Chapter Text
“Cheat!” Warriors spat, pulling at Twilight’s ear.
“You’re just a sore loser!” the rancher yelled back, his hands tugging Warriors’ hair.
The two grappled, wrestling across the ground, swords discarded. The sparring match had, as it so often did, devolved into childish bickering. Below the belt insults, a few swats and shoves, and the two men had shed all decorum.
It wasn’t unusual for them. No one brought out the captain’s childish side quite like Twilight. The rancher annoyed him so thoroughly that it dragged Warriors to Twilight’s level. The captain was extremely petty, Twilight was entirely too stubborn. When they clashed, a few new bruises and bitemarks were standard fare.
The rancher was much rougher than the captain—stronger, quicker, and his propensity for wolfish behavior left a grin on his face. Often, Twilight would snap at the air when the two struggled, entirely unaware he was even doing so.
“Ha!” Twilight cheered.
The rancher pinned Warriors between his knees, squeezing the man’s ribs. He took the captain’s wrists in his hands, holding him down on the ground with a playful baring of his teeth.
Something in Warriors snapped.
His wrists held down, his body restrained, the rancher’s mouth so close and that teasing smile. Warriors’ stomach twisted, an itch burning across his body from scalp to toe. He struggled to take in a breath, smelling the phantom of Cia’s perfume on the air. He squeezed his eyes shut, swallowing a whine with an anxious bob of his throat.
Her skin, warm and soft, her strength like iron as she used magic to hold him down. The tips of her nails tracing over his skin, pinching at his muscles, thumbing over places he couldn’t stand to be touched. Fear welling up in his chest as she leaned her head down, leading with her parted lips. The captain could see her front teeth, her tongue beneath them, the blush in her face much like the exertion showing in Twilight’s—
“ No! ” Warriors screamed.
He wrenched his hand from Twilight’s hold, backhanding the rancher. Twilight gasped at the sudden sting in his cheek, tears pricking his wide eyes. He felt heat flush the skin, a thick coat of salty spit and blood flooding his mouth.
Warriors was deranged then, unable to think through panic and shame. Tears streaked the captain’s face, making his sapphire eyes seem electric as the whites turned pink. A cold sweat coated Warriors’ body, his hands trembling, his heart pounding.
“...cap’n?” Twilight murmured, still holding the man down.
“Boys,” Time sighed tiredly. “I thought you were running drills—”
Time paused as he broke through the trees. He still had his journal and pencil in hand, in the middle of writing home when he heard the captain’s scream. He expected to find the two covered in dirt, hissing and swearing at one another. Instead, he found Warriors steeped in anguish and Twilight caught in some confused, startled stupor.
Warriors struggled to draw in a gasp, his face pleading with Time.
“Twilight,” Time said, more harshly than he intended, “release him.”
Twilight nodded, quickly slipping off the captain. Warriors stayed frozen on the ground, unable to make his locked muscles cooperate.
“What happened?” Time demanded, kneeling beside the captain.
Twilight shook his head quickly. “We’s just playin’,” he started, “‘n then I—I dunno—”
“Playing?” Time asked, scowling at Twilight. “Does it look like he’s playing?”
Twilight’s ears warmed, the man looking away meekly. “...no.”
“Captain,” Time said, gently putting his palm to Warriors’ face. “It’s okay.”
Warriors sucked down a sharp breath of air, pitching upright as if Time broke some spell. The captain stared at Twilight in horror, his eyes darting to his sword. Time grabbed Warriors in a tight hug, preventing him from grabbing his weapon.
“No, no,” Time hushed. “None of that.”
Twilight reached out gingerly. “Cap, I’m sor—”
“Leave me alone! ” Warriors shrieked.
Twilight flinched, his ears buzzing over the pitchy cry.
“Twilight,” Time chided, “go make yourself useful.”
Twilight’s face melted into guilt. “U-um—”
“Go away,” Time snapped quietly.
Twilight nodded quickly, getting to his feet. He fretted for a moment, stumbling back before he turned and took to the trees.
“Time!” Warriors sobbed, grasping the other hero. “Time! Please!”
“Sh,” Time soothed, “sh, sh. I’ve got you, captain. You’re safe. She’s not here—”
“He had me—he had me! I couldn’t—”
“I know,” Time said quietly. “Take a deep breath for me, captain.”
Warriors took in a shuddering gasp, letting out as a sob. He collapsed into Time’s chest with a wail, taking handfuls of the eldest’s top and squeezing until his knuckles blanched. Time furrowed his brow, staying with Warriors while he wept. His heart burned in anger—he hated Cia, and at that moment, he could only be cross with Twilight.