Disclaimer: I don't own any aspect of ToS:DotNW

“Dark radiance!”

Ratatosk's attack tore through the remaining wolf. He smiled and muttered under his breath, “Pathetic.”

Marta walked up to him, chattering away happily. “Whew! Those monsters were tough, but nothing compared to you! You're amazing in battle!”

Ratatosk sheathed his sword, turning away from her. Why the hell couldn't she just shut up for once? One of these days...

Behind him, he could hear Marta huff angrily.

“Lord Ratatosk?” Tenebrae materialized beside him. “Before you leave, I was wondering...”

“Not that damn question from before?” He sighed impatiently, gesturing to Marta to go on ahead of him.

“I'm afraid so, sir.”

The Summon Spirit closed his eyes. “Why do you care so much?”

Tenebrae had no answer.

“If I tell you, will you leave me alone?”

“Yes, my lord.” Ratatosk narrowed his eyes at the enthusiasm in Tenebrae's voice.

“Fine, I'll tell you. It's not Marta.”

“I see...Who is it?”

Now completely lost in his own little world, Ratatosk smiled. “We see each other every so often.” A wistful note crept into his voice. “Not as often as I'd like, unfortunately.” Here he shrugged. “But our time together makes up for it. He's cute when he blushes.”

The Centurion of Darkness could only stare. “...He? You love whom, lord?”

The corners of Ratatosk's mouth tilted upward slightly.

“Emil, of course.”

~*~

“Marta! Marta! Come here!”

Marta started, then turned to run to Emil. It had only been a few minutes since Ratatosk had dismissed her, but Emil sounded as if someone had been killed.

“What's wrong, Emil?! Are you hurt?! Are you...”

Marta's voice trailed off at the sight of Tenebrae. “What happened to Tenebrae?”

The Centurion sat on the ground, his eyes wide open with an expression of shock in them.

“I don't know! I came back just a minute ago, and he was like this! He keeps twitching and muttering my name...”

Marta put her hand on Tenebrae's forehead. “Do you think he's sick?”

“I-I don't think so. Can Centurions even get sick?”

“TENEBRAE!”

“Marta! What are you yelling for?”

“Maybe it'll make him come back to his senses.”

To Emil's everlasting surprise, it worked. Tenebrae jerked slightly, then turned to face the two worried humans. “I'm sorry if I worried you.”

“What happened, Tenebrae?” Marta knelt down beside him, still worried.

“Believe me when I say this, Lady Marta. You don't want to know.”

I was originally just going to leave this with the previous chapter, but Tenebrae's reaction was too funny. XD