Rest

“What do you mean another bowl? He already ate five!” William heard one nurse say to another as he walked towards the same room they just left.

“They told me he survived a whole month out there alone with the monsters. Cut him some slack! you’d be hungry too!” the other nurse shot back, noticing William with his briefcase and plastic bag.

William stepped into the brightly lit room of the hospital.

The room was surprisingly big, it had four beds and a big, thick, immovable window.

Two of the beds were empty while the pair of beds closest to the window were occupied and covered in a blue curtain.

William could hear the sound of multiple empty bowls clicking against each other followed by a silhouette of a tower appearing on the curtain to the right.

“Is it ok if I come in?” William asked, shifting his weight from one leg to the other.

“Oh? William! Sure !” Oscar replied.

William stepped beyond the curtain with a smile.

“I remembered you screaming at me when we met that I owe you soup… so… I got you some? But looks to me like you get a whole lot of soup as is” William said looking at his bandaged comrade.

Oscar was bandaged from head to toe.

His ribs were broken, he was covered in burns and cuts, his ankle was as swollen as a golf ball and his head was wrapped up with multiple bandages.

But throughout all of this the man in front of Willaim was still smiling.

“You do know that I was screaming that at the monste-. Oh! I’d recognize this bag anywhere! You got me eternal stew!” Oscar looked at William with reverence as if he was an angel sent directly from God.

“Yea I went by a floating market nearby and they had one that looked especially good.” William replied, impressed by the speed the man accepted the plastic bag, opened the knot, opened the soup and started eating.

“They only have chicken soup here. Which is good don’t get me wrong. But this! This is something special.” Oscar said, shifting his weight while starting to eat with gusto.

“What’s with the briefcase?” Oscar asked, offering William a bite of the stew, one he graciously accepted.

“Well. After what happened in Old Paris, I talked with my superiors and pulled some strings.

I have two good news” William said patting on his briefcase.

“isn’t it usually good news, bad news?” Oscar asked with a smile and a raised eyebrow.

“Are you complaining?” William jested.

“Nope. Just not used to it, is all.” Oscar replied honestly.

“First off. Your modifications to chestnut were exemplary and the military would like to purchase the rights to said upgrades from you for a huge sum of money. I even negotiated with them that your name must be acknowledged in the name of the upgrade.” William said looking out the window at the cloud that passed below them.” It is not everyday a C rank mech is outfitted with an A rank weapon and survives actual combat.”

“Here I have the paperwork” William said, taking out a huge stack of paper and placing it at Oscar’s bedside. ”And here is a phone number of a good lawyer I know; he will help you get started.” He continued, placing a small ticket on top of the pile.

Oscar looked overwhelmed for a moment as he looked at the sum of money offered.

“This is a lot.” He said, gently placing the bowl of soup aside.” I will have to get back to you on that one.” Oscar said, adding the number on the ticket to his phone.

“What is the next good news?” Oscar aske grinning.

William took out another stack of paper.

“While I couldn’t get you a medal, I did manage to convince the right people to give you the following offer.” William said sternly.

“If you choose to, G.R.I.M would like to hire you. Should you accept, you will have your C rank license increased to A rank and you will be part of the global effort to fight the Fallen. You will receive specialized training for the mech of your choosing along with a spot on my taskforce.”

William said, passing Oscar the paperwork.

“Are you serious?” Oscar asked in disbelief.

“Yes. Without you we would not have made it out of there. I would feel much safer knowing I have a man like you on my team.” William said, gently placing a hand on Oscar’s shoulder.

“I’m in!“ Oscar said without waiting for further explanation.

“Really? That quick?” William asked surprised.

“Listen, my job is already a fire fighter. I am used to risking my life to save others. This is just better pay and cooler toys. I am in!” Oscar said with a glimmer in his eye.

“Good! then when you’ve healed up call me on this number and have those papers signed. Kaya and Anya have already said yes” William said, shaking Oscar’s hand.

***

Several days later.

William walked slowly on the mud and grass covered path, fixing his tie to his suit.

He did not like wearing suits, but for today William was willing to make an exception.

In his hands William held a bouquet of flowers and a bottle of whisky.

To his sides rows upon rows of white graves, all placed in neat strait rows like rows of teeth threatening to close on him. But William stepped deeper into the graveyard.

After a walk that felt like forever, the captain stopped by a newly placed grave.

He placed a bouquet of black lilies on the cold stone with one hand, sitting down on the muddy floor. “Here you are. Good to see you brother” William said to Louis’s gravestone.

The captain poured whisky on the gravestone and took a sip.

“I… I am sorry I didn’t make it in time. I’m sorry my choices led to your death.” William said looking at the cold stone.

“I never got to tell you about my other brother, like you he is not my brother by blood but…” the man sniffed.

“ I think you’d have gotten along.” He sipped again followed by immediately pouring more whisky on the tombstone.

After a silence that felt like forever William started to cry.

“I miss you man.” He said to the tombstone. “I decided to buy a necklace. Well, it’s more of a pendant really. ” William said taking out a small golden pendant with two pictures inside, one of James and the other of Louis.

“That way I don’t have to make trips around the world to talk to you guys... since… you are buried in different countries and all.” William continued.

After a conversation that lasted longer than he would like to admit, and one empty bottle shared with a brother. William started to walk towards the closest taxi.

THE END?