Work Text:
(Snow)
A snowy day. Snow was falling everywhere. That was the daily routine in this world nicknamed Jarilo-VI, something that was obviously unknown to the inhabitants of the city and #### himself, only the supreme guardian knew the name… The sky looked like always, now that he thought about it, why was he looking at the sky…?
As always, his job was to protect the rear and prevent those inhuman beings - straight out of nightmares - from crossing into Belobog. No matter how many lives had to be sacrificed... Although he wanted a different result than having to do that. Instructing the defenders of the rear with authority, those 4 Silvermane guards were his loyal companions just like everyone else. He stood by the base gates. His armor, in white tones, contrasted with the navy blue cape that fell over his shoulders. His face covered with a helmet and his trusty halberd as heavy and tall as his size. He was dedicated to defending this city and... the person he still loved. He believed that he would not see her again for at least a long time since he left the Rock band.
"I heard from Franz that she is Captain Gepard's sister..."
Falling like an anvil. He choked on his saliva, blurting out the words «S-Serval?» he muttered, betraying his intention to keep the thought confined to his mind. To his bad luck, his companions heard him clearly «…You must be joking, I haven’t showered in two days» He paused for a short time «…Do I smell bad?» He didn’t know why there was an awkward pause after those fear-filled words. In the end the guard with a long breastplate axe answered «…N-no Sir!» the soldier stammered, but gave an answer that satisfied him or tried to actually…
The day seemed to continue monotonously, of course that didn't take away his constant fear of meeting Serval and noticing a strange smell, even though his comrade told him otherwise, he couldn't avoid such an idea.
He decided to focus on instructing his companions, convinced that he wasn't going to meet Serval
His belief that he wasn't going to meet Serval fell to pieces from one moment to the next...
"Hey, ####! Long time no see. I didn't know you had been named Security Captain"
He didn't know what to answer until he decided to let his words flow naturally.
"S-Serval. It's been a long time... you're still so... Ahem. You look good."
He had tried and failed miserably. He stuttered several times in his words. However, the blonde-haired girl hadn't noticed his stuttering― Or maybe she had actually noticed it but ignored it―. Serval continued with her thing. Introducing his attendants― Aren't they the fugitives?―. Being three people of different attires: One with an expressionless expression, blue eyes and black hair, looking tall and thin. A woman with silver-gray hair falling to her back, with a height similar to Serval's. Another woman with long purple hair like her eyes, had a rather aesthetic outfit. And the last woman of that group: With hair of a light pink tint down to her shoulders. With pink and blue eyes at the same time. He had the strange feeling that this girl was optimistic― his intuition dictated such careless judgment of reasoning―.
“Everyone. This is Captain ####, an old friend of mine. He used to be an ace on the keys of the band.”
After that introduction. Serval's attendants had introduced themselves to him. The pink-haired one had commented «Oh? You play rock'n'roll too? Great!» and then the others continued after her. He was going to say «Oh, hello…» until a comment left him cold.
“Sniff, what is that weird smell…”
Mentally alarmed about this situation, he searched the confines of his mind for anything that would help him save his skin from Serval’s assistants―especially Serval― finding out who that smell was from. Until he found the right thing…
“Hmm?! Ahem Zackery, how many days has it been since you showered?”
He asked that person―who was innocent―a question about not showering for days. Which was answered incorrectly with a «Uh… I showered just before my shift.» Rebuking such an attitude with «Hmm? What did you say?» taking the hint, the soldier replied «…I haven’t showered in two days, sir!» He couldn't deny that he had a moment of regretful grimace― I'm sorry about that Zackery― hidden between the darkness of his helmet.
“Unacceptable, especially in front of our visitors! Apologies for the embarrassment, everyone”
Apologizing for his soldier― someone who was innocent of what he had blamed him for―. They continued talking, remembering those days where Serval and the band with him played rock 'n' roll― those days were so happy to be on the side of that woman he loves―, pushing away those thoughts he decided to ask a question that gnaws at him both from Serval's assistants and from the woman with dark blue locks herself.
“...” A pause deciding whether to ask or not to ask, a doubt that for many may be simple becomes complex at the perspective of the fallen in love. Asking the woman he loves «Is something #### wrong?» In that small lapse of time, so slow in his perspective that it disconnected him from everything, was all that was needed for him to decide.
“I'm sorry, Serval… but can you tell me what Captain Gepard told you?” He asked, hoping that his suspicions were not true… that the person he wanted at his side was not helping fugitives…
Unfortunately, his suspicions became like a truth that was impossible to avoid. Serval had always been a terrible liar, a defect that she had carried for years. «And may I ask… when did he contact you?» Serval was still trying to carry on this farce that he had already discovered, Belobog's protectors behind him must have been confused about some words that Serval said, digging the grave of that lie with these words.
“Captain Gepard has just returned to the front. Could you… reconfirm with him?”
Serval had a confused face the moment he announced that news. He seemed to start to articulate different words in confusion. «… Ah? Wait, he’s back? It can’t be, he was still in the city a while ago.» Those murmurs that only the fugitives and himself could hear. It made him let out a sigh that reflected his sadness. Painfully aware that this could make Serval guilty of several charges.
“You haven’t changed, Serval. You’re still a terrible liar.” With a short pause he continued. “These people you’ve brought… They’re not your assistants, right?”
The girl with dark blue locks remained in a deep silence. Meditating while he decided to give her a few words again in view of their friendship― and his crush on her― «Serval… it’s not that I don’t want to help you, but you should remember that I am above all a Belobog Silvermane Guardian!» Seeking an agreement between both parties, he proposed the following.
“What do you think of this? You can leave and I won't tell anyone about this incident... but the outsiders will have to stay.”
Instead of finding an agreement, he had only fanned the flames of the confrontation. With the young black-haired boy's own words «There goes the negotiation» they began to position themselves in a defensive manner. Noticing that those travelers had combat experience equal to or greater than that of a common soldier thanks to their knowledge of the incidents in the city. «It seems that this is going to end in a fight after all...» the soft voice of that girl with gray hair declared the inevitable again. Requesting in a turn of events the same travelers that Serval not go to fight― Please Serval... I do not wish to fight against you, listen to the travelers I beg you...―. However, it was useless when Serval herself decided to fight against him. However, she wanted; she begged; I wish to make one last successful attempt to convince the girl I rehearsed with in the olden years
“Serval! We used to rehearse together every day. You must understand?”
In the end it was in vain. He could only utter a few last words before this fight broke out with the intention of strengthening his determination as well as that of his companions «My rock ‘n’ roll soul is to defend the dignity of soldiers!» He may have lied and in the end discredited Zackery… I understand and I know perfectly well that I will have to excuse myself even by apologizing a thousand times to Zackery if necessary… but that does not mean that I will allow the dignity of those who sacrifice themselves on the front lines to go to waste!!
The confrontation became inevitable. The words were forgotten, replaced by the echo of weapons clashing…
That was all he could remember. He lay defeated on the cold ground of the base―Those travelers really are strong… and Serval was no slouch―, his joints unable to move. The snow fell softly, covering his armor with shades of white, while the cold air bit the skin through his armor. However, his soul wished to fight harder, to not allow the soldier's dignity to fall with him.
“Serval… Why…?”
Those words lay in his mouth that was one of his joints that could move, but unable to help him fight any further… «I'm sorry Dunn… It's time for a little nap» those words tinged with a hue full of regret―Those words don't suit you Serval…― in his thoughts that followed his selfish heart spoke.
In the end, he was and will forever be Dunn; That person who fell in love with the behavior and beauty of Serval Landau, a noblewoman who seemed to not follow the same laws that nobility dictated, only the snow was aware of her deep desire that she carried in those moments before falling unconscious
― Please travelers… Take care of Serval on her way to the place you want…―