Reunion.

It wasn't long before the group reached the Pathfinder safe house, where they were spotted by two Pathfinders guarding its entrance. 

And one of them was a person Alexander was extremely familiar with.

The guard narrowed his eyes as Alexander approached, before taking a cautious step forward. 

But as Alexander grew closer, the guard's eyes went wide.

"Alexander!" He shouted, scrambling from his post as he bolted towards the group.

"Ben?!" Alexander exclaimed in welcoming surprise, "What are you doing here?" He asked, a smile playing on his lips.

Ben didn't answer, instead, he pushed past Martine and scooped Alexander into his tight embrace. "Alexander!" He exclaimed again as he held him close, his heart racing.

Alexander quickly returned the hug, wrapping his arms around Ben's shoulders as their cheeks touched. 

"I can't believe it," Ben said with a muffled laugh as he hurried his face into Alexander's shoulder. "It's… it's really you."

Alexander softly chuckled as he patted Ben on the back. "It's good to see you again Ben." He replied, feeling an overwhelming sense of relief with a tinge of guilt. "But… what are you doing out here?"

Ben pulled back, before putting Alexander on the ground "Looking for you!" Ben exclaimed with a wide smile, full of relief. "As soon as you disappeared I started searching for you.

Alexander felt a rush of happiness at that fact, to think someone cared he went missing, and to come out here no doubt.

He opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted by Martine stepping to his side and placing a hand on Ben's shoulder. "Sorry to interrupt a warm–"

Before she could even finish her sentence, Ben jumped from Alexander's shoulders to hold Martine in a tight embrace. 

His arms locked around her waist as he pulled her close. "Thank you, thank you thank you thank you!" He repeated, his voice full of happiness and gratitude. 

Martine stiffened at Ben's sudden embrace, but she soon softened, a grin crossing her lips as she wrapped her arms around Ben's neck. "You're sure singing a different tune, it's like only yesterday you wanted to kill me."

Pierre gave Martine a skeptical look. "You didn't read his file, did you…"

Martine shrugged as she held Ben closer. "Oh, there was just too much to read." She answered, getting comfortable in Ben's embrace.

Just then, almost as if on cue, Antoinette emerged from the safe house with a few other pathfinders. 

And upon seeing Ben wrapped in a deep embrace with Martine, her cheeks reddened.

Alexander caught Antoinette steaming at the ears before Ben did and quickly tried to warm him with a tap on the leg. "Uh… Ben?"

Ben looked down at Alexander with a warm smile, "What's wrong my lord?" He asked softly, attempting to pull away from Martine but failing. 

Alexander pointed toward the safe house.

With a raised eyebrow, Ben turned to look, still unable to break free from Martine's embrace.

When his gaze landed on Antoinette, there was a brief moment of silence, followed by Antoinette screaming his name and him stumbling.

"Ben!" She shouted.

"Lieutenant!" He stammered.

Antoinette marched forward, her cheeks flushed and expression stern. 

Her boots dug deep in the dirt road, while the pathfinders that followed behind her had amused expressions. 

Ben hurriedly freed himself from Martine, this time pulling away with more force from Martine's death grip. "L-lieutenant," he stammered, attempting to back away, "it's not what it looks like, I swear!"

Antoinette reached for Ben with a speedy snatch, taking hold of his collar. "Oh really?!" She shouted angrily, for more than any typical lieutenant would, "because it looks like you're hugging your long lost lover!"

Martine, ever the instigator, pulled on Ben's hand taking it in hers. "Oh lieutenant, don't hurt him!" She cried, fluttering her eyes for dramatic effect, "I… I love him."

Antoinette went from red to purple, quickly snapping to face Martine. "You–" she looked ready to pop but stopped herself. 

Though Martine worked with the military, she was technically a civilian, so any action taken against her could lead to major consequences.

Antoinette sighed deeply as she released Ben's collar. 

"Right." She muttered under her breath as she pointed a finger at Martine. "Just… stop with your antics, you're on military grounds.

Martine smirked smugly. "But I'm on the street." She replied sarcastically.

Antoinette ignored Martine, instead turning her attention towards Ben. "Take Alexander and the others into the safe house," she ordered, her tone regaining its edge. "And inform the rest of the unit we leave at dawn."

Ben gave a brief nod, "Yes ma'am."

Ben turned towards Alexander and reached out a hand. "If you'll follow me, my lord."

Alexander gave a nervous chuckle as he accepted Ben's hand. "Yeah, let's go." 

Though he didn't say it out loud, Alexander was glad he didn't have to witness Martine's antics for much longer. 

He knew women like that lived only for chaos.

With Alexander in hand, Ben moved towards the safe house but was stopped by a shoulder grab from Antoinette. 

"We're talking after this," Antoinette whispered coldly, her eyes narrowing. 

Alexander watched as the color drained from Ben's face and gulped.

Ben, your future wife is scary.

"R-right." Ben stammered with a nod. 

Antoinette released Ben's shoulder with a sigh, before turning her attention towards the royal blades and Mimi. "Right, so what's with the girl?"

Mimi subtly flinched at Antoinette's sudden attention, her tail twitching under her tunic as she stepped behind Pierre.

Martine smirked as she crossed her arms, "Oh, we found her with Alexander, a companion of misfortune if you will." 

Antoinette shook her head as her expression softened, "hm, did you find their hideout, the Clamori?" She asked curiously.

Martine shook her head. "Nope, turns out Alexander and the girl were chatting it up with a few demons, kind bunch, minding the sharp teeth and horns."

Antoinette had an expression of disbelief, her jaw tightening as she looked towards Pierre.

Pierre nodded, "yeah, it's true."

Antoinette let out a long breath as she put her hands on her hips. "Goddess, I wouldn't wish a fate like that on my worst soldier."

Mimi frowned at Antoinette's words but remained silent.

"Have you fought many demons, lieutenant?" Martine asked curiously, tilting her head.

Antoinette nodded, "too many," she said with a frown, "lost a lot of good men to those savages."

Martine nodded as she gave Pierre a knowing look. 

Pierre nodded in agreement as he pushed Mimi further behind himself. "Well, I'm glad we could spare you another fight lieutenant, but I'm afraid we need to go."

Antoinette sighed. "Yeah, are you leaving the girl with lord Alexander."

Martine shook her head. "No, she'll be coming with us for a bit, gotta sort out her identity, look for her parents, the works."

Antoinette paused momentarily, her expression becoming thoughtful. "You know," she began, gesturing a finger towards Martine, "you're… surprisingly professional right now."

Martine grinned, "And you're surprisingly cute when you're jealous." She shot back. 

Antoinette looked as if she wanted to threaten Martine, as her cheeks grew red and eyes narrowed.

But after letting out a sigh, a small smile crossed her lips. "Is it that obvious?" She asked, glancing back at her safe house.

Martine giggled, "from the moment I met you two." 

Antoinette shook her head with a smile. "Tch, I hate him so much." She muttered under her breath before turning around. 

Martine and Pierre watched as the lieutenant joined the others in the safe house, closing the door behind herself.

"You know, for all it's worth, Ben made a good choice," Martine said with a laugh.

Pierre surprisingly found himself nodding in agreement. "Yeah, though I prefer a calmer woman, less of a headache."

Martine rolled her eyes as she flipped Pierre the bird. "I never liked you anyway."