(First Rough Draft Spin-off Ficlet) BTZ III: Subaru and Reinhard Go Camping and Nothing Happens!
Recently I've become very invested in the writing of @sufferu. Their work is brilliant and frankly got me back into Re:Zero more than the current season did. One of their IF stories for Re:Zero "Back to Zero" has moved into my head the last few weeks and I decided to make it pay rent and write a little bit on it. This is only part of a rough draft of the first half of the first chapter and I'm bound to rewrite parts of it (if not all of it tomorrow once I'm embarrassed of it). So feedback is totally welcome because frankly, I haven't written anything in far too long.
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"He's challenging him," Joshua thought with a frown. Clearly, yesterday had been the straw that broke the dragon's back.
Joshua still felt embarrassed for the Sword Saint, if not full-blow pity for what had happened. Subaru was having a better day when the red-haired knight had come to visit. Summer had just started and a good breeze had swept through the grounds, welcoming those who wanted to spend their afternoon in the open air. Subaru had wanted to go outside for a change of scenery, perhaps a walk down the road and back to the estate for lunch. No one had objected, honestly, they were glad at this change of pace for Subaru.
A good pace is what Joshua had wanted for Subaru, after everything. Just keeping a good pace was enough. He always scolded himself when he thought they were through the worst of it. Whenever he thought that it felt like he was tempting something far too dangerous for anyone to overcome.
It was during that walk, however, that something had darted in the treeline, dark and fast. The party had frozen where they stood. Hearts raced as a bush shook and a black mass bounded from the leaves, pushing towards Subaru. Reinhard had moved to intercept, threatening to slice the threat in twine until Subaru's scream stopped him in his tracks.
And what followed the scream came sobbing, not from Subaru but from a girl who had rushed out of the bush following what was now very easily identifiably a very large dog. A dog who very clearly didn't realize how close it was to being gutted by one of the most legendary swordsmen in the world, was now being clutched by a distraught little girl.
"P-please, I'm sorry! He just got away, please d-don't hurt him!" sobbed the child, clinging onto the large hairy dog. Her body shook and her sobs punctured the air. Subaru had looked back to the scene and scowled at Reinhard.
"What is the matter with you!" Subaru had said, his voice fierce and fast before turning around to comfort the poor child, consolingly saying how nothing was going to happen to them and everything would be fine.
The crying had started to cease as Joshua's attention moved towards Reinhard's, who looked stricken and had turned away.
That was yesterday, and now today Subaru stood over a large backpack with a roll of canvas strapped to it. Joshua wondered how long Subaru had that backpack, eyeing some of the cooking utensils tied to a cord. Certainly, a servant in the kitchen will feel remiss for their missing pans.
Reinhard paused, looking between the backpack and Subaru. He then turned to his grandfather Wilhelm for advice but was met with a similar look of disconcertment.
"…Did you have any location in particular" started Reinhard, who still looked unsure.
"I'm certain with the journeys you have been on you must know a place or two, right?" asked Subaru with a playful wink.
"…Is that canvas treated for waterproofing?" continued the knight.
Subaru grinned. "I'm told it is the same ones as those issued to soldiers of the Kingdom of Lugunica!" said Subaru, as if countering a blow.
Reinhard frowned. "Then you should also bring a covering for the tent".
"Oh right, right," said Subaru, placing a hand on his chin as if to think. "Perhaps this one will suffice?" asked Subaru, reaching down, producing another piece of fabric that he placed around the corner of the hall.
Joshua caught Wilhem rubbing his eyes with a finger and a thumb.
Reinhard bit his lip. "…When did you wish to go on this excursion?".
"I think this weekend would be great! Not too late into the heat of summer but with that freshness of spring still hanging on!" Subaru gave a thumbs up at Reinhard. Joshua could practically feel the apprehension of the knight.
"Are you sure you are feeling well enough for something like this, Subaru?" asked Reinhard with caution in his voice.
Subaru's eyes darted onto Ferris, who stood behind Reinhard and next to Wilhelm. Joshua could hear the poor healer groan at being brought into this without even being talked to yet.
"Please, greatest healer of the Kingdom whose credentials are without question. Am I well enough for travel?" asked Subaru, pointing a finger at the Knight of Blue while placing a hand behind his head, as if striking a pose of sorts.
"N-…Nyew have improved enough for light travel, but nyew shouldn't be!-". But before Ferris could continue, Wilhelm had placed a hand on his shoulder. Both Reinhard and Ferris looked at the elder knight with almost a look of betrayal. Wilhelm gave the younger knight a look, one that clearly signaled a lot through the Crusch camp, and the resistance the healer had made to put up was squashed. Reinhard looked between the two but found no give. With Ferris's silence, there were no more knights left for Reinhard to reinforce his position.
"…It could rain".
"That happens, it's why I brought the rain cover".
"Mabeasts are common in these forests, it would be ill-advised too-".
"I've talked to local huntsmen and merchants in the area and they've all agreed that the population of Mabeasts has been down. Also, you are the greatest swordsman in the world, so that's not a problem".
"We could go to the capital, there are plenty of different forms of entertainment".
At that, Subaru shook his head. "No, no, no I…I can't do crowds" said Subaru, a look of pain in his eyes that wasn't missed by anyone. Reinhard wilted at that.
Subaru's fingers clenched tightly around the backpack he placed on the ground, fingers gripping tightly against the canvas. "Reinhard, I really want to go out camping with you. I want to spend time with you, and this is something I want to do with you. Please, it will only be a couple of days out in the woods. I've…I've been feeling so much better lately! And-and I…I don't want to waste it trapped inside…" Subaru seemed to waver but steadied. "Just a few miles away from the world, just the two of us!".
It was the smile on Subaru's face that caused Reinhard to wilt even further.
Said knight again looked towards the camping supplies on the floor, as if steeling himself before starting again. "Forgive me, Subaru. But I have duties this week that cannot be overlooked".
Joshua noticed Subaru's mouth clench for a brief moment before he steadied himself, smiling once more. If that wasn't noticeable, then the hurt in his eyes certainly was.
Subaru had turned around now, his shoes squeaking against the tiled floor as continued. "R-Right," said Subaru, his back towards Reinhard. "I understand, you have many great duties as a knight. To his people…and his king…" The small crowd that had gathered looked on with bated breath as the mean-eyed youth produced a letter from his pocket. Joshua wanted to laugh, because there it was, the royal seal, stamped in the signature red-gold wax reserved for the sovereign of the nation.
Reinhard's eyes widened, for he knew his doom was signed.
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"I cannot believe you had the king of Lugunica order the Sword Saint to go camping with you!" shouted Joshua, who was currently sitting on the edge of Subaru's bed.
"Our king likes puppies" shrugged Subaru who was currently trying on a deep gray cloak. "I informed her of what happened yesterday and our king felt that Lugunica's champion needed time off" Subaru looked at himself in the mirror. "A very wise decision our king has made" added Subaru, nodding as if he wasn't the Kingdom's biggest tattletale.
Joshua sighed deeply, placing his head in his hands. "He already apologized to you, the girl, the girl's father, and the girl's dog!" said Joshua hotly. "Why torture him with informing the king?".
Subaru bristled at that. "Torture? Should I remind you of those trips I took with him to the capital? No, THAT was torture!" bellowed Subaru, who walked over to the cabinet to find another piece of clothing. He moved a few shirts and coats on the rack before finding a red jacket that he made an off face at. "I just want him to act like a regular person when he's around me!" said his friend indignantly before finding a green cloak and draping it over his shoulder. Joshua agreed with the choice, at least in his head. Green did look better on him, it made his eyes lighter.
It was the long sigh that made Joshua frown again. He watched as Subaru hunched over the dresser and stared at the mirror. "He saved my life once, you know? I just… I want him to be…" the words seemed to fail him, as they did Joshua. Subaru did tell him about the day in the capital, and the encounter with the Bowel-Hunter, which mind you, if you asked him was ridiculous that she became part of the Emilia camp, but that was another matter entirely. What mattered to Joshua at this moment was the look on Subaru's face. Even now, after everything that has happened, Joshua would still catch him with that pained expression from time to time.
Especially when he thought nobody was looking.
"I didn't want to use that letter, to have to get a king to pull rank on him like that…" said Subaru. "He's…different around other people than he is with me, but I remember that first day we met. It was different before…everything else". Subaru didn't need to elaborate to him on what "everything else" was. It was even painful for Joshua to watch, as the "everything else" seemed to drag Subaru back into it. How "everything else" seemed to make Subaru small again.
"I…want that Reinhard back" spoke Subaru quietly. "And if…if he can't…we can't…".
It was quiet for a moment, and then another. He could see the frown deepen on Subaru's face. Joshua took action. "You will be careful on this trip, right?".
At his voice, Subaru shook out of his thoughts. Nodding at him through the mirror as he rummaged through a drawer. "I'm not going that far, Joshua. Barely into the forest. Might as well be camping in the yard…" muttered Subaru.
Joshua pressed on. "And you will be careful, correct?".
"Yes, mom," said Subaru, rolling his eyes. To which Joshua couldn't help but smirk.
"And you'll pack an extra pair of wool socks?".
"Mom! cried Subaru.
It was another beat of silence before the two broke out into chuckles. Subaru resumed going through the drawer and found a pair of hide leather gloves. "I'll pack the socks for Reinhard. I'm not the one getting cold feet" said Subaru resolutely as he slid a rough glove onto his hand.
"Good, he's joking again," thought Joshua as he stood up from the bed and walked towards the cabinet, making sure he didn't miss anything that was necessary for the outdoors. Subaru groaned loudly when he made him empty his pack onto his bed and double-checked the contents. Going into the wilderness was no time for carelessness.
