"You really wanna do this?" I look at Neige as she nervously walks towards the recruiting center.
"Y-Y-Yeah... I ha-have to." She looks back at me and Diane, "The-they took our home... I have to take it back."
Diane whispers into my ear, "Wow she's weirdly brave for someone so insecure."
I elbow her stomach.
"Ow! What the hell?"
"Dude leave her alone... you should be proud of her." I mutter as we fall behind, watching Neige enter the recruitment center. "You gonna join her? She'll need you." I say looking at Diane.
"Nah, I'm not gonna rush into a losing battle." She says shrugging, "You gonna join with her?"
"Yeah... I think I will, she's brave but she's a nervous mess. I think it'll help her if she has a friend with her." I walk over to the door of the recruitment center, grabbing a hold of the handle.
Diane taps my shoulder, "hey, you protect her out there okay?"
"I always have haven't I?" I give a small smile.
"Yeah, yeah you're right." Diane smiles back. "She's a lucky gal to have you in her life."
I blush, redness creeping up my neck resting on my cheeks. "Whats that supposed to mean?"
Diane shakes her head laughing, "nothing, nothing. You'll learn when you're older."
"I'm older than you, you ass!" I say shaking a fist but laughing as I do. "Stay safe." I say opening the door finally.
"You too... and keep Neige safe, I expect you two to come back to me after this damned war." Diane says walking away.
The recruitment center is bustling with life, Neige is stammering her way through a conversation with some buff looking army recruiter, while the navy recruiter talks to some older gentleman. The building is new and everything feels high tech. I walk over to Neige. "You okay?" I ask stepping to her side and looking up at the army recruiter.
"Oh! Hey Elsie" Neige says to me clearly surprised to see me "w-why are you here?"
"Well I thought you might want some extra help taking out those Imp bastards." I say laughing slightly
Neige's face lights up "oh-oh my god really? Tha-That would be awesome!" She looks behind me "Is Diane not joining?" Her face falling as she notices Diane's not with me.
"No, but thats okay. I'll still keep you safe." I wink playfully at her.
The army recruiter coughs before speaking, "so... you two both want to join?"
We both nod, "yes, sir we want to take back our homeland!" I say proudly jumping up in the air.
"Perfect. Give me your names, ages, and show me your identification cards." He says, his voice gruff, perfectly matching his large frame.
"N-Neige LePreton, age-age 16." She hands the recruiter her identification card nervously.
"Alrighty, you dear?" He asks pointing at me.
"Elsie Montique, age 16" I hand him my card.
"Alright ladies, you're officially soldiers, theres a bus outside it leaves tonight. Please get all your affairs in order before you leave." The soldier says, before immediately talking to someone else.
"Wow we did it, we'r-we're soldiers." Neige says turning towards the exit door.
"Yep, soldiers..." I notice how scared Neige looks. "Hey, don't worry. We'll fuck those imps up and take back our home. Okay?" I open the door for her.
"Y-Yeah, okay. We've got this." She says looking slightly more confident.
"There's my girl!" I smile as we walk towards the bus, neither of us having anyone we need to talk to.
The bus ride is long, and honestly the bus reeks, yet Neige doesn't look like she even notices. She's holding her arms looking outside the window of the bus. I rest my hand on her shoulder, "hey, you okay?" My voice is quiet, the sound barely reaching her over the overwhelming sound of young men being obnoxiously loud.
She jumps when my hand touches her shoulder, and looks at me wide eyed, muttering back "Yeah, I-I'm fine... just ner-nervous you know?"
I give a soft smile, "yeah I get it, but we'll be okay. I promise." The promise hangs in the air as her face softens into a matching smile. She nods, and relaxes if every so slightly as the bus ride stretches on.