Whumptober 2025 Day 7: Trapped with the Enemy

[rosanicus]

No 7: "Tell me that you're okay, and I'm fine."

Trapped with the Enemy | Elevator | Pushed Beyond Breaking Point

It's.............. the Daemon AU! I struggled mightily with the prompts today, then I thought, hey, Foreign Legionnaire exists, and then I subsequently thought, I miss my silly daemon OCs.

For the purpose of reconaissance, Hazel had taken an exploratory flight around the perimeter of the castle, and it was just as she returned to perch at Biggles' shoulder that a shot pierced the still, tense air. A return volley rung out, and then silence reigned once more.

"Bloody hell," said Patience. She had taken her own seat on the back of a dusty chair while Ginger searched for weaponry. "Did that catch you?"

Hazel ruffled her feathers and huffed in annoyance. "Of course not," she snapped. "I have a little more grace than you do."

It had been some time since the castle was surrounded. Biggles scratched absently at Hazel's crown with a fingernail, his eyes set on the high, craggy cliffs just visible through the window. "No need to argue," he ordered. "We'll get out or we won't, but I'd rather you weren't clawing each other's eyes out while we wait."

Patience muttered a few choice words under her breath; her name had been chosen by Ginger's father in the hope of instilling virtue. Whether it had succeeded was a matter of some debate.

Von Stalhein, positioned by the far window with a rifle and a small portion of their paltry story of ammunition, almost laughed. Biggles glanced over at him once more, as he drew the rifle back from its position and reloaded. He mentally struck one round from their armory.

His daemon, the desert fox Minna, stood alongside him, her whole body a line of tension focused on the horizon. Her tail just brushed along her human's shoulder, gently waving. The thick line of scarring around her hocks was less visible in the dim light of the evening.

"Have you eaten?" He asked.

Von Stalhein nodded. "It left much to be desired," he said, his tone cold as it had been all the days of their shared confinement. Then he asked, "And have you?"

This was the extent of their conversation, on most days. But Minna had sought out Hazel one evening to discuss politics, and walked the castle with Patience flitting above her in search of hidden passages, just because she'd asked.

Biggles wasn't sure what to make of the mismatch. But it must be revealing of something, if the glare Erich levelled at Minna when she betrayed its existence meant anything at all.

Comments

[philomytha]

Daemon AU is always the right answer! And oh, Biggles, I'm sure Hazel and Minna spending time together means nothing at all, and nor does Erich's quick finger on the trigger when something threatens Hazel...

[sholio]

DAEMON AU!! I love this. <3 EvS quietly protecting Hazel! And asking if Biggles has eaten! And Minna choosing to hang out with the SAP daemons - perfectly innocently, I'm sure. I also love EvS's little near-laugh, clearly paying more attention to their byplay than he'd ever dream of admitting.

[tweague]

Yaaaayyyyy daemons 😍 Minna choosing to hang out with the SAP daemons was adorable, but there's something so sad about vS glaring at her for doing it - I hope they're doing okay, they must have had a rocky few years together :( how do you suppose self-hatred manifests in one's relationship with one's daemon?