Genuary Jubilee Week 3 - Strangers

[gaiages]

Captain

Fandom: Final Fantasy XIV
Is the best path to fight, or is it something else?

Genuary Jubilee Week 3: Strangers

Rating: Mature

2,993 words
Relationship(s) / Characters: OCs & OCs
Tags: Pre-MSQ ; battle ; death ; angst
CWs: death, wounds, blood. This fic takes place on a battlefield, so please keep this in mind before reading.

So lots going on here. First off this is my longest single chapter fic by a long shot. So that's cool! Next, this is a companion piece to Ink, as it's the same incident but from the POV of one of the new recruits at the encampment that was attacked.

This is also the third Gen-uary Jubilee prompt! There was a choice between 'roommates' and 'strangers', and I went the strangers route with Laurent training the recruits.

Also on AO3 and Tumblr

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"Alright, we'll be working on melee drills today."

Benjamin watches the captain flipping through a few pieces of paper with trepidation. Melee combat? I've never been particularly good at fighting up close—or afar for that matter…

Their latest training captain had only been there for a couple of weeks, but he had already managed to scare even the most unruly of the recruits into obedience. Benjamin had never directly interacted with the man yet, but he could see why the others were wary around him. The Viera struck an imposing figure, and even though he didn't talk much, his piercing fuchsia eyes said more than his words would anyway.

The recruits often whispered and gossiped about the captain—What was up with the gunblade on his back? Was he Bozjan, then, or was the weapon just for show? Were they going to learn how to be gunbreakers? What even is his name, anyway?

While the recruits buzzed with excitement, Benjamin just wanted all of this training to be over with. Not out of confidence—he was never a strong fighter, and he wasn't trained in how to use his magic. But more training is going to change that… only fighting the Garleans could. How could he not make them pay after they destroyed his home? After—

Benjamin's thoughts are interrupted when he hears the captain growl under his breath at the papers and looks up. "These are useless. Pick the weapon you're most comfortable with. You'll train in groups of three—of my choosing."

There is some grumbling at the orders, but when the captain clears his throat, they fall silent. "Complacency teaches you nothing. I'd rather have you all learn how to adapt than die on the battlefield." The captain's blunt statement makes the atmosphere tense, but he thinks nothing of it and begins assigning recruits to one another.

** **

"Hah! What's wrong Benjamin, too fast for you?"

Benjamin nurses his bruised knuckles as Cicia smirks and silently picks up his wooden sword. She flips it around to hand it back to him. "Surely you'll learn to adapt this time?"

He takes the sword back with a heavy sigh. Gods, she's so annoying. Cicia had always been great at fighting, and she knew it. Unfortunately, he got paired with her and her friend, and that meant having to deal with her snide comments.

"You."

The three turn around in the direction of the voice to find the captain staring at them. He gestures to Benjamin. "Come here."

Oh no… Is this the day I die? Benjamin slowly walks to the captain, and once he's close enough, he nods down at Benjamin's wooden sword. "Why do you keep dropping it?"

Benjamin bristles at the question, trying and failing to keep the annoyance out of his voice. "Because Cicia keeps hitting my hand—"

"No."

"What? What do you mean no!?" The Viera raises his eyebrows ever so slightly at Benjamin's outburst, and the recruit realizes what he did. "O-oh, I apologize—"

"Don't." The captain interrupts him again. "It's fine to be spirited." He nods at the wooden sword again. "Lift it off the ground with just your wrist."

…Huh? Benjamin looks down at the sword and tries to flick it up with his wrist, but it barely budges. Why is this so hard? He tries a few more times before the captain, shaking his head, takes it out of his hand. As he moves the sword around with his wrist while looking at it, Benjamin silently bristles again. Does he just want to show me how weak I am?

"It's too heavy for you." The captain sighs and puts the weapon on the rack, his back turned to Benjamin.

"I-I know, but I'm trying to get stronger—"

"I didn't say you were weak. I said it's too heavy for you." He taps a finger to his lips in thought for a moment, before pulling out two small wooden daggers and handing them to Benjamin. "Getting stronger doesn't mean you'll get better at holding a sword. Try these."

Benjamin stared at the daggers blankly for a moment before looking back up. "Um… the other captain only taught us how to use swords."

The Viera pinches the bridge of his nose in annoyance and mumbles under his breath. "Hells, no wonder…" He looks back at Benjamin. "I'll teach you how to use them. As well as the rest of you. Clearly, the last captain was incompetent."

"Oh…" Not knowing what to say, Benjamin turned the daggers a few times in his hands before looking up. "Thank you, Captain… um… I don't know your name…"

"Elja." The captain casts his gaze over the recruits, perplexed. "Did I not tell you all?"

** **

The next few days were spent teaching the recruits different weapon types, and many of them started feeling more comfortable sparring with something other than swords. Captain Elja was right that the daggers felt better to Benjamin—he was even able to occasionally parry Cicia's attacks—but he still didn't feel particularly strong. I still feel like I'm wasting my time… but what do I do, if not fight?

"Captain Elja's late…" Benjamin heard someone mumble next to him, which caused some of the recruits to become restless. The captain had never been late before.

Then came the explosion.

The recruits all looked up in shock at the roof of the encampment, now on fire, halfway caved in. A few of the nearby soldiers jumped up, grabbing their weapons and shouting at the recruits. "Garleans! Hide!"

What…? Benjamin stood there, frozen. Garleans? Here? Why… I thought they were farther… The others barely moved either—where would they hide, anyway?

As if sensing their immobility, the captain rushes through a door. "What are you all doing!?" He runs towards the recruits. "You need to get out of this field, now!" Instead of stopping, however, the Viera continues to dash past the group, drawing his weapon, and Benjamin then notices three Garleans heading towards them.

The captain's words roused a few of the recruits into action, trying to get the others to ignore their fears and run. A rough push from someone—he wasn't sure who—snapped him out of his trance. As Benjamin turned to run somewhere, anywhere, he saw a flash and heard the heavy clang of metal as the captain engaged the Garleans.

As one quickly fell, Benjamin only had one thought as he dashed to a nearby building: I guess he can use that gunblade.

** **

What followed after was a blur, but Benjamin would never forget it. The sound of a struggle surrounded him—of fighting, of fire, of people dying—and the smoke made his eyes water and tears streak down his face (or was it the fear?). He didn't know if it was minutes or hours, but it felt like an eternity.

They all had to keep running. Sometimes the captain would make it back to them, quickly shouting out directions and telling them to 'get to the the armored vehicles'. Benjamin didn't—couldn't—look back, but something told him each time they stopped, there were less of them than before.

Eventually, Captain Elja came back again, roughly grabbed Benjamin's arm, and started dragging him along. "Come on!"

The pain of Benjamin's arm being yanked brought him back to some semblance of awareness. "…Wait… what about the others…"

"Don't talk, you'll breathe in more smoke."

He simply complies, and after a moment, the captain pushes Benjamin, and his hands feel the cold metal of the vehicle before he realizes he's against it. "Get on."

"What about you?"

Benjamin isn't given a chance to object any further as strong arms pull him into the back of the truck. The captain looks back, and he couldn't help but notice his fuchsia eyes look softer than normal. "I won't die here, Benjamin."

He… knows my name? The truck drives away, leaving the sounds of battle behind him.

** **

The ride felt like an eternity, and it was even more terrifying than the battlefield. Here, he had to see and hear the other soldiers in the truck—their groans of pain and stifled sobs. He didn't know any of them, either. Where are the rest of the recruits…?

Benjamin was almost certain the man next to him breathed his last already, but he dared not check. He sat curled up, holding his knees and praying the vehicle would stop soon.

Mercifully, the armored vehicle stopped, but hearing the commotion outside, Benjamin didn't want to move. What is happening now? Are there more Garleans? He hears someone climb into the vehicle and start quietly talking to some of the soldiers near him. They asked one if she was hurt, gently tried to wake another up (followed by a soft sigh), and quietly directed someone else to help the soldiers off the truck.

Eventually, Benjamin felt them stop next to him.

"Are you alright? Can you look at me?" He felt a hand lightly close over one of his own, and he stopped shaking—when did I start shaking?—and looked up at the owner of the voice.

A Viera with calm emerald eyes looked back at him, and they gave Benjamin a soft smile. "Good. It'll be alright. Tell me, are you hurt anywhere?"

The question made Benjamin realize that he never bothered to check. He looked at his arms and torso, and nothing felt like it hurt—even if he felt utterly exhausted. "No… I don't think so…"

The medic nods, lightly touching Benjamin on the forehead. It was strange, but it felt comforting. "It'll be okay." They squeezed his hand. "Head out of the truck and the others will take care of you."

Benjamin nods and makes to get up, but a sudden thought stops him. "W-wait!" The Viera turns around, startled by him suddenly yelling. "Oh, I.. I'm sorry… I just… what about the captain?"

They frown and seem to hesitate before answering. "Who is your captain?"

"He… he stayed behind and… is he okay?" Benjamin belatedly realized the question the medic asked. "Is, is Captain Elja okay?"

An unreadable, intense expression crosses their face for a moment before they turn away slightly. "I haven't seen Captain Elja yet, I apologize. But… I'm sure he'll be fine."

Benjamin wanted to ask how they'd know that, but he heard the sound of another truck pulling up, and the medic shakes their head and rushes out of the vehicle without another word.

** **

What do I even do…? Benjamin stood near a tent, watching the chaos. He didn't know where this was, exactly, but he could tell it was a medical encampment away from the frontlines. Idly watching the medics rushing back and forth, a thought passed his mind that they didn't expect something like this to happen. Not like any of us did either, to be fair.

He watched the Vieran medic for a while, wishing to talk to them again—he wasn't sure why, but they felt comforting. The medic also happened to be a captain though, and was far too busy directing the others and handling the endless stream of vehicles to sit with one unhurt recruit.

I don't want to stand here, but what do I do… He wanders a few feet away from the tent and catches the eye of one of the medics, who immediately flags him down. "Hey, are you okay? No injuries?" Benjamin nods. "Can you help us with getting this tent up, then?" She gestures to a half-erected tent that some soldiers were trying to get completely upright.

"Yes…" Thankful for the opportunity to do anything, he moves to one side of the tent, holding it up so the medic can duck under the canvas and set up more poles. "What's the tent for?"

"Oh…" She looks Benjamin up and down for a moment and mutters something under her breath—he's so young—before answering. "…Not all of the soldiers are well off. Gale—uh, Captain—asked us to set up a place for them to have some peace."

She danced around the subject, but Benjamin already knew what she meant. A place to die.

"What else are you able to do, soldier?" The medic eyes him as she ties another knot to the pole.

"I-I… I'm not a soldier, I'm just—"

"A recruit, I know. Most of you are. But we can use all the help we can get around here and…" She trails off, unable to think of what to say next.

"Can I be with them?"

"Huh?"

"The… ones that need peace. Can I stay with them? So someone's there…"

The medic stops what she's doing to face him, a grave look on her face. "Do you know what I mean by—"

"Yes."

"I… I see." She nods at Benjamin. "Yes, that is fine. Just… don't overdo it, okay?" The medic gives Benjamin another glance before walking away, waving down a soldier near a vehicle and calling out. "Yes, the tent here. Try and be gentle…"

** **

The tent was quieter than Benjamin expected. It was for the best, he thought—most of the soldiers knew this was where they came to pass, so maybe they simply waited instead of crying out. The conjurers also passed by, touching some of the soldiers' foreheads. Probably a spell to numb the pain.

Benjamin would sit near someone and hold their hand, or place a hand on their shoulder. He never said anything—it'd all ring hollow—and stayed with them until they passed. At one point, he sat next to Cicia's friend. He couldn't remember their name, but they gave Benjamin a slight smile and squeezed his hand before their strength left them. I wonder if Cicia is alright…

He hears others move about the tent, some saying quiet words, but Benjimin paid them no mind. He was here to give these soldiers some semblance of peace, as were the others. It wasn't a place for idle chat.

Eventually, someone lightly tapped his shoulder, and he looked up to see his captain. "Captain Elja! You're—" The captain puts a finger to his lips and motions towards the tent's opening.

Once outside of the tent, Benjamin turns to the Viera again, more excitement than he expected bubbling up in his tone. "You're alright!"

He looks to Benjamin. "I told you I wouldn't die." The captain looks away, and Benjamin tries to follow his gaze. Is he watching one of the medics? I can't tell…

"You were in the tent a long time." The Viera looks at him through the side of his eyes.

"I, uh, lost track of time…"

"You're quite empathetic. Perhaps too much so." The captain sighs, returning his gaze to the medics. "Not everyone is meant to fight, Benjamin."

"…I don't understand what you mean…" Benjamin looks down at the ground. Is he… is he trying to send me away? Is he saying—"that I'm not good enough? After what happened? You want me to walk away—"

"You seem to have a habit of putting words in people's mouths." The captain sighs again, annoyance clear in his voice. "Not everyone is meant to fight on the frontlines, Benjamin. You see him?" He gestures toward the medic captain, who is gesturing to one of the drivers in an armed vehicle to move somewhere else. "Gale's not much of a fighter, either. But he does what he can—even if sometimes he does too much."

"You know them—um, him, Captain Elja?"

"I know most of the captains, but Gale…" He trails off, but Benjamin understands his meaning.

"O-oh. I wouldn't think you'd—"

"Don't finish that." Captain Elja huffs, though he no longer sounds annoyed. "I've watched you—well, all of you. You can defend yourself in a normal fight… but out on the battlefield, you'd just panic and die. That accomplishes nothing. There are different ways for you to help."

"I see…" Benjamin watches the medic, lost in thought. Perhaps I could be a medic, like them? There were some conjurers, after all…

"First, though, you need to rest. You've done more than enough for now." The captain turns to face Benjamin, his intense gaze brokering no argument. "That's an order, by the way."

** **

Benjamin sits in his tent, nervousness overwhelming him. It had been a few days since the attack, but he'd been unable to rest much. So many soldiers—so many of the recruits—died that day, and he couldn't do anything to save them. When he saw Cicia, her arm heavily bandaged but still bleeding, crying over the bodies of her friend and the other recruits, Benjamin decided that he wanted to help in any way he could.

Why am I so nervous, though? Perhaps it's better than apathy… Benjamin stands up and hurries out of the tent before he can second-guess himself, and manages to find his new captain quickly.

"Uh, h-hello, Captain…"

"Are you my new recruit?" The captain doesn't look up from the papers he was shuffling through, and his second in command gives an apologetic look in response.

"Ah, yes…" Benjamin straightens a bit, looking to make a good first impression.

The Viera's emerald eyes flick up for a second before he returns his attention to the papers. "You're the one that yelled at me a few days ago."

"Oh, I'm… I'm sorry…"

"Don't worry about it. So, your previous captain was Laurent, I see…" Captain Gale finally looks away from his papers, an amused glint in his eyes. "Interesting. I think you'll find that I'm… a bit less lenient than he is."

"What…" Less lenient? How is that possible…

The other medic looks between the two, sighs, and pats Benjamin on the shoulder. "Good luck, soldier."

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