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I'll Be There

Chapter 4

^^^^^

Link let loose yet another yawn. He was used to waking up early, but they had left their tiny camp before the sun ahd risen. Ike couldn't sleep, so he decided to leave early… very early.

Well, at least some good came from it, the blonde reflected, looking down at the sleeping youth in his arms. Pit had been up and ready to go as soon as Ike gave the word, but less than an hour into their journey, the young cherub requested to ride Epona. Ten minutes later, he was fast asleep in the Hero's loving embrace. It's so good to know that you're comfortable with me… I love you so much.

"We're close!" Ike called, anticipation giving his voice a sharper edge.

Link nodded and decided to rouse the sleeping Angel. "Pit… Ike says we're almost there."

The brunette stretched and let out a soft moan that sent the Hylian's heart racing. "We are? Good! Thank you for letting me ride with you."

"Anytime," the Hero assured. As he looked up, he saw the Crimean general spur his horse into a gallop. "Hang on." Link urged Epona to do the same in order to catch up with the impatient bluenette. Pit giggled as the wind rushed through his hair.

"No wonder you like to ride! It's so similar to flying!" the boy observed, stretching his snowy wings to catch the wind.

Link beamed. "I don't know about flying, but I've always enjoyed riding.

Pit looked over his shoulder and smiled before returning his attention to the road ahead. The two horses raced along the wooded path before a small fort appeared on top of a hill.

"This is it!" Ike called, spurring his horse yet again and racing into the settlement. Link and Pit followed close behind and pulled to a stop right as the bluenette was dismounting. A red-headed woman with a thick braid that reached her waist, clad in white armor, rushed out of the largest building.

"Ike?!" she cried, her eyes darting from her former commander to the Hylian and the Angel.

"I'm back," the mercenary man unceremoniously replied. "That's Pit and Link," he introduced, not bothering to distinguish between the two. "Pit, Link, this is Titania."

"Hello," the lady knight, Titania, greeted.

The cherub smiled. "Hi, I'm Pit!"

Titania smiled. "It's very nice to meet you, Pit."

"How is he?" Ike interrupted before his Hylian friend could properly introduce himself.

The lady sighed. "Not so good. Every day, he gets worse. Rhys has done everything he can, but he hasn't been able to break the fever."

The bluenette swore under his breath. "Do you even know what he has?"

"Laguz fever," she informed gravely. "It's fatal."

Pit's expression saddened as Ike's shoulders slumped. "What's a Laguz, Link?" the youth asked softly.

The blonde looked down. "Um, I'm not entirely sure, but I think it's a human who can turn himself into an animal."

"Like how you can turn into a wolf?"

"Sort of," the hero said with a shrug. "Only Laguz are both with the ability to change."

"So…" Pit turned his attention back to Ike and Titania. "What does the Laguz fever do? Turn people into beasts?"

The lady knight motioned for the three travelers to follow her inside while she explained, "No, it's called Laguz fever because only those of Laguz heritage are able to contract it. Beorc, such as Ike and I, are immune." She turned her attention to Link. "I'm not exactly sure how non-Beorc, non-Laguz will react when exposed, so you might want to keep your distance."

Link nodded as they stopped outside of a door. Ike shifted his weight and looked at floor. "… Titania… what should I expect?... We didn't leave off…"

"He still considers you his closest friend, but I guarantee that he's going to be pissed that you gave up your spot in the tournament for him."

The bluenette smiled. "He'll get over it after he hears what I have to say."

Titania returned the gesture before knocking on the door, opening it before the person on the other side had a chance to reply. "Soren, you have visitors."

Heeding the red head's warning, Link stayed outside of the room, only peeking in as Ike hurried into the dimly lit area. The blonde felt Pit's hand on his lower back as the youth leaned to the side to peek in as well.

"Goddess," Pit whispered, seeing the sick boy, close to the Angel in age-appearance, dying in the other room.

I didn't realize he was so young, Link realized, with more than a hint of sadness. Maybe this is why Ike didn't acknowledge his love. He looked down at the cherub, realizing that someone Pit's age could be on the edge of death making him all the more protective of the Angel. What would I do if anything happened to you, Pit? I couldn't go on. A life without you is like a day with no light. No light; no day. No Pit; no life.

Pit's full attention was on Ike's interactions with Soren. His wings were folded tightly behind on his back, as he often did when he was stressed. He waited to see who would make the first move.

Ike took a seat on the side of the small cot, rousing the bedridden youth. "Soren?"

"I-Ike?" the reply was barely a whisper, but Link's keen hearing detected every word. "Wha? How?"

"I'm back now, and I never should have left in the first place when you mean so damn much to me.

"Damnit… I'm hallucinating again..." Soren concluded. "RHYS!" he called, his voice as dry and fragile as a fall leaf. "It's happening again!"

Titania chuckled, despite the situation.

Pit scowled. "I couldn't hear what they were saying when they were whispering like that."

Link held his tongue, not wanting to miss any part of the conversation when it could be the key to keeping the Angel's heart intact, or shattering it.

"You aren't hallucinating. I'm here," Ike assured, placing his palm to Soren's porcelain face. "Goddess, you're burning up…"

"Why'd you come back, Ike? You could have had a great life--"

"Shhh… What's a life without you? You've always been there for me, and I'm sorry that you had to get sick for me to realize it."

"Ike."

"I don't want to live another day without you," Ike confessed, brushing aside Soren's ebony hair and revealing a scarlet symbol on the ailing boy's forehead. The bluenette placed a lingering kiss on the mark. "I love you, Soren. I love you so much."

Pit ruffled his feathers as he saw the kiss. Jealousy radiated off of the youth in waves. Link held his breath, hoping that the brunette didn't hear Ike's heartfelt confession. Judging by the cherub's pouty demeanor as opposed to heartbroken, the Hylian figured that Ike's whisper had been too low for the Angel's ears.

"I love you too, Ike," Soren whispered. "I always have. I… tried to tell you when you left, but…"

"I heard you, and I'm so sorry I didn't reply. I was so stupid to leave."

"You did… the right thing. You can do better than me."

Pit, who had been straining to hear was delighted to learn that Soren wanted Ike to do better. "I think I would be good enough for him," the Angel informed Link, who tried not to let his disapproval show.

"Soren, stop it. I don't care that you're Branded; I don't care that you're a man. I'll only ever love you," the mercenary informed sternly, kissing the ailing youth passionately.

The Hylian watched with a heavy heart as the object of his desire slumped. He could see that the cherub was heartbroken, but he didn't know how to fix it. Oh, Pit… He was never yours to begin with. Please don't take this personally. You're a wonderful person, and I would do anything for you.

"I'm so sorry, Ike, but I'm ill. I don't know if I'll be able to survive," Soren whispered, catching Link's attention.

"Oh no, baby. You're not going to die; that much I promise you. I found something that'll help you. We'll live a long, happy life together," Ike assured, stroking the youth's face.

A shift in the light as well as the warmth leaving his back caught Link's attention. He looked down and saw Pit clutching the small vile that had led them to Tellius in the first place. The shimmering liquid quite literally meant the difference between life or death for Soren.

Without a word, Pit sprinted back the way he had come, back outside.

(End Chapter)

Description
I'll Be There

Chapter 4

^^^^^

Link let loose yet another yawn. He was used to waking up early, but they had left their tiny camp before the sun ahd risen. Ike couldn't sleep, so he decided to leave early… very early.

Well, at least some good came from it, the blonde reflected, looking down at the sleeping youth in his arms. Pit had been up and ready to go as soon as Ike gave the word, but less than an hour into their journey, the young cherub requested to ride Epona. Ten minutes later, he was fast asleep in the Hero's loving embrace. It's so good to know that you're comfortable with me… I love you so much.

"We're close!" Ike called, anticipation giving his voice a sharper edge.

Link nodded and decided to rouse the sleeping Angel. "Pit… Ike says we're almost there."

The brunette stretched and let out a soft moan that sent the Hylian's heart racing. "We are? Good! Thank you for letting me ride with you."

"Anytime," the Hero assured. As he looked up, he saw the Crimean general spur his horse into a gallop. "Hang on." Link urged Epona to do the same in order to catch up with the impatient bluenette. Pit giggled as the wind rushed through his hair.

"No wonder you like to ride! It's so similar to flying!" the boy observed, stretching his snowy wings to catch the wind.

Link beamed. "I don't know about flying, but I've always enjoyed riding.

Pit looked over his shoulder and smiled before returning his attention to the road ahead. The two horses raced along the wooded path before a small fort appeared on top of a hill.

"This is it!" Ike called, spurring his horse yet again and racing into the settlement. Link and Pit followed close behind and pulled to a stop right as the bluenette was dismounting. A red-headed woman with a thick braid that reached her waist, clad in white armor, rushed out of the largest building.

"Ike?!" she cried, her eyes darting from her former commander to the Hylian and the Angel.

"I'm back," the mercenary man unceremoniously replied. "That's Pit and Link," he introduced, not bothering to distinguish between the two. "Pit, Link, this is Titania."

"Hello," the lady knight, Titania, greeted.

The cherub smiled. "Hi, I'm Pit!"

Titania smiled. "It's very nice to meet you, Pit."

"How is he?" Ike interrupted before his Hylian friend could properly introduce himself.

The lady sighed. "Not so good. Every day, he gets worse. Rhys has done everything he can, but he hasn't been able to break the fever."

The bluenette swore under his breath. "Do you even know what he has?"

"Laguz fever," she informed gravely. "It's fatal."

Pit's expression saddened as Ike's shoulders slumped. "What's a Laguz, Link?" the youth asked softly.

The blonde looked down. "Um, I'm not entirely sure, but I think it's a human who can turn himself into an animal."

"Like how you can turn into a wolf?"

"Sort of," the hero said with a shrug. "Only Laguz are both with the ability to change."

"So…" Pit turned his attention back to Ike and Titania. "What does the Laguz fever do? Turn people into beasts?"

The lady knight motioned for the three travelers to follow her inside while she explained, "No, it's called Laguz fever because only those of Laguz heritage are able to contract it. Beorc, such as Ike and I, are immune." She turned her attention to Link. "I'm not exactly sure how non-Beorc, non-Laguz will react when exposed, so you might want to keep your distance."

Link nodded as they stopped outside of a door. Ike shifted his weight and looked at floor. "… Titania… what should I expect?... We didn't leave off…"

"He still considers you his closest friend, but I guarantee that he's going to be pissed that you gave up your spot in the tournament for him."

The bluenette smiled. "He'll get over it after he hears what I have to say."

Titania returned the gesture before knocking on the door, opening it before the person on the other side had a chance to reply. "Soren, you have visitors."

Heeding the red head's warning, Link stayed outside of the room, only peeking in as Ike hurried into the dimly lit area. The blonde felt Pit's hand on his lower back as the youth leaned to the side to peek in as well.

"Goddess," Pit whispered, seeing the sick boy, close to the Angel in age-appearance, dying in the other room.

I didn't realize he was so young, Link realized, with more than a hint of sadness. Maybe this is why Ike didn't acknowledge his love. He looked down at the cherub, realizing that someone Pit's age could be on the edge of death making him all the more protective of the Angel. What would I do if anything happened to you, Pit? I couldn't go on. A life without you is like a day with no light. No light; no day. No Pit; no life.

Pit's full attention was on Ike's interactions with Soren. His wings were folded tightly behind on his back, as he often did when he was stressed. He waited to see who would make the first move.

Ike took a seat on the side of the small cot, rousing the bedridden youth. "Soren?"

"I-Ike?" the reply was barely a whisper, but Link's keen hearing detected every word. "Wha? How?"

"I'm back now, and I never should have left in the first place when you mean so damn much to me.

"Damnit… I'm hallucinating again..." Soren concluded. "RHYS!" he called, his voice as dry and fragile as a fall leaf. "It's happening again!"

Titania chuckled, despite the situation.

Pit scowled. "I couldn't hear what they were saying when they were whispering like that."

Link held his tongue, not wanting to miss any part of the conversation when it could be the key to keeping the Angel's heart intact, or shattering it.

"You aren't hallucinating. I'm here," Ike assured, placing his palm to Soren's porcelain face. "Goddess, you're burning up…"

"Why'd you come back, Ike? You could have had a great life--"

"Shhh… What's a life without you? You've always been there for me, and I'm sorry that you had to get sick for me to realize it."

"Ike."

"I don't want to live another day without you," Ike confessed, brushing aside Soren's ebony hair and revealing a scarlet symbol on the ailing boy's forehead. The bluenette placed a lingering kiss on the mark. "I love you, Soren. I love you so much."

Pit ruffled his feathers as he saw the kiss. Jealousy radiated off of the youth in waves. Link held his breath, hoping that the brunette didn't hear Ike's heartfelt confession. Judging by the cherub's pouty demeanor as opposed to heartbroken, the Hylian figured that Ike's whisper had been too low for the Angel's ears.

"I love you too, Ike," Soren whispered. "I always have. I… tried to tell you when you left, but…"

"I heard you, and I'm so sorry I didn't reply. I was so stupid to leave."

"You did… the right thing. You can do better than me."

Pit, who had been straining to hear was delighted to learn that Soren wanted Ike to do better. "I think I would be good enough for him," the Angel informed Link, who tried not to let his disapproval show.

"Soren, stop it. I don't care that you're Branded; I don't care that you're a man. I'll only ever love you," the mercenary informed sternly, kissing the ailing youth passionately.

The Hylian watched with a heavy heart as the object of his desire slumped. He could see that the cherub was heartbroken, but he didn't know how to fix it. Oh, Pit… He was never yours to begin with. Please don't take this personally. You're a wonderful person, and I would do anything for you.

"I'm so sorry, Ike, but I'm ill. I don't know if I'll be able to survive," Soren whispered, catching Link's attention.

"Oh no, baby. You're not going to die; that much I promise you. I found something that'll help you. We'll live a long, happy life together," Ike assured, stroking the youth's face.

A shift in the light as well as the warmth leaving his back caught Link's attention. He looked down and saw Pit clutching the small vile that had led them to Tellius in the first place. The shimmering liquid quite literally meant the difference between life or death for Soren.

Without a word, Pit sprinted back the way he had come, back outside.

(End Chapter)