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rrrawrf-writes · 5 years

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boop boop nothin to say here except banner needed a chance to punch his boss

Under Eolan tradition, once someone stepped into the training yard, the only rank that remained was that of the drill master, and those they chose to watch over the training. Everyone else was subject to their whims - even the king. And underneath the drill master, everyone was equal.

So Banner had an excuse for not saluting Voss as he walked across the yard, briefly glancing at the other soldiers as they ran through sparring and drills. It was more subdued than normal, probably because of the general’s presence - there was tradition, but that didn’t stop a soldier from feeling nervous when his general stormed into the yard with a cold look on his face.

Banner tried not to shrink at that sharp gaze now. His back ramrod straight, he stopped in front of Voss and nodded. “Sir.”

The general’s lip curled slightly, though Banner could hardly imagine what about the greeting had displeased him.

“I have been told,” Voss said flatly, “that you authorized returning the governor’s children to his wife.”

Banner blinked. “Yes, sir.”

“Who gave you permission to do so?”

Banner’s eyebrows creased slightly. “No one, sir.”

Voss’ lips pursed. “So you admit to undermining my authority.”

“What?” Banner stared at him a moment, trying to comprehend the statement. “No, sir -”

“I wanted that family kept apart,” Voss snapped. “You had no right to go against my orders.”

His voice was loud enough to catch the attention of the soldiers around them. Banner bit down on his tongue, then said, “I - I apologize, sir, I was not aware that was - that that was the case.” The guards hadn’t said anything about it being an order - Banner’s mind scrambled, looking for what he had done wrong. “One of the - the children was sick, I thought it would be better -”

“You don’t get to think about things like that,” Voss interrupted, eyes narrowing. “It was not within your purview.”

Banner had no idea what ‘purview’ meant. “Sir, I didn’t think it honorable to keep the family apart.”

Voss’ eyebrows arched, and then he barked out a harsh laugh that made Banner stiffen even more. “Honor?” he repeated and then lowered his voice. “Captain, we are in war. There is no room for honor.”

“I don’t believe that, sir.” Banner could feel his face redden; even out in the training yard, he’d never before dare to speak to a superior officer this way. “The governor’s family are noncombatants, sir, they’ve done nothing wrong and they’ve been punished enough just for bein’ Cords. And this frees up a guard detail that can be better used somewhere else. Sir.”

“I needed them apart,” Voss hissed, “because that woman has been in touch with the Cordellan general.”

Banner blinked. “She - sir?”

Voss let out a disgusted scoff. “I expected someone with far more sense, but I suppose I shouldn’t have put much stock in a prisonborn’s choice of officer.”

Banner sucked in a breath, and had to bite down before he could say something he’d truly regret; around him, he could tell several of the others had to do the same. Voss hadn’t really kept his voice down, but prisonborn or no, Slate was one of, if not the, best captain in the Seventh.

“Those brats were leverage, captain,” Voss went on. “The lady would have told me sooner or later, and then we’d be able to find that damned woman out in the city. Now, she has no reason to speak with me.”

Banner couldn’t blame her. He knew his face was probably crimson from his neck to his ears, and he couldn’t think of anything to say. Gods, at the very least Voss could have done this in private -

“Captain Taluize mentioned she had a lead -”

“You are not the only one disregarding my orders,” Voss said flatly. Instead of elaborating, he left Banner to ponder over this, and turned as if to leave. His gaze fell on a barrel full of wooden training swords, and he added, over his shoulder, “Have you trained yet this morning, captain?”

Banner had already turned away, taking the end of the conversation as a dismissal. He paused, looking back, and bit down on his tongue. “Yes, sir.”

“I haven’t.” Voss strode over to pick out a training sword; Banner closed his eyes for a moment. He had things to do, he couldn’t waste time with - whatever the hell this was. Dragons, Voss was acting like a sulky recruit.

“Sir, I have other duties,” Banner said, and then added, trying not to sound sullen, “Assigned to me by you.”

Voss swung the fake sword through the air. “I thought you would have enjoyed the opportunity to learn from someone who knows what he’s doing with a sword, Captain Tadsson.”

Banner was certain he’d bite his tongue off before long, if he had to keep dealing with this - this bastard.

“What are the terms, sir,” he finally asked, turning back to face Voss. The general smiled thinly, and said, “No restrictions, until yield.”

Then he swung the sword at Banner.

Swearing, the captain leapt back, and yanked his gloves out of his belt. Voss had clearly swung wide, but that didn’t stop his next attack from being serious, and Banner had to dodge out of the way again, cramming one hand into his glove. It reached nearly to his elbow; thin, orc-made plates of metal lined the back of the arm and hand, and smaller plates rode the knuckles. Banner wouldn’t normally wear them in a spar - he could really hurt someone - but Voss hadn’t even given him a chance to grab a weapon.

And he’d said, no restrictions.

Banner blocked the next swing on his gloved arm, the edge of the sword slipping off the metal; he made sure to twist his wrist away before it could scrape over his hand. He used a front kick to keep Voss back, and pulled his other glove on.

“Captain!” Tovi stood at the edge of the fight - along with several others - and held out a training sword she’d grabbed from the person closest to her. Banner sidestepped another of Voss’ thrusts, then backpedaled to grab the training sword out of Tovi’s hand.

At least it fit his size.

This time, he blocked Voss’ sword properly. Banner slid to the side, before he could get shoved into the ring of onlookers. No one was even pretending to train now. Voss kept pressing forward, and Banner let him, sidling around until he had empty space at his back. Voss had a farther reach, and Banner was certain that he was far better than he could ever be with the sword. The general wasn’t giving Banner a single chance to strike, forcing him to remain defensive.

So Banner did something he’d never try in real combat, and dropped his guard. Voss lunged forward, and Banner used his plated arm to deflect the sword, let go of his own, and ducked in to punch Voss in the stomach.

Banner didn’t hit as hard as he very easily could have, but he didn’t pull his punch like he should have. Voss coughed and stumbled, but Banner pushed forward, hitching his arm under Voss’ leg, and then dumping the general on his back.

He was on top of Voss in a second, but the general bucked and twisted. As they rolled over, Banner managed to loop an arm around Voss’ neck, and locked his legs around the other man’s waist.

And then he simply held on.

Eolan-trained meant high expectations. Banner could scrape by with his sword, and most other weapons; he certainly had yet to die in combat because of his skills. But he’d always been better at hand-to-hand, and it became abundantly clear when Voss, gasping for breath, finally tapped his hand on Banner’s arm.

Banner let go instantly, and let Voss roll off the top of him. Clambering to his feet, Banner offered Voss a hand, once the general caught his breath again.

When Voss looked up at him, the hatred in his sharp green eyes froze Banner to the spot.

The general curled his lip at Banner's offer of help, batting his hand away. He stood up, dirt staining the back of his uniform, and with one last glare, turned wordlessly on his heel and stalked out of the training yard, leaving his practice sword in the dirt.

“Shoulda let him win.”

Tovi's voice at his shoulder made Banner jerk in surprise, fists curling.

“...We were training. It doesn't mean anything.” It shouldn't mean anything.

“He's the general, sir,” Tovi said, and shook her head. “No one but you would have both the spine and a head fulla rocks to dump his commanding general on his arse.”

Banner rubbed his gloved arm. “I wasn't gonna hold back -”

“Next time,” Tovi said, bumping her wrist affectionately against Banner's, “just let him win.”

#iwrite #bannerworld #banner #tovi #voss

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