Everyone's faces started to change in fear and terror, some in anger and shock at the sight of the massive murder of civilians they had to see.
Ricardo immediately hugged the twins to not make them watch this. Frederica did the same immediately and Reinhard couldn't as his lady wouldn't let him.
"That's too cruel!" Reinhard shouted. "Why would they do this?!"
Julius bumped his fist on his chair handle in rage at the sight of the innocent people dying in front of him, but most importantly…
"Don't tell me he's…" Otto said, not able to finish his words.
"Nah he is! He's going straight at them!" Answered Ricardo, eyes filled with worry and fear.
"No..Run! Just Run! Please!" Cried Emilia, wishing nothing more than to grab him and go away from all this.
"He can't…" Crusch said in a low voice as she put a hand on the half elf's shoulder.
Emilia turned her eyes filled with tears to her, noticing the duchess's hardened look, still showing her worry whatsoever.
"He's the only one who can stop this, Emilia-sama…" She said as she tried to steel herself.
Emilia sniffled as she grabbed the duchess's hand on her shoulder and squeezed it, trying to show a smile as she knew herself, she was speaking the truth.
In front of them, someone climbed up the front of the car and started shooting the windscreen and the driver inside.
(Youtube, "Piccadilly Circus" OST from here.)
"On the car!" Fowler shouted.
Subaru immediately shot him, the body falling before his comrades and alerting them from the squad's presence.
"They have machine guns!" said Fowler as he took cover.
"Yeah, and we have fucking side arms!" Crowley replied.
Subaru grunted at this as he started shooting the enemies coming in the streets.
"He's in the middle of the battle again…" Willhelm whispered.
"Come on…COME ON!" Otto shouted.
"Subaru-kun…" Rem was conflicted right now. She didn't want Subaru to get hurt. But all these screams, all these innocent people… She didn't want them to die as well. So she closed her eyes and took a decision.
She accepted it.
Subaru Natsuki was a hero, after all.
"There are civilians, check your fire!" He ordered as he had to wait and focus to shoot properly.
Subaru, Crowley and Fowler offered a cover shooting for the civilians running towards them, taking down most of the terrorists coming and making them fall back to take cover.
"Move! Move! Get to safety!" Crowley inquired to the civilians.
Once no more were in sight, Subaru immediately went out of cover and shot three of the terrorists down, with each a single shot in the head.
"Get them, bro!" Al inquired as he went forward. "Takedown these bastards!"
Even in the heat of the action, everyone still found themselves impressed to see Subaru's gunplay, how he could take down people so easily while his enemies didn't seem as good as him. Many understood that this weapon needed practice as well to be mastered.
And Subaru was a master.
Priscilla kept her eyes focused on the screen, her leg slightly shaking as she was excited to see the boy's actions and angry for what he had to fight.
"Don't you dare disappoint me!" She uttered under her breath.
"Come on big bro!" Felt yelled. "Show them who the best is!" She cheered, her eyes still leaking tears for the innocent people she saw dead.
"YEAH, TAKE 'EM OUT!" Garfiel continued.
Reinhard winced to the sight he had to see but nodded his head to Subaru's actions. He had to do it; he had to protect these people.
"We're clear for now, go!' He ordered, as his mates followed him.
A weird sound of alarm sounded as cars with white and yellow colours showed up, a blue light brimming on top.
"Looks like reinforcement are 'ere!" Fowler shouted.
"Not too late at least…" Subaru worriedly grunted, as he approached the centre of the place.
"They won't have to fight all that alone it seems…" The old butler commented.
"That's rather reassuring…" Frederica said as she held on to the little maid.
"Yes, no battle should be fought alone after all." Crusch inquired who went forward to hold the boy's shoulders again.
"Subaru…" Petra whispered with her hands holding her dress. "Save them…Please…"
The screen showed an illuminated place in the night, with writings on the buildings up ahead and beaming red and blues lights under the rain. In the middle of the plaza was a fountain around which were multiple cars from different colours along with large, red buses.
Everyone's eyes widened at the sight of the modern plaza displayed to them. If only it was in another time, they could have contemplated it in all its glory. Now, they could only be merely impressed by it, as they were more focused on it being the theatre of a warzone, where people were screaming in fear and pain as they ran away from flying bullets all around the place.
"Wait…Wait this is…" Otto uttered.
Many people widened their eyes at the merchant's words, slowly remembering what he was referring to.
"It's the place we saw on the last viewing!" Petra was the first to notice.
"That's true…" Said Crusch as fear didn't leave her. "So that's why…"
"That's why they were so scared…" The old butler finished, trying to contain his anger.
"All units, be advised, suspects, moving southbound through the shops!" Raven stated.
"They're in the buildings!" Informed Fowler.
"Which way, lead?" Crowley asked, desperate to do something.
Subaru looked around him to see the metropolitan police exchanging firefight with the terrorists and evacuating civilians from the place. Though, screams came from everywhere, left, right, in front of them and behind. The terrorists were noticed near every building in sight and positions as gunshots echoed through the entire place.
"He's troubled…" Crusch said, her hand tightening on the boy's shoulder.
"Well, the situation is hell!" Ricardo said. "Gotta be honest, I would have already retreated!" He winced.
"Why doesn't he do it then?! It's way too dangerous, I suppose!" Beatrice yelled.
"He can't do that!" Two boys on her side yelled in harmony, Otto and Garfiel.
"Natsuki-san would never abandon people like that!" Defended Otto, determined.
"YEAH! Capn's a hero! Heroes don't leave innocent's behin'!" Screamed the tiger boy!
Few of the people's eyes lit up in remembrance of Subaru's actions, some started to smile as these words finding their purposes in all the viewings they insisted of.
"That's the utter truth…" Julius whispered with a small smile.
"Yeah, can't deny that." Anastasia sighed.
Even in this grim situation, Reinhard smiled wide at Subaru's antics. He had the noble heart the sword saint always yearned for.
"Ghk! Just follow me!" He ordered as he directed to the nearer building near them.
A woman ran out of the building completely frightened, bumping into Subaru.
"They're here! They're in there!" She screamed.
Subaru pushed her behind him and told her to get to safety, before entering the building and seeing a man ready to execute people kneeling on the ground with their hands up.
"For the wolf!" He shouted, aiming at the civilians head.
"He's about to execute them!" Yelled Felt in sheer anger.
"Killing civilians in the middle of a battle…" Julius growled, his face not showing any of the features that gave him his reputation as a charming knight.
"Damned scum!" Felix yelled in rage at these people's ways.
"Miserable mongrels…" Spat Priscilla as her eyes glowed red in the dark theatre.
Subaru immediately shot him, wounding his shoulder and making him scream in pain.
A civilian took the opportunity to jump on the terrorist and try to make him drop the gun, but the man wasn't strong enough and got projected on the ground.
Now closer, Subaru shot the man multiple times and killing him instantly, before he could have done anything.
"Not in the capn's watch!" Garfiel said with a forced smile. The situation was scary and he couldn't deny it, but his captain' really managed to raise the corner of his lips whatsoever.
Unfortunately, Garfiel was but one of the few people able to smile at this.
"He's only doing what needs to be done…" Emilia whispered while holding Subaru's hand.
The police entered the place to secure the civilians, crying and paralyzed by fear.
Subaru helped the one who attacked the terrorist to get up.
"That was a bold move, well done." He said as he pulled him back up.
The civilian nodded to him with a small smile of gratitude as he followed the police to safety.
"He really is reliable no matter the situation…" Rem whispered.
"He is…" Beatrice said as she leaned more onto him.
"Raven, hostages secured, one suspect KIA. Electronics store. North building." Subaru said.
"Received. Medical response teams are on the way. Keep clearing those buildings, CIA."
"All units, all units- Attack is underway at Piccadilly Circus. Multiple IC1 shooters on site!" Raven informed.
Subaru glanced one last time to the dead terrorist and clicked his tongue.
"Why do I feel we're the only ones here?! Where the fuck is the rest of the units?!" Fowler yelled.
"That's true! They were an entire section at the beginning!" Felix pointed.
"Maybe Subaru-dono and his team are the first here…" Willhelm said, not peeling his eyes off the screen.
"They did say they would be on their own at the beginning." Anastasia continued.
"Maybe they were the one patrolling this sector?" Tivey tried to explain to his lady.
Subaru directed to the building's exit as he checked the bullets he had left in his pistol.
"We'll whine about this later, let's go!" He ordered, making the squad follow him.
"He's not letting himself get overwhelmed by the pressure." Crusch said with a small smile.
"The last thing to do in these kinds of situations is to panic. He's handling it well." Al nodded.
"He might really be used to this…" Reinhard commented in sadness, about his friend being in such situations before.
It already seemed quite horrible as it was.
"Why did you never tell me about this?" Emilia whispered to her knight's ear. "Do you think I wouldn't have believed you?"
The half-elf seemed disappointed at her words. She didn't like to think that Subaru wouldn't speak to her about his past trials and battles. She could have listened to him. She could have eased him with a lap pillow.
He only had to ask.
Subaru and his team went out seeing the gunfight was going in large disadvantage for them. In front of them, a policeman was dragging a civilian near the fountain to safety as his colleagues offered cover.
"Get to safety, now!" The policeman yelled.
Subaru, Crowley and Fowler joined them as they started to shoot towards the terrorists, taking most of them down as they were on their flank.
Going out, a car on the road lost control in the chaotic area with wheels screeching loudly, crashing in another car and creating an explosion in front of the trio, making them fall back as the fire spread near them, and knocking Fowler on the ground.
Everyone looked forward at the edge of their seats, frightened to the core at what they just witnessed.
"Subaru!" Emilia couldn't contain her fear, her heart beating so fast she felt it could explode. Subaru could have taken this if he ever went too fast. That thought alone was unbearable.
"Hell!" Al shouted in frustration.
"That was close! Way too close!" said Otto as he shook his leg frantically in stress.
Crusch gritted her teeth as she felt nothing but worry and displeasure. But she didn't stray from the screen. All of Subaru's battles, she would see them. She had to.
"Fuck! Fuck! FUCK!" Crowley yelled.
Subaru quickly helped Fowler to get back up and continue their advance.
"All units check fire! Check fire! Civilians are in the area! ARVs proceed to Piccadilly Circus. Officers down. I say again, officers down!" Raven inquired.
"They're everywhere! Where the hell did they get such firepower?!" Crowley screamed.
The squad made their way in the middle of this chaos towards the subway on their right, where they heard people screaming.
"What's that place? A cave?" Anastasia wondered at the entrance tunnel.
"It doesn't look like a cave…" Julius said as he narrowed his eyes.
"There are people inside!" Reinhard yelled. "What's happening?!"
As he was rushing down the stairs, Subaru met two terrorists preparing themselves to execute hostages.
"Your government has brought nothing but death to our lands! We shall return this death in kind. You will bleed as our children have bled!" The man shouted.
Some people got taken aback in confusion at the words spoke by the man, bewildered as he shouted his conviction and his reasons to fight.
"What…?" Crusch uttered as she stared at the screen.
"This isn't an attack...This is retribution." Julius voiced.
"This doesn't justify their actions whatsoever." Spat Priscilla as her expression of anger didn't change. "A war is fought against soldiers. Not civilians."
"It's hard for me to say this but…I agree with her." Felt slowly said.
She understood their reasons if this was for revenge. But she didn't acknowledge it.
Subaru immediately aimed at the first man and shot his head then shot the second in the chest before his gun was out of ammo. Unfortunately, he was wearing a bulletproof vest and upon seeing Subaru approach, he took out a knife and rushed to him.
"He resisted his weapon?!" Ricardo shouted in shock.
"It must be the armour they are wearing!" Julius continued, trying to understand.
As he tried to slice his side, Subaru used his left forearm to block the strike to the man's wrist and grab it. He quickly hit face with the barrel of his jammed gun and then dropped his pistol to take the knife out of his hands with his right hand, planting it in the man's neck before kicking him away.
Emilia held a hand to her mouth in horror at the brutality Subaru displayed; she really couldn't believe he would ever resort to such tactics.
"Nice, quick thinking." Praised Crusch, much more reassured to see Subaru surviving than complaining about his brutality.
"Show 'em cap!" howled Garfiel.
"That was a marvellous execution." Priscilla gently voiced in satisfaction.
The civilians and the policeman along them looked at him in fear as he bent down to take his pistol back, changing the magazine.
"Even they look a bit scared by him…" Mimi winced.
"I would understand them." Replied Al. "It's not every day you get taken hostage by two freaks and got saved in extremist by a guy slaughtering in them in seconds." He explained.
Rem, Beatrice and Emilia frowned deeply in sadness at their Subaru being associated with slaughter.
"I…I thought I was gonna die…" A woman uttered.
Subaru winced as he looked towards them, all in shock.
"Stay here, you'll be safer." He said, before grabbing the officer's attention. "Keep an eye on them."
The officer nodded as he opened the entrance gate of the subway.
"Y-yes, sir!" He replied.
"It really seems he has a natural authority here…" Anastasia mused.
"Well, he is the elite of the elite." Frederica explained.
"That's true…" Petra said with a small smile. She was glad to see Subaru saving people, but she was still worried about him.
As he went back up, Fowler and Crowley were still exchanging fire with enemies near buildings on the other side of the street.
"Lead! We've seen more of 'em on the left subway entrance!" Crowley informed.
Subaru grunted as he looked towards the place and tapped Crowley's, shoulder.
"All right I'm going! Keep the pressure on these bastards and evacuate any civilians you can!" He ordered.
"You got it!" He replied.
"Man, he's still leading without pressure in the middle of that hell, it's impressive!" Ricardo whistled.
"He really must have a good experience on the battlefield." Willhelm mused, his tone mixing worry and fondness for the boy.
Emilia hung her head low to these words. She didn't want them to be true. She didn't want to hear that fact.
Subaru rushed the second entrance, making his way by taking cover and shooting enemies right on sight, thankfully there weren'tmany civilians anymore, allowing him to be faster with his shots.
Until suddenly, a man wearing a vest glowing in red went out of the subway, running towards Subaru with a detonator in his hand and screaming in Arabic.
"Wait! He is…!" Otto yelled.
"He is the one we saw in the first viewing!" Crusch replied.
"What is he doing?! He's running to them without any weapons!" Mimi inquired with a raised eyebrow.
Somehow, the entire row behind Subaru and Emilia herself understood something was wrong, as fear started to fill their minds, the half-elf and the duchess started to tightened their grip on the boy near them, eyes twitching manically.
"For our leader! You will die here! For the wolf!" He hysterically yelled as he rushed towards him.
Subaru's breathing hitched as he realized what was happening and didn't think twice before shooting the man who yelled in anger as he pressed the detonator, creating an explosion that killed several policemen and knocked Subaru down.
Everyone looked horrified by what they just saw, so horrified they couldn't move anymore, paralyzed by fear as their eyes were wide in shock and disbelief.
Frederica just stared at the screen horrified, trying to understand what happened. She didn't have the strength to cover Petra's eyes.
Petra did nothing really different as her mind somewhat went blank to what she just witnessed.
Al looked away from the screen as he punched the seat in front of him in fury immediately, not believing what he just saw.
Priscilla stopped fanning herself as her own face contorted in fury and utter disgust, an aura of fire nearly creating around her if the room didn't provide her powers from going all out. The lady's anger was so strong, her eyes could nearly reflect her burning rage.
Ram just stared at the screen, eyes wide and fists trembling. She immediately understood what happened and she already regretted seeing this part.
Roswaal didn't let go of his signature smile as he simply narrowed his eyes to the screen. The man has died for his conviction; he understood that feeling very well.
Ricardo couldn't close his slacked jaw as he held tight on the twins crying in his arms before what she just saw, his feelings were mixed in shock and confusion. He was used to original tricks on the battlefield, but this…
Julius's eyes stood stuck on the screen before him, gripping his chair handles as hard as he could, for the lives of the people who died brutally in front of his eyes.
Anastasia's fists started trembling in rage as she wanted nothing more than ease her frustration with something, anything…May it be punching a pillow with her frail arms or holding a certain person's hand, as her mind was screaming in fury for the injustice she witnessed.
Crusch held tight on the boy's neck as she slowly buried her face in his hair, trying to soothe her nerves as anger was taking over her to what she saw as well. Her heart ached for the lives cruelly taken, as well for the boy she cherished who was certainly injured by this. She wanted to avert her eyes, her entire soul was screaming her to not look…But she couldn't.
Willhelm looked away as his palms bled from how hard he was squeezing his fists, for the innocents killed, for the destruction caused, for the fanatic mind that caused this and for the boy he hurt.
Felix stared at the screen with disgust and fury clear in his eyes, wanting nothing more than to kill the fanatic with his own hands. For someone to throw away his life like this was a thing, but for taking several others with him, this wasn't close to acceptable for one who vowed to heal. (Sure it doesn't remind you of anything you sick son of bitch?!)
Otto didn't have any expression that could be described, as he simply stared at the screen with wide, shocked eyes. Nothing prepared him for that.
Garfiel's entire being was shaking in pure fury, the only thing that could be heard from him being demonic grunts and growl as he breathed in and out.
Rem's breathing itched as she held on tight to Subaru's arm, tears of pain and anger falling on her dress as she was completely paralyzed.
Beatrice buried her face into Subaru's jacket, unable trying to forget what she just saw, even if she could only think about it and her contractor.
And Emilia….Emilia kept looking at the screen. Broken. With tear-filled eyes. Shell shocked as she didn't even hold on to Subaru anymore, her stare cold and inexpressive as she tried to register what just happened.
Everyone senses were down as they were lost in their thoughts. Much like Subaru on the screen, they slowly started to gain their ears back as the viewing continued.
"BLOODY HELL! HE BLEW UP! HE JUST BLEW HIMSELF UP!" A policeman shouted in fear.
Everyone's attention was caught up as they heard the man screaming, slowly gaining their senses back.
The screen shows Subaru trying to stand up, his forearms red in blood as he fell on a car's broken glass.
"Fucking hell…" He grunted as he pulled out a shard of glass from his left arm, getting on his feet as his eyes were focused on the tunnel entrance where the civilians were.
"Su….Su…" Emilia couldn't speak. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't move.
Subaru was wounded; he was bleeding all over and in pain. She was watching him in horror as he just witnessed and lived something this horrible.
"Barusu!" Shouted Ram with tears in her eyes, worried for the boy she wouldn't admit how much she cared for.
"No…" Crusch muttered as she held the boy as close to her as she could, her face buried in his neck as she whimpered in pain and agony.
"Why…." Beatrice cried. "Why does he have to suffer always, I suppose?!" She yelled aloud.
"Subaru-kun!" Rem cried, as she shouted at the top of her lungs.
"Big bro…" Cried felt as she kept watching, her view blurred with the tears not leaving her eyes.
"He's still alive…" Grunted Julius, his eyes showing the pain he felt for his friend.
"And he's going back for more!" The dogman continued with the same expression in his eyes.
"…Go!...GO! GO, CAP!" Garfiel cheered, his eyes still leaking the tears of anguish for his captain's pain.
"You've always been a warrior, Subaru-dono…You've always had this hear of yours…." Willhelm whispered in fondness.
"…A damned fighter that kid is…" Whispered Al, his voice showing a glint of shock at how awesome this boy was.
Reinhard's eyes widened in horror as his teeth were gritted to the extreme, his entire being trembling in horror to not assist Subaru in his battle. Yet, if a part of him was scared, another was in awe. In awe before the one who was still standing up and going to save people's lives right after living something like this.
In awe before so much determination.
"Do it, Subaru…" He whispered to himself. "Save them…"
"…" Priscilla opened her mouth as if to comment on something but ultimately stayed silent as she saw the boy hurrying to the entrance after being wounded so badly. The expression on her face couldn't be described as she kept it behind her fan.
Yet, there was a whisper, something no one could hear.
"You're…Impressive."
He stood up as fast as he could, going towards the subway entrance as he walked past the remaining of the bomber's flesh on the ground, dispersed all around the ground.
Otto had to look away and do his best to not throw up at the sight of the dispersed blood, flesh and guts of the man who died a gruesome death as well as many people behind him.
Priscilla looked to the side in absolute disgust at what was shown to her. Not like she cared for that filth who died, but he didn't have any rights to stern her view.
"You scum…"Anastasia growled under her scarf.
As he was going down the stairs, Subaru met with two other terrorists, much in the same situation as before, ready to execute people.
Only this time, Subaru's gun had more bullets.
"Eh, this time it was faster." Ricardo continued.
"He isn't joking around; things are getting serious." Julius continued.
"Maybe he should have done the same earlier instead of going with his fists." Said Felix with a dark look, still on edge about what he saw.
"He…Wasn't joking around before either…" Reinhard said in a nearly upset tone as they seemed to berate Subaru. "His weapon just couldn't be used anymore since the projectiles were out. He had to improvise." He defended, not looking to his side as he was focused on the screen.
Both Julius and Felix glanced at him as this tone of voice was quite unusual of Reinhard.
An old butler did the same. Only, he knew exactly the reason why.
His painful breathing and grunts could be heard as he had a hard time standing properly with what he just took, yet assured the civilians were safe and inquired the policeman to put them to safety, who nodded his head he opened the gate.
"He…He's in so much pain…" Petra slowly cried, sniffling and hiccupping to her hero in such a state.
"He went through so much already…And he can't get a break…" Anastasia continued.
"Poor fella…You don't deserve this…" She said with tears filling her eyes again. She saw what he been through here already, to think he had to undergo something similar even in his world was mortifying.
Emilia held both her hands on her heart as she hung her head low. She couldn't see any more of her knight suffering this much in the middle of that chaos. She wanted him to smile; she wanted to see the kind and brave Subaru that she knew…Not this.
"This way! Let's go! Through here! Raven, PC Munroe, you've got civilians inbound from the Bakerloo exit. They got wounded with 'em, they'll need medical attention…" He said on the radio.
Subaru stopped on the first march of the stairs to cough up a bit and steeled himself, hitting his chest a bit, as he started to go up the stairs.
"And he's going again…" Crusch whispered, smiling in awe while tears streamed down her cheeks.
"You're…Way too much amazing bro." Al said as he took off his helmet a moment while no one watched to wipe his eyes.
"You're not done, aren't you Subaru…" Whispered Julius as a smile started to find it's way on his face. "You still need to be sure everyone is safe…You fool of a hero…"
"Capn'…" Garfiel said in a low voice as he cried in awe before this man undergoing so much and going in again. "You're freaking amazin'! You're my freakin' amazin' capn'!"
Emilia only cried harder as she hugged Subaru tightly. She knew what he had to do. And lord did she loved him as much as she hated him for this side of him.
The Subaru who never gave up;
"CIA, the army has been alerted! I need you to contain this threat as much as you can until they show up!" Inquired the Raven.
Subaru spat to the side and turned on his radio in anger tone.
"With what?! Rifles or fucking police batons?!" He replied as he ran up.
Few people snorted and giggled at Subaru's antics to be sarcastic even in this kind of situation, remembering the "brits rules" he had to follow as he came here. He really managed to make people smile no matter when.
When Subaru was finally out, he tried to join up with police officers situated outside covering behind cars, when he heard a sound coming from above.
"What's that…?" Mimi said as she heard something whistling fast.
The moment after, the cars in front of him blew up, killing the officers and projecting Subaru away.
"RPG! There's a bloody rocket launcher above the Tanto building!" A policeman screamed.
"NO!" Emilia shouted in absolute fear and terror as she saw Subaru getting thrown by the explosion's blast.
Crusch's breathing hitched in agony as she stared at the screen, eyes wide, not letting go of her hands situated on the boy.
Rem started to growl and show her teeth in fury towards the people hurting her hero in such a way, her horn started to grow as her anger and bloodlust nearly took over her. The only thing keeping her calm was the breathing presence of Subaru on her side.
"AAAAAAAAARGGGGHH" Roared Garfiel in agony and anguish as he punched the floor multiple times, wanting nothing more than ripping those people apart.
"NATSUKI-SAN!" Otto shouted as he held his own throat, not being able to breathe properly.
"Not again! LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Petra screamed as she held tight on her older maid's dress.
"He already took too much!" Frederica yelled with tears in her eyes.
Reinhard held his head in both heads as his heart filled with guilt for his friend. He couldn't help but think how his past was harsh and how his future and present didn't change.
Because he didn't help him,
Because he didn't protect him,
Because he never did anything for him,
Because he was slothful,
Reinhard Van Astrea didn't feel so much shame in his entire life; he failed as a knight and as a friend. The one who did so much for him, the one who saved his lady and gave him a purpose, the one who smiled at him and called him a friend, the one who avenged his grandmother and fixed his mistakes, was always smiling at him and extending his hand calling him a friend. All of this while he didn't deserve any of it.
"NO, BIG BRO!" Felt shouted as she could not stop crying.
The screen showed Subaru blinking as he grunted and tried to breathe properly, opening his eyes bit by bit, to see the remaining burned corpse of a policeman on his side.
"Dear gods…" Willhelm uttered in anger and terror.
"Subaru….Subaru…" Cried Emilia, her head buried in his chest.
Julius grunted in anger at the sight of the dead man.
Anastasia simply looked away with a hand on her mouth, as she was doing her best to not puke as tears wouldn't stop flowing out of her eyes.
He growled in sheer anger as he stood back up and fired his entire magazine to the man on top, hitting him and watching him fall down from up there, to crash on a car.
"Son of a…" He uttered as he looked at the burned cars and dead people all around him.
Everyone winced at the grim and morbid sight that was displayed to them, feeling horrible and disgusted, feeling sick and disheartened.
"CIA!"
Subaru got extirpated from his grim thoughts by a voice on his radio.
"CIA! Do you copy?! There's a shooter up in the bookstore! He's pinning us down!" Fowler voiced.
Subaru turned to the bookstore on his left and went towards it.
"Copy, I'm on it!" He replied as he entered the place.
"He's still going…" Crusch muttered as she hugged Subaru close to her. She needed to feel him well and alive.
"He won't have a break…It doesn't even seem to be over…" Anastasia said with a tired smile.
Up there, a smiling clown couldn't help but smile even wider than usual, seeing the boy going through such pain and chaos. He understood how strong this boy was, he didn't have doubts anymore.
"No wonder I looooost against you." He whispered to himself.
Near him, a pink-haired maid sniffled as she glared at the screen, her eyes still blurry.
"Always a man of good timing…" She said with a small smile.
Several policemen were inside, shooting the enemies on the first floor above them.
"They're all on top!" One of them informed as Subaru entered.
He immediately shot the enemies situated on the stairs, advancing with the policemen.
When they were all down, Subaru rushed to the floor where two other terrorist and a sniper were situated.
Everyone watched with their eyes wide to Subaru's willpower in action. A second before he was having a hard time breathing and took an explosion to his feet. Now he was running to a floor taking down his enemies and saving people again.
"A hero uh…" Whispered Al. "You freaking earned that title, didn't you…"
He shot the two of them with a bullet in the head for each, and then rushed towards the sniper who turned around, not noticing him in all this chaos.
He tried to aim him, but Subaru was too fast. He punched his jaw, grabbed his rifle and struck his face with it, before grabbing his throat with both hands and smashing his head against the nearby wall, until he threw him outside the window with a front kick.
"GET LOST!"
"THAT'S MY CAP!"
"GO, BIG BRO! BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF HIM!"
"HELL YEAH!"
The cast howled with cheers and awe at Subaru's actions. Most of them didn't really care about him killing enemies now. They knew how horrible these people were. They couldn't feel pity for them anymore. Subaru was doing what needed to be done.
Even Emilia and Crusch felt satisfied to see the man die after taking him accountable for a part of the pain caused to Subaru.
Subaru's breathed loud as he looked around to see if everyone was dead until a voice echoed in the radio.
"All units! Civilians are trying to run by the bus!" A policeman informed.
"F-fuck! There's a hostile near the bus! He'll target the-…Shit! We're pinned, we can't reach them!" He yelled.
"What's happening?!" Rem yelled, her heart beating fast.
"These people are trapped!" Julius yelled, nearly breaking his chair handle.
"What? No!" They're going to…" Petra stuttered.
Frederica went forward to hug her tight, avoiding her to see the worst.
Looking through the window and seeing the civilians, Subaru looked around to see the weapon the sniper was using, a long wooden gun with a scope on it. He picked it up and put himself into position, looking into the scope as the zoom provided a clear sight on the bus, the civilians and the enemy.
"Another type of gun…" Anastasia whispered.
Priscilla narrowed her eyes to the new type of weapon displayed before her, waiting to see how this one worked.
"Woah! This one has a thing to see further on it!" Mimi whispered.
"It's like my monocle?" Tivey asked as he touched his glass before his eye.
"So this weapon is for long ranges battle…" Reinhard mused.
"Can big bro use it well too?" Asked Felt as her heart went faster and faster for the civilians on sight.
His head on sight, Subaru pulled the trigger
The scene went in slow motion as the camera followed the bullet going out of Subaru's gun, making its way until reaching the man's head, blowing it up while reaching his eye.
"HOT DAMN!" Howled Ricardo.
"So that's how a gun works in details…" Crusch whispered, slowly perking up at Subaru's prowess.
Emilia sighed in relief at the sight of the people being safe, still holding on close to her knight's jacket.
"That's truly fearsome…I don't think I ever want to have something like that…" Said Anastasia, a bit disheartened by the sheer brutality of the weapon.
"W-where was that coming from?!" A policeman stuttered.
"It's on our side! It's the CIA!" Crowley informed.
Subaru breathed loudly, more because of his wounds than the situation, as he threw the Dragunov on the ground and went back down.
"He's still wounded." Julius said in a dread tone.
Everyone's head hung low as the winced for the state of the boy they all cherished; he seemed so in pain, so hurt…
"Nice shot, lead!" tiredly praised Fowler.
Subaru nodded to him as he pointed the civilians.
"Check 'em out and join up the rest, I'll check this side." He inquired.
"Copy!" Fowler replied.
"He's not even thinking about himself one bit…" Beatrice winced as she held her contractor's sleeve tight in annoyance.
"He can't, Beako-chan…" Emilia said in a low voice.
The little spirit raised her head to her, seeing the half-elf showing a small smile as tears still filled her eyes.
"He needs to save these people, remember?" She whispered to her.
Beatrice had a surprised expression before she huffed and looked away from her. She knew Emilia was right.
Subaru directed towards the broken large windows of the bookstore to flank the remaining enemies near the Tanto buildings.
"Raven, where the fuck is the army?!" He yelled as he got past the window.
"3-1, army Assault Team has been deployed. No ETA at this time!" Replied Raven in hurry.
As Subaru went out, a car in full speed went from the side, crashing into other cars on the road and stopping as he crashed into a bus, two enemies going out of it.
Everyone's breathing hitched in fear as the car brutally crashed with a loud sound echoing in the theatre.
"Fuck!" growled Ricardo.
"More of 'em! Get them cap!" Roared Garfiel
Subaru immediately shot them down as he checked the car to see if there was anyone left inside and sighed tiredly as he noticed there was none.
"That was fast, he didn't flinch one bit." Mused Roswaal, impressed by Subaru's quick kills.
Priscilla hummed in approval of his professionalism and quick thinking.
"You're doing well so far…" She whispered with a stern gaze.
"CIA, there's a possible hostage situation in the Tanto building, I need you to get there and give me a status!" Raven inquired.
"Understood Raven, heading towards the building now…" He looked towards the building.
Subaru looked back to see several policemen nodding to him, as they went towards the Tanto building.
Other enemies went out of the store nearby, shooting their machine guns towards the police barricade in front. Subaru and his team shoot them down as they took advantage of their positions to the side to flank them.
"Good riddance." Spat Priscilla as she fanned herself in satisfaction.
"They're regrouping. Slowly, they're getting the upper hand of this battle." Willhelm inquired.
"Indeed." Crusch nodded in approval. "It seems there are less and less enemies."
As they approached, a red cabin near them blew up, throwing a policeman to the ground as he was nearer.
"What was that?!" Emilia screamed, not wanting to Subaru taking another blow.
"It seems the thing in front of them exploded when they came close!" Reinhard explained in worry.
"It looks no one died this time though…" Mimi said in a low voice.
"Fuck!" Subaru yelled, rushing towards the man. "The fucking cabin was trapped! You're good?!"
"Yeah…I'm alive…At least…" He said in pain.
Subaru turned towards two others.
"Take him out of here, looks like the area around there is safe…" He said as he pointed out the bookstore where they previously were.
"Yeah, they're falling back in the Tanto building…Might be something in there…" Another one said as he grabbed the wounded man.
"The situation seems calmer…" Frederica mused, narrowing her eyes as she didn't like this for some reason.
"They fought them off." Priscilla replied. "It seems the remaining are inside that place."
"So…It's nearly over?" Emilia said with a glint of hope.
"I…I hope so…" Crusch continued, gaining back her composure and watching the screen with a stern expression.
Subaru nodded to him as he went towards the place, meeting up with Crowley.
"You're good, lead? You look ugly as hell…" Commented the man as he saw the bloody and wounded Subaru coming to him.
"Shit your arms!" He yelled. "You need medical!"
Subaru took a look at his bloodied forearms before grunting and looking to the side.
"After finishing this shit, we'll have all time." He growled to Crowley, who nodded tiredly to him in defeat.
Some people winced at the boy's attitude, not liking this part of him at all.
"You stupid, hopeless contractor, infact!" Spat Beatrice as she punched his chest with her tiny hands.
"Stupid dunderhead…" Emilia said with tears in her eyes.
Rem held his arm tighter as she closed her eyes, feeling him near her, safe and sound.
Crusch simply sighed in annoyance at the boy's stubbornness, but couldn't help smiling.
"You fool…" Felix winced with a small smile.
"Damned idiot!" Otto winced.
"I mean, it's not like it's the proper moment for this…" Al commented.
"Yeah." Garfiel said in a determined tone. "He needs to end this."
As both of them were going closer, the entrance of the building moved, as a man ran out of it.
"ANOTHER ONE!" A policeman shouted at the sight of the one wearing a bomb vest.
"HE'S WEARING A VEST! SHOOT HIM! SHOO-"
Both Subaru and Crowley hurried up to shoot the man, but couldn't avoid him from blowing up, exploding multiple cars and killing several policemen right in front of them.
"NO! NOT AGAIN!" Screamed Felt in horror.
"Natsuki-kun!" Anastasia yelled, taking her knight and Ricardo by surprise. "Don't let him go further!"
Everyone's face contorted in horror and sheer fury to see another one of these suicide men killing people by sacrificing himself.
"FUCKING BASTARD!" Garfiel screamed.
"JUST HOW MUCH IS HE GOING TO TAKE?!" Frederica yelled, screaming in agony as she held the little girl in her arms.
Most of them looked away, they were angry, sad and broken with all they saw, they didn't want to see more and feel even worse.
"BASTARDS" Crowley screamed.
"Raven! Officers down outside the Tanto building! Officers down!" Subaru said as he hurried to them, to see if any of the policemen were alive.
"They're gone!" Crowley said in anger." They're gone…"
"Subaru…."
"Natsuki…."
"Subaru-kyun…"
The three knights held their head low in solemn respect for the men who died right now, people who gave their lives for the innocent.
All the others winced and teared up at the chaos caused, the horrible fate that fell on simple people who didn't ask for anything but to live their daily life.
Living through such pain because of fanatics who decided they would make them pay for something they probably have nothing to do with.
Subaru gritted his teeth at the sight of the dead policemen, as others were surrounding the building.
"CIA! I need a bloody status on these hostages!" Raven screamed once again.
He growled to the man on the radio before getting up and going towards the building entrance. Arriving in front of the door, he noticed it to have collapsed and began to try and lift it, grunting in difficulty as the camera showed the blood on his arms when was moving the door.
"Subaru-kun…" Rem whimpered at the sight of his wounded arms.
Much like other ladies, she simply got closer to the black-haired boy.
Finally making an entrance, his eyes suddenly stopped on a terrorist who ran up to him holding a knife.
"NO!" Otto screamed.
"DON'T TOUCH HIM!" Emilia yelled.
"GET AWAY!" Crusch shouted.
"GET LOST!" Felt screamed in fury.
"COME ON BRO, BEAT HIM UP!"
"He's wounded and worn out!" Felix screamed. "He can't hold this!"
"What do you mean?! COME ON CAP!" Garfiel roared, in fear of his capn'.
"You're not allowed to fall now. Don't you dare?" Priscilla sternly stated, fanning herself as she glared to the screen.
Subaru let go of the door to grab his wrist in extremist, painfully pushing him back until he got shot in the head in front of his eyes.
The cast widened their eyes at the sudden death, waiting to see what happened.
"Fuck!"
"What happened?!"
Subaru turned his eyes to the side, as a flashlight blinded him, with two other soldiers on the side.
"BLUE!" He screamed as he recognized the SAS uniforms.
The man turned off his flashlight as he approached him, making his face visible.
"Still in trouble, Subaru?" The man said as he helped him to push the door.
"Price…" Subaru whispered in surprise.
"Who's that man…?3 Asked Mimi with a hushed tone.
"Seems like he knows Subaru…" Reinhard replied.
"I like his beard!" Commented Ricardo, trying to cope with everything he saw.
Price looked to him from base to top, noticing the boy being badly wounded.
"You armed up?" He said with a strong gaze.
"Is that even a question?" Subaru replied.
Price nodded to him in confidence as he walked inside the building.
"Let's go then, on me." He inquired.
"They seem close…" Willhelm said as he narrowed his eyes to the interaction.
"The atmosphere seems tenser for a reason…" Otto said as he pulled his shirt a bit.
Subaru followed Price inside, as they walked carefully into the building.
"Check those corners…" He inquired the boy.
Making their way into the building, they reached some stairs as they heard voices and gasps up their heads, realizing they were civilians.
"H-help! HELP!" screamed someone.
"We're up here!" Someone else screamed.
"Someone! Someone, please! I don't want to die!" A woman cried.
"There are people here!" Reinhard stated as he leaned forward.
"They did talk about hostage…Could it be…" Anastasia dangerously mused with critical eyes.
"Just be safe…Please, Just be safe, I suppose…" Beatrice murmured.
They slowly went up the stairs, making sure there weren't any enemies left, until seeing civilians kneeling up with a man in the middle, with a vest strapped on him and screaming in terror.
"Get it off me! Please! Get it off me!" cried the man.
"What…What is this?!" Otto screamed.
"He's wearing the same kind of vest as…As…" Crusch couldn't finish her sentence as she started to understand.
"They trapped one of the hostages with explosives." Priscilla growled in sheer fury.
Subaru and Price rushed to him, trying to see the thing up close, the bomb was strapped over the man torso, with a timer set on a phone to the side.
"NOOOOOOO!" Garfiel roared as he jumped off of his seat with horror clear in his eyes.
"What?! T-that means…" Anastasia uttered as she looked to the screen in distress.
"Help me... help me; I'm not one of them!" He yelled to them, his arms still up.
"All stations with have a hostage with a bomb strapped on him, keep your distance." Price inquired as he tried to take the vest off.
Subaru looked over the vest, trying to find a way to remove it, examining every side he could.
"I don't wanna die. Please. I don't wanna die, mate. I wanna go home..." The man cried.
No one could stop or soothe their nerves as their hearts started beating at an insane speed. They couldn't help but remember what happened to the previous people who wore the same kind of armour this man did. The images playing in their minds were enough to make their face contort in horror but at least, these ones were away from Subaru. But still, he got hurt by their blast of the explosion.
And most importantly…This man wasn't an enemy.
He was a simple man.
A simple, innocent man who didn't ask for anything, who didn't do anything,
Anything expect being in that building when the attack started.
Subaru looked up close and saw the padlock on the vest, he tried to forcibly remove it, but to no avail, as it was locked up.
"Damn it!" He growled.
"I wanna see my family again... I..." He cried, despair clear in his eyes.
"No…." Whispered Emilia as tears couldn't stop flowing out of her eyes.
"Subaru please…Help him…Save him…" She cried.
Most of the people in the room thought the same as the half-elf princess did. They wanted Subaru to save that man. They wanted him to be the hero he was, saving the lives of people as he has been doing all this time.
Price came closer and grabbed Subaru's arm, looking at him in alarm.
"Subaru, we're running out of time!" He said as he looked at the timer.
"I wanna see my girls, please..." He lamented to the men.
"I need you to stay calm…" He slowly said to the man.
"My girls! Let me see my girls!" He cried more, begging for his life.
The situation became heavier and heavier. Everyone watched at the edge of their seats, wincing in pain as their mouths were wide open, watching with bated breath, waiting for the climax to happen, waiting to see what Subaru would do to make things right.
"Natsuki-san…" Otto said as his legs were twitching frantically.
"Subaru…" Said Julius as he held his chair handles tightly.
"Subaru, come on…" Reinhard hurried in worry. "You can do it…"
Subaru glanced towards the timer to see it coming close to its end.
"It's about to go off…" Said Price.
The scene changed to stop showing Subaru's perspective, showing the situation instead as the time started to slow down.
"What…What is happening?" Emilia asked with wide eyes to the situation.
"Subaru…?" Crusch asked, holding the boy tight as her arms were wrapped around his neck.
"We're seeing what's happening from another perspective." Roswaal mused.
"How interesting…Something is going to haaaaaapen…" He smiled wide.
Ram turned to her master with slightly narrowed eyes as she tried to understand what he meant, until turning her look to the screen again, a bad feeling taking her over.
The angle focused on Subaru, his eyes not visible, while nothing but his breath and the loud, slow voice of people around were heard. The camera showed Subaru looking at the time code, showing the number 0:05, then on price, gritting his teeth, then on the hostages crying and lamenting in despair and pain, to come back on Subaru's ear, hearing all of this at the same time.
"It seems time is slowing down…" Reinhard said as he analysed the situation.
"It's showing us everything that's happening. Along with what Subaru is dealing with…" Continued Frederica, understanding what it meant.
"Yes…" Replied Crusch as she narrowed her eyes full of worry. "It's showing us the pressure of the situation and how urgent it is to fix it…"
"Why can't we see his eyes, I suppose…?" Beatrice, weakly said.
The last time something like this was shown to them…Was where Subaru tried to attack Crusch in madness, in a failed loop.
"No…Don't tell me…" Felix's eyes widened, he started to expect the worst-case scenario.
"Damn it…Damn it, Bro…" Said Al as he leaned forward to see how things would end.
"Subaru-kun will make this right…!" Exclaimed Rem
The time code changed to 0:04.
The man started to cry louder, begging to be saved, begging to see his family again, his only hope being Subaru and Price in front of him, yet slowly understanding that nothing seemed to be able to save him. So he cried. Louder and louder, his voice echoing through the theatre.
"No…NO, NO!" Said Emilia as she held Subaru's hand tight. "Subaru, do something! Save them! Save them please!"
Beatrice didn't say anything as she kept her eyes glued to the screen as she was paralyzed in horror. She didn't see how he could fix this.
"Big bro…" Cried, Felt. "It doesn't matter! IT DOESN'T MATTER! JUST RUN!" She urged, not wanting to see him getting killed or injured by the explosion.
She didn't want to see these people die. But if she had to choose between her big bro and them…The choice was quickly done.
Crusch didn't like how she felt the same about the situation. The boy went through so much already…He didn't deserve an end like this.
Priscilla leaned forward as she closed her fan and narrowed her scarlet eyes to the screen, burning in curiosity to see how things would end. She only saw one way.
And she just prohibited him to fail.
The time code changed to 0:03.
The camera came back To Subaru, finally showing his eyes, filled with pain…And grief.
Everyone's eyes widened immediately, they were confused and troubled by looking deep into his sharp eyes filled with pain. They didn't understand why he would have this look in his eyes…Or maybe they didn't want to.
Emilia stared at the screen, waiting for Subaru to do something only he could do.
Crusch's face started to contort in horror as she started to understand.
Roswaal smiled wide as he leaned forward.
Priscilla closed her eyes, nodded her head in satisfaction as she sighed.
"You did well."
"I'm sorry."
"What…?" Emilia whispered in heartbreak.
The scene came back to its normal speed, as Subaru got up, grabbing the man by the vest and lifting him.
"Help me! Help me! Wait! What are you doing?! No! Don't!" Begged the man.
"Subar-" Screamed Price.
Subaru then threw him up over the railing and jumped out of the way, grabbing price while at it to hit the ground, while the explosion went off below them.
Everyone just looked at the screen with slacked jaw and heartbroken expression.
They stood there. Paralyzed. Broken. Not able to avert their eyes from the screen. All of them, except a clown and a fiery princess.
The explosion going off made the hostages scream in absolute fear, as the camera showed Subaru and price lying on the ground, Subaru coughing in pain as he tried to lift his head to see if anyone was injured.
"All stations... Bomber's clear- prep medical, we're comin' out." He said as he got up on his feet.
"Everybody stay calm. We're gonna get you out of here." He voiced loud, towards the hostages.
His eyes looked down to Subaru, wincing a bit because of the poor state he was in.
"You broken?" he said in a calm voice, extending his hand to him.
"I'm good…" He whispered as he grabbed his hand.
And the screen fades black.
Frederica's members went limp as she didn't have the strength to hold Petra in her arms anymore, her eyes tear-filled and broken, staring at the screen in disbelief.
Petra fainted in her seat at the moment Subaru threw the man away.
Al hung his head low, holding his helmet with his arm as he shook it tiredly.
Priscilla leaned in her seat, her face didn't show any signs of expression as her eyes were slightly open, fixing the boy in the front row as the scarlet colour of her eyes softly gazed upon him.
"You did what you have to do." She softly whispered to him.
Roswaal's smile didn't leave his face one bit as he was absolutely delighted by what he saw, he had it hard to not laugh loud at this scene.
"Looks like you're not always able to saaaaaave everyone, after all." He whispered to himself.
Ram didn't have any expression on her face as she stood up to go down the stairs and take a place near her broken, tear-filled sister, who looked at her with a painful expression when she noticed Ram had tears on her own. Both maids hugged each other, offering themselves much needed comfort and relief.
Felt buried her face onto Reinhard's embrace, crying her heart out as she hated to feel so relieved by what she saw. She didn't want Subaru to die, she knew he needed to do this, but she hated it.
Reinhard hung his head low as he couldn't close his eyes, remembering that man begging for his life over and over again, crying to see his family again, and screaming in fear for his life to end.
He was a hero and a knight, he couldn't stand this kind of sight.
But he knew Subaru didn't have any other choice when he saw the other people around him in danger.
Wilhelm hung his low as the screams and begging couldn't leave his head either. But he steeled himself quickly. He wasn't in pain for what happened to that man, he knew what needed to be done.
He was in pain because he knew that boy very well.
He knew who was going to take the blame.
Felix held his dress as hard as he could, his tears flowing on the floor at the scene he just witnessed, at the decision, Subaru had to take.
Julius didn't have the strength to look up. He didn't have the strength to show his face contorting in pain and anger. He was a knight. A prideful knight. He made an oath to protect the innocent and he knew Subaru had the exact same will of life.
Therefore, he could perfectly comprehend the pain Subaru Natsuki had to feel right here and right now. By the decision, he took for the greater good, for the safety of all.
He was more than a knight could ever be.
Anastasia buried her face in her scarf, the sheer shocking display here taught her just how insignificant her world's power truly was. No wonder her greatest idol built an entire country out of nowhere. He was probably just some commoner from Subaru's world, not some intellectual individual who came to the wilds of Kararagi with unboundable knowledge that compared to the great Sage Shaula or talent like the first Lion King. He was probably someone haunted by Subaru's world as well and managed to make a living through his intense knowledge without giving credit to the true makers of everything he introduced.
Hoshin was a fake.
But the merchant princess could only sob in gratitude. She felt nothing short of relief at the small mercy Hoshin had offered her people. He introduced things to better their lives…
He made sure that they wouldn't recreate any of the mass-murdering weaponry or ideologies that grew rampant in this horrific world she had witnessed.
Truly.. Ana was nothing short of grateful for her idol's choice of the knowledge he shared of his world.
And she was ever more grateful that the black-haired youth she had grown to care worried for had been pulled to her world and away from his original one.
The merchant queen could do not but bite her lip in fury. The memories of every death her Natsuki Subaru encountered since his first step in Lugunica setting a fire within her unmatched by her newfound rage at the incompetence of the half-elf sitting before her on the front seat.
"Such a despicable girl." Anastasia jeered whisperingly while glaring at the selfish brat that had caused so much pain to a man that already married the word and divorced it.
Ricardo hugged the crying twins as hard as he could, patting their heads and trying to soothe their nerves as he nodded his head in solemn respect for the boy.
He respected the man.
Hell, how much he respected him now.
Otto looked down on the ground as he hiccupped, trying to wipe his tears away as he felt horrible for what just happened. He respected Subaru more than anyone and knew about him always doing what nobody could do to make things right. Therefore, he would never blame him for something like this, as he knew the choice wasn't his.
Nevertheless…He felt horrible.
Horrible, as he was glad this man died away from his friend.
Garfiel stood tall as he cried with his head held high, in solemn respect for the man that died and for his captain, who did what no one could.
His captain was strong.
His captain was a hero.
Heroes don't save the day.
Heroes do what no one else can; heroes take the decisions no one else can.
And Subaru perfectly held this role.
So he cried because his tears were the ultimate proof of respect he could show for this man who died unjustly and his captain who will take the burden for it.
As a man should,
The small blonde girl held on to the boy's chest with her sobs and whimpers audible enough through his vest and she cried. She couldn't understand this world. She was the oldest being in this room and yet she could only fall limp at the sheer horror and destruction Subaru's world displayed through only a couple of viewings. Not even the witch of Envy placed this palatial fear inside of her. All Beatrice could do is hug her beloved contractor. The one she had rejected and thrown out so many times because she thought his smile was annoying and unneeded.
How wrong she was. She needed that smile again. She knew for a fact that if Subaru regained any of these memories, then he wouldn't care for her as his spirit again. He wouldn't smile at her again.
He will only remember the horrors that the advanced world forced upon him.
"Betty still needs you, infact. Please don't leave. Don't remember this world."
Crusch softened her grip around the boy, as she stood up to stroke his hair, closing her eyes as she came closer to the back of his head.
Her eyes streaming tears of pain and respect, towards the one she loved and what he did with the most painful expression she ever saw on a man's face.
She continued to caress his head and came closer, approaching her lips, as she kissed the back of his head before holding him close.
"You're amazing, Subaru…" She whispered to him.
And Emilia simply hugged the side of her knight tight. Eyes closed and wetting her jacket with her warm tears over and over. She wasn't as naive as she was before, she knew what Subaru did right now was inevitable if everyone had to be saved.
But much like everyone else, and even more…She knew him. She knew her knight, she knew Natsuki Subaru.
Therefore, she couldn't even fathom the pain in her heart about the idea of him bearing this burden alone, him carrying these memories for the rest of his life.
He wasn't the kind of man to forget, he wasn't the kind of man to overlook things.
He was the kind of man who would always push forward to have the best ending possible for everyone to be happy…Except himself.
And she hated him for that.
She hated his stubbornness to always carry the world on his shoulders and never inform anyone of it.
She hated it to the core.
That's why she hugged him tight and buried her head in his chest, sticking her ear to near his heart to hear it clearly.
His idiocy and stubbornness were one of the many reasons why she loved that man more than anything.
The screen loaded up again with police sirens wailing on the back, showing the plaza with illuminated buildings and policemen everywhere, showing how they were securing the area with Subaru standing in front of the fountain in the middle of the place, staring at the dead bodies covered in white sheets.
Everyone's blurry and tired eyes turned to the screen in confusion with a grim expression, waiting to see what it was all about.
They were all worn out and tired. They saw enough, but they knew they needed to see it until the end.
Where this adventure would lead Subaru;
Subaru's face is shown as an expression of pain and anger as Price approached him from the back.
"Oh, Subaru…" The half-elf whispered as she caressed his cheek.
"Don't blame yourself…" Said Crusch in an equal tone, her eyes filled with grief.
"You saved lives, today son." He gently said.
Subaru turned his head a bit to the side, glancing at price.
"That's the only thing you found, Price?" Growled Subaru.
Few people winced at the tone and expression Subaru had on his face, they all kind of understood why he was like that.
"Please…" Crusch said in a broken tone.
"You did what you had to bro…" Al whispered in a dread tone.
Price grimaced as he came closer to him.
"Two daughters lost their father today." He said as he turned around to him, speaking in a bitter and emotional tone. "Because I wasn't quick enough…"
"Big bro…" Felt winced, leaned on Reinhard as she felt too weak to redress herself.
"Subaru…No…" Reinhard whispered as he closed his eyes.
"Capn'…" Garfiel closed his eyes. He knew perfectly what he felt.
And in a way, he couldn't blame him for that, he would've felt the same.
"You didn't have a choice…" Price answered with a wince.
Many people nodded with Price's statement.
"We did. We had a choice. But we didn't get to choose! All that was because we had to respect those fucking engagement rules!"
Price looked at him and titled his head, showing his confusion to his words.
"It shouldn't even have happened in the first place, price…" He said with a low voice. "The SO15 was tracking these cells for weeks."
"What…?" Whispered Anastasia as she started to understand, remembering the beginning of the viewing.
"So that's what he meant when he said the rules of engagement were stupid!" Spat Ricardo in fury.
"What…Why?" Said Petra, who woke up some minutes ago hugging Frederica.
"They prioritized their rules and didn't prevent this when they could." Priscilla growled in fury, remembering the many people who died in the viewing.
"So…This all started…" Emilia whispered, her fists shaking in anger.
"Because of Subaru-sama's superiors…" Growled Crusch, having it hard to not destroy the chair of the boy regarding how hard she was squeezing it.
Price looked taken aback by this as he came closer, speaking with a slightly upset tone.
"They had actionable intel on this?" He spoke.
"You bet they did," Subaru replied before looking back again, towards the dead bodies of the innocent civilians.
"Only thing they did was to stand by, to pretend we're not at war, only acting now when shit hits the fan…" He growled. "Those rules are tying our hands." He concluded.
Everyone, even Reinhard, started to glare at the screen as anger took over them. Government's orders and rules made this entire massacre happen, while it could have been avoided if ever people like Subaru could have fought earlier.
In a way, it wasn't so much different from Lugunica. And everyone understood it, everyone realized it.
A mess is created when people want to keep a good image and keep control.
And then people like Subaru needs to go and fix everything for them, while they are forgotten or die in the process, taking the burden of the lives they couldn't save and those they took with them.
This was truly disgusting.
Price looked around him before coming close, standing right next to him, staring at the dead bodies too.
"Then what do you have in mind?" He calmly said.
"We fight." Subaru answered his eyes still set on the grim sight before him. "We break the rules. We sent all that bullshit to hell."
He turned to Price, looking at him with strong, determined eyes.
"We take the fucking gloves off and we fight." He growled to him.
Garfiel smirked as he looked right into his captain's eyes, determined and strong.
Otto did the same as he dried his face from the tears he previously had.
Many others started to regain confidence as they perked up with the strong-willed man they saw on the screen.
A strong man.
A man ready to fight.
Price looked at him with confidence as he nodded his eyes.
"All right then. You're going on the front line…" Price inquired, taking out his phone.
"I have a contact In Urzikstan. Someone that might help you with the stolen gas…and maybe find the wolf." He continued.
"How do you…" Subaru said, bewildered.
"Kate informed me." Price replied. "What do you say?"
"Tch." Spat Crusch.
Subaru nodded his head as he glanced, once again, to the victims of the attack.
"Yeah, I'm in. What about you?" He asked.
"I'll stay here and take what's come next with that cell tracking. After this, SAS will have the full lead on this operation." He explained.
Everyone's eyes lit up in excitement and expectations as they understood how these eyes were ready to take a step out and make justice for all the people who have fallen today.
Subaru raised his head as the camera came closer, focusing on his sharp eyes widening in wrath and sheer determination.
"Let's get evil."
Here, done with the second chapter.
All right, let me talk to you about a few things.
1) I want to thank my beta readers, Killthestory, Wannabe and Reactionist for their help with this fiction as I'm still new to the reactions world and trying my best to give you quality, these guys were a big help.
2) I will most probably do the entire campaign of Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 2019, with the scenario and scenes I'll add and change to my liking, following the trope I decided to create for our CIA asset. (Subaru is not american by the way, he's an asset. An agent from another country recruited for his skills.)
3) I know most of you awaits eagerly for my other fics, being "Dragon King" and "Priscilla if." The thing is, I don't like meddling stories with others so I prefer to not talk about it in another fiction to avoid confusion but I'll do it just this once to explain it to you. I'm still working on them, Dragon king is half done and some heavy shit fell on me when I finished Priscilla if chapter 2 and was about to post it, so I'm redoing it. All that to say; please rest assured that I'm not dropping it.
4) Don't forget we have a discord channel with most of us writers if ever you want to join, chat and chill with us, you'll find it on Mohamedasemabas's first chapter of "Watching Him Die Again And Again" on this site.
I want to thank you all again for the incredible support you've been giving me for this fiction, it's always heartwarming to see people appreciate your work.
Don't hesitate to leave a review to tell me about your thoughts.
I'll see you next chapter!