[Fic]
Title: Momentary Comfort
Author: Anthy
Pairing: Gunther/Gwendal
Spoiler: Episodes 27-32, this takes place during episode 32, but it involves something that is a major spoiler to the episodes leading up to it.
They had all worked into the night, the sky was brightening in its warning of the sun still hidden deep beyond the horizon. Gunther watched the three youths bound away from him down the hillside, Wolfram's voice loud as it filtered back through the wind. He smiled down at them, his fondness for the retreating Maou held aside as he cast his growing concerns to the comrade beside him.
"Don't get emotional, right?" He asked his friend blithely, turning amethyst eyes in Gwendal's direction, not facing him directly. Gwendal continued to stare out into the sea, neither ignoring nor fully acknowledging Gunther's presence. With a shrug and an inward sigh Gunther continued to speak in manner not often heard, his eyes returning to observe the evolving light. "It's true that we Mazoku do need the key, but you were so attached to this..."
He paused, his gaze locking themselves knowingly on Gwendal's profile. "Because it hurts you to see your brother's arm destroyed. Right?"
It was Gwendal's turn to move now that the cards were placed in front of him. A motion that the other man always chose to turn from. To feel, to act on those emotions just was not a luxury but a costly expense he could not afford. Gunther himself had noticed, since the Maou's arrival that Gwendal had started to waver on this mantra. Always kind and sensitive, sides that Gwendal had fought to hide. What will you do, von Walde, when the battle is finally lost? Even now, as Gunther watches Gwendal's retreat, the taller man pauses near him.
"That's a very admirable opinion." It was low, gruff and simple, but the meaning did not go past him. He continue to watch as that stiff back retreated further down the hill, smiling to himself at those words of appreciation. Gunther sighed as he fell into step behind Gwendal, the mission he set out for had yet to be fulfilled.
Stalling the other man for the briefest of moments, Gunther placed his hands flat along broad, tense shoulders. He rested his forehead between Gwendal's shoulder blades-if any violence came of this at least he head would not ache. "You're welcome."
The blows did not come, rather a calming silence. Barely a few minutes passed between them, that was all the time needed. The tension in Gwendal's shoulders lessened, his weight becoming apparent more apparent to Gunther. He kept his hands at Gwendal's shoulders, holding the other man's weight until the muscles in his back tensed again and he was continuing down the hill. "We should set sail before the sun raises much further." Gwendal commanded as he rubbed a hand at his eyes. "You need to stop listening to Anissina and her foolish ideals."
"I will send her your thanks upon our return."
"Your funeral."
"Full-fleet?"
"We are not calling our entire defense force. The main ship and eight surrounding the perimeter shall do."
"I'm wounded."
"For the arm."
"Even more!"
"Now you are being ridiculous." Gwendal sighed at the base of the hill, rubbing at his temples. Even with the obvious signs of an approaching headache, Gunther saw the improvement he had been aiming for. There's the pain you can deal with. "Get the boats together, I will make sure they find something suitable to put it in. We will keep the ceremony as short as possible, everyone could benefit from sleep."
Gunther smiled as he gave a half-hearted salute at Gwendal, retreating to the direction of the shore on his task.
Author: Anthy
Pairing: Gunther/Gwendal
Spoiler: Episodes 27-32, this takes place during episode 32, but it involves something that is a major spoiler to the episodes leading up to it.
They had all worked into the night, the sky was brightening in its warning of the sun still hidden deep beyond the horizon. Gunther watched the three youths bound away from him down the hillside, Wolfram's voice loud as it filtered back through the wind. He smiled down at them, his fondness for the retreating Maou held aside as he cast his growing concerns to the comrade beside him.
"Don't get emotional, right?" He asked his friend blithely, turning amethyst eyes in Gwendal's direction, not facing him directly. Gwendal continued to stare out into the sea, neither ignoring nor fully acknowledging Gunther's presence. With a shrug and an inward sigh Gunther continued to speak in manner not often heard, his eyes returning to observe the evolving light. "It's true that we Mazoku do need the key, but you were so attached to this..."
He paused, his gaze locking themselves knowingly on Gwendal's profile. "Because it hurts you to see your brother's arm destroyed. Right?"
It was Gwendal's turn to move now that the cards were placed in front of him. A motion that the other man always chose to turn from. To feel, to act on those emotions just was not a luxury but a costly expense he could not afford. Gunther himself had noticed, since the Maou's arrival that Gwendal had started to waver on this mantra. Always kind and sensitive, sides that Gwendal had fought to hide. What will you do, von Walde, when the battle is finally lost? Even now, as Gunther watches Gwendal's retreat, the taller man pauses near him.
"That's a very admirable opinion." It was low, gruff and simple, but the meaning did not go past him. He continue to watch as that stiff back retreated further down the hill, smiling to himself at those words of appreciation. Gunther sighed as he fell into step behind Gwendal, the mission he set out for had yet to be fulfilled.
Stalling the other man for the briefest of moments, Gunther placed his hands flat along broad, tense shoulders. He rested his forehead between Gwendal's shoulder blades-if any violence came of this at least he head would not ache. "You're welcome."
The blows did not come, rather a calming silence. Barely a few minutes passed between them, that was all the time needed. The tension in Gwendal's shoulders lessened, his weight becoming apparent more apparent to Gunther. He kept his hands at Gwendal's shoulders, holding the other man's weight until the muscles in his back tensed again and he was continuing down the hill. "We should set sail before the sun raises much further." Gwendal commanded as he rubbed a hand at his eyes. "You need to stop listening to Anissina and her foolish ideals."
"I will send her your thanks upon our return."
"Your funeral."
"Full-fleet?"
"We are not calling our entire defense force. The main ship and eight surrounding the perimeter shall do."
"I'm wounded."
"For the arm."
"Even more!"
"Now you are being ridiculous." Gwendal sighed at the base of the hill, rubbing at his temples. Even with the obvious signs of an approaching headache, Gunther saw the improvement he had been aiming for. There's the pain you can deal with. "Get the boats together, I will make sure they find something suitable to put it in. We will keep the ceremony as short as possible, everyone could benefit from sleep."
Gunther smiled as he gave a half-hearted salute at Gwendal, retreating to the direction of the shore on his task.