[NORTH OF THE CAPITAL]
(MOUNTAIN RANGES)
As Najenda and Bane approached the girl by the riverside, she stood, brushing crumbs off her black skirt.
Her crimson eyes glanced in their direction, and though her face remained impassive, her gaze held a peculiar intensity that was hard to ignore.
"Yo, Akame, looks like you've caught yourself some delicious prey," Najenda greeted her with a grin, motioning to the sizzling chunk of bird meat on the grill.
Without a word, Akame tore another leg from the roasted danger beast bird and offered it to Najenda with a small tilt of her head.
Najenda raised her hands in mock surrender. "Not now, Akame. I've got more pressing matters to handle," she said with a chuckle. "First, give me a quick update on the Night Raid members and the results of the last mission."
Turning to Akame fully, Najenda's smile faded, replaced by her signature no-nonsense demeanor.
Akame gave a small nod, her long black hair swaying slightly as she began her report. "Bulat is training on the grounds. Sheele is with Mine in the hall, probably reading. Leone is near the lake, bathing. And Lubbock..." Akame hesitated for a fraction of a second, her face unreadable. "He's likely trying to peek at Leone again."
Najenda's eye twitched, her voice dropping an octave. "That idiot is going to end up six feet under if he keeps this up."
Akame ignored the comment and continued, "The mission was successful, but Leone brought three people back with her from the operation, without clearance."
Najenda's eyebrow arched, and her lips curved into a smile that didn't quite reach her eye. "..Oh? And why exactly did she think it was a good idea to bring outsiders into our base? And why is her mission report two days late?"
Akame offered a small shrug. "She encountered one of them, a boy, during the mission. He was trying to protect a girl we were targeting, believing her to be innocent. He even fought me to defend her, enduring multiple sword strikes and even evading a potentially fatal blow from my Murasame."
Bane, who had been silently observing the exchange, turned slightly to regard Akame.
Najenda, meanwhile, raised her remaining eyebrow in astonishment. "He survived a fight with you? With Murasame? Either this boy is incredibly lucky, or..."
Akame nodded, confirming Najenda's unspoken thought. "Leone believed he was innocent. She also found his two friends, a boy and a girl, in the mansion's shed. They had been tortured extensively, and one of them is terminally ill. Leone decided to bring them here."
Najenda pinched the bridge of her nose, sighing heavily. "Leave it to Leone to play savior during a mission. What's the status of the boy's friends?"
Akame's expression didn't waver. "They're in the medical bay, but their conditions are critical. One, Ieyasu, is in the late stages of Lubora disease. The other, Sayo, is beyond saving due to severe blood loss and injuries inflicted during torture."
Najenda's tone softened, though her face remained stoic. "Understood. Gather everyone in the medical room. I'll hear the details from Leone before deciding what to do with the boy."
Turning to Bane, Najenda added, "Come with me. I'll show you your quarters on the way to the medical bay. You've had a long journey, you should rest before meeting your squadmates properly."
Bane nodded silently, but before he could take a step, a gentle yet unfamiliar sensation stopped him.
Pat. Pat.
A hand rested on his hood, gently stroking his head. Confused, Bane looked up to find Akame staring at him with her unflinching crimson gaze.
"What are you doing?" Bane asked, his voice laced with both confusion and annoyance.
"Caressing your head," Akame replied flatly, her hand continuing its rhythmic motion.
"...."
"Would you like some bird meat?" she asked, holding up a piece from her grill with her free hand.
Bane opened his mouth to decline, but his stomach betrayed him with a loud growl.
"....."
Accepting his fate, Bane reached for the meat. Najenda stifled a laugh as she watched him awkwardly eat through his mask while Akame continued stroking his head like he was a lost puppy.
"Do you... mind stopping that?" Bane finally muttered between bites.
"No," Akame replied simply, her hand undeterred.
Najenda crossed her arms, her smirk widening. "Looks like you've made quite the impression already, Bane. Akame doesn't usually warm up to new teammates this fast."
As Bane tried to ignore her comment, he couldn't help but notice the surreal nature of the situation.
Akame's actions were oddly tender, a stark contrast to her reputation as the deadly 'Akame of the Demon Sword.'
What he didn't realize was that Akame's behavior stemmed from something deeper.
To her, Bane's slim build and guarded demeanor bore an uncanny resemblance to someone from her past, a figure she both cherished and dreaded.
Najenda, observing Akame's uncharacteristic behavior, decided to intervene before Bane became too overwhelmed. "Alright, that's enough bonding for now. Let's head to the base."
Akame withdrew her hand, stepping back with a simple nod. Bane, still processing the interaction, took a deep breath and followed Najenda toward the entrance.
As they walked away, Najenda glanced over her shoulder with a mischievous grin. "Oh, and Bane, try not to let Akame smother you with affection. She's not the best at pacing herself."
Bane sighed, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "Noted."
Despite his outward calm, he couldn't shake the feeling that his new squadmates were going to be a challenge in ways he hadn't anticipated.