hell, he didn't give a shit, he ain't gonna bring up something that personal, as long as his grand-daughter was safe and happy, he didn't have much needs to fulfill.
But still seeing good Ol' Doltero get knocked down a peg, Eh, he wouldn't complain about that.
So he'll just sit down on a bench and watch them kids run around the stable looking for the steed, Ah what a pain.
He sips slowly on his drink, letting a sigh at the whole situation, "All this for a damn ground dragon." He grumbles under his breath.
"Hey! Don't let Patrasche hear that, she's not just a ground dragon, she's the best girl!" Subaru calls out in condemnation.
"Kuwaakh!" the black earth dragon of the Diana species holloered out springing forth from her stable, to the familiar raven-haired boy, she pounces at him, knocking the wind out of him.
Finally reunited, the group let themselves relax at last.