A Love Like War (On Hold)

Chapter 9

MARCO'S POV

CLOP CLOP CLOP

The sound of galloping horse hooves, together with the occasional fluttering of cloth, occupied my ectoplasmic ears as I glided beside her, searching her face for any trace of fear. Alas, there was none. Once again, she was wearing the same expression she always had. Blank. Her sapphire blue eyes were dull and lifeless, her lips were pressed into a thin line never opening unless she needed to give orders to her group or spoken to, and her overall demeanor was like how it usually was, calm and collected.

It was as if that side of hers that I just saw a few nights before was just a dream... But it wasn't....

It was real. I've seen it with my own eyes, how her small body shook tremendously and how her usually stoic features transformed into one that was full of pain and suffering while she screamed an ear piercing scream as her brother held her in his arms while I whisper words in her ear to try and calm her down.

--FLASH BACK--

"(Y/n), honey... It's alright... We're here..." I whispered in her ears while her brother, the Corporal, surprisingly cuddled her in his arms.

"m-make I-it a-stop!" She screamed as her dilated sapphire blue eyes shot through every corner of room with fear etched in them as if she was seeing things that we couldn't. "P-please...." she muttered as she clenched her hand into a tight fist around her brother's pajamas.

"stop what, honey?" I asked her in confusion while her brother traced small circles on her back, his arms protectively around her.

"Je suis ici, Chaton (I am here, kitten)" her brother whispered in her ear.

Whatever he said seemed to have a calming effect on her as her breathing began to slow down to its regular pace. As soon as he had sensed this, he loosened his hold of her and began searching his pockets for something. A few minutes later, he fished out a completely white and stain-free handkerchief... As expected of her clean freak of a brother.

"Je suis ici... Je serai toujours ici...(I am here... I will always be here...)" her brother continued to whisper in her ear as he gently whipped the tears from her face.

A few hiccups escaped her soft pink lips as her tired looking eyes started to normalize while the corporal hummed an interesting tune that seem to be lulling her to sleep. After a few more minutes, her eyelids started to flutter to a close as her breath visibly evened as she started to fall back into a more peaceful slumber.

"Je Vous garderai sans danger...(I will keep you safe)" the corporal whispered softly in her ear as he kissed her forehead while he tucked her in.

"who knew the Corporal had a soft side..." I muttered to myself

My eyes followed the Corporal and just as the moonlight touched his pale face, there came a rogue expression on his face. It was an expression that I probably have never seen before and it somehow sent an unwelcome chill run down my ... Uhm... Spiritual body(?).

"I will not lose you..." He muttered as he took one last look at his sister before disappearing behind the door and venturing into the shadowy halls with the same expression etched on his pale face... It was an expression that could be read as 'regret' and something more. It was as if there was something he hated himself for.

---

"It's rude to stare." She muttered in a low voice, bringing me back to the present as I continued to float along by her side. "If you want to say something, now would be the best time. After a few more minutes, it will be a bit more challenging to talk..." She added in a solemn tone that would have made my heart ache if I was still alive.

"Sorry." I replied with an awkward chuckle. "It's just that... I'm a bit worried how you'll hold up later on when you know... 'it' happens. " I said while forcing a smile as the feeling of being useless to her at such a crucial time started to crawl into the recesses of my mind.

"I'll be fine.." she whispered. "Besides..." She started to mutter with a hint of amusement in her voice, completely enticing my curiosity.

"Besides, what?" I asked curiously.

"I'm sure a certain freckled idiot will become my eyes and ears when needed be." she whispered, a mischievous smirk etched itself on her pale face, before taking off at a high speed, leaving me stunned.

"She really is something ..." I mused to myself as I ran my hand through my hair. "Seeing through me (figuratively and literally) that easily...."

I started to wonder if it was a part of her ability too... Or maybe she just has a hand of reading people. The more things that I came to know more about her, the more questions formed inside my mind.... and the more that I wanted to stay be her side.... always.

'Be her eyes and ears huh?' I thought to myself... 'but does she even need me to?' I thought glumly as I recalled her unbelievable kill count during the Invasion at Trost. 'Not to mention, she has him by her side...' I thought in annoyance as I clenched my hands into a tight fist at the thought of him. 'Will I be even be of use to her as her eyes and ears?'

The negative thoughts continue to flow inside my mind that I actually forgot where I was...

That was until I heard a set of loud thundering footfalls accompanied by screams and looked up only to find a trace of black smoke, probably a signal flare, coming from the direction where she was heading...

'Black smoke? Why did they fire black flare all of a sudden?' I wondered. 'weren't they only supposed to fire that one if they see a-'

"oh no..." I breathed as a powerful dread ran through my essence making me feel cold (if that was even possible for a ghost) and uneasy. "I have to find (y/n)"

and with that I broke into a dash towards the direction where I last saw her, hoping and praying so hard in my mind that she was safe.