Village of sorrow ~ Ethan Winters x Reader

Perceptions

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Chapter XIV.
Wordcount: 6913

"...Alright, I'm done looking."

With raised eyebrows you watched Ethan get off the ledge of the carriage.
"So soon?" You queried, slowly putting down the tea the Duke had made for the both of you. "We've only been watching for ten minutes."

The Duke coughed.
"It is unfortunate indeed, but I assume our friend is giddy with excitement for House Beneviento."

Ethan glared at him and sighed. You assumed this was one of the things the Duke had filled him in about.
Unfortunately, you hadn't gotten any information about this yet, so you did what became the usual. Asking.

"House Beneviento?" You crossed your arms. "Where is it?"

"Somewhere along the path of the forest." Ethan answered before sliding out a wrinkled piece of paper from his jacket. He pointed his finger to a specific area on the map and held it up to you, making it easier to see from out of the carriage.

"The Duke," Ethan eyed him before continuing, "-is convinced there's a flask of Rose located there."

Another flask of Rose? There were multiple jars of his dismembered child- and he was talking about it so normally? It was confusing to say the least, but perhaps he had already processed it in the time he was out.

You took the map out of his hands and brought it closer up to your face.

The path looked quite shabbily drawn on the paper. Small scribbled sticks which you assumed were supposed to be trees, led up to a tiny and neatly colored in house.

It was definitely not something that rang any alarm bells visually.

You gave the map back to him.
"Hm, doesn't seem too bad."

Ethan folded the map and slid it back into his jacket with a frown.
"We should still be careful."

As much as you wanted to keep a positive attitude about the village and the horror's it was so keen to show you, it always ended up falling short. Of course you weren't going to carbon copy Ethan's views and abandon your positivity completely. It had been acting as a good drive for the both of you so far.

"Pshh, please," With a grin you slid the gun out of your satchel and showed it off. "Me and little timmy here have it covered."

Ethan stared at the gun with confused eyes. "The what now?"

"You don't give guns nicknames?"

"No."

You slid the firearm back into your satchel. "Well I meant me and the gun have it covered. Also yes-" you quickly blurted forth before Ethan could protest, "We will be careful."

Ethan shook his head and turned his amused gaze to the Duke.
"You seeing this?"

The Duke gave him a nod and smiled. "You seem to have a pretty brave friend Ethan. I'd consider yourself lucky."

"Yeah." One corner of his lips gently tugged up as he looked at you.
"I guess so..."

A light hint of adoration in his eyes made your blood rush ever so slighty.

Ethan coughed and nodded to the tea cup next to you. It was time to go, and the flask wasn't going to wait for you all day. "Right, well, we really appreciated the... hospitality."
He wiped his gun and beckoned you over. "But we really should be getting going."

You quickly handed the Duke your empty cup.
"Yes, thank you a lot for the tea."

With a grunt you let yourself drop down from the carriage and walked over to Ethan, holding the strap of your satchel in anticipation.
"Alright then, onwards we go."