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I'll Be There

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"You've just been so cooped up in that base ever since you arrived. I thought you might like to go for a walk down by the river," Pit offered, leading the mercenary down to it.

The bluenette chuckled. "How did you even know this place was here?"

The Angel pushed the memory of wanting to throw away the elixir from his mind. "Just… an Angelic instinct, I suppose…. Do you like it here?"

"I do. Soren and I used to come down here every day. I'd always try to get to swim, but I never could," Ike mused, watching the rushing water.

Pit ignored the mention of the Branded and simply nodded.

"Hey…" the mercenary began, taking placing a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you. It was nice enough of you to give me that potion, but you really kept me sane getting here. I owe you and Link a lot."

"I would do anything for you, Ike… You mean worlds to me! I'll do anything to make you happy!" the brunette confessed. As Ike took a seat by the water's edge the smaller male joined him, and leaned against him.

"You okay, Pit?" the swordsman asked, not returning the embrace.

"I've just been thinking… When are we going back to the mansion?"

"Homesick already, are you? Well, you don't have to worry; we'll leave as soon as Soren's strong enough to travel," the bluenette assured.

Pit's wings drooped. "Soren's coming with us? Why?! Why can't you just leave him here like before?!" the cherub demanded while his heart ached with jealousy.

Ike raised a brow. "It would be dangerous for him to stay now that everyone knows he's a Branded. The Branded are treated poorly in Tellius; he'll have a better life at the tournament with me."

The Angel scowled. "Master Hand wouldn't allow it. I don't want you to get into trouble."

The larger man pursed his lips. "I'm sure he'll understand if I explain the situation, and If he doesn't, I'll leave."

"What?!" the youth cried. "No, Ike! You can't leave!"

"I will if Master Hand leaves me no choice. I won't let Soren live alone… it's not right."

"He doesn't deserve you," Pit mumbled through grit teeth, so low that it went unheard. "Well, it's possible that Master Hand will let him stay… I'd hate to see you go after everything we've been through."

"You've been a great friend, Pit, and I hope I don't have to drop out of the tournament," the mercenary sighed and leaned down in the grass. "I will miss this place… We'll find somewhere else for quiet… hopefully at the mansion."

The cherub reached over and lightly touched the bluenette's locks. Ike wasn't bothered by the contact; he just chalked it up to one of the Angel's curious quirks. The larger man closed his eyes and allowed his mind to wander. He thought of all the summer days he had spent at the river's edge, or roaming the forest that surrounded the base. All were fond memories, and all of them involved a certain crimson-eyed spell caster. The swordsman smiled to himself, and the Angel found the look so enchanting that he leaned down and gave Ike a quick kiss on the lips.

The mercenary's eyes flew open. "Pit!" he scolded, more out of shock.

The brunette scooted back and sat on his heels. "I'm so sorry, Ike, but… I can't help how I feel when I'm around you… I think I love you"

Ike inwardly groaned and let out a long, steady sight. "Pit… you're a great person. I like you as a friend, but that's all. My heart belongs elsewhere."

"Your heart should go to someone more deserving! Why him? Why not me, huh? I'd follow you anywhere, but you never even notice me! You're too focused on him! I'm tired of being ignored, Ike! Why won't you love me!?" the Angel yelled, his body shaking from anger and adrenaline.

The commander stood to his full height and towered over the smaller male. "One, I can't help who I love and who I don't. There isn't a thing you can do to change it, and if you were my friend, you would realize that.

"Two, don't you ever think that your race entitles you to anything. I don't give a shit if you're an Angel if you act like a spoiled little kid. Get that entitlement nonsense out of your head. And don't even suggest that Soren doesn't deserve to be loved, or you can find your own damn way back to the tournament," the mercenary roared.

Pit's lips trembled and he looked down, suddenly ashamed of his actions and words.

"If you're going to cry, go find Link, because you'll get no sympathy from me."

With that, the bluenette turned and walked back to the base.

(End Chapter)

Description
I'll Be There

^^^^^

"You've just been so cooped up in that base ever since you arrived. I thought you might like to go for a walk down by the river," Pit offered, leading the mercenary down to it.

The bluenette chuckled. "How did you even know this place was here?"

The Angel pushed the memory of wanting to throw away the elixir from his mind. "Just… an Angelic instinct, I suppose…. Do you like it here?"

"I do. Soren and I used to come down here every day. I'd always try to get to swim, but I never could," Ike mused, watching the rushing water.

Pit ignored the mention of the Branded and simply nodded.

"Hey…" the mercenary began, taking placing a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you. It was nice enough of you to give me that potion, but you really kept me sane getting here. I owe you and Link a lot."

"I would do anything for you, Ike… You mean worlds to me! I'll do anything to make you happy!" the brunette confessed. As Ike took a seat by the water's edge the smaller male joined him, and leaned against him.

"You okay, Pit?" the swordsman asked, not returning the embrace.

"I've just been thinking… When are we going back to the mansion?"

"Homesick already, are you? Well, you don't have to worry; we'll leave as soon as Soren's strong enough to travel," the bluenette assured.

Pit's wings drooped. "Soren's coming with us? Why?! Why can't you just leave him here like before?!" the cherub demanded while his heart ached with jealousy.

Ike raised a brow. "It would be dangerous for him to stay now that everyone knows he's a Branded. The Branded are treated poorly in Tellius; he'll have a better life at the tournament with me."

The Angel scowled. "Master Hand wouldn't allow it. I don't want you to get into trouble."

The larger man pursed his lips. "I'm sure he'll understand if I explain the situation, and If he doesn't, I'll leave."

"What?!" the youth cried. "No, Ike! You can't leave!"

"I will if Master Hand leaves me no choice. I won't let Soren live alone… it's not right."

"He doesn't deserve you," Pit mumbled through grit teeth, so low that it went unheard. "Well, it's possible that Master Hand will let him stay… I'd hate to see you go after everything we've been through."

"You've been a great friend, Pit, and I hope I don't have to drop out of the tournament," the mercenary sighed and leaned down in the grass. "I will miss this place… We'll find somewhere else for quiet… hopefully at the mansion."

The cherub reached over and lightly touched the bluenette's locks. Ike wasn't bothered by the contact; he just chalked it up to one of the Angel's curious quirks. The larger man closed his eyes and allowed his mind to wander. He thought of all the summer days he had spent at the river's edge, or roaming the forest that surrounded the base. All were fond memories, and all of them involved a certain crimson-eyed spell caster. The swordsman smiled to himself, and the Angel found the look so enchanting that he leaned down and gave Ike a quick kiss on the lips.

The mercenary's eyes flew open. "Pit!" he scolded, more out of shock.

The brunette scooted back and sat on his heels. "I'm so sorry, Ike, but… I can't help how I feel when I'm around you… I think I love you"

Ike inwardly groaned and let out a long, steady sight. "Pit… you're a great person. I like you as a friend, but that's all. My heart belongs elsewhere."

"Your heart should go to someone more deserving! Why him? Why not me, huh? I'd follow you anywhere, but you never even notice me! You're too focused on him! I'm tired of being ignored, Ike! Why won't you love me!?" the Angel yelled, his body shaking from anger and adrenaline.

The commander stood to his full height and towered over the smaller male. "One, I can't help who I love and who I don't. There isn't a thing you can do to change it, and if you were my friend, you would realize that.

"Two, don't you ever think that your race entitles you to anything. I don't give a shit if you're an Angel if you act like a spoiled little kid. Get that entitlement nonsense out of your head. And don't even suggest that Soren doesn't deserve to be loved, or you can find your own damn way back to the tournament," the mercenary roared.

Pit's lips trembled and he looked down, suddenly ashamed of his actions and words.

"If you're going to cry, go find Link, because you'll get no sympathy from me."

With that, the bluenette turned and walked back to the base.

(End Chapter)