Chapter Text
It was really cold. So cold these days. Yet, all Olivia could think was to hold the little boy closer to her trench closer, he was so warm that it was worrisome, probably a fever.
The woman didn't have childs on her own, but she couldn't stop herself to have a huge maternal instincts towards the baby. The little boy in her arms was so small that she was afraid he would break if she didn't hold him firmly. The little boy was one or two years old, maybe even younger, he had this silver beige fluffy hair,which made him so adorable that she had to stop her teammates from squeezing him to death, his eyes were a soft bright blue and faint red pupils.
The boy was so quiet that Olivia was afraid that they came too late for him, fortunately, it wasn't the case, but she couldn't say the same of his parents. The boy was only able to survive because of his mother resiliency, who seemed to use all her strength to hold the wild hunt while the ratnikis group didn't arrived.
They arrived only in time to her dying breath between choked words.
—I...llu...ga...
By the time she and her teammates heard these words, they wouldn't understand what she meant, until they found a child hidden on basket behind a mountain of plants, probably placed in plea to hide his scent from the wild hunt. Even if the ratnik didn't believe that could work, she couldn't help but respect the woman for trying everything she could to hide her pup.
Now there were the three lightkeepers returning to their quarters with a child that gods' knows his fate. The woman's teammate, Roman, pointed to the lighthouse close to them, saying that seemed like a good spot to rest, since the house was known to be abandoned years to now.
—Maybe we can find something for the little cub here to wear—said her other teammate, Magnus, as he rufles the little boy's hair.
Right. The child's house was in a deplorable state when they arrived, they could hardly save some baby formula for the kid before the house went to the ground. Olivia suggested to rip one of her clothes layer to make an blanket for the child, but Roman and Magnus were quicker than her, both ripping one of their clothes layers to make blankets.
—We can't have you freezing, Liv, what kind of gentleman would we be if we did?—was what Magnus said, sounding kinda amused. Roman simply agreed nonchalantly, but you could see his eyes softening a little as he stared at them.
It's was normal between them, Magnus would tease with something idiotic, Roman would roll his eyes with a hidden smile and Olivia would scold him or role her eyes as well and ignore her desire to laugh. They were both idiots, but they were her idiots.
Once they arrived and entered the lighthouse, it was notable by the layers of dust that it was indeed abandoned for so long.
—Wow, this still looks better than a lot of hotels that we stayed.—Of course, Magnus said it.
Olivia groaned, not from annoyance and more from tiredness, all week taking care of a child and fighting for their life had her now understanding why her mother was always so tired when she was younger.
—Its good for one nigh, we need to rest and the baby needs to eat.—Olivia sighed.
Both of her partners looked at her. Tilting their heads like they shared the same brain cell, which they probably did.
—Illuga you mean? That's his name-
—Mag, don't.—She signed— calling him by his name will only make you grow attached. We are only to go back to the quarters and hand the baby so Starshyna will know what to do to him.
Magnus' smile slowly faded away. His figure becoming tense.
—So what's happening to him? He just lost his parents and now what? We're going to handle him to Starshyna, that will probably put him on a orphanage, where he's going to spend years of his life waiting for someone to pick him? And we're supposed to just accept that?
Olivia's eyes widened, she never saw Magnus snap this way. Before she could say anything, he turned on his boots, mumbling something about needing fresh air. He left her and Roman alone inside that lighthouse.
Not understanding what was happening, her eyes turned to Roman, who decided to make himself useful and prepare the baby formula, probably as a way of running from her questions.
It didn't help, by the way.
—So...what was that?— she asked, looking on his eyes as he tried to evict visual contact.
—How am I supposed to know? I'm not him.— he gulped, unlike his nonchalant persona.
—Because both of you grew up together.
She got him. She really got him. Roman was a terrible liar and secret keeper.
—Magnus is an orphan.—he quickly covered his mouth, looking guilty.
That made sense for her. Now thinking further, Magnus never talked about his parents and when he met hers, he had this painful look on his face.
—Oh Magnus...
Roman gave her infant's milk. He passed by her squeezing her shoulder comfortingly.
—I'm gonna talk to him. Just focus on Illuga for now, alright?
She nodded, watching as he walked through the door, leaving her alone with that baby.
—Alright...It's just us. Wake up, pup. I can't give your milk if you're sleeping.
Olivia poked the boys cheek, seeing as he opened his eyes slowly. She refrained herself from screaming, he was so adorable, but she needed to keep her professionalism.
The woman gave the child his milk, slowly and carefully, not wanting him to choke accidentally. Olivia was now curled on the ground with the baby on her lap, happily drinking his food.
—There, I hope that was enough.
She took the empty bottle from him. Seeing as he protested with frowning eyebrows. She poked his cheek with her finger gently.
—Now don't be like that, by what I know, I can't give you more than that.
The baby seemed to reluctantly accept her words, relaxing his angry expression to a more neutral one.
Olivia was not a kids person, they cried a lot and had too much energy, but oh how doomed she realized she was when the kid grabbed the finger she was poking him. She forced herself to breath deeply and ignore the melting in her heart.
But then Illuga smiled at her. She couldn't describe the joy she was feeling by that, or the urge she felt to hide Illuga from this cruel world. Her breaths stoped as Illuga emitted some low cute noises.
From this moment she took a decision she never thought she would ever make in her 30 years of living.
Illuga would be hers now. She could feel her heart pounding, screaming at her that this was the right choice, while her mind was calling her stupid in all possible ways.
Olivia never imagined herself as a mom. As a Ratnik, she wouldn't even imagine her future living the next day. It was a dangerous life. But imagining herself back to her parents house, helping them at their blacksmith shop as they helped her to raise Illuga just felt right.
Call her crazy for making such a decision for a child she just met, she didn't care. Maybe this way her mother would stop worrying if she made it back alive, her dad would stop staying awake all night every time she received a mission. And maybe, just maybe, she could get a normal life.
—Ah, I'm so hopeless aren't I, Illuga?—she sighed
A burbled laugh caught her ears, she softened her frame, kissing his cheeks, which caused him to laugh even more.
—Can I keep you forever? You're so precious!
Illuga seemed to stop, not at her words, but at a loud roar outside the lighthouse. Wildhunt, she thought, her body becoming tense.
—Alright, Illuga, I need to go for now, alright? I promise I'm gonna be back soon.
With that, she took off her trench and curled Illuga on it, putting him on the bed.
As she grabbed her spear and gave Illuga one last look before running out. Her beautiful short brown hair flying with the wind, her black eyes hardening as she faced the wild hunt.
—We meet again, you mindless waste of space!
...
Too much. There was too much of them. They won't stop coming, no matter how much they slashed and stabbed them, they kept coming.
How many time where they here? One hour? Two? They didn't know, all they knew by now was using their weapon.
Gods, Archons, Celestia, any entity human or not that can hear us, we need help, they would pray as their bodies gave up to the ground.
Her body collapsed, she couldn't breath. No, she needed to breathe, she needed to come back to her mom, to her dad, to her Illuga.
Olivia couldn't die. But her strength was leaving her body, she barely saw as a purple flash helped her and her partner to wipe all the monsters around.
I keep my promises, I can't die. She thought and yet her eyes closed.
—I...lluga...—she said under her breath, her last one.
Despite the cold snow. Olivia never felt so warm.