|| only the dead remain. ||

he was truly the paragon of human beauty. even when he was carried into her tent, covered head to toe in nasty gashes and deep wounds, she couldn't help but admire how his face looked so calm and serene despite himself. she was always the one who treated his wounds, one of the only onsite doctors skilled enough to do so. bandages, stitches, bullet removals, she did it all.

she did it for the war yes, but above all, she did it for him.

every time he woke up, those icy and dead brown eyes of his would soften and grow kind when they caught her in their gaze, a light smile always playing on his lips when she hurried over to him, like she always did. but with each time he awoke in the familiar dull tent, she looked more relieved and happy to see him alive and somewhat well. each time, the warm tingle in his heart would grow stronger.

she propped his head up with such a gentle yet calloused touch, carefully helping him drink some water. her hands used to tremble with this action before they began to steady as time passed, having gained more confidence and a larger sense of security around him. he prided himself on that.

every time he left her depressing yet somehow comforting tent, he had a new scar or two. while he wasn't particularly fond of any of them, the knowledge that she had helped make sure it wasn't something worse made his chest swell with warmth and happiness. each one was proof of another time she had saved his life, sometimes even putting her own life in danger just to find his body and his alone to assure he would be able to get up tomorrow and smile at her again.

it was a cold december day when he once again found himself charging, taking his bayonet, eyes glazing over with pure rage and anger as well as desperation. he could feel each time the blade found its target, the sickening sound of sliced flesh and spattering blood so easily drowned out. it all became a blur as he forced his way through several trenches full of Russian soldiers without as much as blinking with each one he slaughtered.

but of course he was downed eventually. shot in his right shoulder and left thigh, he stumbled and fell to the ground, head heavily slamming into the harsh and cold ground, thankfully slightly cushioned by a few layers of snow. only when he was still did he finally feel the throbbing and pain from all his wounds. he was familiar with this feeling, this feeling of guilt and being such a burden when he saw a familiar pair of boots as soon as the battle ended.

she was always there, always watching over him. an angel and a demon, always somehow finding a way back to each other as the divine being struggled, carrying him back with all her strength, his body resting in his arms. she must have gotten stronger over these past months, years, with how noticeably better her body reacted to his weight. he watched as his blood stained her mostly clean, pale clothes and he pursed his lips.

he was stealing her attention away from things that were more deserving. he was a creature straight from hell, always managing to live in the end because the devil refused to let him rest. or perhaps god had been gracious enough to give him another chance each time his child saved the lowly being again.

she seemed to notice he was awake, his chestnut eyes having subconsciously wandered to her face, always covered in mud, dirt or blood somewhere. but even with that, she seemed to heavenly, she seemed so above him in every way. and yet she decided to favour him of all people. she smiled softly and reassuringly at him and he felt his breath catch in his throat, heart skipping a beat.

"you'll be okay, sugimoto-san. you're the strongest man i know, you'll never die from something this small," her voice was so smooth, so calm, so kind. rather than responding, he felt the corner of his lips curl upwards a little bit and he rolled his head so he could press his jaw against her collarbone, head comfortably resting in the crook of her neck. a quiet laugh left her and he swore that if she wasn't an angel, he should just die then and there.