Commander Kaska

"That's our Commander!" Gaston said excitedly. "The way you charged out into the enemy!"

Kaska smiled. "It was nothing."

"Nothing?!" Said one of her Raiders under her command. "You call sending the enemy into a retreat nothing?!"

"Come on guys," Kaska said. "They were practically beaten already. Just gave them a little incentive to quit early is all."

"Let's hear it for our Commander Kaska of the Band of the Hawks Raiders!" Gaston, now her second a year later, cried. "Come on, guys! Three cheers for Commander-"

"KASKA!"

The raiders with the exception of Kaska flinched. Gaston swallowed seeing David stomping their way. "Uh oh... looks like Commander David's mad at you again..."

Kaska crossed her big arms but sighed and jerked her head to the side. "Seems like he's always getting mad over something... you guys better get out of here. I'll catch up with you later."

The Raiders began quickly dispersing but Gaston paused and looked at Kaska. "You really don't know why, Commander?"

Kaska blinked. "That's right, I don't know why. Why? What do you-"

"Kaska!" Dave shouted drawing near. "I need a word with you! Now!"

Gaston shook his head and patted Kaska's shoulder. "Good luck!" He wished her slightly smiling as he beat a hasty retreat. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't curious... but he also knew that ground zero wasn't a good place to be and these two needed as little privacy as the mercenary band could give them in the tiny camp.

Dave stormed up to Kaska furious. "What the hell was that out there?!"

Kaska leaned back against a wall and smirked. It seemed like she regularly upset David more often than not these days. It was a bit annoying and irritating... or it would be but she quite looked forward to their little arguments. "A rout?"

Dave frowned at her fixing her with gimlet eye. "Don't try that with me right now! I'm serious! I won't let you off the hook just because you're cute! What the hell did you think you were doing?"

Kaska blinked and blushed a little at being called cute. Ever since that fateful encounter she'd been all to aware of a growing fondness for David. In the time since it had grown and grown stronger still. She'd been pleased being made the Commander of the Raider team... at first. She'd thought it would mean they'd spend more time together. She'd been right. They spent more time together alright... fighting and arguing.

She tried covering up her blush with a cocky grin. "The enemies morale was faltering and so I decided to try pushing them into breaking and quiting the field early. Maybe you couldn't see it from your position-"

"Bullshit!" Dave said getting right up into her face. "I saw everything! I saw you charge out there like a fucking moron ahead of schedule and without orders! Worse! I saw your men follow you!" He stared her right in the eyes unblinking.

Kaska put her hands on her hips. This was serious. Dave wasn't simply mad at her... he was furious! And now she was getting mad too. "Who are you calling a moron? It worked didn't it? Are you mad because I stole your thunder-"

*Smack!*

He'd actually struck her! Hard! Hard enough to make her taste blood and take half a step back. "You think I give a shit about that you damn fool?!?!"

Kaska was stunned but she grabbed his wrist. "Then tell me! Why are you so mad? Simply because I didn't follow Griffiths orders or-"

"Because you needlessly threw yourself into danger!" Dave shouted. "Worse your goddamn thirst for battle dragged your men into following you! And I-" he yanked his arm away turning away from her. "I couldn't support you from where I was! No one could! If things had gone wrong... if their morale hadn't broken. You'd have been alone out there. You and your men. Getting slaughtered..." he clenched his hands. "And there'd be nothing I could about it!"

"Dave, I-" she started recognizing that he was furious about being unable to help her... but he cut her off.

"No!" Dave angrily snarled. "If I'm a fool for giving a damn about you, so be it... and if you want to go down in some idiotic blaze of glory challenging all the odds until you finally fall, that's on me for being fool enough to give a damn and caring what happens to you!" He rounded on her again and poked her in the chest snarling. "But don't you dare try taking any of our comrades with you! They deserve better! They deserve a Commander who values every single one of their lives-"

"You think I don't know that?!" Kaska shouted. "I know that!" She quieted down. "I know that..." she turned away. "I... never forgot your words to me... that night so long ago. I never knew anyplace like this one. This band... these people... this "family". Gaston, Judeau, Pippin, Little Ricket... Everyone of their lives is more important than my own so I try to end the battles faster by risking myself and-"

"You missed the point then!" Dave said pulling at her arm. "You're one of us now! There are people here who feel that way about you too!" He lifted her big hand in both of his. "Don't you ever! Ever forget that!" He sighed... then struck himself in the face using her own hand in both of his!

*Crack!*

"What the fu-?!"

"There!" Dave said smiling at her spitting blood and wiping at his face with a handkerchief. "We're even now. I struck you and you struck me. We can put it behind us and never resort to **** on each other again... right, Kaska?" He grinned at her stroking her bloody knuckles gently... his blood.

His gentle touch. His red blood on her greenish skin. Holding hands. Smiling at each other looking into each others eyes after he'd confessed about "caring" for her. Her heart was beating fast seeing him smiling at her. "Uhm, right!"

Dave nodded and kept stroking her hand and now was meticulously wiping and cleaning it with the same handkerchief. "Alright. It's a promise. In our profession we should never use **** against those we lov-er, like! Those we like! Right!" He awkwardly let go of her hand. "And from now on we trust in each other to have the others back. To support each other. Together. And when there's a plan?"

Kaska smiled and nodded squeezing his hand. "Yes. I'll stick to it! I'm sorry... I'm not used to people genuinely caring about me. It's... nice." Her heart was beating fast... faster than it had during the battle... and it felt like Dave's heart was racing too and he'd almost said something different than "like" something that sounded like...

Dave nodded. "Kaska I-"

"Kaska!"

Dave frowned as Griffith called out to her. He sighed as he finished cleaning her hand of his blood. "You better go. He probably wants to congratulate you. Don't keep him waiting." He pressed the handkerchief into her hand and closed it like he wanted her to keep it. A momento of their promise. He stepped back and she watched him touch his scared ear. The mark she'd put on him. He smiled. "I'm glad you didn't get yourself killed out there... you don't have permission to die. Understood?"

Kaska nodded. She understood all too well. The truth was she hated her life before. Hated most of her life leading up to joining the Hawks. On some level David was right. She wanted to fight and keep fighting... until she finally fell. Then this miserable life would finally be over and done with her. Battlefield suicide. She'd thought dying for the Hawks might be good enough. The closest thing she'd ever known to real family... but he wouldn't permit it. He demanded she live for them instead... live for him. Her **** and glory seeking ways upset him. He cared about what happened to her. He didn't want her seeking those things out and he did want to be by her side in those situations where she found them. Supporting her. He wanted her to live. She was important to him as person. Her life mattered... to him. "I understand."

Dave nodded and took a step back before turning and walking quickly away. Kaska quickly pocketed the handkerchief.

Dave knew this was sadly an important moment for Kaska. Receiving Griffiths praise, starting the idea of friendship... what he couldn't know was that it was less effective than previously.

Kaska felt the bloodsoaked handkercheif in her pocket the whole time. Griffith was charming in his way... but it was coldly so in comparison to Dave's genuine warmth Kaska felt. Like fire and ice. She wondered how to become Griffiths friend... she didn't wonder about that with David. She wondered how to get closer to David and if that passionate fire might consume her... and maybe that might not be so bad!

Her life was important to Griffith like a gold coin was. He wanted to chose when and where to spend it since she didn't value it... but her life was valuable to someone else too. Someone who treasured it differently. She decuded she had a lot to think about...

Griffith finished his conversation with Kaska but... he didn't feel as pleased with the interaction as he should have...

So when Griffith sought Dave out in his tent later that night it was a surprise.

"David," Griffith said giving him that strange cold stare. "What is going on between you and Kaska?"

Dave realized that this was "off script" somehow. He needed to stay on his toes. "Kaska is important to the Band of the Hawk. You said so yourself and I completely agree. We cannot afford to lose a talent like hers after coming this far. You have big plans for the Hawks, Griffith. Keeping her invested in the Hawks betterment is the ideal way to proceed."

Griffith smiled and Dave relaxed slightly smiling as well. He'd managed to allay Griffiths suspicions. "Indeed I do have big plans. We have a big job coming up. We'll discuss it tomorrow with the others but we're going to Midland."

Dave smiled. "I see! The Hundred Year war between Midland and Tudor. Midland has been on the slowly losing end of the long struggle... they should gladly welcome seasoned mercenary help."

Griffith nodded. "Exactly. Their pay will likely be less than Tudors coffers in the beginning... but they're **** and if successful we may win more fantastic rewards for helping reverse their misfortunes."

Dave nodded and placed two cups of wine on the simple table to let Griffith pick his cup. He did and sipped at it smiling. "One step closer towards my dream..."

Dave smiled despite his mixed feelings on the subject. "Yes. We're with you. The Hawks are ready."

Griffith nodded. "You've all done well. You've done well."

"Thank you," Dave told him but... "and Kaska?"

Griffith looked into his cup. "She's done well also and become a big part of our success. She'll continue to be a big part of our successes going forward. I appreciate your attention in helping her settle into the band... but I worry that you're going too far on her behalf."

Dave smiled. "As you say. She'll be integral to our further successes. I agree with that assessment. But not as she was... she's only just starting to mesh well with the Hawks. It's important that she feels she belongs with the band-"

"To me," Griffith said those cold blue eyes upon him now. "She belongs to me. That's what is important. Her, the Hawks, even-"

"Me," Dave said smiling past the words that threatened to **** him. "We belong to your vision for us. Trust in that Griffith."

His words put Griffith at ease. "Very well... my vision. It will come to pass. I shall make my dream a reality for all of us." He finished his wine and rose. "Begin preparations and ready the band tomorrow. It'll be a long journey to Midland. We'll hold an officers meeting tomorrow."

Dave saluted. "By your command." He watched Griffith leave and let out a sigh. "Well things will start getting busier than ever from here on..."

Meanwhile alone in her tent Kaska was agitated. Her usual workout hadn't settled her nervous energy. She poured herself a drink as she checked over her equipment. Everything was cleaned, oiled and sharpened and all was in it's place- "What's this?" She pulled out the handkercheif David had given her. She smiled just a little remembering his words to her. He'd given it to her. Like a fancy lady might bestow a token of favor on her knight. She gave an amused chuckle. Neither of them were nobles like that... still it was kind of...

She raised the handkerchief to her nose and inhaled. It smelled of soap, sweat and blood... but it didn't reek. It was a masculine scent. David's sweat and blood. His scent. His words. His feelings for her. His favor... it made her feel good. Made her remember how it had felt when he'd held her, just the two of them in the darkness of this very tent a year ago.

She downed her wine, undressed and lay down again. Holding that token. Thinking about that feeling when he'd held her. Protected her. He'd saved her life and had she ever properly thanked him for that? He was upset today watching her endanger that life... no, he wasn't upset about that... he was upset that he couldn't support her through it! Be by her side. By her side when fighting between life and ****. That's where he wanted to be... with her. Would he... she shivered in excitement. Did he want to be by her side now too? Like this? Naked and alone in the dark once again? A small world where it was just the two of them? No Band of the Hawk... no Griffith... no battles, weapons or armor... just a man and a woman... together...

The idea both calmed... and excited her... she swallowed sniffing the handkercheif again and feeling warm, touched herself...

"Well?" Harleen asked adjusting her glasses while reviewing the values.

Dave sighed. "I think it went well but putting up with Griffith even in a mental sim creepy. I keep getting the weirdest vibes from the creep and it's hard to disguise my dislike. Yeck!"

Harleen nodded but smiled. "Well Kaska's reaction is continuing to be quite favorable if that's any consolation. By the way did you know some species of Orc have a rather keen sense of smell?"

Dave blinked. "Do they? No, I can't say I was aware of that... though I might have heard that tidbit before now that you mention it... and that's relevant because?"

Harleen smiled and shook her head. "Just an interesting fact I discovered and thought I'd share! Keen dark vision is another interesting trait though it can cause a bit of sunlight sensitivity."

Dave rubbed his chin but smiled looking at Kaska. "I suppose we should buy her a variety of different sunglasses or self tinting glasses. I think she'd look rather cute in the glasses actually..."

Harleen smiled and made a happy note of it.

[David Stark Pepper Tinker Bell Harley Quinn Melfina VSD02C Princess Hilda R. Dorothy Wayneright Lady Fingers Daphne Greengrass and Kaska/Casca

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