Later that night the whole camp was eating around the fire, Griffith learned more about guts and how he could tell that they're Grimm near him however the feeling is like a stabbing sensation in the back of his neck, Griffith chalked this as his semblance, but Guts has his doubts. Especially when a semblance is meant to help in battle, but what he has also drawn in those grim near him he kept that part private to himself. Then Gambino appears with a short bald man next to him.
"Alright shut up and listen, I'm sure that you are aware that we got a new face here. He will be shadowing us for the following year." He glanced at Griffith
"but you are going to be pair up with Guts he's proven his worth" he explains as guts just fell into a slump upon hearing this, with that he looks at the bald man and give him a nod, both walking away the latter heading out of the camp
"Hey who is that" Guts ask, Griffith looks at the man in question giving a cold stare devoid of emotion "that is my master he took me in when I was young... taught me everything I know" he said looking back at guts with a smile, 'theres differently something wrong with him'.
"So, what's the plan guts, I mean in terms of jobs that is?"
"Will, I am assigned to a nearby village on the mainland. I have to survey the area for grim" as Guts explained, Griffith is shocked to hear this
"all by yourself with no help" find it kind of odd to put this much trust on the young black-eyed boy.
"Yeah, Gambino said it the best way to get a strong aura if I waited till I turn third teen "
"Hmm"
"What?"
"Oh, nothing you must look up to Gambino a lot if you take his words to heart" Guts gave a solemn look
"well I do see him as my father and my mother was..." he drifted off with thoughts on his head. Griffith quarry this and ask "what happen to your mother"
Guts snapped out of his thoughts as he began to think back to his mother "When I was three, she fell ill for a month then finally she was on her deathbed. She was coughing violently and was sweating heavily. When I went to see her she was kept under constant supervision, she saw me and called for me, but the camp medics told me to leave or I'll get sick." He paused to take a deep breath
" but I didn't care. I went to her and held her hand, watching her at her final moments." He wiped off the incoming tears that threatened to come out. "At least she did not die alone. she had someone that cared for her " Griffith thinks he finally understood guts as someone who will go through anything for the ones he cares
----------------------*THREE MONTHS LATER
Both Guts and Griffith became a force to be reckoned with over the short time. They became the leading bread winners for the whole camp and their uneasy start turned into "brothers" in the battlefield, since their numbers began to dwindle down either by dying in action or leaving the group entirely. They began to pick up the slack where others left off, and Griffith begin to have a following and have people falling under him, Guts on the other hand only has gotten better behind the blade however feels as though he need to start using another sword or a larger sword in the near future, however his thought are not on the jobs but on what's his dream should be, he began to respect Griffith for the guy and the potential leader he will be, but he wished to stand on equal ground with him and can't do that if he doesn't have a dream separate from Griffith
As the two boys return from a completed mission, what's lift of the mercenaries began to cheer and celebrate their return
"Look everyone the White Hawk has return"
"~Hey Griffith how about a drink, I mean your old enough right ~"
"Hey Guts, working hard or hardly working"
"Are you kidding he can properly solo all of us if he wanted to"
"Yeah nothing can go up against the Mad Dog"
"Well except for Gambino"
Guts' eye twitches at the name, he hated being called a mad dog. All this happened when he was guarding supplies for a town only to be overrun by beowolves. He fought and slaughtered all of them, when back up came they only watched as the slaughter continued. They all notice that Guts growls and "barks" in anger, when striking the grim down. so, they started to call him Mad Dog for the way he fights. However, Guts feels that it diminishes him essentially calling him a mindless beast and for the fact he kills a lot of beowolf on that day, he only acts that way when his neck starts acting up making him want to finish the fight as quickly as possible.
They both head to the house to report their mission to Gambino only for him to announce something "listen hear I just been offer a nice permanent gig for all of us nothing official but if we get this job it no more chum change for all of us"
"What's the job? Exterminating"
"No being a private army to someone powerful and we no longer have to deal with grim any more" everyone cheers to the last part finally moving away from bullying small towns and villages for lien.
As he finished he met with Guts and Griffith. Gambino never liked Griffith, ever since he was asked to take care of him due to some bogus favor, he saw him as a parasite swaying his men to follow him. He hoped that he died along with the cursed child since they paired up but no they only got better at what they do. He knows that Griffith is conspiring against him, he is waiting for the right time for all of his men to turn on him.
"Hey you two a got a job for you" pull out a note "there is a settlement here in patch that needs to be cleared out grim and you two are available."
"Surely you can ask anyone else right, Guts and I just return from our last job and are need of rest" Griffith countered
"So? this is an order who are you to deny it, the only reason your here is because of a stupid favor I owe."
"Yes but surely you can go. I mean you are the best in the whole group right so far when I first met you, you have not gone out to the field" Griffith responded not reacting to the clearly untamed Gambino. He then reaches for his sword about to strike at Griffith
"Wait! ...we'll do it we just need to replenish around supplies" Guts interjected "Right Griffith" then he shot a glare at him to compile. He sees this and stops opposing Gambino
"Yes fine .... We will get on that" with that Gambino narrows his eyes and walks away muttering to himself "I wish that you did not jump in guts I could have taken care of it myself" he said as they made their way to their tents.
"Yeah i know but i see no big deal behind it we just clear the grim and relax for the rest of the day tomorrow"
"That is not the point Guts, he's been lumping all the jobs to us, specifically the ones that require more than a two man team. we're lucky that we are skilled enough to complete them
He exhaled. "He's been under a lot of stress and we're losing more men every day. I'm sure once we land that job he'll calm down, speaking of which, where do you think the job comes from?"
Before he can answer someone intervene " it came from a scorpion faunus" they turn to see Martino
"Oh hello Mr. Najemnik, what was that?"
"I said a scorpion faunus came here all crazy like."
"You know what he wanted Martino" guts asked
"He wanted to talk to our fearless leader only after beating a few of our men" he motion his head to a bunch of soldier who have cut and bruises
"What else can you tell us about him"
"Nothing much, only that he refers to the one he works for as mistress ... I think the guy has it bad for her, whoever she is."
As he explains he thinks back at the unnerving way he seems to worship this woman. "Any way Griffith mind if I borrow Guts here for a minute?"
"I see why not, let's meet up in an hour Guts. Goodbye Mr. Najemnik" then he walks off into his tent. Martino sees Griffith out of sight and turns his attention to Guts.
"So have given thought of leaving the group Guts or wait until Griffith stays running the place" he asked bluntly. It is no secret that Griffith is gunning to be the leader of the mercenary group, they've even finally had a name for the group unofficially called "the band of the hawk".
Guts stood there and thought about it, weeks ago Griffith explained his idea, to be the leader of the group and work with the military from there getting favors from the higher up and push to have his own kingdom. A bit ambitious but what to expect from Griffith. However Martino asked him to come along with him and travel outside of Patch and Vale. The way he explained it was 'this vessel was sinking and the captain can keep the ship'.
He has been considering the latter if he goes with Martino he can find what's his dream and then come back to Griffith as an equal, however he can stay with Griffith and help him secure his dream allowing him to leave for his dream and return as his equal.
"I've not decided yet but I'll tell you when I'm sure." Gut told Martino who sigh at the same song and dance "you don't got much time, next thing you know everything will change you'll be left gobbed smack, but whatever just go on ahead with your task" as he finished Guts headed to his tent to rest and gear up for his task, but Martino called him one more time
"Guts" getting his attention
"... be careful around Gambino he seem more paranoid than usual" with that guts nodded and went back at what he was doing.
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Both Guts and Griffith made their way to the settlement once again on a solo mission; they tried to recruit some people but they were ordered to stay put. As they walk guts decided to spark a conversation
"what are your thought on the new job" Griffith thinks about it for a moment before answering "Unexpected but welcomed, I'm sure once I take over they will appreciate a more suitable command"
"You got this takeover cooking for a while, have you?"
"Of course ever since I was told that I will be coming here I had this plan in motion, but answer me this aren't you bothered that I'm taking over your father figure roll as leader" Guts then looks at him then back at path ahead
"yes in a sense of betrayal, but lately he's been neglected on responsibilities and is not more integrated as a leader to his men" as he explains he think how one of the reason their losing men is because they lost faith in him.
"Hmm....it looks like we are here" they arrive hiding behind the coverage, at the settlement which was more than clearly abandoned, with all the building in shambles and road littered with weeds as well as the large horde of beowolfs prowling the area.
" Hmph, you think they'll be better off abandoning this place and torch it" Guts speculated as he observes the area.
"That might be for the best, but I'm sure there trying to save the effort in building a new town" offering his two cents
"Ok, so what is the plan? there enough here for us to take on without much trouble" then Guts began to rub the back of his neck to soothe the pain, hoping they were not drawn by him. He looks at the white-haired boy who was pondering a plan until a lightbulb lit up.
"You draw them out over here and I circle around and hit them with the Falco, then I come in closer, and we perform a pincer maneuver" he then pulls out his saber which splits, shifts and fold to make a 44-magnum long barrel revolver with the blades acting like a double bayonet, fashioned with earth dust bullets. Guts looks back at the grim noticing that they're starting to act up and caught wind of him.
"Ok fine let's go" he sprints off to the grim unsheathing his sword raising it in the air. The grim all frantically made a b line to him aggressively shoving one and the other eager to maul their prey.
As the first one lunges toward guts he slashes it across the body, dropping right away being the first to draw blood. A grim come from behind guts he twist his whole body swinging his sword over him cleaving through the grims head only for him the stab a incoming beowolf that was behind the previous one he unleashed a series of attack at the surrounding grim he was dropping body after body, all the sudden spike began to rise up and stab through the grim guts look to see Griffith charging firing off his gun at the floor as the ground began to erupt with spike piercing the beowolf. Once he got in to range he jump in the air and stab the grim in the back of his head, a claw swipe toward Griffith only for him to slap it out of the way with Falco and followed with a slice half of the grim head, he then twirled around at the multiple incoming grim severing their limbs.
Back at Guts he hacked off a head and punctured through a skull, he was dealing with the majority of grim due to his "gift". This is how most of their battel pan out, he takes the full brunt of it then Griffith comes in picking them off from the side and meets up with guts to assist him. Where one thinks it's impossible to take on this much grim on their own, for Guts it is like second nature for him. For some reason it feels familiar to him even when he first started it he knew how to fight a horde of monsters.
"Tell me when this gets boring for you" he shook off his thoughts and looked behind him to see Griffith back to back with him, having a cheeky smile.
"Are you kidding I'm all warmed up" as he charges at the side of a beowolf head stabbing it and stabbing another one. the two got back together to fight. They continue wave after wave of grim lasting them till nightfall, But as the fight goes on a group of people looks over the foliage watching the fight. Guts was breathing hard all injured and tired but still primed to fight as Griffith finishes the last of the grim.
"Ha. that the last of them" he said almost losing his footing
"Finally...now let set up camp and rest for the night" guts exclaim as he walks to the nearest building to rest only for him to trip over from exhaustion re rolls over and breathes in and out as he sees Griffith offering his hand along with a snarky smile
"sleeping with the dead are we" Guts deadpanned him before taking his hand pulling himself up as they wrap their arms over their shoulder supporting one and the other make their way to they building.
"Hey Griffith, how's your aura?"
"Barely holding, I'm using what's left to heal myself. What about you? you don't have one yet your still able to keep moving despite you injuries" he took a breath before continuing "if you want I could activate your when I'm at full strength"
"Thanks but I'll get stronger without one that what Gambino told me"
"Sigh Guts you kn-" "my god you two are tough son of bitches aren't you" Griffith was cut off by a stranger with a dark complexion, wide body frame and a flat face with one blind eye and a crooked smile. They both immediately went into a fighting stance only to be surrounded by at least fifth teen men who had their guns trained on them. Griffith looks around at the grievous situation knowing that they can't get out of this one.
"Well can't say I'm disappointed especially coming from the famed White Hawk and Mad Dog"
"WHAT DO YOU WANT?" Guts demanded gritting his teeth while Griffith had a neutral face. "Huh now I know which one of you is the mad dog and as for what we want, your hide will catch us a pretty penny"
"So, it is ransom that you want." Griffith responds, quickly losing interest upon hearing the pity reason however his aura slowly replenishing him. The stranger chuckled "yeah ransom, now if you don't mind surrender or we get rough" he's as he aims he mace toward them. Griffith analyze the situation seeing that their both tied guts is more injured than him and he out of ammo before he could continue Guts cuts him off
"Gggrrraahhhh Giffith go now get the camp!!" he growled as he began to attack the men surrounding them, catching them off guard. Griffith was stunned for a moment before understanding his reasoning, he was the only one fit to get help and have a chance to not getting caught. Guts gave him a clearing, he took off
"I will come back for you Guts" he yelled not looking back, cutting down one of the captures. "Get him you fucks" the leader order as a few started to break a way, but guts goes to tackle them pinning them down, as he pinning them down the remaining pulled him off of them. They then hold him down as he fights them off. But in truth Guts has never killed a person before, and that cost him
"We got him down boss do we go after the other one"
"No, he's far gone now... but that hardly matters now" he smiles as he looks down at Guts who is still trying to get up but gets a swift kick to the face knocking him out. As they start dragging Guts off to the base of operation
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Griffith has never run so hard in his life as he replays the following events in his head. He hated himself for leaving Guts behind, but they both knew that they were not going to kill them yet, not without risking losing money. So, they will keep Guts alive for now. He realizes that he finally reached the camp and notices that it is left unguarded, he is at the heart of the camp looking for anyone until he hears music coming from the house. He barged in there already catching everyone's attention.
"Everyone please listen, Guts has been captured and needs help, gather your arms and follow me we can still catch up to them." As he finishes he notices that no one has moved and sees that not everyone is here. He snapped his head back and forth looking at the crowd "did you not hear a word that i said he needs help damnit" be a bit irritated.
" they heard you there just not following you" he turned around to see Gambino standing there with a smug grin, Griffith took the chance to pull his sword out and swing at Gambino only to be pinned down and beaten. After a few minutes of being beaten up, Gambino called them off, they sat up a bound Griffith on his knees, all bloody and bruised as one of Gambino's followers pulled his hair forcing him to look at their leader.
"I'll be lying if I say that you were better off dead with guts, but it will rob me the pleasure of beating you to a pulp"
"W-w-what are you doing?"
"What it's not obvious, and he I thought you were more than a pretty face" he spat out with venom in his voice as he kicked Griffith in the stomach. " I'm lightening the load of our "excess baggage", tch you think your so smart trying to take my role and have my men turn against me including that cursed brat as your dog"
"Heh. There is no way that Martino and the others will allow you to do this. Where are the others?"
"Oh. don't worry about them, they're getting a valuable rehabilitation on who's the boss around here." He gets a chuckle out of the group, as another of their follower spoke up "Do we throw him to the rest"
"no he gets special attention drag him to the cellar" they did as they were told and drag him under the house, Griffith began to flailing around kicking and squirming. Gambino watched the struggle happen as one of his follower comes up to him holding a scroll, " Hey Gambino it Donovan he asking for his pay " he rolled his eyes "Tell him that he gets jack shit for failing to get both of them"
"But boss he's angry, he's saying that guts mess some of his guys pretty good"
"HA, if that's the case then let him take it up with him" he said cackling at the thought of gut causing trouble for then, "but guts is pretty strong boss he's not the same little kid that you-" he was cut off by Gambino who turned his sword into a pump shotgun, "that little shit is nothing but a sickness to this group. If he wasn't around then..... Tch any word about guts, will get a buckshot to the face got it." everyone was still stun due the murder of one of there own to answer back, then he gritted his teeth
"I SAID, GOT IT!?!?" a bunch of murmurs answer hastily not wanting to get shot " tch pick this shit up and get the fuck out" he yell as everyone scrabble around, he let out a breath as he finally has order to his rule.