Cervato - Girl On Fire (Part 1 of Cervato's Saga)

Varick Cromwell

They both were witnesses. Delita breaking Meera's arm, like a child unhappy with their toy and tossing it aside.

Heat. The pounding of her heart increased rapidly. The adrenaline had already started to surge through her form as she watched the pair. With the utmost effort, she attempted to ignore the arrogant man's words, trying to coax Meera away. Cervato felt sick to her stomach when she refused. The woman was stubborn, staying with the person who demonstrated what happened if you fail. Varick was far more charming, more calm, more mature than any other person standing in that ring. Even he failed to convince her.

Cervato left. Trying to make the anger fade into the background. Varick accompanied her, to her surprise, and she locked themselves inside the unfortunate Lieutenant Keser's office. Two glasses and a bottle of whiskey. It had been quite some time since the pair had spoke, as she had been off duty and bedridden. Had it really been over a month since the man with the odd rifle strapped to his back had appeared in front of the barracks? The man that knew Saromire and had quickly won her over with talk of lasers and adventures into the Brand.

How natural it felt to just talk. To joke. To tell stories. To just...be.

As Varick continued, she could see the resolve in his gaze. His admission to nearly leaving this all behind him. Atreyu's letters only confirmed his tale. She knew, but listened to the monologue of his struggle, until the Corporal had stopped him.

"Know what he said that really got to me?" Varick glanced to her, still seeming to wear a smile. "He said, "What am I supposed to tell her when she wakes up?", and he was right. I was going to abandon you without a word, and I couldn't do it."

Cervato felt they had come to a point, where she could allow this man, Varick Cromwell, to be a part of her life. To be his friend. After all, Saromire could be trusted. He'd proven it time and again. Perhaps he trusted Cervato to be a friend to Varick as well.