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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
- 8
- 9
Chapter Title: Good Intentions

Author: Moontyger

Archived: My LJ. Please ask before
archiving elsewhere.
Fandom: Fire Emblem: Path of
Radiance
Pairing: Ike/Soren
Other Characters: Rhys, Stefan,
Oscar
Rating: This chapter PG-13, overall NC-17
Disclaimer:
I own neither Fire Emblem nor these characters.

By
the time they had made camp, Soren was ready for the day to be over.
He hurt; he was embarrassed, tired, and altogether miserable. He
didn't think he could face everyone at dinner, so he stayed in his
tent and worked on paperwork. He had been neglecting it anyway and
it wasn't fair for him to make someone else have to do his job
because he was too busy screwing the general. Or at least that's
what he expected anyone designated to do the work he was suddenly
neglecting would think.

He
wondered if Ike had even glanced at the report he had written on
their last battle. Then he remembered what had happened to that
report and flushed. His body reacted to the memory and he was
startled, shifting uncomfortably on the chair. How could the idea
still arouse him, even when he hurt, outside and in, body and heart?

He'd
have to write a new report. And make sure they didn't have sex on
it.

But he
didn't want to think about Ike right now. It just made him upset and
he was not going to start crying here in his tent. He wasn't.
He was going to concentrate on work.

So he
tried, and he actually did get some work done, until Rhys came in
carrying a plate of food for him and a mug of something, presumably
the pain reliever he had promised. He looked at Soren with eyes that
saw far too much and were full of sympathy.

“Here.
You should eat.”

Rhys
sat in a nearby chair and watched him eat silently. “I told
Mist you weren't feeling well. She was concerned about you.”

Soren
gave him an odd look. “I can't imagine why.”

“I
had to tell her something. You're dating her brother; that makes you
family in her eyes. And she knows you two argued today.”

Soren
closed his eyes a moment, trying to compose himself. Family? Mist
considered him... family? He'd never had a family. Why would anyone
want to claim him? He was sure she wouldn't if she knew the truth.
And Ike... He just didn't know. He wanted to believe it would make
no difference, but after such an awful day, he was afraid.

He was
startled by the sudden warmth of Rhys hugging him. “It's
okay,” he said softly. “You can talk to me, remember?
I'm your friend.”

Why did
everyone suddenly care about him so much? He didn't understand. He
blinked rapidly, struggling to keep back tears. He never
cried, not where anyone could see, but he didn't know how to deal
with this sudden sympathy. It was confusing and overwhelming when he
was already tired, achy, and depressed.

“You
still want to be my friend? Even after the way I treated you earlier
today?”

“Of
course! You aren't the only person who is cranky when they are in
pain. I didn't take it personally.”

Two
pairs of ruby eyes met, but all Soren could see in Rhys's eyes was
sincerity. “You're too nice, you know that?”

Rhys
laughed. “I've heard that on occasion.” His expression
became serious again. “Here, drink this tea. It should help
with the pain. It may knock you out, but that's probably for the
best. And while you drink it, tell me why you're so upset.”

“I
-” Soren stared into the dark liquid of the tea, so he
wouldn't have to look at Rhys while he said it. “This just...
shouldn't have happened. I made a stupid mistake and it's
embarrassing and I didn't want anyone to know. It's bad enough all
the things people know already.” He drank, to hide his
discomfort. “And I told Ike not to tell and he did anyway and
I... doesn't he care about my feelings? Didn't what I said matter to
him at all?”

“Of
course it does.” Rhys's voice was steady and soothing. “He
was just worried about you, and I don't think he really understood
how you felt.” He paused, until Soren looked at him. “And
he blames himself, for you being hurt.”

“But
it's not his fault!” Funny, how his first impulse was to
defend Ike, even when he was upset with him.

“No,
maybe not. But he thinks it is and feels terrible about it. He
never wanted to hurt you.” His smile was sad but
understanding. Soren wondered how he knew so much about other
people.

“I'm
sorry I wouldn't let you use a heal staff. It's just that... all the
uses are recorded and I didn't... I couldn't write the reason it was
used down. What if someone else saw it?” His voice was barely
audible and he stared at his hands clutching the mug tightly.

“Ah.
I don't think Ike thought of that. I don't think he thinks of much
when you are hurt beyond worrying about you and wanting to help.”

Soren's
eyes kept wanting to close now and his body felt blissfully free of
pain, almost like he were floating. He was still upset, but it felt
distant and more bearable now.

“Let
me help you into bed and you can think about what I've said later.”

He
opened his eyes to see Rhys take the mug from his hands and wondered
when he had gotten up. He was so tired! But he couldn't sleep here.

“No,”
Soren said softly, groggy but determined. “I have to sleep in
Ike's tent. I promised.” No matter how angry he had been, he
took his promises very seriously and he wasn't about to break this
one. It had meant too much to him that Ike wanted him there for him
to just dismiss it or blame extenuating circumstances. Besides,
right now he felt weak and vulnerable and he wanted Ike with him. He
wouldn't say it, not out loud, but he needed him. Rhys was his
friend, but it wasn't the same thing at all.

“Okay,
then you'll have to stand up.” Rhys helped him to stand and
Soren was surprised at how unsteady he felt. “I'll help you
get there, but I can't carry you, so you're going to have to walk.”

It was
an odd walk, in the dark and barely awake, his senses blurred so
nothing seemed quite real. But Rhys helped him as best he could and
eventually he was in the familiar tent. Soren fell into the bedding
with a sigh and let Rhys arrange the blankets over him.

“Tell
Ike... I'm sorry,” he breathed, before falling into sleep so
deep it felt like drowning.

* * *

Ike
really wasn't sure who he should ask for advice. He wandered through
the camp as it was being set up, not sure whom he was searching for.
It was just bad luck that it was Stefan he saw first.

“Hey
there,” he said, with a casual smile. “I haven't seen
you in a few days. Up for some training?”

Ike
started to say no, and then he reconsidered. He didn't want to get
out of practice and the physical exertion might clear his mind and
help him feel better. So he gave an answering smile as he agreed,
“Sure, that sounds good.”

It did
make him feel better. This was something he understood, something
much simpler than matters of the heart. He was good at using a sword
and beginning to suspect he was terrible at romance.

By the
time they were done, he was sweaty and tired, but feeling much more
centered and sure of himself. This was who he was and if Soren loved
him, surely he knew that and would forgive him.

As he
thanked Stefan, he eyed him consideringly. He didn't really know
anything of Stefan's past, but maybe this was a chance to get to know
him better. “I don't suppose you are any good at relationship
advice?” he asked him, after the usual polite thanks for the
training.

Stefan
raised an eyebrow, as he wiped sweat from his face with a towel he
had brought with him. “This is about Soren?” At Ike's
nod, he seemed to think a moment, then stared him directly in the
eyes. “Honestly, if you are having problems, I'd take the
opportunity to get out of that relationship and run as far as you can
from it.”

“What?”
Ike wasn't sure he had heard him correctly. “Why would you
say something like that?” Surely he didn't mean it. Stefan
barely knew either of them; why would he feel so strongly about it?
He was shocked and beginning to feel angry. How dare he say such a
thing!

Stefan
crossed his arms, but his stance seemed almost rebellious. “There
are things that little mage hasn't told you about himself; things
that would make you thank me for my words and wish you'd heard them
sooner.”

“What?
What are you talking about? Why would Soren tell you something he
hasn't told me?” Now Ike was sure he must be crazy. What he
was saying was impossible.

“He
didn't have to tell me; I already knew. But it isn't my place to
reveal his secrets. Ask him and see what he has to say.”

Ike
stared at him, speechless, as he walked away. Had Stefan known Soren
when he was a child? Was that even possible? And what could really
be so bad? He couldn't imagine anything that would make him want to
leave Soren or wish he had never loved him. Nothing. It just wasn't
possible.

But he
was quiet and thoughtful as he washed himself a bit in cold water
before going to dinner.

Soren
wasn't at dinner, which he supposed didn't surprise him. He was
surprised, however, when Rhys told Mist that Soren hadn't been
feeling well and offered to take him food. From the little he had
seen of Rhys's attempt to talk to Soren today, it hadn't gone well.
He watched Rhys go into Soren's tent nervously, but when he didn't
emerge nor was there any shouting, he relaxed. Clearly he had calmed
down now and maybe Rhys could actually help him. He hoped so. Ike
still felt terribly guilty about Soren being hurt. He had wanted to
give them both pleasure, not pain!

He
joined the others at the campfire for the first time in awhile, since
before he had been with Soren, really. No one said anything about
it, but he saw a few people give him odd looks. Boyd looked
especially nervous, although he at least didn't seem to be actively
avoiding him as he had been lately. He looked around him at the
familiar faces and tried to decide who would be best to ask. At last
he decided on Oscar, who had often acted as almost a big brother to
him.

He felt
more hesitant than he expected approaching Oscar, but he needn't have
worried. He readily agreed to go to his tent and talk privately with
Ike. Once there, he gave a rather startled Ike a hug before waving
him to sit. There weren't any chairs, so they both sat on the floor
of the tent.

“This
is about Soren and whatever happened between you two today?”

Ike
supposed he shouldn't be surprised that Oscar knew. It had probably
been rather obvious. If nothing else, the fact that Marcia had
noticed indicated that at least some people knew, and Oscar was
fairly observant. He just tended not to talk about what he saw,
which was part of why he was a good person to go to for advice. Ike
knew that as long as they kept their voices down, nothing he said
would ever leave this tent.

So he
told Oscar the whole story. Part of him knew he was yet again
violating Soren's edict not to tell anyone else, but he was
desperate. And hopefully he'd never know, right? Not that that was
the best excuse and he didn't intend to keep secrets behind his back,
but... And speaking of secrets, he included the strange encounter
with Stefan in his tale as well.

When he
was done, he leaned back and looked at Oscar expectantly. “So,
what do you think? What did I do wrong and how do I fix it?”

Oscar
thought on this for a moment. “First, I have no idea what
Stefan is talking about. I think you'll need to ask either him or
Soren. I can't begin to guess. However, I do know you, and I
think he's wrong about how whatever it is he thinks he knows will
affect you.”

Ike
nodded. “I agree on that. I can't think of anything
that could make me feel the way he predicted. He has to be wrong on
that! Soren might really have a secret; he has tried to tell me
something several times and I think it is my fault that he hasn't
done so. But even if he does, it isn't going to make me leave him.
The rest, I just don't know. I don't want to lose him and I never
meant to hurt him. But I am completely at a loss.”

“Well,”
Oscar said thoughtfully. “You did ask for help when he
specifically told you not to.”

“But
he was hurt! And it was my fault! I had to do something!”
The protest was automatic and heartfelt. How could anyone expect
him to leave Soren to suffer?

“Going
against his wishes like that, after he explicitly told you not to,
suggests you didn't really care about what he wanted. I know you had
only the best of intentions, but I am sure he had a reason for
asking.”

“I
guess I should have asked for an explanation or asked again for
permission. He was just so upset. And I can't stand to see him
suffer. Why didn't he want help?” Ike was distressed. He
really did care about Soren's wishes and feelings! He had just
wanted to help! Why was that so wrong?

“I'm
not entirely sure, although I think you underestimate how shy he is.
You might ask Rhys, in case Soren told him. Or ask Soren yourself.”
Oscar squeezed his shoulder reassuringly and lowered his voice.
“Just tell him you're sorry. Explain how much you care and how
worried you are. Tell him you love him. He'll forgive you, Ike.”

Ike
hated feeling so uncertain, so much at a loss, as though he were
fumbling about in a blinding snowstorm with no guide and no sense of
direction. Why couldn't this be simple? He had expected it to be;
naively, he now suspected. Why did he have to be so bad at this?
“Do you really think so? I really... I don't want to mess this
up,” he almost whispered.

Oscar's
expression was both understanding and sad. “I'm certain of it.
He loves you, Ike. A blind man would know that. Tell him how you
feel and that you are sorry and he'll forgive you.”

He
stood and offered Ike a hand up. “Come on. Let's go find him
so you can tell him. You'll both feel and sleep better tonight if
you make up.”

Soren's
tent, however, was empty and dark. Papers on the table clearly
showed he'd been working there earlier, but he was gone now. Ike
followed Oscar back to the fire in puzzlement, not really sure where
else to look. Soren didn't usually spend much time there with
everyone else, but maybe he had changed his mind this time?

He
looked around hopefully, but Soren wasn't among the familiar faces
there, even in the shadows along the edges, where he might expect him
to hide. Rhys was, however, and he came to talk to Ike as soon as he
saw him, breaking off a conversation he seemed to be having with
Kieran. Ike vaguely wondered what they had been talking about, but
didn't dwell on the question.

Rhys
led him a short distance from the fire. It was still in sight, but
no one should overhear if they kept their voices low. “I gave
Soren something to help him sleep. He insisted on sleeping in your
tent, something about a promise?”

“He
– he did?” Ike was surprised; he hadn't expected him to
remember, not tonight. And he wouldn't have held it against him if
he hadn't. “Is he okay?” If anyone could judge how
Soren really was, especially physically, it would be Rhys.

“He'll
be fine, I promise.” Rhys gave him a reassuring smile. “And
I don't think he's mad anymore, although still hurt. Apologize and
talk to him and you should be fine. Just give him another day or so
to heal. Plenty of other things you can do in bed, right?”

He
fidgeted awkwardly. He liked Rhys, but he didn't really want advice
on sex from him. “I... thanks. For taking care of him.”

Rhys
took his hand and placed something in it, closing his fingers around
it, but out here it was too dark to see what it was. “If Soren
is still really sore tomorrow night, you can give him some of this.
I wrote out directions. But I don't think he'll need it.”

Ike
eyed the bundle in his hand doubtfully. He wasn't sure he really
trusted himself with something like this, but he supposed he'd try if
he had to. “Thank you, again. I know I ask a lot of you,
probably too much. And I really appreciate all that you do. And...
he may never say it, but I know Soren appreciates your friendship.
As do I.”

Even in
the dark, he could see Rhys's smile. “I don't think he'll wake
when you come to bed, but you should still join him soon. And don't
worry; he has quite a temper, but he'll understand that your
intentions were good and forgive you. Just make sure to actually
listen to him next time, ok?”

“I
will.” Amazed at how everything had worked out, Ike walked off
to his tent in a daze, never looking back. Rhys might not be the
only one watching him go and maybe he really should stay and talk,
but he'd do that tomorrow night. Right now he wanted to go check on
the boyfriend he was lucky enough to still have.

Soren
was sleeping deeply and it appeared peacefully. Ike undressed in the
dark, as quietly as he could, before sliding into bed beside him and
taking him into his arms. “I'm sorry,” he whispered,
even though he knew he probably wouldn't hear. Soren made a soft,
wordless noise and snuggled closer and he felt forgiven.
- 8
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The Truth Shall Set You Free