Let Me Be Your Tourniquet [Stefan]

[Reiner Dornkirk]

Reiner leaned back in his seat, stretching his legs out in front of him and crossing them at the ankle, letting his head tip back and shutting his eyes. The comforting hums of the machinery and the steady breeze without was enough to relax him into what may have been a nap, though he wasn’t entirely sure he’d actually fallen asleep. Either way, the brisk wind that hit his face upon exiting the vessel was a welcome return to wakefulness. Deciding the distance was long enough to get away with it, he produced a cigarette which took him several tries to light, because of the winds off the Windworks.

He sauntered down, squinting against the air whipping at his face. Even as waxed down as his hair was, the pomade was not a sufficient enough anchor to leave him looking tidy as he drew up to the manor house. He paused to finish up and stomp out his butt and run a comb through his hair, before reaching the gate and requesting entry.

Part of him hesitated to hand the notes over to another subordinate, but Stefan hadn’t explicitly said for whom the missives were intended- only that they were due at White Knight Hall. He put in the due diligence of inquiring after clearance codes from the butler before yielding up the letters, and then it would be back across the way.

He would jog back to the transport for another cushy ride over the gap to fulfill his second task. Then it was back to the office for further instructions.

He never did get around to taking that lunch break at the mess, but would stay on duty until he was told to go home. By that point he was rather famished, but he had yet to dine alone and wasn’t keen to break the trend tonight.

He unlocked the apartment door and stepped inside with a yawn.

“Hey Kuno, you eat yet? I haven’t had a thing since brekkie.”

[Rune]

Lieutenant Kämpfer had been busy throughout the day taking information from the group of ZDC men who had unintentionally joined them when their temporary barracks had been overwhelmed by Mist spawn. A few had asked to be put back on the ground somewhere safer and had been granted their request, but most were boys like himself and Reiner, with no where left to go and not sure who to report to once their immediate superiors had been taken out.

The majority had chosen to stay and had been given over to the care Kämpfer and a few others who had found themselves recently promoted. He knew that the brass were testing their new ranks, seeing who could handle command and who wasn't ready for it and would need to be assigned a position where their new ranks would not include being in charge of men. Konrad did not intend to be one of those chained to a desk.

By early afternoon he was beginning to get a feel for the group, recognize most of them by their names and faces. This is when he received a new set of orders. He was to finish getting all the information about the new men properly logged and then prepare to join the crew of the Noble Gambit on a mission to take the Minister's orders to the Riverland forts ahead of the Islands' arrival.

He knew the Gambit, by reputation if not personally, and his pride soared at the assignment almost as it had when the Minister had pinned his new rank insignia on his uniform. By the end of the day he had decided what the rest of his brilliant career would look like and was just making to head back to the apartment he now called home when a private carrying two large boxes had stopped him.

"Lieutenant Kämpfer?" He asked, which felt a bit silly considering all the militant men on t he Islands (sans the brand new recruits) knew each other's named. The man seemed to realize this and grimaced but then pushed the boxes into his arms. "Delivery for you and Private Dornkirk, new uniforms."

Once his hands were free he saluted and left quickly. Kuno signed but figured there was nothing for it so made his way, juggling the packages, back home. Arriving before Reiner had returned he investigated the contents of his own package and found a smart, newly designed uniform unlike anything he'd seen in he ZADC or ZDC. It was a dark blue with white and gold accents. Without hesitating he took one out (there were two) and tried it on, cap and all. If there was anything that needed adjusting it would need to be before he left in the morning, so he might as well check.

All seemed in order and he couldn't help preening a little before the mirror. He was there when Reiner entered, with just enough warning from the key in the lock to stand back and look casual.

"No," He answered the question, "I just got back. Look what they sent us." He spread his arms and turned slowly before pointing at the unopened package on the bed, "For you too. I guess the Minister wants us looking snappy when we go see the fort Commanders, eh?"

[Reiner Dornkirk]

"Whoa!" Reiner took in what Kuno was wearing before the lieutenant even addressed it himself, his already large hazel eyes growing wider still as he scanned the other's form appraisingly. "Lookin' sharp, Lieutenant Kämpfer!" He'd been happy for Kuno when the older private had been promoted and, even if he was a little bit jealous, he was pragmatic enough to understand the rationale. Besides, he was two years younger and had only been promoted to First Class just before shipping out to the frontlines.

"What a stud!" He marched over to take a closer look, biting his lip and nodding as he reached out to pinch a bit of the fabric between his fingers.

"I wonder if mine's different..." He knew things were in flux between branches in the military, as well as the rank structure. The distinction between ZDC and ZADC wasn't as stark as it had once been, and so it was possibly the uniforms would be a reflection of those blurred lines.

Forgetting all about his hunger, Reiner darted over to the bed to open the other package. He unfolded the neatly packed uniforms piece by piece and laid them out on the bedspread so he could take a look and compare and contrast what lay before him with what hugged Kuno's form at present. Once he'd seen everything on the bed, he decided it was time he saw it in three dimensions, so he began to unbutton the shirt he wore to work, kicking off his boots at the same time.

After a few minutes, he was bedecked in his new uniform, drawing up to the mirror to take a look and see how he looked next to Kuno.

[Rune]

At the compliments he shifted his body language to say, 'No..! You think so?', before stepping back into position before the mirror as thought it were the first time he'd looked.

"Is rather dashing isn't it? I suppose they knew all us men with the Minister since the beginning would be needing new things soon." It was true that both of his ZADC uniforms were stained and repeatedly mended. It had become almost a barge of pride in itself for all the men that had survived the 34th. They'd been given new civilian clothes and they wore those as often as possible but he suspected he wasn't the only one who would be keeping the over-worn uniforms even though they shouldn't really be worn anymore.

Kuno let himself be inspected and, when the younger man glanced up, met his eyes steadily until Reiner looked down and played a bit with the uniform. It felt good to be admired, made him warm but not in an embarrassed way. When his admirer darted away he laughed but only in his head. Shoving his hands into his pockets to keep them to himself he watched, eyes not landing on any particular part of the Dornkirk who slept in his bed for more than a moment. He did let himself take note of the minor differences in the uniforms, which he assumed, rightly, were due to the difference in their ranks.

He noticed that, in his haste, or perhaps he hadn't realized, but Reiner had left behind the tiny box that contained his ranking pin. Leaning down to retrieve it Kuno stepped between the private and the mirror, quite close, and opened the little box, holding it up so the slight redesigned could be seen before he took it out and pinned it to the uniform with great care. When that was done he stepped around to just as close behind the newly bedecked private and whistled a low, complimentary sound before reaching around to minutely adjust the collar and saying,

"Now are you glad I forced you to eat this morning?" His eyes held his companion's in the reflection of the mirror for a quiet moment before his smile appeared and he said, jovially,

"Elsewise your stomach would have eaten through your spine and you wouldn't fill out your new duds near so well, eh?"

Clapping Reiner on the shoulder with a squeeze he couldn't quite help at the end he said,

"Let's go get some dinner and see if any of the ladies feel as enamored with the new look as you are with yourself right now!"

[Reiner Dornkirk]

"Total stud." Reiner confirmed, with a playful wink. "With the new look and the new rank, you'll be swatting the ladies off left and right, I'll bet!" He added as he wiggled into his slacks. Aside from the uniforms he'd come with which, aside from the rarely worn dress uniform, were in a similar state to those who'd been up here longer, he could already tell these were the most neatly tailored pieces in his possession. Even before he'd been relegated to shopping for clothes at a supply depot of hand-me-downs for refugees, he'd never really had the disposable income to invest in clothes that were tailored specifically to his body. He tucked the shirt in and snapped the slacks closed about his slender waist, and did a few poses to feel how they hugged his thighs and rear quite nicely.

He slid the jacket up his arms and buttoned it up, before capping off the ensemble with his new hat. Then he was back at Kuno's side before the mirror- at least until Kuno quit his side, to attend to the details Reiner had missed, the most significant of which was his insignia pin.

"Oop! Good catch." He stood erect, and stilled his movements to allow the lieutenant to apply the pin and other finishing touches.

"Yeeeesss, Kuno. Thanks for breakfaaaast..." He rolled his eyes playfully, and dragged out the affirmative response in a faux-annoyed groan. "I don't know what I'd do without you, dear." He added, blowing him an adoringly mocking air kiss.

"Heh! You can try to put it on me, but you're the one who was striking poses in front of the mirror alone when I walked in, Kuno. You and I both know I don't corner the market on vanity in our little corner of the Islands." At the squeeze to his shoulder, he reflexively lifted a hand and placed it on the small of Kuno's back.

"You sure we should wear these out to get grub? I'd hate to get sauce on 'em or somethin' on their first venture out..."

[Rune]

The movement of Reiner's barely-clad body as he squirmed into the more tailored garments tried to settle low in Kuno's belly but he pulled it up short somewhere in his chest. His clothing was tight enough that any breech of protocol would be noticeable and he didn't want that.

"Someone around here has to play mother." He said, striking a silly exaggeration of a common maternal pose before dropping it and taking a mock bow.

"One does ones best in the ZADC." Followed my a salute and then, "If that's what I'm in anymore?"

He shook the thought off, the brass would figure it out before too long and they could all get back to tearing apart the pidge providence.

He'd gotten up extra early that morning and run to the kitchens and talked them into giving him two portions of the morning meal so he could be back with coffee and nosh for the Private's first day. It wouldn't do to have him shaking with hunger but Kuno could also already tell that Reiner forgot details sometimes and likely wouldn't have had time to eat without his assistance. He'd been right, considering the speed at which his roommate had wolfed down the vittles.

"Besides, I'm a lieutenant now, my job to look after you, innit?"

Straightening his hat as they made their way to the door he said, "Hey now, I never said you were going to corner the market on eligible ladies."

His arm found its way into its comfortable position around the shorter soldier's shoulders and led the way to the one of the three common mess halls that were most frequented by young adults and soldiers.

It was fairly full, but not so crowded that they couldn't find a table to themselves. The set up almost felt like a huge restaurant filled with mostly mismatched tables made for four or six people. There was a line where you collected your meal and glass of water, but, if you sat with your back to that, you could almost imagine it was a dinner dance set up with tabled borrowed from the neighborhood.

As they stood in line he saw several women, and a few men, giving appreciatively appraising looks. They were the only ones sporting the new uniforms so he imagined they had been rushed to be ready for their missing in the morning. He saw several women eyeing Reiner's backside, which was shown off to great effect in the tighter trousers, and imagined he must be getting similar treatment.

Once they had their plates of 'stroganoff' (it wasn't bad but lacked several key ingredients) with noodles and vegetables he glanced around before leading the way to a small table that was close to a larger one at which sat a number of attractive women and no men.

Once they were seated he raised an eyebrow and smiled a small smile, hoping Reiner had noticed the import of his choice of tables.

[Reiner Dornkirk]

"That's not fair, Kuno!" Reiner protested through a grin, "We kinda split the motherly duties. I do the cleaning," His smile waxed mischievous, "You do the nagging." At the question of what branch they now fell under, he shrugged.

"I guess now that the ground we defend is also in the air, we're all sort of the Island Corps, now." Even though he'd been the one to come to this conclusion, it seemed to confuse him moments after he'd uttered it. He blinked a few times and shook his head,

"Anyway, that's right, lieutenant! And I'd be lost without you, sir." He returned the salute, chuckling. "Glad to hear it! I can't satisfy them all on my own..." During their chummy walk over to the mess, Reiner inquired after the lieutenant's day and filled Kuno in about his own first day on the job under Stefan.

When he saw the day's offering on the queue at the Mess Hall, he leaned close to Kuno close enough that the other man could feel the hot breath of his whisper better than hear it.

"Hey Kuno..." He began, "What do you call a masturbating bull?" He bit his lip and stepped back, extending his arms in a presentational display toward the placard over the stew, reading: "Beef Stroganoff." He beamed at his stupid, recycled joke and thanked the woman who scooped the offering onto his dish.

He shot a glance over to the table of women, tipping his hat to them as he swung his leg over the bench to seat himself at good angle to catch any eyes that may be cast his way. With an approving nod to Kuno, he dug into the food, trying to be careful about keeping sauce off of his lapels.

"Do you know any of them?" He asked, low and quiet, glancing up from his plate toward his roommate across the table. Dabbing at his mouth with a napkin, his eye darted over and caught the eye of a striking redhead. He suppressed a grin and his eyes shot back down to his plate once more.

[Rune]

The meal was a good one, all things considered. The tastes of home were inside it, even if they were often only hinted at, everyone was doing their best and that included all the mothers and wives that were manning (womanning?) the kitchens.

Some people had brought their own drinks and Kuno had a bottle to share tucked into his jacket. The two men passed it between them as they had pleasant, flirtatious conversation with the pretty women at the table.

Kuno watched from the corner of his eye every time Reiner kissed the bottle, taking it back and drinking after him while it was yet wet.

He did know two of the women, sisters who looked almost alike enough to be twins, though one was obviously shorter and younger. He flirted mostly with them, knowing that neither would seriously attempt to catch him while the other was also interested. Reiner spread his attention a little but over time he honed in on the lovely, leggy redhead whose name Kuno hadn't caught. He knew basically every person who lived on the Islands by sight but he hadn't actually been introduced to all of them. He would make inquiries. It wouldn't be too hard with her unique looks and friendly charm, people would remember her.

By the time the plates were empty and the bottle was at dregs he glanced over at the door, ready to be heading back. Reiner did not seem to notice that the meal was over, or, if he did, didn't care. Kuno stretched expansively, and when that did not catch the Private's attention he waited a few minutes and did it again, this time accompanied by a jaw cracking yawn.

The second attempt was as effective as the first and it was an effort to keep the frown from his face. Reiner ignoring him, or, worse, not noticing him was a new development and one which the lieutenant did not like. At all.

He gave it a few more minutes before standing, straightening his crisp new uniform and saying,

"We should be getting back." Leaning over he put his hand by his mouth and said in a stage whisper to the ladies' table,

"But important mission for the Private and me in the morning, can't be late." Before winking charmingly enough that the whole table either played along or giggled.

[Reiner Dornkirk]

Reiner was about halfway through his stew, when he made a mild comment about never having had a starlit dinner while this close to the stars to the nearby table of girls. A few of them seemed all too eager to engage him in conversation, a one or two might have even been chomping at the bit to speak with the two soldiers in their fresh, snappy uniforms. Before long, Reiner picked up his bowl and moved to join them, nodding for Kuno to do the same as he took a seat next to his favorite of the group.

"Name's Reiner." He offered, angled broadly enough that he seemed to be talking to the whole table, even when his eyes were only on her. He neglected to offer his surname, and he wouldn't. Kuno had gotten it into his head, doubtless unintentionally, that the privilege of his name was not something to be bandied about cavalierly. It was one thing to invoke Dornkirk for some greater good, but not for a night on the pull.

At some point during the discourse, the energetic private moved from the bench to perching himself on the actually table, so he was sort of looming above the ladies as he charmed them. This put his back to Kuno. He could only see him a few times when his head was turned to one side, at which point he failed to notice the subtler two attempts at drawing his attention from the girls.

The sound of Kuno raising his voice a bit behind him, caused him to sit upright from the lazy slump of leaning on one hand. He looked over his shoulder, smiling faintly at the 'stage whisper'.

"Ah, right. Guess it's gettin' pretty late..." He noted, with an apologetic smile. "It was nice meeting all of you! I'm sure we'll see each other around..." He slid down from the table, leaning close to the red-head and whispering, "And I'll see you for that drink when I'm back, Renata." He placed a quick, furtive kiss against her cheekbone, before jogging around to Kuno and placing a hand on his back.

"Gotta get the old man to bed before he gets too cranky!" He informed the table of girls with a chuckle.

[Rune]

The older soldier laughed along with the joke but as soon as they were outside the Windworks into the cool night air he used the excuse of pulling the collar of his overcoat up to shrug away from Reiner's friendly touch. He didn't sling his arm around the Private's shoulders, as was their normal manner of walking when it was as chilly out as it was that night, either.

Tucking his hands into his pockets he walked briskly, barely leaving room for Reiner to keep up without running with his shorter stride. He bounded up the stairs by the time they reached their building so he could be inside building a fire in their small stove before his roommate arrived.

He hadn't spoken a word on the return journey, nor had he looked back to ensure he was being followed. If his efforts at conversation and the procurement and sharing of alcohol weren't worth the time of night then he could return to looking out for himself as he had before Reiner had arrived.

The fire was just beginning to catch and he fed it carefully, not looking around when he heard the door open. His attitude was, he knew, unhelpfully stormy. Maybe, in a few minutes, he would be able to at least appear to be jovial and uncaring. Kuno wasn't even sure why he was upset, it wasn't as though none of the women had been interested in him.

It must be that Reiner pulled attention with no consideration for how it detracted from those around him. Yes. That made sense. It might even be helpful, considering Kuno wasn't interested in any of the longer term commitments most any girl he met on the Islands would be looking for. So, why was he so angry?

He glanced over his shoulder when he saw Reiner turn briefly away to take off his coat, making sure to be back facing the stove before he could be seen. Perhaps, after all the brothers-in-arms he'd lost it had begun to feel like he had a real ally, a real friend, in Reiner.

A lump formed in his throat and he cleared it away with a swallow that somehow felt viscous. There was no time for sentiment even if...

No. The way his body ached sometimes, when Reiner smiled at him or nestled back into his arms while they were falling asleep shouldn't matter. It couldn't matter. Having a one-time toss-off with another soldier under cover of night far from where they could be seen was one thing. He didn't have to know those mens' names, even see their faces fully if he didn't want to. There was plausible deniability, anonymity, safety. Anything that happened with Reiner would be, more or less, public knowledge. Anything Reiner didn't like would be taken to the Minister.

It didn't bear thinking about and he shivered as his mind imaged the cold wind blowing through him as he dangled at the end of a rope.

Kuno could be friendly, protective, he could provide for the other man in small ways that would earn him praise sung into the Minister's ears, but that was all.