The night turns to day and the fire has died out, Martino was treating Guts gunshot wound taking out the buckshot's out of his shoulder, as he does Guts wince in pain as he digs through his flesh.
"So after we are done here we get Mule patched up and we gather all the bodies and bury them with their weapons. They at least deserve that much-OW!" Martino flinched at what he said and he Quickly apologized, he avoided making eye contact with Guts and remained silent before taking a deep breath.
"Guts um...you don't have to worry about Mule he's fine now." his eyes lower as gusts raise an eyebrow.
"What do you mean... is he alright, did he pass out." Martino could hear the worry coming from Guts as he sighs and looks him in the eye.
"Guts don't blame yourself but a little after you left he died from his injuries. His aura is what kept him alive for this long...he's gone." Guts clenches his fist and grits his teeth in frustration, he didn't know Mule all that well but he was someone who entered the group as things were at their boiling point. He thinks back at what Gambino said and wonders if it was true.
"Did he say anything before passing away?" Martino continues to treat the wound as he glances at Guts.
"He said that he enjoyed the good times and he was glad to have met you." The black eyed boy stayed quiet as he let the words sink in, he looked at the burnt remains of the camp and looked back at Martino.
"Do... Do you think that I'm cursed?" He stopped working on the wound and looked at the boy with heavy eyes, "If you're asking if I believe in what Gambino said about you and being the fault of the camp's bad luck then no I don't. The camp was going downhill for his overconfidence and lack of leadership, the only reason we followed him was because of how easy it was to enter the mercenary group" he finished picking out the last of the lead as he started applying his aura on the wound.
"Just don't let it bother you ok it clearly drove him insane about it, so don't let happen to you too" he said trying to brush off the subject
As they finish healing up they start moving the bodies and burying them in the pit with their weapon. They were about done, but had Griffith's body last. Martino took the liberty to wrap the deceased boy and have Guts carrying his weapon, Falco. They made their way, the two stayed silent for the hawk of light as Martino lowered his body to the pit, Guts came over and held out the saber. His thoughts went to their final moments as he recalled the fight at the settlement and at the basement, his focus was on what Griffith tried to say to him. His thoughts halted as Martino said it was time, he drops the sword and helps him to bury the dead. When they finish the two survivors went to the camp and salvage anything the can, with the aftermath of the fire some essential supplies made it unscathed water, rations and money just to name a few, by some chance the weapon cache was fine these were mostly swords from various sizes used for practice, such as Guts sword. They left it alone, considering it not necessary after they made their runs they ready their horses, only for Guts to declare something shocking.
"What? What do you mean you are not coming" Martino said as Guts told him he was not going with him, he narrowed his eyes.
"Gut stop messing around and mount-"
"no I said I'm not coming with you" he stood his ground giving an unshaken stare.
"Where is this coming from why don't you want to come with me"
The last time we spoke, you said to decide where I want to be so I did. I think it's best if we go in our separate ways"
Yes, but that was when Griffith was alive and the camp was going places, but now there is nothing left here." He guested the area to prove his point as he sees Guts not persuade.
"It is not about the camp, I just... sigh I just need time on my own ok" he emitted as he gave a pleading look to the old man. He sees that Guts was not going to be compliant, he closes his eye and sigh in defeat
"ok fine you are more than capable in taking care of you self but just to help you anything here that his worth is your including the horses'' he motions to the entire camp, Guts surprised tries to deny this, "what? No you shou-", " it's my only condition to agree to this" he declared as wasn't going to leave the boy bare.
Guts looked at the camp as he didn't really want any of it but wanted Martino out of here. "Fine I accept" he said in defeat as Martino mounted on his horse before taking off he searched on himself and pulled out a small silver circular disk.
"here catch" he tossed the disc at Guts, who clapped it out of the air. The disc had a design, engraved on it was a image of a wolfs head with flame coming out at the end all color black
"What is this?" As he inspects the design further, Martino's face turns to sorrow with a smile, as he looks at the disc " the guys came together and made you that, your own insignia they figure that you should promote yourself. hehehe bunch of idiots." he explained with the last part filled with sadness, Guts looking at the insignia at his hand and clenches at it, even though he hated being called Mad Dog he knew that they didn't mean ill will toward him. He looks at the insignia a little longer and pockets it away.
"Thanks... so then, this is it ... thank you for everything I... I don't think I would've made it this far without your help." He emitted as he put up his hand towards Martino, who looks at it as he reached for.
"will someone had to." he said trying to brush it off, as he grabbed on to Guts forearm and shook it, "watch over yourself and don't be a stranger, ok" He nodded with an acknowledged grunt and he watched as Martino rode off. As he was out of sight, Guts went to the horses and unhitched them as he dropped his supplies and looked back at the direction where Martino rode off.
I wish that he didn't give me all of the camp's resources. What a total waste. Guts unsheathes his sword and starts screaming and waving it in the air scaring the horses to run away. He then starts to walk in no particular direction as far as he could go, with his sword at hand.
In truth he was exhausted both physically and mentally, although Martino treated his injuries, he hasn't had rest since his escape, and as for mentally he is over stimulated with the recent experience with his capture, his torture, his betrayal and his slaughtering of his suppose comrades. He just wants it to end the conflict in his life or just simply hi-SPLASH.
he falls off a ledge and splashes in a large pond, Guts snaps out of his trace and look around his surrounding area and sees that it was nighttime and was not paying attention on where he was going. He sees that he dropped his sword in the water, after a little while he finds it and uses it as a support to lift himself. As he does his neck starts acting up and hear growling he looks up to see a pack of beowulf. He figures that it might've been his state of mind or his "gift" that lured them out, in any case he would have taken a stand and fought them, however he looks around and decides not to do anything,
this is it...ends here...no more trouble. He closed his eyes ready to accept his grisly demise, as a beowolf lunges at him he waits for death, however it never comes he opens his eye to but is shocked that his sword plunged into the grims chest. The beast's body falls onto him as he falls back as he was looking over the corpse; another one charges only for it to be impaled in the neck. The grim starts to be weary seeing that their prey wont go down easily, as Guts throws the body off of him and lifts himself up and attacks the incoming grim from above.
Why? Why is he doing this? He thinks to himself why he is still fighting; he has nothing in his life for him to live for. That except his instinctual drive to survive, it tells him to struggle and keep moving forward, to fight for the sake of living instead of being insecure and feeling sorry for himself. He strengthens his resolve and tightens his grip on his sword with both of his hands, as he engages the grim. A beowolf tries to bite into Guts but doges as he cuts through its snout and decapitates another as he lets out a battle cry and continues his battle.
Guts continues moving forward as he walks away from his fight with the grims, carrying nothing but a strong resolve and a sword from his back. Soon his exhaustion starts taking effect despite his resolve, he passes out. Unbeknownst to him he was not far from a dirt road as a truck slowed down.
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Guts opens his eyes blinking rapidly getting used to the morning light, as he stares up seeing a ceiling. Upon realization he quickly sat right up and scans his current location. He finds himself in some type of Childrens room occupied with toys, books, a tv and a small table in the center with chairs. What set him off is there a black mirror on the wall as well as a grated window and a door. He looks to see what he was sleeping on and sees it is a maroon couch, also pats his body and notices he has a change of clothing. They were oversized gray sweater and matching sweatpants, upon further examination he sees letters on the sweater and reads them. His eyes shot wide open when he sees the anagram for "Path Police Department", in all honesty Guts has never been in cities or large metropolitan areas because of his previous occupation as he needed to avoid as much unwanted attention on him and the camp.
He gets off the couch and makes his way to the door, only to see it closed he then turns his attention to the black window and looks at it. He sees that he has eyebags and looks somewhat sickling, he also sees that his injuries from last night's fight were treated and bandaged. Without warning the door opens and out comes a police officer and a woman with an orange fluffy tail behind her and ears to boot. She wore a business attire with a black jacket, white dress shirt, knee length skirt with black leggings and high heels. She had a brown satchel with her and a scarf draped over her shoulder.
when they made eye contact she gave a sweet smile. "Hello I hope you are feeling better this afternoon" she checked her scroll to confirm the time, Guts remained silent unsure what to say or do in this situation, he hasn't had any interaction with females except Shizu.
"My name is Charlotte Katakuri (A/N: LITERALLY THE FIRST THAT CAME UP IN MY HEAD) and I'm a case worker that works for the city and I'm here to talk with you." She motions at the table and goes to sit down, she gestures at a chair in front of her as she looks at Guts.
He remains still thinking over his option; he glances over to the door only to see the police officer standing next to it. He makes his way to the case worker and sits down, as he was curious on what exactly is a case worker. She takes out a notepad and pen and looks at guts.
"I'm going to ask you some questions. Is that alright?" he gulped as he nodded trying to think of possible vague answers to give her.
"Ok we can start with your name"
"M-My name is Guts." he answers monotony as this got a reaction from both Charlotte and the officer, she blinks in confusion, "your name is G-Guts?" She said in disbelief, the black-eyed boy gave her an affirmative nod, "that's the name I've been given."
"Ok... do you have a surname?" he tilts his head not understanding the question. "A last name, do you have a last name?" he tries to think if he does but sees that he doesn't, "no I don't" he shook his head all the while charlotte is scribbling on her notepad.
"How old are you?"
"7 years old"
"Do you have a family?"
"No I don't, I was traveling with a group of people" he lied as he saw her writing on her notepad, "can you tell me more about the people you travel with? like what they do?"
"They were huntsmen." this gets an understanding nod from her. He's glad that she will not delve more. "ok what did you do in this group I doubt that they'll allow a child to be with them" her tone changed as well as the atmosphere
"I....I was being trained and helping them with everyday matters" he said, mentally cringing over the half-ass lie, he looks at charlotte who was not convinced as she stopped writing and remove her glasses.
"Guts, a nice couple found you near a dirt road, they thought you were dead when they saw the state that you were in and saw a sword with you." she said in a worried tone,
"What did they really do to you?" Guts thinks over the past month on how he was tortured and the wounds from that, did not disappear. Even though Martino treated him and used his aura, it did nothing to old scars not to mention the new one he had with the grim the other night.
"...I was their slave for the most part." the two adults were surprised by this, shocked that his scaring was from slavery. Guts hated himself for saying that, he did not want to besmirch his comrades, but could not say anything about being a mercenary. He continues as he's cursing himself "They had me do tasks and when I did something wrong they respond in kind during training" Charlotte listens closely, taking in all the information.
"They would graze me during training and sometimes beat me until laid still" he thinks back with the thugs and when he trained with Gambino, now seeing it for what it is, a way for him to lash his anger to him. "Two nights ago we were on the move so in the heat of things I ran away and kept on running until I passed out... and here we are..." Guts finish his "life story", hoping that it passes through without looking into it.
Charlotte stayed quite processing everything she was told, she looked at the police officer and saw what he thought about it, he just shook his head and shrugged. She turns back at Guts who stayed quite, looking uncomfortable. She took a deep breath and continued her questions "Thank you Guts for talking with me about this. it must be hard for you to recount those events, but can you answer me a few more questions?" She said in an apologetic tone. Guts mentally sighed in relief that she bought his story, as he nodded to continue.
"When we changed your clothes and treated your wound, we saw some burn marks on you. Can you tell what they are from? If you can." Guts thinks about it, wondering what she was talking about. He scrunched his eyebrows and tilted his head, she pointed two herself at the side of her torso. "Burn marks on your side" Guts eyes widen upon understanding, as he unconsciously moved his hand on the spot,
"right...um, they sometimes used lightning dust crystals as punishment" Charlotte gasped in horror, she couldn't imagine how he could endure such a thing. She recomposes herself and scribble down her notes. She stored her things away and reached over to Guts hand and caress it, she noticed him flinching upon contact, with a hint of him retracting his hand. She gives a sweet smile.
"you don't have to worry about any of that or those damn criminals any more." She grabs her satchel and leaves the room, the officer follows but looks back at Guts "stay right here we'll be right back"
Guts stands up as they leaves, he goes to sit on the couch, he laid back with his arms crossed. He wonders what are they going to do with him and whether they believe his story. as he wonders his eyes start getting heavy and closed them
Guts' eyes shot open when he heard the door open and saw that it was Charlotte standing in the doorway, he figures that he must have fallen asleep.
"Oh sorry to wake you but can you come with me please" as she motions her hand to a beckoning motion . Guts follow her to what seems like the front entrance of a police office. She stops at the front desk to talk to the office there, Guts looks around his surroundings and sees police everywhere and civilians sitting, the best way for Guts to describe the atmosphere is steady, a constant pace. Charlotte turns around to Guts, with a paper bag and something wrapped in a blanket and tells him to follow. They make it outside where he sees the officer that was in the room.
"Ok Guts get in the back please" guts cautiously enter the squad car. The car soon starts and drives off, during the ride Guts has been frantically looking around the car trying to take in as much information around just in case.
"There no need for you to be nervous Guts" a voice sound off catching Guts attention, he looks at Charlotte who looking at him with the rearview mirror
"Where are you taking me" he said bluntly
"We're taking you to a orphanage since you have no clear family we decide that it best that you come live there"
"I suppose I don't get a saying on this, do I" Guts was aware of what is an orphanage, and knows that it is not guaranteed to get adopted so he won't bother staying for the night. They drive a little longer until they reach a three story house around the outskirts of the city as Guts looks on and sees a white sign saying "Patch Orphanage" as they drive up in the drive a woman was sitting on the step waiting for them. She got up and waved at them as they parked and got out of the car, they walked up to the woman.
Guts gets a good look at her, he sees that she is dark skinned, with brown short hair, and brown eyes, from what Guts could tell she had a fairly muscular build. She wore an orange long sleeve blouse with brown pants and thigh high boots. She appears to be in her early twenties for how young she looks.
A/N: WITHOUT THE ARMOR
"Hello, it a pleasure to meet you, my name is Casca Alsuqur you must be Guts." she gives him a warm smile , Guts remained silent unsure what to do, he found himself stunted by her beauty, in his life as a mercenary he never interacted with women and other children, he mostly came to fight grim and that it, Griffith was the one that dealt with people. After a short moment he responded, "um hello" Casca smiled seeing that he was not afraid to talk to her.
"Guts, Casca here is in charge of the orphanage, she'll be your foster mother. She will be taking care of you and the other children" Charlotte informs breaking the ice, as Guts composes his focus. "Guts how about you go inside and get yourself situated let me talk to these two ok and i meet up there"
Guts looks at between the adult and goes in side the house, as he enter he sees that he's in a living room there are children of various age sitting watching the television he made his way through trying not to draw attention to himself a he tries to familiarize his surrounding.
Outside the two city workers talk to Casca about Guts, "Thank you for agreeing to take in Guts, he's been through a lot so help in any way you can." Charlotte said, she had told Casca about everything at the police department, she thought she wouldn't take in a troubled child but was surprised when Casca agreed.
"Of course I'll try to help him, in any case did you bring his personal effects"
"Yes, it not much but I brought them, although I don't know why you wanted his personal effects, seeing that most of it is from his time as a slave." She handed over the paper bag as the police officer went to retrieve the second item. Casca looks over it and sees dirty clothing, boots and a small disc. The police officer returns, unraveling the blanket off of it.
"It's kinda heavy so be careful." he gives her the object. It was Gut sword; Casca pulls out the sword to observes it and then does a couple of strikes
"Wow, how are you good with that ? Are you a huntress?" she asked, amazed by Casca's speed. "Once upon a time I was...but figured I was best suited helping in other ways" she emitted as she stored the sword.
"Will if that conclude everything let us say our goodbyes to Guts" they all enter the house and in the common room, Casca looks around noticing that Guts was not in the room "have any of you seen Guts"
One of the orphans furrows his brow in confusion, not looking away from the tv "uuuhhh what?
"Sigh the new boy that came through here" she reaffirmed
"Uuuhhh...oh, the new kid. Yeah, he went down the hall or something..." the orphan motions to the hallway still not looking away from the TV. Casca rolled her eyes as they made their way down the hall they saw that the back door was open, with a little worry they sped up their pace to go to the door.
Upon going outside they saw that Guts was looking at the tree line, but in truth he was trying to feel out some grim if they were near, he came up negative. "Oh guts were about to leave, I want to say goodbye" he turns around and goes up to them. Charlotte crouches down and give him a hug, leaving the black hair boy wide eye.
"I hope you can find a nice family and be a peace" she then breaks away from the hug, in truth she felt sorry for him, that those damn animals took most of his childhood away from him. Guts was flustered for the first time not really knowing what to do in this situation
"(cough), thank you Miss Katakuri and good bye" she then gives a sweet smile "and goodbye to you both" and walks to the door with the officer in tow. Both Guts and Casca were now alone in the backyard, an awkward silence went by and Casca decides to break the silence "let go inside Guts and get you settle in a room" she goes inside, soon guts follow through.
It was nighttime and Guts was laying on a futon, he was told that his bed and box spring would come soon since his arrival was on such short notice. He waited until everyone was asleep as he got up and made his way to the front door.
"It about time you showed up" he froze in place and turned around to see Casca behind the door, he was about to speak when she interrupted him, "before you say anything I'm not here to stop you" Guts cocked his eyebrow, curious in what she was trying to do. She pulls out a paper bag, shaking it in place.
"I figured that you'll want your stuff back." she holds out her arm as guts reaches for it then looks inside to see his clothes, he moves his clothes around not feeling or seeing the insignia. He begins to worry that he might have lost it somewhere, " looking for this " he looks up to Casca who had the insignia on her hand as she waves it side to side. He narrowed his eye and reached for it only for, only to have Casca evade him with a grin.
"Now then why would a "slave" will want his old clothes from the time he was a held in slavery?" she hummed
Guts held a neutral face, planning to stay quiet, as he kept staring at her.
"Will then if you don't say anything then I guess destroy it" she then grabs on the disc with both hands and focuses her aura to bend it. Guts not wanting to lose his gift from his comrades give in
"Sigh how long did you know" he ask begrudgingly
Satisfied she stops, "When the case worker told me your story I figured it was probably bogus that is, until I met you" she then tosses the disc at him, catching it as he looks over it. "You've got this look on you face that says 'I've done some shit'."
"So I'm guessing your military " he acquired
"No huntress graduate from Beacon academy"
Guts look at her questionably, "then why aren't you out in the field? You are way too young to be retired" she chuckle at the commit it, "well that's because I loved being a huntress but over time I saw victims of grim hordes the dead, the injured, the widows and the orphans" Guts was surprise by the honest answer.
" I saw that they were being left alone and falling into the cracks so I decided to help them"
"So how about you, the way you conduct yourself is more like a soldier." she said as she continued, "I mean with a trained eye one could tell that you look at most things in suspicion and you're on edge."
He remained quiet as the cold night wind blew by them, Casca got the hint, "ok fine don't say anything, but answer me this... why would you leave?" Guts was caught off guard seeing if she was serious for asking that
"tch take a good look at me I'm not like most kids and I don't think I want to be like most kids.....sigh there is nothing here for me, the people that gave me that disc did care for me but I doubt that will ever happen again and the people that did not care for me lift scars that can't be seen." Casca understands in what he was trying to say, that he will most likely not find people that will accept him for who he is and was most likely betrayed by those he trusted.
"Will then start something new here you don't need to be accepted to have a new beginning that at least how I see here." she put out her hand as a way for him to accept, he processed on what she said, in truth he had no objective as for right now except for finding a dream and his new resolve, but those thing can work no matter where he is, after being deep in thought he take a deep breathe and take her hand
"Fine but I'm not going to make the effort in being adopted"
She lets out a small chuckle and leads him inside "ok far enough but there one more thing" they stopped near the doorway and pulls out his sword from the shadows and give it to him he looks in disbelief as he clutches his sword
" you sure that you trust me with this" look at her wondering if she all there. She smiles and says that she knows he won't misuse it irresponsibly and that he was mature for his own age but emotionally immature which lifted him being confused. He walks to the room and lays against the wall with his sword on his shoulder as he falls asleep.
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It has been two months and Guts is in his secret training area that he set up with the resources that were left behind from the camp, he returns to his regular frame being slightly bigger than before. For the most part he will continue his training to get stronger, as he ties small logs on his sword, eyeing a great sword that he had eyes on for a while. His reason to be far out away from the orphanage is to lessen the probability of being adopted and to not draw grim near the orphanage. As he starts swinging the sword up and down and stopping it just before he hits the floor, he is unsure what tomorrow might hold for him as he never thought that his life as a mercenary would of lead him to this, but for now he continues to find his own dream.
A/N: ALRIGHT THIS MARKS THE END OF THE MERCENARY ARC NOW THE NEXT ARC WILL FOCUS ON GUTS MEETING YAND AND RUBY