Chapter I. Kill the resistance.

It was a cold and bloody night at imperial prison. At least the screams coming from lower levels and traces of blood in Tatsumi's own cell attested to the latter part. While it was not his own blood, it was clear this was not a place one could hope to leave the next day...at least not alive.

However of all the prisoners there, he was by far the luckiest one. Well..as lucky as a guy waiting to be tried and executed can be. While being empire's sworn enemy - a member of revolutionary army's assassination and covert operations squad - the infamous "Night Raid", he still had a gateway to freedom and full pardon from empire's side. The problem was the person holding said gate - the very same one that caught and imprisoned him - the empire's strongest - general Esdese.

A woman known for her unmatched power on the battle field and equally great lack of compassion for her enemies. There was not a single torturer in the empire or near it's borders that would not know her name and many torture techniques she herself invented. Torture techniques that she often employed and improved upon on "enemies of the empire".

"Hardened criminals", whose "heinous crimes" ranged from stealing food, due to outrages taxation of their own income, delays in paying an arm and a leg in said taxes, raising voice in public against capitol's all present corruption, or being in the wrong place and time, when someone close to prime minister Honest wanted something that was originally meant for them. There were of course quite a handful of revolutionary army's soldiers in there too. In short people who did the smart thing and rebelled, before becoming members of previous groups.

Yet all those things were dry facts to Esdese, while her immeasurable love for Tatsumi was something she felt and he kept showering him with every day, even in this cell, much to his dismay. Receiving her affection, watching her bring him her home made meals to this hell hole, along with repeated offer of full pardon and a place at her side as subordinate would be a heaven's gift for anyone else in this situation. Being saved by her from rape at hands of his previous enemy together with a member of sickest group of freaks he'd ever seen, did not escape is attention either.

However, he was a member of Night Raid - a sworn enemy of empire and it's corruption, currently locked up in a place that was a screaming testament to it's putrid nature.
And she was Empire's general with no remorse for her actions whatsoever, nor a slightest care for things like justice, wellbeing of royal subjects or a normal concept of love.
To her there existed only the strong and the weak, death and suffering being a natural fate of the weak.
Though at the same time she was able to display unwavering loyalty, love and care for those who stood at her side. Always from a dominating position however, even in love.

4 days to trial.

"Tatsumi, listen to reason. Why rot in this cell and await all too obvious execution after your trial, if you can be my mine and live?" exclaimed Esdese with her hand on her heart and tone full of genuine care.

"You mean why die with honor, when I can stab the memory of my childhood friends in the back, tear apart the hearts of my friends in Night Raid, and support the empire that brought about all this misery in the first place?!" He responded furiously.

"If they're your friends, then where are they now?! Oh yes, one is in the torture chamber getting mutilated by prime minister's son, and the rest doesn't lift a finger to help any of you. Both products of their weakness." Esdese summarized their situation with a cold, yet visibly angry voice.

Tatsumi's teeth clenched and grinded against each other.

"YOU...DARE SPEAK OF FRIENDSHIP? YOU, WHO NEVER HAD A FRIEND, JUST OBEDIENCE AND FEAR AROUND YOURSELF?!" Those words stabbed Esdese in the heart like a jagged spear of ice, causing her to fall silent for good 10 seconds. But this was no time to be weak, lest she watch her loved one get executed in public view, probably by her own hand..

"Call it what you like Tatsumi. But what good is a friend that is too weak to save you in your time of need? Ideals make for a beautiful writings on one's tombstone, but it's the strength that allows both love and friendship to live on.", she stated calmly but decisively.

"If you love me so, why didn't you use that strength of yours to save Lubbock? And to help us oppose this rotten and corrupt Empire?!", Tatsumi's disappointment and regret echoing in her ears.

"That's not how it works Tatsumi. The weak do not command the strong, and you're the weak one here. Though your strength is exceptional, you are neither in position nor power to order me what to do. Don't expect an imperial general to save every Night Raid member that trips up during their attempt at lives of those I'm sworn to protect. Be grateful that thanks to my power i was able to bargain for your life in front of the emperor." she voiced her authority in a cold, dominating voice.

"Well that's one investment that's not gonna bring any returns", he snarled. "Not unless you do something about Lubbock's situation".

'Tatsumi...' she thought.

"I see further discussion will not help reach that small speck of land called reason in your ocean of idealistic stupidity. We will continue this discussion tomorrow. For now cool your head off, and realize that a dead man can't save anyone." stated Esdese as she left the cell.

2 hours later, Esdese's office.

A silent but orderly knock is heard at the door.
"Wave reporting!" - the young blue haired Yeager shouted in formal tone.
"Come in Wave, on time as usual. Take a seat, we have a bit of talking to do".
'Gulp...i remember yesterday - she didn't come to the evening meeting because things didn't go well with Tatsumi. I couldn't sleep for 3 hours because screams from torture chamber kept me up..'
"It's about Tatsumi.."
"OH DEAR LORD! PLEASE GENERAL! I KNOW I FAILED TO CAPTURE HIM BACK THEN BUT YOU ALREDY PUNISHED ME! HAVE MERCYYYY!" Wave cried dropping on the floor, bowing faster then he normally swings his sword..
"Get up Wave, I won't torture you...for now. I just need to talk."
"Y-yes!"
He replied getting back on his feet and taking his place in a chair hoping this conversation ends sooner then the illusive "for now"..

"I tried reasoning with Tatsumi, but that doesn't seem to work too well.."
"No offense general, but any of us could guess that outcome well before the conversation started" said Wave with slight grin on his face.
One very short and equally icy stare from the general put that to a quick rest.
"Ekhum...anyway General. You came to the right person - me and Tatsumi are quite alike".
"I know, she sighed. I tried asking Kurome first, but that wasn't the best idea..."
"Oh, how so?"
"When asked about a way to get Tatsumi to join me, she offered to stab him with Yatsufusa after execution."
"That's about what I expected." said Wave with yet another smirk on his face..
"When i told her that's out of the question, she then offered to kill him herself before execution...and stab him with Yatsufusa."
"I see...well you can't deny her focus on efficiency.." Wave commented with both of them dropping their heads and sighing heavily..
"So Wave, what's your take on the problem?"

"Well Tatsumi's a hot head, that is quite impervious to any form of reasoning. On top of that his goals are exact opposite of yours. However he does not seem to hate you with a passion."
"So i should drop the reasoning and go for sweet talking him into it?" Said Esdese with visible blush.
"No, he's already trying to use your affection as a bargain chip to get his friend free. He would have to love you more then Night Raid for that to happen".
"Then I'll just make him love me more", she replied with unusual vigor in her voice, and sadistic smile on her face.
"Whoa! That's not the best idea general! Remember he's not afraid to die!"
"Then what do you suggest i do?" Esdese inquired returning to her normal demeanor."
"The way I see it, you have to convince him, that by joining you, he will be able to achieve his goal faster then with Night Raid. Given we can't do anything for his friend..."
"You know I can't do that. I can't just happily give him a mission to kill the Prime Minister."

"That is something he'll need to adjust to. Rather then killing, getting the evidence and putting guilty behind bars, like a true Jaeger, and not some assassin.
If he's to walk as one of us, he has to act the part, else he'll be back on trial before you know it. And besides, I too would like to fix the corruption of this empire, for starters for her sake.." Wave confessed with sadness and compassion in his voice.

"Hm...that does sound like a plan. We'll see if it works tomorrow. Well done Wave, you may return to your quarter".
"Thank you general!" Wave shouted and quickly marched out the door.

'Any night when you don't wind up in torture chamber is a good night', he though to himself. Also having Tatsumi alive, aiding with cleaning the empire from corruption and keeping Esdese happy is one idea Wave was definitely looking forward to. Even if there was a big fat punch in it for Tatsumi as a "thank you" for Wave's unplanned torture session and turning his back on the Jaegers a while ago.

3 days to trial, 6:00 am

"Well lookey here, everything the same, save your ugly mug being 8 hours uglier, and i thought it impossible", said a voice coming down the stairs near Tatsumi's cell.
"If there's one good thing about seeing that excuse for an ass you call a face, is that now I'll get to drink wine to forget it, and pick up women while you'll be standing here, looking stupid. So basically the usual, only motionless." replied the guard who was posted on night shift in front of the cell .
"Yeah, yeah, knowing your charming personality, all the women will probably run right here, preferring safety of a cell over freedom with you! Anyway, switch time, enjoy terrorizing the city", retorted Tatsumi's day shift guard with clear satisfaction in his voice.
"Yeah, try not to make any prisoners commit suicide by opening that helm of yours", the now free guard parted with his replacement with this last verbal jab.

Few minutes later.

"Hey kid, you haven't been eating a crumb lately, and the general is not the type to hold her worries pinned inside, if you know what i mean."
"Meaning?"
"Let's just say the guards are wearing extra layers of armor recently.."
"...I'm to be tried and executed, you expect me to eat my veggies and drink my milk?"
"Just try not to get us killed cause someone is throwing a fit about his lunch. Hell it's way better then stuff i chuck down my stomach everyday..".
"Like I care about corrupted military's lives!"
"You think only people on your side of the bars are fed up with it?.."
"...Like you didn't sell your soul to those bastards!?"
"Listen kid, I'm a guard, with a family to feed. And I sure don't won't them executed or thrown into torture chamber. But that doesn't mean I ain't got eyes in my head. Don't expect me to let you out, or conspire with you, but I can sympathize with your situation at least, and grant a reasonable request."
"...my request can't be granted by neither you or Esdese...this empire will remain rotten to the core, unless someone does something!"

Guard lowered his voice.
"...between you and me...what if I told you there is someone like that in this palace..?"
"..? What? Can you repeat that?" Tatsumi suddenly snapped out of it like someone threw a bucket of cold water on him.
"Let's both help each other here, ok? You eat your dinner from general like a good boy, and tomorrow morning, when I hear guards had one night without fearing for their lives, I'll share the whole story with you."
"You better not be lying to me..."
"Believe me, last thing i want to do is lie to someone general Esdese cares so much about. I value my time away from the torture chamber."
"Fine. It's a deal then."

15:00

"Open the door, give me the keys and leave. Return in 4 hours."
"Yes, general."
"Tatsumi, have you considered my offer?"
"My answer for now remains unchanged...but I won't say no to a good meal today."
'For now? And suddenly you're willing to eat? You're not as weak-minded as this Tatsumi...has something made you change your mind?'

"Well Tatsumi, you should've said so from the start", Esdese replied happily, sitting next to him and feeding him a danger beast sirloin in spicy sauce, with mashed potatoes and a glass of vine.
Tatsumi sure didn't hold back on his bites. Willpower is one thing, but empty stomach doesn't lie when not forced to refuse food.
"Conversations held with full stomach are always better" Esdese's humor clearly improved, as she gave Tatsumi a hug so tight, it nearly made all his effort of eating the dinner go to waste.
"Hey, e-easy! I'm supposed to be executed after a trial, not here and now!" he shouted desperately.
"Nobody here needs to be executed, if only they act reasonably" she reminded, holding his face in her hands looking with deep concern into his eyes.
"You know I won't yield, especially knowing my friend is in danger and what you stand for" he said firmly.

"About that", said Esdese, fixing her hat and leaning backwards, her tone dropping to more official one.
"You think that Jaegers are nothing more then empire's lapdogs, to do it's bidding, with no regard for corruption eating it on the inside, is it not?"
"Do you intend to prove me wrong?" Tatsumi snarled with clear sarcasm in his voice.
"As a matter of fact. We can't have you running around killing people "because their evil", I'm sure you understand that. I will never join Night Raid nor let you act like one of them under my supervision.
That being said however, I can let you conduct searches, gather evidence and see that the corrupt in capitol do receive their deserved time in jail, or my torture chambers, as long as you do it the proper way."
"You don't strike me much as defender of justice Esdese. And if the corrupt were to face trial in this capitol, Night raid would be busy watering the daisies, not killing people."
'Not throwing a raged fit, but using reason, Tatsumi? Good job Wave, things are going better then expected', thought Esdese.

"You're right - so you better stay alive and take charge of Jaeger corruption investigations, as you know what my favorite hobbies are if left unchecked", ice queen said giving a sly, sadistic yet gruesomely honest smile.
"With me on your side no 'accidents' will occur. You won't get to kill capitol's officials like during Night Raid days, but you'll get to operate far closer to empire's heart then Night Raid ever did, and without imperial army breathing down your neck."

Her offer was alluring. Of course there could be no doubt that her goal was him, not justice. But on the other hand, Esdese never has shown much care for corruption or the aristocracy either. She's empire's strongest, she doesn't need hiding behind laws and frame-ups. He has no reason to believe she would want to sabotage that part of Jaeger activity. But there was still a matter of Lubbock and Night Raid.

"So what do you say, Tatsumi" said Esdese in most cute voice, reminding him of their time together on certain tropical island.
'Snap out of it, she's Esdese, not Mine, keep it together!' - he scolded himself in his mind.
"Your offer sounds tempting." he replied coldly, "But that doesn't change the fact Lubbock is still jailed here, and we both know what will happen if you run into Night Raid. I can't just happily turn my back on either of them."
"You know you ask for impossible, Tatsumi." she used her official tone, full of authority.
"Be wise, before we'll both regret it" she finished in a cold, but much more silent, tone, eyes betraying her genuine concern, as she parted her ways with Tatsumi for the day.
'Tatsumi, you may act tough, but i can see you hesitate. One way or another..you will be mine'

2 days to trial, 6:20 am

After usual exchange of sympathy between the two guards, Tatsumi's morning shift guard initiated conversation:

"Guess you were eating like a tiger yesterday. General wasn't perhaps a walking field of flowers and rainbows, but you can say she let us off the hook tonight."
"Yeah, I kept my end of the deal, you keep yours."
"Deal's a deal, eh? Ok then, get over here" said the guard tapping the bars.
Tatsumi approached his cell door, where the two could keep their voice down.
"Well, as you now palace is full of guards, and it's no surprise that friendships develop here and there. And friends sometimes share little or not so little secrets they hear, even if they shouldn't. And this one will knock your socks off!"
"Well, out with it already!" urged Tatsumi, clearly excited about something for the first time since his capture.

"A friend of mine was posted in a conference room, where the parliament including prime minister was discussing the threat of revolutionary army. All was going cowardly and sleazy as usual, until the great general Budou stormed in."
"Great general who?"
"Oh boy, and you're an assassin of Night Raid..dear me.."
"The Great General Budou - retainer of the capitol and sworn defender of the emperor. Said to be incredibly powerful, perhaps equal to Esdese. Oh, and the same guy that knocked you out before you wound up here."
"Him huh...so what about him?"
"Well, having assured the gutless cowards that the imperial Guard will hold the capitol and drive off the revolutionary army he said something most surprising - that he himself will deal with all threats to this empire no matter where or who they should be, as soon as he's done with the rebels. You follow kid?
"You mean he'll deal with enemies on the inside?"
"Let's just say that my friend said he was looking squarely at Prime Minster at that time.

"..wait! Are you telling me that this monster who may be as powerful as Esdese is greatly interested in cleaning up empire's #1 scum?"
"All I'll say is that you didn't hear it from me, and I hope you'll be very hungry before your trial", said the guard clearly in good mood, lowering his helm moving few feet away from bars.
'If it's like this...then that information must reach Night Raid no matter what!' Someone with Esdese's power on the inside wanting to take Prime Minster out!

'This changes a lot...I can't die now, who else will tell Night Raid of this? I wonder how Lubbock is doing too..'

15:00

"Tatsumi, you know i hurt seeing you locked in here, death getting nearer every day" Esdese's tone betrayed genuine concern.
"You belong with me, and time is getting short, i don't want to lose you!" - she nearly cried as she hugged him tightly.
"Esdese...what if I told you I accept?"
Her eyes widened with joy, not even letting him finish before he ended up in most live-threatening hug a man could wind up in.
"TATSUMI!"
"HEY, HEY, I SAID: WHAT IF?"
Esdese froze in place. "That last sentence better be a joke" she spoke in a menacing manner.

"Thing is..I decided to accept, but not without ensuring something is done for Lubbock. I'm willing to sever my ties to Night Raid, but I can't leave a comrade to die in a torture chamber a stone's throw away from me!"

"Tatsumi..." Esdese pulled back ..."I was told your friend tried to escape and killed prime minster's son."
'?! Way to go you wily bastard!' Tatsumi thought.
"..but he has run into imperial guard and Wild Hunt, ending killed by the latter. There is nothing that can be done now."
'Lubbock...'
"I will hunt down and kill the bastard who did this!" Tatsumi roared from his cell.
"Belive me Tatsumi, I have little love for Wild Hunt myself - said Esdese in chilling voice full of murderous intent.
"But at this very moment it's your life that's my primary concern, and acting on blind rage will only seal you the same fate as him."

"I DON'T CARE! I WANT THEM DEAD!" he screamed.
"Do you truly want to fight the empire's corruption by getting yourself killed and then leaving things be?" Esdese calmly pointed out the folly of his rage.
She hit a nerve and she knew it.

"..."

Snapping back to reason Tatsumi recalled the goal of Night Raid as well as news of General Budou. Here and now, the most important task for him was to learn more about this man, and get in touch with Night Raid. He owed that much to his friends, whose lives might be spared if someone else solves the problem faster and with smaller body count.

"You're right...thank you Esdese" he replied regaining his composure.
A huge sign of relief drew across her face, her arms pulling him again in deep hug, unwilling to let go anytime soon.
"I'm just glad you'll be with me", exclaimed empire's strongest, as her heart was burning with joy.
"Yeah, make room in Jaegers, you're getting a new member, replied Tatsumi through tears over his lost friend.

Trial averted. Evening, Jaeger dining room.

"Everyone, I know it's sudden, but Tatsumi has returned to our side." announced Esdese in official voice.
"'Everyone' is a bit of exaggeration" he summarized, looking at all the empty chairs with only Kurome and Wave present.

"Welcome back Tatsumi, it's good to have you back on our side, but as you can see...we suffered quite the losses." - Wave commented.
"Yhm..." nodded Kurome eating her cookies as usual.
'Yeah, three of which our doing.' thought Tatsumi feeling regret over Bols' fate while none for Stylish and Seryu.
"A lot has happened, and I don't expect you to love me here, given I was in Night Raid" he said.
"All I can say is that I've seen the slaughter warfare causes and decided to try to fix empire from the inside, hopefully faster and with less casualties then via open revolution and assassinations.
"Well that, and there's certain someone who won't let me do anything stupid, said Tatsumi giving a small smile towards Esdese.
"Trying to suck up to your commanding officer will only get you punished" replied Esdese in a teasing tone.
"I will deal said punishment in my quarter" she concluded, her voice sounding almost official.

"Well what's done is done" said Wave.
"Both sides have their casualties, but here and now we're on the same team, so let's work together to make this empire better", he extended his hand to Tatsumi.
"All right!" - Tatsumi gladly shook it.
"Uhm." nodded Kurome reaching for cookies.
"And if you ever think of leaving us, I'll just kill and stab you with Yatsufusa." she said with a tiny smile sending shivers up everyone's spine but Esdese's.
"With this the evening Jaegers meeting is concluded. Wave and Kurome, be on your best behavior to Tatsumi, and ready yourself for new company. I will soon request for new members to fill our ranks.
"Yes ma'am!" the replied leaving for their quarters.

"Now Tatsumi.." she said sporting a big perverted smile on her face revealing all the ill intention she had.
"Time to face your punishment..." - she pulled him by his collar into her quarters. For a minute or so, the torture chambers weren't the loudest part of imperial castle..

Esdese's chamber - Esdese's bed.

"Tatsumi.. " she looked deep into his big emerald eyes with affection.
"I truly was afraid I would lose you..." her most affectionate voice singing in his ears, his body already being held tight to hers.

"Don't you ever run away from me like that again, and don't ever join Night Raid again", a teasing and affectionate voice commanded while stroking his hair with one hand.
"You know how lonely I was without you, and now you wanted to die on me" - she pinched his cheek hard while kissing him on the forehead.
"Esdese, please...I found out today my friend got butchered by Imperial Guard and Wild Hunt...i need some time to mourn his loss..." said rather tired and depressed Tatsumi.

But for all the hatred he had for the empire and shock at Lubbock's death - a good hug and a loving woman was what he needed the most. Sadly it seems neither Mine nor Night Raid were planning to show up to cheer him up in this grim hour.

"Esdese...I don't wanna do anything perverted...but can you hold me tonight? It's not the best day of my life..."
"But it's the best of mine", she replied as she held him close in her arms and fell asleep with him, not letting him leave her embrace for a split second..

Chapter 1 End

Next chapter - Kill the loneliness