After Briar
Winterlayt had stuck them in pairs, a new game of his to avoid having to finally pick a new commander again.
It was becoming a problem at this point, even Trahearne had told him he couldn't have it both ways because it made the chain of command more confusing.
Sarienne took in a deep breath as she stood next to Fulgrim, and the warrior looked down at her and did the same.
"Tactical analysis, geometric alignment of the surrounding buildings in relation to you, fraction, reflection - ricochet - you need to keep this all in mind when-" Winterlayts' words were like a tepid sea of verbal diarrhea, Sarienne felt the surface of it slowly wash over her and fade into the background noise of Fort Trinity. It was for a lack of better words; boring.
Sarienne glanced up at Fulgrim, and was almost stunned to find the other hanging onto every word that Winterlayt was saying; like the static droning of the teal tacticians' voice was a lifeline for him to cling to.
She didn't like that, the reliance on Winterlayts' particular doctrine. It never worked out for her. She understood that the reason he was so good on the field was because he took everything into consideration down to the colour of his socks in the morning, but it wasn't for her.
There was always the chance he could overlook something, that there was a scenario that deviated in a way he couldn't comprehend - she hadn't seen it yet, but she knew there was a chance, and that was terrifying. She knew he could also think on the spot and make something work even when it didn't, but the doubt...
Rather play it by ear, make ideas on the spot - she could do that.
Fulgrim was all for plans however, and he hated deviation.
Sarienne let out a sigh, maybe that was why he listened so intently, why he needed to hear Winterlayt praise his plans and ideas. Why he insisted she do exactly as he said.
...Maybe part of it had to do with the one time he did deviate.
...Maybe part of it was because when he did, Scarlet got away.
Winterlayt clapped his hands together, and Sarienne immediately snapped to attention. She glowed slightly in embarrassment, not realizing just how slouched over she had been. The former commander smiled at the group, "You know the drill at this point - you have 'til sundown to catch me out. Good luck to you all."
Sarienne and Fulgrim followed the others out, without exchanging glances or looking at each other. It was only when everyone was out of earshot Sarienne felt a hand clap her back, "Where you paying ANY attention at all?!" "What?" Wrong answer, Sarienne realized too late as she saw Fulgrims' usually stupidly smug face warp into something angry and...fearful? "The lecture, Sari - did you listen to it?" "Yes, yes - I listened. "Make sure to take in your surroundings, look for openings where enemies or yourself could duck down in case of gunfire, always look left when crossing the-" "Can you PLEASE take this seriously?!" Sarienne blinked and just stared at Fulgrim, having never heard him beg like that before, not even on the verge of bleeding out. Fulgrim glared at her in return, "We're meant to be the strength of the Pact, we've got to know what we're doing or o-r-" "Or we fuck up like you and end up shot in the stomach.", The words had slipped out, and it was far too late to stop them. Sarienne couldn't keep eye contact with Fulgrim then, decidedly looking down at her feet, "Sorry." "Don't..." "I'm sorry. That was low of me." "You're right though." Sarienne looked up at Fulgrim, and he didn't look angry. He didn't even look upset. His face was a scowl but...she couldn't detect malice.
Fulgrim took a deep breath, "I fucked up. Just as you said - I deviated from what Commander Winterlayt wanted me to do, and as a result Scarlet got away, and then with Lions Arch..." Sarienne's eyes widened.
Fulgrim had been blaming himself this entire time.
He didn't even need to say it, he couldn't manage the words and she could see them visibly catch in his throat as he struggled to breathe.
Sarienne practically flung herself at him, catching the edge of his breast plate with her hand and dragging him down, elbow locking round the back of his neck in the tightest hug she could manage with her one arm.
There were no words between them, and after what felt like hours in which Sarienne felt she had overstepped her bounds, being a former nightmare courtier and all, she finally felt Fulgrim hug her back and bow his head til his face was buried in her foliage and allowed a soft whimpering sob to finally leave his throat.
