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The Truth Shall Set You Free	By : lissatyger Category: +A through F > Fire Emblem (all) > Fire Emblem (all) Views: 4973 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Fire Emblem, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
Story
Title: The Truth Shall Set You Free

Chapter Title: Ripples

Author: Moontyger

Archived: Also at my LJ.
Ask before posting anywhere else

Rating: This chapter
PG-13 at worst, NC-17 overall

Pairings: Ike/Soren,
Rhys/Titania

Other characters: Mist,
Oscar, Rolf, Boyd

Disclaimer:
I do not own Fire Emblem, nor these characters and I am making no
money off this story.

“What
was that for?” Mist complained at Oscar, rubbing her arm where
he had held it, as they walked away from the command tent where her
brother was with Soren.

The
look she got in return was amused and unrepentant. “They
wanted to be alone, so I thought it was best if we left as soon as
possible.”

She
frowned and stared at the ground as they walked. “I hardly see
Ike of late. I just wanted to talk to him.” She hated how
childish it sounded.

The
hand on her shoulder was comforting, even if she wanted to shrug it
off petulantly. She was upset, but she didn't want to be babied!

“He
doesn't mean to neglect you, Mist. They're just young and newly in
love. It can make one shortsighted.”

Oscar
didn't quite sound like his usual self when he said this. There was
kindness there, and understanding, too, but something else as well.
Mist watched him and tried to figure out what it was. Regret? Envy?
She just wasn't sure and she sighed in frustration.

“So
you're honestly telling me that this is something I'll understand
when I'm older? I'm hardly a child anymore!” She had stopped
walking to glare at him, so Oscar stopped as well.

He
looked at her in silence for a moment before answering. “No,
you're not. I guess this is more something you'll understand when
you fall in love rather than just when you're older. Especially if
your love is returned.”

Mist
gave him an odd look but followed him in silence for awhile, until
they reached the campfire where most of the rest of the Greil
Mercenaries were gathered. She wondered who Oscar had loved and what
had happened to them. She couldn't remember him ever dating anyone,
but it was always possible she just hadn't known.

She
goes and sits next to Rolf, watching those around her more carefully
now, looking for things she hadn't thought to look for before. It
was surprising what you could miss when you
weren't looking for it, and what seemed obvious as soon as the
possibility was brought to your attention. The way Kieran stared at
Oscar all the time and how his voice got louder when he was near
suddenly seemed to have a whole new meaning. Mist wondered if Oscar
knew and what he thought if he did.

“I
didn't expect you back so soon.” Rolf's voice interrupted her
thoughts and she remembered why she had been upset.

“Oscar
made me leave right away; he said Ike and Soren wanted to be alone
together.” She looked at the campfire, feeling lonely. “I
miss seeing my brother. He's always been busy, of course, at least
since this war started, but I've hardly seen him at all the past few
days.”

Rolf
frowned. “He should treat you better! You're the only family
he has now!”

“I
am, but... I'm not mad at him. I don't really understand, but I'm
not mad.” Mist sighed and turned her head to look at Rolf
rather than talking to the fire. “He seems happy, so I can't
be mad.”

“Still,
even if he is happy, he shouldn't neglect you. It's selfish.”
Rolf sounded both certain and determined, as though he were prepared
to march off immediately to tell off Ike for neglecting Mist. When
he stood up, she realized he really meant to do it.

“Wait.”
She put out her hand to stop him from leaving. “Oscar told
them he would make sure they were undisturbed,” she explained
in response to his questioning expression. “If you really want
to talk to him about it, tomorrow is soon enough.”

Rolf
sat back down. “You're really calm about this. I'm surprised.
I think I would be really mad if my brothers were doing this.”

She
shrugged. “I promised them it was okay, as long as Soren takes
good care of Ike. And I meant it. I'll be okay. I said I was grown
up enough to fight, so I should be adult enough to be independent.”
She straightened her shoulders and met his gaze, a determined light
in her blue-green eyes.

Rolf
still looked worried. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”
She looked around, wanting to change the subject. “Do you
know where Jill is? I'm worried about her. After today, I'm not
sure she should be alone.”

“I
don't know. Do you want me to help you look for her?”

Mist
shook her head. “No, that's okay. I'm sure she thinks she
wants to be alone, so I won't bombard her with more people. But I
won't let her send me away, either.” She stood, brushing her
skirt off briskly, and then strode off in the direction of Jill's
tent, leaving Rolf to stare after her in silence.

“Where's
Mist going?” Boyd asked, flopping carelessly down beside him.

“To
find Jill,” Rolf answered absently.

“Jill,
huh.” Boyd thought this over. “But today, wasn't that
her fath-” he stopped, noticing the look Oscar was giving him.
“Oh.”

“Boyd,”
Rolf asked, “have you talked to Ike in the last few days?”

His
brother looked uncomfortable. “Well, no, not really.”

“But
aren't you good friends? Isn't that kind of unusual?”

“I
suppose it is.” Boyd stared at his boots as though they had
suddenly become intensely interesting. “I guess I've been
avoiding him. I just don't know what to say to him now. I
mean, what, am I supposed to go up to him and say, 'So, I hear you're
screwing Soren these days. How's that working out for you?'”

Oscar
started laughing while Rolf stared at him in disbelief.

“It's
not funny! I really don't know what to say!”

“Maybe
you should just say you're happy for him? Or something along those
lines?” Oscar suggested, struggling to stop laughing.

“I
guess. It's just weird, you know?” He absently poked at the
fire with a nearby stick, watching the sparks it created. “I
mean, we've been friends for years, and I never would have
imagined... Especially with Soren; he's always been so distant.”

Rolf
eyed him curiously. “You're not jealous, are you?”

“No!”
Boyd's denial was instant. “Well, at least not in the way you
mean. I wouldn't mind having someone, too.”

Oscar
laughed again, but this time it sounded different, more like he was
laughing at himself rather than what Boyd had said. “You're
hardly alone in that, brother. Definitely hardly alone in that.”

They
sat in silence for awhile, each alone with their thoughts, watching
the fire and the night sky. Rolf looked around him, watching the
others.

“Say,
Oscar,” he said at last. “Did you ever notice the way
Kieran keeps staring at you?”

* * *

It was
getting late and Rhys was tired. In bed, in fact, watching Titania,
who stood at the entrance to their tent staring out into the night.
He wished she would stop whatever it was she was doing and come to
bed, too, so he could sleep. She needed sleep just as much as he
did, after all.

He was
pointedly yawning for what must have been the fourth time when she
spoke. “Do you hear that?”

He
listened, but wasn't sure what she meant. The camp was hardly silent
as of yet and he wasn't sure what she had found so significant.
“What is it?”

“It's
Ike. He's laughing.”

Now
that she said it, Rhys could hear it, too. He smiled to hear Ike and
Soren laughing together, sounding so happy, even after such a trying
day. It made him remember that they really were young and in love
for the first time. He was grateful for it and pleased that this
relationship seemed to be beneficial to both of them. When was the
last time he had heard either of them laugh?

“He
sounds so happy,” Titania mused, echoing his thoughts. “I
haven't heard him sound like that in a long time. Maybe I was
wrong.”

Rhys
looked at her in surprise and raised an eyebrow. She probably
couldn't see it in the dark, but she must have sensed it, because she
threw up her arms, admitting defeat. “Ok, ok. I admit it.
You were right and I was wrong.”

He
laughed. “Is that a first? Titania admitting she's wrong;
next the world will be ending.”

She
laughed, too, but her voice sounded relieved. “Yeah, yeah.
But can you blame me for being protective?”

“No,
not at all. I admire that in you. Just do me a favor?”

“What's
that?” Titania sounded resigned, but curious.

“Come
to bed, so I can get some sleep.”

He
paused, and watched her walk towards him. She was still smiling,
which he considered a good sign. When at last she slid under the
covers next to him, he put his arm around her waist and whispered in
her ear, “And apologize to Ike tomorrow, ok?”
- 6
- 7
- 8
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The Truth Shall Set You Free