hello! Vossler reacting to his SO injured during training? (before the start of the game and secret SO is under his command)
Yay, my first post! Technically. Sorry this got long. Haven’twritten in a while. Have some Vossler!
Though Vosslerknew he should have been paying equal attention to the progress of his regiment,his eyes couldn’t help but wander to your spar with the rookie you were taskedto train. You had always been fairly skilled in battle, but your movements were… off, today.
You leaptbackward clumsily, avoiding your partner’s downward swing. It took you a moment to register that your rookiehad managed to land a hit on you, slashing the front of your thigh with his blade.Dropping your own sword in surprise, you staggered and fell, reaching for thewound.
“Sorry!”the rookie gasped, sheathing his own sword and hurrying toward you.
“I-It’sfine,” you murmured despite the odd feeling of blood quickly seeping out intoyour palm. You pressed at the gash, murmuring basic white magic that should atleast stop the bleeding, when an angry voice cut through the din of weaponsclashing in the courtyard.
“Whathappened?!” Vossler demanded, kneeling at your side before your rookie couldeven reach you.
“I’m allright – Captain,” your corrected yourself before you made a mistake, eyes gluedto your thigh. “It’s just a gash—“
“If itwere only a gash, your gloves wouldn’t be soaked with blood,” he snapped,ignoring the sudden silence surrounding you. “How could you have missed such anobvious feint? And not only that. You provided him with so many openings, I’msurprised this was your only wound!”
Youstared at him in shock, eyes darting to the others around you, face burningwith embarrassment. “I—”
“Captain,”said a nearby knight, stopping her own training for the moment, “Perhaps Ishould take _______ to a healer?”
“No,”Vossler said, scooping you into his arms despite your protests. As soon as hestood, he realized that the entire courtyard was watching your little spectacle– fledgling soldiers gaping and more experienced knights, your peers, quirking abrow. “Did I give the order to cease your sparring? Continue!” Turning to yourpartner, he frowned. “…You did well,” he said, begrudgingly. “Another knightwill train you for now.”
When youwere finally far from prying eyes, he glanced down at you. “Are you all right?”
His voicewas softer, gentler as it was when you were alone, but you couldn’t help yourirritation. “Yes. But was the scolding all that necessary, Captain?” you mumbled. “My last memory of such a scathing reprimandcomes from my days as a rookie.”
Vosslerpursed his mouth, looking almost guilty. You never referred to him as Captainin private unless you were angry – or something else, but he doubted it wasthat. Brow knitted, he replied, “You certainly acted like one. _______, I watched your entire spar. You were pitiful—”
“Vossler,”you complained, wriggling to free yourself from his grasp. Your wound stillsmarted, but you could be just as stubborn as he when it came to arguments suchas this. “That isn’t my point!”
“That isthe point!” he barked, stopping and setting you down on your feet against thewall. He held your arm both to keep you steady and to stare you down. “War iscoming, _______. Nabradia is preparing all defenses. Archadia’s invasion is onlya matter of time. How can I leave you on the battlefield knowing that this – or far worse – might be anoutcome? He is a rookie. You are not, and yet you seemed tired even from thebeginning—”
You feltyour ears heat up once more, more for a memory than for humiliation. Of coursehe’d been worried. You hardly appreciated his yelling, but it was easy toforget that he carried the kingdom’s fate on his shoulders.
“—andkeep in mind that… What?” he stumbled over his words as he heard yours. Itwas rare for either of you to make apologies.
You weretoo prideful to meet his gaze. “I know you have much on your mind,” youmuttered. “This won’t happen again. I promise I won’t be a burden.”
Vosslersighed, tilting your chin up so you might look at him. “You could never be a burden, _______. I only worry. You are known for being quick on your feet, but yourmovements were sluggish—”
“I wasonly tired because of last night,” you blurted out, face red now. “I…We… sleptlate. Later than I was accustomed to, and…”
Vosslerblinked at you, eyes wide. “…It was my doing, then,” he spoke after a beat,and found himself grinning and drawing closer to you. At his abrupt change indemeanor and the memory of the night before, you couldn’t help the sudden heatpooling beneath your stomach. It always took him a few moments to shed hismantle as captain before you, but his voice became even gruffer, huskier, wheneverhe did. He released his grip on you so his arms could circle your waist. “Iapologize. I was certain your endurance had improved by now.”
“Vossler!”you exclaimed, half-laughing at his silliness and half-shivering in excitement.
“I suppose we’llhave to work on that,” he said, leaning down for a kiss. You would havestood on your toes to meet his lips with yours if not for your wound – orsomeone clearing his throat behind Vossler.
Vosslerwhirled at once, shielding you with his body – but it was only Basch. Yourcaptain’s shoulders visibly slumped in relief. “Basch. What is it?” he asked, voicesteady as though he had never lost his composure.
“I wastold you were taking an injured knight to the infirmary and found it suspect,”said Basch, clearly trying to stifle a grin. “Now I realize it should have beenno wonder at all. Hello, _______.”
“Hello,Captain,” you greeted, peeking your head out from behind Vossler.
AtVossler’s irritated grunt, Basch schooled his features. “The king and LordRasler seek your counsel. I shall take _______ to the healer in your stead.”
“Go,” yousaid, reaching to squeeze Vossler’s hand when he glanced over his shoulder atyou.
Noddinghis assent to Basch and squeezing your hand in return, he disappeared down theempty hallway.
Baschsmiled politely at you as he eyed your wound and offered his arm. “Shall we?”
And a lil’ Basch cameo because he’s one of myfavorite characters! I imagine Vossler would be with someone who can stand upto his naturally imposing attitude, and that Basch would know about hisrelationship. Vossler would try to hide it at first but Basch would notice hischange in demeanor and eventually find out. XD