Chapter 3
“She’s a woman.” The Colonel gasped in outrage; as if Yun’s being female was the epitome of his worst nightmares coming to life.
Yun bit her lip and looked down in what could only be shame, her posture rigid even when her hands were shaking as she held the blanket against her chest. She looked miserable; Owl's heart twisted at the notion of the bravest person he knew breaking under something so silly as the sex they were born with.
“That she is.” He arched an eyebrow, silently asking ‘what about it.’
The Colonel blinked at him, stunned. The rage returned very fast, tho. “That she shouldn’t have made it over Sergeant Major! And she wouldn’t if not for the lies she sprouted! Is a grave offense to lie to a superior officer. She should be martial courted at once!”
“...so basically, you’re offended because you are a misogynistic bastard that can’t take a woman lying to him. Aren’t you?” Owl’s dry asseveration made the other officers choke and the Colonel sputter and go purple on the face.
“H-How dare you—!”
Owl sighed and took off his jacked, tired of this nonsense. Captain Charis deserved more dignity than what these brutes allowed her; he put the jacket over her shoulders. Then raised his chin and glared at the still incoherent Colonel as he positioned at her side, keeping his hands at his back in the resting position.
“If you really don’t want her, then I will be more than glad to take her.” Owl added; The Captain and him were...well, not friends, but surely comrades after serving together under the Colonel for the last six months.
So surely, standing there like a dunce as she loosed all her achievements as a consequence of this, wasn't the right thing to do.
Furthermore as Imperial Alchemist he could start taking men and form his own division if so he desired. Until now, he hadn’t been interested. Taking people in as subordinates put a halt in his goal of becoming a Colonel himself but…
But it may be worth it to keep such a talented sniper at his side.
“Major Veska!” The Colonel barked, veins throbbing at his temples. “You can’t possibly—”
“Oh, but this says I can, Colonel.” Owl said, showing his ring. Maintaining the smirk out of his face proved difficult, however. “You see, I have just realized that I must have someone so talented watching my back as I continue my research. You can’t possibly deny me that request, now can you? What would his Excellency think of you getting in the way of progress?”
Imperial Alchemists were a national treasure; rank of major or not, they held a lot more influence than normal soldiers. Their talents are out of the norm and so they are treated carefully, their researches are always well founded and their voices always heard.
The Colonel was shaking with rage as he closed his mouth with an audible clank.
Owl nodded, satisfied.
“Captain Charis.” This was probably something most of the soldiers here would never do, but Owl wasn’t in the mood to stumble all over Yun’s rights. “Would you accept to work under me? It may be a little different from what you’re accustomed to, though. Alchemy research is unfortunately a lot more boring than serving in central, I’m afraid.”
Yun raised her chin, her face a mask of determination. “I will be honored, sir.”
“Excellent.” Owl returned his at the Colonel, “Expect the papers on your desk by tomorrow morning, Colonel Tatch. Now, gentleman, I must insist that you all need to retire so my subordinate can rest from her injuries.”
“Yes, sir.” The three soldiers saluted and excited the room in a hurry, probably thankful for the chance to leave this uncomfortable situation.
“Keep the bitch, Veska.” The Coronal said poisonously, not even bothering masking his hate. “I’m sure her pretty face will serve you well.”
Owl’s hand twitched as he tried to not punch the horrid men’s lights out, forcing to limit his reaction to showing the Coronel the ugliest smile he was capable of. He was satisfied at seeing the way the Colonel paled; it seemed that he still had his touch. Good to know.
“I must apologize, Captain.” Owl said, looking back at Yun. “That perception will follow us for a while. But let me reassure you, I do not have those intentions. I can appreciate your talent as a sniper and that is what I want. Nothing else.”
Because apparently you could only think with your dick when a woman was involved, how very sad. Unfortunately, the military was like that in Alynthi.
Ugh, how he hated medieval mind-sets! Women were as capable as men, dammit. He should know! Crown was the best example of that, after all. But Owl hadn’t been impaired the times he had awoken as a girl either.
“Don’t worry, sir.”
Owl sighed; Yun didn’t seem very reassured. If anything, it seemed that his words had made her feel threatened if the way her eyes narrowed were a tell.
Well, fuck.
“Ah,” Owl ran a hand through his dark looks; his face illuminated when he reached a way to ensure that Yun didn’t feel cornered. “Shoot me the moment that you feel my actions are out of place.”
“Sir?!”
“That’s an order, Captain.” Owl looked right into Yun’s eyes, wanting her to see how serious he was with this. “If my actions ever seem like I’m trying to overstep the superior-subordinate dynamic, I want you to shoot me. Understood?”
Yun’s mouth was open and her eyes had gotten really big.
“Understood, Captain?”
“...yes, sir.”
“Good.” Owl nodded to himself; if Yun ever felt the need to shoot him, then he deserved to be shot at. “Now, I will let you rest. Good afternoon, Captain.”
“Goodbye sir.” Came the automatic response.
“Ah. Don’t worry about the paperwork and concentrate on getting better, alright?” Owl said as he crossed the threshold.
“W-Wait, sir!”
“Yes, Captain?”
“Your jacket!”
“Oh.” Owl blinked, walking back to the bed. “Silly me. But— Are you sure you don’t want to keep it? The hospital staff is still part of the military, they may not be the most...open minded about your situation.”
Yun’s hands frozen over the jacket.
“...I’m going to keep it if you don’t have an issue, sir.”
“That’s fine, Captain.” Owl nodded.
The white uniform is unmistakable among the blue ones of the rest of the army; and there weren’t many soldiers who wanted to fuck with the Imperial Alchemists. The only ones are probably another alchemist and they had better things to do that mess with a girl that was a few ranks up than she should.