How about Calcharo, you and nightmare? (i know i'm genious, no one did it before>"<)
⚠️ Warnings: nightmares, sleep deprivation, mentions of revenge, mild violence You’re trying to get some sleep before the next mission when you notice that Calcharo is having a nightmare. Waking the leader of the Ghost Hounds is probably not the wisest decision you’ve ever made, but you do it anyway. And when he catches you staring, you end up confessing your own nightmares, too. Calcharo is definitely not someone you need to ask for promises. He’ll gladly help you get revenge for all those sleepless nights — and he’ll never admit that he’s grateful for your help. At least, not out loud.
Movement was spotted. The grass danced unusually under the cold moonlight, and the river shone less than it should. You still hold this habit – took a quiet, sharp sigh before leaving the watchpoint and followed the group from an ambush. Local TDs were more sensitive than you were used to, but the traps set around the camp worked as they should. You got them all cleanly in a minute, restored the terrain to its previous tranquil beauty: the river streamed from the mountain, the sea of grass was gently touched by the wilds, and the moon was observing the peace of the world above your head.
An hour ago, you were replaced by another mercenary, who saluted you and reminded you not to waste the last hours before sunrise and to take some rest, even if only a little. Crossing the mountain seemed like a challenge that demanded you to be prepared.
Used to darkness, your eyes barely kept open. You still needed to find your sleeping bag, careful, with extra caution. The camp was small, just enough to bear three people: you, a mercenary on watch, face or name was unknown for you, and Calcharo, who chose the two of you for that mission. You felt honored and… scared. It was not thoughts about the mission that made your heart freeze, but thinking about the strict leader of the ‘Ghost Hounds’ made your stomach sick
You lay toward him, close to the dead coals where the fire was already out. Your eyelids grew heavy, and the blanket gave you warmth when a quick, loud breath caught your attention. You jumped immediately and reported:
“A patrol went clear. Three groups of two, five and four TDs were eliminated. Nothing anormal was spotted. The guard was changed. Report ended.”
Heavy breath. It was still sounding from ahead, under the giant tree. You blinked until the blur vanished from your vision as you could make out the coals folding in a pyramid, your sleeping bag, the blanket crumpled up. Calling all your courage you lifted slowly the head.
Piece by piece, you noticed the figure of the leader ahead. He was tall, not extremely, but enough to catch your attention and steal your speech during the first meeting. Black boots, black knee pads, the sword resting on them, all the details of his armor still on, as if he had no intention of resting. You felt thankful as he kept his usual look, almost.
You could not ignore his strained muscles and restless breathing, squeezed palms, tightened lips — all signs of a nightmare.
Even knowing it was not your business, you could not help moving closer, staring at him. Calcharo did not look like the unforgivable mercenary the rumors portrayed him as. His twitching body attracted you. The tips of your fingers tingled as you were about to touch him and — did it.
Warm, rather more — hot. On the back of his palm, you would swear you could feel his blood streaming through the veins. Calcharo swallowed with difficulty and turned his head away. You caught him, squeezed his cheek, and shook him a little, calling:
“Boss?”
No response. His hot breath burned you as you brought your face closer.
“Boss, wake up… you have to,” you called louder, shaking his head.
Your hands got closer to betray you. Panic grew from your stomach quicker than you could do something, anything. A smack against Calcharo’s cheek created so much noise that it scared you even more, his eyes widening in surprise. What should have been a gasp escaped Calcharo’s lips loudly, with a hiss as he was very angry. You lowered your hands from his face, with the red imprint of your palm, to his tense shoulder. He noticed it, as you licked your dry lips — all in silence.
“Finally, awake.” What else should you say?
A nervous smirk distorted your face.
In the next moment, it was your turn to widen your eyes and breathe carefully. The familiar broadblade scratched your throat as you wrestled tightly against the ground. Maybe Calcharo was not as awake as you wanted. His cold voice was hoarse with sleep as he demanded an answer:
“What’s the deal?”
“Nothing!” you replied quickly. “You are good, I mean, all good, good job, you won — I mean!..”
“Out with the nonsense,” Calcharo cut in, looking around.
You also darted your gaze around in fright. The camp, your sleeping bag, the trees, no light except the moon — but even strict Calcharo’s gaze could not turn it off. That made you laugh. In your eyes, he was a hero, able to do whatever he wanted.
“What’s funny?” he asked, raising one eyebrow.
“Nothing-nothing, ehe, he, just, you know, you are a hero, a strong one, no — invincible.”
“Don’t hem and haw.” Calcharo was staring at you until he shook his head. “You’re always like that.”
In one moment, you thought he was surely going to kill you. The weight of the weapon became unbearably heavy, so your breath vanished by its own will. Calcharo’s piercing eyes closed, and his head lifted until your foreheads almost touched. He stole your breath completely, along with your fear, hope, everything.
His hand relaxed. The sword slowly moved away from your throat, and when he grabbed you by the waist and set you on his sleeping bag, you could laugh until your ribs felt broken. An understanding was not in the same room, field, with you. All of this drove you mad.
You should be the one who settled down, but reality had no mercy. At least Calcharo just sat close to you, doing nothing to clear your mind. Maybe it was your imagination, being on the edge of life and death, but the corners of his lips rose a bit, pretending to show a smile. As a laugh escaped, you rubbed your face, driving away dirty thoughts.
“End?”
“What about you? Your nightma—” You gripped your mouth, staring at Calcharo.
What a joke! Stopping yourself every time before babbling it out so careless. But it was all Calcharo’s fault! He was so comforting, patient, and his presence alone was enough to kick away all worries. Even when he observed your face, you barely thought about punishment and more about his eyes, sometimes looking right into yours, sometimes glancing behind your back, like waiting to protect you. In his grey hair, blue shimmer of the moonlight hid and appeared as he moved his head a little. The sword was relaid from his knees to the tree trunk.
After your words, he frowned, specifying:
“My nightmares? What’s your business in it?”
“How could I?.. I know it hurts, so I don’t want you to feel it!”
Narrowed eyes widened. Calcharo opened his eyes and closed them without a sound, once more, and still the result was the same. You took a chance, explaining:
“The night was created for rest, and everyone agrees with this rule: no screams, no fighting, no power for acting. And it’s not right, it’s almost cruel to steal the night from us! And… they, who did it to us, if they knew about it, I’m sure they would be proud, happy.” The spark of revenge flashed in your eyes. “I don’t allow them to.”
Calcharo stared at you for a long time, smirked, and closed his eyes.
“This is all you’re about.”
He nodded. It could be accepted as an agreement, as a thanks for helping, as a sudden movement of the head. You accepted it as the right answer, and it forced you to smile all next day. Even if he kept silent, it didn’t mean he didn’t respect you. In the end, he chose you for that mission, far away from other mercenaries, cities, help, in a land where TD activity was abnormally high. As he covered your back during the conversation, you also held his back, to be the first thing a danger met when getting close.
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I also have story about Jiyan x you and, well, nightmare. So if you want me publish it, please leave a comm below (I really need a fead-back)
