Another Unoriginal Oneshot Book

No More

Flagstaff, January 2266.

-

An hour and forty minutes was far from enough sleep for a growing boy. But the bracelets were made — 24 of them, more than enough to feel like an accomplishment.

Gabriel took the opportunity to sleep during his lunch break. Afterwards, he complained of pain from his wound and asked to be sent to the healers. Master informed him that he knew exactly what he was up to, but let him visit anyway.

Gabriel had gotten into hot water before for injuring himself just to spend time in the healers' building. It was pleasantly warm and got little attention from its overseer, who didn't much care for childbirth or vomit. All the healer girls would coo and cluck sympathetically over whatever new injuries he showed up with, occasionally making comments on his bravery. He had several friends from previous visits, the only people his age he was in contact with.

Amiticia replaced his stitches with a much gentler hand than Master's. Gabriel had been trained to be silent during these procedures, but he hissed gratuitously, drawing sad little humming noises from the slave girl.

"Poor Gabriel. They're so cruel to you."

"Who, the deathclaw? We were in his house. I think I was crueler to him."

"The soldiers your age are still sparring with blunted machetes. And they've got you out there fighting monsters." She wiped away a spot of blood and pulled his shirt down over his back. "I've finished the stitches."

Gabriel sat up, taking a drink of water to give his nerves a chance to stop jangling. "I can survive much more than this, Ami. It isn't the fighting that I hate."

"Then what is it?"

"The solitude." He threw her his most tragic expression, watching for a reaction.

"Of course. All you have is the legatus. That's such a shame."

"And Rex," he reminded her. He may have been garnering sympathy, but he wasn't about to forget his dog. He pulled his shirt back on and changed the subject. "Ami. I have payment for you this time."

"I... what? I'm a slave. And you're a slave. No one is paying anybody."

Gabriel pulled the blanket off the nearest sickbed and draped it over himself and Amiticia, shrouding them both in near darkness. She pulled away, amused but cautious. He stilled her. "Look."

He pulled out one of the bracelets. They still glowed, even though they were beginning to dry up. He couldn't see Ami very well in the dim lighting, but he could tell her lovely eyes were wide with wonder. "Where did you get this?" she asked.

"I made it. Would you like one?"

She huffed an awed laugh. "Yes!"

"Good." Gabriel handed her the bracelet and two others. He considered folding a hand over hers while he was at it, but didn't. "Give them to Leto and Erica."

Amiticia beamed. "I will. Thank you."

-

The next day ended with an inspection of new captures. A village within the Legion's borders had begun to stir up dissent, and so a tenth of their citizens had been taken as retribution. Joshua knew this was how the Legion grew, mere labor pains. But to Gabriel, these events were flashbacks and cruelty and fear.

Joshua pitied the unfortunate villagers, but the town had brought this on itself. It had lived under the Legion's protection for over a decade, and then it bit the hand that fed it. Sometimes an example had to be made.