Promptober 2024 Day 8- Memories of Andre (Displaced)
Prompt: More Andre from Displaced (in Stefano's backstory or present time)
Warnings: wartime setting (no graphic descriptions), no Sebastian in this one
Stefano watches the small group of soldiers from what feels like a great distance, even though in reality they’re only about ten feet away from him. They’ve all escaped the blazing heat of the day under a temporary shelter, and the other four are talking and laughing together with a camaraderie Stefano knows he can’t share.
His camera is in his hand and without thinking he raises it to his eye to watch them through the lens. Two of them he doesn’t know well, though he’s seen them around the barracks and in the mess hall, but the other two are more familiar.
Matteo, the taller blond man, is right in the middle of an animated rendition of a story from his secondary school days, which doesn’t surprise Stefano at all. He’s sure Matteo is the kind of man who can look back fondly on those times, who was popular and athletic, who never wanted for validation or companionship. Even now, he carries himself with an easy confidence, and Stefano’s stomach twists in jealousy.
He is much more interested in the fourth man- Andre, as he’s heard the others calling him. Andre is quiet, unassuming, but charismatic in his own way, and his fellow soldiers gravitate toward him. Stefano is not immune to his charm either. He’s spent many minutes looking at him through the lens of a camera- admiring his dark hair, his flawlessly tanned skin, his stunningly white smile.
He would stare openly if he thought he could get away with it, but he cannot allow himself that indulgence. He is already ‘other’, set apart from the soldiers by his artistic sensibilities and his camera, and it wouldn’t do to let them learn of his other proclivities. He remembers too well the disgust on the faces of his schoolmates, his father.
He is lost in thought, camera subconsciously lowered from his face, when one of the two men he doesn’t know stands up, staring at the sky as much as he can from under the edge of their shelter.
“Is that one of our planes?” he asks, arm extended toward something up in the air.
The other three men stand as well, looking at where he’s pointing.
“No,” Matteo says, sounding more thoughtful than afraid, “but it’s coming straight at us.”
“Enemy patrol!” Andre says quickly. “We need to get out of here!”
Stefano hears the words, but he’s reacting much too slowly, and the others are already running, leaving the shelter behind. He stumbles to his feet to follow them, but before he can make it two steps an ear-splitting explosion rings out, and the ground underneath him is gone until he lands hard on his back.
He can hear faint voices over the ringing in his ears, but everything around him is obscured by swirling sand. There’s another explosion, some more exclamations, and then someone is grabbing him under the arms and dragging him backwards. Confused, he begins to struggle, but then Andre’s face swims into focus above him.
Andre’s lips are moving, and Stefano desperately wants to know what he’s saying, to hear these words that are clearly intended for him, but he’s too disoriented, eyes burning from the sand and nearly deaf from the force of the explosions. He can only squint up at Andre and allow himself to be dragged to safety.
What happens next is a blur of activity. He’s being lifted, and then he’s in the back of a transport vehicle. His eyes are fixed on Andre, sitting across from him, brow furrowed in concern, and Stefano feels sick for making him worry but also thrilled that Andre is worried about him.
At the medical tent they clean and patch up some minor wounds, all the while remarking that he’s very lucky and it could have been much worse. Stefano is sure it would have been much worse if Andre hadn’t been there. It’s all pain and noise and more questions until finally the activity dies down. He’s left alone, sitting on his cot in the medical tent.
For the first time in an hour, he can breathe again, though each inhalation causes a twinge in his bruised ribs. He closes his eyes, relishing the darkness and silence for a moment.
When he opens his eyes, Andre is standing in the doorway of the tent.
“Hi,” Andre says. “I…uh…just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
His cheeks are flushed, and he’s fumbling his words a little bit, but Stefano has never been happier to see him.
“Yes, at least I think I am,” Stefano says. Then, realizing Andre must have also been quite close to the explosion, “What about you?”
“I’m alright,” Andre says. Then, after a pause, he adds, “Maybe a little shaken up.”
Stefano nods in sympathy, because ‘a little shaken up’ doesn’t begin to describe it.
“Do you want to sit down?” he asks, gesturing to the cot beside him.
“Uh…yes, if that’s okay,” Andre says.
He seems nervous in a way that’s not like him at all. He takes a seat beside Stefano, but he’s looking down at his hands, which are folded in his lap.
“Thank you,” Stefano says, remembering suddenly that he probably owes his life to this man.
“It was nothing,” Andre replies.
“No,” Stefano says, “it wasn’t. You didn’t have to come back for me.”
Andre raises his eyes to Stefano’s face. “I couldn’t leave one of my brothers behind.”
“But I’m not-” Stefano begins to say before Andre draws in a deep breath and grabs his hand. Stefano falls silent. His heart is racing again, but this time it’s with excitement instead of fear.
“Yes,” Andre insists, pressing Stefano’s hand between both of his. “Yes, you are.”
Their eyes meet and linger, and Stefano has the distinct impression there’s something both of them want to say, but the moment passes.
“By the way, I’m Andre,” he says.
Stefano’s heart is pounding, and his cheeks are flushed as he replies. “I’m Stefano.”
Hey person at Capcom in charge of the official merchandise’s visual composition: I see you and I am a huge fan of your work!
I respect your silent fight for Vergil and Lady to spend more time in each other’s company. (Now please convince the people in charge of the script to write a proper scene with an actual conversation, okay?)
I’m rooting for you!
My friend jokingly told me many weeks ago that “someone at Capcom is shipping them, too!” We both laughed about it. But man, someone at Capcom really is desperate for them to stand next to each other.
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