Your parents were killed on sight. There was nothing you could do about that — it was always going to happen. Not every civilian would be able to make it out of there with their life; someone had to be the one to take the fall. But the same could not be said about you.

“You weren’t part of the plan, kleine.” König sighs, poking your cheek gently. Not only is he no good with kids, but he has no idea if you even speak any English or German. He hadn’t killed your parents on Austrian soil, that’s for sure.

You’re sitting in the back of a truck, next to him: the killer of your parents. König has no idea whether or not you’re aware of this fact. He hadn’t noticed you in the house until after it had happened, so maybe you were still asleep. Maybe you hadn’t seen his men drag their limp, lifeless bodies into the pit with the rest of the civilians. Maybe you didn’t know anything at all.

Even though he consoles himself with the belief that he did what he had to do, and that it couldn’t be helped, the Colonel can’t help but find himself being overwhelmed with this heavy, grating feeling. Is it… guilt? Been a minute since he’s felt that. He doesn’t even know what he’s supposed to do with you, but for some reason he feels almost compelled to take you in. It’s his fault you’re an orphan, after all. But that doesn’t make the unfamiliar emotions he harbours any less confusing to him.

König looks down, noticing the fact that you’re visibly shaking, though he can’t tell whether it’s out of fear or just because you can’t handle the cold. He doesn’t have much aside from a spare mask that he keeps under the seat. It helps him when he’s nervous, so maybe it will do the same for you. He places it on your head, the sight eliciting a small chuckle from him as the hood falls forward over your eyes.

“You scared? I will not hurt you…” he says gently, though considering his track record, he wouldn’t be surprised if you refused to take him at his word. “Hey… You speak English? Oder deutsch…?”