GAMBIT - Vinsmoke Ichiji x Reader

7 - Slip

So much for my plan of escape...

Germa soldiers, at every turn.

Hovering around the food vendors, flanking the pathways, stiffly conversing with the locals. Like overstaffed turnkeys straight from Impel Down, they were simply everywhere, no matter where I looked, and I couldn't help but feel like their eyes were stuck right on me.

So much for having a good time. I had always enjoyed a good festival, but the military presence was stifling, not to mention the overwhelmingly strong stench of Vinsmoke clinging to the air around the swell of music and laughter. It was like a cage, their pheromones acting as the balls and chains.

How could my parents think this is a good idea? Not even twenty-four hours in, and it already feels as though we've lost our freedom...

"There you are!" My hand flew to clutch at my heart, lest it flew from my chest when I heard that voice from directly behind me, and I turned to shoot a sharp glare at Corbin. He stayed a respectable distance from me, which was appreciated, and he gazed about with his hands on his hips. "These Germa guys are really anal about their security, huh?"

Reaching out, I gave him a bap to the chest, brow furrowing.
"Scared the crap out of me! But yeah, apparently so...One of the countless reasons why I hate them." I sighed, motioning my head for him to follow when I began to walk. "No sneaking off for us tonight, I guess. Food?"

There was always the option of stuffing my face until I became physically ill, then I would have an excuse to remove myself from the situation, and with it, the Vinsmokes. It wasn't ideal, but I wasn't the type to fear a little vomit.

"That Ichiji guy looks like an actual asshole. A bleeding one." Corbin spoke his unfiltered opinion, and I snorted, nodding in complete agreement.
"I'd rather a bleeding ass than having to deal with him. He's worse than he was as a kid, in a different way. More cunning than direct bastardry...and that's saying something. Freak of nature..."

I edged a little closer to my companion as we passed another cluster of Germa soldiers, and I watched them right back as their heads moved to follow our path. It was almost violating.
"He hasn't tried anything with you, right? Because I'll actually kill him."

You brave, sweet moron.

"You'd die, but no, he hasn't, and I really doubt he's stupid enough to try before the wedding...which will hopefully never even happen..." I sighed, ignoring his indignant little huff as I bumped his hip, directing him towards a food stall I didn't recognise.

It was a stark white and made of metal, unlike the rest of the wooden setups around the festival, but the smell wafting towards us was tempting.
"Wait, you wanna try food from Germa? It's probably packed with chemicals and poisons..." Corbin's nose scrunched up at the thought, and whilst I'd usually agree, nothing about it smelled toxic.

Fell Wilds was an organic country. The land was rich and fertile, blessing us with all we needed, almost all year round. All livestock was free range, and more often than not, from field to kitchen within the same day. I hadn't known anything different, aside from books and things travellers had mentioned.

"Hello! What do you guys have?" I ignored Corbin as I approached, and the young woman by the counter of the stall immediately went rigid, becoming a vision of complete panic.
"O..Oh my goodness..?! Your Highness?!" When she tried to throw herself into a bow she very nearly thwacked her head upon the counter, and I raised my hands to stop her.

"Easy, easy! I'm, uh, not sure how Germa does it, but here in Fell, we don't do much of that royal treatment thing. Only for special occasions, mostly, unless it's my father." I explained, hoping to stop her from bursting a valve. "What's your name?"