Work Text
Austria 1937
Roderick over looked his garden from his room. These were one of the few times of the day he could have relaxed and have a smoke. He took a drag and blew it out slowly. The last few months had been a whirlwind but it was worth it. His life was finally perfect. Tonight he and his now fiancée, ______________ had their engagement party. He invited his side of the family and hers and it was just an amazing night. He especially was happy to invite his cousins from Germany, Lutz and Edgar. He loved them to death, especially Edgar, whom he always looked up to when he was young and timid and for awhile, they lived in Austria with him and his family after their mother died waiting for their father to come home after the Great War. From there, they visited off and on. His father wanting to help with restoration of their country, stayed in Germany and worked hard providing for his sons, even trying to have them visit family, until one day, it just stopped. He knew it was a long shot to invite them but it was worth it. They all came. Edgar made small talk the best he could with his future in law, all the while trying not to run away. Uncle Germania looked grave but kept up appearances, and Lutz just leered at them all. He was in his military dress uniform. It caused a few to be uneasy but dismissed it as the festivities went on. He and ________________ were childhood friends. He will admit, he fell for her when they were kids, often clung to her until he toughed up. Then they became rivals in their school and everything the set out to do. She was stubborn, she was driven, her intelligence rivaled his and damn she was beautiful while doing it. It wasn’t long until he asked her to be his. Her first response for years was no. She had other things to do…until she finally admitted and realized, she loved him just as much and wanted to be with him always, not that he minded. He smiled and lit another cigarette and continued to be lost in his thoughts.
“You look serious,” he heard a voice from behind and someone gently placing their arms around his middle. He chuckled and blew the rest of his cigarette smoke out.
“That’s the first time I’ve ever heard you say that. It’s usually the other way around,”
“Well it’s true, you’re a thousand miles away and it’s just odd to see you looking so gone,”
“Just thinking. Everything in a moment can be shattered. Lutz coming over made me realize that,”
“What happened? Is he and his family okay?”
“There’s something strange about him. I don’t know why but he’s not the same person he was when we were kids. I know life hadn’t been exactly good and my father tried to get him and his brothers to live here for a few moments but Lutz refused, saying he was a German and would die a German, whatever that means,”
“Who knows. I just hoped he enjoyed today’s festivities,”
“Me too, then again, it’s not every day one of us get married,” she snorts.
“Don’t make it sound more amazing that it is,”
“It’s true Schatzchen, you’re marrying perfection,”
“Still vain as usual. Remember we have students to teach and I don’t want a one to become as arrogant as you,”
“That won’t happen! Unless I want to get clobbered by my scary wife,” she ruffled him.
“I got your scary,” he grinned and turned and flipped her to railing he was leaning on and kissed her passionately. She kissed back and looked at the garden.
“I’ve felt something too…it’s an uneasy feeling,”
“I knew I wasn’t the only one. But whatever happens, I hope it doesn’t interfere with the rest of our lives,”
“Me neither,” ______________ looked over the garden, “You and me playing music together every day, teaching his students the world of music, our own school…I just hope nothing interfere with that,”
“Neither do I. I think it’s time for us both to have our happy ending,”
“There’s no such thing as happy endings. It’s just an ending everyone can settle on,” he snorts.
“I swear you’re a nihilist,”
“No, realist,” he smiled and pulled her close.
“Then leave the fairytale endings to me. I’m going to make your happy. You’ll be one of those spoiled little hausfrau yet. It’s going to be amazing. And the way we’re going to fuck, so many kids,”
“We will only have two, thank you very much!”
“Come on! You’ll be a great mom! Every lioness needs a few cubs! Unless you’re in it for the pure pleasure!” she ruffled him again. He bats at her feebly and playfully. Soon they retired to their separate rooms. He laid in bed for a few moments. He knew there was something bothering him but he didn’t know what. It was mainly the look that Lutz gave him and _____________ the entire night. He didn’t know what got him so upset but he tried not to dwell on it. He and _____________ were going to be happy and in a few months, they would finally be able to start their lives and start it right. He smiled thinking of her. Who could honestly say they were going to wed their childhood friend without arrangement or force? But part of him had a very strong feeling that whatever this bad feeling was, it was going ruin them in some way. He just hoped that whatever happens, they could survive it in one piece.
Roderick never thought in a million years this would ever happen to him or his country. It started off almost like a dream. He would never forget the day. He and _______________ had sat down to breakfast when they heard commotion outside. They went to the balcony and saw hundreds of Nazi soldiers coming into their town. They exchanged looks. Everything started with the Anschluss. According to the officials, it was to unite the countries again and make Austria great again, especially after WWI. However this was not the case. Many Austrians were not happy with this. Many of them sensed what was really going on. However, he and a few of the political families at the moment, because of political pressure and manipulated had been basically forced to sign the Annexation, he still hoped for a better future. But they were wrong. Their people and their country were considered lesser than any German, to the point that they were often treated like shit and beaten and forced to do anything a German wanted. Roderick was not going to stand for it! He was Austrian and he was going to die an Austrian. He and many others fought and resisted the Nazis as much as they could, often getting backlash or in some cases killed in the process. From there, Austrians became glorified cannon fodder for the Reich. One day, everyone woke up and they weren’t Austrians anymore but Germans and lesser for it. He and ______________ immediately joined the Resistance to try and get their country, their home, and their people back. He remembered limping back home where _______________ would scold him for being reckless. Everything was being stripped away from them, so they had to flee his home to live in her family home, buried away from the city. He got into a scuffle with some soldiers and fled the scene before he was caught, not before freeing their prisoner quota that day. He was grazed by a few bullets on his legs and arms. She sat him in the kitchen and treated him with iodine. “AH! Scheiße! I’ve always wanted you to hurt me but shit!” “You could have gotten yourself killed!” she said glaring at him and pouring him something stiff to drink. “It would be well worth it,” he retort, “Besides, they were arresting people again,” “And taking them to god knows where. I can’t seem to get any information on where they’re sending them,” he glanced over her shoulder. She and many others were many counter propaganda leaflets that the Nazis were passing out. This one talked about what it meant to be an Austrian and how separate they were from the Germans, “But wherever they’re going, they may as well be dead,” “Only some are sent to prisons, the rest…this is really starting to piss me off,” “And it doesn’t help that most don’t care or are welcoming to this new regime, then again most of it is out of fear of what will happen to their families and loved ones,” “We shouldn’t live in fear in our own country,” said Roderick gently rubbing her shoulder, “And you should get some rest,” “Don’t tell me what to do,” she said groggily, “the more we do, the closer we can get back to having our lives back to normal,” “That too but I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and well, maybe you should think about leaving,” “Leaving you alone to your devices is never a good idea,” “No, I mean leaving Austria,” she puts her pen down. “And where to? It looks like your cousin’s dear leader isn’t going to let anyone leave his country, his or not willingly. There are guards at every border leaving out. I’ve been thinking of a way to get many out but it’s just been a tedious endeavor,” “I contacted Vash and told him what was going on and he agreed to take us in,” “Are you serious?!” “Ja! Also, we leave at the end of this week!” “You did all of this without consulting me?!” “Well, it was a decision based on well…your safety,”“I’m fine,”“I don’t want you to disappear and me not being able to find you,” she looks at him.“I hate it when you’re right. We’re been doing this for months and I know we’ve made a dent but it won’t be long before we’re captured and imprisoned. Thankfully no one has discovered this place yet,” “Well it is damn in the middle of nowhere but it won’t be long until it’s found because of my dumb ass,” “Glad you admit it,” he ruffles her hair. “Pack up,” “I’m only bringing myself and my hair combs,” “Why your combs?” “Got attached to them ages ago. I can’t bear to see them go,” he smirked.“I can’t imagine why,” Soon the big day came. As promised, they packed light and used the cloak of darkness to travel as fast and as quietly as they could. They knew where the guards were all time and how to get passed without causing a disruption. Roderick was nervous. He was terrified. At any moment, he and ____________ could be discovered and interrogated and jailed. And since neither of them have family to bail them, they would be screwed. It took them the entire night but they near the Wienerwald and once there, they could use the woods to hide and travel in without detection for the next few days. They were finally home free of this. “Isn’t it a bit late for two lovers to be out this late?” the pair froze. Roderick moved in front of _____________. The source of the voice revealed himself to be Lutz. Roderick sighed with relief. “You scared the shit out of me,” “That was the plan. There was talk about to people staying pass curfew and planning escape. I decided to investigate and lo and behold, I find my cousin and his Fraulein,” “I have a name you know,” she said curtly. “Sorry, my apologies, ____________,” Lutz gave them a friendly smile. “So do you two want out or not?” “You’re going to let us go? Just like that?” said ______________ “Of course! I wouldn’t dream of taking you two in! Where are you two headed?” “We’re going to the Swiss border! Vash is meeting us there!”“Oh, if that’s the case. Hop in,” Roderick smiled. This turned out better than he hoped. He gently nudged ____________ forward. She looked at him. “Take care of _____________ for me, cousin,” “What?! You’re not coming with me?” “Don’t worry cousin, ______________’s in safe hands. I’ll make sure she gets someplace safe,” _______________ however didn’t look hopeful at the thought of Lutz had anything in her best interest, “I’ll make sure she gets to the Swiss border intact and you won’t have to worry anymore,” “I’ll take my chances on my own,” she said curtly. “Schatzchen, please. I can’t leave yet, but you can. Your unknown origin will help you,” “I’d rather stay and fight for the only home I know! Why do want me gone?” “Because I’m going to protect you! I don’t trust any of this and when they find out, it’ll be just a matter of time before we’re either dead or worst and I’d rather it just be mein arsch on the line not yours!” he gently takes her hand, “Let me do this for you at least. You’ll wait for me in Switzerland, ja?” she looked into his eyes. She hated when he got this serious, it was usually the other way around. She nodded in defeat, “I know this is hard for you but I don’t want you getting killed in the process. Please, Vash will take care of you once you’re in Switzerland and Lutz will protect you until then. Trust me, this is harder than it looks. You’re the only thing that keeps me going. Your safety is all that matters to me right now,” she nods. He gave her one last kiss goodbye, “Besides, we have a wedding to have when it’s all over,” she smiled and turned towards Lutz. “If Roderick trusts you, I have no other worries,” “Smart choice,” he said. He ushered her to his car. Roderick watched as the pair drove away. It would be the last time he would see her for years to come. Shortly after, he was drafted to fight like many Austrian men at the time. He fought his hardest against whatever they wanted. He didn’t care anymore; all he wanted to do was stay alive, at least for ___________’s sake. The thoughts of them growing old together in their childhood home were all that he needed. He learned to numb himself. He had to. If not, he couldn’t do half of the shit on the battlefield he was instructed to do. However, this all was about to change. A grenade came out of nowhere, by sheer luck, it missed him but it detonated in front of him. Shrapnel flew forwards, hitting him in the eyes. He couldn’t remember much, just feelings of glass and metal ripping through his eyes; he felt blood pouring down his face, and then darkness. When he came to, he was in the hospital getting treated for his injury. His eyes were bandaged. Every day, the doctor would come in and run tests on his eyes. After about a week of tests it was determined that his eyesight would never be the same again. He would have to wear glasses in order to see distances. He was now pretty much useless on the battlefield. It was a consolation he thought, he didn’t have to have to fight for a cause he thought was pointless. He was living in the darkness for what seemed like ages but he knew it was a month, tops. He hated feeling this helpless. He hated not being able to manage or see on his own. But what troubled him the most were the visions. He couldn’t sleep. He would wake up to nightmares. He could see __________________ running, her fighting, her trying to get away from someone until she succumbed her to captors and dragged away into the dark. He could physically hear her call out to him. He often woke up in a cold sweat. He didn’t know where she was and it frightened him to his core. After the final tests, he bandages were finally permitted to come off. The first person he saw when his eyes adjusted, with the help of his glasses of course, was Lutz. He was in looking at him from a corner. Roderick felt dread wash over him. Lutz’s face and eyes were different. They were no longer the ones we remembered in childhood, they were cold, they were dark, and they were dangerous. His gut told him that he wasn’t to be trust any longer.“So you survived. I’m sorry you lost some of your eyesight but no worries, I think I found the perfect job for you, dear cousin,” now this was scary. It was uncharacteristic for Lutz to be this chipper. He barely recovered and now they wanted to assign him someplace else. He wish he would have just taken _____________ himself and they would have been in Switzerland by now. He hated working for these monsters and he was beginning to suspect that Lutz didn’t have his best interests at heart. He was ushered into a room. There were two large guards standing near the door. Roderick stood in the middle of the room and Lutz stood looking outside, at seemingly nothing. “Tell me cousin, have you ever thought about getting rid of the…undesirables in the world?” “Because the Reich?” “Cheeky but no, I’m speaking of anyone and anything against the new world order,” “What new world order?” “The rightful order that should have been before that cursed treaty that turned our Vaterland destitute,” “That was that twenty years ago! We were only babies when it happened! How can you know the details of that?!” “Look around you! Our countries were great once! Then the Great War and now look at us! Barely scraping by, barely living, having to scrape our resources together and do you know why this is?” “These undesirables that you speak of?” Roderick quirked an eyebrow, “Who are this by the way?” “Poles, Die Juden, the Gypsies, communists, socialists, anyone apart of the resistance—,” “Pretty much everyone whom your dear Führer is against or see as a scapegoat,” Roderick growled, “People who hadn’t done any harm to you or your precious Reich but to exist!” “SCHWEIGEN!” Lutz turned to look at him. Roderick recoiled. He never had seen Lutz look like this before. Oily yes, quiet yes, but never this…soulless, “We have found a way to get rid of these undesirables and you are going to help us, Schluchtenscheisser. Have you wondered how much your streets have been quiet and clearer? I’m sure you do. You and your Fraulein have been poking about and wondering over and over where most of our prisoners end up. So I will tell you. We have formulated a place where those undesirables are dealt with. They will be useful to the war effort by building things and providing services for us until they are no longer useful and then we let nature take its course,” “You mean imprisoning them until you work them to death. You’re mad!” “I’m mad? You trusted me enough to make sure a mutt traitor make it to Switzerland to be safe but did she?” Roderick felt his heart drop to the pit of his stomach. Thoughts swarmed his head. He left __________________ alone with this Lutz, not the Lutz of his childhood but this one who’s willing to kill and have killed. “W-Where is she?!” he stood up, “What did you do to her?!” “She’s where’s she belongs. You’ll meet her soon enough since you’re pretty much useless in battle; you’re going to be my right hand in monitoring the camp. You’re going to be a good little Schluchtenscheisser and do as you’re told or else you will be dealt with and trust me; I’m going to have fun breaking you,”“Fuck you! I’m not doing it! What the hell is wrong with you Lutz! You never used to like this! Tell me where ______________ is or so help me—,” Roderick was soon doubled over holding his stomach. He looked up only to be greeted with a boot to his face. Lutz sneered at him. “You don’t have a fuckin’ say in any of this. You’re nothing but a piece of shit who’s going to bring us back to glory,” he kicked him in his stomach, “so you may as well get used to it,” he grabbed Roderick by his shirt. He looked at him in his eyes. He smirked. He was still a defiant asshole. He was going to have fun breaking him. He shoved him to the ground, “Hold him down,” two guards grabbed him and help him down. Roderick struggled to get free but he was out-strength. Lutz went over to the fireplace and pulled out a swastika branding iron. He ripped his shirt off his back and branded Roderick on the back of his neck. The man’s screams filled the room. Lutz smirked and let it linger for as long as he could before pulling away. The guards dropped him. Roderick dropped to his knees as Lutz walked back to him lifting him up again, “Not so pretty anymore are you, cousin? Don’t worry, we’re going to work you like a fuckin’ dog so you won’t have to worry about the pain. Take him away and get him a uniform. Tomorrow is his first day at Mauthausen-Gusen,”***“Well don’t you look like the perfect boy scout,” Lutz said circling his cousin like a hungry wolf. Roderick remained perfectly still. He was forced to become part of the SS, or Schutzstaffel, one of the largest and most powerful organizations in the Third Reich. He hated everything about the uniform, especially the red band on his arm. Today was his first day on the job and he hated it. The entire camp smelt like death and despair and it was making him violently ill. He had to live in this place as a prisoner himself, having to oversee and kill people he once only knew as Austrians and nothing else, “Not talking I see, what’s the matter?” he said nothing else, “Heh good boy,” It didn’t take long for Roderick to learn his place, as an Austrian prisoner, the place of the SS, and the place of prisoners of the camp fairly quick. He knew from the start that this was his punishment for defying the Reich and speaking up against it. Many people marched through the gates, mostly men and soon women and children as well. He did everything he could to help them, he smuggled in food and water, he had medical supplies for things, he passed on notes to the resistance to get prisoner out. When he was discovered, he often had the shit beaten out of him until Lutz gave him an even crueler punishment, he became their executer. Every time a prisoner was out of control or resisted, he was to shoot them point blank in their skull. Lutz was the overseer. He made sure Roderick did his job by killing them in the most horrific ways possible until the person was begging for death before Roderick had no choice but to put them out of their misery. This went on for months to almost a year when Lutz had a brought a new prisoner to be deal with. The prisoner was standing on the tips of their feet on top of two paint cans. Their head were covered with a black sack with a noose tied around their neck. Their hands were bound behind their back and their legs were so wobbly that he was scared that they would lose their balance. They were doing their best to not lose their balance, knowing their fate. “They just came from the experimentation shack,” said Lutz smirking, “Only survivor of the twenty. Rather impressive if you ask me. They survived six months of experimentation. Come to find that even after their gift of life, they were trying to escape. So we decided to make them our new practice dummy, rather, your new practice dummy,” he thrusts a pistol into Roderick’s hands, “Let’s see how many bullets you can put in them in order to knock them off. If they survive, they must have gods on their side,” Roderick shakily pointed the gun at the prisoner. He KNEW that if they were shot, the force would knock them clean off. Then he heard Lutz load his gun, “the moment you miss, one’s going into their skull. So don’t be a fuckin’ hero,” Roderick took deep heavy breaths and fired into the figure’s shoulder. It went back but they used their neck and back to hold back the force to stay on the cans. He fired again, this time on the other shoulder so they can have a symmetrical balance. They did the same method. He fired again, this time at their chest; they staggered but used their toes to cling to their cans. He fired again, hitting their thigh; this made them pivot on the cans one leg. His gun shook. He couldn’t finish this; if he did they would be hung. He swallowed something in his throat. Without warning, he fired and hit the noose around their neck. The prisoner fell backwards. Roderick ran to them. With luck, they would be treated and sent back to work or waste away, either way he would be able to sneak away later to help them. He fumbled but managed to get the noose from their neck. He pulled off the sack from the person’s head, revealing two familiar (e/c) eyes and a familiar face. “_-_-____________!”she looked up at him. Her face had bruises and scars. She turned her head to look at him. Her eyes widened in shock and awe. “R-Roderick?!” “Awww. You arschloch, you ruined the surprise,” said Lutz smirking at him. He knocked him aside and grabbed ______________ up and slammed her into the wooden pole. She yelped in pain. Roderick got up and went after Lutz gun drawn. Lutz held his pistol to her temple, “Ah, ah, ah, cousin, be nice, or else I’m painting this entire ground with her blood,”“Let her go!” he growled. “You have no fuckin’ authority to give me orders, Schluchtenscheisser,” he tossed her in front of the other guards. He slammed his boot on his head. Roderick went after him again only to be held down by two guards. “FUCKERS GET OFF ME!” _______________ struggled to get up. Lutz smirked and pressed her face further into the ground. “Silly me, I almost forgot. You see today is the day these two lovebirds were planning on getting married,” the rest of the guards chuckled, “But sadly, they were too busy with a failed rebellion to do so. So let’s allow them to pre-consummate their marriage!” he shoves her towards Roderick and points his pistol between her eyes, “Get on all fours,” she complied and looked down on the ground. He smirked at Roderick, “She’s ready for you, cousin,” the color drained from his face, “We’re all ready, give us a show!” “Nein! Just let her go!” “Do it or the entire camp will and you watch the entire moment. And trust me, I know how deep my pistol can go inside a woman, the steel one and the flesh one,” Roderick stared at his childhood friend. She looked at him. Her expression was blank for her eyes told him everything he needed to know. She was scared and knew he was too. Lutz was about to grab her again. Roderick lashed out and grab ______________’s arm and pulls her into him. He couldn’t look at her, especially with what he was about to do. He whispered softly so only she could hear. “Es tut mir leid, Schatzchen…” he pulled down his pants, then her panties and started to thrust. He couldn’t look at her, he refused to look. He could hear her moans and cries of pain. He could smell blood and it sickened him. “Shit cousin, I thought Austrians were small but you proved me wrong. Then again they’re your German side. You have to tell me, does she feel good. Look, you’re both enjoying it! She’s dripping all over the place! Thought she was on her period for a while. You took away her purity, who’s going to want her now. This means she’s up for grabs,” “FUCK YOU! You’re not touching her!” Lutz clicked his gun at Roderick’s temple and click. “Just for that….lick up her mess,” Roderick bent over to do his deed. Lutz slammed his head first into the sticky, bloody dirt, “Lick that fuckin’ ground clean,”***Roderick vomited behind the barrack. He couldn’t get enough air. He didn’t know where they took _____________ but it didn’t stop him from knowing she was in the camp. How the fuck did she get in here? Now the stakes were higher. He didn’t care if he was trapped here but—“FUCK!” he shot her! He almost killed her! He was trembling. Lutz knew and he was willing to watch them both suffer. Sweat and bile poured from him. He couldn’t take this. He couldn’t take this anymore. “Roderick,” he looks up. Edgar was looking at him. He stared him down. He didn’t know what he was going to do to him, especially after the shit he’s been going through with Lutz, “There’s a prisoner in solitary that’s going to need taking care of. See to it,” he nodded and made the trek towards the small, single barrack. He unlocked the door. The cell was a concrete cell with a small window, a single bed, and a small slot for water or bread. Inside, in the corner he saw a figure in the corner. They were dressed with bandages and a thin blanket. They peeked out when they heard the door opened. “R-Roderick!” _______________ leapt from the bed but stopped because she her body was too weak. He ran to her and caught her in his arms and hugged her close. The pair embraced. For a few moments, he forgot where they were and what their circumstances were. All he knew was that after being in hell for two years, staring at the face of some sort of angel…one he defiled and expelled from paradise forever. Even with tears cascading down her cheeks onto his hands she was beautiful until he remembered exactly why they were here, he felt sick again. “_________________....please forgive me. I’m sorry…I-I didn’t want to—,” she buried her face into his shirt. He said nothing more and just held her. She didn’t need words; she just needed him. She finally calmed down. “I-I thought you were dead! I’m just happy to see you again,” she sobbed. She was shaking like a leaf. He’s never seen her in this way before, “I’m so glad to just see you one more time,” “You cry for me, even after what I’ve done. I don’t deserve any compassion, especially not from you,” she didn’t say anything for awhile. “I’d rather it was you than the other option,” “How did you get here?” the color and all relief she felt drained from her face. “Lutz brought me here!”“WAS?!” “As soon as we were out of sight, two guards grabbed me from the back of the truck and held me down. I tried to scream but they injected me with something and all I remember was my entire body going heavy and then nothing. When I woke up, I was in this room and for weeks on end I was injected with all of chemicals and things. There were ten others with me but I was the only woman. We were deprived from sleep, we were subjected to extreme climates, many died, many…went mad. Every time I was near death or close to it, Lutz ordered the experimentation to stop. He was interrogate me about the Resistance, when I refused, he would have them continue their experiments!” her voice started to crack, “I was the only one left! I was the only one they wanted to keep alive. Lutz did everything in his power to make me suffer. I don’t know how he did but…but…” “Shhh, it’s okay now,” “No! It’s not! The other members were captured! They’re in the camp! They’re going to be executed—,” “It’s…too late for that,” he said softly and looking ashamed, “He made me carry out the execution,” “W-What?” “When I thought you left, I was drafted, I can’t see properly anymore, now this is my punishment, I have to kill anyone they order me to and Lutz is relishing in it. I almost killed you!” “Why is he doing this?!” “He’s lost now Schatzchen and I don’t fuckin’ care right now!” he hugged her even tighter. He was trembling. She never felt him tremble before. This was her Roderick and the Roderick she knew wasn’t shaken over again, “I-I just want to hold you right now to make sure you’re not a dream…” Every day since, Roderick felt his spirits lifting. Just seeing ______________ was enough to keep him going. He would sneak off at night to see her, noticing fresh wounds and things on her. He didn’t say anything, just like she never asked about his scars and looking absolutely vacant. One day however, he remembered heading towards the cell and stopped when he saw Lutz exiting. He was holding a bloody pipe, her gloves were bloody, and he had blood on his cheeks. He waited until he was out of sight before rushing inside. _________________ was a bloody heap on the ground. “SHIT!” He gently got her in bed and took out his aid kit and started treating her wounds. He took off her shirt, revealing dozens of scares and bruises all over her chest and back. Most were fresh, many were old. He recoiled a bit. She started coughing violently. Blood splattered from her mouth, “Schatzchen…stay with me,” “Roderick…I’m scared,” he never thought he would ever hear those words come from her mouth, “I-I-I don’t think I have long to live,” “Don’t say that!” he hissed, “You’re going to get through this, WE’RE going to get through this. Even if we die together when it’s over, we will get though this!” “I don’t think I’m going to make it! I-I-I can’t take it!” “Why did he hurt you?” “He wanted me to give up the names of the others of the Resistance. I’d rather die before that happens,” she started sobbing, “He said if I gave them up, he’d let me go, he’d take me to the Swiss Boarder and I can go free! I’m not leaving this place alive! He’ll never allow me to leave this place!” “Shhhh!” he wrapped his arms around her and held her in his chest, “We’re going to get out of here. When we get out, we’ll go back to the ways were before this cursed place and war. We’re going to be okay,” “I hope so…this place, there’s no hope, not for anyone involved. Its hell, it’s pure hell,” tears rolled dropped on her arm, “I really don’t think I have any more time left here,” “_____________ listen to me. As long as I breathe, I’m going to protect you. We’re going to get out of here alive, we’re going to get to Switzerland, and we’re going to be okay. I promise,” “Don’t promise anything you’re not sure of,” he kissed her temple. “I’ve never been this sure of anything my entire life,” he laid next to her for the rest of the night. He never felt this comforted for a long time. The feeling of her warmth and his made him able to finally sleep soundly for the first time he had in years. He knew he had to get her out her. By the way she was looking, she didn’t have much time, and he could sense it.***The following evening, Roderick headed towards solitary as usual. He opened the door, expecting to see ______________’s sweet face, only to be greeted to Lutz on the bed looking at him expectantly, like a shark that was about to tear into its prey. Roderick scanned the room and saw no traces of _______________ anywhere,“Where’s _____________?!” “Incinerator. I had a fresh batch of recruits this morning and decided to add her to it. She outgrew her usefulness. I could have given her back to you and let my soldiers have fun watching you rape that little pussy of her or have her forever know that her first and last time was with someone she trusted and love raped her and riddled her with bullets. So I chose the latter. You should have seen the betrayal on her face. That’s something you can never wipe off,” Lutz tossed ______________’s silver hair comb at his feet. Roderick looked at it and clenched his fist. Lutz smirked and clapped his back, “But it wasn’t nearly as fun to watch the snobby bitch march naked to her death into the wagon. Only thing that survived was her hair comb. Don’t worry, I’ll fish out her corpse and you can fuck that too,” Roderick gently picked up the comb. He waited until Lutz was out of sight before walking back to her holding area. He gingerly raked his thumb over each tooth of the comb, remembering…just remembering…
“What’s this for?” she said looking at the gift.
“Oh something I saw at a shop and he told me to give it to a pretty girl. So I decided to give it to a beautiful one instead,” she snorts and opened the box, revealing two silver hair combs.
“Again, what’s this for?”
“Well I wanted to give you something for luck for your first recital,” she reddened and puts one in her hair. He smiled. It looked good on her. She smiled.
“Thanks,”
“I didn’t do it for you. I did it for your face. You have a lovely one but we all know an educated woman can’t really find a husband,”
“Shut up!” she smacked his arm glaring at him. He laughed and ruffled her hair, “Who said I wanted a husband?”
“Please, I remembered how you used to fawn over Vash when we were kids,”
“…that’s different. He’s pretty much the anti-You,”
“Ouch, that hurts so much Schatzchen!”
“But I will admit…it was a nice gesture from you,”
“You can always repay the favor by playing with me next week. I need a violinist for my concerto,”
“Okay,”
“I’ll cook because I know it’ll be very late,”
“Let’s eat somewhere. I’m not about to get food poisoning because of you,”
“Deal,”
He slammed his fist against the barrack. This was all his fault. He shouldn’t have trusted Lutz, not even for a moment! He thought she would have been safe in Switzerland by now with Vash. He should have gone with her. He should have asked Edgar. He should have trusted his gut! And now…because of him…He looked at the comb. He was never going to see _____________ again. He was never going to hear her laugh, hear her voice, hear her music, feel her presence…He slumped onto the floor, holding the hair comb in his hands and for the first time since he came to this godforsaken place: he wept. Crystalline tears flowed freely from his eyes as he thought of the great memories he had with the love of his life who he was never going to see again.
“Schatzchen… tut mir leid. Ich konnte dich nicht retten. Heh. I’m so pathetic…I can’t even keep a promise I’ve made for you,”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
“Do you think you’re precious little fiancé is going to save you?” Lutz slammed his boot into her gut again, “Do you?! You think that you or him have any control in this?!” he pistol whipped her across her face, “Yet you try like a drowning rat that’s trying to cling to life. Just tell me what I want to know and you can go, simple as that,” she laid on the ground. It’s been like this for going on a few weeks. Lutz had subjected her to every kind of torture imaginable from burning her, chopping off her hair, having the dogs in the camp bite and rip at her. She was tired, she was trying to keep herself from succumbing to her injuries, “So you want us to do this the fuckin’ hard way?” Lutz grabbed her and started slamming her into the stone wall. She yelped in pain as he threw her across the room, “How don’t you just give up?”
“And let you win? I’d rather die,” she spats up blood. He smirked.
“Die? Oh dear girl, if I wanted you to die, you would have been dead by now. No, no you see, you nor your fiancé are ever going to see each other again. I’m not going to let you two just die easily. I’m going to make sure you’re both begging me for death before I end your lives. No one is going to rescue you here. I’m going to make you two pay for your defiance in my Reich. This can all be over if you just tell me we were a part of the resistance,” she was silent again. He growled and continued his torture. After days of this, he decided that she wasn’t worth this trouble anymore and ordered for her immediate execution. The next morning, she was stripped and grabbed out of solitary confinement and put in line with about hundred more people to the incinerator. Her blood ran cold. This was how she was going to die. She did want to die. She wasn’t going to die. It was then she realized, she had nothing to lose. She quickly slipped out of line and quietly stayed behind a tree. She saw them being tied with black sack around their head. Tears rolled down her face. She couldn’t save them but she had to get out of there. She felt someone touch her shoulder. She was about to scream, when she was silenced. She turned. Edgar looked at her with his emotionless expression. He handed her some clothing and a pistol and took her hair comb and pocketed it. He looked around before ushering to an opening in a fence. She looked at him.
“Run and don’t look back,”
A man was driving his jeep through a long stretch of road just outside of Berlin. He didn’t look fazed at anything around him. He was just passing through as far as he was concerned. The only thing he had to worry about were air raids but other than that, he was enjoying the few seconds of quietness on the battlefield. He was heading towards Switzerland from Hamburg after gathering some much needed information. He was driving towards Switzerland now. He needed to lay low for a little while. He was in a grayish blue uniform, with a metal helmet, and didn’t seem bothered about driving in a war zone; then again it was quiet now. He only had one thing in mind, getting back so he can leave again. He got most of his ammunition from Switzerland and he would rest there a few days before going back out. He had learned to listen and feel things out. The moment he would hear something, he could drive as fast he could, find a bunker and hide until it was over. He knew where most foxholes were and he usually dove into them just in time or took shelter with civilians. Today however was a bit more peaceful. He thought about sleeping somewhere and taking advantage of the stillness for a change. He was passing through the countryside of Munich. He was nearing Liechtenstein in another few hours and he knew he would be okay there. However, his silence was interrupted by a shill scream. He stopped and listened. It was a woman crying. He decided to investigate, out of sheer boredom. He came across a woman on the ground with her legs spread. She was crying and sobbing and was in pain. Upon further investigation, he saw her heavily pregnant. The woman was going to have that baby, right here and now on the field. _______________ pulled over and sauntered over looking at the screaming woman. She looked at her. Her contractions were minutes apart. The woman saw him and immediately shouted at him.“Hilf mir bitte!” he crouched down. He noticed three things about the woman. He had a rifle close to her, she was wearing a uniform, and she had a familiar red band around her arm. He took the pistol and turned to leave. She had to have a vehicle somewhere she so could make it to the doctor on her own, “Please! PLEASE! She’s coming!” he sighed, parked his jeep, and went to aid the woman. She was breathing hard as he took off his weapons and jacket in order to catch the baby. The woman looked over and noticed the man had a pair of breasts and feminine features.“Okay deep breaths now, the baby is crowning!” the woman started breathing deeper and faster, “You’re doing fine, now push,” the woman pushed as the baby started coming out. Soon sounds of a baby crying rang through the field. The man wrapped the baby in a blanket. He couldn’t help but stare. She was a beautiful little thing, so squishy and soft. He took out a pocket knife and cut the umbilical cord and gave the baby to her mommy.“Danke schon ummm…Fraulein,” the man looked at her before sighing and taking off his helmet revealing short (h/c) hair, “Why are you parading as a soldier?”“Why are you asking so many questions?” said _____________ opening a flask and handing it to her. The woman guzzled it down. They sat there in silence.“Isn’t she beautiful? She has her father’s eyes…I was hoping she had that,”““What are you going to name her?”“I want to name my child after my savior!”“Don’t name your bastard child after me,” she snapped. The woman recoiled.“Please. I wanted to name her after her father but she’s not a boy. If not your name, please name her something,” _____________ looked at the little baby. She had purple eyes, familiar features of her mother and someone she couldn’t recall. She smiled and gently took the baby. She was soundly sleeping now after being calmed down. She gently traced the baby’s face.“I’ve always liked the name Ingrid,”“Ingrid it is. Why such a name?”“My fiancé and I wanted to name our child that one day if we had a daughter,” she stood up, finished cleaning the woman up and headed towards her jeep, “I did my part,”“Wait, you can’t leave me here! Please, I don't live too far from here,”“Then I suggest you start walking,” she then heard Ingrid crying again. She froze. She was going to hate her for this later, “The child has spoken, come on I’ll drive you home,” the pair rode in near silence. The woman wanted to make small talk and ____________ gave her short, vague answers. She didn’t want to get to know the woman at all. As far as she was concerned, she was just another Nazi and if she had her rathers, she would be dead. However, there was something about kids that held a special place in her heart. Because she was dressed as a male and in a Swiss uniform, many didn’t really bat an eye when she entered the woman’s town. She lived in the countryside and soon they were at a house. _____________ looked at it. It wasn’t a bad looking place. It was a beautiful countryside home, much like the one she grew up in. Then again it was nowhere near as grand and beautiful as Roderick’s manor. She shook her head. Let’s push that out of her head.“Please, make yourself at home while I put Ingrid to sleep and put the kettle on for some tea,”“Give me some brandy if you have it,”“You really are a soldier,” she grinned and went off. ______________ was apprehensive for good reason. She wasn’t going to let her guard down, not for anyone, especially not some hausfrau she just met. The woman appeared again gently pushing a bassinet into the living room for Ingrid, “Please, relax, you’re safe here,”“I’m not safe anywhere,” she took the brandy and took a long swig from it. The doctor was called to see if the woman was okay. He took ______________ as a Good Samaritan who was passing through.“She’s a healthy little baby and you’re going to be okay with bed rest and a good meal. I’m hoping your new friend can care for you until your parents are able to come?”“Ja! Thank you, Doctor,” when he left, the woman smiled at her.“Please make yourself comfortable! My parents won’t be bad for another day or two and I could really use the company,” ______________ nodded as the woman prepared a bed. She was planning on only spending one night but she ended up staying there for three days. The last day, she couldn’t sleep. She didn’t like this. Not one bit. Something about all of this seemed off. She couldn’t sleep or get comfortable even if she tried. She found herself pacing the house. There was something very familiar about Ingrid. She was such a pretty little baby but for some reason, she didn’t like her face and it made her sick because she was just a baby. She often found herself in the living room looking around at everything. It’s been a long time since she’s been in a home. She’s so used to sleeping in her jeep or abandoned trenches that an actual home was becoming foreign to her. She tried to sleep, she really did but it didn’t take as easily as it should. She looked around in the living room. She saw many pictures and things lined up. She recognized the woman in the pictures. She was a younger in them, full of life in a girl soldier uniform. She was beaming with other girls, saluting. She looked at another picture of her and her parents she assumed. She went down the line.“Oh you couldn’t sleep either,” the woman was smiling at her wearily from the hall.“Go back to bed,”“I can’t sleep. There’s just so much on my mind right now!” she frowned, “Oh you’re looking at my Bund Deutscher Mädel photos. Believe it or not, that was only a few years ago. I remember it so well, when I first tried to become a mother for the love of my life. I was so mad when I was the only girl from my group who didn’t come back with a child from that night in Nuremburg. I guess it was for the best. It gave me some time to train and such and become a better wife when Lutz gets back,”“Lutz?”“My fiancé! Here’s a picture of us together!” the woman passed over a picture of her and her fiancé, “We proposed right before Der Fuhrer sent him off Poland! Isn’t he handsome?” ________________ gripped the photo. Staring back at her was the man responsible for her fiancé’s death and responsible for her near death. Looking at the photo stirred up a lot of feelings in her until something in her finally snapped.“L-Lutz Beilschmidt is your fiancé?” the woman backed away a bit.“You-You know him?” In a swift motion, the woman was on the ground. ______________ started choking the woman in-between punching and pistol whipping her. She wanted her to hurt. She wanted her to feel what she felt. Years of confusion and anger unleashed itself on Lutz’s fiancée. She wanted her to know exactly what was driving her. She then slammed her on the ground a few times before she heard Ingrid crying. She stood up and walked over to her bassinette. Ingrid’s purple eyes were filled with tears over being woken up. ___________ glared took her in her arms and pointed her pistol at her. The woman froze in terror.“PLEASE DO WHATEVER YOU WANT WITH ME BUT LEAVE INGRID ALONE!”“Why should I? Because of your bastard fiancé, my fiancé is probably dead! My fiancé was forced to rape me while YOUR fiance watched! My fiancé could see as well because there was shrapnel in his eyes because of YOUR fiancé. YOUR fiancé had my fiancé riddle me with bullets! YOUR fiancé made me play MUSIC to the sounds of people dying! YOUR fiancé sent me to the incinerator to DIE! YOUR FIANCE BETRAYED US! So why shouldn’t I end his pathetic bloodline right here and now?!'' The woman started to sob and shake as ___________ clicked her gun, ready to paint the walls with her only child’s blood. However, that didn’t happen. She gently rocked and placed Ingrid back in her crib as she went back to sleep, “But I would be no different if I did the same to someone innocent. You would be the perfect consolation but no child should grow up without their mother but just know this. If you and I ever cross paths again, I will kill you. If I ever meet Ingrid when she’s older, she will suffer the same fate. And I hope with everything that Lutz will watch her die before I kill him myself. He took everything away from me…and I hate you both and I can’t wait to see you both in hell,” she shot the woman in her shoulder, raided a few things in the house, took the keys to her jeep and went off. She couldn’t help but think about Roderick. Thinking of their music academy together, thinking of their child that never will come to be together, and thinking of the life that was taken away from them. She gripped her steering wheel making a mental note that someday Lutz Beilschmidt would suffer a slow painful death by her hands. Roderick’s life would not be in vain. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She didn’t stop driving until she found herself nearing Liechtenstein. It was then and only then she had her buried pain come out. That woman had HER child, the child that she and Roderick deserved and no thanks to her fiancé, she was never going to see Roderick again. She was never going to see his face again, she was never going to scold him again, she was never going to hear his voice and it was their fault. The tears wouldn’t stop. She rummaged through her knapsack and found an old photo of them together. She held it close to her heart and trembled, “I’m sorry…I wish I was strong enough but I couldn’t save you. I’m sorry for being so fuckin’ weak that I can’t go back there to help you! I’m such a pathetic woman; I couldn’t even save my own husband,”***“Son of a bitch!” a bomber pilot named Alfred Jones has just crash landed in the middle of a forest in Stuttgart. Thankfully, he made it out okay but his plane was completely totaled. He groaned. Now he would have to find his way back to headquarters without it but he knew he had other troubles on his head. First, he was in the middle of a war zone, second, he was sitting duck because people SAW him crash, and three, he had no fuckin’ clue where he was. He got most of his valuables out of the plane and decided to head north. He then froze. He could feel and sense someone or something looking at him. He decided to remain perfectly still. Something really wasn’t in these woods and he was not going to find out what. He could feel someone coming up on him. He drew his pistol and before he could take a few shots, the man flew out of the brush he was hiding and landed at his feet, dead with one single gunshot to his head. He then heard more shots being fired. Alfred froze and crouched down. He noticed soldiers, who were hiding all around him, flying out of their hiding spot and landing dead at his feet. They were being shot and killed, head shots from all sides. He noticed someone was moving through the brush and remained still as soldiers all around them that were hidden were methodically taken out, even the ones who decided to flee and run. He had trouble pinpointing where they were coming from but at this point he didn’t care. Whoever it was didn’t have any beef with him, they just wanted to kill every single Nazi that was around him. It was soon over. The shooting died down and he was surrounded by twenty dead Nazis. He whistled low. That was the most amazing thing he’s ever seen and he’s seen some shit. He heard some twigs snapping behind him. He looked up to see someone trying to walk away without him seeing. He called out.“HEY PAL!” the figure in question got startled, fell, and rolled down and landed in the clearing near him. Alfred grinned and ran to him, “Hey pal, you okay?!” the man nodded and went to get up. Alfred noticed the sniper rifle on his back, “Was that you?!” the man nodded, “Shit joe, that was awesome,” he looked at him. He grinned, “Thanks for savin’ my bacon back there,” he nodded, packed his rifled and head away, “hey wait! You wanna come with me or something?! I have no idea how to get out of here and well, I can really use the help!” he looked at him for a few moments, shrugged and followed him, “Not much of a talker are you?” he shook her head, “It’s cool, so where are we goin’?” she takes out her map and points to Switzerland.“Schweiz,”“Oh…okay then, lead the way,” through the trip, Alfred made small talk with the strange man, who seemed to listen and offer his input with nods and grins and shakes, “So ya do understand me! That’s a relief! Thought you were one of them flat tires ya know? You from around here?” he shook his head, “Figured much. I’m from the USA or America. Now I gotta find a regiment or something to get me another plane. Fuckin’ Krauts. You ain’t one of them as you,” the look on his face told him everything, “Don’t like them either huh? Then again, you took out like ten of them. You gotta show me how to do that,” he nodded, “I like ya, pal when we get to town I’m treatin’ you to a beer on me,” the man reached into his pocket and passed him a flask, “Fuck yeah!” Alfred took a gulp, “Hoowee! Pal you’re alright,”The pair traveled for days. They would eat his rations and often took turns sleeping. Alfred had to admit, having the company wasn’t so bad and he could tell his new friend didn’t seem to mind as well. All he had to do was radio to base, get a ride back to the Limeys and everything will be hunky dory. According to the map and signs, they were nearing Liechtenstein. Pal woke him up and gestured that they keep moving. While he was getting ready, Alfred took the opportunity to take out a picture of his gal back at home. He reddened and studied the picture for a few moments. He missed her like fuckin’ crazy and having her picture just wasn’t doing it anymore. Hopefully, she will send him another letter while he was gone. He looked up to see Pal looking at him, “Sorry, lookin’ at my babe,” Pale looked confused, “Yanno, girlfriend,” he nodded, “Isn’t she a knockout? God I love that woman,” Pal grinned, “Do you have someone back where you’re from?” Pal shook his head, looked down and walked to the jeep. Alfred decided to not push it any further. They drove along in silence. He didn’t know much about his new friend but he knew that he didn’t want to lose him. Suddenly the jeep stopped. Pal looked around. He then jumped from the jeep and gestured to Alfred to run with him. The pair ran just as more and more bombs came from the sky and landed near and around them. Alfred lost his footing but was pulled away from harm’s way. Pal however wasn’t as lucky. One of the bombs hit too close and exploded sending metal sharps everywhere. Alfred looked up to see Pal blood splattering everywhere. First Pal’s chest was sliced open, then his back. The shrapnel ripped through his chest and back. Alfred grabbed him and managed to get him into a foxhole and waited until the bombing would stop. He took off her shirt.“Come on pal, stay with me! Come on joe you gotta keep awake!” He then noticed something, the man had a pair of breasts and the metal was still in the wounds. He pulled out the metal and poured iodine on the wound. She seized up and hissed. Alfred could hear the bombs passing over them. He weighed his options, stay protected and his pal would probably die or try to save the asshole who saved his life, “Fuck this, come on pal! We’re gettin’ you some help!” Alfred hoisted her up onto his shoulders and ran back to the jeep. He strapped her into the driver’s side and sped off. _____________ slipped in and out of consciousness. Maybe this time…maybe this day would finally be the day she would be reunited with Roderick….
***She ran through the woods to the point of exhaustion. She didn’t know how long she was running, all she remembered was that day and night became almost similar to her. She learned to hide, she learned to keep moving, she had to keep moving, the other option was death and she didn’t want to die yet. She had to defend herself against wolves and other things and soon, she was in danger of succumbing to her injuries. She had to keep running however, she just had to keep going. Soon she was at the Liechtenstein border. Her heart leapt for joy as she ran towards it not realizing there were three guards from Austria patrolling. They approached her, rather advanced on her. She shakily took out her pistol and got one point blank in neck, then the other one in the forehead. The other however was ready. He ran up on her. She fired, too scared to aim, he knocked the pistol out of her hands. She was now at the mercy of this man. He chuckled and grabbed her at her throat. She grabbed a sharp rock and managed to gouge his eyes. He howled in pain as she scrambled for his pistol and finished him off. The commotion alerted one of the border guards from Liechtenstein. __________________ was panting on the ground. Fight and flight mode was the only thing on her mind, the only thing her muddled mind could comprehend due to her delirium.
“Oh my god! Big Brother!” _____________ struggled to get up. She saw a light flashing in her face. She glared and pointed her pistol at it. Everything around her was blurry, she felt wobbly, and she was ready to die trying to get out of this hell hole while she did had breath. The blond looked at her and slowly approached. She backed away as he gently took her gun from her. She looked at his face. It was a familiar face. It was a known face. Tears rolled down her face as she finally collapsed. He caught her time.
“I-I-I made it,” she said softly, “I-I finally made it,” she didn’t know how long she was out. All she remembered was waking up covered in dressing and bandages. She sat up in bed and looked around. Light was seeping into the room. She was so warm and comforted that for a brief moment, she forgot what happened to her for the last two years.
“You woke up,” she looked up
“How long have I been out?”
“Touch and go for a few days. You went into septic shock and had a case of pneumonia. Doctor said you were lucky to be alive,” he gently took her hand and squeezed, “You’re safe now you know,”
“I know,”
“You were in a camp weren’t you?” she nodded. She clutched the sheets and sobbed.
“Roderick is dead,” Vash looked up, “I-I-I couldn’t save him! Lutz killed him and it was all my fault! I should have been me!”
“Don’t blame yourself! You’re living is the best thing he ever wanted. Just rest now, you’re going to be okay,”
“But—,”
“Protect your life…so his won’t be in vain,” she nodded and for the first time in years, she finally was able to peacefully go to sleep.
___________________ came to the same room that she was rescued in years ago. She slowly sat up and looked around. This was fate’s way of saying “You cheated once again”. She sighed and tried to move. She hissed and laid back down.“I really wish you would try not to die, watching you like this has become dull at best,” she smiled“Love you too Vash,”“You were lucky this time. That shrapnel barely missed your heart and spine by inches. If it wasn’t for that American, you would have been a goner for sure,” she looked around, “He’s in the bed next to you. He ever left your side. He radioed his base and they’re going to send someone to to get him. He better be lucky he knows you,”“I know, I know I’m so sorry about this,”“Don’t apologize. It’ll just be a shame for you to die after Erika and I nursed you back to health from death. You’re like her little houseplant right now. She really would hate to see you go,” _____________ snorts. Alfred stirred and slowly started to wake up. She looked at him from her bed. He grinned at her.“You’re up, Pal! Well I guess I can’t call ya Pal anymore…sweetheart?” she frowned, “Okay, okay, no sweetheart,” Vash rolled his eyes.“Try using her name, dummkopf,” he shook his head and left the room. _____________ looks at him expectantly. They both sat there awkwardly for awhile. Alfred decided to just leave without saying anything. He felt that was the best for him to do at this moment.“Thank you for helping me,” Alfred looked at her. She sat up and looked at him.“Holy shit you can talk! And can speak English!”“Of course I can speak and yes I can speak your crappy version of English. It’s like you enjoy butchering the language. Half the time I had to decipher whatever the fuck you were saying!”“And mouthy. Lucky me,” he grinned at her and sat on the bed opposite of her. He held out his hand, “Alfred,” she looked at his hand, “Come on doll, I’m trying to be friendly here!”“My name is ______________,”“Really?”“Yeah, what of it?”“Umm I left a girl back home with a similar name. Didn’t know I would be someone here with the same type of name,”“Your wife?”“Not yet, planning on marrying her when I get home. So listen umm I radioed my boss and shit and well, they want me back at the headquarters in Britain and well, I want you to come with! You’ll be perfect and shit and I told them I ain’t leavin’ my pal behind,” she looks at him, “You’re useful! You can be a spy and shit and you can speak Kraut! I bet you can speak other shit too! And while we’re fuckin’ up Nazis, we can find the shit eaters who did a number on you! I don’t care if you are a war, you don’t fuckin’ scar a broad with hot gams!” she snorts.“Fine but radio your commander and have them pick us up in Liechtenstein,”“Why?”“Switzerland is neutral, so any plane, Nazi or not, will be shot down. I’ve seen him do it. Erika on the other hand is a bit more forgiving,”“Gotcha. Oh man and you can teach me out to use that rifle you got,”“It’s an anti tank rifle and trust me, you’re better off with your plane,” Alfred laughed.“Yeah, you’re probably right,” Erika watched from the door at the pair. It’s been years since she’s seen ______________ smile again. Then again, her eyes were still cold and unfeeling but whoever this man was, he got her to actually smile again. She felt a small pat on her back. Vash was peeking inside as well.“I guess the old saying is true, a human that was hurt by one can be heal by another,”“I hope you’re right. She’s suffered enough,”“He can help her to feel emotions again. I was afraid we would have lost her to the ways of being a stable human being again. What’s driving her is finding and killing Lutz and if that other takes her, it’ll be an obsession and she’ll be lost to us forever, then again after what he did, no one will judge her,”"What in the world does, pal mean?!" said ______________"Yanno, like friend!" said Alfred"Then what's wrong with friend?""Harder to say than pal! Well since you're a chick, I think I'll call you pigeon,""What's the matter with just my name?!""I like nicknames better! Pige it is!""Remind me to shoot you later. I swear American English is weird,""You'll get used to it! If ya think I talk funny, ya'll should hear the Limeys! They're hilarious! They call pants trousers all fancy like!" After Alfred’s regiment came, he briefed them on everything that happened and how he was able to get from where he crashed to Switzerland in the first place with the other two officers. __________________ was still recovering when two men came into the room. One was a red haired man with freckles and blue eyes and stubble smiling at her. The second one was a dirty blond with sullen eyes and looked as though he hadn’t slept in years. By their uniforms she could tell they were from Britain and France respectively.“We can’t thank you enough to making sure the idiot is okay,” said the Frenchman“Hey fuck you!”“So Alfred told us you can get us in and out of the axis territory unseen?”“Mhm. I’ve been passing long information for the last few months now. I’m a fixture that no one seems to really notice ans, I just change routes again,”“Clever girl,” the British man smiled, “I’m Artie by the way,”“Francis,”“Charmed,”“So, will you come with us?” said Alfred. She looked at him, “You said it yourself, you can get in and out and we need all of the help we can get. And from what I can tell, you hate the Krauts just as much as we do,”“You have no idea,” she said, “I have a few conditions,”“Anything,”“First, I’m my own person in this fight. I’ll protect you guys but just know I could care less if your regiment lives or dies. You’re a different story,”“Pfft okay!”“Second, you guys are to do what I say when I say it. If not, I will leave you where you stand,”“Got it,”“If any of you commit any crimes against humanity, I’ll kill you,”“Okay,”“Lastly, if I leave for any reason, don’t come after me. I’m guiding you through Europe but I have my own agenda and I won’t be okay until it’s finished,” Alfred nodded at her.“Sounds good,” he said grinning, “By the way, you wanna change your clothes or something? You seem attached to that uniform,” she looked over herself. Everything looked in order. She shook her head, “By the way, only me, Artie, and Francis know you’re a chick so if anyone asked your name, what should say?”“Tell them my name is Maximilian, Max for short,”“Got it. Well we’re going to be here for a few more days. Rest up okay? Unless you wanna talk or something?”“What do you want to talk about?”“Well, first of all, what’s your end goal? Nazi hunter? Spy? I know you have something in your heart you ain’t saying,”“...alright, I’m only going to say this once. If we find a man named Lutz Beilschmidt, he is mine. I won’t stop until one of us is dead. My reasons are my own but I won’t stop my searching and killing until I see that man’s dead body at my feet. I won’t forgive him and I’ll never stop until he and this Reich he helped create is dead,”