Drakengard & NieR One-shots

Drakengard - Fire Emblem | Caim | The Dragon Slayer's Awakening {2/?}

The Dragon Slayer's Awakening {2/?} - Bear With Me

I'M PROOF READING THIS LATER, I AM JUST SO GOTDAMN HAPPY I GOT THIS BITCH FINISHED. SADLY IT'S MORE OF A FILLER CHAPTER AND CAIM IS KINDA OOC, BUT I SWEAR THERE WILL BE MURDER IN THE NEXT PART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS 20 PAGES OF PURE AGONY GODDAMN WHY DID THIS TAKE SO LONG TO WRITE. enjoy

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Caim wondered why the Plegian bandits were even considered a threat. He had cut them down so easily, even with a sword as blunt as a butter knife. But blinded by his bloodlust, he forgot about the existence of the child the Shepherds were trying to save. He mistook the boy to be the villain's fat gut, or some kind of extra armour piece, not the hostage Worrick had taken. Yet he stood still, looking down at the two bodies piled on each other. Blood gushed onto the pavement with a steady flow, sneaking through the gaps and pooling at Caim's feet. He looked down at his gloves, red from the blood that had dripped down his sword. His eyes were clouded by the thick liquid the Plegian from before sprayed all over him when the prince beheaded him, and even as he blinked the blur wouldn't leave.

The Shepherds crossed the bridge towards Caim, except for Lissa. She was beside herself, unmoving, frozen in disbelief whilst a million thoughts played themselves over and over again in her mind. She witnessed a killing unlike the noble culling the Shepherds engaged in—she watched a child die. She watched an Ylissean die. And what did she do? She helped that murderer, healed him on the battlefield. She had too much faith. Too much faith in the stranger they found in the plains.

"It's over." Chrom finally breathed out, standing behind Caim. The foreign prince brought a gloved hand up to wipe at his eyes, and looked up towards the sky. Chrom misunderstood what he was doing—he had assumed Caim to be holding back tears, not wiping away the blood coating his face. Both Robin and Frederick shared a glance, brows furrowed in concern. They had also assumed the same as Chrom—assumed that Caim had realised what he had done, that it was all an accident, and that he felt an overwhelming sadness at his own actions. They were wrong. Caim didn't care, in fact, he couldn't care less. The hostage was in the way. Neither Shepherd decided to bring it up.

"'Twas lucky we were so close to town." Frederick spoke up, watching as the blaze began to calm. Robin nodded.

"Well, you're definitely not a helpless victim. Or Plegian brigand." The albino tactician spoke up, voice betraying the uncomfortableness he felt inside.

"Indeed. Perhaps you'd be able to tell us where you learnt to fight like that?" Frederick questioned, suspicious of the near-stranger that had just taken out half the bandits. Caim's head lowered, taking one final wipe at his eyes before turning around. His face was slightly red, but whether it was because of his own flushed cheeks from 'crying' or the blood of his enemies, they couldn't tell.

"My father, the King of Caerleon." Caim replied, voice shaky at the thought of his father. No one picked up on it besides Chrom. Perhaps they had a similar, war hungry father? "Most people in Midgard swing their sword the same as me."

"You still speak of Midgard and Caerleon..." Frederick muttered, crossing his arms.

"It doesn't matter where you came from," Chrom spoke up, patting Caim on the shoulder, "You put your life on the line to save this town. My heart says that's good enough." Caim was bewildered by the friendliness of the marked prince. Did he not just see Caim kill an Ylissean child? Maybe he did take down most of the brigands and save the town, but he also disobeyed Robin's orders, and he was directly responsible for a civilian casualty. The bloodied brunet didn't deserve this kindness. What could he do to return it? He decided the only friendly thing he could do was smile, but he hadn't smiled in a long time. He wondered if he was even capable. Yet he forced the kindest smile he could muster, and Chrom returned it with a nod of his head. Robin and Frederick shared a worried glance, never even thinking the foreign prince to be the kind of person to smile. Ever.