Don't Fear The Reaper *Izana x OC x OC* (COMPLETE)

Calming Hormones

Reza--

"Roman, we're going to survive this, right?"

"Of course. I can't stand Mommy Nightmare Fuel and I'm not going to let her win."

"They won't stop hunting us unless we're dead though... Unless..." I hand the plate to him and pull my papers and pencil onto my lap.

"Unless what?" He asks, abandoning his attempt at making me laugh by making a fake smile out of an orange peel in his mouth.

I start to sketch small maps of where we are in relation to the castle along with any details of safe places along the way and ways to deliver him to the front gates without him dying. That shouldn't be too hard but I don't know how to accomplish what I am thinking right now. I haven't answered Roman yet but I know he's waiting patiently, used to my hyperfocusing when it comes to notes and planning. I feel him shift to sit beside me in order to look at my notes while I work.

"Okay so I see this is us dropping off the prince... and wait. Reez we can't go back there. It's too dangerous, especially with your injuries."

"We have to go back Roman. They won't stop hunting us otherwise."

"They'd stop hunting us because we'd be walking right into the compound and they'd immediately kill us! Reez you can't be serious."

"I have a plan."

"A plan for death?"

"Actually, yes." I tell him around a bite of a strawberry and he looks ready to kill me himself.

"Rezall-"

"Finish that and I will murder you." I scowl. "I told you my birth name in confidence. I have a plan for death, yes, but it is not ours."

"Then wh- wait... Mommy Nightmare Fuel?"

"Who else?" I ask with a smirk.

"Normally I would be totally on board with wiping that cruel bitch off the face of the planet, but you are not in any sort of condition to even take on a paper bag, let alone the matriarch of the Mitzko family."

"Perhaps not, but I think I have a bargaining chip up my sleeve for at least one favor from Wistal Castle's finest."

I convince Roman to help me get up so I can try to move around for a while and hopefully take a bath. I'll work out the final plan with Roman and Izana after I'm clean and rebandaged. Well, moving feels like I'm being brutally beaten, but I do my best to hide it from Roman as I slowly stand and feel all of my stitches and injuries fighting against it.

"Are you okay?" He asks and I nod. "Are you lying?" I hesitate before lying and shaking my head.

Roman sighs but helps me into the other room so I can bathe myself since he had gone to heat some water earlier. It won't be a full bath but it's enough that I can sit in and clean my body and hair at least. It's one of the few things I hated about traveling for work, I had to prolong bathing at times and I rather enjoy being clean.

I carefully settle against the pillows while Roman goes to check the windows and bring Izana back to talk. Roman and I decided that we will lead Izana back to the castle and will see which idea will be the best to manipulate his forces in our favor. There is still a great chance that no matter which path we take we will still have to risk capture or death by his men. Roman enters the room and hands me another plate of bread and fruit before settling in the chair near the bed. Izana nods a greeting as he leans against the wall by the door. I explain everything to Izana as I eat, then ask what is a viable option. Roman doesn't want to bring the guards to the compound if we can help it because even if they raid it in our favor, we could still die or be captured by one side or the other. Roman wants to find a way to get me into the medical buildings to be looked at properly without us being captured, though I don't see what point that would serve. Despite my hatred of that little assassin lackey, I know that he could be of use to us if we brought him along but there is no way that we could get him to work with us without getting in the way or coming back to the compound later and causing trouble.

"Well, I do have a bit of leverage over the Chief Herbalist, so I could get Reza examined safely or at least find a way to give you medicines for her. I can't utilize my guards and knights to raid without involving you in the capture or risk future invasions sadly."

"What about the street urchin?" I ask and Roman fixes me with a glare.

"I don't want that cretin anywhere near you."

"I could potentially order use of Obi to accompany you to control the situation, but he is a bit of a wildcard and I can't really predict his actions once the order is complete."

"What if-" I start but Roman cuts me off.

"Reez, we're not using him unless I get to kill him in the end."

"Please control your urges. I've heard you talk in your sleep about him being attractive." I mumble under my breath, then dodge the incoming grape. "What if we drafted the order in favor of our protection to the extent that if he interacted with us after the fact, he would violate your order? He seems very loyal to your brother, I doubt that he would jeopardize his good standings with him."

"That could work, I suppose. I may be able to work in having Reza checked out as well and use the medical building to deliver the orders without risking you being seen."

"So, Roman, if we can get this worded correctly, will you play nice?" I ask and after some grumbling, he nods in agreement.

I pull a blank sheet of paper onto my lap and the three of us start to draft our orders. If Obi doesn't comply, then I guess we'll have to kill him.

"Wait, what is our plan after our goal is accomplished?" Roman asks and I shrug.

"We'll figure it out when the time comes, as always."