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He held up his hands again. "Okay, okay. I didn't mean to imply you were incapable. I just thought since I have some minor experience with this kind of thing….." He trailed off and shrugged. "But if you don't need me, that's fine, I won't push you."
Charlotte didn't move, didn't look away. "Minor experience?
"Well, you know…" He scratched the back of his neck, trying to decide how to phrase it. "I come from a long line of folks involved in the military, even from before the war. I was raised knowin' how the army works, how they think….and while I don't believe my family was part of the same army as you, these days I've been employed by all kinds of different armies so I know their ways. That's all."
Charlotte went still, her face darkened. "Cut the crap. You're a mercenary," a question posed as a fact.
Rick paused a moment, staring back at her, then nodded once. "Yes ma'am. I am." He folded his arms. "That doesn't mean I like to just turn my back when I hear somebody's threatenin' little kids, though."
Charlotte shook her head. You idiot. Trusting whoever walks in. You know how this ends— kick him out.
She bit her already chapped lips, gaze flickering from Rick's muscular build, to his backpack, to his kind and resolute face.
"Your room is upstairs," she resolved drily. "First door on the right. You're leaving in the morning."
He looked for a second like he wanted to protest, then backed off and started collecting his things. "Of course. Thank-you for letting me spend the night here, I appreciate it." He made his way to the staircase, again needing to stoop a bit to avoid hitting his head on the ceiling. "And I wish you the best of luck dealin' with this Axel feller."
Charlotte watched him go, her head reeling. Once she was sure he'd gone upstairs she sat herself, letting her guard collapse. Grief and rage and fear battled for a space in her mind, only succeeding through their war in starting a pounding headache.
Exhaling slowly, she let a light flow of tears out, holding up the floodgates to the rest of them. This was an extremely bad situation– desperate, angry Axel held power of the only people he knew Charlotte would coming running for. He was smart, he knew the chinks in her armour and was already using them against her. She wasn't sure if she had the courage to do the same, with so much at stake.
Rick found his room and tried to make himself comfortable, still a bit torn up about the whole situation. He understood why Charlotte didn't trust him to help her–he was used to hostility from those that had no use for him. But part of him still wanted to try and help anyway, even if he wasn't welcome. It wasn't like he had much else to do at the moment.
Stop worrying about it, he told himself firmly. She doesn't want your help, and you need to respect that. It's a bad problem, but there's nothing to be done.
Sighing, he got into bed and went to sleep, resolving not to linger long in the morning.
It was past midnight before Charlotte gave up on sleep- she'd spent the past 3 hours tossing and turning, unable to quiet her racing thoughts. She could not for the life of her see a way out of this– Axel had always been stronger than her, but she had no choice in going even if it did mean dooming herself and the kids to his command.
Only one thing made sense, but she didn't want to accept it. She'd learned firsthand that she couldn't accept help from anyone of that kind, and she had always stood by that. But in this desperate situation it made a lot of sense– he knew Axel, he was a fighter, and he seemed to have some moral compass in him… it might work. She might let herself, for the sake of her kids.
Rick had a bit of trouble getting to sleep at first, but soon his long day of travel caught up to him and he drifted off. Some of his family complained of nightmares after a few years of doing the work they did, but Rick had always been able to sleep peacefully. He wasn't sure how or why, since he'd fought in just as many battles as them, but he thanked his lucky stars for it either way.
Morning came quickly after. Having stayed up all night, Charlotte was up and running with the first rays of sunlight. She was now sat downstairs, nervously waiting for Rick. Maybe he'd left? She half hoped so.
Rick woke feeling happy and well-rested. He stretched contentedly and gave a huge yawn, trying to remember where he was. When it came back to him, his eyes popped open and he sat up with a stifled curse. Was the sun up already? He'd planned to be gone by now.
Hurriedly getting his things packed, he left the room and trotted downstairs. When he saw Charlotte waiting for him, he waved apologetically. "Mornin', ma'am. Sorry to still be in your way." He found his boots and sat down to pull them on, glad to see they were completely dry. "I'm just leavin'. Thank-you again for your hospitality."
Don't say it. Shut up. "Rick?" Dammit, Charlotte. She stood, hands knotted together, and walked over to where he was getting ready to leave.
Rick glanced up at her, his bright blue eyes puzzled, but still polite and open. "Yes'm?"
"I… Okay, listen. As much as this pains me to say I need your help."
Her gaze was fixed on the floor, though she stood proudly as she let her hands fall to the side.
His eyebrows rose in surprise and he straightened. "You do? Well…." he paused and digested this news for a moment. "Well acourse I'll be glad to do whatever I can for you. What, uh….what made you change your mind, if I might ask?"
Finally deigning to look Rick in the eye, she kept a straight face. "My kids need your help. I'm doing this for them, not for you or me. Remember that," she said in an automatically sharp tone; and though she tried hard to hide it she found the desperation worming around inside of her was upsettingly audible.
Whether he noticed her distress or not what hard to tell, but he seemed untroubled by her cold manner and smiled warmly. "I completely understand, Miss Charlotte. You teaming up with me is an entirely professional decision." He gave her a small salute. "As far as I'm concerned, you're now the commandin' officer of this mission. What do we need to do first?"
(brb)
Charlotte stepped, back satisfied with his answer. "Before we start. You're sure you've told me everything?" she asked, studying Rick's face.
"Sorry, everything about what? About my occupation? Or my encounter with Axel….?"
(oof sorry)
"Anything you would think I need to know," she clarified.
"All right." He sat back. "The two are kinda linked anyway. I'll confess I was doin' some part-time gunning for Mister Axel when he gave me the letter. I won't try to justify myself over that–work is work, and everybody needs it. Anyway, I didn't actually hang around his base of operations much, since I was helpin' out with a bandit scuffle on the border for the most part. But I could get us back there, assuming he's still hangin' around." He shrugged. "What about you? Did that letter say anything else? Is he just trying to taunt you, or does he want something from you?"
i put up a picture if yiu wanna see