estirose

Spoilers for Garo Makai Senki 18 in this fic. It's a quick reaction to the end of it, and will no doubt be jossed by subs/the next episode. Summary under cut.

Summary: Leo feels he has overstepped his bounds. Kouga doesn't know what to think.

Naught but a Squire
by Estirose

The armor disappeared, leaving Leo, still in his Makai Priest gear, standing as if he couldn't quite believe he'd done what he'd just done. The man with Leo's face, the one who was not Leo, was gone.

Kouga struggled up, glancing at the remains of the two Gouryu that Leo had smashed. The Brand still pained him, and he was reminded that there was still someone to go after. He'd promised Kaoru that he'd see her picture book done, and he intended to hold to that promise.

Joining the priest, he looked down at the sword. He knew without touching it that it was Soul Metal, that Leo had used someone's sword to transform and that the armor had accepted the priest.

"I overstepped my bounds," Leo said, looking at the sword. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that."

Makai Priests had never been Knights, except at the very beginning. But Kouga didn't care. He had Leo back, and he wasn't Red Mask. "Who was that?"

Leo looked up, as if he'd forgotten that Kouga was there. "It's... complicated. We should get back. You need medical attention, and I... need to do some things."

Rei had not been raised a Makai Knight, at least not like Kouga had. But he was recognized as one. Kouga had no doubt that Leo would be made one too, because he could don the armor.

"You know how to use a sword." Leo could fight with a sword. Kouga had seen that he was no beginner.

Putting a hand behind his head, Leo replied, "I always wanted to be a Knight when I was a boy. But I was selected to be a Priest, instead. I learned to fight even though I knew I'd never wear the armor of a Knight. When I grabbed this sword, I never thought about anything more than stopping him. I'd always thought I'd use my skills in an emergency... I never thought I'd fight this way. I'm sorry, Kouga. I'm turning myself in as soon as I get you to someone who can look at you."

Kouga turned away. He wondered if Leo knew what the Senate would do, if they thought he was the Red-Masked Man. Or if they knew that Leo had transformed, become a Knight.

It might save him. It might also doom him.

But Kouga could do nothing but clear Leo's name. "Let's go," he said, and let Leo lead him away.